Grief and Faith Journey: Learning to Hear God Again

The Moment the Lie Was Exposed

When you hear a thought, don't get caught in the "Eve" trap. Ask yourself,  "Is it true?"

There is freedom attached to truth (John 8:32), and those who are grief-stricken are particularly vulnerable. My soul was being comforted by a lie--"Let the dead bury the dead"--but one day, when I heard it, I decided to pause long enough to take a closer look at what I had been hearing and receiving. I went to the source where I always find truth (John 17:17).

I looked up Matthew 8:22, and lo and behold—I clearly saw where I had become emotionally attached to a lie. Not intentionally. Not rebelliously. Survival will do that to you. But the moment I saw the truth, something shifted. First came conviction. And chile—let me tell you—conviction will sit you all the way down.

Why You Have to Read It for Yourself

That moment taught me a lesson I will never forget: If I hear something that sounds good, makes me feel better, or helps me justify my stance, I better make sure that thought is rooted in a foundation that cannot be shaken.

This is the very reason why you need to open your Bible and read it for yourself. Don’t build your house on a foundation of secondhand revelation. Discernment matters—especially when your wounded heart is so fragile.

What Jesus Was Actually Saying

The weight of His words--"Let the dead bury their dead," was not dismissing grief or minimizing loss. He was confronting a man’s hesitation—his excuses for delaying full commitment. Jesus was drawing a line between the call of the Kingdom and the comfort of delay. Big difference.

Truth Changes the Soul’s Posture

The truth was brighter than the lie I had cozied up to. After reading it for myself, I realized how much time I had wasted in my recovery process. I had delayed my healing because I didn't paused long enough to confirm what I thought was truth. Repetition of a lie, does not create truth.

It was a sobering moment, fit for repentence. The moment you realize the error of your ways, or where you missed the mark, apologize to God, first of all, then make a commitment within yourself to cling closer to Him...listening...confirming what you hear by checking the source. Don't judge me too harshly, though.

I was using whatever I could just to stay afloat during that season of grief, but as Maya Angelou has so graciously advised us, "If you know better, do better."

Why This Journey Matters

As I commit to the journey of sharing transparent moments from my own experiences and conversations with God along the way, I want you to understand where this journey began—where I first learned to recognize His voice.

This is the foundation of one of my latest books, Healing from Within: A Practical Guide to Overcoming Grief. Every believer must learn to recognize God’s voice—not echoes, not assumptions, not second-hand revelation from someone else's voice, but His voice.

Next: Where is This Journey Leading?