Recognizing Your Grief

“Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning.” Psalm 30:5

How many times have we reconciled some emotion such as resentment, fear, anger or rejection only to resurrect its power again and again? We still give the emotions power even when God has given us powerful revelation regarding His touch and purpose in the emotional pain.

As the verse states, we do feel the joy of reconciliation after a season of frustration and pain but it is easy to have those emotions triggered by unforeseen events or circumstances. It dawned on me that my situation with my in-laws triggered many emotions that mimicked the death of my sister whom I still am grieving. This situation has left me feeling an absence, rejection and somewhat of an abandonment. Their decision has thrown me into an unanticipated season of mourning.

Many times in life we are not even aware that we are trying to process grief – the loss of a relationship, the loss of a job, the loss of security, etc… When we lose someone dear to us it is obvious that we will go through the steps of bereavement, but when grief hides its face within our emotions we do not recognize its sting. I realized this morning that I am in a different form of grief which I must process.

Any sudden loss brings on shock and a difficulty in understanding why it occurred. The anger usually sets in requiring a great deal of spiritual and emotional work on the part of the one wounded. This phase is dangerous because it lures us into spending an extended period of time preventing us from experiencing the deliverance of God if we open our hearts to receive His peace.

Once we depart this phase of grief our hearts and minds are better prepared for the acceptance required to move forward holding the hand of the One who knows where we are going. By applying the 7 stages of grief to any uncontrolled emotion, we are given a process to follow that is plotted out for our success.

Whatever your situation may be, recognizing the power of grief provides a solid focus in the journey through our pain and the hope in the Deliverer.