Grief and getting out of a gloomy slump

I’ve always known that there are seasons of life (or stages of life), much like the changing seasons of the year. I have also noticed that we have different seasons of life, from the perspective of faith. These seasons can represent different periods of growth, challenges, and spiritual development. I am finding that as I better understand these seasons, that it can provide me with a framework for navigating life’s experiences and finding purpose at different times.

Over the course of your life, have you ever noticed that there are times of prosperity as well as adversity, growth and decline, successes and failures, etc.?

From my point of view, I believe that seasons are part of God’s grand design for this earth (winter, spring, summer and fall), as well as times of joy and sadness, struggle and peace, highs and lows, failing and growth, and of course, birth and loss. I’m reminded of a scripture in Ecclesiastes, chapter 3, verse 1, which says “There is a season (a time appointed) for everything and a time for every delight and event or purpose under heaven.”

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The more I grow in my faith, I truly believe that there’s a time and a place for everything; that there is purpose in everything! 

I’ve known that there are 5 stages of loss (or a journey of grief), (denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance). What I am learning is that each of us mourn in unique ways and each of these emotions affect us differently. Although I don’t typically get depressed, this past week I took off to sit with the loss of my sister, as I was beginning to feel withdrawn from life. However, as the week progressed, I felt myself sinking into a downward slope of intense sadness and a feeling of hopelessness that I have never experienced before. I had to force myself to go for walks and to pray. Towards the end of the week, I almost started to scare myself, given the gloomy slump that I found myself in. 

One evening towards the end of the week, I ended up getting up at the crack of dawn and decided to go downstairs pray and spend some time with the Lord. After I read a few scriptures and listened to some worship music, I began crying out to the Lord saying “I know sadness is a part of losing my sister and all that has happened these past few months, but please help me to get out of this excruciating sadness! I need you to bring back the joy and peace to me.”

A few hours later, I heard a song called "Flowers" (https://youtu.be/4AQM7-qm3lo?si=ulSDsEd4mZd7uCeh) by Samantha Ebert and Seth Schlueter. As I listened to the song over and over and over again, tears and more tears came. There was a part that resonated with me when she sang “... that flowers grow in the valley… I’ll trust it’s a season, knowing that You’re by my side, every step of the way and I’ll be okay.” Later, I read the background of the song, and Samantha said that she wrote “Flowers” while battling a chronic disease. She explained that “God reminded me that beautiful things grow in the darkest of places.” That night, or early morning, the intense sadness broke, and, in its place, an immense peace and sense of hope started to fill me.

I have also found that beautiful things can indeed grow in the darkest of places, both literally and figuratively. 

Beautiful things can grow in the darkest of places