Losing a family member is one of life’s most devastating experiences. Grief doesn’t just affect one part of you—it hits every part: your emotions, your body, your thoughts, your relationships, and your faith. It can feel like the world has shifted, and nothing makes sense anymore.
Grief is also deeply personal. No two people grieve the same way, even within the same family. But no matter how grief affects you, there are ways to find hope and healing in the midst of it.
How to Heal from Grief When You’ve Lost a Loved One
If you’re grieving the death of a family member or loved one, you’re not alone. The ache you're feeling is real, but so is hope. Psalm 34:18 reminds us that “The LORD is close to the brokenhearted; He rescues those whose spirits are crushed.”
There is real hope and comfort to be found. And there are ways to move forward over time.
Acknowledge Your Grief
Grief is evidence of love—a love that will continue long after they’re gone. But while that gives us a hopeful perspective on grief, it doesn’t take away the pain.
We often try to rush through grief or push it down, but acknowledging it and leaning in is essential for moving forward. Whether you’re feeling anger, confusion, sorrow, pain or numbness, they’re are all part of grief and need a safe place to be expressed.
As we read in John 11:32-35, even Jesus expressed his grief. This passage tells us “Jesus wept” when he heard his friend Lazarus had died. Even though Jesus would ultimately bring Lazarus back to life, he still felt the heaviness of grief and took the time to express it.
So don’t stuff those hard feelings down. Let yourself feel them. After all, we can’t heal what we don’t feel.
Surround Yourself With Support
Grief can feel isolating, but you don’t have to carry it alone. Even if it’s hard to reach out, having someone simply sit with you in your pain can make a real difference.
Let Your Friends and Loved Ones In
Friends might not always have the right words—or any words at all. It’s common for people to feel afraid of saying the wrong thing. But even if their words are few, people can bring comfort in simple, powerful ways—through a shared memory, a meal, or just sitting quietly beside you.
Talk to a Professional
Our friends and family can be a big help in tough times, but grief is complex. We can’t expect our loved ones to fulfill the role that only a professional can.
Counselors are uniquely trained to help you name what you're feeling, process what’s happened, and offer tools for coping. Their guidance can bring clarity when your emotions feel overwhelming.
Pastors are also a great resource. They are familiar with walking through grief with others, and can offer hope, prayer, and spiritual guidance to help you process.
If you’re not sure where to start, we’d love to connect you with a pastor or counselor who can help you navigate grief.
Join a Support Group
Galatians 6:2 reminds us that we’re created and called to “carry each other’s burdens.” Being in a group with others who’ve experienced a similar loss gives you a place to share your burdens with others and find support from people who get it.
Lean on God’s Presence and Power
While the support of others is incredibly important, and part of God’s design for healing, there’s a certain comfort that can only come from God. Only God can truly see the depths of our pain and bring healing to the places no one else can reach.
Talking to God and reading the Bible bring peace, understanding and healing that no one else can offer. God knows the pain of grief more than anyone. Isaiah 53:3 describes Jesus as “a man of many sorrows, acquainted with deepest grief.” He understands, and his power can heal what seems impossible to heal. He says, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest" (Matthew 11:28).
Take Care of Your Emotional and Physical Health
Grief isn’t just an emotion—it can affect your body, mind, and spirit. When you’re in so much pain, it feels silly to think that something as simple as rest, eating well, and hydrating helpsus heal. But it does!
Find small ways to care for yourself. Keep a journal, listen to worship music, or take a walk—anything that gives you space to pause, breathe, and reflect. As you slow down, lean on God for strength. "He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak" (Isaiah 40:29).
Honor Your Loved One’s Memory
Grief and love sit side by side, and honoring someone’s memory doesn’t mean you’ve stopped grieving or that you’ve left them behind. In fact, remembering and celebrating their life can be a beautiful part of the healing process. Death is powerful, but it cannot take away your love, your relationship, or your memories. Sharing stories, laughing about favorite moments, or even crying together as you remember them all keep their presence alive.
You might create new traditions in their honor, do acts of kindness in their name, or find small, personal ways to reflect their legacy. Planting a tree, displaying a favorite photo, serving their favorite meal on special occasions, or journaling about what they meant to you can become lasting symbols of love.
Their life was a gift—and so is their memory. As Proverbs 10:7 reminds us, “The memory of the righteous is a blessing.”
Healing from Grief Takes Time
There’s a popular saying, “Time heals all wounds.” While the wound of grief never fully heals, it’s important to give yourself time and patience. In the early stages of grief, it can feel like you're walking on shards of glass. You might wonder if healing is even possible. But as Psalm 30:5 says, "Weeping may stay for the night, but rejoicing comes in the morning." Joy will return in time.
Time by itself doesn’t heal all wounds, but how you spend that time is what makes the difference. Time spent with God, with friends and family, in grief communities, or with a counselor can all be part of your healing journey.
And as you heal, embrace it! It’s okay to feel joy again, even while remembering your loved one. It’s not either/or. You can have both. Your heart has room for grief, sorrow, and pain—and also for love, joy, peace, and purpose.
Death Is Not The End
"He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain." Revelation 21:4
Jesus offers the hope of eternal life in Heaven, a place more wonderful than we can imagine. This is the promise we hold on to when we’ve put our trust in him. We grieve deeply here on earth, but we don’t grieve without hope.
“And now, dear brothers and sisters, we want you to know what will happen to the believers who have died so you will not grieve like people who have no hope.” 1 Thessalonians 4:13
If your loved one knew Jesus as their Savior, you can have full confidence that you’ll see them again one day. That’s a beautiful, powerful hope to cling to.
What if I'm not sure where my loved one stood with God?
There’s a powerful story in the Bible of a man being crucified next to Jesus. In his final moments, he turned to Jesus and said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your Kingdom.” And Jesus replied, “I assure you, today you will be with me in paradise” (Luke 23:42–43).
Jesus loves everyone and relentlessly pursues them—even in their final moments. This man believed at the very end of his life, and that was enough. That gives us real, meaningful hope. You may not have answers, but you can trust in the character of a God who is loving, merciful, and never stops pursuing us.
Additional Resources
GriefShare: A national Christian organization that offers grief support. Join a group near you.
LCBC Pastoral Care: Whatever’s going on in your life, we have a dedicated team of pastors that are here to help! Let us know if you’d like to speak with a pastor and request resources.
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LCBC stands for Lives Changed By Christ. We are one church in multiple locations across Pennsylvania. Find the location closest to you or join us for Church Online. We can’t wait to connect with you!