At some point in life, you will be acquainted with grief. Whether it is the loss of a loved one, the loss of a friendship, or even the loss of an opportunity, every person will have times of grief. Does the Bible tell us how to handle grief biblically?
The Bible does have some wisdom on overcoming grief and on supporting others in their time of bereavement. We are meant to process our own grief, help others when they are in this time. If your grief is overcoming you, it may be necessary to talk to a grief counselor for some help.
Are you struggling with grief and want to know what the Bible says? The following blog post goes over how to handle grief biblically. #ORBC Click To TweetWhat is Grief?
Before we go further, we need to establish what grief is. There are a lot of definitions for the word grief. Oxford Languages says that grief is “a deep sorrow, especially that caused by someone’s death.” The Mayo Clinic says that grief is a natural reaction to loss. It is an experience that is both universal and deeply personal at the same time.
Grief is also involuntary. The best thing we can do is prepare ourselves for various stages of grief with knowledge about what is happening and with words of comfort from the Bible.
How Should We Handle Grief Biblically?
What specifically should we do to handle the grieving process? There are two sides to the grieving process, and the Bible has advice for both sides.
Handling Our Own Grief – Ecclesiastes 3:1-8
Our own grief is difficult for us to handle on our own. The experience is different for each person depending on the situation. While each instance of grief is different, there are certain steps every person should take to recover from grief.
Focus on the Family has some steps for moving forward that are quite useful. They say to, “accept the reality of the loss. Experience the pain of grief. Adjust to an environment in which the deceased is missing. Take the emotional energy you would have spent on the one who died and reinvest it in another relationship.”
Helping Others With Grief – Romans 12:15
When comforting someone who is grieving the death of a loved one, the Bible says, “Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep.” in Romans 12:15. This advice is two-fold. On one hand, we should be joyful for those who are in a happy season. We should be happy for them simply because life is good for them.
On the other hand, when one of our loved ones is grieving, we are told to sit with them in their sorrow. It does not help a grieving person to tell them “everything will be okay” or to “cheer up.” That only makes people feel worse.
God also leads by example. The Bible says in Psalm 34:18 says, “The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.” The Lord stays close to the brokenhearted, and that is it. He doesn’t make the brokenhearted feel guilty for being sad or make the brokenhearted feel bad for their state. He just comforts them with His presence.
Talk to Others
Grief is a heavy burden for anyone to hold, and we often need help to overcome it. Our friends and family are there to support us in our times of need. We can lean on them during these times to find comfort just as we can lean on the Lord.
The grieving process takes time. It can be messy, and it hurts, but it is not permanent. God will bring comfort and peace with time.
ORBC Is Here To Help
The grieving process takes time. It can last anywhere from months to years depending on the person. But your loved ones are here to help you, and so is ORBC.
Contact us for more information on how to handle grief Biblically.
