May 14, 2020
The Power to Heal the Hurt of Our Souls
KIM ERICKSON
Lee en español
“Turn to Me and be saved, all the ends of the earth; For I am God, and there is no other.” Isaiah 45:22 (NASB)
There is no other loss like this one. There is no other heart so shattered as a mom who’s living without her child. A piece of her soul forever missing, she is crushed beneath the weight of this grief.
When I received that call, the one every mother fears, I was so far away from God that I didn’t even think to pray. God did not enter my mind as the babysitter screamed that the ambulance was at our house. We lost our 3-year-old son to complications of strep throat on that April day in 2008, and I did not utter a single prayer.
Yet, the King of the universe, in His endless mercy and grace, chose to reveal Himself to me as my son’s life slipped from this earth. Just days after our son’s death, I gave my life to Jesus as my Lord and Savior.
Because jumping into things with both feet is my style, studying Scripture became my hunger and never-ending curiosity: Who was this God? Why did Jesus have to die for my sins? Who am I on this earth? What is heaven like?
In the deep, dark pit of grieving a child, I learned one truth that feeds my hope and has become my source of strength. One truth that has the power to overcome my pain:
“Turn to Me and be saved, all the ends of the earth;
For I am God, and there is no other” (Isaiah 45:22).
We must turn toward God and remember that Jesus weeps with us (John 11:35), the Spirit of God prays for us with groanings too deep for words (Romans 8:26), and our heavenly Father collects every tear we cry in His bottle and records them in His book. (Psalm 56:8)
While there is no other pain like our pain, there is no other god like our God. Maybe you haven’t experienced losing a child, but Scripture has the power to heal the hurt in your soul when you remember:
- There is no other God who created the heavens and the earth; even the lives of our children belong to Him. (Isaiah 42:5)
- There is no other God who formed your child in your womb and brought him into this life for whatever time He alone established. (Psalm 139)
- There is no other God who says, “You are Mine,” “You are precious in My sight,” “You are honored,” and “I love you” (Isaiah 43:1-4).
Whether your pain is losing someone you loved or some other deep sorrow, cry out to Him. Allow your Creator to whisper healing love into your soul. There is no other one who loves you like He does.
Finally, this verse became my cry when I couldn’t go on. I have experienced the truth of these words, and so can you:
“The LORD is near to the brokenhearted
And saves those who are crushed in spirit” (Psalm 34:18, NASB).
Heavenly Father, only You can heal this wound, and only You can give me strength to live through this loss. Help me know You and seek You, Lord, and give me understanding about Your sovereignty and glory. I want to feel Your love for me, God. Lead me into Your presence so I might find some relief from the pain. Heal me, Lord, for Your glory. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
TRUTH FOR TODAY:
John 16:20, “Truly, truly, I say to you, that you will weep and lament, but the world will rejoice; you will grieve, but your grief will be turned into joy.” (NASB)
Isaiah 43:4a: “Since you are precious in My sight, Since you are honored and I love you …” (NASB)
RELATED RESOURCES:
Any mother who is grieving the death of a child needs guidance for not only grieving but also living. Kim Erickson offers this profound and powerful resource that’s invaluable for any mom in this situation, Surviving Sorrow: A Mother’s Guide to Living with Loss.
CONNECT:
Kim loves to help other women find great joy by drawing closer to God.You can also catch up with Kim on Facebook or Instagram.
Enter to WIN your very own copy of Surviving Sorrow: A Mother’s Guide to Living with Loss by Kim Erickson. To celebrate this book, Kim’s publisher will give away 5 copies! Enter to win by leaving a comment here. {We’ll randomly select 5 winners and then notify each one in the comments section by Monday, May 18, 2020.}
REFLECT AND RESPOND:
What could you do today to turn toward God instead of away from Him? Perhaps listen to praise and worship music and offer those words as your prayer when you cannot utter words of your own.
Do one thing that brings you joy, makes you smile, or simply lifts your spirits today. It’s still OK to enjoy this life while we wait for heaven.
Kim Erickson is a teacher and lawyer who loves to read and watch movies. Some of her favorite activities are watching her husband, Devin, cook while listening to all different kinds of music, and watching her son, Ethan … do anything really! If today’s devotion resonated with you, visit Kim’s website for free grief-related resources.
© 2020 by Kim Erickson. All rights reserved.
Proverbs 31 Ministries thanks Moody Publishers for their sponsorship of today’s devotion.
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