Hope in Sorrow
Hope in Sorrow
Tim Jackson
We grieve because we live in a world plagued by sin and death. The infection of sin produces groaning in grief that grips our hearts and permeates all of creation (see Romans 8:22-24). It’s this groaning for restoration that is at the core of our struggle with grief.
In the initial stages of mourning, rational explanations are uncaring and unconvincing. The soul is in too much pain to think rationally. However, believers in Christ who struggle honestly with loss must remember God’s promises—promises that provide desperately needed hope for the journey through grief.
What Can Never Be Lost?
God’s unshakable love. “Jesus loves me this I know, for the Bible tells me so” are simple lyrics that reflect profound spiritual truth. That basic truth has kept me and many others moving through grief when nothing else could. The deepest expression of God’s enduring love for us was Jesus. Whatever loss has forced us into our valley of grief, we can find confidence and strength in His unfailing love (Psalm 46; Romans 8:35-39).
God’s reassuring presence. Comfort comes from knowing that, though we are surrounded by death and the pain of loss has pierced our hearts, we are not alone. In Psalm 23, the rod and staff are symbols of God’s presence and protection as we negotiate the treacherous valley of grief. Rarely is a satisfying explanation for our suffering and grief given. Rather, God shares our suffering through His suffering Son who never abandons us (Romans 8:31; Hebrews 13:5).
What Can Be Found?
Renewed dependence on God. “Faith is a footbridge that you don’t know will hold you up over the chasm until you’re forced to walk out on to it.”1 Followers of Christ who journey through grief and loss, in time may be able to look back and thank God for a level of intimacy with Him that was previously unknown. The pain of loss lingers, but they have a more trusting relationship with God.
Since the death of my parents, I’m closer to God than I’ve ever been before. I’m closer to Jesus. I’m certainly more aware of how fragile and fleeting life really is and how deeply dependent I am on God. That knowledge renews my focus on what really matters in life.
Rediscovered purpose in life.For some, the journey through grief becomes a door to a new direction. Parents who know the pain of losing a child can sometimes find new purpose in reaching out to other grieving parents. Dave Branon, who lost a teenage daughter in a car accident over a decade ago, says, “This is not the ministry that I would have ever chosen, but it’s the one I have been given.” His journey has helped many grieving parents along the way.
I’ve found is that God uses my experiences of loss to connect more deeply with my people in their losses. Whatever your loss, God may give you opportunities to share your story and encourage others on their journey.
Good from Loss?
When our world is rocked by the loss of a loved one, the thought of something good coming from it sounds absurd, even vulgar. Our hope in sorrow is this: Grief over any loss can have a good effect if it brings us to the feet of the Savior, if it puts us among the multitudes who came to Jesus needing comfort and rescue because we believe that He is our only hope (Matthew 4:23–5:1).
The reality is that loss and change are inevitably linked. Loss changes things forever. God wants to use even the most painful of circumstances to deepen our reliance on Him (Romans 5:2-5). His goodness is revealed against the dark backdrop of painful losses in ways we otherwise may never have known.
Death doesn’t have the final say. Yes, it’s the last enemy to be destroyed (1 Corinthians 15:26), but Jesus, our hope, has crushed death in His resurrection (15:54-57). Therefore we have and can offer hope and comfort, looking forward to the day when we’ll never say goodbye again.
Until that day arrives, grieving with hope—hope of resurrection—allows us to enjoy life again. Remembering our loss will always cause pain and may at times move us to tears again (as writing this did for me). But the life-changing valley of grief also increases our appreciation for life and our anticipation of Christ’s return.
This is an excerpt from Life after Loss, by Tim Jackson.
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