Today’s Reflection
One thing I know for certain: Grief is not a matter of getting past all the obstacles of the first year. It’s learning to embrace life each day knowing that joy and grief will always be intertwined.
—Missy Buchanan, Feeling Your Way Through Grief: A Companion for Life After Loss (Upper Room Books, 2024)
Save 15% on this week’s featured book when you use promo code NEM0726 at Store.UpperRoom.org.*
Today’s Question
How can you make the most of the rest of the days of your life? Join the conversation.
Today’s Scripture
[Jesus said,] “Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.”
—Matthew 5:4 (NRSVUE)
Prayer for the Week
O God, let me feel your presence in the darkness of my grief. Be with me in the silence; be with me when I weep; be with me as I find a way forward. Amen.
Submit your prayer to The Upper Room.
Something More
“It was a blessing to personally witness the love between Missy and her beloved husband Barry,” reflects Good Morning America co-anchor Robin Roberts. “The bond they experienced is apparent in Missy’s latest book and is a safe place for readers to explore their deepest emotions.”
Missy Buchanan’s bestselling book, Feeling Your Way Through Grief, is now also available in Spanish.
Lectionary Readings
- Genesis 32:22-31
- Psalm 17:1-7, 15
- Romans 9:1-5
- Matthew 14:13-21
Read the lectionary texts courtesy of Vanderbilt Divinity Library here.
Looking for lectionary-based resources? Learn more about The Upper Room Disciplines.
*Offer valid through August 15, 2026.
