
Waves of grief have been washing over me these past few daysโฆ monthsโฆ year? Never in my life have I felt such a roller coaster ride of emotion. As the regular routines of life take place, the overwhelming despair seeks to creep up and take overโฆ
โฆ and the waves continue.
Last night a good friend of ours text Dawn and I to ask how we were doing. We both responded, though not knowing each otherโs responses, with the words, โexhausted.โ What other word fits? We are not without hope. We are not without faith and trust in Jesus. We are not without love for Godโs kingdom. But we are exhausted. Dawn further remarked, โOur lives are so sad right now.โ After a year of watching so much negativity, we now share the sorrow and grief of watching our loved ones suffer. Dawnโs grandmother, though having lived a full life, is coming to the end of this life and beginning of eternity with God. My dad is battling cancer, with days that are good and days that are bad and we live with so many unknowns.
โฆ but we seek after peace.
I marvel at how often the Daily Office Scripture readings, found in my Book of Common Prayer, seem to know just what is needed. The Psalms have consistently provided a perfect explanation of my own soulโs state while also reminding me that my hope is not in the things of this world, but in the eternal, good and beautiful God. How can the psalmist know my every thought and emotion? The Reformer Martin Luther stated that โin the Psalms we look into the heart of every saint.โ John Calvin suggested that within the Psalms, โwe look into a mirror and see our own heart.โ Itโs as if each dayโs reading has my name and address on it, knowing what my daily struggles or questions are, though not always providing the immediate โfixโ that we humans long for, but an eternal solution wrapped up in the love of Godโฆ
โฆ and yet suffering continues.
Iโve long been fascinated by the โnow and not yetโ of Godโs kingdom. On one hand we see clearly that the kingdom of God broke into our world some two-thousand years ago when Jesusโ public ministry began. When he stated, โRepent, for the kingdom of God is at hand,โ he indicated that the rule and reign of God was upon us. And he demonstrated that kingdomโs power over and over again, wherever he went. Yet in the transitional age we find ourselves, sickness and death still have a hold and we still are found longing for the consummation of Godโs kingdom, longing for an end to the terrors of the night and sorrows of the morningโฆ
โฆ and this too shall pass.
In todayโs Scripture reading, I again stumbled upon the psalmistโs reminder that, โGod is our refuge and strength, always ready to help in times of trouble, so we will not fearโฆโ (Ps. 46:1, 2). I also read that โ[God] protects the lives of his godly people and rescues them from the power of the wickedโ (Ps. 97:10). And this is where the realm of faith begs we who believe to jump off of the cliff and into the unknown. We are not promised or guaranteed a life without trial, tribulation, or troubles. We are not allowed the assurance that our loved ones will not suffer. But we are given the hope, grounded in a history of Godโs faithfulness, that the ultimate victory and redemption awaits usโฆ
โฆ and hope remains steadfast.
What awaits us today? We know not. But we do, I think, carry with us grieving hearts that have seeds of hope planted deep within. It is why we continue to wake up, make breakfast, and go about our day. It is why we continue to pray, read Scripture, and go about our day. It is why we still laugh and cry, spend time with loved ones, and go about our day. And it is why we long and suffer for the ultimate redemption, the ultimate hope, the ultimate love to be our realityโฆ
โฆ and we pray, โMaranathaโฆ come, Lord.โ
Last night we sensed the Lordโs grace and presence when another friend text us to let us know they were praying for us and wanted to give us a gift. Seemingly out of the blue, the Lord apparently knew just what we needed. So while we all long for the ultimate consummation of the age, when Jesus returns and sets up his kingdom and destroys the works of the devil, we must acknowledge that Godโs been โcomingโ into our world for a very long time, and often itโs through his people as they minister to one another and the world around us. So while the vast majority of our prayer time is now in the form of petitions and requestsโฆ
โฆ we also have gratitude for all God continues to do.

Luke is a pastor-theologian living in northern California, serving as a co-lead pastor with his life, Dawn, at the Red Bluff Vineyard. Father of five amazing kids, when Luke isn’t hanging with his family, reading or writing theology, he moonlights as a fly fishing guide for Confluence Outfitters. He blogs regularly at LukeGeraty.com and regularly contributes to his YouTube channel.
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