He Stays Near – Renewal After Loss

A January Mini-Series: New Beginnings After Loss

🤕 When Pain Comes Calling

Sometimes I find myself grieving all over again. What happened to my daddy over 50 years ago becomes fresh again. I shed tears and feel my heart as heavy as it’s ever been. God doesn’t guarantee that we will get over those feelings of grief that resurface after time. But He does promise that He will be with us… when the hurt comes back. When the pain feels renewed. When we are missing loved ones in times of need.

❤️‍🩹 Healing Isn’t a Straight Line

Helping children understand setbacks, waves of sadness, and that progress isn’t perfection is important in order for them to move forward as well. They never walk into a new season alone. God’s presence remains. Even when hope feels fragile, God is close. Always.

Psalm 34:18
“The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.”

♥️ God’s Quiet Work in the Heart

God often does His deepest work quietly. Renewal does not usually arrive with certainty. It comes slowly, in unseen ways, like roots growing deep beneath the soil. Scripture reminds us that God is not distant from our pain, nor is He waiting for us to “move on” before drawing near.

Throughout the Bible, we see that God meets His people exactly where they are, especially in seasons of sorrow. He draws close to the brokenhearted, tends gently to those who are fragile, and remains present when emotions feel overwhelming. For children, this matters deeply. They may not understand why grief returns or why sadness shows up again after a good day, but God understands. He is patient with their questions, attentive to their tears, and near to their hurting hearts.

God does not rush renewal. He allows grief and hope to exist side by side. And over time, He works quietly within us to renew strength, restore trust, and remind us that we are never alone.

⛪ A Word to Parents & Caregivers

As adults walking alongside grieving children, we have a sacred role. We cannot take away their pain, but we can help them feel safe within it. Encourage children to notice the little signs of growth, no matter how small. A calmer moment. A question asked instead of silence. A memory shared without tears.

Offer gentle reassurance when grief resurfaces. Let children know that setbacks do not mean failure and that healing does not have a schedule. Be present. Listen more than you speak. Sit with them in the quiet moments. When we reflect God’s nearness through patience and compassion, we show children what it looks like to trust that God stays close, even when hearts feel fragile.

🙏 A Closing Blessing

Lord,

Thank You for staying near when grief returns.
Thank You for walking with us through every season, the heavy days and the hopeful ones.

When pain comes back unexpectedly, remind us that You are close.
When hearts feel weary or afraid, hold us gently in Your arms.

Help us trust Your quiet work of renewal, and give us eyes to see the small signs of hope You place along the way.

Amen.

📚 More Hope-Filled Resources, Just for You

Check out my website at https://marygracejohnsonauthor.com and download the “Seven Affirmations of Hope” for free.

I also have two collaborative books available on Amazon:
Hope for the Holidays: Stories and Traditions for a Peaceful Season (2024) and the new 365-day devotional, A Year of Hope (2025).

🔜 To be released this spring!

And the Sun Came Up: A True Story of Grief and Hope, my picture book

An accompanying hope activity journal, Sunlight for the Soul: A Hope Journal for Kids Walking Through Sadness (ages 4-10)

🎉 I will be looking for launch team members to participate in this book release where there will be giveaways, behind-the-scenes updates, and early access to the book!