God Knows Our Deep Grief… Hello Hump Day readers. I don’t know about you all, but I suspect deep grief is something that we all wrestle with. Our niece Jessica and her hubby, Ben, just went through a very difficult time with grief; Ben’s dad, a wonderful man, had passed away. My twin sister, Emmy, who lives in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, had a wonderful lady that everyone—except one person, loved so much. Sadly, this bully—a nasty woman, just kept hurting her with horrible words, and so much more. She wanted to leave but she couldn’t find another place so she took her life—the nasty woman laughed—so ugly. Tomorrow though, she is now being booted out in this place. My goodness, how awful can we be with one another?

We have all been in a time of deep grief and to be cursed and laughed is terrible. So, I am going to share a story from F.B. Meyer, one of my favorite pastors. Meyer was a man with integrity and filled with hope for people. I hope you enjoy this story and how he shares with this women who is wrestling with deep grief in the loss of her daughter…

A woman recognized the famous pastor F. B. Meyer one day in her neighborhood, and she ventured to share her burden with him. For years she had cared for a crippled daughter who brought great joy to her life. But the daughter had died, and the grieving mother was alone and miserable. Pastor Meyer told her, “When you get home and put the key in the door, say aloud, ‘Jesus, I know you are her. And then be ready to greet Jesus directly when you open the door. And as you light the fire, tell Jesus what has happened during the day. If anybody has been kind, tell it to Jesus. If anybody has been unkind, tell Jesus, just as you would have told your beloved daughter. At night stretch out your hand in the darkness and say, ‘Jesus, I know You are here!”

Perhaps this idea we may wonder if this works—but putting ourselves with talking with Jesus is one of the most important things we can do! Some months later, Meyer was back in that same neighborhood and met the woman again, but at first, he didn’t recognize her. Why? Her face radiated with joy instead of announcing misery. She said to Pastor Meyer, “I did as you told me and it has made all the difference in my life, and now I feel I know Him, my Jesus, my precious Jesus.”

In Psalm 34:18, we hear the lament from David when he fled from King Saul—the man who loved him and now was hunting him down to kill him. Using the MSG, listen to David’s broken heart: “If your heart is broken, you’ll find God right there; if you’re kicked in the gut, he’ll help you catch your breath.”

We may be dealing with deep grief today. Or perhaps we are lonely and just need to know “Is there someone who cares, someone who is here for me?” In Proverbs 18:24 [TPT], we hear David’s words: “Some friendships don’t last for long, but there is one loving friend who is joined to your heart closer than any other!”

So dear friends, when deep grief captures your heart and soul, ask God to remind you that Jesus is a true friend who sticks closer than anyone! Talk to Jesus like you would talk to anyone because Jesus will hear our souls and hurts and Jesus will always listen.

Like the Psalm 34:18 said: “Call out to Jesus because he is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” Jesus is there and Jesus knows what sorrow and grief is; after all, he is the one who died for us so we can be with him forever! AMEN.