How God can use unexpected and unwelcome seasons in our lives and how can that possibly be good?

 

In the space of one night’s sleep, Lisa Appelo’s life upended and took her on a journey she never imagined and certainly didn’t welcome as she unexpectedly became a widow with 7 children. Learning to navigate life through grief while still needing to show up each day and be a strong mom, Lisa learned invaluable lessons that she now shares through her writing and speaking ministry. 

 

Today Lisa and I discuss her new book release, Life Can Be Good Again: Putting Your World Back Together After It All Falls Apart and:

• The different ways we experience grief
• Practical advice for how we can serve those walking through grief
• The importance of dealing with grief
• Ways the Lord meets you in your grief
• How to parent your children as they walk through their own grief
• And lastly, how can indeed be good again

 

Connect with Lisa on Instagram and read the first chapter of her new book at lisaappelo.com/lifecanbegood again before grabbing your copy HERE!

 

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FAVORITE TAKEAWAYS:

 

We would do well as a culture to acknowledge that even good moves can still cause grief

 

Don’t be afraid to say, it must be really hard for you…

 

Weep with those who weep and mourn with those who mourn

 

Just show up if God prompts you

 

Grief is awkward for everybody - let’s just be ok with awkward

 

Pray for God to show you the need and watch expectantly

 

If God gives you words, be gentle with them and careful with them

 

It is hurtful to compare grief

 

No two people feel things the same way

 

Don't rush people past the pain

 

Grief takes an enormous amount of mental, physical, emotional and even spiritual space - it is exhausting - your body is trying to grapple with trauma

 

If we don’t deal with grief on our terms now, it will come back on its terms later

 

God, who designed us, designed our emotions - He understands that we are going to go through a full range of emotions

 

There’s always regret and guilt in grief

 

We were not built for death, we were built for life 

 

When the bottom fell out for me, I needed God’s Word more than I needed food

 

Just as God is doing work in our life in the worst suffering, God is doing work in our children’s in situations we would never ask for God can use in ways we could never imagine. 

 

It’s very important when you’re walking through grief (with kids), to keep the conversation open

 

Just as God is pursuing us, He is also pursuing our children

 

Eternity is closer than we imagine

 

If we will do the hard work of grief and we do the work with God, He will bring beauty from ashes

 

Even though it felt like plan B for me, it was God’s part 2 for my life… and I needed to lean into that and find that

 

Seeing all that He has done and all the ways He can reshape us when life just shatters is such beauty