Here are a some practical next steps while you wait.
Watch what is true.
Weep over what will not be.
Whisper sacrificial prayers to God.
There was a season in my life that I named watch, weep, whisper. It was a grieving season of watching dreams die, weeping over the pain of things that would not be, and whispering sacrificial prayers to God through chokes and sobs. I hoped God could hear me.
It was a season of waiting. Letting go. Getting up and facing another dark day of watching, weeping, and whispering. In the middle of it, I was sure it would never end. The long night of my soul longed for morning light.
And then one day a lamp light fell across my feet in the form of this scripture truth. The words popped with fresh breath, an invitation to life, and a hope of next steps. Read these verses for yourself and hear Jesus talking to you about this season…
“Then He (Jesus) called the crowd to Him along with His disciples and said: “Whoever wants to be My disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow Me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for Me and for the gospel will save it. What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul? If anyone is ashamed of Me and My words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will be ashamed of them when He comes in His Father’s glory with the holy angels.””
Mark 8:34-38 NIV
Jesus did not promise us a life of luxury. He did not exemplify the life of royal robes and fine dining. Exactly the opposite was His way. He chose the lower way of humility. He chose the life of obedience to Father God. He chose to complete His mission whatever the cost. And it cost Him everything including His blood, life, and reputation.
I almost want to stop at verse 37. It’s difficult to include the part about being ashamed of Jesus, especially when talking about grief. However, these are His words, the words of Christ, and we can’t duck them.
Part of grieving is recognizing that His ways are higher and beyond our understanding. And so to choose to go through this grieving season with eyes on Him, telling Him what I don’t like, and coming full circle to surrender is to declare to the world that I am not ashamed of Him or His words and ways.
This season is returning. I feel it deep in my bones. My heart is weary with it. My eyes are teary with expectation.… and yet there’s a lamp on my feet because now I know that I know what to do next.
watch. weep. whisper.
There’s so much grief in this world. There are so many dear ones watching dreams die. There are so many people letting go of what will not be. And there are so many image bearers whispering prayers to God hoping He can hear.
It’s my turn to hold out hope to these precious individuals for what is next. My prayer (and I know He hears me) is that I can see you, watch with you, weep with you, and whisper chokes and sobs right alongside you.
He will ask you His question. Will you hear His question? Will you say yes to His next steps? Watch. Weep. Whisper.
We tend to think that grieving means the end. Ashes to ashes. Dust to dust. All is ruined. There is no more life. But with Christ this is wrong thinking. His ways are life, and victory… eventually.
““My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts,” says the Lord. “And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine.
Isaiah 55:8-13 NLT
For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so my ways are higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts.
“The rain and snow come down from the heavens and stay on the ground to water the earth. They cause the grain to grow, producing seed for the farmer and bread for the hungry.
It is the same with my word. I send it out, and it always produces fruit. It will accomplish all I want it to, and it will prosper everywhere I send it.
You will live in joy and peace. The mountains and hills will burst into song, and the trees of the field will clap their hands! Where once there were thorns, cypress trees will grow. Where nettles grew, myrtles will sprout up.
These events will bring great honor to the Lord’s name; they will be an everlasting sign of his power and love.””
Romans 12:15 NLT
That seed goes down into the ground and dies there. But that’s not the end. With the rain and light, life bursts up and sprouts green again. It’s a mystery. If you are grieving today; watch, weep and whisper. I’m doing this too.
Eyes on Jesus and Shine, dear one.
Lisa
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