There are experiences that all people share in this world in which we live. We all experience life with all of its joyful moments, and painful realities and we all have or we will experience the loss of someone we love. This loss is not something most people want to talk about or read about, but let us consider that there is comfort in knowing that we all can stop for a moment and simply breathe deeply in the shared human experience of loss and grief.

If you are reading this today and believe that you cannot take comfort in shared grief with others, I would encourage you to take a moment and read the mighty Word of God. In Romans 12:15 we read these words, “15: Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn.” In this very same chapter of Romans Paul challenges every believer to be devoted to one another in the Love of Jesus Christ. In reading this chapter of Romans we begin to see a beautiful picture of humanity. Once we have embraced Jesus Christ as our Lord, we experience a new existence. Humanity in Christ is never alone and humanity in Christ is never unloved. It is the life changing love of Jesus Christ that brings us to this place where we can grieve alongside brothers and sisters and never feel shame or regret in that grief. We are free to grieve because we embrace one another whether shouting words of praise or shedding tears of deep grief, we are One Body that loves, lives and mourns together!

Once we have embraced this new life as part of the One Body we are freed from the chains of death and grief. We are not immune to loss or grieving; we simply have guardrails on the journey of loss and grief. We are sheltered in the love of Christ and that sheltering allows us to walk forward in our grief with confidence that we do not walk this journey alone. Christ, in His infinite love, not only walks alongside each of us, but calls and challenges every believer to do exactly the same as He does!

Wherever you are walking right now in the journey of your life, even if it is through that very valley of the shadow of death, I want to personally encourage you to look up and see that the road is safe, your Lord is holding your hand through this valley and all around you are the loving arms of the Servants of the Most High God, Brothers and Sisters of the King of Kings. You are safe and you are loved! You are on the path with the guardrails that never fail and will never let you fall off the road.

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Finding Faith is written by area pastors. This week’s column comes from Pastor Matt Kinley of First Church of Christ, Lock Haven.