Loss has hit me hard the past several years. A piece of my heart broke off when my parents passed away and when my full nest became empty. A job change or retirement adds to the feeling of emptiness that comes with loss. Sometimes you never fully recover the broken parts of who you were, but you almost always grow into a new version of yourself. The lost and found pieces of our life rotate in and out but grow stronger when we let ourselves grow.
As I read the second Beatitude this week, “you’re blessed when you feel you’ve lost what is most dear to you. Only then can you be embraced by the One most dear to you”, I realized I am living this out in my own life. Life is not always as we imagined it. If I shared with you my dreams when I retired, the hard parts of loss would not have been in the mix at all. BUT GOD…
Who I am two years later is a different version of myself. I am lost and found again in Christ. This happens over and over as I let go and grow deeper in Him.
[Tweet “I am lost and found again in Christ as I let go and grow deeper in Him.”]
Experiencing deep loss leaves a person drained. You crave connection but many times choose isolation because it is easier. You stumble and forget that broken pieces need time to heal and become whole.
If the beatitude speaks truth, which I believe it does, I am very blessed. Experiencing loss brought me closer to God. When my brokenness overwhelmed me, I craved the comfort of God. Friends and family fill the empty space, but I find I desire loving without any strings attached. God chooses us over and over and embraces us with a love that begins to heal the broken pieces.
The second beatitude doesn’t leave us with just a message of loss. It also shares how we receive the gift of comfort in the embrace of God. Loss hits hard, but on the other side we open ourselves to being cherished and loved by the One who does it best.
I never want to wish loss on anyone. This beatitude seems to imply that it is only in loss that you receive the deep embrace of God. I find these words also speak of letting go of the things that keep us from a relationship with God. Maybe loss is not just the emptiness resulting from losing a loved one. Instead it’s when we recognize the barriers that keep us from God.
Today may you feel the arms of God around you in a deep embrace of love. May you know you are loved in your brokenness as well as in the pieces that have been healed.
May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and by his grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope, encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good deed and word. 2 Thessalonians 2:16-17
Blessings on your week!
These are beautiful words that you share here. This especially touches me: “Loss hits hard, but on the other side we open ourselves to being cherished and loved by the One who does it best.” What a precious Lord we have, that holds us even closer in those seasons of loss. I am finding that there is a deeper learning to go through, with every loss that affects us. So, thank you for your encouragement to remember His cherishing of us. –Blessings!
I am going through that deeper learning right now. I am holding onto the truth that God cherishes me through my brokenness as He works in and through me to heal. You are a dear for sharing such sweet words here today. Blessings to you too!
Mary, what a beautiful post. You’re right. We grow into a different version of ourselves when we walk through losses. When we allow God to mold and shape us in those hard seasons, we become more of who He’s created us to be. I’m so, so glad we don’t walk through our losses alone. He is always with us. He’s always there to embrace us. Thank you for the deep truths you shared. I’m meditating on them.
Your sweet words fill me with such encouragement. There are so many different kinds of loss that people suffer and we are blessed when we let God walk through the brokenness with us. I pray that this journey is one that I let God continue to show me the way. The thought of becoming a new creation again brings hope. Blessings sweet Jeanne!
The embrace of God reminded me of Jesus as our Shepherd, hugging His lambs (us) close to His heart. What a gift!
Thank you for that beautiful picture of Jesus holding the lambs. It is so comforting to imagine what that feels like. Jesus is the gift. I am blessed you joined me here today.
It truly is in our losses many times that God’s love comes into the cracks and brokenness to bring His comfort and healing, Mary. I can tell that you’ve experienced it that way and though I hate to know that you still are, in a way, grieving these many losses (since it takes so very long to get over them), I am grateful to know that you feel encouraged and loved by God in the process.
It is by the love of God that I see each new day as a gift even on the days that I feel the loss more deeply. I am on a journey right now and most days it feels like light and grace. But knowing God is right there with me is what I help to convey when I write for all of you. Thank you Beth for being so dear.
Mary,
This post reminds me of one of my favorite scriptures along my journey….John 14:18: I will not leave you comfortless; I will come to you. What reassurance to know that when we go through times of loss (and we will) God will not leave us comfortless…He comes to us. I have experienced this over and over again through periods of loss in my life and it builds in me confidence that He will continue to be there no matter what the future holds. Lovely post!
Blessings,
Bev xx
Thank you for sharing John 14:18. The words are perfect and a great reminder of God’s love. The reassurance we find in God is endless and He will continue to be there no matter what. I am blessed by how you care and encourage me friend!
Praying that God will continue to show Himself strong in those places of loss my friend. While I’ve not lost a loved one, I’ve suffered some deep loses over the last few years. This is comforting to my heart as I still navigate my emotions, “Sometimes you never fully recover the broken parts of who you were, but you almost always grow into a new version of yourself.” Blessings Mary!
You have suffered different kinds of loss that are just as devastating. You show me through your own journey that God is working in and through you. You are writing more now and I believe that is part of your healing. Hugs and blessings!
I believe you are handling your losses in the exact way The Father wants us to. You address them. You recognize them for what they are. And, you sojourn through them. You mourn. You grieve. And, you allow your family and friends to rally around you. That is how Jesus handled the loss of His cousin, John. His friend, Lazarus. He got alone and then He continued on. He is our example and you are following Him. No better footsteps to follow than those of our beloved Savior. xoxo
I appreciate your beautiful; affirmation today, Susan! As much as I wish the feelings would just go away, that is not God’s plan for teaching me and healing me. This community is so dear to me and show me through their beautiful comments that they are sticking with me. I am able to process the loss in a deeper way when I write about it. I pray I always leave the reader with encouragement as I share all I am going through. Love you sweet friend!
