April 12, 2026
“All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is our merciful Father and the source of all comfort. He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us. For the more we suffer for Christ, the more God will shower us with his comfort through Christ.” 2 Corinthians 1:3-5 (NLT) 
Have you ever felt a pain so deep that no words could fully describe it?
Grief has a way of touching places in us that we didn’t even know existed. Not just physical pain, but the kind that settles quietly in your heart, the kind that shows up in unexpected moments, a memory, a song, an empty chair.
This past Tuesday, I had the privilege of sharing on the topic of grief with Destined To Overcome Ministries under the leadership of Apostle Joy Pascal. What made that moment so meaningful was not just the opportunity to speak but the reminder that grief is not something I have simply studied or shared in different settings; it is something I have lived. And in one of the most painful moments of my life, when I found my husband not breathing, I experienced something I will never forget: the immediate, undeniable presence of God.
It was in that very moment, when I needed peace the most, in the midst of heartache, anxiety, and overwhelming pain, God responded!
Grief is something we all experience, but we don’t always know how to carry it.
Grief brings suffering, discomfort, confusion, restlessness, pain, heartache, and usually plenty of tears. Some grief, like losing a loved one, can be understood only by those who have walked that dark valley before. Grief is like a deep pit. It tortures our souls and robs us of the joy of living. But there is a great theme in the Bible-that although we walk through the valley of the shadow, there can be comfort and hope, as long as God is with us.
Grief is not a sign of weakness; it is evidence of love. And the very places where we feel broken are often the places where God desires to bring His deepest healing. For some, it’s fresh, for others, it’s been quietly sitting in the heart for a long time.
I shared with the group to hold on to God, who meets us in our grief. Not after the tears stop, not when we feel strong again, but right in the middle of the pain, God begins to heal us, “from within.”
“All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is our merciful Father and the source of all comfort. He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us. For the more we suffer for Christ, the more God will shower us with his comfort through Christ. Even when we are weighed down with troubles, it is for your comfort and salvation! For when we ourselves are comforted, we will certainly comfort you. Then you can patiently endure the same things we suffer. We are confident that as you share in our sufferings, you will also share in the comfort God gives us.” 2 Corinthians 1:3-7 (NLT) 
Grief is the experience of coping with loss. Most of us think of grief as happening in the painful period following the death of a loved one. But grief can accompany any event that disrupts or challenges our sense of normalcy or ourselves. This includes the loss of connections that define us. You may grieve the loss of:
- A friend, family member, partner, or pet.
- A marriage, friendship, or another form of kinship.
- Your home, neighborhood, or community.
- Your job or career, or financial stability.
- A dream or goal or fertility.
- Good health.
- Your youth.
You may also grieve your own loss of life as you prepare for death. For example, people diagnosed with terminal illnesses often grieve no longer having the time to experience or achieve things they would’ve liked to.
WHAT HAS THE PAIN OF GRIEF TAUGHT ME: The pain of grief has been one of my greatest teachers. It has taken me to places I would have never chosen to go; however, in those places, I have discovered truths I would not trade.
It Taught Me the Fragility of Life. After finding my husband not breathing, I had to face a reality that many of us try to avoid: life can change in a moment. As a nurse, I have been at the bedside of many when they took their last breath; however, my experience made me realize that my own next breath, or my heartbeat, is not promised. And because of that, I now live with a greater sense of urgency.
I find myself asking: “If this were my last day, would I have done what mattered most?”
Grief has helped me:
▪ set my priorities
▪ distinguish between what is important and what is not
▪ and let go of the small things that once seemed so big.
It Taught Me a New Kind of Serenity. I have faced one of my greatest fears, the loss of my husband, and by the grace of God, I am still here. There is a quiet strength that comes when you realize that the very thing you feared most, you survived. Now, there is a deeper peace within me. Not because life is easy, but because I know that God is sufficient in the hardest places I have experienced.
It Deepened My Relationship with God in a fresh new way. I experienced loss early in life with the passing of my mother, at an early age, and it was during that time that I began to draw closer to understanding the sovereignty of God. But this season of grief has taken that relationship to another level. I cannot imagine facing a day without allowing God to order my day. It is a constant surrender of the invitation to spend time in His presence. It is there that I find strength, comfort, and the grace to keep going. It is that intimacy with God that can carry our deepest pain.
It Gave New Meaning to Communion. Communion is no longer just a symbolic act to me. It is deeply personal. In those sacred moments, I am reminded that Christ gave His life for me and through Him, we are connected to eternity. There have been times during communion when I have felt a deep sense of connection, not only with Christ but with my husband, mother, and friends who have gone before, and in those moments, I am comforted.
