The Great Comforter

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

Grief can be a tricky thing. It’s unpredictable and comes in waves. One moment, you can be happy and unable to get out of bed, the next. I had never experienced the loss of a loved one until the death of my father in 2013. At the time, my life was so busy with our little ones and work that I never really took the time to address my feelings. It wasn’t until almost a year later that I woke up weeping and could not get out of bed.

For years after, I would get sad around Christmas time because that was the last time I saw my dad. It was strange. My mother had baked him a peach cobbler for me to take to him. I called all day and was not able to get him. So, we ended up spending the day with some friends. However, after we left their house, there was an urgency to call him. I called. He answered. We went over to visit with him and stayed for a few hours. At the time, I did not know that would be the last time I’d be with him. We received a call a few days later from my stepmom saying he was in the hospital. He died shortly after.

After that day, I felt guilty for not spending the day with him instead of my friends. I kept crying, “I didn’t know you’d be gone”. If only I had known, I would have stayed as long as I could and hugged him a little tighter. It took me some time to get over the guilt. Now, I find comfort in the memories we have of our time with him. My dad was a jokester. So, we have alot of fond memories of the jokes he would tell and the things he would say.

Years later, I would have my second closest loss. My grandmother went home to be with the Lord in 2017. However, it was much different because I was able to pull what I knew about the comforting nature of God from my experience with my dad’s death. I not only experienced the comfort of God’s spirit during loss, I experienced His peace. His presence filled the room. Although my heart was heavy, I couldn’t do anything but praise Him because I felt Him in the room in a very tangible way.

Psalms 147:3  He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.

Over the past two weeks alone, four people I know have experienced the loss of loved ones. My heart goes out to them because I have walked in their shoes. This pandemic has brought about a season of great death, sickness, and unrest in many ways. It is easy to fall into depression if we aren’t intentional about focusing on the hope we have in Christ. Sometimes, that can be the only thing that keeps us going.

Are you experiencing grief or any loss today? If so, let me encourage you that God is near to the brokenhearted. His grace is sufficient for you and can give you whatever you need. Don’t hesitate to cry and release your emotions. He will catch every tear, take your brokenness, and make a testimony of it. His presence will not leave you empty. He will fill your broken places with His love, grace, peace, and mercy. Others may not know the pain you feel, but He can bear the heaviness you carry. Give it all to Him! He is the Great Comforter!

This song, “Comforter”, by Cece Winans has always encouraged my soul and reminds me of God, The Great Comforter. I pray it does the same for you.

Be blessed,

Nia