My Refuge and Strength

“God is our refuge and
strength, a very present help in trouble.”    
Psalm 46:1

Every time I read Psalm 46:1 since my husband, Dave, died, I add to the end of the verse – “a very present help in trouble and grief.”  God has been my refuge – my safe place – throughout my life.  I recognize the deep need in my grief to find a safe place – a place I can release my grief.  God is my refuge –where I run to in my grief not away from my grief.  God has been and will continue to be my constant companion on this journey.

Over the time since Dave has been gone, I have learned not to run away from my grief but to accept the feelings and emotions as a part of who I am now. God has used my own grief to help others.  I have found purpose and meaning in what I have gone through.

Sometimes in our grief, we need someone to blame for our loss, hurt and pain.  We may become angry at God for taking our loved one and causing our pain.  I have learned that God is a big God and understands our anger.  When we express our anger to God, we are still expressing our faith in God.  You cannot be angry at someone that does not exist.

As we step into a new year, God continues to be our refuge – our place of safety and also our strength.  We do not face one moment alone.  We walk into this different life knowing God gives us strength for each moment when we focus on His Presence.  The grief will overwhelm us at times.  We accept that we feel the intensity of our loss and therefore need to give ourselves permission to feel the pain and the sorrow.  Then we focus on God’s strength to hold us and take us through the moment.

I am not alone in 2020.  God is beside me.  I can step into other people’s lives and family units and experience the fellowship and love of other people.  Other times I will be alone with God.  I am never by myself.  Fear though creeps in telling me, “You are all alone.”  But fear is a liar.  While I don’t have my person – Dave –
physically with me, I have his love always in my heart.  God takes me by the hand reminding me I will never be alone.  God walks with me into this New Year and already has good adventures planned for me to do.

I am going to focus on the good and positive for 2020.  How about you?  Let us receive the words of encouragement, support, love and affirmation from others.  Absorb these good words into your soul where there is emptiness.  I’m going to pour all of this into my soul along with God’s Word, love and Presence. 
Let’s do this together.  Let’s let go of bad memories and celebrate the love and legacy of those who have come before us and are now in heaven.  We will still grieve, but we will also celebrate the gift of life

God is my safe place.  I am stepping into this New Year holding God’s hand and relying on God’s strength to carry me through the troubles and grief.