Forward: Finding Hope in the Changing Seasons of Grief

March is a season of transition—winter’s cold grip begins to fade, and signs of new life emerge. The same is true for grief. Though loss can feel like a never-ending winter, God promises that new things are on the horizon. This month, we will explore how grief has seasons, how healing does not mean forgetting, and how we can embrace renewal while honoring what has been lost.

Isaiah 43:19 reminds us:
“See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.”

God does not leave us in our sorrow forever. Just as He renews the earth, He can bring renewal to our hearts. This month, we will reflect on how God makes a way for healing, how faith sustains us through grief’s transitions, and how embracing change can be a path to peace.

A Devotional on Grief and Renewal

Grief often feels like winter—cold, isolating, and seemingly endless. But even in the deepest sorrow, God is at work. Renewal doesn’t mean forgetting or leaving grief behind; it means allowing hope to take root again.

Isaiah 43:19 is a powerful reminder that God is always doing something new, even when we cannot yet see it. It speaks to the promise of transformation, the assurance that He is making a way where there seems to be none. This is not about ignoring grief but about trusting that, in time, renewal will come.

The Story of Harriet Jacobs: From Captivity to Freedom

Harriet Jacobs knew grief intimately. Born into slavery in 1813, she endured unimaginable hardship. After being pursued relentlessly by her enslaver, she made the painful decision to hide in a small attic space for nearly seven years to protect her children and plan for their freedom.

For Harriet, grief was more than loss—it was the sorrow of separation, injustice, and suffering with no visible end. Yet, even in the darkness of that cramped attic, she clung to hope. She wrote in her autobiography, Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl, that faith sustained her during those years. She could not yet see the path to freedom, but she believed that God was working.

When the opportunity finally came, Harriet escaped to the North and was reunited with her children. Her grief did not disappear, but she found renewal in her newfound purpose—advocating for the end of slavery and fighting for the rights of women and children. Her story reminds us that even in our darkest seasons, God is making a way.

Moving from Sorrow to Renewal

Harriet’s story mirrors what many of us experience in grief. The pain may feel endless, but change is coming. Renewal does not mean forgetting those we’ve lost or the pain we’ve endured. Instead, it means allowing God to bring healing, purpose, and new growth.

If you are in a season of grief, remember:

• God is working even when you can’t see it. Harriet couldn’t see freedom while in hiding, but she trusted in its promise.
• Healing takes time. Just as winter slowly gives way to spring, grief shifts gradually.
• God’s renewal often brings new purpose. Harriet’s sorrow became the foundation of her mission. Your grief may one day become a testimony to help others.

A Prayer for Renewal

Father, I bring my grief before You. Sometimes, it feels like an unending winter. But I trust Your promise—that You are doing a new thing in my life. Even when I don’t perceive it, I know You are making a way. Help me embrace the renewal You are bringing, and give me peace in the transition. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Final Encouragement

Grief does not have to be the end of the story. Just as Harriet Jacobs’ years of sorrow led to a life of purpose, your grief can lead to renewal. This March, may we open our hearts to the new things God is doing, trusting that He is making a way in the wilderness of our sorrow.

— The Clay Pot Misfit