Trusting God Through Grief and QuietI’ve always been someone who likes to stay busy. There’s something comforting about crossing things off a to-do list, filling the day with tasks, and feeling like I’ve accomplished something. But if I’m honest, sometimes the busyness is just noise.
As a widow, I’ve learned that staying busy can feel like survival. It keeps my mind occupied, gives me purpose, and—let’s be real—it can help me avoid the heavy feelings and thoughts I don’t always want to face. Grief has a way of sneaking in during the quiet moments, so for a long time, I filled my life with movement and distraction.
But the truth is, I’ve also discovered that God often meets me—not in the chaos, but in the stillness.
It’s in those rare quiet moments, when I finally sit down and let myself be, that I begin to hear the whispers of His peace. The ache in my heart doesn’t go away, but it becomes a space where I can meet Him. He doesn’t rush in with loud answers. He simply reminds me that I’m not alone. He’s been there all along, waiting for me to pause and listen.
Psalm 46:10 says, “Be still, and know that I am God.”
It’s not a suggestion to slow down after everything is done—it’s an invitation to trust Him in the quiet, in the not-doing, in the moments where we finally stop trying to hold everything together on our own.
Stillness is uncomfortable for me. It strips away the illusion of control and exposes the emotions I’d rather ignore. But it’s also where I find rest. It’s where I remember that I don’t have to have all the answers. I just have to let go for a moment and let God be God.
If you find yourself filling every moment to avoid the hard things—grief, fear, uncertainty—I understand. But maybe today, we can take a small step together. Pause. Breathe. Sit with the Lord in the quiet. You might be surprised by what you hear when the noise fades away.
If you’re like me and find stillness difficult, you’re not alone. It takes intention and trust to quiet the noise and meet God in that space. But even a few moments of quiet can open the door to His peace.
If you’re not sure where to start, here’s a simple prayer you can pray right where you are:
Lord,
I confess—it’s hard for me to slow down.
I fill my days to keep from feeling the weight of grief and uncertainty.
But You invite me to be still and rest in You.
I confess—it’s hard for me to slow down.
I fill my days to keep from feeling the weight of grief and uncertainty.
But You invite me to be still and rest in You.
Quiet my heart.
Calm the noise around me.
Help me to feel Your peace and remember that I’m not alone.
Calm the noise around me.
Help me to feel Your peace and remember that I’m not alone.
Amen.
Stillness and quiet are things the Lord continues to teach me because they don't come naturally to me. I wrote another blog post earlier this year on this same topic. If you'd like to read that post, here is the link: Be Still and Know: Trusting God in the Midst of a Challenging Season.
If you’re walking through grief and need a quiet place to process, Hope in the Mourning was created for you. This 30-day journal includes scripture, gentle prompts, and space to reflect, write, and breathe, along with a section for gratitude. It’s not about fixing the pain—but giving you a way to meet God in it, one day at a time. You don’t have to grieve alone. You can find it here in my Etsy shop: HOPE IN THE MOURNING: A 30 DAY JOURNAL FOR THE GRIEVING. I also have two other resources that work hand in hand with this journal, GRIEF TO GRACE MINI GUIDE: 5 GENTLE STEPS TOWARD HOPE and
30 SCRIPTURE CARDS FOR GRIEF. If you know someone these might encourage, I would be honored if you’d share these resources—and my blog—with them.
My Etsy Shop, HOPE & HARMONY PAGES is running a September sale! Inside you’ll find digital printables for grief support, school, homeschool, classroom use, organization, and even some new holiday-themed items. Since they’re instant downloads, you’ll receive your printable as soon as you purchase.
