Navigating GriefSample

The Grief of Losing a Loved One

There is perhaps no better example of grief in the Bible than the story of Job.

Can you imagine losing your health, all your children, and all your possessions in a single day? And even so, Job 1:20 states, “Job stood up and tore his robe in grief. Then he shaved his head and fell to the ground to worship.”

Brothers, how many of us would want to worship God after losing everything?

Nonetheless, we can apply many life lessons from Job’s story to our grief when we lose a loved one.

The first is that Satan was the one testing Job, not God. While God might allow our grief and sorrow, He is never distant when we suffer or mourn the loss of a loved one. God is a compassionate God (2 Corinthians 1:3-5). Even Jesus wept and was deeply troubled when He saw others in grief (John 11:35).

The second life lesson is that adversity strengthens faith by requiring believers to draw closer to God to withstand current and future tests. We don't want to be fair-weather Christians and rely on God only when things are going well. Instead, we should look to God for strength to grow closer to Him through our struggles in life. Romans 5:3 states, "We rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope.”

The third lesson is not to hide our grief. It is essential to let grief out and express our God-given emotions. It is important to acknowledge that you have a broken heart with yourself, your family, and, most importantly, God.

My mom and dad passed away within 18 months of each other. My mistake was that I didn’t allow myself time to grieve properly. I got on a plane and tried to leave my sorrow behind, return to work, and get on with life. It has been five years, and I still deeply regret that I did not allow myself time to grieve.

The last lesson is to acknowledge God’s sovereignty over everything. We must love God for who He is, not what He gives us. He is always there with us in every season.

Prayer: Dear Father, help us love You for who You are, not for what You can do for us. Help us to embrace our grief as a reality and not hide from it. Amen.

Reflection: How do you personally engage with your emotions and grieve in times of sadness and suffering?