Facing Loss and Grief With Hope in Jesus

How does a child of God face grief? That is an important question in my world right now. Perhaps we are always dealing with loss in some form or another. As Vacancy Pastor of First Lutheran Church I recently conducted two funerals. One of those services was somewhat expected for an elderly person who had been seriously ill for a while. But, the other death was a sudden and unexpected loss of a young person killed in an automobile accident. In both cases, the questions are real. How do we deal with our loss? How does a Christian face death?

On another level there are many who are ill. As the minister in this congregation, I am visiting many. In addition, on my daily prayer list are over 150 people, most of whom face losses and challenges. Some of them may recover from their illness or their trials. But, for some, their life has permanently changed in a way they would not choose. How does a person face the loss of health? How does a child of God face broken relationships, the loss of the future they had planned and hoped for?

Katherine Kubler-Ross years ago studied and named the stages of grief: denial, anger, bargaining, depression, acceptance. When we lose a loved one, when we lose the future we planned for because of illness, or disaster, or change, all of these responses are a normal and an understandable way to react. So, how DOES a disciple of Jesus work their way through their own gauntlet of loss?

In truth, because we live in a world which has rebelled and sinned against its Creator and against its Lord, we should not be surprised at the trials and tears which we experience. And everyone in this life does face pain, tears, death and mourning.

Therefore, none of us know what the next day will bring. But, . . . there is one thing we DO know. A Christian does know the love and the deliverance of God! In 1 Thessalonians 4 God teaches the believers in this city, through the writing of Paul. “13 But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. 14 For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep.” (1 Thessalonians. 4:13-14) Please notice that the believers in Thessalonika are not forbidden to grieve. They are told how to grieve, how to face our trials and losses.

God is telling us that we can face the losses of life, the death of loved ones, our own illness, the changes in our world which we do not want, we can face this grief with HOPE. Our Lord teaches us not to grieve like those who do not have hope. And, we are reminded that OUR sure hope is Jesus. We do not know what tomorrow holds, but we do know our eternal future, because of Jesus. “For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep.”

We do not know the circumstance tomorrow will bring, but we do know who is with us. David wrote, “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for YOU ARE WITH ME; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.” (Psalm. 23:4) In the deep, darkness of life, our powerful and loving Lord and Shepherd is right there alongside us!

When we face loss in this life, it is painful. Christians do not have to deny that pain. Such suffering is part of life in a world separated from the Lord. But, we can face that pain with the hope we have in and through Jesus, through His death and His resurrection. We can face our grief because Jesus is by our side.

How does a child of God face grief? We can face our losses differently than the rest of people in our world, because we face all of life with Jesus. Even in the midst our loss and pain, Jesus gives us hope for today, and hope for eternity. And, . . . what a joy it is to share the hope of Jesus with someone who needs and wants that hope in their trials.