Job chapter 1 and 2 surveys the heartrending account of Job’s loss. First, he loses his material wealth and possessions, and then he learns that all of his children died in a desert windstorm.

There are still terms that lack in our world. For instance, there is a word to describe the loss of ones parents; an orphan—there is a word to describe the loss of a spouse; a widow—but, there is not a word in the English language to describe a parent who suffers the loss of a child.

Certain experiences go against the grain of normality—I cannot begin to conceptualize the depth of Job’s anguish. When Job learns that his sons and daughters have been killed, he falls to the ground, puts ash on his head, and cries out in lament.

Job 1:20 states, “THEN Job arose, and rent his mantle, and shaved his head, and fell down upon the ground, and worshipped.”

Job took his grief to the LORD.

However, just because Job took his pain to the God, did not mean that his grief was going to vanish. These scriptures are a testament that he knew who to turn to when everything was stripped from his life.

The Bible later states in Job 2:11 that Job did not sin with his lips, even though he was in a place of despair. Grieving is not a sin, it is is part of our healing process. Psalm 34:18 declares, “God is close to the brokenhearted.” If your life is in pieces, God wants to be close to you.

We serve a God who is touched with the feeling of our infirmities (Hebrews 4:15).

Every time you have endured a loss, heartache, and even betrayal—God shares your pain. Every time you have shed a tear and cried out to the Lord, it is as though God is sitting right beside you, holding you in your darkest times.

We are not created to carry our grief alone. Cast all your care upon the Lord today, He cares for you (1 Peter 5:7).

Author

Angela Overton is a lover of words, nature, and coffee. She is an ordained minister with the UPCI, has a Masters Degree in Theology, and loves to teach Bible studies. She and her amazing husband, Michael, pastor in Silver Spring, Maryland.

5 Comments

  1. BETH LEWIS

    THIS IS SO ON TIME , THANK YOU FOR REMINDING USE THAT WE HAVE A EXAMPLE , IN OUR GRIEF THERE IS COMFORT AND WE NEED TO STAY AS CLOSE TO GOD AS WE CAN TO HEAL AND RECEIVE THIS CHAPTER IN OUR LIFE AND GROW IN OUR FAITH AND DEPENDENCE ON HIM

    • Many blessings to you! It has been in my most lonely times when I have grown the closest to the Lord. He is with you, He will never leave you.

  2. Sharing my grief with my close friends has been some of the most fruitful times in my life. The shared grief has helped us all grow in our faith.
    “(NASB) 9 Two are better than one because they have a good return for their labor. 10 For if either of them falls, the one will lift up his companion. But woe to the one who falls when there is not another to lift him up.” – Ecclesiastes 4:9-10