Helpful ways to find God's peace, hope amidst grief

When the world has almost recovered from the pain of the COVID-19 pandemic, people who have lost their loved ones are still wondering how they could find peace and hope amidst their grief.

Can they ever be happy again with God’s peace and hope?

There is no actual time frame for healing when it comes to grief. Some say you can never recover from losing your loved ones, especially if that person significantly impacted your life.

However, it is a matter of acceptance that you will live in pain for the rest of your life. 

Grieving does not mean you can never be happy while staying in the land of the living.

There are ways to find God’s peace and hope amidst our grief to enjoy life’s gift fully.

They say that even after we overcome the dark moments, the scar and the pain remain deep in our hearts for a long time.

We often remember them as fresh memories; the grief continues until we are entirely comforted. 

Most of the time, whenever we remember the person, even if we want to think of the good moments, we often end up thinking of their sufferings before they died.

These are the moments when we could get distracted, and without hope and peace, it will destroy us.

Helpful Ways to find God’s Peace, Hope amidst Grief

There is no better place for grieving than in the presence of the Lord.

No “condolences” could ever replace what God’s comfort could give to people who are suffering from longingness and loneliness. 

We all need help to comfort us when we go through grief. 

The world has lost more than three million individuals during the pandemic and many people lost their occupations and businesses.

From this, people worldwide are looking for comfort and healing.

This is a reminder that God wants to comfort your grief and heal your heart.

Here are some helpful ways to discover God’s peace and hope during our grief.

Surrender Your Pain to God

Grief is something you cannot control by itself. The more you try to control it, the more you can ruin yourself.

If not handled correctly, it would result in bitterness and hatred. People who lost their loved ones thought they could take pain themselves.

Still, they often end up isolating themselves from the world and running away from God.

One way to experience God’s peace and hope amidst your grief is to surrender to Him spiritually.

Spiritual surrender helps you experience God’s fullness as you deal with your situation. 

Studies show that those who surrender spiritually are more likely to see God positively and can let God take control.

When you let go of something out of your control at the foot of the cross, you allow yourself to receive not necessarily what you want but what you need, which is eternal hope. 

In 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18, Apostle Paul emphasized their belief that Jesus died and rose again and God will bring those who have fallen asleep in him.

In this Scripture, Paul asked everyone to encourage one another by telling them that in God’s perfect time, you will live with those who have fallen asleep with the Lord.

God is not orchestrating suffering but Authoring love, grace, and mercy. His words remind you that you can trust Him with your pain and suffering, particularly in your grief.

Talk to God about Your Grief

It is natural to question God when you are grieving, so instead of running away from Him and not talking to Him, continue pouring your heart into God.

Remember that when we accepted Jesus Christ, we became sons and daughters of God. 

As a child, God is more than willing to listen to your pain, questions, and complaints. More than anyone, God is the one that can understand your grief.

He also had lost His beloved son for you and the world to be saved. 

Take the courage to know that God understands your longingness for your loved one.

You can tell Him exactly how it feels and where it hurts. God wants your sincerity and honesty. 

Find Safe People Who Will Allow You to Grieve

Sometimes, it is better to talk about your grief than to keep it to yourself.

The more you carry that burden, the heavier it could destroy you when you cannot handle it anymore.

Remember that God never intends you to be alone in this journey. Find someone you know that would allow you to talk about your feelings of longingness.

It could be your family members, friends, pastors, or even Christians dealing with the same journey as you.

Look for people willing to sit with you, allow you to cry, and walk beside you on this journey. Give yourself the time to grieve on whatever level you need.

You can participate in a support group like GriefShare and relate with people experiencing loss and grief. 

Stay connected to those you trust and are willing to listen. 

Discover, Hold unto God’s Promises

When you know God’s promises, you can grieve with peace and hope coming from Him. His words allow you to embrace God’s promises of comfort.

His promises are your survival weapon to fight loneliness and depression. 

Memorize His promises that whenever you feel alone and sad, you will be strengthened by His words.

The Psalmist wrote many comforting passages which express various emotions. 

In Psalm 23, David emphasized that he will not fear danger because God is with Him, and His rod and staff comfort him. 

Also, in Psalm 54:4, David noted that God is his helper and sustainer of his life. 

The more you learn about God’s promises, the more you will feel that there is hope amidst your grief.

Moreover, the more you will think that God never left you in your pain. He is there waiting for you to surrender to give you peace.

Accept with Gratitude

The process of acceptance with gratitude takes time. You do not have to rush everything in terms of grief.

God is with you every step of the way. Knowing that we can never hear their voice, their laughter while we live here on earth is unbearable.

Knowing you will wake up daily without the person is very painful and sometimes could make us bitter.

Though it may take time to accept with thankfulness, this will allow you to experience God’s peace and hope. 

Psalm 30:5 says that weeping may endure for a night, but in the morning, there comes joy. 

Hold on to your faith and create a daily routine. You can also pray and meditate on God’s word and enjoy nature.

Another, try doing things that could refresh and restore your soul. 

Remember what God said: everything works together for good for those who love Him.

We may not understand, but accepting reality will give us room to see God’s goodness in everything, even in our darkest moments. 

We can also accept by realizing that God only lends the life of our loved ones, and we are blessed to have time with them.

Though some may think the time is short, we can still look forward to being with them when the time comes.

Help Others

When you are ready, one of the best ways to experience God’s hope and peace is to help others facing the same situation.

Not everyone is blessed to have some resources to help them cope and be joyful amidst their sorrow, so be Jesus’ hands and feet to those people.

Invest your time and strength in helping others. You can join volunteer efforts in your church and organizations to help the community.

Spending time assisting others enables you to derive your attention rather than choosing to be alone.