When Grief Draws You Closer to God
“What changes inside of us when someone we love leaves this earth before we are ready?”
On April 26, my life took a turn. Not for the worse, because that wouldn’t be accurate. Instead, it became the beginning of an even deeper relationship with God.
At 49 years old, I never imagined I would lose my sister at just 34. Over the years, we had conversations about what we wanted to happen when the Lord called us home. She promised to honor my wishes, just as I would honor hers. What neither of us expected was that she would leave first.
I have lost grandparents, uncles, and aunts, but losing my sister touched a different place in my heart. It changed a little of my DNA, if that makes sense.
I’ve always had a relationship with God. I talk to Him regularly. But grief has a way of bringing conversations with God to a deeper level. Like David in the Psalms, I found myself pouring out my heart more often, bringing Him questions, tears, and moments of silence.
Many believers know what it’s like to walk through seasons that shake them. They love Jesus, yet they struggle to understand why painful things happen. The obstacle is not always a lack of faith; sometimes it’s remembering to stay connected to God before, during, and after the storm.
The truth is that God never intended for our relationship with Him to be reserved for emergencies. Prayer is not just for painful days. It is for the good, the bad, and the ugly. We draw near to Him by talking with Him daily, trusting His wisdom, reading His Word, and surrendering what we cannot control.
Earlier today, I was talking with my father about how people no longer seem to fear death. It’s almost as if many have forgotten that one day every one of us will leave this earth. Some leave sooner than expected. Others seem to have nine lives. Yet none of us knows the number of our days.
When we live with that truth in mind, we begin to love deeper, forgive quicker, and seek God more intentionally.
If you’re grieving today, be encouraged. Growth is a lifelong journey, and God is faithful in every season. This week, spend five uninterrupted minutes each day talking to God—not because something is wrong, but simply because He is worthy of your time.
The question isn’t whether we will leave this world one day. The question is: Are we living today in a way that draws us closer to the One we’ll stand before tomorrow?