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The Art of Loss

It happened again this week. Every time it happens, we look for the positive. What is the silver lining in this tragedy? Well, I have to be honest for a moment.

There isn’t always silver lining. Some days and weeks are just gloomy and gray. We become weary with trying to find the good in loss because we keep having to face it. It is frustrating and leaves us feeling hopeless and desperate.


The fact is, loss is a part of what we face because of the fallen world in which we live. But where is God in our loss? He’s where we place Him. Do we trust God even when we don’t understand? When the silver lining just isn’t there, can we still say, “Blessed be the name of the Lord”? Is God still good?


As much as we have stood toe-to-toe with death, I feel like God is using each opportunity to make us stronger in Him. Through His power and mercy, we find strength to do the unthinkable. We manage to get out of bed. We navigate the tragedy as we have done before.


Everyone must grieve in their own way. For me, writing has been therapeutic. This time, words have escaped as I have felt the familiar sting of death clutch my heart again. What do you say to a hurting family and mourning friends when they are navigating grief? Fortunately, my words don’t really matter in this situation. I will never say the right thing. But God has given us His word, and that is enough. His word declares peace and stills our hearts in the chaos.


“And now, dear brothers and sisters, we want you to know what will happen to the believers who have died so you will not grieve like people who have no hope. For since we believe that Jesus died and was raised to life again, we also believe that when Jesus returns, God will bring back with him the believers who have died. We tell you this directly from the Lord: We who are still living when the Lord returns will not meet him ahead of those who have died. For the Lord himself will come down from heaven with a commanding shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet call of God. First, the believers who have died will rise from their graves. Then, together with them, we who are still alive and remain on the earth will be caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. Then we will be with the Lord forever. So encourage each other with these words.” 1 Thessalonians‬ ‭4:13-18‬ ‭NLT‬‬


My favorite part of this scripture is the end. We are charged to encourage one another with the reminder that this life is a precursor into the next one. Does that take away the pain of death? Not at all. We will always have empty space in our heart for those who have gone ahead. There is no right or wrong way to grieve. We keep breathing. We get out of bed. We move forward. And we live.


This post is in loving memory of Tyler Erickson who lived so very well. 

Prayers continue for his family as they learn to move forward.




© Jill Cook and Unbroken & Undone Ministries.  All rights reserved.

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