A Prayer When You Are Chronically Managing Grief
By Vivian Bricker
Bible Reading: “So with you: Now is your time of grief, but I will see you again and you will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy.” - John 16:22
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Within the Christian community, grief can be a topic that is put on the back burner. Many of us are taught that as Christians, we should always be happy—no matter what. Even if a parent, sibling, or spouse has passed away, we should still be happy all the time. Anything less would be unbiblical, right? This is a terrible mentality that needs to be eradicated from the church and the Christian community.
Nowhere in the Bible are we told we must be happy all the time. We should always be joyful, but joy and happiness are not the same thing. Even though many people use these words as synonyms, they are not the same. With Jesus as our Lord, joy is always present in our hearts because it is based on him not us. Happiness, on the other hand, is fleeting and is based on our circumstances.
Grief is something that can take a lifetime to fully process. If the church cannot help Christians when they first experience the death of a loved one, then how are they going to be able to support someone who is chronically managing grief? Seeing things from the other person’s perspective can help cultivate compassion, care, and understanding for others. Even if someone has never experienced grief of their own, they need to try to do their best to truly connect with their fellow brothers and sisters in Christ who are going through this troubling time. Instead of making insensitive comments, such as “Oh, you’re still not over that?” We need to begin to understand others and truly meet them where they are.
It is essential for us to be a shoulder to cry on, a support system, and a safe place for them. As someone who struggles with chronic grief, I can share with you that it is not an easy journey. Some days are better than others, but the bad days are severe. I developed grief after the passing of my mother, and I have never truly moved forward from her passing. At times, I still feel like the eighteen-year-old I was when she passed away; other days, I feel like I could be ninety years old.
I don’t have much in common with people my own age because most of them haven’t witnessed the death of a parent. While everyone my age has gotten married, started families, and moved into their own homes, I’m sitting on my bed, crying myself to sleep. If you find yourself in a similar position, know you are not alone. There are Christians across the world who can relate to what you are going through, and God understands your pain. Take solace in His love, comfort, and grace.
One Day We Will Rejoice
The Lord tells us, “So with you: Now is your time of grief, but I will see you again and you will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy” (John 16:22). Jesus is referring to His own death and how His disciples will see Him again. We experience grief over many things, yet the most common is the death of a loved one. Rest in the Lord’s words that there will be rejoicing in the future. Now is our time of grief, but our grief will not last forever. While we might struggle with grief for our entire lives, we will not suffer from it for all eternity. One day, our grief will be taken away and the Lord will welcome us home with open arms.
Let’s Pray:
Dear Jesus, I am experiencing a tough time of grief. I have been struggling with grief for a long time and it doesn’t appear to be going anywhere anytime soon. Please help me to find comfort, hope, and solace in You when I’m struggling. I look forward to the day when I will rejoice and all my pain will be taken away. I praise You, Lord. Amen.
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Related Resource: Let God Reframe Your Year: A Psalm 107 Year-End Reflection
As we wrap up our year together, I want to invite you into this meaningful spiritual practice: looking back on the year through the lens of Psalm 107 to identify the “fingerprints of God’s faithfulness. In this episode, we'll walk through four redemptive storylines found in Psalm 107—each representing a way God rescues, restores, and reorients His people. Whether you felt lost, trapped, wounded, self-destructive, or overwhelmed by storms, I encourage you to reflect on how God met you in weakness and brought deliverance. This episode is part of our How to Study the Bible Podcast, a show that brings life back to reading the Bible and helps you understand even the hardest parts of Scripture. If this episode helps you know and love God more, be sure to subscribe to the How to Study the Bible Podcast on Apple or Spotify so you never miss an episode!
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