By: Faye Morgan

1 Corinthians 15:19 (ASV) 

If we have only hoped in Christ in this life, we are of all men most pitiable.

Since the fall of Adam, we have lived in a broken world with broken people. Yet, God doesn’t turn away from our brokenness!

Tragedy and pain are written all through the pages of history, and even in our day, many of us are suffering tremendous losses. 

Being a child of God does not exempt any of us from the pain of loss.

There are examples from the Bible showing we are not the only ones to suffer the pain of loss. The Bible records how prophets wept, and Godly kings were humbled by the losses they had to endure. They walked through the “dark night of the soul” and cried, “How can I get through this?”

• King David had a son who fell gravely ill. He sought God for him to live. For seven days, he fasted and prayed, yet his son died. When David heard of his child’s death, he got up out of bed, anointed himself, washed and changed his garment of mourning, and went to the House of Lord, and he worshipped. He said, “He can’t come to me, but I can go to him.”  

• Then there was Job. The attack on his life was sudden, unannounced, and unprovoked. In other words, there was no reasoning behind the attack; it was beyond his control. He lost everything in one day – family, wealth, his livelihood. Then, as if that wasn’t enough, his health was attacked. He was covered in boils, from his head to his toes. Painful boils. What did he do? Did he shake his fist at God and curse Him? No, he got up, tore his garment, fell on the ground, and worshipped God! Why? How could he feel like worshipping? His hope was in the Lord. Because of his faith, things were restored to him. 

• Then there is us! Sometimes we walk through dark forests of difficulty, overwhelming our hearts and minds. It brings sadness and grief. Getting through the pain of grief is very difficult. It is more difficult when we try to go through it alone.  

King David looked to the Lord and wrote these powerful words. 

Psalm 61:1-2 (ASV) 

“Hear my cry, O God; Attend unto my prayer. From the end of the earth will I call unto thee, when my heart is overwhelmed: Lead me to the rock that is higher than I.

Psalm 121:1-2

I will lift up mine eyes unto the mountains: From whence shall my help come? My help [cometh] from Jehovah, Who made heaven and earth.

What is grief?

Grief is an emotional response to the loss of something. It can come from many things. The list could be endless because we all feel our loss in different ways from different things. 

• Loss of someone we love
• Loss of a job
• Loss of a marriage
• Loss of friendships
• Loss of pets
• Loss of health
• Loss of an opportunity that could have changed our lives

However, for this devotional, we will refer to loss as a loss of a loved one. 

Stages of Grief

Most of us have heard of the classic stages of grief:

• Denial
• Anger
• Bargaining
• Depression
• Acceptance

Not everyone has experienced all of these or in that order. It is ok to grieve in a way that is unique to you. Some stages may last longer than others. My stage of total denial lasted for at least six months. You may have two years of grieving. Just remember, we all go through these stages differently and at different times. 

During times of deep grief, you will experience many complex emotions. Regardless of what you are experiencing and how painful they may be, we all still have to deal with the loss.

During these times, remember: 

• Ask God for help.
• Don’t hold back.
• In dealing with a terminal illness, you may feel the pain of grief before the actual death occurs.
• Do not dwell on the outcome in advance of the situation. You cannot deal with something in its entirety until it happens.

My Story

When my husband, EJ Morgan, was diagnosed with stage 4 terminal cancer, I began at that moment to go through the stages of grief. I was in deep denial. Then I became angry.  

In anger, I would ask God questions because I needed answers.

• “Why him??? He’s a good person.” 
• “He was a man of faith.” 
• “He prayed for the sick, and they were healed.” 
• “You can heal them through his faith, but You will not heal him — why?”

With no answers to my questions, I had to watch him slowly leave us. I tried to stand firm in faith, I tried to speak positive things over him, and I wanted to rely on the promises of God. I prayed. I challenged the enemy. I would not and could not let go.

We had been married 52 years! We had spent over 30 years in ministry together. I was scared! What will my future look like without him? I had been with him since I was 14 years old! My outlook was bleak. I grieved before he left me and grieved again after he was gone.  

I knew God as a Savior, a Healer, and a God who answered prayers. Yet, it seemed the more I prayed, the more he continued to deteriorate right before my eyes. I watched him slowly lose down to about sixty-five pounds. Just a shell of the man he once was.

I tried bargaining with God. I tried negotiating with God saying things such as, “I will do this or that if YOU will let him live.” Even though I attempted negotiating my way out of my pain, nothing worked. I was still hurting. I was still losing my husband of 52 years. I was still losing the life that I wanted to return back to – the life we had before he got sick.  

I tried to find ways to turn the situation around. I have learned that this response is expected.  I wanted to believe there was something I could do, something different, and then I could keep him with me. 

I found myself quickly sinking into a deep dark hole of depression. The burden became so heavy, and I felt the weight so heavy one day that I ran into my room and prayed. I had to release all I was feeling to God. I had to cry out to Him, “Not my will, Oh God, but Yours be done!” 

I didn’t know anything beyond the day I was in. I didn’t want to accept the fact that he would be leaving and I would be without him. I knew my life was going to change forever. I had to find hope.

I went to the Word and found consolation in Jesus’s words. I began to feel comfort that I could not explain. I could feel the Holy Spirit as a Comforter when I would read pages of His Words.

One passage that kept my faith alive was in Matthew. I will leave this passage with you today:

Matthew 11:28-30

Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

Experience the Presence of the Lord as you listen to this song by Third Day – Cry out to Jesus

PRAY THIS WITH ME TODAY (in your own words)

Heavenly Father

I know You not only see, but You are touched with the feeling all those that are hurting. Send Your Holy Spirit to comfort them. Jesus, hold Your children in Your warm embrace so they know that they are loved by You. Hold them close as they are going through these painful days of grief.

In Jesus Name

Amen

Meet the Author

Faye Morgan has lived in Lynco, WV most of her life where she and her husband, EJ, raised their five children. Several of their children are now in full time ministry. She enjoys the time she spends with her four grandchildren. Faye worked in ministry with her late husband – Pastoring, evangelizing, teaching, and singing. Faye is honored to share her story to help others that are experiencing grief.