Carrying the Weight of Grief - iBelieve Truth: A Devotional for Women - August 20, 2024

“Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.” Psalm 23:4

Grief can come upon us unexpectedly. But for many people, grief will always be with them. After facing the death of a loved one or a traumatic event, grief can stay in our hearts for the rest of our lives. The pain associated with grief is far worse than any pain on this present Earth.

Grief hurts so much because it’s a reflection of the love we have for a person. This is ultimately why our days become darker and harder to bear. Withstanding the death of a loved one is enough to send anyone into a downward spiral of depression. It isn't helpful to tell someone “to get over it” or to act as though death is not a big deal. Until a person experiences grief, they cannot fully understand its weight.

For years, I have tried to put grief into words, but I cannot fully express the pain that comes with grief. It is an aching pain in your heart that is associated with tears, depression, and constant doubts. Grief is not something any of us can prepare ourselves for, yet it is something we will all face at one point or another. The death of our parents, our siblings, our spouse, or our friends can all cause grief to rise in our hearts.

Once grief has taken hold, it doesn’t often let go. And this is nothing to be ashamed of. Grief is the natural outpouring of your love for a person. Therefore, don’t dismiss your grief or treat it as something that needs to be eradicated. Many self-help books and therapists will say that there are levels or steps of grief, but everyone’s grief looks different, and all are valid. For some people, grief can manifest in deep crying episodes, and for others, it can be getting angry. 

When we are going through grief and carrying the weight of it, we don’t need to be so hard on ourselves. It will take time to heal from grief, and for some of us, our grief will never fully go away. I have been facing grief for many years, yet it has not gone away. Some days are better than others, yet most days I feel chronically depressed and on the verge of tears. Due to my mom passing away many years ago, life has never been the same. 

I have learned much since my mom passed away, but I will never get to tell her these things. There are many things I want to share with my mom, such as new music I think she would like or books she would be interested in, but I will never get to share these things with her. And this is something that grief has taught me: I won’t be able to do any of these things with my mom again, and I have to learn to be okay with that. It doesn’t mean my pain isn't validated, but it does mean that grief is a hard road to travel.

The good news is that we are not on this road alone. The Lord is with us and will never leave our side. Psalm 23:4 tells us, “Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.” As this passage says, even though we walk through the valley of death, we have no reason to fear because Jesus is with us. Jesus’ rod and staff will comfort us. “The valley of death” can refer to many things, such as literal death or a difficult time, including grief, depression, or pain. 

No matter what our valley of death may be, we need to know that Jesus is with us. We don’t have to fear evil because He is with us. There will be darker days in the future, but the Lord is always beside us. He will never let us be consumed by the valley of darkness. The grief we are facing will not endure forever. His light, hope, and love will win. There will come a day when all our pain, sorrows, and tears will be wiped away (Revelation 21:4). 

Look forward to this day with a heart of hope. Jesus is faithful, and you will not have to carry the weight of grief forever. For the time being, give it over to the Lord. He will carry your grief and be a source of comfort (Matthew 11:28-30). 

Dear Jesus, I have been facing grief, and it is overwhelming. Please surround me with Your comfort, peace, and love. I am walking through the valley of death right now, but I know You are right here beside me. I praise You for staying by my side and protecting me with Your rod and staff. In Your Name, I pray, Amen.

Photo Credit: ©Unsplash/Jacob Postuma

Vivian Bricker loves Jesus, studying the Word of God, and helping others in their walk with Christ. She has earned a Bachelor of Arts and Master's degree in Christian Ministry with a deep academic emphasis in theology. Her favorite things to do are spending time with her family and friends, reading, and spending time outside. When she is not writing, she is embarking on other adventures.

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