Tuesday, December 17, 2024

Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall, but those who hope

in the Lord will renew their wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.

Isaiah 40:28-31

 

As I age, I begin to feel overwhelmed when the many ads, stories and songs of the coming season fill the air. And as I hear my grief-stricken clients each year at this time, I hear many laments that this time of year brings.

 

Even the most positive, faithful men and women grow weary... and feel a deep sadness at this time. “Where will I find the strength,” they ask.

 

One of my clients said to me, “I wish I could wake up tomorrow and it would be January!”

 

When we are in the depth of grief, we wish we could “fly away from” the reality. But then the words “...those that hope in the Lord will renew their wings like eagles.” A fitting promise for all of us who are walking the path of grief.

 

Heavenly Father, I believe that you are giving me a special grace to help me through the hardest times. I will stand on your promises even when I cannot see the end of the path. Amen

 

Sylvia Havlish is grief counselor for Lutheran Congregational Services, and a member of St. John’s Lutheran Church in Emmaus.