Hear my prayer, O LORD, listen to my cry
for help; be not deaf to my weeping.
Psalm 39:12
A few years ago Julia lost her mother and 10-year old daughter, and broke her pelvis, in a tragic car accident. Sadly, Julia was unable to able to attend her daughter’s funeral because she was in the hospital recovering from her injuries.
Julia is still recovering from the awful day that changed her life forever. Every day she gets up, gets dressed and seeks to brighten the day for others.
Hope is reawakening, like the first fragile crocuses bursting from snowy ground in springtime.
There many different types of losses in life, and just as many ways that people handle loss and grief.
Loss touches our lives in many ways, whether it’s through divorce, death, or the death of a dream.
A woman learns she can never bear children.
A business owner discovers his partner has deceived him, now he’s financially wiped out.
Foreclosure on your dream home, financial setbacks, or a disabling illness or injury can be life-shattering.
Disaster changes the landscape of your life. You stand amidst the rubble and wreckage, and you wonder how you will ever cope with such losses.
Nehemiah’s story
Bouncing back from tragedy takes time—a lot of time. It also takes comfort, support and an abundance of prayer.
Nehemiah found help and hope in the rubble of tragedy.
Though he lived centuries ago, his life lessons still apply to us today.
A Jewish man in a foreign land, Nehemiah worked for royalty as the cup-bearer to the king of Persia. When he heard news that the city of Jerusalem lay in ruins and its walls had been burned and broken, he was greatly distressed and saddened.
His heart broke for his people. In ancient times, city walls were essential for security and protection against the danger of all kinds of enemies.
Nehemiah prayed to God for the right words to say his boss, a very powerful king. He prayed and fasted, and prayed again. He praised God, asked for forgiveness, and presented his request to the king.
The humble servant finally found favor.
The king not only gave Nehemiah his permission, he also gave him a guarantee of safe passage with special papers and officers to accompany him.
Once in Jerusalem, Nehemiah enlisted help. But most of the volunteer workers were not skilled as wall builders. They set about rebuilding and worked heartily.
Then, worn out and frustrated, the builders’ focus became more on the rubble around them and not the progress they had made.
Nehemiah 4:10 reads, “Meanwhile, the people in Judah said, ‘The strength of the laborers is giving out, and there is so much rubble that we cannot rebuild the wall’” (italics mine).
Have you ever felt like everything is crumbling around you, and the pieces of your problems lay at your feet like the wreckage from a collapsed building?
It’s too much. You can’t do this. You are simply overwhelmed.
Nehemiah was constantly in prayer.
He and his volunteer wall builders regrouped, working hard for a cause they believed in. When opposition came from officials, they prayed—and posted guards to keep safe.
When news from impending enemy attacks came, they prayed—and guarded the city as they kept on working.
Finally, the wall was rebuilt and the city repopulated. They praised God for all He had done for them.
After all that had transpired, they celebrated, as Nehemiah said to the people, “Go and enjoy choice food and sweet drinks, and send some to those who have nothing prepared. This day is holy to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the LORD is your strength” (Nehemiah 8:10).
Rebuilding from loss
God is all about redeeming loss and pain, and healing wounds of all kinds. He is the Master at rebuilding, whether it’s rubble in the streets of Jerusalem or the wreckage in your heart.
We may try to deal with tragedy and the ensuing emotions that follow—sadness, anger, resentment, or guilt—in unhealthy ways.
Sometimes we don’t know what to do, so we do nothing and hope that one day the pain will simply go away.
Navigating the strange and stormy waters of grief is hard. But not impossible. Everyone’s healing journey will be different. Yours may take longer than mine. God may use different methods to lead you from sorrow to joy.
How do you find your way forward through the grieving process?
No matter what type of loss you have incurred, comfort and support are the first steps.
- It can come from the warm embrace of a close friend, a listening ear, or kind words. We need our friends to help us remember what we already know, or to say nothing and simply be there with us in the midst of the pain.
- Many people find soul support as they journal their prayers or their feelings.
- Healing also comes through rest, or a change of scenery. The beauty of nature, God’s creation, is restorative.
- Knowing God is with you, and that He is your comforter, brings peace as the words of Matthew 5:4 affirm, “Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.”
- Healing also comes as you release heart anguish through your tears. Cling to God’s promises, hold on to hope, and surrender your pain to Him in prayer.
- Instead of holding it all inside, it can be helpful to talk about what happened with caring friends, family members or a Christian counselor who can help process the pain.
Grief unprocessed, ignored or denied, festers. Processing the pain brings release and relief.
Worship and the Word
When you are feeling hopeless the most powerful thing you can do is worship. Despair cannot journey where praise and worship reside.
You may be too grief-stricken to know what to say. But you can put on worship music, or even just sit with your eyes closed and ask God to heal your heart as you rest, focusing on His amazing love and gentle comfort. Psalm 92:1-2 tells us,
It is good to praise the LORD
and make music to your name, O Most High,
proclaiming your love in the morning
and your faithfulness at night.
As we give God our praises, He gives us His presence.
Focusing on His character and what He has done for you lift you to a new place. God is great, and He is worthy of our praises. Like rain soaks the desert and brings forth cactus blossoms, worship and prayer bring renewal to a withering heart.
In addition to worship, spending time reading God’s Word brings comfort and hope. Maybe you already read the Bible, maybe you don’t. Now is the time to discover more of the treasure that is the Word of God. It’s your spiritual food, nourishment every day; essential in times of need.
Open the Bible, there’s hope inside.
A Different Kind of Strength
In 2011, a tsunami caused by an 8.9 magnitude earthquake devastated northeastern Japan.
It caused widespread destruction and extensive damage to coastal cities. But the powerful force didn’t stop there; it continued inland flooding and destroying homes, schools and farmland for miles.
The landscape is now a sea of debris—and a once thriving community is a veritable wasteland.
Recently, I watched a TV program about the disaster and one survivor said, “There’s a different kind of strength you find after you’ve survived something terrible.”
Tragedies can undo us; they can also make us stronger.
Life may be challenging for you right now; you wonder how things will ever change. Take heart.
Even in your darkest times, the hope of Christ shines brighter.
When you are weak, He is your strong comfort. When you are exhausted, He is your strength—firm and secure.
The Light of the World shines as your beacon—a lighthouse in the midst of the storm to guide you to safe harbor. And better days ahead.
May our strong and Mighty God bring peace and comfort to you.
