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Today, I want to give you a glimpse into a journey I have been on that I believe you will be able to relate to—a journey through grief, loss, and ultimately, hope.

Think of it as peering through a window into the past, exactly eight years ago, and just four months after my husband was carried by the angels into Glory. As I wrote the words in my journal that serve as the foundation for this devotion, I found myself consumed by grief and wrestling with the challenge of how to navigate life without him.

Let’s crack that window and peer into July 17, 2016!

Recently I came across a video by Danny Gokey, titled “I Will Not Say Goodbye,” and it resonated with me so much. He wrote the song shortly after his first wife died and it spoke to the very depths of my own grief, echoing the raw sentiments I’ve been wrestling with in the wake of losing my precious husband.

How can I bid farewell to someone so very dear to my heart?

Saying goodbye is one of the hardest things we have to do in life, isn’t it? It’s as if the words get caught in our throats, refusing to be spoken. But as I reflected on the words of scripture a profound truth emerged—a truth rooted in the unshakable foundation of Jesus Christ’s sacrifice on the cross and His triumphant resurrection from the dead. Through His grace, I realized that I don’t have to say goodbye to Vic forever. Because of Jesus, the grave doesn’t get the last word and I can rest in the assurance that one day, I will see him again. And that, my friends, fills me with an indescribable hope.

“Brothers and sisters, we want you to know about people who have died so that you won’t mourn like others who don’t have any hope. Since we believe that Jesus died and rose, so we also believe that God will bring with him those who have died in Jesus.”
I Thessalonians 4:13-14 (CEB)

Yet, even in the midst of this hope, there is still pain.

Oh, how I miss him! The void left behind by his absence creates an ache in my heart that is hard to dismiss. Yet, amidst the sorrow there is a glimmer of joy—a joy found in the knowledge that this separation is not permanent. It’s just a temporary pause in our journey together.

Another song resonates deeply with me as I listen to Lauren Daigle’s song, “Trust in You”. The song reminds me that EVEN WHEN life doesn’t go as planned, when God doesn’t move mountains or part the waters, I can still trust in God, His unfailing love and His faithfulness that endures through every trial and tribulation.

Following Lauren through YouTube, I found a video in which she talks about her own grief and the impact that the loss of her grandfather had on her. She speaks of CHOICE—choosing trust over bitterness, gratitude over anger. Her words echo the truth of Romans 8:28 (NIV)

“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”

Her words struck a chord within me, echoing a recurring theme in my devotions and GriefShare workbook—GRATITUDE.

Gratitude? In the midst of grief?

It sounds so counterintuitive. Still, I feel God’s gentle nudging to shift my focus from the pain of loss to the blessing of love; for all the memories, all the joy, all the love I shared with Vic. It’s not an easy task, I’ll admit. The pain is still very raw, the wounds still fresh. But I believe that as I choose gratitude, I’ll begin to find healing and restoration.

So, my dear friends, I invite you to join me on another journey—a journey of embracing hope amidst grief, of trusting in God’s faithfulness, and of choosing gratitude in every circumstance. For in Him, we find the strength to carry on, the comfort to endure, and the hope to believe that one day, our hearts will beat again, as Danny Gokey sings in another one of his songs.

Dear Lord, it’s hard to have a heart of gratitude when the pain takes up so much room in there. Please help us reflect on the blessings of love and allow gratitude to take us on a journey of healing and restoration. And may Your peace, which transcends all understanding guard our hearts and minds as we also focus on Christ Jesus and the hope of eternity!