Grief is heavy. It can feel like waves that come without warning, leaving us breathless and disoriented. In those moments, many people ask the question: Where is God in my grief? What does He actually do when I am hurting this much? As a Gilbert therapist specializing in Christian counseling, and as someone who has walked through my own grief, I want to assure you of this truth: God is not distant from your pain. He does not rush you to move forward or force you to “get over it.” Instead, He gently meets you where you are, creating space for you to process, lament, and heal in His presence.

This post is not about offering quick answers or minimizing your pain with spiritual clichés. My heart is to help you see God’s true character in the middle of sorrow. He is compassionate, slow to anger, abounding in steadfast love, and filled with empathy for His children. He is the God who grieves with us.

God Draws Near to the Brokenhearted

Psalm 34:18 tells us, “The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” God’s response to grief is not avoidance, but nearness. He does not turn away when our hearts are raw and our tears fall uncontrollably. Instead, He leans in close. His presence is not conditional on our ability to hold it together. In fact, from a Biblical perspective, it is in our weakness and brokenness that His nearness is often most deeply felt.

Think of how tenderly Jesus responded to those who were hurting. When He encountered the widow of Nain in Luke 7, who had just lost her only son, the text says He had compassion on her. Before He performed a miracle, He first acknowledged her pain. That is God’s heart toward us: He sees our sorrow and moves toward us with love.

God Welcomes Our Lament

Throughout Scripture, God’s people cry out to Him in their pain. The book of Psalms is full of laments, prayers that express every stage of grief, including sorrow, confusion, and even anger. God never rebukes His children for being honest. Instead, He welcomes their cries. This shows us that lament is not a lack of faith, but an act of faith. When we bring our sorrow to Him, we acknowledge that He alone is big enough to hold it.

Jesus Himself modeled lament. In John 11:35, He wept at the tomb of Lazarus. He did not skip over grief, even though He knew resurrection was coming. That moment shows us the heart of God: He feels our pain and validates our tears. On the cross, Jesus cried out, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” quoting Psalm 22. Even in His deepest suffering, He turned to the Father with raw honesty. This gives us permission to do the same.

God Holds Space for Our Healing

So often, the world tells us to move on quickly or hide our grief. But God does the opposite. He holds space for us to process with Him. Isaiah 53:3 describes Jesus as “a man of sorrows, acquainted with grief.” He understands loss, disappointment, and heartache in the most personal way. Because of this, we can come to Him exactly as we are, without fear of being dismissed or shamed.

Healing with God is not about pretending everything is fine. It is about bringing everything, our questions, doubts, and shattered pieces, into His gentle care. He does not rush the process. His love is patient. The story of Elijah in 1 Kings 19 is a powerful reminder of this. When Elijah was exhausted and despairing, God did not scold him. Instead, He provided rest, food, and a gentle whisper. God’s care was practical and compassionate, showing that He meets us in ways we need most.

God Comforts Through His Spirit

In John 14:16, Jesus promises the Holy Spirit as our Comforter. This means we are never truly alone in grief. The Spirit comes alongside us, reminding us of God’s promises, interceding with groans when we have no words, and bringing peace that surpasses understanding (Romans 8:26, Philippians 4:7). God’s comfort is not always about changing our circumstances, but about sustaining us through them.

There may be moments when you feel overwhelmed by waves of sorrow, but then experience a quiet peace that you cannot explain. That is the Spirit at work, holding you steady in ways human strength never could.

God Offers Hope Without Minimizing Pain

1 Thessalonians 4:13 reminds us that we do not grieve as those without hope. Notice that it doesn’t say we don’t grieve, it says we grieve differently. Hope and grief are not opposites. They coexist. God gives us the hope of resurrection, redemption, and restoration, but He never asks us to deny the ache of our losses. Hope is not meant to silence pain, but to anchor us in the middle of it.

This hope extends beyond physical death. It speaks to every kind of grief we face: infertility, miscarriage, the end of a relationship, the loss of health, or dreams that feel broken. In every one of these sorrows, God holds both our grief and our hope together, reminding us that the story is not over.

Final Reflections From a Christian Therapist in Gilbert

So what does God do when we grieve? He draws near. He listens. He weeps with us. He holds space for our healing. He comforts us through His Spirit. And He offers hope that does not cancel out sorrow but transforms it.

God is not an impatient observer, waiting for us to move on. He is a loving Father, present in every tear, every sleepless night, and every broken prayer. Even as an experienced Christian therapist, I cannot imagine going through my own grief journey without Him. His heart is gentle, His love is steady, and His presence is enough.

If you are grieving today, I want you to know this: You do not grieve alone. God is with you in the pain, and He will never leave you. Let His nearness be your comfort, and let His promises be your hope. And when you need extra support, consider the hope and comfort that faith-based counseling offers.

Reflection Exercise

Take a moment to sit quietly with God. Write down one place in your life where you feel grief most deeply. Then, read Psalm 34:18 slowly and imagine God drawing near to you in that very place. Picture Him sitting beside you, not rushing you, simply being present with you. Allow yourself to rest in His nearness.

This is a practice I often suggest to clients in my Gilbert therapy practice. It can be a reminder that God is not waiting for you on the other side of healing. He is right here, in the middle of it, offering His strength, His guidance, and His unfailing love.

Finding Strength in God’s Comfort Through Christian Grief Therapy in Gilbert, AZ

When life feels heavy with grief and unanswered questions, it’s easy to wonder where God is in the midst of it all. Christian counseling offers a place to bring that pain before Him—to process your sorrow honestly while being reminded that His compassion and presence never fade. Here, faith and emotional healing meet, helping you rediscover peace and purpose through the truth of God’s Word.

In my Gilbert, AZ, therapy practice, I walk alongside individuals who are navigating deep loss, spiritual confusion, or the struggle to trust God again after heartbreak. You don’t need perfect faith or the right words to begin—only a willingness to come as you are. Together, we’ll explore how Scripture speaks into your grief, offering comfort, clarity, and the assurance that God is near to the brokenhearted.

Take the next step toward healing:

1. Discover how Christian counseling can help you process grief through a Biblical lens. Start with scheduling a free 15-minute consultation.
2. Work with a compassionate Christian therapist in Gilbert, AZ, to find peace, strength, and renewed faith.
3. Remember—you don’t have to carry your grief alone. God meets you in the pain, and together, we’ll walk toward restoration.

Other Faith-Based Counseling Services I Provide in Gilbert & Throughout Arizona

Grief has a way of touching every part of your life—your emotions, your relationships, and even your faith. Christian counseling offers a place to process that pain through the truth of Scripture and the comfort of God’s promises, helping you move from surviving to slowly rebuilding with grace and hope.

At Building Bridges Collective, I provide more than grief support. My work includes helping both teens and adults navigate the deeper emotional layers of life’s challenges, from unresolved childhood trauma and strained relationships to the heartache of infertility. Each therapy service is designed to meet you where you are, blending evidence-based care with faith-based compassion to guide your healing.

For those seeking deeper restoration, I also offer EMDR therapy to help process trauma stored in the body and grief counseling for those walking through significant losses. As a Christian therapist in Gilbert, AZ, my goal is to help you reconnect with peace, strengthen your faith, and find renewal in God’s presence.

If you’re ready to learn more about how faith and therapy can work together, I invite you to explore the Christian therapy blog, visit the FAQ page, or reach out when you feel ready to take the next step toward healing.