Christian Grief

In Christian circles, we often speak of the joy of the Lord and rightly so. Joy is a fruit of the Holy Spirit. However, that doesn’t mean every day will be free of sorrow. Isaiah 53:3 states that Jesus, although filled with godly joy, was also “…despised and forsaken of men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief.”

I remember when this reality hit home with me. I was reading and then praying Philippians 3:7-10: that I “know Christ and the power of His resurrection.” I was changed after that prayer. The Holy Spirit filled me and I read the Bible with new eyes. I had an intimacy with and passion for Christ that I’d not experienced. But I stopped my prayer before the end of verse 10: “that I know the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death.” I had no desire to experience Christ’s sufferings and sorrows. 

Years later, I discovered what the “fellowship of His sufferings” meant. It hurt. It was not fun. I cried. I journaled Scriptures. And, most importantly, my intimacy with the Lord deepened in a way it might not have had I not gone through that time and other times since then; including a lung cancer diagnosis in 2024.

If you are going through a time of sorrow or grief, stay the course with Jesus. Get up close to Him. “Curl up” in His presence with your Bible. Hold His Word close to your heart. Pour out your fears, desires, and questions to Him. Be still and wait for His comforting thoughts and verses He brings to your mind. Be mindful that He is near to you and will love you through whatever you are facing. 

Jesus, MAN OF SORROWS, thank You for being with me as I go through hard, sorrowful times. Deepen my intimacy with You and trust in You. Use me, my voice, to sound forth Your sufficiency to others. 

Are you walking through a difficult season or know someone who is? Visit our Hope for the Cancer+ Journey page for free, faith-filled resources designed to encourage and strengthen not only those battling cancer, but anyone facing hard times.