The Shocking Truth About Grieving That Will Change Your Life Forever!
I know what you’re thinking… “Why are we talking about grief?! This is so depressing! I’m out!”
But the truth of the matter is that at some point in our lives, we will experience grief or grieving of some sort. When we think about grieving, we often envision a painful process that we must endure before we can return to our "normal" lives. But what if the truth about grieving is far more profound and life-changing than we ever imagined? This shocking revelation could forever alter your understanding of loss and healing.
Grieving: It’s more common than you think
Grief is a universal experience, yet it remains deeply personal and unique to each individual. We all go through it, but the way we process and cope with grief can vary widely. Traditionally, grief is seen as something to overcome, a dark tunnel with a light at the end. But what if you can’t see the light at the end of the tunnel? What if you feel like you’re continually free-falling and can't grasp onto anything? You wonder if this grieving will ever end.
The Shocking Truth
Grief is not linear, nor a checklist, nor something one can just get over. Grief varies from person to person. And one can grieve multiple things all at the same time. From the actual loss of life to the death of a dream to relationships, grieving happens all the time. To be honest with you, I’ve been grieving since before 2020. Beyond a global pandemic, I had to endure grieving the breakup of a long-term relationship, leaving a good job with benefits because God told me it was time to go (Why I Left My ‘Good Job’ Without a Backup Plan—Because God Said So), and now not having money and a constant paycheck. I had to grieve being a new business owner and ALL that that entails. I found out someone I love was sick and had to grieve that diagnosis and then her death. So basically everything in my life, I had to grieve. The life I thought I would have is now a distant memory, and the life that I am currently living is present and staring me in my face, expecting me to move. But sometimes I can’t move. At times, I feel stuck and wonder if my life will ever get better. Yet, I am reminded of some good news.
It’s a truth I have come to appreciate now, definitely not in the moment of grieving and suffering. And that truth is this: Grief can be a catalyst for profound personal transformation. If you allow it, grief can push you to reevaluate your priorities, deepen your empathy, and develop inner strength you never knew you had while drawing you near to our Heavenly Father, who loves and cares for you deeply.
Psalms 34:18 CSB says, “The Lord is near to the brokenhearted; He saves those crushed in spirit.”
It's not just a painful phase to endure but an opportunity for growth, self-discovery, and deep emotional evolution; God saves us. He is with us.
“Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be afraid, for I am your God. I will strengthen you; I will help you; I will hold on to you with my righteous right hand” Isaiah 41:10 (CSB).
Grief has changed my life. I found that what I thought I lost, God redeems and restores far more than I can ask, think, or imagine.
Transformative Impact
When you embrace grief as a journey, you open yourself to a range of positive changes. This perspective allows you to find meaning in your loss and channel your pain into personal development. My grief has shown me who and what I was living for (and it wasn’t God). Grief and suffering opened me up for conversations around control and anger, things I didn’t know I was internally dealing with. Once I finally acknowledged and became honest with myself and God, He made room for me to discover new ways of thinking and new passions. He allowed me to strengthen current relationships and form new ones. I found a renewed sense of purpose in my life (which I believe He also wants for you).
Steps to Embracing Grief that helped me
1. Acknowledging pain: Accept that your grief is a part of you and that it's okay to feel deeply. Be honest with how you are feeling, and most importantly, be honest with God. Cry, scream, cuss, be angry. I promise you, it’s okay. God already knows how you are feeling and what you are thinking. Give yourself permission to explore what He already knows you are feeling and thinking. Remember, He sees you, He cares for you, and He loves you deeply.
2. Reflect on Your Journey: I use journaling my prayers as a tool to explore how grief has changed me and what lessons I've learned. I personally love journaling. It allows me to vent and let out my frustrations while allowing me the ability to go back and see the growth, or lack thereof, and transformation God has made in my life over a period of time.
Here’s a PDF I created with some journal prompts for you to use during your time with God that have truly helped me on my journey.
3. Seek Growth Opportunities: Look for ways to turn your grief into a source of strength, such as helping others who are grieving or by pursuing new interests. As I get older, I realize that my life isn’t just about me. Yes, I am to look like and reflect Christ in my life, AND my life is not my own. I may go through something not because I made a mistake or am being punished, but maybe, just maybe, God has allowed certain things to happen so that I can help someone else go through a similar situation. What if God uses you to bring hope and light from the other side and let someone know that they are okay and that they will survive? I believe God allows certain things in order for us to connect with His other children.
Be Encouraged
Grief is not just a burden to bear; it's an opportunity to become a stronger, more compassionate version of yourself. Embrace this truth, and let it guide you towards a brighter, more fulfilling future. This life is more than you can even dream, think, or imagine. Will you be a vessel for God’s glory?
With love,
Leandra
“For His anger is but for a moment, His favor is for life; Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning.” Psalms 30:5 NKJV
Need prayer? Go to the contact tab or send prayers directly to hello@cocoabloomlife.com
