Grief can be so intense that it leaves you feeling like no one has ever hurt as deeply as you’re hurting. You may even feel guilty for how troubled and upset you are. But grieving is normal. If we love someone, it is good and natural for us to mourn their absence.

Healthy grieving allows us to understand the roots and sources of our pain. It moves us toward healing.

You can better understand your grief. You don’t have to be immobilized by pain.

Your feelings are painful and powerful, but you are stronger than your feelings – and God is stronger and greater than all your pain and sorrow.

You are not alone in your grief. Everyone experiences agonizing loss. Connecting with others who have survived a time of darkness is one of the best ways to get to the other side of grief.

God is faithful. There are no easy answers – and sometimes no answers at all – to the difficult questions we have when we grieve. But we do know that our faith will comfort us and that God is close to us when we are grieving. The psalmist tells us that “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” (Psalm 34:18). And Jesus reminds us again in the Sermon on the Mount, “Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.” (Matthew 5:4).