“The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” Psalm 34:18
My mother passed away many years ago. In a few years, she will have been gone for a decade. Even though time has passed, I still miss her terribly. When Mother’s Day comes around each year, I'm reminded once again of her death as well as her absence.
Rather than taking Mom out for a fancy lunch or a walk in the park, I'm leaving flowers on her grave.
The grim reality that we all have to face is death. We cannot outrun the truth that we will all face death in this life. Coping with the thought of our own death can be extremely difficult, yet it is even harder when we have to cope with the death of a loved one. When our mom, our dad, our sister, our brother, our friend, or our spouse passes away, it has the ability to destroy our lives. It can feel nearly impossible to live normally again after a loved one has left our life.
Coping with the death of my mom has been a process, yet it has not ended. I doubt it will ever end, just as I doubt my grief will ever end. Our moms are very important people in our lives, who do so much for us. They love, care for, and raise us to the best of their abilities. There is no one in our lives who loves us quite like our mothers do.
Most of my friends now have babies or young children and I'm often reminded of how a child’s eyes twinkle when they see their mother. Their faces become full of joy and all smiles when their mom comes in to see them. It breaks my heart to think that any of them will have to know a day without their mom.
We can get older, yet we still need our moms. My mom passed away when I was a teen, and I can share that I probably need my mom now more than ever. If you are going through something similar this Mother's Day, know that you are not alone. There are believers across the world going through the same heartbreak and sorrow.
The beautiful news is that God doesn't leave us in our pain. He sits with us in the pain and keeps us safely in the palm of His hand. Psalm 34:18 teaches us that God is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. If you are missing your mother today, I'm sure you can relate to these feelings.
Brokenheartedness is not something that is easily repaired, yet God can bind our wounds. He can give us peace and solace from the pain. Whenever I'm missing my mom, I talk with Him about it. I tell Him how much it hurts and how much I wish she was here with me.
I cannot fully explain it, but God has a way of allowing His love to rush over me and make me not feel quite so alone anymore. While it is true my mom has passed on, she is still very much alive. She is alive in heaven and, one day, I will get to see her again just like you will get to see your mom again.
I once read somewhere that death isn't “goodbye;” it's just “I'll see you later.” This is true for us as Christians because we know life does not end when we take our final breath on earth. It is only the beginning because we know we will be with Jesus and all of our loved ones for all eternity.
When Mother's Day comes around this year, bring all of your worries, concerns, and sorrows to the feet of Jesus. Don't be afraid to tell Him your feelings and your anguish. Many times, I haven't even been able to articulate my words, yet God still has a way of washing His peace and love over my heart. If you don't know what to say, trust that He will still understand the sorrow of your heart.
Let's pray together:
“Dear Jesus, I miss my mother terribly. I miss the way she would laugh, the way she would make everything better, and the way she would be excited to see me. There is not a day that goes by when I don't miss her. Please give me comfort during this time, Lord. Remind me of the truth that I will see her again in heaven. You are our mighty Savior and Redeemer, and I praise You for giving me my wonderful mother. Thank you, Lord. Amen.”
Photo Credit: ©Getty/MarcBruxelle
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If you've been feeling tired, overwhelmed, depleted, or just quietly wondering where God is in the middle of a very full life — this episode is for you. And honestly? It might be for me too, because I'm recording this in one of those seasons myself.
Today we're doing something a little different. Instead of going deep in a passage, we're talking about what to do when deep feels like too much — when you need less, not more. Specifically, I'm walking you through one of my favorite practices for weary seasons: handwriting scripture.
Not typing it. Not scrolling past it. Actually writing it out, slowly, in your own hand — because something happens in your brain when you do that. The words land differently. They go deeper. And over time, they become part of that personal library of God's voice that the Holy Spirit can pull from when you need it most. That's what Psalm 119:11 means when it says I have hidden your word in my heart — it's scripture moving into your long-term memory, where it lives and stays even when you haven't opened your Bible in weeks.
I'm sharing the five verses I wrote out for myself today — and why each one hit me fresh even though I've known some of them for years. This episode is part of our How to Study the Bible Podcast, a show that brings life back to reading the Bible and helps you understand even the hardest parts of Scripture. If this episode helps you know and love God more, be sure to follow the How to Study the Bible Podcast on Apple or Spotify so you never miss an episode!
Originally published Wednesday, 08 May 2024.
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