Is your Prison Decorated?

We had a guest minister today at church. He was sharing truths from God’s word when all of a sudden he started talking about grief. My ears perked up and I listened a little bit closer. He reminded us that grief is a natural occurrence we all experience.

Sometimes I am consumed with grief over the loss of my husband. I selfishly think I have the monopoly on grief, but there are so many different types of grief. Loss of a job, disappointment about how things have gone in your life, financial losses, loss of health to name just a few. Webster’s definition of grief is two-fold. 1-Deep and poignant distress caused by or as if by bereavement and 2-trouble, annoyance causing an unfortunate outcome. Those definitions definitely make grief more inclusive than just those who lost a loved one.

The loss of a relationship or a job can be devastating and I don’t diminish the severity of that grief at all. Grief and suffering are an equal opportunity employer. Just like there are no degrees of sin- (a lie is just as much of a sin as adultery) there are no degrees of grief. Grief is grief!

Back to my church service this morning. The pastor said there are times when we just need to release our grief (or whatever it is that is holding you down). I get that. There are times I hold on to the grief a little tighter than I need to. Think of grief as a cage that traps you and confines you, a prison of sorts. However, in that prison I have become comfortable. Instead of trying to walk out the door I have hung curtains, laid down a rug and have decorated the walls with reminders of my pain. Mercifully, the Lord is saying “I have come to set the captives free. I have come to give comfort to those who mourn. Walk out the door.” Yet I sit in my chair in the prison and am painfully comfortable just staring at the open door and dreaming of being free of this suffering.

How long do I grieve? How long is long enough? How long is too long? This is a loaded rhetorical question that I certainly cannot answer. I just know that I sometimes stay too long. I need to arise and release my grief and carry on with my life. Today I released some grief. I sobbed deep tears as my friends hugged me and prayed for me. This is not a one time fix, I will have to release many more times. But for today I took down a curtain in my prison. Maybe tomorrow I will start to peel up the rug. Eventually I will empty my mourning prison and walk through the door. When I do, I will run into the arms of the Lord who desires to turn my sorrow into joy.

I always challenge you to join me in my journey. Today is no different. Get out of your prison, don’t get comfortable, quit making it your permanent residence. Grieve for as long as you need to, but don’t get stuck. Jesus is calling for you to release your situation to Him. Take one step towards Him and He will run to you. He is like the prodigal son’s father. He is watching and waiting to welcome you home. He wants to dress you in a robe and a place ring on your finger. Parole yourself, walk out of your prison cell, and run to the Father today to begin the rest of your journey.