Don't Park Here

By: Jenifer Metzger

January of 2018 a difficult season of life began when my mother-in-law very unexpectedly passed away. This hard season grew unbearable when my grandfather passed away in December of the next year. Then continued when two years later, one of my best friends and my grandmother passed away only two weeks apart.

Life as I had known it would be changed forever. Nearly seven years since the beginning of this difficult time and there is still deep grief. Grief isn't something you get over. It isn't something that goes away or disappears. It is always lurking around the corner.

There are times I can see a picture of my mother-in-law, grandparents, or dear friend and a smile crosses my face. Yet, there are times it brings me to my knees with tears. The most random thing can set off a series of wonderful memories that bring joy, yet other times those same memories can break my heart.

One thing I learned through my unwelcome journey with grief and loss is that it's okay to drive through, but never park. It's okay to cry and remember and hurt. It's okay to need to lie on the bed and kick and scream from the pain. It's okay need to give yourself a moment. It's okay to feel the grief and pain. But then, we get up, give it to God, and move forward.

Even when I go through
the darkest valley,

I fear no danger,

for You are with me;

Your rod and Your staff—
they comfort me.

Psalm 23:4 CSB

In Psalm, David puts it clearly when he says, "When I go through the darkest valley." The key word there is through. We go through the grief. We go through the pain. We go through the loss. We go through the valley. We go through darkness.  But we never park there.

David also points out that when we go through the valley, God is with us, He comforts us. Psalm 34 confirms that when he tells us, "The Lord is close to the brokenhearted."

The Lord is near the brokenhearted;

He saves those crushed in spirit.

Psalm 34:18 CSB

While we are driving through, He is there. When we come out on the other side, He is there. God is always there.

What are you facing? Are you grieving the loss of a loved one, a broken relationship, a dream shattered? When grief goes from lurking to invading, remember that it's okay to drive through, just don't park.

Discussion:
1. What dark time are you walking through?
2. Do you allow yourself time to grieve then move forward, do you avoid the grief and stuff it down, or do you park in the grief for too long?