1/27 Daily in the Word

The Grief of David

1 Samuel 30:1-6

Grief is a crippling emotion, yet God desires to comfort those going through loss.

In 1984, Edward Jackson published a book entitled The Many Faces of Grief. In that book he detailed the grief all people face and how people respond. In describing grief in realistic terms, Jackson wrote the following:

"Grief is a young widow trying to raise her three children, alone. Grief is the man so filled with shocked uncertainty and confusion that he strikes out at the nearest person. Grief is a mother walking daily to a nearby cemetery to stand quietly and alone a few minutes before going about the tasks of the day. She knows that part of her is in the cemetery, just as part of her is in her daily work. Grief is the silent, knife-like terror and sadness that comes a hundred times a day, when you start to speak to someone who is no longer there. Grief is the emptiness that comes when you eat alone after eating with another for many years. Grief is teaching yourself to go to bed without saying good night to the one who had died. Grief is the helpless wishing that things were different when you know they are not and never will be again. Grief is a whole cluster of adjustments, apprehensions, and uncertainties that strike life in its forward progress and make it difficult to redirect the energies of life."

When David returned home from Achish dismissing him, he and his men found their home of Ziklag completely destroyed. The Amalekites had attacked their homes and taken their families. David and his men were in complete shock and mourned the loss of their families, "Then David and the people that were with him lifted up their voice and wept, until they had no more power to weep."

There are few people today who have not been touched by grief in some way. Grief is perhaps the strongest emotion and can send a person into shock and complete despair. And while David and his men felt extreme grief, notice David's response, "but David encouraged himself in the LORD his God." Even though he had lost his home and his family, and the people spoke of stoning him, David kept his focus on God.

When grief hits someone they often are frozen by the overwhelming feelings of loss. Some may react uncharacteristically or some may close up, but God desires that in times of grief, His children would look to Him for comfort.

If you're in a time of grief, know that you are not alone. God knows what you're going through. He lost one of His closest friends while on earth (Lazarus) and experienced the emotions of grief. Spend time in God's Word and His presence. Pour out your hurting heart to God and seek His comfort. Only God can truly heal your sorrowful heart.

Daily Bible Reading
Exodus 16-18 | Matthew 18:1-20