I hope this issue gives you hope.

But I want to give a disclaimer.

I don’t want you to think that the destination of hope indicates a pleasant road ahead. The journey toward hope is often bumpy, and we tend to find hope along these unexpected paths of grief that we’re forced to travel.

I use the word along intentionally because so often we’re led to believe that joy comes after grief. But grief is always fresh—especially for those of us in ministry. We know what it is to suffer vigorously in our own lives, and we also know the unique burden that comes from suffering vicariously as our shoulders are forced to hold the tears and the losses of other’s infertility, infidelity, miscarriages, and funerals.

As these hard days swell into harder years, it becomes clear that sorrow, hurt, and grief are like waves on the beach. As one subsides, another one rises and makes its way to our feet. In this we learn two things: The griefs keep coming, and those that have already ...