Life Spent With Grief
By Nicole Webb
Have mercy on me, O LORD, for I am in trouble; My eye wastes away with grief, Yes, my soul and my body! For my life is spent with grief, And my years with sighing; My strength fails because of my iniquity, And my bones waste away.
(Psalm 31:9-10 NKJV)
Grieving is an important step in healing when there is a loss or an end. I found this to also be true for the broken-hearted parent of a prodigal child. The poor choices of the child result in many losses for the entire family. While other young people are going to the movies or the prom, you are counting how many more days of grounding are left and wondering when the next lie will be exposed. You can see the high-school years slipping away along with any hope of fond memories of care-free days filled with friends and experiences to last a lifetime. As you watch it unfold, you are helpless to change the accumulation of regrets of your son or daughter. You powerlessly stand by and watch the forfeiture of freedom and fun for lies and secret plans that lead to destruction.
There comes a time when you must accept that experiences and memories have been lost. Even the accomplishments that are realized are tainted by the deception and poor motives that are always present.
These losses must be revealed and grieved over. You must surrender your broken heart and inability to fix the situation over to God. Know that He is sovereign. Not one thing happens to your son or daughter that He is not aware of and in charge of. He knows the price that has been paid for poor choices and sin. He knows the pain of loss and time squandered. He has a plan to give you and your child a future and a hope. He will work out all things for the good of those who love Him and have been called according to His purpose. So grieve and cry out to your Father. He hears you and He will answer you.
Have mercy on us, O LORD. You know our deepest pain. When all of our fight is gone and our faith is weak, when we grow weary from the constant battle, come and restore us, O LORD, pour out Your streams of refreshing. Carry us and strengthen us in our time of need. Open the eyes of our loved ones, that they may see You. Thank You for watching over them and for Your unfailing pursuit of them. In Jesus name. Amen.