Here are eight things that Paul Tripp suggests that you do when you grieve the loss of a loved one.
- Speak with honest emotions. God doesn’t call you to pretend or put on an act. The Psalms encourage us to bring honest griefs, questions and complaints to the Lord (13, 22, 38, 42, 55, 59, 61, 73, 88). He welcomes us to cast our care on Him.
- Run to where comfort can be found. True comfort can only be found in the Lord. Don’t seek false comforters. Don’t do things to simply numb or escape your grief. Run to God, not from Him.
- Resist grief’s temptations. Typical ones include doubt, anger, envy, self-pity.
- Seek God’s resources for help—in the body of Christ. Your life is a community project. You need help. Don’t be ashamed to ask. Be concrete in your needs. And remember those who help you will actually be helped in helping you.
- Require yourself to look for blessing in the middle of your grief. Give thanks in all circumstances. (1 Thessalonians 5:8). Even in hard times, God calls you to look for his mercy, expect his grace, and search for His love. Look for the good things God is birthing out of this grief.
- Don’t let go of your spiritual habits. You live on because God has more for you to do. There is meaning an purpose for every day you live. Your heart needs faith, hope, courage!
- Celebrate eternity! Eavesdrop on eternity. You long in your grief for a place where grief will be no more. Eternity is coming and death will finally die.
- Give away the comfort you have been given (2 Corinthians 1:3-4). you don’t own your comfort. God does. It is His tool. It is a ministry to you and a call for you to minister to others. You have help to offer and comfort to give away.
