Grief changes you.

It doesn’t ask permission, and it never checks the time. It comes softly at first. It is like a shadow at dusk. Then it settles deep, touching every corner of who you are. Suddenly, the world feels unfamiliar. Even your reflection feels like a stranger.

For so long, I believed healing meant becoming — becoming stronger, wiser, kinder, softer. I imagined that one day, I would rise out of my pain, newly formed, radiant with lessons learned.

But grief does not work that way.

Grief does not make you become — it unmakes you first. It strips away everything false and fragile. It shatters illusion and pride until only truth remains.

In the stillness, I found myself in the quiet aftermath where nothing feels the same. While reading through the blog of God’s generals, I discovered something sacred:
I am not more becoming. I have become.

🌿 “So, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here.” — 2 Corinthians 5:17

💔 The Sacred Work of Grief

Grief does not add to us; it reveals us. It takes away what is unnecessary until we see what truly matters. It uncovers the essence of who we are. This is the part of us that God shaped long before the world touched us.

“The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” — Psalm 34:18

In the breaking, I met God in a way I never had before.
Not in loud miracles, but in quiet mercies.
Not in answers, but in presence.

I realized that the goal was never to “get over” the pain. It was to walk through it — hand in hand with the One who understands it all.

🌸 Becoming Through God’s Grace

I no longer chase the idea of being “better” after loss.
Grief has already done its work.

I have been refined. It was not by my own strength, but by God’s love. It works silently through every tear, every prayer, and every sleepless night.

“We know that in all things, God works for the good of those who love him. They have been called according to his purpose.” — Romans 8:28

Through grief, I have become someone who sees deeply. I love gently and live intentionally. I am someone who understands that joy and sorrow are not enemies. Instead, they are companions, weaving together the fabric of who we are.

“When you pass through the waters, I will be with you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned.” — Isaiah 43:2

Grief is not destruction; it is transformation.
It is the sculptor’s chisel revealing the masterpiece within.
And though it hurts, it is holy work.

🌿 The Beauty Beyond Sorrow

True beauty does not come from the absence of pain.
It comes from surviving it — from choosing love, faith, and gratitude even when your heart feels heavy.

So I say again, with quiet certainty:
I am not more becoming. I have become.

I have become the woman God intended me to be. I was refined by Holy Ghost fire. I was softened by compassion. I was strengthened by grace.

“But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not be faint.” — Isaiah 40:31

And as light begins to return, I am reminded of this truth:

“Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord rises upon you.” — Isaiah 60:1

This is the call after grief — to rise again. To shine again. Not because the pain is gone, but because God’s glory has risen upon the broken pieces of our hearts.

Grief can bend us.
It can even break us for a time.
But with God, we rise again — not the same, but sacredly new.

🌷 To the One Still Walking Through Grief

If you are grieving right now, hear this with love:
You are not failing.
You are not lost.
You are being reshaped.

Take your time.
Pray — even if your words are only whispers.
Cry — even if no one understands.
Rest — even when healing feels far away.

“He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.” — Psalm 147:3

You don’t have to rush. Healing is not a race; it is a sacred journey. And every tear you cry is seen by the One who holds your heart.

When you feel like you have nothing left, remember this: God is still working. The same hands that created you are gently reshaping you.

And one day, you will look back — not with bitterness, but with awe. Because you will see what grief revealed:
I did not become through pain. I became through grace.

“I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord. These are plans to prosper you and not to harm you. They are plans to give you hope and a future.” — Jeremiah 29:11

Grief change us, but it can’t undo the work God has begun in us.
Trust His timing. Lean into His love.
And let your becoming be your testimony.

🌼 A Final Word

If this reflection spoke to your heart, share it with someone who is walking through grief. You never know whose spirit is strengthened by your light.

If you are still in the midst of your own becoming, remember this. You are not alone. You are deeply loved.

✨ Arise. Shine. Become.
Your light has come, and the glory of the Lord rises upon you. — Isaiah 60:1

Join me at anneabiola.blog for more writings on faith, healing, purpose, and the quiet beauty of becoming through grace.
Share this post. Encourage a heart. Let God’s light rise through your story.

💛 Excerpt for Blog Preview

Grief does not make you become — it unmakes you so that God can reveal who you truly are. Through pain, I found peace. Through loss, I found purpose. Through grace, I have become — and now, by His glory, I arise and shine. ✨

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