And the Israelites wept for Moses in the plains of Moab thirty days; then the days of weeping and mourning for Moses were ended. —Deuteronomy 34:8

When Moses died, the Israelites mourned deeply over the loss of this significant leader and important person in their lives. Notice in today’s scripture that they wept for him for thirty days; then the days of mourning were ended.

By mentioning this passage, I am not suggesting that the grieving process should only last thirty days., because all people are different. But I believe the principle behind this verse is important. I think it is letting us know that eventually we have to move on. Sometimes the best thing you can do when you are hurting is to do something. Find a place of new beginnings. Get up, get dressed and keep moving. Go take a walk and talk to God. Do something for somebody else. Often, the best way to cooperate with God’s healing work in your soul is to go find other people who are hurting and be a blessing to them. As you work through your grief, you may have times when you simply need to get your mind off of what you’re going through because you have done everything you can do about it; there is nothing else you can do except wait for the full healing to come.

It is proper to grieve, but don’t let a spirit of grief control your life. If you have been through a recent tragic loss, you may not be ready to go on yet. You may still be in that phase of grief where you need cry and be comforted as you work through your situation. Know, though, that the time will come when you do need to get busy again. It may not be easy, but it will be important to your healing. So, don’t rush it, but when it comes, embrace it and trust the Holy Spirit to guide and comfort you as you move forward.

Love Yourself Today: Always remember that no matter what you have lost, you still have a lot left and God has a purpose yet to be fulfilled in your life.