It Strengthened My Hope in the Resurrection. Grief has not taken away my hope; it has strengthened it. I know without a doubt that this is not the end. The Apostle Paul reminds us in 1 Thessalonians 4:13-14 that there will be a reunion. There will be a day when we will stand together again in the presence of Jesus. And that confidence continues to grow within me.
“And now, dear brothers and sisters, we want you to know what will happen to the believers who have died so you will not grieve like people who have no hope. For since we believe that Jesus died and was raised to life again, we also believe that when Jesus returns, God will bring back with him the believers who have died.” 1 Thessalonians 4:13-14 (NLT)
It Taught Me How to Live with the “Empty Space.” Grief leaves a space, a void, that is very real. Even with loving friends, daily joys, and the presence of God, there is still a place in my life that remains unfilled. But here is what I have learned: God may not always remove the emptiness, but He will build a bridge over it. And now, I can stand on that bridge – I can live, I can move forward, and I can reach back to help others cross over too.
Yes, grief has a heartbeat. It reminds us of what we’ve lost, but also of what still lives within us: love, faith, and the presence of God. And when we allow Him, that place of pain becomes the very place where His presence meets us, and begins to heal us from within.
“God doesn’t just heal the body, 
He heals the heart.”
HEART CHECK: Pause for a moment and ask yourself:
▪ Where is grief still resting in my heart today?
▪ Have I truly allowed God into that place of pain, or have I tried to carry it alone?
▪ Am I holding on to what I lost more than I am holding on to God?
▪ What part of my heart still needs healing from within?
HEART 
CHALLENGE : Today, I want to challenge you gently:
▪ Take one step toward healing:
▪ Invite God into your grief—honestly and openly
▪ Release one burden you have been carrying
▪ Sit in His presence, even if you have no words
Healing does not happen all at once, but it does begin with one surrendered moment.
STANDING ORDERS FROM THE MASTER PHYSICIAN: 
Standing Order #1: Pour Out Your Heart.
Psalm 62:8: “O my people, trust in him at all times. Pour out your heart to him, for God is our refuge.”
Do not suppress your grief, God invites your honesty!
Standing Order #2: Stay Connected to the Source.
John 15:4: “Remain in me, and I will remain in you. For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine, and you cannot be fruitful unless you remain in me.”
Even in pain, remain in Him; your strength flows from your connection.
Standing Order #3: Guard Your Heart Carefully.
Proverbs 4:23: “ Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life.”
Watch for bitterness, isolation, and hopelessness. Pain may visit, but it does not have to take residence
Standing Order #4: Receive God’s Comfort
2 Corinthians 1:3-4. “All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is our merciful Father and the source of all comfort. He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us.”
God comforts us, so we can comfort others.
Standing Order #5: Hold On to Eternal Hope
1 Thessalonians 4:13-14. “And now, dear brothers and sisters, we want you to know what will happen to the believers who have died so you will not grieve like people who have no hope. For since we believe that Jesus died and was raised to life again, we also believe that when Jesus returns, God will bring back with him the believers who have died.”
Grief is real, but so is the promise of reunion.
God is so Awesome! He Will Inspire You at the Place of Your Deepest Pain!
When I think about my book “Every Beat of My Heart” and ministry, “Healing From Within,” often the source of our deepest pain can be a set-up for our highest purpose. God will use our pain to help others in the same place of their pain!
As a contributing author in this anthology, this is the last paragraph of my chapter: Ultimately, as a widow, I had the choice to make. I could choose to be helpless and maintain an undesirable outlook, or I could view my loss from a new perspective and learn the lessons from the hard places of life. I chose the latter, knowing the lessons could shape the trajectory of my life. I am now able to embrace God’s orchestration of beauty and love created just for me. This includes living a life of divine purpose and service to the Kingdom.
LET’S PRAY: Father God, thank You for Your authoritative, inerrant, and inspired Word, which gives us clear instructions about how we have eternal hope! We come before You with hearts that have felt the weight of grief, the kind of pain that words cannot always express. Lord, You see every tear, You know every loss, and You understand every silent ache within us. Today, we bring our grief to You. Not hiding it, not minimizing it, but placing it in Your hands. Father, meet us in that place, the place where it often still hurts, the place where we still feel the absence, the place where we still may have questions. Wrap us in Your presence, comfort us with Your peace, and strengthen us where we feel weak. Heal our hearts from within layer by layer, moment by moment. Lord, remind us that even in grief, You are still with us. Father, You are still faithful, and You are still our healer. We trust You with our hearts, in the Precious, Powerful, and Preeminent Name of Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen. 
REFERENCES: Logos Bible Study, WORDsearch, Life Application Series, Various Study Bibles