Grieving With Hope Egzanp

Different Kinds of Losses 

When we hear the word grief, we often think of losing people. While that is a significant part of loss, it’s not the only kind. There are different kinds of losses that bring a variety of feelings. Some are sudden and unexpected, while others are seen coming. We lose things daily and grieve those losses no matter how big or small they are. The death of an expectation, dream, season, idea, or friendship can usher in extreme sadness. Let’s consider a few types of losses we’ll experience on earth. 

Loss of a Person
Relationships are precious gifts from God. He wants us to love and enjoy people. The loss of life is the most difficult kind of loss because it’s final and can’t be undone. In 1 Thessalonians 4:13, we’re told that believers in Jesus will grieve differently than those who don’t have hope. The verse doesn’t tell us to be strong and not grieve. The Apostle Paul tells us to grieve, but to grieve with hope in mind. We can grieve deeply and simultaneously experience the joy of Christ fully, knowing that we’ll be reunited with our fellow believers in Christ one day.

Loss of a Dream
When our dreams, plans, and hopes aren’t realized the way we wanted or even at all, a grief settles over us. We doubt and wonder if anything good will come to us in the future. It’s okay to be disappointed that we didn’t get what we wanted. But, it’s in this time that we can adjust our gaze and look up at Jesus as He’s perfecting our faith. Our dreams may seem grand, but God’s dreams for how He wants to use us on this earth will far surpass our limited viewpoint. 

Loss of a Season
Looking back on our lives is quite common. Whether we’re lamenting on a season when we were the star of a sports team or wishing our children were still young, it can be painful. But, this is life—it’s always moving forward even if we don’t want it to. As we remember past seasons, let’s thank God for them and then rejoice in the future God has given us. For with new seasons come new joys.

We can experience the highest of heights but we can also walk through the darkest valleys. The greater we love, need, hope, and depend on someone or something, the greater the grief. The intensity of our grief will be dependent upon how much hope we placed in the loss. As we are patient in our grief process, let’s trust that God is working things out for His glory and our good.