Coping with grief and loss after the death of a loved one is one of the most gut wrenching, heartfelt emotion that we as humans can experience. We are born into this world and one day we will also die in this world. This experience will never be made easy as part of us also dies during this process. Grief is the price we pay for love. Love you want to give the deceased but cannot. Grief is love with no place to go. To our Lord, loved ones are very precious to him and it grieves him when they die. Scripture tells us “Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints.” Jesus, upon seeing Mary weeping for her dead brother Lazarus was moved with compassion “he groaned in the spirit, and was troubled.”
Grief and sorrow for departed loved ones are the after-effects of this dramatic event and will lift somewhat when we realize the new happiness they are experiencing. This may seem a startling statement but I believe it is true to the facts:
- We long for the touch of a vanished hand.
- The sound of a voice that is still.
This is only natural. Grief and mourning can be lightened by a proper understanding of the blessed condition of our departed loved ones. Thus faith becomes the answer to the problem of sorrow.
Trusting in God
What happens to our dead? Revelation answers: “He that sitteth on the throne shall spread his tabernacle over them. They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more; neither shall the sun light on them, nor any heat: for the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall be their shepherd, and shall lead them into living fountains of water; and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes.”
So God, who loves us with an Infinite love, has spread his tabernacle (temporary dwelling place) over our dearly departed loved ones. God has given them life radiant and beautiful, such as they never knew in this earthly world.
We have faith and strength from God during times of grief and sorrow. As ideals lose their vitality, life sours and grief is formed. Faith lifts this burden. As faith well up, life freshens, grief is driven off. One then becomes so happy he cannot help singing. “Thou hast turned for me my morning into dancing: thou hast put off my sackcloth, and girded me with gladness”.