All Kinds of Grief
Sharon W. Betters
Today’s Treasure
Dear Friends,
Mention the word “grief” and we typically think about our response to the death of a loved one. But if you have lived any length of time, you most likely have experienced grief of a different kind. My book, Treasures in Darkness, focuses on living in the Land of Grief after the loss of our sixteen-year-old son, Mark, but many who have read it who have not lost a child have told me that the principles and grief principles I share helped them navigate their own grief that had nothing to do with the physical death of a loved one. Some of the griefs they mentioned include:
Grief when falsely accused, punished and abused
Grief when trapped by life’s circumstances, whether it is in an abusive relationship, not enough money for the basics
Grief over the loss of a friend
Grief when betrayed by someone you love
Grief driven by the loss of dreams
There are all kinds of grief, and throughout scripture, we discover people like us whose hearts broke because of deep sorrow and disappointments.
This week, guest writer Colette Fabry unpacks the grief parts of the lives of Hagar, David and Job and as a fellow griever, I heartily urge you to walk with Colette for a few minutes each day as she not only uncovers deep sorrow but also the hope and joy the Lord can provide in the darkness.
Colette is the founder of A Right Heart Ministries, where she and her staff assist grieving individuals, guiding them to recognize God as the healer of all brokenness.
Colette is the owner of Rochester Anger Management, a company dedicated to providing hope and healing for those in need. She holds a Master's degree in counseling and theology and is nationally certified in conflict resolution as well as grief and loss. For the past 28 years, Colette has successfully taught problem-solving and strategies to overcome everyday obstacles. Colette is a wife, mother of three sons, grandmother, a nationally known speaker, and author. She enjoys reading, studying, writing, and says God’s greatest accomplishment in her life has been raising her sons. She cherishes time spent with her grandchildren.
In Tuesday’s devotional, Colette writes:
“Grief can be long and drawn-out sorrow, like Hagar’s experience in Scripture. She endured years of grief and may have wondered how her life had come to this. Hagar was a slave with no control over her own life and rights, including her body. She was owned by a woman named Sarah, who arranged for Hagar to conceive a child with her husband, Abraham, due to her own barrenness. Even Hagar's child would not be her own. Imagine being treated like mere property.
After Hagar conceived a baby boy, her situation worsened. She faced both physical and emotional cruelty from the now-jealous Sarah.
When the pain became unbearable, Hagar fled into the wilderness, alone and heartbroken. In this desolate place, God, the Creator of the Universe, found her and called out to her. The Most High God spoke to her! This divine encounter transformed Hagar. In Genesis 16:13, she called God El Roi, meaning “the God who sees.” This moment must have been miraculous for Hagar. For so long, she had felt invisible, not seen as someone with feelings and needs, yet Almighty God saw her.
…The God who saw Hagar is the same God who sees you in your grief. He sees injustice, the pain of infertility, abuse, loss, and rejection. Even when God seems absent, the same God who went before Hagar and ordained a plan for her life sees you and has a plan for yours.
God is doing a deep work when things look unexplainable. He has a plan and promises unshakable hope, even amid endless tears. You may not know what comes next, but you must trust that God is working out a plan. What He is doing will transform you, revealing a glimpse of a God who will astonish you. You are not forgotten, just like Hagar!”
Dear friends, like many of you, there are times in my life when I don’t feel seen. And such feelings can take me into even darker places. In those moments, my Father reminds me of these beautiful words that we just heard from Colette, “God sees me.” The more I know about God’s faithful love and grace, the more these words mean to me. I do not know what you are facing today, but God does. He is the God who sees you. Soak in these few words and ask the Lord to give you grace to know He sees you. And friends, if you're wandering in the Land of Grief, we have a free gift to help you: an audio copy of my book, Treasures in Darkness. This is a no-strings-attached gift for you or perhaps a friend. Find instructions on where to download this free audiobook at markinc.org/grief-resources.
Treasured by Him,
Sharon
LIFE-GIVING ENCOURAGEMENT
Friends, Hagar’s circumstances were horrific enough to push anyone out into a wilderness of despair. God’s grace turned her heart toward Him. I pray you will plead with Him to hold you tighter, to teach you through His Word more about His grace and presence.
PRAYER
Father, there is at least one woman reading or hearing this devotional who feels abandoned and alone. Will You, Father, speak to Your daughter, that one who loves Jesus but is too weary and broken to remember You are there, that You see her?
