Our friend and devotional writer, Sally McClung, had a major cancer surgery last Friday. We want to remember her in prayer daily, so we will be posting one of her writings each day this week to remind us and to celebrate all she has taught us and the life she has shared with us. She wrote these earlier this year, long before she knew what she would be facing in November. Please lift her before the Lord for healing and peace for both her and her husband, Floyd.

“The things that come out of a person’s mouth come from the heart.” Matthew 15:18

Grief That Reveals

I read a quote by Prince William of England when he was speaking to the survivors of the mosque killings in Christchurch, New Zealand. Prince William, of course, lost his mother in a very public way when he was a young boy. He said, “Grief, if you let it, will reveal who you are.”

I’ve been reflecting on that statement for several weeks. There is so much truth in those few words. Grief, hard times, sickness, loss, discouragement, sadness, pain—they all bring out what’s inside…both good and bad. We can become angry, resentful, bitter, disillusioned—or we can turn our hearts to God and allow Him to help us walk through the hard time.

It’s so important in the GOOD times to prepare ourselves for the HARD times! We all have seasons when things are going well—when life is just good, and there aren’t big problems to deal with. During these times, we need to press into God and dig deep foundations to prepare us for the storms of life when they come.

When hard times do come, we must dig deeper still! We must dig deep, deep, deep into the resources that God has for us to help us stand against the strong winds of adversity. Prayer, spending time in the Word, worship, and fellowship with other believers are all keys for helping us dig deep roots.

One of the keys for me has been to keep a grateful heart no matter what comes my way. Even in the midst of the hardest times, there are ALWAYS things to be grateful for. If I find it hard to be grateful—I can practice! Just like I have to practice anything I’m learning to do, I can “practice gratitude” until I learn to do it well. The more I practice, the better I get at it. My mother always said to me “practice makes perfect.”

When I practice gratitude, I ask God to give me eyes to see all the things in my life to be grateful for…especially if I’m going through a hard time or a painful time. I sometimes grab pen and paper and start by walking through our home and listing all the things I have to be grateful for. Then I think of the world around me—and my family, friends, even acquaintances. My list usually gets so long that I have to stop because it’s taking too much time!

Practicing gratitude changes my whole perspective on the situation. The horrible situation doesn’t look near as bleak when it’s balanced by all the good things I have to be thankful for. And a heart of gratitude begins to grow inside of me for the next time I need it.

I still have hard days. But keeping my eyes on Him, trusting Him, and practicing gratitude helps keep things balanced. And then when any kind of “grief” comes—hopefully good things will flow from my heart and reveal who I am in Him.

There have been many things to grieve about on our unexpected journey. From day one there has been a sense of loss—we have “lost” so many things. But I’ve seen God fill up those empty spaces with His goodness and faithfulness. In the midst of the grief, my prayer is that God will help me reveal the joy of who I am in Him.

“Father, as we begin a week of prayer for Sally and Floyd, we ask for Your joy to fill their hearts. We pray that they would have Your perspective and know that You are working. Although we do not understand, we trust You with their lives. Amen.