Folks,
This past week has been a heavy one. I heard about a friend whose sister died suddenly from a heart attack at just fifty-one years of age. Then the very next night came word that a thirteen-year-old cousin had passed away in his sleep. Two sudden losses in such a short time can leave a person feeling completely scunnered, drained, gutted, and at a loss for words.
On top of the fresh sorrow, old wounds have been stirred up. Since I was just a little boy of five, death and grief have touched our family again and again. It has marked me in ways that still feel unhealthy at times. I know though my aunties, uncles, and grandparents knew the Lord and were believers that are now with Him, I still carry a deep longing to see them again. It isnt something that overwhelms me every day, but it sits there, a quiet, heavy ache that surfaces when new loss comes.
Perhaps maybe that’s what reading this is about, walking through something similar right now, sudden death, questions about whether a loved one truly knew the Lord, or that repeated grief that started back in childhood. If so, I want to share with you what the Lord has been speaking to my heart through His Word. The Bible doesn’t tell us to pretend the pain isn’t real. It gives us honest comfort and a living hope in Jesus Christ.
The Lord Is Near to the Brokenhearted
Grief can be very heavy, especially when loss has been part of your life for many years. But God sees every tear and every wound:
“The LORD is near to those who have a broken heart, And saves such as have a contrite spirit.” (Psalm 34:18)
“He heals the brokenhearted And binds up their wounds.” (Psalm 147:3)
“Surely He has borne our griefs And carried our sorrows…” (Isaiah 53:4)
Remember that Jesus Himself wept at the tomb of His friend Lazarus (John 11:35). He understands the deep ache that comes from loving people and then having to say goodbye, especially when those goodbyes have come too often and too soon.
When We’re Not Sure If They Knew the Lord
One of the hardest parts of grief is the uncertainty, wondering whether the person who died really knew Jesus as their Saviour. Their lives may not have shown it clearly, and that can add another layer of pain.
We must remember that we cannot see the heart the way God does. Salvation is by grace through faith in Christ alone, not by a perfect outward life (Ephesians 2:8-9).
Even the thief on the cross had no time to live a changed life, yet Jesus promised him paradise that very day (Luke 23:42-43).
We leave our loved ones in the hands of the righteous Judge who always does right:
“Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?” (Genesis 18:25)
“For judgment is without mercy to the one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment.” (James 2:13)
We don’t pretend to know what only God knows. We simply trust in His great mercy and bring our questions and sorrow to Him.
Grieving with Hope, Not as Those Who Have No Hope
The Bible never says we should never grieve. It tells us not to grieve as others who have no hope:
“But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus.” (1 Thessalonians 4:13-14)
One day there will be a glorious reunion for all who belong to Christ:
“For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout… And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. Therefore comfort one another with these words.” (1 Thessalonians 4:16-18)
I long to see my believing family again, my aunties, uncles, and grandparents who knew the Lord. Even more, I long to be with Jesus Himself.
I look forward to being together with the Lord and with redeemed family, spending the Millennium reigning with Christ in His righteous kingdom here on the earth (Revelation 20:4-6).
“In My Father’s house are many mansions… I go to prepare a place for you… that where I am, there you may be also.” (John 14:2-3)
“And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.” (Revelation 21:4)
Cast Your Burden on the Lord
If grief has marked your life since you were a child, or if a fresh loss has left you feeling heavy and scunnered, please know this: you are not alone. Bring every ache, the old ones and the new ones, straight to Jesus.
“Cast your burden on the LORD, And He shall sustain you…” (Psalm 55:22)
“Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” (Matthew 11:28)
He is the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our tribulation so that we may be able to comfort others with the comfort we ourselves have received from God (2 Corinthians 1:3-4).
If you are grieving today, whether the loss is sudden, long-term, or mixed with uncertainty, the Lord is very near. He invites you to be completely honest with Him. Tell Him how heavy it feels. Let Him bind up the wounds that years of grief have left behind.
And if you have never yet trusted Jesus Christ as your Saviour, today is the day. He died for you, rose again, and offers forgiveness and eternal life to all who simply believe in Him.
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit (Romans 15:13).
Grace and peace to you in our Lord Jesus Christ,
Peter
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