PART SEVEN

A Faithful Approach to Grieving Well

Grief is something we all experience at various times in our lives, but how we approach it as believers is essential.

Lamentations, a book of five laments, serves as a powerful reminder that grief is not only valid but also necessary. The fall of Jerusalem, the destruction of the temple, and the captivity of God’s people in 587 BC left them devastated. The book of Lamentations reflects this deep sorrow, and while it is systematic and poetic in form, its content is raw, heartbreaking, and chaotic—just like grief itself.

Grief, as Elizabeth Kubler-Ross noted, may follow stages like denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance. But grief is rarely neat. It’s more like a pinball machine, where you have little control over where it takes you. The people of Judah were grieving over the loss of their city, their freedom, and their identity.

We, too, grieve not only over death but over many other losses—opportunities, relationships, or situations beyond our control.

In Lamentations 1, the author uses many words to describe grief: groaning, weeping, bitterness, and anguish. Five times in this chapter, the author speaks of the lack of comfort (vv. 2, 9, 16, 17, 21). This lack of comfort is something we often feel in our grief, but as we grieve, we must also seek restoration. True grieving, when done well, seeks to restore the spirit.

Grief is not limited to loss of life. We grieve many things that upset our spirits—loss of dreams, jobs, relationships, or opportunities. Grieving well means acknowledging what we’ve lost but also realizing God’s sovereignty over every loss. As we see in Lamentations 1, the people of Judah and Jerusalem were grieving not just their circumstances but also the sin that led to them. They admitted their responsibility: “The Lord has brought her grief because of her many sins” (Lamentations 1:5). Acknowledging the cause of their suffering was part of grieving well.

Grieving well is also about giving God glory even in our suffering. It’s about being honest with ourselves and with God about what we’ve lost and what we’ve learned. Grief will change us, and if we grieve well, it will shape us to be more like Christ.

God does not waste anything—not even our grief. We can trust that He will use it for His purposes and our growth.

Key Takeaways

• Grief is never neat and tidy, but it is necessary for spiritual growth.
• Lamentations 1 offers a biblical model of honest and raw grief, reflecting the reality of suffering.
• Grief is not only about loss of life but encompasses many areas of our lives where we experience hardship.
• A faithful approach to grief includes acknowledging both what we’ve lost and how God remains sovereign over our circumstances.
• Grieving well shapes us, deepens our dependence on God, and can impact those around us as we reflect His faithfulness in hardship.

Scripture Verses References

• Matthew 5:4
• Lamentations 1:1-5, 12, 16a, 18, 20a, 22c
• 1 Peter 5:10-11

Study Questions

1. How does Lamentations 1 help you understand the reality and necessity of grief?
2. What are some ways you can give God glory even in your grief?
3. How can you be more honest with God and others about what you’re grieving in your life right now?
4. In what ways can grief shape you to become more like Christ?
5. How can you use your own grief to bring comfort or encouragement to others who are suffering?