“He is despised and rejected by men; a Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from Him; He was despised, and we did not esteem Him. Surely, He has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows: yet we esteemed Him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted.”
(Isaiah 53:3-4)
Grief is a natural and healthy response to the death of someone we love. The Lord designed us to grieve. In case you think you might be doing it wrong, just look at some examples provided for us in the Bible.
Genesis 23:1-2 (Abraham grieved Sarah)
Sarah lived one hundred and twenty-seven years: these were the years of the life of Sarah. So, Sarah died in Kirjath Arba (that is, Hebron) in the land of Canaan, and Abraham came to mourn for Sarah, and to weep for her.
Application: Grief is not a lack of faith—loving well means you will sometimes weep, and God makes room for that sorrow.
Genesis 37:34-35 (Jacob grieved Joseph)
Then Jacob tore his clothes, put sackcloth on his waist, and mourned for his son many days. And all his sons and all his daughters arose to comfort him; but he refused to be comforted, and he said, “For I shall go down into the grave to my son in mourning.” Thus, his father wept for him.
Application: Deep grief can linger; when comfort feels impossible, bring your honest pain to God and let others sit with you in it.
Genesis 50:1-4 (Joseph grieved Jacob)
Then Joseph fell on his father’s face, and wept over him, and kissed him. And Joseph commanded his servants the physicians to embalm his father. So, the physicians embalmed Israel. Forty days were required for him, for such are the days required for those who are embalmed; and the Egyptians mourned for him for seventy days.
Application: Grief often needs tangible expression and time; it’s okay to mourn fully and to honor your loved one’s memory.
Numbers 20:28-29 (Israel grieved Aaron)
Moses stripped Aaron of his garments and put them on Eleazar his son; and Aaron died there on the top of the mountain. Then Moses and Eleazar came down from the mountain. Now when all the congregation saw that Aaron was dead, all the house of Israel mourned for Aaron thirty days.
Application: Even in community and leadership transitions, God allows a season to grieve—don’t rush what takes time.
And so…Grief is the price we pay for loving someone. The only way to avoid grief is to avoid love.
If you’re finding your grief journey especially heavy or confusing, Christian counseling can offer a safe place to process your loss, strengthen your faith, and take your next step forward.
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