Meeting God in His Creation

One of the things I loved about traveling in the Hope Mobile is how often God would meet me through His creation.

One time, while parked in a valley surrounded by mountains near San Diego, I enjoyed taking morning walks. Every path I took seemed to climb one of those mountains. The first was a small hill that gave me a nice view from the top. The next day, I climbed a higher one and was surprised at how far I’d gone until I reached the top and looked out over the beauty below.

As I stood there, surrounded by God’s majesty, I thought, “Lord, if You created all of this, You can take care of me.”

It was one of those sacred moments when creation draws you into the heart of the Creator. I found myself worshiping and handing over the heaviness in my heart before heading back down the mountain.

Finding Hope Through God’s Majestic Reminders

That same sense of awe often fills me when I stand at the ocean’s edge and watch the waves. The vastness of the sea reminds me of God’s love that is deep, unending, and powerful.

And even looking up at a sky full of stars reminds me that the same God who made all of this is able to hold me through life’s storms.

When we take time to notice God’s creation, even in small ways, we can be reminded that the One who made the mountains and oceans is also the One holding us right now. You might not feel it. You might not see it. But He has you in His hands, and He’s not letting go.

Hope Like a River

Another place that spoke to me deeply was a river we camped near during our travels. As I walked a path that followed the river, sometimes it would wind through the trees and I couldn’t see the water at all. There were times I could still hear it, and times I couldn’t. Then suddenly it would reappear, flowing beside me.

That path reminded me so much of hope.

After losing a child, hope can feel like that river, sometimes hidden, sometimes only glimpsed for a moment. Then, through a small act of kindness, a memory, or a whisper from God, we see it again. Hope is always there, even when we can’t see it, because Jesus, the Seed of Hope, lives inside of us. These are the moments that help us keep walking, one step at a time through our grief, with His strength.

Like a seed pushing through dark soil, hope takes time to grow. You may not see it yet, but it’s alive, because He is alive in you.

Seeing How Far You’ve Come in Grief

Back to those mountains I talked about, there was one morning I took a different trail that ended up climbing yet another mountain. This trail seemed to go on forever, and I started getting really tired, hoping it might connect with a shorter route back. I kept going, and when I reached the top, I was shocked to look way down below and see the top of the mountain that I had previously been on. I had no idea how far I had come until seeing where I had been before.

That moment reminded me of our grief journey. Sometimes we move slowly, one step, even one breath at a time. But as we keep walking, there comes a day when we look back and realize that we’re doing better than we ever thought we could.

If you’re tired, it’s okay to stop and rest. But don’t give up. Keep walking. Because one day you’ll be able to see the view from where you are and realize how far you’ve climbed.

A Song Inspired by the Journey

Some of the things I talked about here inspired me to write the song, I Keep Walking, which is all about trusting that God is still near, even when we can’t see or feel Him, and believing that each small step forward matters.

Even when we can’t hear the water or see the sun, He is still there. And so is hope.

Keep Walking One Step at a Time

Maybe all you can do right now is breathe. That’s okay. Maybe all you can do is take one tiny step. That’s okay too.

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NOTE: This was partially taken from the Grieving Parents Sharing Hope podcast episode 318. Click here to listen to the full discussion, or look for the Grieving Parents Sharing Hope podcast on your favorite listening app.

🎵 Listen to the Song that Inspired This Message:
You can listen to a sample of my song “I Keep Walking,” here or you can find the full song on most music platforms. 

My prayer is that as you listen, you’ll feel God’s gentle reminder that you are not alone and that hope is still alive inside you, even when you can’t see it yet.

AWARD WINNING AUTHOR, LAURA DIEHL, has written several impactful books that provide comfort and guidance to those navigating the painful journey of child loss, after the death of her own daughter in 2011. Her most acclaimed work, When Tragedy Strikes: Rebuilding Your Life with Hope and Healing After the Death of Your Child, has received multiple accolades, including the 2017 Gold Medal Centauri Christian Book Award for Non-Fiction and a Silver Medal in the 2018 Illumination Awards. Several of her other books have won awards as well.

In addition to her writing, Laura is an ordained minister and has an extensive background in international children’s ministry. She is a sought-after speaker and singer at grief conferences and churches, known for her compassionate approach and deep understanding of the grieving process, especially the unique loss of a child. Through her weekly award-winning podcast, her writings, and other resources provided by GPS Hope, Laura and her husband, Dave, continue to provide hope and healing to thousands of parents worldwide, helping them find light in the midst of profound loss and darkness.

For more information about Laura’s award-winning books go to gpshope.org/books.
To find out more about Laura Diehl and the ministry of Grieving Parents Sharing Hope (GPS Hope) visit gpshope.org.

The link to Hope for the Future is an affiliate link, allowing part of the purchase price to go to GPS Hope. 

The one-year anniversary of losing a child is a milestone no parent ever wants to face. It can feel unbearably heavy, filled with painful memories and emotions that leave us wondering how we’ll get through the day. As a bereaved parent myself, I know how real and raw this can be. The anniversary of my daughter, Becca’s, transition to heaven comes up in less than a week, and even after many years, I still find that some anniversaries are harder than others.

I don’t share that to discourage you, but to encourage you. Because even though the pain is real, there can also be years where it’s more bearable. But that first one? That one-year mark after losing your child is usually the most brutal.

