::Grief::

Keep pressing on...

Be merciful to me, LORD, for I am in distress; my eyes grow weak with sorrow, my soul and body with grief.

Psalm 31:9

Have you ever had something that happen that left you devastated? Something that just left the weight of the world on your shoulders? Maybe your life is just stressful in general. Maybe a bad home life, or the stress of going to school just have you feeling beat to a pulp. Or maybe the loss of someone close to you has left you feeling like an empty shell. We all go through things in life that are devastating; things that bring us grief... Even Jesus had to go through times like these. The example He set for us never ceases to amaze me. When He was told that His cousin and friend, John the Baptist had been beheaded, he longed for solitude. He just wanted to escape it all, so He left out onto the lake in a boat. The crowd on the other hand didn't feel the loss as He did. They saw where He was going and beat Him there. They were waiting for Him before He even reached land. What did He do? Did He get upset because they just didn't get it? Did He get flustered because life kept going even when He was hurting? No. He took compassion on the people, and He kept going too. While He was weak with sorrow, He kept moving forward. At the time He wanted to grieve the loss that He felt, He still took time to help others. It was that very day that He fed 5000 with just 2 fish and 5 loaves of bread. He could have stayed on the boat and sulked, I probably would have, but He didn't. That is such an inspiration to me. Even when I feel like I can't go on, I remember that Jesus had that point in His life too, but He kept moving forward. When life gets me down, I remember what Jesus did when He was sad. He took the time to grieve and pray, but then He got up and kept going. I'm so thankful for His example.

Reflection:

Is there something in life that is causing you grief? The loss of a loved one, the stress of life, or some other major problem?

Application Step:

Take some time to read through Matthew 14 today. When things happen that bring you grief, remember that it's okay to take some time for yourself, but it's also important to get back up and keep moving forward.

Prayer:

Father God, sometimes life is hard. Things happen that really bring me down and I don't always understand why. I pray that I look to You for my comfort during these times, and that I can remember that while it's important to grieve, that it is also important to keep going. Even though I hurt, the world doesn't stop. Please be my strength during times like these. In the name of Your Son, I pray. Amen.