It’s week 5 of the “Joy to the Soul Summer” series. And yet, even in the rays of summer’s light, we may struggle with the shadow of grief. Perhaps there is loss of access to a familiar place or activity. Some may have lost a relationship or employment. The guest writer this week is author and advocate Marie Chan. She shares her experience with the deepest kind of grief, the loss of a loved one. In unique ways, God used her summer vacation to speak to her broken heart. I hope Marie’s words bring comfort to your heart too.

The summer after my son died, I felt unsure about going on a family vacation. Could I handle being far away from home, when I had just experienced a tsunami of emotions in my heart? Despite my apprehension, God used a hike through the redwoods to help me process my pain.

With each step I took, I gazed in awe at these towering trees that embraced me in their evergreen canopy. I felt the wounds on their thick trunks and wondered how they continued to thrive and multiply for generations. What was their secret to persevering through pain and pestilence?

As I rubbed my hands against the rough bark that covered centuries-old annual rings that told tales of the redwoods’ resilience, I noticed large burls bulging out of their trunks. The ranger at Muir Woods explained that hidden inside each burl is the potential to multiply, but only when the redwood experiences stressors such as fire, drought, or a fall. Injuries cause the burls to germinate.

I compared these knotted, tangled warts to the blemishes in my own life. What if I thought of my failures, weaknesses, and life detours as part of God’s germination plan? Jesus exemplified this in his own life and sacrifice:

“I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat is planted in the soil and dies, it remains alone. But its death will produce many new kernels—a plentiful harvest of new lives” (John 12:24 NLT).

This glimpse of God’s grand design reminded me that God can take my tragedy and transform it into something of redeeming value. Furthermore, heat from a fire causes redwood cones to release their tiny seeds.

Fire burns away debris and creates fresh soil, the best environment for a redwood seed to sprout and receive the sunlight that it needs to grow. Similarly, God can use pain to clear away distractions in our lives to help us focus on what is essential and eternal.

I thought of how my priorities changed drastically after my son’s death. Material things, worldly goals, and impressing others don’t dominate my thoughts as much as before he died.

Through the fire of trials, Jesus is preparing the soil of our soul to be filled with His light, so we can be fruitful for His kingdom.

Although individual redwood seeds are amazing, the redwoods that sprout from burls and form a family circle are stronger. This is because they grow together, and their roots become intertwined to help them stand firm through storms.

Likewise, it is important to stay rooted in a Christ-centered community when we experience pain and loss. We need the family of God to surround us in prayer and love; this will increase our resilience. I reflected on when the family of God stood by our son’s graveside and held us in our grief. We survived this deep pain because they encircled my family and reminded us that we were not alone.

This summer, I encourage you to take a moment to observe God’s creation. Reflect on these truths as you walk through the woods. Even in a loss, God may be growing something new in you.

“Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert” (Isaiah 43:19 ESV).

Marie Chan writes about connecting deeply with Christ and community through life’s challenges. She is an adoptive mom and leads an adoption support group focused on trauma-informed parenting. Marie lives in California with her husband, two children with a third in heaven, and their giant 12-pound rabbit.

You can connect with Marie on her website or on Instagram, Twitter, or Facebook.