The pain, the hardships, the struggles, they can all feel like piercing thorns that stab and poke into your most vulnerable moments.
The difficulties, the mishaps and failures can become like so many briars and dry patches that never seem to end.
But if I could encourage you today…
If I could give you one thought…
Blossom amongst the thistles.
Flourish amongst the bramble.
Don’t allow your circumstances to steal your beauty.
Don’t allow the heartache and brokenness to squelch your lovely fragrance and striking brilliance.
Bloom until you thrive and show the world there’s still elegance despite afflictions.
The Spirit of the Lord God is upon Me, Because the Lord has anointed Me To preach good tidings to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives, And the opening of the prison to those who are bound; To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord, And the day of vengeance of our God; To comfort all who mourn, To console those who mourn in Zion, To give them beauty for ashes, The oil of joy for mourning, The garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they may be called trees of righteousness, The planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified.”
The journey of grief seems so long, so treacherous, and so methodical.
If you dwell too much on the journey, you’ll wander along the creek side, lost.
Never stopping for a drink.
The water continues to flow along the path, and it is for your refreshing, your renewal.
For the journey is hard, and it’s not meant for eternity.
Stay alert and remain vigilant in the middle of the walk.
Stay revived and maintain the elements to survive.
Grief is like a thief if you’ll allow him to be.
He will steal days, years, even hours and minutes
He will steal joy and peace, prosperity and comfort.
Don’t let him stay too long, or he will even steal your sanity.
You can’t shut him out; for then, he will only come back with gained force.
But don’t open the gate wide to welcome; for he will consume all territory that is lonely.
Fortify the good within and remain watchful.
Maintain the gates with prayer, steadfastness and faith.
Let him walk through, but swing open the back door with a celebration and fanfare.
For he will always peek through the windows and the trellises, but he cannot set up to abide.
For His anger is but for a moment, His favor is for life; Weepingmayendure for a night, But joy comes in the morning.
Psalm 30:5
As the deer pants for the water brooks, So pants my soul for You, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When shall I come and appear before God? My tears have been my food day and night, while they continually say to me, “Where is your God?” When I remember these things, I pour out my soul within me. For I used to go with the multitude; I went with them to the house of God, With the voice of joy and praise, With a multitude that kept a pilgrim feast. Why are you cast down, O my soul? And why are you disquieted within me? Hope in God, for I shall yet praise Him For the help of His countenance. O my God, my soul is cast down within me; therefore, I will remember You from the land of the Jordan, and from the heights of Hermon, from the Hill Mizar. Deep calls unto deep at the noise of Your waterfalls; All Your waves and billows have gone over me. The Lord will command His lovingkindness in the daytime, and in the night His song shall be with me— A prayer to the God of my life. I will say to God my Rock, “Why have You forgotten me? Why do I go mourning because of the oppression of the enemy?” As with a breaking of my bones, My enemies reproach me, While they say to me all day long, “Where is your God?” Why are you cast down, O my soul? And why are you disquieted within me? Hope in God; For I shall yet praise Him, The help of my countenance and my God.
Psalm 42
Now the Lord said to Samuel, “How long will you mourn for Saul, seeing I have rejected him from reigning over Israel? Fill your horn with oil, and go; I am sending you to Jesse the Bethlehemite. For I have provided Myself a king among his sons.”
It seems funny to give a title to grief as if I am numbering sheets of paper, but yet, how else do you list it?
Grief is evasive and yet, it is so invasive.
Grief is like a cool, summer rain, and yet, it’s like a torrential tsunami that barrels in with no warning.
Grief is both bittersweet and just plain sour.
And when grief comes by new forms and methods consistently over the years, it gets hard to dissect the good in the pain.
Just hold on.
And pray.
A lot.
We were not made for this world.
We were not made for this grief, and that’s why it’s so foreign. That’s why it’s so hard.
We were made for an eternal world, and we will be there before we know it.
He’s coming back soon.
Just hold on and be ready.
And He said to me, “My graceissufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
2 Corinthians 12:9
For His anger is but for a moment, His favor is for life; Weepingmayendure for a night, But joy comes in the morning.
Sometimes, things just don’t turn out as they should.
Sometimes, dreams are stolen, hearts are broken, and everyone is left desolate.
Sometimes, life just sucks, and there’s not a lot of change you can bring.
Don’t shut off the pain.
Don’t hurry up the emotion.
And certainly, don’t act as if it never happened.
Just grieve a while longer.
Just let the tears roll down into a river.
Walk out to the shoreline and breathe a little deeper.
Step out on that mountain and sigh a little louder.
