The Discipleship Dare Day Eleven - Comfort

This one hits a little too close to home. Loss does not come just by death. Loss comes in many forms and its pain furrows deep. Unfortunately, because it’s not a death, we don’t allow time to grieve the loss. It could be the loss of health, friendships, job, sense of worth, dreams, peace, financial stability, meaningful possession, opportunities or a position of influence. These losses all bring pain but, with some of them, we expect ourselves to just get over it.

We need to grieve our losses, talk about them, admit the pain and process our thoughts with someone. We need understanding hearts – people to just be there. Just knowing that someone understands how you feel brings comfort. You realize, “I’m not alone.”

In order to be blessed, we must mourn. We have to acknowledge our loss and pain. One September I recognized this underlying sadness in my spirit. I didn’t understand what I was feeling or why. Then I took the risk of talking with someone about it. They asked the right questions and, before I knew it, I had revealed nine losses in my life that had happened in the past few months. I began the mourning process and found the comfort I needed in God and friends.

The God of all comfort is ready and willing to hear our complaints, collect our tears, and hold us close. He understands loss. But God in us wants to comfort others who need a listening ear and understanding heart.

Character is developed in the midst of painful circumstances of loss. Don’t be afraid to mourn your losses because there is a blessing in mourning – comfort.