The number of deaths in recent weeks has brought grief into many homes. The Bible is filled with words of hope for those who journey through grief, but grief is inescapable. How do you handle grief? What is both a biblical and healthy way to deal with death as a Christian?
First, guard your heart from letting the pain of death steal the joy of life. The sheer shock of an unexpected death can create such distress that you live under a cloud of depression. For many people, the death of a loved one means the death of joy in his or her own life. The Bible says that Christians are able to grieve “…but not like those who have no hope” (I Thessalonians 4:13).
The hope of the Christian lies in the death and resurrection of Jesus. We grieve for our loss but must refuse to let death take more than it should. Your loved one would not want his or her death to steal the joy from your life. Jesus Christ is alive and He is with us. His presence continually gives us joy. Nehemiah wrote, “Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength” (Nehemiah 8:10, NIV).
Second, purposefully strive to let grief take you to thankfulness and not bitterness. Rehearse the memories and laugh. Thank God for the good times. Guard your heart from living with regret of what is lost. Instead, thank God for what you had. Paul was saddened to be away from his friends but wrote, “I thank my God every time I remember you” (Philippians 1:3). Healing grief will count the blessings that memories bring and take you to a point of praise instead of pain.
Third, never lose sight of heaven. The great hope of the Christian life is our final home in heaven. This is the promise of God. This is the message of the Bible. Heaven is real. Jesus said, “"Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father's house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also” (John 14:1-3).
Jesus told His disciples He was leaving. He knew their hearts were burdened with grief. He gives a promise that is both to them and us. He has prepared a place for those who trust Him. We find comfort in knowing that when two people are Christians, they never say goodbye for the last time.