Why the Days Leading Up Can Be Harder

What many parents don’t expect is that the weeks and days leading up to the one-year anniversary can be even harder than the day itself. Our minds replay all the “last times,” such as the last hug, the last meal together, the last phone call, the last photo. These memories cut deeply, and they can make us dread the actual day.

But you can make it through. You have already survived these first weeks and months, and that is no small thing.

Release the Pressure of Expectations

One of the most important things I want you to hear is this; release yourself from other people’s expectations. Some may think that after a year you should be “getting better,” but grief doesn’t follow a timeline.

All that the one-year mark means is that you have somehow survived the impossible for 365 days without your child. That’s huge. Many of us never thought we could, and if we’re honest, many of us didn’t even want to. Yet here you are.

There Is No “Right Way” to Grieve

Some bereaved parents want to be alone on this day. Others gather with friends or family. Some spend it crying, while others feel numb. Some find ways to celebrate their child’s life. However your grief shows up, it’s okay.

When I asked parents in the GPS Hope community what they did on that first anniversary, the answers varied widely:

• Holding a birthday “party” for a stillborn son
• Visiting a gravesite and releasing butterflies
• Friends gathering to share stories and memories
• Planting flowers or orchids in memory of a child
• Quietly journaling, coloring, or simply praying
• Writing letters to organ recipients 
• Honoring their child with acts of kindness

Your way doesn’t have to look like anyone else’s. What matters is that it’s meaningful for you.

What to Expect

I also want to gently prepare you for something many parents discover; the second year of grief can feel even harder in some ways than the first. The first year we’re often in a fog, bracing ourselves for each “first.” But in the second year, that fog lifts, and the pain can hit hard.

By the third year, many pareavors begin to find life a little more livable. We slowly start accepting that our child won’t be with us at birthdays, holidays, or family gatherings. And for some, glimmers of hope and even joy begin to break through.

But remember: there is no set timetable for grief. Your journey is your own, and it’s not wrong if you’re still in the fog or in deep pain years later. Please release yourself from guilt or shame that you’re “not where you should be.”

“Each season can bring its own measure of healing, and at The One-Year Anniversary of Losing a Child God tenderly meets us, often beginning to teach us how to live with love and hope intertwined.”

Grief Is Love: Finding Meaning Beyond The One-Year Anniversary of Losing a Child

When Becca’s one-year mark came, some of my family wanted to gather and celebrate her life, while others didn’t. I was torn, and honestly, I don’t even remember what we ended up doing that year. And that’s okay.

What I do know is this; your grief is love. The reason this anniversary hurts so deeply is because your love for your child is so deep. That love will never fade.

“Even through The One-Year Anniversary of Losing a Child, grief remains a reflection of the love that will never end.”

A Final Word of Hope

The anniversary of a child’s death is sometimes called their “heavenly birthday.” For Becca, that means her body is whole and strong, with a brand new heart that will never fail again. Painful grieving? Yes. But without hope? No.

Whether it’s the one-year mark for you or years later, remember this: your love is real, your tears are valid, and your child is still a part of you. So Hold On, Pain Eases, there is HOPE.

“The One-Year Anniversary of Losing a Child reminds us that grief may change, but love never ends — and hope still holds us steady.”

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NOTE: This was partially taken from the Grieving Parents Sharing Hope podcast episode 317. Click here to listen to the full discussion, or look for the Grieving Parents Sharing Hope podcast on your favorite listening app.

📖 Find out more about Laura’s newly released book The Bible’s Grieving Parents: Finding Comfort, Hope and Faith from Their Stories.

If you’ve been struggling with questions like “Where is God in this pain?” or “How do I keep living with a broken heart?” I wrote this book for you. My prayer is that these biblical stories will remind you that you are not alone, and that God’s goodness and mercy are still at work in your life, just as He was in the lives of those we read about in the Bible. – Laura

👉Click here for the Kindle edition on Amazon (Affiliate link – GPS Hope will receive a small portion of the purchase price)

👉Click here for a PDF download from GPS Hope

Help other pareavors find this book by leaving a rating and review here.

If you would like gentle support as you navigate life after child loss, I’ve created a free guide to walk with you. Sign below and get your copy.

AWARD WINNING AUTHOR, LAURA DIEHL, has written several impactful books that provide comfort and guidance to those navigating the painful journey of child loss, after the death of her own daughter in 2011. Her most acclaimed work, When Tragedy Strikes: Rebuilding Your Life with Hope and Healing After the Death of Your Child, has received multiple accolades, including the 2017 Gold Medal Centauri Christian Book Award for Non-Fiction and a Silver Medal in the 2018 Illumination Awards. Several of her other books have won awards as well.

In addition to her writing, Laura is an ordained minister and has an extensive background in international children’s ministry. She is a sought-after speaker and singer at grief conferences and churches, known for her compassionate approach and deep understanding of the grieving process, especially the unique loss of a child. Through her weekly award-winning podcast, her writings, and other resources provided by GPS Hope, Laura and her husband, Dave, continue to provide hope and healing to thousands of parents worldwide, helping them find light in the midst of profound loss and darkness.

For more information about Laura’s award-winning books go to gpshope.org/books.
To find out more about Laura Diehl and the ministry of Grieving Parents Sharing Hope (GPS Hope) visit gpshope.org.

The link to Hope for the Future is an affiliate link, allowing part of the purchase price to go to GPS Hope.