I’ve learned grief has many different faces. Among them are sorrow, misery, anguish, pain, distress, heartache, agony, torment, affliction, suffering, woe, dejection, and despair ― just to name a few. During the years of caring for my mom before she died, I experienced most of these, and some of them simultaneously as her health worsened. I recall a specific grievous and prolonged timespan in which I earnestly prayed, fasted, and begged for God to change our circumstances. I couldn’t see his goodness in our situation.

Then one day at the end of a lengthy fast, God spoke to my heart as I read Jeremiah 10:19, “This is a grief and you must bear it” (KJV). I knew from that point on, regardless of how fervently I prayed, how long I fasted, or how earnestly I begged, that God didn’t intend to restore Mom to health. Consequently, I asked him to “teach” me to trust in his goodness even when nothing appeared to be good.

A major source of encouragement to me during this process was a quote by Charles Spurgeon: “Remember this, had any other condition been better (good) for you than the one in which you are, divine love would have put you there.” I referred to it often as I resolved to trust in God’s goodness. Now, as I reflect back, I’m thankful that God, in his goodness, allowed me the opportunity to care for Mom as I did.

Whatever you are going through, his steadfast goodness will guide you, too.

Father, thank you that you are good. And all that you do is good. Help me to trust in your goodness even when all my circumstances seem to speak against that truth of who you are. Amen.

Go Deeper — If you are grieving and can’t see the purpose, ask God to change your focus. Then watch for ways God does that through Scripture, nature, a friend, etc, just as he did with Veda.

Read Further — If you are facing a loss of any kind, this article may bring you hope.



Tags: God's Attributes Exodus 34
Photo Credit: Suket Dedhia