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“The Lord hears his people when they call to him for help.
He rescues them from all their troubles.
The Lord is close to the brokenhearted;
he rescues those whose spirits are crushed.”
— Psalm 34:17–18
Psalm 34:17-18 assures us that God does not turn away from our pain. When your spirit feels crushed, Scripture says the Lord draws near, listens, and moves toward you with rescue and care. Your hurt does not push God away; it actually becomes a place where God’s presence and comfort can meet you in a deeper way.
Grief expert Dr. Alan Wolfelt reminds us that the goal is not to “get over” your grief but to learn how to carry your grief and your love together. Over time, this journey can lead to a renewed sense of meaning and purpose, even while the loss remains a real part of your story.
Alan Wolfelt (Director of the Center for Loss and Life Transitiion)
“The journey through grief is life‑changing. When you leave the wilderness of your grief, you are not the same person you were when you entered.” -- Alan Wolfelt, Ph.D.
“The journey through grief is life‑changing. When you leave the wilderness of your grief, you are not the same person you were when you entered.” -- Alan Wolfelt, Ph.D.
Source: “Appreciate Your Transformation,” Wings – A Grief Education Ministry Newsletter, May 2023
When you experience a loss or injury, the hurt can feel overwhelming. You may feel shock, anger, confusion, loneliness, or even numbness—and sometimes all of these in the same day. These responses are normal parts of grief, not signs that something is wrong with you or your faith.
On this page, you are invited to pause, breathe, and gently pay attention to what hurts most about your loss. Naming your pain is not weakness; it is a first step toward healing and transformation.
Take a few minutes to journal through the questions below, pray through them, or speak them aloud to God. Giving honest words to your hurt is one way of “moving toward” your grief so that, as Wolfelt teaches, it can be integrated rather than avoided.
Guided Reflection: Naming What Hurts
Guided Reflection: Naming What Hurts
What is it about this suffering that feels most painful right now? (For example: an empty chair at the table, a silence where a voice used to be, a lost role, or a future that now looks different.)
When do you notice the hurt the most—morning, night, certain places, certain dates, or certain songs or smells?
If your hurt could speak, what would it say to God today?
Grief may always be part of your life, but it does not have to be the only part. As you courageously reflect on your hurt, you may slowly discover new strengths, deeper compassion, and a renewed awareness of God’s faithful presence.
You do not walk this road alone:
God is close to your broken heart (Psalm 34:17–18, NLT).
Many people have walked through deep hurt and found that over time their grief became woven into a “new normal” with fresh meaning and purpose.
“Take a moment to talk honestly with God about what hurts most today. Ask him to meet you in that specific place of pain and to gently grow hope there.”
Image Credits:
Image Credits:
Cover Photo: Photo by Sami Matias Breilin on Unsplash
Alan Wolfelt Photo: https://www.centerforloss.com/about-the-center-for-loss/about-dr-alan-wolfelt/
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