Our family has suffered loss this fall, my MIL and my oldest aunt. It leaves an emptiness that only God can fill. This line is so good: “Maybe loss is not just the emptiness resulting from losing a loved one. Instead it’s when we recognize the barriers that keep us from God” – 0h, yes, my friend! Good truth!
Blessed you stopped by here today. Going through any kind of loss leaves us gasping for air at times. Isn’t it nice to know that God is always there to pull us into His living embrace? Praying for you as you journey through your own losses.
Mary- what a beautiful post! Loss stinks because we aren’t very good with change, right?
“This beatitude seems to imply that it is only in loss that you receive the deep embrace of God. ” I found the deep embrace of God when I experienced loss! I love this sentence!
Blessings! #TestimonyTuesday
Thank you for being here Julie! I am glad you found a connection with the beatitude. This one speaks so directly into my life right now and provides the hope that God is holding me as I am hurting. Loss definitely stinks but is part of life. What a lesson it is to learn and re-learn. Blessings!
I’ve found that loss does not always mean death and what is most dear to us is sometimes not a physical thing (or loved one) at all. For you and I, our most recent loss has been our beloved earthly fathers. For others is might be a life-long dream, or finally releasing the control they never really had. Like you, I’m so thankful that the result is a blessing. The deep embrace of God to fill the empty place left behind by release. Friend, your words are an encouraging reminder of this truth. Love you.
I knew you would understand June since our journeys have had some similarities. Knowing God never leaves us in times of loss and is always willing to embrace us in His deep love and comfort leaves me smiling. He shows us the way when we are broken by loss and walks us through to the other side. Blessings and hugs friend!
These words give Hope then that though loss is inevitable at some point, we can be fully embraced by God not just “even then” but mostly then! Wow,He is ever good to us.
Thanks Mary…loved this and I am praying for you friend.
Loss is not just the loss of a person you hold dear but anything that you had but then let go of whether it is a job or a friendship. God is in the loss ready with His love, grace and redemption all the time. Thank you for being here Meghan.
Loss is so hard! But so much THIS: “Today may you feel the arms of God around you in a deep embrace of love. May you know you are loved in your brokenness as well as in the pieces that have been healed.”
Tara-thank you for highlighting words that speak to you. I know you understand in a different way what this feels like. I think of you often and the journey you and your sister have had with your mom. Thank you for showing me what grace and love look like.
Mary, loss is so painful. And just when we think we have worked past it all, we realize there is more healing to be done. But I am amazed at how the losses have brought you strength and growth and new endeavors. God shines through your words, Mary, and it is just beautiful. Thank you for sharing words from your heart. Blessings!
Joanne-Your words today just fill my heart with so much love and encouragement. Thank you for understanding that my journey, even though hard, is one that God has chosen for me and walks with me every step of the way. I’m amazed daily that God teaches me through the loss but also is providing a new path because He sees so much more in me. You are such a treasure Joanne! Hugs and blessings!
“But God…” I love those two words, Mary. I have found throughout my life that it’s through the different types of losses that I have become closer to God. There is no one who can fill up our empty places and heal our broken places like He can, right? Thank you for this encouragement today! Love and hugs to you!
Yes you are right! God provides the love or healing just when we need it most. But we need to go through loss or suffering to understand how deep our need is for God. You make me smile Trudy! Thank you for being here!
I’m sorry for all the loss you have experienced over the last couple of years, Mary. It is definitely not easy, but I’m glad you have known God’s comfort and presence. I think often it is when other things are taken away that we see our need for him more clearly and it makes space for him to draw us close. Happy Valentine’s Day- praying you know his love today!
I agree that sometimes we need to lose sight of the comfortable or barriers we raise in order to see God more clearly. It is in losing ourselves to God that we fall into His deep, loving embrace. Thank you for your encouragement and yes I know I am loved! 🙂
Hi Mary! Loss is not fun, and I feel for your losses recently. It seems so counterintuitive that we would have to lose in order to gain, but that’s really how it is. Until I can accept that Jesus is all I need, I’m going to have to keep letting go and falling on his love and strength to get me through each of my losses.
May you be filled with the knowledge of his love for you today, and through the people who love you too.
Blessings,
Ceil
There is a continual process of letting go and holding onto the One who will see us through. Being weak, I need to relearn this process over and over. But God is patient and shows me how His love never fails and His strength is never-ending. You and this community continue to teach me what God’s love looks like. Your willingness to be here with me makes a huge difference. Thank you Ceil!
Well said! Personally I found God is a deeper way when I had loss. May God draw you near as you embrace your new normal.
Thank you for being here Calvonia! I appreciate knowing how God drew you in deeper through your own loss.
So wonderful to be reminded that there is a mending that comes after the breaking, and that the mourning Jesus speaks of is never “for nothing.” Thank you for persevering into these days of being “found” and of “finding” what God has planned for you next.
I am learning that it’s okay to be broken. I need to sit in this space and invite God to sit alongside me. It is here that He will begin the healing process. Too often, I push through and then I am never giving myself the chance to fully heal. God continually works in and through me even when it doesn’t feel like it. Sometimes by sharing this is where I am, I give myself one more way to being to heal. Thank you for reading and encouraging me along the way.
Yes, so true about loss! Prayers!
Thank you Jennie! The encouragement is that God is present even in our losses. He finds us and comforts us always.
Beautiful, Mary, just plain lovely. I weep for your losses, and stand in awe of your strength.
Thank you Andrew! Praying the Lord fills you with all you need today.