When it feels as though every part of life is caving in and trying to crush us, let’s not forget: It came to pass, not to stay. We will never fully recover from grief, but we do grow into it.
So what should we do to try to pull ourselves up out of the trenches after we’ve spent ample time on the mourning bench experiencing raw grief?
What should we do when grief is weighing us down? What should we do when it feels like we’re fighting one battle after another?
Maybe begin here:
Have a conversation with God, confessing that we haven’t been doing what we should … and I then ask a friend or family member to hold us accountable and help us get back on track:
Ask for a Prayer Partner
Ask your spouse or a close friend to pray. There is nothing quite as healing as holding the hands of one who knows you best and loves you most and praying together. Likewise, receiving a message from a loved one in the middle of the day reminding you that you are being prayed for brightens the darkest day. So, do you need to check in with a loved one today?
Focus on the Savior
I wholeheartedly recommend reading scripture. Being reminded of how furiously we are loved by the Savior shifts our thought process and reminds us who we are in Christ.
Serve Others
Do something for someone else. I make a really good pot of soup nearly every Saturday that I should be sharing with others. Likewise, I possess the gift of encouragement that needs to be exercised. What about you? What gifts or talents should you be sharing with others?
Practice Self Care
Eat well, exercise, listen to beautiful music, unplug, rest.
Practice Gratitude
Give thanks by jotting down three things every single day that you are grateful for. They don’t have to be major things. Consider the hummingbird sitting at the feeder outside your kitchen window or an icy cold glass of lemonade on a scorching summer evening.
Remember, friends: It came to pass, not to stay. The ending is a good one. Those of us in Christ Jesus really do live happily ever after.
A prayer for us …
Lord,
Please bring someone into each of our lives who will encourage us and hold us accountable. Let us work hard at our grief recovery so that we may live life well and fulfill the purpose You have for us.
Amen.
