UNDERSTANDING GRIEF AS A CHRIST FOLLOWER

That heart dropping moment we all feel when something so tragic and unexpected happens to us.

 The feeling so paralyzing and disappointing that even wishing it on our worst enemy especially as believers would be so out of character for us.

As traumatizing as grief makes us feel, unfortunately, it isn’t exempted from anyone on earth because we live in a fallen world full of hurt and pain

So much so that, even our savior Jesus Christ went through it a number of times as recorded in John 11vs35, Luke 19vs 41 and Hebrews 5 vs 7-9, however

As lonely as we may feel during that time, it should never hinder us from realizing who God is to us

when unfortunate circumstances happen in our life, the first thing we think of is where God is for all this to happen

But let us be encouraged in knowing that God will never purposely want hurt us. We tend to blame God when things go wrong in our life

Forgetting that in His all perfect and loving nurture, is where we can find comfort and healing from the unfortunate life’s tribulations

James 1vs 2-4 NIV encourages us to say “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, when ever you face trails of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything

Grief happens in our life to shape us and make us stronger believers in the Lord, He however, already overcame it all and in Him we were made perfect and strong to overcome whatever life throws at us

Its easier said than done to get through a grieving season this I know firsthand, it’s the loss of what we thought should have been

To sometimes having the guilt of feeling like there was maybe more we could have said or done to make things have a different outcome

Then comes the guilt of feeling less of a Christ believer because of how much sadness that we are feeling, and sometimes even questioning if we are going against God by feeling the way we feel at the time

The enemy tries to torment us with lies during this time, however, here are some encouraging points about grief to help you through the process a little better and maybe help you better understand yourself in Christ during this time

GRIEVING DOESN’T MEAN YOU’RE SELFISH

The most important thing to remember is leaning on to God during this time is important as He will guide us in the best direction mentally, spiritually and emotionally

Also, it is okay not always want people around or consistently have someone to talk to about it if those are your desires at that time

 Adjusting to a new life especially after a tragic event is a process, it’s okay to take your time and find comfortable ways in which you will begin to understand your new life better

Remember, this period is about you and what God is teaching you through this season and not everyone is going to understand what you’re going through

It’s okay to distance yourself from people that aren’t making you feel comfortable or are seemingly making the process harder for you

It doesn’t mean you are a bad person, as long as you are still in right standing with God during this time, It’s okay

GOD ALLOWS US TO GRIEVE

Like I mentioned, even God allowed Jesus to go through grief. Another prominent person that experienced grief and pain that we all of and are familiar with is Job

It would be very unfair for God to let us go through something so heartbreaking and expect us to carry on like nothing happened

And that’s how when we read the book of Job, we learn how a true believer should get through grief and mostly remember who God is through it all

Just like Job, we should be rest assured that God will always give back ten-fold to what the enemy has taken. God will never allow the plans of the enemy dominate in our lives

As long as we lean onto Him and what His word has promised us, we are to be rest assured that He will bless us with something in our life to remind us that of His love and caring nurture

God will also allow grief to help us better understand His mighty power and to show us that He is bigger than what we are going through in that season

Our faith is also tested in this moment to see if we are still going to proclaim His name even when all things are going wrong in our lives, it is only during this time that our maturity is built and strengthened in Him

GRIEF DOES NOT MEAN WEAKNESS

It happened, it made you sad, you are crying, you don’t know what to do next and that’s okay, you are human!!!

You are allowed to process your feelings and emotions the best way that will help you heal. We are now living in a time where people are being bullied because they are voicing out their pains and struggles

Especially on the internet, its almost like a rule has been made to only let perfect moments exist on there forgetting that we all hurt, we all go through something at a point in our lives

And rather than shaming each other’s real and raw moments, let us learn to embrace each other and give the best solutions to those hurting especially on the internet

Rather than deeming it as an attention seeking moment from someone and speaking ill of them, treat them how you would have wanted to be treated if you were in that moment, or better yet, treat them as Christ would

So once again embrace all the emotions you are feeling and surrender them to Christ, it won’t mean you are a weak person, it will only but show that you are wise Christian who knows where your true strength will come from 

GRIEF IS NOT LACK OF FAITH

we often times come to a point in our grieving period where we begin to seem distant from God because of how much we have let our emotions get the best of us

It is natural to feel abandoned by God and feel like we are alone in this battle, as believers, we always desire an all-time high faith in God were our faith in Him seems very solid or unshaken no matter what

But the reality of the situation is that it won’t be a true Christian walk if that were the case, it’s important to acknowledge that they will be dark times in our life and we will sometimes begin to question our faith in God

The important thing to remember is that God knows our hearts, He knows that what we want more than anything is to glorify Him with all the Joy that He has placed in us

But thank God the bible says in Hebrews 11vs 6 NIV “And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to Him must believe that he exists and He rewards those that earnestly seek Him”, so

Whatever faith percentage you have in the moment use it, remember it doesn’t take a lot to please God if you are doing it with all your heart to bring Him glory

GRIEF DOES NOT MEAN YOUR’E A BAD CHRISTIAN

I must say, they are sometimes were people will make us feel less than because of how we choose to deal with the grief in our life

People will expect someone to act a certain way during this period not even realizing that the don’t know the exact feeling it feels to be going through it

It is important in this moment to remember that you are not a bad Christian just because something has happened to you

Because even sometimes we like to think that we are being punished by God or it is because of the hurt that we’ve caused on others which is why bad things are happening to us

God loves each and everyone one of us the same way, it is only the enemy that will make us feel like we are less than what God says we are and that’s why unfortunate events are happening

It is my prayer that you still feel loved and embraced by God in your tough seasons and know that He doesn’t love you any less than He did before

It is also important to remember that you are just as important as anyone in His kingdom and He would still leave the ninety-nine for you