The NIV 365 Day Devotional

If the Lord is the God of all comfort, why can’t I get over losing a loved one?

A guy named Aaron lost his mom years ago but still gets sad when he thinks of her. “Some people think I should have gotten over it by now,” he said. “In Matthew 5:4, Jesus said people who mourn will be comforted. So why don’t I feel comforted?”

Well, if you’re mourning, it means you’ve loved. If you’re mourning, it means you’ve been blessed because you’ve risked caring deeply about someone. Feeling grief means you’re a healthy individual dealing with a difficult situation. Jesus promised that those who mourn will be comforted (Mt 5:4). That comfort comes especially from the peace and joy of a relationship with him. But comfort also comes through our relationships with others: through hugs, prayers, encouraging words and time with friends. Grief has a way of bringing people together. So while love can lead to grief, it turns out that grief leads to more love.

If you haven’t been able to stop grieving for a loved one, give it time. There is no “right way” to grieve, and you never really “get over it.” Avoid bottling up your grief and isolating yourself because that can make you ill or contribute to issues with your mental health. Instead, talk about your loved one with others, and find someone —a trained counselor or your pastor —you can talk to about your pain.

After you walk through the stages of grief over and over, you may find yourself equipped to comfort others with the comfort you have received (2Co 1:4). And so it comes full circle. Love always gets the last word —even over death and grief.

Taken from the NIV Quest Study Bible for Teens.