When Grief Gives Us God's Perspective

Grief is one of those emotions we wish we could skip over. It feels heavy, painful, and often leaves us asking why. Why do we have to feel it so deeply? Why can’t God just shield us from it altogether?

But here’s the truth: grief is not something foreign to God. He Himself has felt grief. And when we experience it, we’re given a glimpse into His heart.

God’s Grief Over His Children

From the very beginning, God grieved over His creation. Genesis 6:6 tells us:

“The LORD regretted that He had made human beings on the earth, and His heart was deeply troubled.”

That’s grief. A holy God, looking at the brokenness of His children, feeling the ache of loss.

Even today, His Father-heart still grieves. Not because He is powerless, but because He gave us the gift of choice. And when His children reject Him, when they turn away, it breaks His heart.

Jesus reflected this same heart when He wept over Jerusalem:

“As He approached Jerusalem and saw the city, He wept over it.” (Luke 19:41)

Jesus wept because He knew many would not receive Him. That’s the ache of a Father who longs for His kids to come home.

Why We Feel Grief

When you and I walk through grief—whether through death, betrayal, or deep loss—it is not meaningless. Our grief is not wasted. In fact, it is often a window into God’s own heart.

Think about it: the pain you feel when someone you love is no longer here, or when trust is broken, or when something precious is lost—this is just a small taste of what God feels for every one of His children who walks away from Him.

When we feel grief, we learn compassion. We begin to understand the urgency of contending for people to know Jesus. Grief stirs something in us that comfort never could.

Grief as a Call to Action

The Apostle Paul wrote:

“The Lord…is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.” (2 Peter 3:9)

That’s God’s heart. That’s His grief: the ache of waiting for His lost sheep to return.

So, what do we do with our grief? We don’t rush past it. We don’t numb it away. We let it shape us into people who love deeper, pray harder, and contend for others with urgency.

Action Point

This week, as you reflect on your own grief—whether fresh or years old—ask God to use it to give you His perspective.

• Pray for those who don’t yet know Him.

• Ask Him to break your heart for what breaks His.

• Let your grief move you toward intercession instead of isolation.

Because when we grieve, we’re reminded: our Father grieves too. And His grief led Him to send Jesus—so that every lost son and daughter could come home.

In Him,

Heather Bradley

Author of Unthinkable