HOW LONG IS IT NORMAL TO CRY AFTER A DEATH?

Grief is a very personal journey, which progresses at it’s own pace depending on the person. Some would say you may even cry at the thought of your loved one for the rest of your life whether it be daily, weekly, or annually on the anniversary of that person’s death. It can be tough to navigate this journey on your own, and nobody should have to. Grief Care Fellowship has create lessons for ministries and grief groups through our Christian grief counseling training program and grief and loss group curriculum.

When Is It More Than Just Sadness?

One would obviously expect crying in the earliest points of the grief healing journey, but how do you know if you’re not moving on quickly enough?

This all depends on a few things including your personality. Are you a sensitive soul who happens to cry very easily? This may be a reason why you feel you can’t move on quite as quickly as others can. It may also be that you might not be crying painful tears, but rather tears of remembrance, like on an anniversary.

It’s also not necessarily the amount of crying that you’re doing which determines if you’re healing normally, but the emotions you’re feeling. Ask yourself:

• Are you feeling hopeless or struggling to keep up with paying bills and maintaining relationships?
• Can you picture a future for yourself or do you have a sense of despair when you try to imagine it?

These may be signs that what you’re feeling is more along the lines of depression and we would always suggest seeking out a professional Christian counselor in this case.

What Is The Biblical Guidance On Grief?

Sometimes we as Christians feel that we shouldn’t be sad or crying over the death of a loved one because we know they’ve gone to be with the Lord for their eternal life.
Yet, John 11:35 tells us “Jesus wept” at the death of Lazarus. Jesus, as in all aspects of life, is setting the example for us here. Not even God Himself is spared from the sting of the loss of someone’s earthly life.

This is an especially important lesson for men, who may feel like they shouldn’t be acknowledging these emotions and letting them play out. Jesus Himself is showing us it is perfectly natural to feel the sting of the death of a loved one, and let it show to others how you feel in order to find closure and healing.

If you or your church’s grief group needs some biblical guidance in healing from grief, take a look at our Christian grief counseling training program for ministers and our grief and loss group curriculum for groups today. We’d be honored to help you heal!