Grief Bites: Hope for the HolidaysSample

How do you find and experience hope when you feel completely void of all hope during the holidays? After going through my sister's death on Thanksgiving, experiencing a boyfriend's death over Christmas break, losing my grandmother Valentine's Day weekend, losing another grandmother two days before Christmas, and then years later, going through my other sister's fiancé's death on Easter, I didn't feel very hope-filled. The holidays surrounding their deaths were very painful. I struggled to find any hope at all, due to intense heartache. Whether you are feeling hopeless due to a loved one's death, or you are going through a life challenging loss (such as a divorce, family conflict, illness, financial difficulties, job loss, or other heartbreaking event), please know that God truly does love you and deeply cares about you. He genuinely understands what you are going through and wants to offer you His healing touch. God ultimately desires to shower you with His extravagant love and incredible HOPE! But how do you find His hope and experience it fully? Start by asking God to heal your heart...ask Him to infuse you with His hope that only comes from Him...ask Him to drench you in His amazing love! Ask God to specifically carry you through the holidays and to deeply minister to your heart! Read His word and ask Him to powerfully speak to your heart as He gently comforts your hurting heart and spirit. No matter what you are going through, He deeply cares about your heartache, so seek God this holiday season, and always, with all of your heart! You WILL find God—and His fresh brand new HOPE—when you search for Him with all of your heart! God's mercies are new every single day so ask Him for them! He is here for you and He will help you through the holidays! Prayer: "Dear Jesus, thank you for hope! I ask specifically for you to give me the good gift of hope and allow me to find and experience your hope and peace to the fullest. I ask You to bless my heart with Your healing touch and shower me with Your love. Father, will You please heal my heart and carry me through this holiday season? I pray You will powerfully speak to my spirit as I seek Your heart (and guidance) as I read Your Word. Grant me Your precious new mercies each morning and please comfort my soul every day. Thank You for being my truest Friend! I treasure and adore Your friendship! I love You, Lord! In Your precious Name I pray, amen." This devotional © 2015 by Kim Niles/Grief Bites. All rights reserved. Used by permission.