Ecclesiastes 7:3 Sorrow is better than laughter, for by the sadness of face the heart is made glad.

So often grief has been in my eyes a negative thing. yet, as the above verse notes it is for some good- for it makes the heart glad. In my last post, I wrote about godly grief and worldly grief. How godly grief leads to change with no regrets! And that was huge because it taught me grief doesn’t have to be for nothing. grief is meant to teach, change and allow us to move forward in life with no regrets.

Last week, I spoke of Grief as a teacher. This week grief taught me I have been running from me. Running from the me, I have been too scared to reveal. There’s something so vulnerable writing this blog. I do not have a plan. these blogs feel like journal entries I am just sharing about what my own grief reveals. As simple as that sounds it feels like I am putting myself on blast. I listened to a sermon this week and it said when you are afraid of revealing a part of you- you are holding yourself back from fully being what God has called you to be. And this week I felt that deeply!

Struggling to Accept Me

Why is it so hard to just be me? When people ask me for a prayer request, it has been to be who God created me to be or plainly to be “more Rachelle.” It reminds me of something I asked God long ago. I had once asked God what are you trying to tell me that I am not getting. And immediately, I heard, ” Don’t be afraid of who you are. And it hit like that’s what God wanted me to HEAR. One thing, I am learning is God is far more concerned about who we become. More than just doing right things, he wants the heart to be right, good and whole! As I have walked with God, I would think God was just condemning me. Like oh I didn’t do xyz, God must be mad. When more so, God wants us to live life abundantly and for HIM. So yes, He is calling us to live obediently to His ways above ours. But its just because He is God. It’s because it is GOOD for us to live HOLY. He wants us healthy and whole. When we know he leads us from the position of a good Father- the perspective changes.Like God actually cares about me personally. He is not mad that I am, mad at him. He sees me hiding and struggling and he wants to heal and help.

Be Honest & Tell the Truth

I think my biggest lesson and breakthrough this week is that God truly does care for me. In this journey of writing about all that grieves me, I have wept about things I did not know I was grieved by. What has surprised me is that there has been grief I knew nothing about- and I am shocked when God reveals it. the whole time, God wanted me to see my own grief and allow it to be healed. You can’t heal something you can’t reveal. It reminds me when the Lord says in John 4:23-24, true worshippers will worship the Father in Spirit and truth, For the Father is seeking such people to worship him. God is Spirit, and those who worship him must worship in Spirit and truth.”

Argue with God

We must be honest with God. Honest enough to let Him heal the things we are not happy with even when it comes to Him. I love the verse in Isaiah 43:25-16,” I , I am He who blots out your transgression for my own sake, and I will not remember you sins. Put me in remembrance; let us argue together; set forth your case that you may be proved right.” So argue with him. remember who He is and even more How much he wants to heal you. this verse always made me feels comfortable to bring hard things before God. Although, I am not always good at it! he wants to argue with us! He wants relationship with us. Isn’t that beautiful? He doesn’t run away from the grief in us, the anger in us, or the things we are too afraid to share. He says lets argue together. My prayer and hope is whatever you grievances and issues , you confidently bring them before God.The God who wants you to say the truth and talk to Him about it. It’s easier said than done, but I am working to do the same! Be encouraged saints, Jesus , The man of sorrows, knows how to comfort and relate to his own!

And be reminded, there is a blessing in our mourning. As one of the beatitudes Jesus preached, Blessed are those who mourn, for they SHALL be comforted. Don’t miss our his promised comfort!