In acute grief it is often difficult to find words to express the myriad emotions. Shock, anger, depression, disappointment, misery, feeling like the world is crashing down or the ground beneath you is crumbling – these are normal as you walk through your grief.
When I read the note from the object of my affection that confirmed he did not return my love, my heart was crushed. I tried my best not to let anyone see me cry, but I felt more broken than I had ever been.
Knowing I lived a blessed life, I kept my negative feelings unspoken. Instead, they came out in my songwriting. I praise God for this because they were expressed in the moments and leave a memorable record of my innermost thoughts.
Go to the Psalms
At the time, I did not know how helpful the psalms would have been in addition to my own songwriting. There are psalms for times of joy, hurt, sadness, feeling overwhelmed – any emotion humans can experience. Psalm 34:18 would have been particularly helpful to me: “The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.” “Brokenhearted”? “Crushed in spirit”? Absolutely, that was me when I realized the boy would never love me back. But God is near in such times of distress, and He carried me through them.
Future posts in this series will take a closer look at specific emotions and where they can be found in the psalms. As you work through your limerence, I encourage you to explore the Book of Psalms for yourself. They are truly a treasure trove of truth about who God is in the midst of our struggles.
Remember our God is the one who brings the impossible into amazingly perfect reality. And no matter who in this world loves you or doesn’t love you, He loves you eternally.