January 14
Following Jesus
in Grief
“But Jesus told him, ‘Follow me. Let the dead bury their own dead.’”
Matthew 8:22 (NIrV)
Nia sat alone in the quiet of her mother’s home, surrounded by half-packed boxes and framed photos from happier days. The weight of her mother’s passing felt unbearable. For weeks, her world had been consumed by funeral arrangements, condolences, and the aching void left behind.
She had put everything else on hold—her job, her church commitments, even her prayers. The grief was so overwhelming that she barely had the energy to think about anything but the loss.
One evening, her pastor called to check in. “Nia, I know this is a hard season for you,” he said gently. “But remember that even in grief, Jesus invites us to follow Him. Lean into Him for strength.”
Nia sighed. “I don’t know how to move forward. It feels like if I do, I’m letting go of her memory. How can I follow God when I’m so broken?”
That night, unable to sleep, Nia opened her Bible for the first time in weeks. Her eyes fell on Matthew 8:22: “Follow me. Let the dead bury their own dead.” At first, the words seemed harsh, but as she reread them, she realized Jesus wasn’t asking her to forget her mother—He was calling her to trust Him, even in her grief.
Nia closed her eyes and whispered, “Lord, I’m scared to move forward. But if You’re asking me to follow You, I will try.”
The next morning, she felt a small nudge to return to her church’s weekly outreach. Despite her hesitation, she went. As she served meals to those in need, she felt a flicker of joy for the first time in weeks. Slowly, step by step, Nia began to find purpose again—not by erasing her grief, but by allowing Jesus to lead her through it.
She continued to honor her mother’s memory, but she no longer let her sorrow define her. Instead, she let God use her pain to draw her closer to Him.
Prayer:
Lord, in our darkest moments of grief, remind us that You are still calling us to follow You.
Help us to trust that moving forward doesn’t mean forgetting those we’ve lost but embracing the life and purpose You have for us.
Like Nia, give us the strength to take small steps of faith, even when it feels impossible.
Lead us gently through our pain and draw us closer to You in the process.
In Jesus’ name, Amen.
