Dear friend,
God’s love is relentless, and even in the deepest pain, His compassion remains. It’s difficult to convey just how grateful we are for His sustaining faithfulness through our grief journey.
Sometimes when walking through grief and loss, what is needed more than anything, is love and GENTLE encouragement, as described here:
We appeal to you, dear brothers and sisters, to instruct those who are not in their place of battle. Be skilled at gently encouraging those who feel themselves inadequate. Be faithful to stand your ground. Help the weak to stand again. Be quick to demonstrate patience with everyone. 1 Thessalonians 5:14 TPT
When you experience a tragic loss or a major incident in your life, it is very likely YOU are not in your place of battle—you have been knocked off your horse and injured—and you need someone to gently and patiently help you to stand again.
I (Jill) remember early in our grief journey, we felt unqualified and hopeless to ever be used in ministry again. Our thoughts were consumed with how we had fought the battle of our lives, and lost. We felt precisely what this verse is describing—completely inadequate. We desperately needed someone skilled at gently encouraging those who feel themselves inadequate. This entire verse is a perfect description of the comfort needed during grief.
And I love that it says to be faithful to stand your ground, then it says to help the weak to stand again. It is like the airline announcement, “Put your own mask on first, then help someone else put theirs on.”
It is very possible, your friend or relative who is grieving, quite literally, cannot even stand on their own yet. They need someone who is faithful, skilled, and GENTLE to help them eventually stand, and then walk again.
Something we realized in our own experience was, after everything crumbled, we weren’t battling any longer, we were just trying to survive. Times of grief are without a doubt, survival mode versus battle mode.
Of course we need faith and hope in the midst of tragedy, but let’s be real. When something happens, like the tragic loss of a loved one, you are knocked down, confused and wounded. You’re not in the battle anymore, you are in survival mode—but this verse helps us realize that being in survival mode is okay:
This is exactly what Charlie and I experienced. We were so broken, weak, and frail, we could hardly breathe. But He took hold of us in our human frailty and empowered us in our weakness. And praise God for the Holy Spirit, who literally prayed for us when we couldn’t.
Even if you don’t realize it, the faithfulness of God and the ministry of the Holy Spirit are surrounding you––and even praying for you. He is bringing healing to your heart, mending your soul, and pouring out love and comfort, one layer at a time.
Praising God for His sustaining faithfulness,
We have friends who live in the small Texas town that was “ground zero” for the flooding and ensuing tragedy. Their entire community of 28,000 is grieving, because every single person knows someone who has perished. Their lives are forever changed, and they will be needing patience, love, and support for a very long time. Please continue to pray with us for their recovery. And let’s all ask the Lord if there are any practical things we can do to help, whether physical or financial.
If you would like to help but are not sure where to start, here are some links for charities we personally donate towards and recommend. These are “boots-on-the-ground” organizations who will be involved in extended recovery efforts in the aftermath of the devastating Texas Hill Country floods:
Mercy Chefs – As families rebuild their lives, Mercy Chefs is showing up with hot, chef-prepared meals, offering a moment of relief to the families, the thousands of volunteers and clean-up crews. Working tirelessly in the Texas heat, they are helping others who are starting over with what little they’re able to salvage. They are also opening a long-term “recovery kitchen” in Kerrville, to continue supporting the on-going needs of the community.
Samaritans Purse – Volunteer teams from around the country, serving in Jesus’ Name, are assisting devastated homeowners with major cleanup: scraping mud out of buildings, removing ruined furniture, ripping out damp drywall, removing fallen trees from yards, sifting through the ashes of a person’s home, and repairing and rebuilding destroyed houses and neighborhoods.
Click the links to donate directly to these charities.
Charlie & Jill are approaching their 45-year anniversary in ministry. We would love to hear how the ministry and their music has impacted your life. Click the link for a quick, easy space to share.
To learn more about walking through grief—and to help others survive the pain of loss—order our book: When Loss Comes Close to Home: Finding Hope to Carry On When Death Turns Your World Upside Down.
Whether you’re grieving or walking beside someone who is, our brand new USB, “The God Of All Comfort” offers real hope, real help, and heartfelt wisdom.
Join us for a time of comfort and encouragement on the Finding Hope Podcast with Charlie & Jill LeBlanc, Getting Through What You Never Asked For.
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