Grief can shake our faith. It was a reality I wasn’t prepared for. No one warned me that grief can bring us to a crossroads in our faith, what some call a crisis of faith. In the midst of loss, questions surface, emotions overwhelm, and the God we trust can suddenly feel distant. If you’re navigating grief as a Christian woman, I want to share what I wish I had known so you can move through loss with faith, honesty, and hope.
What Christian Grief Looks Like
To grieve is to be human. Thus, Christian grief is human grief. It is no different than anyone else’s grief. Grief can show up in every area of our life including, spiritually and emotionally. I define grief in my first book Can You Just Sit With Me as this:
Grief is a normal yet complex and innate human experience that stems from an undesirable event, affecting not only our mental and physical well-being but also our spirit and overall quality of life.
Natasha smith, Can You Just Sit With Me?
Grief can look like tears, it can look stoic. It can be messy and it can feel like good bye. Grief is as unique to of all as our finger print. Thus, it can look different for all of us. That’s why a great rule to live by when navigating grief is to not compare our grief to anyone else’s.
Common Emotions in Grief
According to the Encyclopedia of Bioethics we can experience a broad range of emotions. Including but not limited to anger, guilt, helplessness, sadness, shock, numbing, yearning, jealousy, self-blame, relief, confusion, and more.
No two people will grieve the same, thus our emotions may be different as well.
As Christians it’s important to know and be reminded we are created in the image of God, thus we have a great capacity to feel. Also, as we are created in his image, just as Jesus wept, so can we.
Faith Practices That Help in Grief
Grief can make faith feel unfamiliar, but gentle spiritual practices can help steady your heart as you navigate loss. There are several faith practices that help in grief including:
Lament
Lament allows us to bring our honest sorrow, confusion, and pain to God, trusting that He welcomes our grief.
Prayer
Prayer during grief may be as simple as whispering “God, help me,” and trusting that He hears even the quietest cry.
Scripture
God’s Word can remind us of what is still true when grief clouds our perspective and our hearts feel overwhelmed.
Community
Grief was never meant to be carried alone, and healing often begins when compassionate people are willing to sit with us in our sorrow.
Finding Support When You’re Grieving
Grief was never meant to be carried alone. While loss can make us want to withdraw, healing often begins when we allow safe spaces and compassionate people to walk with us.
If you’re navigating loss and looking for support, here are a few places you can begin:
Join the Grief Circle
My Grief Circle is a space for those who need understanding, encouragement, and community while grieving. It’s a place where your story is welcomed and your sorrow is honored.
Read One of My Grief Books
If you prefer quiet reflection, my books offer guidance, biblical encouragement, and practical support for navigating loss. They were written to help you feel less alone in your grief journey.
Attend the Grief Summit
Sometimes the most healing thing is hearing from others who understand grief deeply. The annual grief summit brings together trusted voices in mental health, faith, and grief care to provide tools, insight, and hope.
Wherever you begin, please know this: your grief deserves care, compassion, and support.
You Don’t Have to Grieve Alone
You don’t have to carry grief by yourself. If you’re looking for compassionate support and faith-centered resources, I’ve created spaces to sit with you.
Join the Grief Circle
A monthly gathering where grievers can be seen, supported, and reminded they’re not alone in their journey.
Read the Books
If you’re looking for faith-centered guidance through grief, my books offer encouragement, understanding, and practical support.
Attend the Summit
A space to learn, connect, and grow with other grievers through powerful conversations about healing and hope.
If you’re navigating grief right now, you may also find these helpful: Grief is Hard, We Weren’t Meant to Say Good-bye, How to Rest From Grief, and How to Release Grief.
