The Pain of Loss and the Hope We Hold

The Pain of Loss and the Hope We Hold

Grief and loss are normal and natural parts of life. Each of us, at some point, will walk this road, whether through the end of a season of life or the loss of something deeply significant. In many ways, we can only experience the pain and grief of loss because we have experienced true love—this doesn’t mean the pain and grief are any easier to experience.

The depth of our grief reflects the depth of our love. We grieve because we have known love, because we have shared in life’s beauty with someone or something that mattered deeply to us. And when that love is interrupted by loss, it leaves an aching void.

Yet, as Christians, we are called to lift our eyes and fix them on Jesus. “Let us keep our eyes fixed on Jesus, on whom our faith depends from beginning to end. He did not give up because of the cross! On the contrary, because of the joy that was waiting for him, he thought nothing of the disgrace of dying on the cross, and he is now seated at the right-hand side of God’s throne. Think of what he went through; how he put up with so much hatred from sinners! So do not let yourselves become discouraged and give up.” (Hebrews 12:2-3, GNT)

Even in our pain, we hold onto hope. A hope that is eternal, a hope that does not fade. Paul reminds us:

“That is why we never become discouraged. Even though our physical being is gradually decaying, yet our spiritual being is renewed day after day. And this small and temporary trouble we suffer will bring us a tremendous and eternal glory, much greater than the trouble. For we fix our attention, not on things that are seen, but on things that are unseen. What can be seen lasts only for a time, but what cannot be seen lasts forever.” (2 Corinthians 4:16-18, GNT)

Grief and loss can feel overwhelming. It can feel like waves crashing over us, pulling us under, leaving us gasping for breath. But in those moments, God remains. Nothing—not even the pain of loss—can separate us from His love.

God is with us. He is not distant from our suffering. The psalmist cries out, “My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?” (Psalm 22:1), echoing the pain we sometimes feel.

God walks with us in our grief. He does not ask us to pretend the pain is not real. He does not demand that we move on quickly or suppress our emotions. Instead, He invites us to rest in His presence, to be honest about our sorrow, and to trust that He holds us even when we feel broken.

There will be a day when “God will wipe away all tears from their eyes. There will be no more death, no more grief or crying or pain.” (Revelation 21:4, GNT) But until that day comes, we grieve with hope. We mourn, but we are not alone. We cry, but we are held. We feel the ache of loss, but we also give thanks for the love that made the loss so hard.

As Dr. Seuss wisely said: “Don’t cry because it’s over, smile because it happened.”

It’s okay to cry. It’s okay to feel the weight of loss. But as we do, we can also smile because of the love we have known, the memories we cherish, and the unshakable hope that in Jesus, love is never truly lost.