Straight from a Hope-Seeking Heart
by Lisa Elliott
I was dining with a group of grieving parents at our fourth annual “Hope Retreat for Grieving Parents.” My husband and I were facilitating when I looked out the window of the retreat centre to sight a bald eagle in flight. In excitement, I threw my arm impulsively and pointed it out to everyone around me. We all watched in mutual awe and amazement.
Considering that in one of our teaching sessions we had been sharing special ways that God has shown up to bring us moments of joy since the death of each of our children, it made this eagle sighting even more meaningful. Many shared how a butterfly or a rainbow or a bird appeared in a special moment just to let them know God sees, loves, and cares for us and our pain. This eagle sighting was one of those moments for me.
As I watched the eagle, I couldn’t help but think of the prophet Isaiah’s profoundly beautiful words found in Isaiah 40:28-31,
“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 his understanding no one can fathom. He gives strength to the 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 strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint” (Isaiah 40:28-31 NIV, emphasis mine).
This passage holds such powerful truth, not simply for grieving parents, but according to Isaiah, for anyone who puts their HOPE in the Lord. Here’s what we gain:
1. Renewed Power
It’s in our weakness that God’s power is perfected (2 Cor. 12:9-10). It’s as we accept Jesus’s invitation found in Matthew 11:28-30, which says, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” It’s important that we carve out time to be still and know that He is God, as we’re instructed in Psalm 46:10.
2. Heavenly Perspective
It’s easy to lose perspective from time to time as we walk this road of life on this planet. We can lose sight of meaning and purpose, especially as we grieve. In those moments, it’s important to look up. We can do this by getting into the Word of God and spend time with like-minded godly people who will speak truth into our hearts and minds. Psalms 121:1-2 says, “I lift up my eyes to the mountains— where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.” According to Isaiah 61:2-3, He binds up the brokenhearted, comforts all who mourn, provides for those who grieve, and bestows on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair.
3. Divine Perseverance
Whenever I think of perseverance, I can’t help but think of the encouragement of Hebrews 12:1-4 that says, “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him, he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart” (Hebrews 12:1-3). Romans 3:4-5 also says, “Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.”
Our theme for the grieving parents retreat is Hope, to go along with our theme verse from Romans 15:13, which says, “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” This is our prayer over each parent who attends. May you find that same Hope as you put your trust in Him.
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Need a little extra encouragement? Discover more inspirational blogs by Lisa Elliott, Straight from the Heart.
About this Contributor:
Lisa Elliott is an inspirational speaker and award-winning author of The Ben Ripple, Dancing in the Rain, and A Ministry Survival Guide. She’s also a writer for Just Between Us Magazine, theStory, and Good Ground. She and her husband, David, have four children (three on earth, one in heaven) and serve the Lord together in Stratford, ON, Canada.