Grace That Meets Us in the Valley
By Pastor Jerry A. Burns
Grief has a way of humbling us. It strips away our strength, our routines, and sometimes even our sense of identity. As I was reading Recovering from Losses in Life by H. Norman Wright, I was reminded that loss comes in many forms — not just death, but lost dreams, lost health, lost seasons, and lost relationships. Some losses we expect; others catch us completely off guard. Yet in every loss, one thing becomes clear: we are not as strong as we thought we were. And maybe that is exactly where God meets us.
Paul learned that grace shines brightest in weakness. We often want God to remove the grief, to shorten the valley, to restore what was taken. But instead, He promises something deeper — His grace. Grace does not always erase the pain, but it sustains us through it. It holds us steady when our emotions feel unstable. It whispers truth when our hearts feel confused. It carries us when we are too weary to walk on our own.
Grief can feel like a breaking, but sometimes it is also a reshaping. In the breaking, we discover that Christ is near to the brokenhearted (Psalm 34:18). In the silence, we discover that His presence is not dependent on our feelings. In the tears, we discover that His mercies are still new every morning.
If you are walking through grief today — whether fresh or long-standing — remember this: God does not waste sorrow. He gives grace in proportion to the need. The valley is not evidence of His absence; it is often the place of His closest work. His grace will not run dry before your grief does.
If you are grieving today, don’t try to rush the process or pretend you are stronger than you are. Bring your weakness honestly before the Lord. Speak your sorrow to Him in prayer. Let the tears come without shame. Instead of asking only, “Lord, take this away,” begin also asking, “Lord, show me Your grace in this.” Choose one simple step this week: spend time in Psalm 34 or Lamentations 3 each morning, reminding yourself that His mercies are new. Reach out to one trusted person instead of isolating yourself. And when the waves of grief rise unexpectedly, quietly repeat, “Your grace is sufficient for me.” Grace is not just a theological word — it is daily strength for today’s sorrow.
"As for God, his way is perfect; The word of the LORD is tried: He is a buckler to all them that trust in him." — 2 Samuel 22:31
Daily Scripture Reading
Join us as we read through the Bible in one year, growing together in God’s Word day by day. Click on any underlined verse to access Pastor Burns’ helpful study notes and deeper insights.
Leviticus 20:22-22:16
(Leviticus 21)
(Leviticus 22)
Mark 9:1-29
Psalm 43:1-5
Search for any chapter or scripture above to begin.
This Week's Radio Program
Week Eighteen • May 3, 2026
Trusting God With Tomorrow (Pt. 3)
In this final part of the message, “Trusting God with Tomorrow,” we are brought face to face with a powerful truth from Scripture—while we often plan our days and assume the future, the Bible teaches us that life is fragile, uncertain, and completely in God’s hands. As James reminds us, our life is “even a vapour” that appears for a little time and then vanishes away . The issue is not planning, but planning without God—living as though we are in control of what only God knows.
This message walks through the heart of biblical trust: having a proper perspective of tomorrow, a humble posture before God today, and a surrendered plan that says, “If the Lord will.” Whether facing uncertainty, fear, or the illusion of control, we are called to draw near to God, rest in His care, and trust that His will is good, even when tomorrow is unknown. Because Christ has risen, our future is secure—not in our plans, but in His perfect hands.
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