Loss has a way of changing us. Whether expected or sudden, the passing of someone we love leaves behind an emptiness that words often fail to describe. The phone calls stop coming. Their chair sits empty. Holidays feel different. Certain songs, places, or even familiar scents have a way of bringing memories rushing back. Grief is one of the deepest expressions of love because it reminds us that someone mattered deeply to us. In those moments, it’s easy to ask questions that don’t always have immediate answers. Why did this happen? Why now? Why them? While Scripture doesn’t promise that we’ll understand every loss this side of eternity, it does promise something even greater—God’s presence in the midst of our pain.

“The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” -Psalm 34:18-

What an incredible promise. God doesn’t wait for us to “get over it” before He comes near. He doesn’t stand at a distance expecting us to be strong. Instead, He draws close to the brokenhearted. He steps into the darkness with us. When everyone else has gone home, and the tears continue to fall, He remains. His presence becomes a comfort that no human words can fully provide. Jesus Himself spoke directly to those carrying heavy hearts during the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 5:4.

“Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.” -Matthew 5:4-

Notice that Jesus didn’t say we would never mourn. Following Christ doesn’t exempt us from grief. Christians cry. Christians hurt. Christians miss those they’ve lost. But we grieve differently because we do not grieve without hope. Our comfort is not found in pretending everything is okay; it is found in the One who promises to walk with us through the valley. One of the most common phrases people say after a loss is, “Time heals all wounds.” While often spoken with good intentions, I’ve come to believe that’s not entirely true. Time may soften the sharpness of grief. It may help us adjust to a new normal. But time alone cannot heal a shattered heart. Only Jesus can do that. Healing comes through His unfailing love. It comes through His endless mercy. It comes through His faithful presence, day after day, moment after moment, as He gently restores what grief has broken. The psalmist beautifully reminds us:

“He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.” -Psalm 147:3-

Notice who does the healing. Not time. Not distractions. Not busyness. Not simply moving on. He heals the brokenhearted. Like a loving physician, Christ doesn’t ignore our wounds or tell us to cover them up. He carefully binds them. He ministers to places no one else can reach. Sometimes His healing comes through His Word. Sometimes through prayer. Sometimes through the embrace of His Church. Sometimes through quiet moments where His peace settles over a heart that has cried until there are no tears left. His healing isn’t about erasing our memories or making us forget those we love. Rather, it’s about teaching us how to carry both love and loss while resting in His promises. For those who belong to Christ, death is not the end of the story. Because Jesus conquered the grave, we have the blessed hope that those who have died in Him will one day be raised to eternal life. That hope doesn’t eliminate today’s sorrow, but it shines like a light through the darkness, reminding us that goodbye is not forever. If you are grieving today, know this: God is not asking you to hide your tears. He welcomes them. He collects them. He understands them. Bring your broken heart to Him just as it is. You don’t have to have the right words. You don’t have to pretend you’re okay. Simply come. The same Savior who wept at the tomb of Lazarus is the same Savior who comforts His people today. His heart has not changed. His compassion has not diminished. His mercy has not run dry.

So if your heart is aching today, lean into the One who is nearest to the brokenhearted. Let His love become your refuge. Let His mercy become your strength. And let His promises remind you that although grief may visit for a season, you will never walk through it alone. Because in Christ, our deepest wounds are not healed by the passing of time—they are healed by the enduring love of the One who holds us through every tear. God Bless, and keep Chasing God’s Way/ve.