Coping With Death & Grief as a BelieverSample

Grief can manifest in a variety of ways, from guilt for being unable to do more to prevent your loved one’s death, to fear for now having to face certain situations without their advice and comfort. There are a myriad of emotions with which we contend, but one that is least discussed, especially among believers, is the feeling of abandonment. In coping with the loss, not only can we struggle with feelings of abandonment by our loved ones, but we may also wrestle with feelings of being abandoned by God. Christians are so used to putting on a happy face. We have learned how to smile through the pain, but in our innermost thoughts, we can still be at battle with why didn’t God change the report, why didn’t He answer our prayers, and why didn’t He add years to their life.

When my mother died, I did not want to hear how much my mother loved me. I didn’t want to hear about how God doesn’t make mistakes, and I definitely didn’t want to hear about how God would never leave nor forsake me. At twenty years old, without my father active in my life, I needed my mom. I felt abandoned by my mother and by God. This is so ironic because, at the same time, I also knew that I desperately needed God to make it out of that trauma with my mind still intact. So, even with those feelings in tow, I kept walking with God and praying to Him for help. Over time, the visions and dreams God gave me, along with the amazing people God used to bless me, unveiled the fact that I was not alone. My mother hadn’t abandoned me, and God hadn’t either.

We are fallible, emotional beings. Our feelings will not always be in agreement with what our spirit knows and believes about God. Sometimes, we have to just keep on pressing until our humanness aligns with the spirit realm. Despite the emotions you may be experiencing due to the loss of your loved one, continue to walk with God daily --one step at a time, one day at a time. Eventually, the Spirit is going to cause your flesh to move back into alignment with God. In the meantime, simply pray – Lord, help me!