Have you ever experienced a loss that divided your life into a “before” and an “after”?

Fourteen years ago, my friend Lisa Appelo woke to the sound of her husband Dan’s strange breathing. Within hours, she learned he had suffered cardiac arrest and could not be revived. In a single morning, Lisa became a widow and the sole parent of seven children.

As Lisa tried to put her feet on the floor each morning and help her children navigate their own grief, she discovered that God’s comfort wasn’t always found in answers. Often, it came through His Word, His sustaining grace, the kindness of His people, and the quiet assurance that He was near—even when she couldn’t feel Him.

This week on The Love Offering Podcast, Lisa and I talk about her new devotional journal, God of Comfort, and what it means to grieve honestly while still holding on to hope.

In our conversation, we discuss:

• Why we don’t have to hide our difficult emotions from God
• How Scripture and journaling can help us process sorrow
• Why grief should not be rushed, masked, or ignored
• How God gives us “pockets of joy” alongside our pain
• What it looks like to comfort others from the comfort we have received
• Why God’s presence is one of the deepest expressions of His love

One of my favorite things Lisa said was, “God will love us all the way through.”

Friend, whatever you are grieving today, you are not overlooked or abandoned. The Lord is near to the brokenhearted, and He knows the way through this valley. You don’t have to have everything figured out. You can simply bring Him the next breath, the next tear, and the next step.

I pray this conversation reminds you that sorrow and joy can exist together—and that God is faithfully carrying you through both.

Connect with Lisa Appelo:

• Website
• Instagram

Connect with Rachael Adams:

• Website
• Instagram
• Facebook
• The Love Offering Podcast