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Grief is one of life’s hardest journeys, but you do not have to walk through it alone. Discover how keeping your faith in Jesus can bring comfort, hope, and strength one day at a time.
How Do I Keep My Faith During Grief?
If someone asked me, “How do you keep your faith during grief?” my answer would be simple.
I hold on to Jesus.
That may sound like an easy answer, but I know it is not always easy to do when your heart is broken.
Grief changes you.
It changes how you think, how you feel, and sometimes even how you see the world around you.
One day you may feel like you are doing okay, and the next day something reminds you of the person you lost, and the tears begin all over again.
Grief does not follow a schedule.
It does not ask permission before showing up.
It can hit you while driving, shopping, sitting at church, or even while looking through old pictures.
If you have ever experienced the loss of someone you love, then you understand that grief is not something you simply “get over.”
You learn how to live through it.
During times like these, people often ask what will help them the most.
Some will say family.
Others will say friends.
Some will say coworkers or support groups.
I believe all of those things can be wonderful blessings.
God often uses people to encourage us.
He sends people to pray with us, cry with us, listen to us, and simply sit beside us when we have no words.
I thank God for those people.
But if I am being honest, there is Someone I depend on even more.
His name is Jesus.
People Cannot Always Be There
One thing I have learned is that people truly care, but they also have lives of their own.
At the beginning of your grief, your phone may ring often.
People may stop by the house.
Cards may arrive.
Meals may be brought over.
Many people genuinely want to help.
But as weeks become months, life continues moving for everyone else.
People return to work.
They take care of their families.
Their schedules become busy again.
The phone calls become less frequent.
The visits become fewer.
Not because they stopped caring.
Life simply continues.
That is why I cannot depend only on people to carry me through grief.
People become tired.
People become busy.
People sometimes forget important dates that still mean everything to us.
None of this makes them bad people.
It simply reminds us that people are human.
Jesus is not.
He never becomes too busy.
He never forgets us.
He never says, “I’ll call you later.”
He never walks away because enough time has passed.
When everyone else has gone home, He is still there.
When the house becomes quiet, He is still there.
When everyone thinks you should be “back to normal,” He is still there.
That gives me comfort.
Jesus Understands Grief
Sometimes we wonder if anyone truly understands what we are feeling.
The beautiful thing about Jesus is that He understands sorrow.
When Lazarus died, Jesus stood among people who were grieving.
The Bible tells us something very powerful.
John 11:35 (KJV)
“Jesus wept.”
Those are only two words, but they remind me of something important.
Jesus cared.
He was not distant from their pain.
He did not tell them to stop crying.
He entered into their sorrow.
That reminds me that God is not uncomfortable with our tears.
Sometimes we think we have to be strong all the time.
We believe crying means we have little faith.
I do not believe that.
Tears are not the opposite of faith.
Sometimes tears are part of healing.
God already knows what we are feeling.
We never have to pretend with Him.
Faith Does Not Remove the Pain
One misunderstanding people sometimes have is that if we have enough faith, grieving should become easy.
That is not true.
Faith does not erase pain.
Faith gives us someone to lean on while we walk through it.
There will still be difficult mornings.
Birthdays may still hurt.
Holidays may feel different.
Certain songs may bring tears.
Certain places may remind us of someone we love.
Those feelings are real.
Faith does not tell us to ignore them.
Faith reminds us that even while we hurt, God is walking beside us.
Psalm 34:18 (KJV)
“The Lord is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit.”
I love knowing that God draws near to broken hearts.
Not perfect hearts.
Not hearts that never cry.
Broken hearts.
That means I do not have to hide my grief from Him.
Let God Carry What You Cannot
There are days when grief feels heavier than words can describe.
You may wake up already feeling exhausted.
You may wonder how you are supposed to make it through another day.
Those are the moments when I remind myself that I was never meant to carry every burden alone.
Jesus invites us to bring everything to Him.
Our sadness.
Our questions.
Our anger.
Our disappointment.
Our loneliness.
Our fears about the future.
He can carry what feels impossible for us.
That does not mean every answer comes immediately.
It does mean we never carry the weight by ourselves.
Grief Takes Time
One thing I wish more people understood is that grief has no deadline.
People may expect you to “move on.”
But healing is not something we can rush.
Everyone grieves differently.
Some people cry openly.
Others cry privately.
Some want to talk often.
