Choosing Joy in Grief
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The Story Behind Choosing Joy in Grief:
When my grandma passed away in January 2026, even though I knew the moment was coming, grief still overtook me in a way I wasn’t prepared for. The mind can brace itself for loss, but the body doesn’t follow the same rules. Moving from anticipated grief into active grieving felt at times like drowning—waves coming faster than I could steady myself.
I processed the only way God has always wired me to: through songwriting and singing.
Choosing Joy in Grief became a place to hold both sorrow and hope at the same time. It gave me language for the ache of loss without letting that ache consume me. I wanted to honor the waves as they came—sweet memories, deep sadness, gratitude, longing—while choosing to walk through them with God instead of being overtaken by them.
I intentionally wrote this song with mind, body, and spirit in view. The lyrics reflect mental memories and embodied memories—sight, sound, scent, touch—while continually returning to God as the source of comfort and strength. The slower tempo was chosen deliberately, allowing space for nervous system regulation as grief worked its way through my body.
God’s presence in the process was unmistakable. Just four days after my grandma passed, He gave me the strength to write and fully produce this song in a single day. I chose to release it at the end of April, when my grandma would have turned 80, as a way of honoring her life and bearing witness to the God who walks with us through loss.
This song is not about denying grief—it’s about choosing joy within it.
Bible Verses & Biblical Themes in Choosing Joy in Grief:
- Ecclesiastes 3:1-2a, 4 “For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven: a time to be born, and a time to die… a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance”
- Psalm 34:18 “The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.”
- Psalm 56:8 “You have kept count of my tossings; put my tears in your bottle.”
- 1 Thessalonians 4:13-14 “But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep.”
- John 11:25–26 “Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live”
- 2 Corinthians 4:16–18 “So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.”
- James 1:2–4 “Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.”
- Hebrews 12:2a “looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith”
- Psalm 116:15 “Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints.”
- Revelation 21:4 “He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”
Chords & Lyrics:
Choosing Joy in Grief Krystal Craven Copyright: 2026 Krystal Craven Key: E Tempo: 75 Verse 1: The moment you br[E7]eathed your last It’s like t[A]ime stood still not a second passed I kn[C#m]ew you were with Jesus, the [A]One who died to free us But my b[E]ody couldn’t hold what my m[A]ind already knew That n[C#m]ow I’d have to learn to live life wi[A7]thout you PreChorus: When it feels like too m[B - ring out]uch, I’ll seek God’s touch Chorus: J[E]oy - When my heart is aching J[A]oy - When my body’s shaking J[C#m]oy - Remember times so sweet J[A]oy - Once again we’ll meet My gr[E]ief will not dest[A]roy Oh, I choose j[E]oy Interlude: [A]Oo[E]ooo[A]y Verse 2: I rem[E]ember your smile and scent of perfume H[A]ow your humor would light up the room The th[C#m]ings we’d bake, the crafts we’d make The pl[A7]aces we’d go just for my sake The s[E7]um of your life, can’t wrap my mind ar[A]ound But there is c[C#m]omfort knowing in Jesus you’re f[A7]ound PreChorus: When the loss feels too lo[B - ring out]ud, I know I’m allowed Chorus: Interlude: Oo[A]oooyOo[E]ooo[A]y Bridge: I’m so h[A]appy for you - no more pain, no more tears Though it w[B]ill be hard living without you for years I’ll ch[C#m]oose to look forward, the reunion to come Not be bu[A]ried in grief, I will not succumb God compl[E]eted your faith and you now see His face I will c[A]ontinue down here to run my own race Wh[C#m]en, I’m reminded you’re not here I’ll c[A]ry my tears then be of good cheer Chorus - SOFT: I choose j[E]oy - When my heart is aching [A] Joy - When my body’s shaking [C#m] Remember times so sweet [A] Once again we’ll meet My gri[E]ef will not dest[A]roy Oh, I choose j[E]oooooo[A]y I choose j[E]ooooo[A]y Outro: [E]Hmmmm [B]Hmmmm [A]Hmmmm [E]Hmmmm [B]Hmmmm [A]Hmmmm [E]