Is it wrong for a Christian to grieve?

No. Scripture never tells believers not to grieve. It says do not grieve 'as others which have no hope' (1 Thessalonians 4:13), that is, grieve, but not without hope. Jesus himself wept.

Where can I start if I have lost someone?

Start with whichever page fits your loss, and be gentle with yourself. Many people find comfort in reading John 11, the account of Jesus at the grave of Lazarus, and in letting someone pray with them.

Does the Bible say I will see them again?

The Christian hope is the resurrection of the dead and a reunion beyond it for those who are in Christ. We speak of that hope honestly, without claiming to know God's verdict on any particular person, which belongs to him alone.

Grief and loss

Grief and Loss: You Are Allowed to Grieve

Grief is not a problem to be solved or a stage to hurry through. It is love with nowhere to go, and it deserves room. The Christian faith does not explain your pain away. It sits with you in it, the way Jesus wept at the grave of a friend, and then, gently, it offers a hope stronger than death.

If you are here because someone you love is gone, we are so sorry. You do not have to be strong right now. You do not have to find the lesson, or say the right thing, or feel any particular way by any particular day.

Grief is not a lack of faith. Some of the most faithful people in the Bible wailed, tore their clothes, and asked God why. You are allowed to grieve.

The hope Christians hold onto

When Jesus came to the grave of his friend Lazarus, he did not begin with an explanation. The shortest verse in the Bible tells us what he did first.

“Jesus wept.”

John 11:35

“I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: and whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die.”

John 11:25-26

“The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit.”

Psalm 34:18

“And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.”

Revelation 21:4

Christians believe that because Jesus himself died and rose, death has been broken open from the inside, and that those who are his are held by him beyond it. We cannot pronounce a verdict on any one person's soul, that belongs to God alone, but we can tell you honestly where the Christian hope is anchored: in a Person who conquered the grave and promised to wipe away every tear.

One small step: you do not have to carry today by yourself. Read the story of Jesus at the grave in Jesus wept, or let someone pray with you. Grief is lighter when it is shared.

A short prayer

Lord Jesus, you wept at a grave. You know this weight. I do not have the words tonight, so I just bring you my broken heart, and ask you to be near. Amen.

When you are ready: Read: Jesus wept →

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You do not have to carry this alone

Before Jesus did anything at the grave of his friend, he wept with the ones who loved him. He is not far off from grief, and he is not in a hurry to move you past it. If you want, you can read the story for yourself, or simply let someone pray with you tonight. You do not need the right words. You only need to come.

Read John 11 Ask someone to pray You are not alone

Jesus Christ is Lord.

Questions people ask

Is it wrong for a Christian to grieve?: No. Scripture never tells believers not to grieve. It says do not grieve 'as others which have no hope' (1 Thessalonians 4:13), that is, grieve, but not without hope. Jesus himself wept.
Where can I start if I have lost someone?: Start with whichever page fits your loss, and be gentle with yourself. Many people find comfort in reading John 11, the account of Jesus at the grave of Lazarus, and in letting someone pray with them.
Does the Bible say I will see them again?: The Christian hope is the resurrection of the dead and a reunion beyond it for those who are in Christ. We speak of that hope honestly, without claiming to know God's verdict on any particular person, which belongs to him alone.

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