Soul Care When You're Grieving

by Edie Melson @EdieMelson

Yep, the third book in my Soul Care series, published by Bold Vision Books, is coming out in just a few days. I'd like to share and short introduction and an excerpt. I hope you'll join us in our power buy day on Amazon, November 2, if you like what you see below!

Grief is difficult. We all experience it—and we experience it differently. There is no right or wrong way to face loss, yet many of us feel we’re doing it wrong.
In this life, we mourn—the loss of someone 

we love, the passing of a pet, the changes that come with age, even situations—these cause us to grieve. I wrote this book about the grief of all those situations and more. The exercises contained here aren’t geared to a specific situation, so they are appropriate for all kinds of loss. 

Going through loss narrows my world. I used to believe that was my personal experience, but I’ve discovered it’s a common grief that happens to us all. I’m praying this book helps you break down the barriers created by grief and helps you engage with the world around you. 

Most of all, I pray you learn to embrace your own process of grief and quit judging whether you’re handling things the way they should be handled. God designed each of us uniquely, and that blueprint includes the way we process loss. 

Each chapter is designated by the opposite of one of the five experiences of grief. It’s far too easy to be tied to the common misconceptions about grief, so by reframing them, I’m hoping you’ll give yourself more grace as you process your loss. 

These stages of grief are not steps or levels, they are just some common phases everyone goes through while they process loss. Don’t fall into the trap of believing they come in a certain order or that when you’ve experienced one of them, it won’t crop back up again. 

Use this book to feed your soul when you’re grieving and know my prayer team and I have prayed over your personal journey. Remember, you are not alone in your grief. God is always with you—no matter whether or not you’re aware of Him. 

Waiting for Sunrise 

The Lord is good to those who wait for him, to the soul who seeks him (Lamentations 3:25 ESV). 

We go to the beach a couple of times a year and my favorite time is on the beach when the sun rises, taking pictures. I also love watching the birds who hang out on and around the shore.


One year, the reason for being at the beach was to attend the memorial service of a close friend who had passed away. Although it was good to remember him with others who loved him, the trip was hard and the time I spent on the beach was more therapeutic than joyful. But during one of my early morning walks, God revealed a comforting truth. 

As I watched the sun come up, I noticed how the birds gathered with me to watch the day begin. As I considered them, I realized birds always congregated whenever I’ve watched the sun rise. At the beach, they gather on the shore, many of them swooping in to land just a few minutes before the sun made its daily debut. In the mountains, they perch in the trees. And at the lake, they gather on the dock. 

The birds gather for sunrise, but it doesn’t matter what the weather is like. The birds still come. It can be cloudless or completely overcast. It makes no difference. Those faithful avians still wait and watch the sunrise. Once the sun is up (and sometimes I can only tell it’s risen by my watch and the overall lightening of the sky) they disperse, winging away to their daily duties. 

That day it occurred to me that the sunrise in my life was obscured—not by clouds—but by grief. Yet I knew God was still with me, no matter whether I saw Him working or not. And it was time to put action to my faith and—just like those birds—turn to where I knew He was. There’s no doubt it’s easier to walk with God when we can see a physical sign that He’s on the horizon. Even when grief makes us feel like everyone—including God has deserted us—we still must find the faith to face the dawn. Mourning can fill life with gloomy clouds until we’re no longer able to discern where God is or when He’s going to begin the work we can see. It’s during those times when we must rely on what we know is true about God instead of relying on what we’re feeling. 

So that day, as I watched the sunrise behind a wall of clouds, I renewed my commitment to faith— God is always at work whether or not I see Him. He is always present, even when my circumstances hide Him from my view. 

A Prayer About Watching for the Light 

The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it (John 1:5 ESV). 

Dear Lord, sometimes my world feels so dark. I miss my loved one so much. And truthfully, I don’t want to live in the light. All I want to do is curl up in a corner and wait to join them.
My world feels different, and I don’t want to 

live this life. I want to go back and continue with all I had planned. Help me see purpose in the path ahead. But You have a purpose for me, a hope and a 

reason for me to continue. I need to see a glimmer of what that is. I need a new spark in my cold heart. Help me draw nearer to You during this difficult time. Warm me with the flame of Your love and renew my hope. I feel Your love. I know You’ve been with me through all of this. Remind me of Your loving care. 

Lead me to once again to watching for the light. Amen.

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Edie Melson is a woman of faith with ink-stained fingers observing life through the lens of her camera. No matter whether she’s talking to writers, entrepreneurs, or readers, her first advice is always “Find your voice, live your story.” As an author, blogger, and speaker she’s encouraged and challenged audiences across the country and around the world. Her numerous books reflect her passion to help others develop the strength of their God-given gifts and apply them to their lives. Connect with her on her website, through Facebook, Twitter and on Instagram.