Going Slow with Dr. Low

This week I met with one of the most godly women I know.  She is in her 70s and has been serving God faithfully since she became a Christian in her 20s.  For as long as I've known her she has been the pillar of Christian joy and strength for all her friends and family.  But the last few weeks, for the first time since I've known her, she's been feeling a little depressed.

After praying about it for a while she thinks she is sad about a severe loss that happened over 50 years ago.  Why in the world is something from 50 years ago popping up in her 70s when she is such a wise, strong, godly woman?  Because she did not take time to fully grieve the loss in her 20s; she was too busy caring for her husband, her children and being a strong example for all her friends.

Part of grieving is a natural process we do not have to make happen but part of grief involves choice and intentionality.  We can let grief happen or we can suppress it or we can even embellish/wallow in it.  To grieve healthily and wholly is a choice and takes time - we cannot just hurry by it or race through it even though the world expects us to get on with life more quickly than we may be ready.

So this is yet another area where I am a real advocate of slowing down.  If there is a loss in your life, big or small, good or bad, take some time to grieve it, celebrate it, cry over it, laugh at it, yell at it or whatever you need to do to help you journey through it wholly and healthily.  Invite God into this process - do it consiously in His presence - and it will enrich your faith in a much deeper way than just racing through it and trying to be strong.

Is there a loss you're experiencing in your life right now you need to take time to grieve (or perhaps a loss from the last few years you skipped over a little too quickly)?

May God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ give you his grace and peace. All praise to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. He is the source of every mercy and the God who comforts us. He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When others are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us. You can be sure that the more we suffer for Christ, the more God will shower us with his comfort through Christ. So when we are weighed down with troubles, it is for your benefit and salvation! For when God comforts us, it is so that we, in turn, can be an encouragement to you. Then you can patiently endure the same things we suffer. We are confident that as you share in suffering, you will also share God's comfort.  ~ 2 Corinthians 1:2 - 7