Find Healing in the Storm

Devotion: Finding Healing in the Storm of Grief

In life, there are storms we cannot avoid. For me, the passing of both my parents—my mother in November 2019 and my father in August 2024—was a storm I thought I had prepared for. My parents loved the Lord with all their hearts, and though they weren’t perfect, they trusted God in everything. They even made their funeral arrangements ahead of time to ease the burden on me and the rest of our family. My mother told me I would preach her funeral, and my father did the same. They made sure I was as ready as I could be.

But no amount of preparation could fully ready me for the overwhelming pain that came after my mother's passing. I thought I was strong enough, but grief took me into a dark place, and depression hit so hard that I even attempted suicide. Yet, in my darkest hour, God delivered me. I kept asking, "Who is this God that my parents served so faithfully? How could He bring me through this?" And as I wrestled with my grief, I began to see God differently. I began to understand that this was my first storm, and I hadn’t fully learned the lesson.

When my father passed in August 2024, it felt like another storm—my second storm. But this time, I was ready. I could see clearly. God had been with me through the first storm, even when I didn’t fully recognize His presence. Now, with clarity, I understood why the Bible speaks of the "God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob." Just as God was with them, He was with my parents. And just as He was with my parents, He is with me.

I now understand that sometimes God allows us to go through a second storm because we didn’t fully learn the lesson from the first. Just like the disciples who went through a storm in Matthew 8, I wasn’t ready to praise God in the midst of my first storm. But in Matthew 14, when another storm arose, Jesus was not in the boat, but He met them in the storm. And that’s what God did for me—He met me in the storm. He walked me through it, even when I felt like I was sinking. He brought me back to safety.

Now, I no longer need to speak to my depression or my infirmities. I no longer need to speak to the things that once hurt me, because I know that God is God. He has already spoken, and His presence alone calms the storm. I was able to stand and preach my parents' eulogies, not in my own strength, but in the strength of the God who carried me through. The same God who loved my parents deeply and took them home is the God who walks with me today. And because of Him, I can boldly proclaim that He is worthy of all praise.

If you are facing your own storm, know this: God is with you in the midst of it. Whether it's your first storm or your second, He is faithful to meet you, to teach you, and to bring you through. Trust in Him, for He is God, and He will see you through to the other side.

"When you go through deep waters, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown. When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you."

—Isaiah 43:2 (NLT)

Lord, thank You for being with us in the storm. When the winds blow and the waves crash, help us to keep our eyes on You, knowing that You are the God who calms every storm. Give us the courage to trust You, even when we don’t understand, and the strength to praise You, knowing that You are always in control. Amen.

LoveUmorethanUknow Pastor Stephän