Grief is a very painful reality. It is the deep longing of the soul for someone or something that is missing. The deepest grief is the pain we feel when we realize that someone we loved dearly is permanently gone from our life. The best description I can articulate is simply that grief is the unsatisfied longing of the soul that overwhelms us with sadness.

Grief is the unsatisfied longing of the soul that overwhelms us with sadness.

We all have felt grief to one degree or another at some point in our lives. From our earliest childhood we are introduced to longing for something that is missing. As we mature and grow, we experience more intense grief as the things that are removed from us get bigger and bigger.

The Scripture addresses every issue that we face in this life. One of the things I love about Scripture is that it is not silent on the issues—both good and bad—that we encounter in this life.

This morning, I was struck by the expression of grief that the writer of the 42nd Psalm exhibits. I had never understood this passage in light of grief until today. But as we read these verses, what we are actually reading is the deep, aching sorrow coming from the heart of the worshiper. Listen to this lament:

As a deer pants for flowing streams,

so pants my soul for you, O God.

My soul thirsts for God,

for the living God.

When shall I come and appear before God?

My tears have been my food

day and night,

while they say to me all the day long,

“Where is your God?”

While we have turned these words into a sweet worship chorus—and that’s ok—what we are actually reading here is one of the sons of Korah lamenting his separation from God and his unfulfilled longing to be back in God’s presence. He was grieving over God being gone from his life.

It sounds a lot like the feelings we encounter when we are grieving over someone or something. The insatiable longing that comes from deep within us; the questions about when and why; the mockery of his tears compounding his sorrow. That is a great definition of grief.

Here’s the encouraging word today. While we all have things that have been permanently taken from us, the presence of God is not one of them! While this psalmist is grieving, he soon remembers that there is always the promise that God’s presence will fill his heart again.

While we all have things that have been permanently taken from us, the presence of God is not one of them!

Twice in this passage he reminds himself that God is never truly gone, that the hope of experiencing the presence of the Lord is real in every season of life and that, actually, pursuit of God is the key to every longing of our soul.

He admonishes himself in the midst of his sorrow to pursue God, because in that pursuit he will find a brighter tomorrow.

Hope in God; for I shall again praise him…

Our encouragement today is that no matter the depth of our sorrow, and regardless of the finality of our loss, God is never permanently removed from us, and our greatest hope is not in the return of what we have lost but in sweet communion with our Maker.

God is never permanently removed from us, and our greatest hope is not in the return of what we have lost but in sweet communion with our Maker.

Hoping in God soothes our aching hearts. Pursuing God drives us in the right direction. Experiencing God satisfies us like nothing else can.

Today, if you are grieving over something you’ve lost, join me in turning our sadness into the pursuit of God. Hope in Him, pursue Him, and experience the bright promise He offers for our future.

Longing for God is really good grief!

BE ENCOURAGED, WE’RE CHRISTIANS!

Copyright © 2024 Troy Keaton. All rights reserved.

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Pastor Troy is the founding pastor at East Lake Community Church at Smith Mountain Lake, Virginia. East Lake is a growing, dynamic, generous church with a God-size vision to Multiply Believers, Leaders, and Churches. Troy is passionate about prayer, the Word of God, and seeing the church experience renewal. He serves on the Directional Leadership Team of The 6:4 Fellowship. Troy and his wife Janel were blessed with 4 children and 8 grandchildren. Pastor Troy’s greatest blessing has been loving his wife through her difficult 3 ½-year journey with cancer. The Lord called Janel home on April 25, 2024.