For those who may not be as familiar with my testimony, I have experienced a succession of losses leading into the middle of 2024. In December 2023, my family experienced two losses, one occurring on Christmas Day and one every month thereafter until the most significant one occurred on May 28, 2024, when my maternal grandfather inherited eternity.
I have cried and grieved so much. And I am not done. Grief is such a complex experience. You go from hysterically laughing to crying without any notice. It's strange and completely human. This season is different and reminds me of what I have encountered before. I'm growing in this walk and learning a new level of the nature of God and His ability to heal in ways I never knew He would. I won't always feel this way, but sweeping my human, visceral thoughts underneath the proverbial rug won't get to the root of what I have been waiting to share for so long.
There is a heaviness that some of you may carry, a constant weight on your heart that seems impossible to lift. It's the weight of perpetual grief—the feeling of mourning that never seems to end. Grief can take many forms. It may come from the loss of a loved one, the end of a relationship, a missed opportunity, or even the death of a dream. For some, grief has become a way of life, an endless cycle of sorrow and despair. But I am here to remind you today that perpetual grief is not your portion.
I remember a time in my life when grief was my constant companion. It felt as though I was always grieving something or someone—a person I had lost, a relationship that had ended, or an opportunity that had slipped through my fingers. The grief was so overwhelming that it clouded my vision, making it difficult to feel the love of the Father. I felt abandoned, rejected, and far from God in those moments. I wondered if I would ever find joy again and if I would ever have a reason to laugh genuinely.
But then I came across a scripture that changed everything: "The Lord will perfect that which concerns me" (Psalm 138:8, NKJV). I began to repeat this verse to myself daily. Even when the pain of grief threatened to overwhelm me, I would quietly whisper, "The Lord is perfecting that which concerns me." I repeated it over and over, despite my circumstances, until one day, something shifted in my heart. Instead of sobbing the words in desperation, I said, "Thank You, Lord, for perfecting that which concerns me." At that moment, the power of God's truth began to break the chains of perpetual grief.
God's truth is greater than our feelings. Our emotions can be fickle and ever-changing with the tides of our circumstances, but God's Word is steadfast and true. His promises are unchanging, and His love for us is unfailing. The Lord has not called you to a life of unending grief. In Isaiah 61:3, we are reminded that God gives us "beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness." This exchange is available to each of us—God desires to lift our grief and replace it with His joy and peace.
If you are in perpetual grief today, I encourage you to hold on to the truth of God's Word. Just as He did for me, He is perfecting that which concerns you. Trust in His promises, and believe He is working all things together for your good (Romans 8:28). Even amid your pain, know that God is with you and will never leave or forsake you (Hebrews 13:5).
When you go to rest tonight, if you are lying in bed with tears streaming down your face, feeling the weight of grief pressing down on you, I want you to quietly say, "God is perfecting that which concerns me." Repeat it until it becomes the truth you hold onto in your sorrow. And as you do, allow the Holy Spirit to comfort you, to remind you that perpetual grief is not your portion. Joy is coming, for weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning (Psalm 30:5).
May the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:7). You are loved, seen, and perfected by the One who holds you in His hands. Perpetual grief is not your portion—God's joy, peace, and love are.
In His Service,
❤️ Teacher Nina B.
P.S. I would love to pray for you. If you have a prayer request you can submit it here or via email at nina@fade2bold.com.
P.S.S. If you happen to be in the Dallas-Fort Worth Area, I invite you to join us for our first Bold Friends Brunch Saturday, September 28, 2024. For more details, check out the event page at https://www.fade2bold.com/event-details/bold-friends-brunch. We can't wait to see you!
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