Freely Speaking Audio Devotion

Welcome to Freely Speaking, an OHSOFREE devotional ministry where we share our hearts and trust God for transformation. 

Today, Karen Wardle shares her thoughts on grief and loving God with all your mind. “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.” Mark 12:30 NIV

Have you ever experienced grief over a loss other than that of a loved one? 

I finished my sophomore year at a Christian school and headed into summer feeling excited, carefree, and thoroughly happy. As a sweet 16-year-old, I had worked hard and done well. At the top of my class with all A’s, I won many academic and sports awards. I served as president of my class and won the Treasurer’s seat on the all-grades student council for the following year. Life was grand. 

A week before school was to begin again for my Junior year, we were suddenly informed that the school was closing, effective immediately. I couldn’t have been more stunned. Suddenly, I felt an awful physical constriction in my chest, and my brain shut down. I couldn’t quit crying. Desperately, negative thoughts swirled through my mind as my whole life came crashing down. Grieving the loss of friends and teachers, the loss of my school and academic and other achievements, I was thrust abruptly into the local public school, where I became lost in the crowd.

“You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you. Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord God is an everlasting rock” (Isaiah 26:3-4 ESV).

When we grieve, whether it is for a lost loved one or some other life-altering loss, we experience a depth of sadness that threatens to overcome our minds as our hearts are breaking. Our prayers become desperate pleas to Almighty God. It may take enormous mental effort to place our complete trust in Him, believing He is our steadfast and everlasting rock. The only way to achieve perfect peace in our minds is to trust in God, knowing that He wants the best for us and will work everything out for our good in the end.

I loved God with all my mind and clung to Him after the loss of my school. Though my sadness remained for years, I trusted in God’s faithfulness as I meditated on verses about His peace. He kept His promises to me, and in the end, I did find perfect peace.

What can you do today to reframe your thinking? How might trusting God fully help you to work through grief in your mind?

Thank you for joining us today. If you would like to learn more about OhSoFree Ministries, please visit us at www.ohsofreeministries.com.