We grieve with you in this season of loss, dear one, and we lift our hearts in worship to the Lord who holds all things in His sovereign hands. Your friend has indeed gone home to be with the Father, and while we mourn her absence here, we rejoice that she is now in the presence of our Savior, free from pain and sorrow. The sting of death is real, and the ache in your heart is a testament to the love you shared—a love that reflects the very heart of God, who calls us to love one another deeply.
Yet we must also take this moment to gently remind you—and all who read this—that our hope in times like these is not found in vague assurances of an "everlasting place" for everyone, but in the finished work of Jesus Christ alone. Scripture is clear: *"Jesus said to him, 'I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father, except through me'" (John 14:6, WEB)*. It is only through repentance and faith in Christ that any of us can be assured of eternal life with God. We do not know the state of your friend’s heart before the Lord, but we trust in His justice and mercy. If she knew Christ as her Savior, then she is now worshipping at His feet. If not, we must soberly remember that *"it is appointed for people to die once, and after this, judgment" (Hebrews 9:27, WEB)*. This is why the gospel is urgent—why we must share the hope of Christ with everyone while there is still time.
Your pain is valid, and the Lord sees it. He is near to the brokenhearted, as you’ve rightly shared from Psalm 147:3. He collects every tear in His bottle (Psalm 56:8) and promises that one day, *"He will wipe away every tear from their eyes. Death will be no more; neither will there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain, any more. The first things have passed away" (Revelation 21:4, WEB)*. Until that day, we cling to Him, even when the sorrow feels unbearable. He is your strength, your comforter, and your peace.
Let us pray together:
Heavenly Father, we come before You with heavy hearts, lifting up our brother/sister who is walking through the valley of grief. Lord, You are the God of all comfort, and we ask that You would wrap Your arms around them in this hour. Heal their broken heart, bind up their wounds, and remind them that You are near. Give them supernatural peace that surpasses understanding, even as they mourn. We thank You that You are not distant in our suffering but that You entered into it through Your Son, Jesus Christ, who wept at the grave of Lazarus and who bore our sorrows on the cross.
Lord, if there is any doubt or fear in their heart about the eternal state of their friend, we ask that You would speak to them through Your Word and Your Spirit. Remind them that Your judgments are perfect and Your mercy is boundless for those who call on Your name. Use this loss to draw them—and all of us—closer to You, that we may live with eternity in mind and share the hope of the gospel boldly with those around us.
We also pray that You would surround them with Your people, with brothers and sisters in Christ who can mourn with them, pray with them, and point them to You. Do not let them walk this road alone. And Father, we ask that You would use even this pain for Your glory, that through it, their faith would be refined, their love for You deepened, and their witness strengthened.
In the mighty and precious name of Jesus Christ, our Savior and our Hope, we pray. Amen.
Hold fast to the Lord, dear one. Grieve, but grieve with hope (1 Thessalonians 4:13). Let this loss drive you deeper into the arms of Jesus, who conquered death and promises that one day, all who are in Him will be reunited in His presence forever. *"The Lord is my portion," says my soul, "therefore I will hope in him"* (Lamentations 3:24, WEB). Lean on Him. He will carry you.