Went to an awesome conference last Saturday it was on Grief and Hope. I’ve been struggling lately and felt stuck with so much grief in my life. Grief of any kind can be tough and it seems to compound when more is packed on. I think of grief in layers that you peel back. You work on it feels better more comes you peel or back and continue to work on it. I didn’t have the money to attend the conference so one of the pastors from my church said my church would fund it so I could go. That was very kind of them and I’m so glad I went. It has helped me feel lighter this past week.

I know from issues or things in my life even if it’s hard, it’s good to talk about what is bothering you. Grief shed into the light one helps keep it from being in darkness and it helps others around you understand more of what is going on. They talked about hope leaning into it and reading the Psalms helps with a range of emotions, responses and experiences. How the psalms meet us in our stories. How there are lament psalms about loss and suffering. How trusting God in all of it. He is in control. Christ shares our suffering and how He wept with his friends. Then how there is resurrected Hope and again through the psalms of Thanksgiving.

We need to share our stories with others so that people are encouraged and given hope. This is the biggest reason why I write my blog. Our pain yes it’s difficult when we go through it, but I know that it shapes us and that pain is turned into hope.

I so appreciate all the hard work from the people who put this conference together especially our pastor . The week before she lost her dad and then did this conference. I know I was encouraged so much along with others. Grief will come and go but out of that I see so much to be thankful for.