“I can’t ever imagine my life without this overwhelming pain,” I managed to choke out between my sobs to my counselor. It had been about three months after my divorce was filed, and I was overwhelmed with grief. I believed the rest of my life was going to be filled with the intense emotional pain I was experiencing, and I knew I couldn’t bear it. I had truly lost hope for my future and was at the point of total despair.

My very wise counselor made one simple suggestion that made a huge, positive impact. She suggested that I reflect on my faith. She went on to explain that faith is a decision. If I exclude the reality of God from my life, then there is nothing to hope for and grief turns into despair. However, if I include the reality of God in my life, there is always something greater — no matter the grief and pain. It is this reality that is the reason for hope. Her gentle reminder about my faith was a real paradigm shift in how I viewed my situation.

Faith is a decision that we all must make at some point in our lives. We must decide that either this world is all there is or there is something beyond this life that is so much greater. Our decision is what makes all the difference.

Grief is an indicator of transition — a change, a letting go. When Our Lord is brought into this transition, He will bring new life. Even though this new life may not be what we had planned, because it is built on trust in Christ, there ultimately will be joy — a joy that this physical world can’t touch.

And that is exactly what happened to me, and it can happen to you too. Believe.

“Amen, amen, I say to you, you will weep and mourn, while the world rejoices; you will grieve, but your grief will become joy.” — John 16:20

Originally posted 2018-02-15 00:30:44.