Faith and Grief

Unshakeable: A Grief Devotional by Elizabeth M. Thompson

Unshakeable

By Elizabeth M. Thompson

“Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken nor my covenant of peace be removed,” says the Lord, who has compassion on you. Isaiah 54:10

Few things shake our lives like bereavement, a word that literally means to tear. We feel our loved one has been torn from our lives, leaving a ragged edge that easily frays. I look out my window at the distant mountains and feel a little amazed that they stand in spite of the shaking I have endured and I am reminded of God’s faithful and unfailing love for me. More stable and more constant than the mightiest of mountains.

God’s covenant of peace has not been removed from me, though I may not be at peace with my loss, I am at peace with my God.

Lord, thank you for reminding me of your faithfulness and steadfastness today. My life has been severely altered by my loss, yet my God is unaltered. You remain the same yesterday, today and tomorrow. Thank you for your covenant of peace which surrounds me and strengthens me and stabilizes me in the midst of turmoil. Amen

The Steadfast Mind a Grief Devotional by Elizabeth M. Thompson

The Steadfast Mind

By Elizabeth M. Thompson

You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you. Isaiah 26:3

The griever's mind struggles for steadfastness. Many thoughts and feelings battle for control of our minds: faith, fear, sorrow, hope, hopelessness, longing to remember while trying to forget.

How do we keep a steadfast mind in times of pain and turmoil? We choose. We choose which thoughts to dwell on and which thoughts to disregard. We choose to cling to God's Word and to our Lord, Jesus Christ. We ask God for a steadfast mind and a heart that is sensitive to his leading.

As we take our thoughts captive and measure them against absolute truth, we find a peace that floods our souls.

Lord, create in me a steadfast mind. Protect me from thoughts and feelings that would shatter my serenity. Keep me in your perfect peace, I pray. Amen

I've Been on a Little Field Trip by Elizabeth M. Thompson

For those of you still faithfully checking my blog to no avail, I wanted to let you know I have been on a little field trip. You could say I was doing some intensive lab work, furthering my grief education. Yeah, isn't that fun? But here I am. I have learned some interesting things which I plan to share with you in the days and weeks ahead. Stay tuned....