June 2024
Almost a year since my grandma has passed. Questions still remain unanswered, but God also remains faithful. Many are the affliction of the righteous, but the Lord delivers them out of it all (Psalms 34:19, NKJV). What I have leaned on and learned during this season of grief is that God truly is a man of His word.
Afflictions are meant to be temporary. They are never meant to last. God allows affliction, so His glory will be made known. Deliverance is a promise. When deliverance takes place, It's a transitional moment out of something temporary into something permanent. Grandma's sickness wasn’t meant to be her whole story. It was a temporary affliction towards a permanent promise. Ultimately God did indeed get the glory, but it was quite literally through her life. No one imagined her death would be the result of a promise being fulfilled. Although, she's no longer in pain, although she's sitting with Jesus in the gates of Heaven, it just wasn’t what we expected. I learned that even when things do not happen the way we want it to, doesn’t mean God didn’t answer.
Mourning is a temporary affliction, a momentary season not meant to last forever. "Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning" (Psalms 30:5, NKJV). Weeping is a maybe, a temporary act. Joy is a promise guaranteed to be fulfilled in the future. I have wept time and time again, but joy has visited my door shortly after. I am weeping now, but I know after this season that this too shall pass. It won’t be long now. Two things are true: my heart still hurts at the thought of my beautiful Cheryl Diane, but my heart is filled with joy at the blessing of knowing her, loving her and getting to be loved by her.
While feeling polar emotions, the Lord continued to stay right by my side through it all. He revealed Himself not only in His Word & His voice, but through community & family. Community is a God thing and He smiles upon it. For where 2 or 3 are gathered, there He will be (Matthew 18:20, NIV). Community has been a place of healing, love and a space to re-discover myself. The ability to surround myself with family where we've mourned together, prayed together, laughed together and shared stories is a testament of the seed my grandmother planted that we didn’t even realize produced had a harvest. We recognize the beauty in having each other and no longer take for granted the gift of being close knitted. Friends reminded me of God’s love, His presence, and their love for me. They gave me the space to grieve, but also knew when I needed words of encouragement, their company, or a kind surprise to lift up my spirits. "Sweet friends refresh the soul and awaken our hearts with joy, for good friends are like the anointing oil that yields the fragrant incense of God's presence" (Proverbs 27:9, TPT). I thank the Lord for surrounding me with authentic friends turned family who are sweet like honey, as well as dependable and loving family. Where the weight of the world feels too heavy, God reminds me of His anchoring spirit through the proximity of loved ones.
Additional Scriptures:
"For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us" (Romans 8:18, NKJV)
"For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory" (2 Corinthians 4:17, NKJV)
Beautiful!!!! Grief is hard for sure, but when you are with a community that is rooted in Christ that's where we can pull out strength from❤️❤️