When God Comforts Us in Unexpected Ways

It is invigorating and special when God comforts us in unexpected ways. Have you experienced His comfort in unexpected ways?

The grief journey is hard. It gets especially harder around anniversaries, holidays, and special dates that function as mighty grief triggers. 

Grief Triggers and the Anticipation of Pain

Such significant events and milestones are etched deep into our memories and emotions; our body remembers them, too. It may happen that days or even weeks before a significant date, we experience symptoms of anxiety and fear.

 We know a mighty wave of grief is on the horizon. This anticipation of intense pain makes us ask ourselves, „How am I going to survive this day?”

The grief wave makes its way in advance in our dreams, in headaches, in irritability and emotional outbursts, in back and stomach pain, and in other symptoms specific to every person.

What are we supposed to do to face the wave and not be drowned by it?

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When God Comforts Us in Unexpected Ways

This year, I faced multiple special days without my loved one, which triggered my grief and caused powerful anxiety surges.

But at least on two occasions, God surprised me when He brought comfort in special and unexpected ways.

They were special because they were tailor-made just for me, using things that were specific and unique to me. These comfort gifts came as surprises, in ways and through people I could not figure out and plan myself, doubling their sweetness.

This was the working of the God of all comfort, making His presence and care for my grieving heart unmistakable and undoubtable.

God often comforts us in unexpected ways, making His presence and care for our grieving hearts unmistakable. #grief #comfort #encouragement #inspirationalstory Share on X

A Powerful Example of God’s Special Comfort

It was my husband’s 4th death anniversary at the beginning of July. At least a month before that, I was revisiting the painful memories of his death. My longing for his presence increased, and I dreamed nearly every night of him.

The first gift of comfort was the possibility of traveling exactly on the date with a couple of dear friends to the seaside, to a favorite place of mine. This felt like pure grace. To be in a beautiful place, and in the company of safe and empathic people who love and understand me, was already an answer to my desperate prayer.

But God surprised me. In the afternoon, I got a message from a schoolmate whom I hadn’t seen and contacted for years. The message was such a sweet balm to my soul and infused me with unexpected joy. I learned she read my book, and she knew from the book that this was the day of the death anniversary. That’s why she reached out to say she was thinking about me and my grief and to share what impact the book had on her.

I was stunned. Not only that, she was the last person I would ever think about to reach out to me on this day, but also the fact that she read my book and her thoughts about it. God brought comfort not only to my loss but also encouraged my writer’s soul, showing me my labor and tears were not in vain.

In the evening, I received another hearty message from a friend who belonged to the time and place of my life before the loss. Since she knew me and my husband, she shared specific things about us both and what impact this had on her. Her unexpected words again infused my grief with a powerful current of joy and thankfulness.

With God’s incredible help, it was possible to survive and complete this day with a deep sense of joy, gratitude, and being loved.

Another Story of God’s Comfort in Unexpected Ways

My 50th jubilee in September was another encouraging example. The entire month, I was struggling with surges of sadness and anxiety. I didn’t want to celebrate this anniversary without my loved one.

Facing the reality of his loss again was challenging and made me cry out to the Lord for help. I remembered how we celebrated my last birthday as a family and how he brought me my favorite flowers: roses and lilies. The thought that no one would bring my favorite flowers again brought tears to my eyes.

My birthday came, and I was empty of any expectations. I just wanted to have this day behind me. In the evening, I gathered with my mum and the families of my sister and brother. The manifold ways they celebrated me and made me feel appreciated and loved overwhelmed me.

For example, my mum cooked a wonderful meal, my sister bought a fantastic birthday cake, and my brother and his family gave me a piece of beautiful jewelry in my favorite colors. But most of all, I was touched by the words of love and wishes they spoke over me and in the cards I received. They made me feel seen and known.

And the big surprise: my brother-in-law came with a basket full of roses and lilies! Only God knew my innermost thoughts and longings. Through this unexpected gift, He has shown me He still cares, sees, and loves me in intimate and unique ways in my loss and grief. 

God still cares, sees, and loves us in intimate and unique ways in our loss and grief. #grief #loss #encouragement #hope Share on X

We Can Rest in the God of All Comfort

Friend, our God is truly the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort! (2 Corinthians 1:3)

Only He knows us and our grief completely and intimately. Jesus knows the full spectrum of our emotions, thoughts, and all the small details that matter to us. He knows what these special dates, holidays, and anniversaries mean to us and how they trigger us.

We can cry out to God for comfort and help, knowing He will answer. Instead of striving, we can rest in His intimate care and provision.

We can stop placing expectations on other people and instead live in expectancy for all the special ways God will show up and surprise us. He is faithful and loves us more than we can imagine.

Trusting God in Our Grief Can Become the Birthplace of Blessings

If you want to learn more about how God used my grief and other painful experiences to transform and bless me, my book,“Draw Near: How Painful Experiences Become the Birthplace of Blessings,” is for you.

Let me take you on a journey through 13 painful experiences, showing losses and the precious blessings in each of them.

More Encouragement for You

If you need more resources, encouragement, and comfort when you go through pain, grief, and despair, I can highly recommend these books. Check them out.

Trusting God in All the Things: 90 Devotions for Finding Peace in Your Every Day by Karen Ehman and Ruth Schwenk

Make Up Your Mind: Unlock Your Thoughts, Transform Your Life by Denise Dubois Pass and Michelle Nietert

Life Can Be Good Again by Lisa Appelo

It’s Not Supposed to Be This Way by Lisa Terkeurst

Hope When Life Unravels: Finding God When It Hurts by Adam Dooley

Restoration Year – a 365 Days Devotional by John Eldredge

All Things New by John Eldredge

Hope for the Hard Days by Sarah Geringer

Lean into Grace by Stacey Pardoe

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Your Turn

Have you experienced God’s comfort in special and unexpected ways? Share in the comments and on social media if you found this article helpful. Thank you!

Only God knows us and our grief completely and intimately. That’s why we can rest in His intimate care and provision. #grief #comfort #encouragement #testimony Share on X

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