Send us Fan Mail

Have you ever been so overwhelmed by grief that all you could pray was, “Lord, I am not okay. Please help me”?

In the early days after losing her twenty-year-old son, Justin, those were the words Missy Linkletter cried out to the Lord over and over again. She knew God was good. She believed His promises. Yet her heart was overwhelmed with sorrow, and she was hurting in ways she had never known before.

In this episode of Dear Grieving Heart, Missy shares how the Lord used another grieving parent's story to help her understand the biblical practice of lament and the freedom we have to bring our sorrow, questions, and heartache before Him.

Throughout Scripture, we see God's people crying out to Him in their suffering. What comfort it is to know that we don't have to pretend we're okay or have all the answers before coming to the Lord.

Dear grieving heart, lament is not a lack of faith. It is an expression of faith as we turn to the Lord with our broken hearts, trusting His character even when we don't understand His ways.

Scriptures referenced: Job 3, 1 Samuel 1:15, Psalm 22, Psalm 88, Psalm 103:8–14, Matthew 27:46

Resource mentioned: Suffering and the Sovereignty of God, edited by John Piper and Justin Taylor, chapter 8, “Waiting for the Morning during the Long Night of Weeping,” by Dustin Shramek.

Song: Come Lift Up Your Sorrows by Michael Card

missylinkletter.com

Dear Grieving Heart is a ministry of Abide in God. Produced by Keith McMinn.

Send us Fan Mail

When Grief Makes You Anxious: Remember Who God Is

Grief has a way of filling our hearts with anxiety and our minds with questions about the future. Sometimes, the thought of facing another day can feel overwhelming.

In this episode of Dear Grieving Heart, Missy shares how the sound of birds singing outside her window reminded her of Jesus' words in Matthew 6, and how a trip to the ocean, shortly after losing her son Justin, helped her turn her attention to God's greatness.

Together, we'll consider how remembering who God is and how His power, faithfulness, and unchanging character can comfort our anxious hearts. She also shares a practical way to spend time in God's Word when grief makes it difficult to concentrate.

We may not understand all that God is doing, but we can rest in the One who does.

Scripture References:

• Matthew 6:25–34
• Psalm 97:1
• Psalm 103:14

Resources:

• ESV Audio Bible App
• https://redemption-press.com/product/no-one-like-him-beholding-the-beauty-of-god/

How Can I Pray for You?

If you're walking through a difficult season of grief, Missy would be honored to pray for you. Visit missylinkletter.com and send her a message.

Dear Grieving Heart is a ministry of Abide in God.

Until next time, may you find comfort for today and hope for tomorrow in the Lord Jesus Christ.

Send us Fan Mail

There are days in grief when it feels as though the earth is giving way beneath our feet. And sometimes, when we're already carrying so much sorrow, additional trials come our way.

In this episode of Dear Grieving Heart, Missy shares a personal story from her first year of grief after losing her son, Justin. On an especially difficult day, she found herself walking through a cotton field and pouring her heart out to the Lord. There, the words of Psalm 46 reminded her of a truth she desperately needed: God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.

Together, we'll consider what it means to take refuge in the Lord, why we sometimes look to other people or distractions for comfort, and the importance of allowing ourselves to grieve rather than trying to outrun our sorrow.

If you're walking through a difficult season, may this episode encourage you to pour out your heart to the Lord and find comfort in His faithful presence.

Scripture Referenced:

• Psalm 46:1–3 — God is our refuge and strength
• Psalm 34:18 — The Lord is near to the brokenhearted
• Psalm 62:8 — Pour out your heart before Him
• 1 Peter 1:6 — Grieved by various trials

Resources:

Refuge — An instrumental album featuring nature sounds by Keith McMinn, producer of Dear Grieving Heart. There are days in grief when it feels as though the earth is giving way beneath our feet. And sometimes, when we're already carrying so much sorrow, additional trials come our way.

In this episode of Dear Grieving Heart, Missy shares a personal story from her first year of grief after losing her son, Justin. During an especially difficult day, she found herself walking through a cotton field, pouring out her heart to the Lord. It was there that the words of Psalm 46 reminded her of a truth she desperately needed: God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.

Together, we'll consider what it means to take refuge in the Lord, why we sometimes look to other people or distractions for comfort, and the importance of allowing ourselves to grieve rather than trying to outrun our sorrow.

If you're walking through a difficult season, may this episode encourage you to pour out your heart to the Lord and find comfort in His faithful presence.

Scripture Referenced:

• Psalm 46:1–3 — God is our refuge and strength
• Psalm 34:18 — The Lord is near to the brokenhearted
• Psalm 62:8 — Pour out your heart before Him
• 1 Peter 1:6 — Grieved by various trials

Resources:

Refuge — An instrumental album featuring nature sounds by Keith McMinn, producer of Dear Grieving Heart. https://music.apple.com/us/album/refuge-ep/6801759418

Stay Connected:

Visit missylinkletter.com to connect with Missy, learn more about her ministry, or reach out with a prayer request.

Dear Grieving Heart is a ministry of Abide in God.

Until next time, may you find comfort for today and hope for tomorrow in the Lord Jesus Christ.

Stay Connected:

Visit missylinkletter.com to connect with Missy, learn more about her ministry, or reach out with a prayer request.

Send us Fan Mail

In this first episode of Dear Grieving Heart, Missy shares the story behind the podcast and the loss that changed her life forever.

After the sudden death of her twenty-year-old son, Justin, Missy found herself trying to understand how to keep living when someone she loved so deeply was no longer here. In those early days of grief, she longed for someone to come alongside her and remind her that she would make it through.

Years later, Dear Grieving Heart grew out of that same desire: to come alongside others walking through loss with honest encouragement, biblical truth, and the hope found in Jesus Christ.

In this episode, Missy shares:

• The morning her family learned Justin had died
• What those early days of grief felt like
• Why she felt called to create Dear Grieving Heart
• What you can expect from future episodes
• The hope that has sustained her through the valley

If you are grieving today, you don't have to have everything figured out. This is a place to bring your sorrow, your questions, and your weary heart as we look together to the One who meets us in the valley.

Until next time, may you find comfort for today and hope for tomorrow in the Lord Jesus Christ.

Dear Grieving Heart is a ministry of Abide in God