Loss is a language everyone speaks, yet no one wants to learn. Slowly or suddenly, softly or with a thunderclap, it leaves its mark in ways both seen and unseen. Whether it’s the loss of a spouse, a dear friend, a beloved pet, a parent, a job, a home, or even a dream, each of us knows what it means to ache for what once was.
Grief wears many faces. For some, it’s quiet tears behind closed doors. For others, it’s loud and angry, raw and desperate. Sometimes, it shows up not in sadness, but in numbness, fatigue, or confusion. There’s no “right” way to grieve, just as there’s no single path through it. But wherever you are in that journey, hope is something greater that can help you along your way.
Hope, in the Christian sense, is not wishful thinking. It isn’t a vague longing for things to get better. It’s deeper, stronger, and more certain than that. Hope is the confident expectation that God is who He says He is, with promises that won’t ever fail.
It’s hard to believe that tonight, HHH and I host our last 13-week Grief Share class. It’s been an amazing time to revisit our own grief journeys while helping others work through theirs. HHH is preparing his fabulous Chicken Cordon Bleu for our group dinner, and that never disappoints. Then, it will be time to consider what’s next. As a Christian, the next thing involves hope.
The Bible calls hope “an anchor for the soul, firm and secure” (Hebrews 6:19). When everything around us is shifting and we feel like we’re adrift in sorrow and uncertainty, hope is what keeps us grounded. It doesn’t remove the pain of loss, but it promises that pain is not the end of the story.
Hope tells us that brokenness isn’t forever.
- God is near to the brokenhearted (Psalm 34:18).
- Joy comes in the morning, even if the night feels endless (Psalm 30:5).
That’s not just poetry, but a trustworthy promise.
To move on after loss doesn’t mean forgetting. It doesn’t mean rushing past grief or pretending everything is okay. It means allowing God to gently walk with us through the valley and trusting Him to bring beauty out of ashes in His time.
Laughing again may feel quite strange at first. Do it anyway. Reaching out to someone when you’re drowning in silence may seem like a weakness. It’s the opposite, as you allow others to care for you. In no time at all, you’ll be able to return the favor.
Loss shapes us, but it doesn’t define us. What defines us is the love that remains, the precious memories we carry, and the hope that sustains us.
If you’re reading this and feeling the weight of grief pressing down on you, know that you’re not alone. God sees you and hears every unsaid word, tear, and sleepless night. He doesn’t expect you to “have it all together.” He only asks you to lean on Him when your strength is gone.
Grief may change with time, but it won’t disappear. And that’s okay. Because in Christ, we don’t move on alone, but forward with Him, holding tightly to the anchor of hope. And that kind of hope doesn’t disappoint.
Wherever you are, whatever you may do, consider finding a Grief Share group in your area if you’re in need. There can never be enough tools in the tool belt when trouble comes knocking.
More tomorrow.