In 2 Corinthians 1:4-5 Paul writes that our God “Comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.” I hope the following 12 thoughts are a comfort to you in sorrow and grief and can be used to help walk and weep with others though it too.
1. Pray for wisdom
Ask God for his help, wisdom, compassion, strength and the right words at the right time. Pray that those who are suffering would look to God as their help, hope, joy, healing and strength.
James 1:5, “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.”
2. Feel and express empathy with those hurt, weeping with those who weep
Ecclesiastes 3:1, 4–5, “For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven: . . . a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; . . . a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing.”
Romans 12:15, “Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep.”
3. Feel and express compassion under the heavy load and know it’s okay to weep
Jesus cried for his friend who he loved dearly:
John 11:33–35, “When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in his spirit and greatly troubled. And he said, ‘Where have you laid him?’ They said to him, ‘Lord, come and see.’ Jesus wept.”
4. Hold out the promise that God will sustain and help those who cast themselves on him for mercy and trust in his grace.
He will strengthen you for the impossible days ahead in spite of all the darkness and is walking beside you in the dark valley of death and sadness.
Psalm 34:18, “The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.”
Isaiah 41:10, “Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”
Psalm 23:4, “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.”
2 Corinthians 1:3–4, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.”
5. Grieve and be sad, but do so with hope that the best is yet to come
Christians don’t avoid or downplay the terrible aspect of grief and death. Because of our faith, we can truly call it abhorrent, and evil, especially when life is cut short from full years. But, it will never have the last word, even though it is a loud word.
1 Thessalonians 4:13-14, “Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope. For we believe that Jesus died and rose again, and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him”
Romans 6:8, “Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him.”
6. God’s love is available and present even in such distress.
Romans 8:35–39, “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? As it is written, ‘For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.’ “No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
7. Lament in faith and lean towards your sovereign God who rules over and in all things.
Lamentations 3:23 and 32, “Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. … Though he cause grief, he will have compassion according to the abundance of his steadfast love.”
8. Trust God to bring you though. He is the rock we can always stand on.
Romans 8:28, “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.”
Lamentations 3:21–24, “But this I call to mind, and therefore I have hope: The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. ‘The Lord is my portion,’ says my soul, ‘therefore I will hope in him.’”
2 Corinthians 4:17, “This light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison.”
Psalm 40:2-3, “He set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand. He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear the Lord and put their trust in him.”
9. God is the one lasting treasure in life and death.
Psalm 73:25–26, “Whom have I in heaven but you? And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides you. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.”
2 Corinthians 5:7–9, “We walk by faith, not by sight. Yes, we are of good courage, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord. So whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to please him.”
10. There are missional opportunities to see others know Jesus.
At the right time, God may allow gospel moments to speak of his tender love, compassion and conquering of death for all who trust in him.
Acts 20:24, “But I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.”
Colossians 4:3, “Pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ.”
11. Our bodily resurrection and life with Jesus in a new creation is what we look forward to and where we can find hope, joy and full healing.
1 Corinthians 15:42, “The body that is sown is perishable, it is raised imperishable.”
Luke 23:43, “Jesus answered him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.”
Revelation 21:4-5, “He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!” Then he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.”
John 11:35, “Jesus said to her [Martha], “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die.”
12. One day Jesus will wipe away every tear from our eyes and he understands full well our present suffering, grief and pain
Revelations 7:14, “For the Lamb at the centre of the throne will be their shepherd; ‘he will lead them to springs of living water.’ ‘And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.’”