Others become quiet.
None of those responses automatically mean someone is grieving the wrong way.
Give yourself grace.
Allow yourself time to heal.
Do not compare your journey with someone else’s.
God is patient with us.
We should be patient with ourselves.
Keep Talking to God
During grief, prayer may feel different.
Sometimes we do not know what to say.
Sometimes all we can pray is,
“Lord…help me.”
Do you know what?
That prayer is enough.
God is not measuring how long our prayers are.
He is listening to our hearts.
There may be days when all we can do is sit quietly in His presence.
There may be nights when tears become our prayer.
God understands every one of them.
He hears the words we cannot find.
Hold On to God’s Promises
Grief has a way of making us focus on what we lost.
God gently reminds us of what we still have.
We still have His love.
We still have His promises.
We still have His presence.
We still have hope.
One of my favorite reminders is found in Isaiah.
Isaiah 41:10 (KJV)
“Fear thou not; for I am with thee…I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee…”
Notice God did not say we would never experience grief.
He promised to be with us through it.
That promise gives me peace.
Let People Help You Too
While I believe Jesus is the One who carries us through grief, I also believe He often works through people.
Allow trusted family members and friends to pray with you.
Accept help when you need it.
Do not feel guilty for leaning on those who genuinely care.
God created us to encourage one another.
Sometimes He answers our prayers through the kindness of someone else.
The important thing is remembering that people are a blessing, but Jesus remains our foundation.
There Is Still Hope
Grief changes our lives, but it does not have the final word.
Jesus does.
There will come a day when the tears become less frequent.
The memories will still be there.
The love will still be there.
But God will continue healing your heart one day at a time.
You may never stop missing the person you lost.
That is okay.
Love does not disappear.
Neither does God’s faithfulness.
He will continue walking with you through every season.
Final Thoughts
If you are grieving today, I want you to remember something.
You do not have to carry this by yourself.
Yes, your family loves you.
Yes, your friends care about you.
Yes, some wonderful people will support you.
But people cannot be everywhere all the time.
Jesus can.
He will never become too busy.
He will never stop listening.
He will never grow tired of your tears.
He will never tell you to hurry up and heal.
He will never leave you alone.
That is why I keep my faith during grief.
Not because I have all the answers.
Not because I never cry.
Not because every day is easy.
I keep my faith because I know the One who walks beside me.
His name is Jesus.
He has carried me before.
He is carrying me now.
And I know He will continue carrying me until the day my broken heart is made whole.
If you are grieving today, let Him carry you too.
You do not have to have everything figured out.
Simply come to Him.
He is waiting with open arms, ready to give you the comfort, strength, peace, and hope that no one else can give.
Scriptures
- John 11:35 (KJV) – “Jesus wept.”
- Psalm 34:18 (KJV) – “The Lord is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart…”
- Isaiah 41:10 (KJV) – “Fear thou not; for I am with thee…”
- Matthew 11:28 (KJV) – “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”
- Psalm 147:3 (KJV) – “He healeth the broken in heart, and bindeth up their wounds.”
Reflection Questions
- Who have I been leaning on the most during my grief?
- Have I been honest with God about how I truly feel?
- Am I expecting myself to heal faster than God intends?
- What promise from God’s Word can I hold on to today?
- How can I allow Jesus to carry the burdens I have been trying to carry alone?
Prayer
Heavenly Father,
Thank You for never leaving me, especially during the hardest seasons of my life. You see every tear, every painful memory, and every moment when my heart feels heavy. Thank You for reminding me that I never have to carry my grief alone.
Help me place my trust in You each day. When I feel weak, be my strength. When I feel lonely, remind me that You are always near. Thank You for the family and friends You have placed in my life, but thank You even more for being the One who never leaves my side.
Comfort my heart as only You can. Give me peace on the difficult days and hope for the days ahead. Help me take one day at a time, trusting that You are healing me even when I cannot see it.
Thank You for loving me through every season and for walking beside me until my heart finds rest in You.
In Jesus’ name, Amen.
With Love,
Ty 🤍
Encouraged by Faith
About the Author
Hi, I’m Ty, founder of Encouraged by Faith. My prayer is that every post points people back to Jesus, the One who never leaves us during life’s most difficult moments. Whether you’re walking through grief, waiting, or uncertainty, I hope you’ll be reminded that God’s love, comfort, and faithfulness are always enough.