Overcoming a Significant Loss

Let us pray for those who are struggling to overcome a significant loss.

Grief is a natural response to loss. After a person has a surgery such as rotator cuff, it can take up to a year to gain full range of motion again. A significant loss can be like that emotionally. It is a wound that requires time to heal.

The Good News is God doesn’t abandon us during our times of grief. God assures of His help in His Word. For example...

“The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.” [1]

When we cannot be our normal self, due to grief, some may distance themselves from us, but the Lord draws near to us. The word for crushed in the original Hebrew means to be pulverized into powder. When a person is crushed, the Lord is ready to save them and restore them. It is a very vulnerable and fearful place to be. Praise the Lord! He does not depart from the broken heart and the crushed spirit; He provides His presence and salvation.

“The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, because He has anointed Me to preach the Gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed.” [2]

What did the Holy Spirit’s anointing work Jesus to do? Preach good news to the poor! Heal the brokenhearted... and so forth. God’s Spirit worked through Jesus in this way, and He is the same Holy Spirit today. He wants to work through our lives in similar ways.

“And when Jesus went out, He saw a great multitude; and He was moved with compassion for them and healed their sick.” [3]

The word for compassion in the original language of this passage is σπλαγχνίζομαι. It means to have the bowels yearn, i.e. (figuratively) feel sympathy—have (be moved with) compassion. Jesus actually feels a stirring in His gut when He sees people who are hurting.

“I would have lost heart, unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Wait on the Lord; be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart; wait, I say, on the Lord!” [4]

Wait on the Lord! Let Him heal you! Don’t go alone. It is hard to rule over your emotions when something so emotionally difficult is thrown at you. Let the Lord encourage you! He is the One who strengthens faint hearts. His goodness will come to you in many ways that you did not imagine or expect as you wait on Him.

[1] Psalm 38:14
[2] Luke 4:18
[3] Matthew 14:14
[4] Psalm 28:13-14