As Christians respond with prayers and condolences after the sudden death of a family member in a car accident this Saturday, many Christian families have been left wondering how any family, even their own, can best cope in such a tragic situation.
The most important thing in coping with the grieving loss of a child or other family member is confidence and belief in a loving God that can carry us through difficulties.
One of the blessings about being a Christian is that we have a hope that non-believers don't have when it comes to death. We have very specific promises when it comes to eternity and believing in Lord Jesus Christ. We should know that our loved ones will be in God's arm forever. The Bible is so clear that God will never leave us or forsake us. That's what we can fall back on. On His Word of Promise.
While it is important for neighbors, friends, family members, and other church members to reach out and comfort those in grieving, one should be sensitive to their situation and avoid making "pat" comments – while at the same time making it clear that you're emotionally available to them.
In situations like these, there are no easy answers. It is not helpful for a friend or relative who is going through grief and loss to just give them Bible verses. The death of a child is the one of the most painful forms of grief for a parent. Vice versa, the sudden death of a parent is the one of the most painful forms of grief for a child.
Note, the most importantly is the need for those who experience the loss of a family member to be unafraid to express their full range of emotions.
Bottling up or suppressing one's real feelings can be both counter productive and self destructive. If you read the Gospel of Mark, and look at the life of Jesus and jot down every time he expressed an emotion – joy, sadness, anger, grief – if our Lord and Savior expressed a full range of emotions there is no reason we should bottle up our emotions.
Our Creator- AlmightyGod is the One True Holy God and He can handle us even being mad about an untimely death. We should not be afraid to express emotions of sadness and grief.
As families go through the grieving process then, they should counsel one another, turn to God, and avoid blame.
The chapter 5 of Romans about suffering and perseverance leading to a path of hope exemplifies the mercy of Christ that Christians can call upon.
Romans 5:1-20, New International Version (NIV)
Peace and Hope
5:1 Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,
2 through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we boast in the hope of the glory of God.
3 Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance;
4 perseverance, character; and character, hope.
5 And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.
6 You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly.
7 Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die.
8 But God demonstrates His own LOVE for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
9 Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through him!
10 For if, while we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life!
11 Not only is this so, but we also boast in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.
Death Through Adam, Life Through Christ
12 Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all people, because all sinned—
13 To be sure, sin was in the world before the law was given, but sin is not charged against anyone’s account where there is no law.
14 Nevertheless, death reigned from the time of Adam to the time of Moses, even over those who did not sin by breaking a command, as did Adam, who is a pattern of the one to come.
15 But the gift is not like the trespass. For if the many died by the trespass of the one man, how much more did God’s grace and the gift that came by the grace of the one man, Jesus Christ, overflow to the many!
16 Nor can the gift of God be compared with the result of one man’s sin: The judgment followed one sin and brought condemnation, but the gift followed many trespasses and brought justification.
17 For if, by the trespass of the one man, death reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive God’s abundant provision of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ!
18 Consequently, just as one trespass resulted in condemnation for all people, so also one righteous act resulted in justification and life for all people.
19 For just as through the disobedience of the one man the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the one man the many will be made righteous.
20 The law was brought in so that the trespass might increase. But where sin increased, grace increased all the more,
21 so that, just as sin reigned in death, so also grace might reign through righteousness to bring eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
A memorial service was held this Saturday.
We speak of the hope in Lord Jesus Christ and the belief that our family member was in a better place.
We trust in One God who is not surprised by this and because of Lord Jesus Christ I am certain through faith in Him we will see our family member again.
The most important thing in coping with the grieving loss of a child or other family member is confidence and belief in a loving God that can carry us through difficulties.
One of the blessings about being a Christian is that we have a hope that non-believers don't have when it comes to death. We have very specific promises when it comes to eternity and believing in Lord Jesus Christ. We should know that our loved ones will be in God's arm forever. The Bible is so clear that God will never leave us or forsake us. That's what we can fall back on. On His Word of Promise.
While it is important for neighbors, friends, family members, and other church members to reach out and comfort those in grieving, one should be sensitive to their situation and avoid making "pat" comments – while at the same time making it clear that you're emotionally available to them.
In situations like these, there are no easy answers. It is not helpful for a friend or relative who is going through grief and loss to just give them Bible verses. The death of a child is the one of the most painful forms of grief for a parent. Vice versa, the sudden death of a parent is the one of the most painful forms of grief for a child.
Note, the most importantly is the need for those who experience the loss of a family member to be unafraid to express their full range of emotions.
Bottling up or suppressing one's real feelings can be both counter productive and self destructive. If you read the Gospel of Mark, and look at the life of Jesus and jot down every time he expressed an emotion – joy, sadness, anger, grief – if our Lord and Savior expressed a full range of emotions there is no reason we should bottle up our emotions.
Our Creator- AlmightyGod is the One True Holy God and He can handle us even being mad about an untimely death. We should not be afraid to express emotions of sadness and grief.
As families go through the grieving process then, they should counsel one another, turn to God, and avoid blame.
The chapter 5 of Romans about suffering and perseverance leading to a path of hope exemplifies the mercy of Christ that Christians can call upon.
Romans 5:1-20, New International Version (NIV)
Peace and Hope
5:1 Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,
2 through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we boast in the hope of the glory of God.
3 Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance;
4 perseverance, character; and character, hope.
5 And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.
6 You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly.
7 Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die.
8 But God demonstrates His own LOVE for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
9 Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through him!
10 For if, while we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life!
11 Not only is this so, but we also boast in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.
Death Through Adam, Life Through Christ
12 Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all people, because all sinned—
13 To be sure, sin was in the world before the law was given, but sin is not charged against anyone’s account where there is no law.
14 Nevertheless, death reigned from the time of Adam to the time of Moses, even over those who did not sin by breaking a command, as did Adam, who is a pattern of the one to come.
15 But the gift is not like the trespass. For if the many died by the trespass of the one man, how much more did God’s grace and the gift that came by the grace of the one man, Jesus Christ, overflow to the many!
16 Nor can the gift of God be compared with the result of one man’s sin: The judgment followed one sin and brought condemnation, but the gift followed many trespasses and brought justification.
17 For if, by the trespass of the one man, death reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive God’s abundant provision of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ!
18 Consequently, just as one trespass resulted in condemnation for all people, so also one righteous act resulted in justification and life for all people.
19 For just as through the disobedience of the one man the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the one man the many will be made righteous.
20 The law was brought in so that the trespass might increase. But where sin increased, grace increased all the more,
21 so that, just as sin reigned in death, so also grace might reign through righteousness to bring eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
A memorial service was held this Saturday.
We speak of the hope in Lord Jesus Christ and the belief that our family member was in a better place.
We trust in One God who is not surprised by this and because of Lord Jesus Christ I am certain through faith in Him we will see our family member again.
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