Be happy with those who are happy, and weep with those who weep. Romans 12:15
She thought the grief had passed. Then it came back—like a wave she never saw coming.
Faith’s husband had suffered from dementia in the last years of his life. It was a period that Faith called “the long goodbye.” When he passed away, Faith felt relieved to know her husband’s mind was whole again and he was in the presence of Jesus. But a year later, the wave hit.
Grief comes in waves. Sometimes it’s triggered by a smell, a memory, or simply a quiet day. One minute you’re coping; the next, the weight feels unbearable. The Bible recognizes our need to grieve. We’re reminded that there’s a time to mourn (Ecclesiastes 3:1-4) and Jesus said that those who mourn shall be comforted (Matthew 5:4).
When waves of grief hit, it’s time to rest. Because grief isn’t just emotional—it affects our bodies. Grief can lead to immune system suppression (making it harder to fight infections), inflammation, altered blood pressure and heart rate, and sleep disturbances.[1] Faith couldn’t believe how tired she felt. She decided to work shorter days for a while, letting herself rest and taking care of herself.
In grief, God wants us to surround ourselves in community with friends and family. We’re called to “Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn” (Romans 12:15). Sharing grief lightens the load and reminds us: we’re not alone.
Here is God’s steadfast promise: “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit” (Psalm 34:18). He gives beauty for ashes and joy for mourning (Isaiah 61:3)
If you’re awash in grief today, pause, rest and let others in. God is present in every wave of sorrow. One day, the heaviness will lift, and joy will return.
[1] National Center for Biotechnology Information, Grief and Its Physiological Effects, PMCID 6844541, accessed January 30, 2026, https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6844541/.
