Have you ever lived by the principle that a little over a long time will bring benefits?

Although I am an “easy does it” type of exercise person, there are times when the demand requires a mammoth output.

Yes, not just the muscle “warm-up” exercise with a bit of cardio for 12-15 minutes but I’m talking about a marathon run that lasts over 3 days!

Of course, I’m saying this metaphorically as our exercise room is still being used “reasonably”. In the workout room called life…however, I was required to do a deep dive to understand my grief responses.

Yet, no amount of little by little work helped me get back over the line. It all depended on the ultimate 3-day marathon work of our Savior. (See Romans 3, 4 below)

Can someone’s tragic death, leave us with unresolved grief? I believe it can. Reading through Art Holmes book this week (The Grieving Indian), I could relate to some of his clients as they were going through grief therapy decades ago. There was resolution to be had, there were parts of the grief cycle that had not been successfully managed.

Whatever caused the loss: (miscarriage, accident, cancer or even suicide), the ending of one person’s life can be the beginning of a grief cycle for another. The pain involved may be so great that it gets buried or pushed aside. At odd times it may come back to remind them it’s still there, waiting to be worked through.

The beauty of the book of Romans is that it reveals God’s amazing plan for us to know and accept that we are created by Him. We can come to believe His word as true and step out in faith according to His love for us.

From Romans 1, you may ask ‘what causes the world’s grief’? Well, for a comprehensive picture just read this passage in its entirety.

In this scenario, life really does seem hopeless.

So, this passage in the Bible reading today helped me as I have come through a “deep dive grief therapy” week.

Basically, don’t forget that chaos/grief will happen as long as humanity is around. It’s part of this world order. Because our Savior “overdid it” for us (through his death, burial and resurrection), we can find peace. By learning to trust His forgiveness and covering of our sin, we can also forgive others (even an unresolved grief mindset) from such devastating results. #journaling

Coming face to face with an unforgiving mindset has not been easy, feeling the pain of unresolved grief is even worse but knowing His truth that brings peace provides reassurance that this seemingly never-ending vicious cycle will come to a healthy end.

I hope you will also find solace today, if you are grieving. Remember that He is the ONE who has “lavished” us with His love. -Teresa #heavenlyFather #ChristJesusmyLord #trinity

Romans 1:28-32 (ESV)

²⁸ And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a debased mind to do what ought not to be done. ²⁹ They were filled with all manner of unrighteousness, evil, covetousness, malice. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, maliciousness. They are gossips, ³⁰ slanderers, haters of God, insolent, haughty, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, ³¹ foolish, faithless, heartless, ruthless. ³² Though they know God’s righteous decree that those who practice such things deserve to die, they not only do them but give approval to those who practice them.

Romans 3:21-31, ESV

The Righteousness of God Through Faith

[21] But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it—[22] the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction: [23] for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, [24] and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, [25] whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God’s righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins. [26] It was to show his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.

[27] Then what becomes of our boasting? It is excluded. By what kind of law? By a law of works? No, but by the law of faith. [28] For we hold that one is justified by faith apart from works of the law. [29] Or is God the God of Jews only? Is he not the God of Gentiles also? Yes, of Gentiles also, [30] since God is one—who will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through faith. [31] Do we then overthrow the law by this faith? By no means! On the contrary, we uphold the law.

Romans 4:1-17 (ESV)

Abraham Justified by Faith

[1] What then shall we say was gained by Abraham, our forefather according to the flesh? [2] For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God. [3] For what does the Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness.” [4] Now to the one who works, his wages are not counted as a gift but as his due. [5] And to the one who does not work but believes in him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted as righteousness, [6] just as David also speaks of the blessing of the one to whom God counts righteousness apart from works:[7] “Blessed are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven, and whose sins are covered; [8] blessed is the man against whom the Lord will not count his sin.” [9] Is this blessing then only for the circumcised, or also for the uncircumcised? For we say that faith was counted to Abraham as righteousness. [10] How then was it counted to him? Was it before or after he had been circumcised? It was not after, but before he was circumcised. [11] He received the sign of circumcision as a seal of the righteousness that he had by faith while he was still uncircumcised. The purpose was to make him the father of all who believe without being circumcised, so that righteousness would be counted to them as well, [12] and to make him the father of the circumcised who are not merely circumcised but who also walk in the footsteps of the faith that our father Abraham had before he was circumcised.

The Promise Realized Through Faith

[13] For the promise to Abraham and his offspring that he would be heir of the world did not come through the law but through the righteousness of faith. [14] For if it is the adherents of the law who are to be the heirs, faith is null and the promise is void. [15] For the law brings wrath, but where there is no law there is no transgression.

[16] That is why it depends on faith, in order that the promise may rest on grace and be guaranteed to all his offspring—not only to the adherent of the law but also to the one who shares the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all, [17] as it is written, “I have made you the father of many nations”—in the presence of the God in whom he believed, who gives life to the dead and calls into existence the things that do not exist.