There are no rules that should confine.
There are no restrictions that should bind.
There are no expectations that should be resigned.
Just let the grief roll on until it’s run its course.
Just let the pain push through until its done.
Let your heart grieve a little while longer until it heals.
Let your soul exhale a little wider until it can stand.
And when the healing comes and the strength returns, stand tall and begin to run again.
And it will come.
Someday soon.
The Lord is near to those who have a broken heart and saves such as have a contrite spirit.
Psalm 34:18
Heal me, O Lord, and I shall be healed; Save me, and I shall be saved, For You are my praise.
Jeremiah 17:14
For I will restore health to you and heal you of your wounds,’ says the Lord, ‘Because they called you an outcast saying: “This is Zion; No one seeks her.” ’
I don’t know who Meredith Grey is, but her statement is truth.
When someone else breaks you, breaks your heart, or even your mind, you owe them no apologies for how you repair those things.
You owe no apologies for backing away.
You owe no apologies for being silent.
You owe no apologies for taking time to heal.
If your mouth runs away with you, if your attitude is hateful, or your actions become revengeful or damaging in return,
Then, you may need to apologize.
However, if you are simply healing from your wounds,
If you are repairing what has been broken,
If you are removing yourself from further damage and recklessness,
No apologies needed.
No excuses made.
Just carry on with your recovery.
And everyone else can go on wondering.
You’ve got a comeback due.
You’ve got a race to be won.
You’ve got a championship to be achieved.
Don’t waste time with words or explanations.
Keep on keepin’ on and do what must be done.
You’ve got this.
And it’s even better when He does!
And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope. Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.
You can close the lid and toss them into the bin, believing they’re done.
But as you pick up that larger box to throw them all away,
Those little suckers will come tumbling out like a waterfall.
When you bend over to pick up one, three more flip to the floor.
When you place those back on top, a whole passel come plummeting out,
As if they’ve got to make a nose-dive to the base level.
Almost like dominoes, they come cascading down the path.
Will they relent? Will they end?
They come back with every holiday and trend.
They push their way into every crevice, every crack,
Reaching for a new freedom, seeking shelter from what has been.
Will they be cast down? Will they bend?
I place them in the dark, into the new room
Waiting to surprise a new, non-alerted bloke
Waiting in earnest anticipation to capture another one’s journey bouncing down memory lane.
For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth; and the former shall not be remembered or come to mind. But be glad and rejoice forever in what I create…
Somebody who is reading this right now needs to read that quote again:
Your worth is not determined by someone’s ability to appreciate it.
Too many of us live in a place of less than because we’re looking for someone’s approval, someone’s appreciation, even when we deny that reality.
We walk around every day stating we don’t need someone else’s admiration; yet, one slight deviation in their behavior, and we’re a wreck.
We puff our chests out like a peacock with the confidence to scale the highest height; yet, one small disagreement, and we melt under the weight of feeling we will never measure up.
So, if this is you today, scroll back up and read that quote one more time:
Your worth is not determined by someone’s ability to appreciate it.
I know. I’m still rereading it, too.
We will grow together. We will stretch together. And we will read this together until we get it.
Words often bounce around in the brain, and although, you’ve read them and comprehend the language, it might take longer to understand it within your heart.
You are enough.
You’re not too much or too little.
You’re not over the top or under the bar level.
You’re not pressing too deep or living too shallow.
You are enough.
And how do I know this?
Because He tells me so.
And that is enough.
Now, to just read that quote one more time.
I might truly get it this time around…
Your worth is not determined by someone’s ability to appreciate it!
For You formed my inward parts; You covered me in my mother’s womb. I will praise You, for I am fearfully andwonderfully made; Marvelous are Your works, And that my soul knows very well.
Psalm 139:13-14
But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
My journey didn’t stop with mere time travel or writing; it led me to become one of the most sought-after empaths, a soulful psychic who reads the hidden depths of the human spirit. I’ve been blessed—or perhaps burdened—with an ability that allows me to feel the emotions of people from every corner of time.
I am a licensed psychologist based in Greece. My love for housekeeping has inspired me to create this blog about home management and family relationships. I hope you enjoy reading as much as I enjoyed writing!
Dedicated to movie nerdom, nostalgia, and soul invigoration. In the late 90s, I worked at Blockbuster Video where they let me take home two free movies a day. I caught up on the classics and reviewed theatrical releases for Denver 'burbs newspapers and magazines. Today, while raising two young, beautiful daughters with my amazing wife, I look forward to anything rated R and not Bluey. Comments and dialogue encouraged!
