What Grief Has Taught Me (And What You Need To Know)

“The Lord is near to the brokenhearted…” Psalm 34:18

It’s officially been nine months. Nine months without that sweet encourager, prayer warrior, faithful friend, and mother of mine. Not a day goes by that I don’t think of her and miss her. I will always miss her. My life has forever changed. As a dear friend of mine said, “You will never be the same.” As much as I hate change, I’m learning her statement is very true. I’ve had to slowly and painfully, but prayerfully accept that. Whether you walk the grief journey with God or not, whether you want to persevere or not, grief can teach you invaluable lessons. During my thirteen week journey through my GriefShare support group, we spent time discussing lessons of grief. So I’d like to share three lessons I have learned thus far.


Grief Is Messy

Because grief is intense, it will be messy. It is chaotic, painful, and confusing. I remember thinking for so long that I was going crazy and losing my mind. My emotions were all over the place, and I couldn’t remember things. I was experiencing what is often found in the “tangled ball of emotions.” Your body is experiencing so many different emotions over and over again, and it is exhausting. Eventually, I learned that this is normal. Any time you love someone deeply, you will experience grief when that person is no longer here in this lifetime with you.

With this messiness comes the unpredictability of grief. You may think you are making progress in your grief, but then you hear that one song or pass that one restaurant your loved one loved. And then you are hit with the fresh weight of the pain all over again. I remember the first time this happened to me around Christmas time. I somehow thought looking at Christmas decorations would be comforting when actually it did the opposite. Seeing the words “Oh Holy Night” on a piece of wall decor caused me to have a flood of tears in the middle of Wal-Mart. Any hymn or Tammy Wynett’s famous Stand By Your Man takes me back to a multitude of memories with my mom. Those unexpected moments sting, but it’s healing to feel the pain and express your emotion rather than suppress it.


Grief Is Best Lived In Community AND With Solitude

This is a hard one to live out. It takes work. But there are benefits to both. For many it’s easy to sink into a deep depression or resort to solitude. I know the feeling. You think no one will understand what you are feeling. You may feel alone in this season because you don’t see anyone else walking through it perhaps. But when you do choose the moments of isolation, remember God is still with you even there. Try to make the most of those moments with Him; God wants to walk through that pain and darkness with you. He loves you, and grieves with you.

On the other hand, we were “created for community” as we often hear. In the early days of grief, however, sometimes being with people is the last thing we want. It can be exhausting trying to have a conversation or even just getting out of bed in the morning. We may worry what other people are thinking or maybe someone has already said something insensitive to you. When one is not going through grief, it can feel awkward, and a lot of times people don’t know what to say, so they may not say anything at all, which can be hurtful to some too. Some simple but healthy ways to find this community could be a support group, a walk with a friend or mentor, or just sharing a meal with a few people. Not only can we experience God’s presence with us, but he also sends amazing people into our lives to walk through the hurt with us.

“Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.” Matthew 5:4

It’s Ok To Be Mad At God

God doesn’t expect us to be perfect. It’s very normal to feel anger in grief, especially at God. I still have days where I find myself mad at God. I have questioned him over and over. I have questioned his goodness. I have told Him His plan could have gone a better way, that His way has caused more stress than peace. I have explained to him that this all seems so unfair. But the important thing is not to let that anger stay there, but rather talk to God Himself about it. He wants to know our hearts and feelings, even when we are angry. We are blessed to have a Heavenly Father who we can always come to with our every need and frustration. He is always present with us, and He longs for us to come to Him. “For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses” as Hebrews 4:15 reminds us. He is our true Comforter even when we may not desire to be comforted.


No matter where you are in your grief, you are not alone. For thirteen weeks I would go sit in a room with a small group of grieving individuals, and we would attempt to work through the messes together. People are grieving all around us. I still have nights of crying myself to sleep. I have moments of desperation where I tell God, “I would give anything just to have one more moment with my mom.” I still have days where I struggle to get out the door to church. Wherever you are, remember to press into God, tell Him how you feel, and cling to the hope we have in Him. You won’t feel this a first, but it will help heal your grieving heart.

“Grief never ends…But it changes. It’s a passage, not a place to stay. Grief is not a sign of weakness, nor a lack of faith…It is the price of love.” ~Author Unknown~

Similar Posts

13 Comments

  1. Hi Gail, thank you very much for a wonderful article even though it’s a painful one, bt very helpful, to me you sound as though you’ve gone through the passage of grief, my mother still lives bt we don’t get along, We are not in speaking terms for a while now, I tried to solve the issue bt with no success, even though I miss her at times, bt with no way through, thank you very much.

  2. My condolences to you and your family.,that was such a wonderful message you wrote, we all learning and growing through other people,.you,being one of them, thank you so much for sharing with us.

  3. Im so sorry you lost your mom. I can really empathize. What a helpful article you’ve written here!

    It’s been over 4 years since I lost my mom and 30 years since my dad passed. Truly I still miss them. I am comforted knowing they are okay, and sometimes I get to visit with them in my dreams. But the first year is hard. After my mom died and the estate had been handled 6 months later, I collapsed for a year, did nothing but stare off into space. There were 17 other deaths that went with hers in the same 12 month period. So I was on emotional overwhelm and exhaustion…I had taken care of my mom with Alzheimers for 6 years till her death.

    Grief takes what it takes for as long as it takes. Yet it proved to be a doorway towards a larger healing in my life. It took me down a path where, because pain was so intense, I was compelled to address other areas I had not been able to until then.

    But I think any intense pain and suffering can be a doorway towards healing if we are willing and ready.

    I am so grateful now. My mother’s death changed me in profoundly deep ways that continue to shift my life and ideas about who I am and my place on earth–I didn’t see coming. I am confident that that as you journey through this, you, too, will if you haven’t already discover this.

    Oh, and thanks for following my blog!!

  4. Thankyou for the article on grief. I think it is very important that feelings of grief are acknowledged and validated. I can empathize. There is nothing like losing our mom’s and/or our dad’s as well, or our spouses.

    Within the last 10 years (I am now 60), both my husband & I have lost all 4 of our parents. I have also lost a brother, an uncle, a niece, 2 best friends to breast Cancer, and few other close friends besides. Thanks to the Lord and my faith, I am realizing more and more that death is a natural part to life we all must face.

    But one thing that had really spoke to me over the years was a dear friend who mentioned that even if my lost loved could come back, she wouldn’t want to, because there is nothing greater than heaven!!! We can all have heaven to look forward to! I am glad they are there!!! I look forward to seeing my loved ones when I go and I am sure I will not want to return here, because I know Jesus is preparing a special place for all of us in eternity!

  5. I can relate as I lost my mom 3 years ago. When you are disabled and rely on that person primarily for living, it is scary. Fortunately, I have found unexpected support and comroderie from my older sister.

  6. I’m sorry for your loss, but I’m sure your mother is proud of you for writing this and ministering to others. I’ll be praying for you!

  7. Your sister shared this article, and I know it’s hard to lose someone. I lost my mother in Jan. We sang a song at church the other day ( In the Rose Garden ) that was one of her favorites and yes even tho it’s a good memory of her I still would love to have that one day with her. This article is helpful even with those who have family members that have decided to bow out of your life ( a loss too ! ). Prayers go out for you and your family Gail.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *