1 Thessalonians 4:13 · NKJV

Grieving as a Christian: When God Feels Far (What the Bible Actually Says)

17:41 Bible Studies

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What does 1 Thessalonians 4:13 say?

You still reach for your phone to call them. And somewhere in the pain is a question you're afraid to say out loud: "God, where are You?"

In this episode of Life's Hardest Questions, we open the Bible slowly to see what it actually says about grief: why Christians are allowed to grieve, why Jesus wept at His friend's grave even though He knew He would raise him, and why the Christian hope is built on the resurrection, not on wishful thinking.

The short answer: The Bible does not tell Christians to stop grieving. 1 Thessalonians 4:13 says believers should not "sorrow as others who have no hope." Grief is expected, but it is held by hope. That hope rests on the fact that "Jesus died and rose again" (1 Thessalonians 4:14). In John 11:35, "Jesus wept" before raising Lazarus. Hope does not cancel tears.

In this video:
• What Paul told a grieving church (1 Thessalonians 4:13–18)
• Why "Jesus wept" is one of the most comforting verses in the Bible (John 11)
• Why the "five stages of grief" may not describe your grief, and why that's okay
• Is heaven just wishful thinking? A fair answer to Freud's objection
• "Why did God take them?" An honest answer that avoids clichés
• Six practical steps for this week
• How to comfort a grieving friend (what not to say, and what to say instead)
• A prayer for everyone who is grieving

Chapters:
0:00 When God feels far
0:27 The question grieving Christians ask
1:09 What grief actually feels like (and the "five stages" myth)
2:24 1 Thessalonians 4: Paul writes to a grieving church
4:53 John 11: The day Jesus wept
7:55 What this means, and what it doesn't
9:05 "Isn't heaven just wishful thinking?"
10:14 "Did God take my loved one?"
11:30 Six steps for this week
13:02 How to comfort someone who is grieving
14:21 The hope of the Gospel
15:44 A prayer for the grieving
17:02 Next episode

If you are in crisis: In the U.S., call or text 988 (Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, free and confidential, 24/7) or text HOME to 741741 (Crisis Text Line). If you are in immediate danger, call 911. Grief that stays overwhelming for many months deserves care from a doctor or counselor; that is wisdom, not weak faith.

Scripture (NKJV): 1 Thessalonians 4:13–18 · John 11:21–44 · Psalm 34:18 · Psalm 88 · Psalm 56:8 · Isaiah 53:3–4 · Hebrews 4:15 · Romans 12:15 · 2 Corinthians 1:3–4 · Lamentations 3:31–33 · 1 Corinthians 15:20–26, 54–57 · Hebrews 2:14–15 · Revelation 21:3–5 · Romans 10:9

Sources: Full list in the pinned comment and at the end of our production notes. Key sources: Penn State bereavement multiplier; Lundorff et al. (2017), Journal of Affective Disorders; Stroebe, Schut & Boerner (2017); Eisma et al. (2026) grief trajectories review; Becker et al. (2007), Palliative Medicine; Pew Research Center (2021) Views on the Afterlife; Mayo Clinic on complicated grief; 988lifeline.org.

Watch next:
• Why Does God Allow Suffering? (Ep. 4) https://youtu.be/lJ1SRO77A50
• Why Is God Silent When I Pray? (Ep. 3) https://youtu.be/oiur3Mz53nU
• Did Jesus Really Rise From the Dead? (Ep. 10) https://youtu.be/SG5W2DtZZ9M
• Next: Is My Loved One in Heaven? (Ep. 14)

Tell us in the comments the name of the person you're missing. We will pray for you by name.

PraiseHim Club, Bible Answers & Christian Witness. Biblical reenactments in this video are AI-generated dramatizations, not historical footage. Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Bible references

Scripture in this video is quoted from the NKJV.

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