6. Remind the bereaved person that, for the Christian, death is not the end of life. Through His death and resurrection, Christ has defeated sin and death, so that to believe in Him now means:
• We "shall never die" (John 11:25–26).
• We have everlasting life (John 3:16).
• We have a place assured in heaven (John 14:1–6).
• We shall take part in the bodily resurrection (1 Corinthians 15:51–52).
And, there will be a glorious reunion some day between us and all those in the Lord whom we hold dear: "If we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus" (1 Thessalonians 4:14).
Encourage the inquirer to read and study the Bible. It is a great source of comfort and strength.
7. Stress that God sees our earthly life as preparation for the greater joys of heaven (Mark 8:36). Thus, He permits trials, sufferings, and the death of loved ones to come into our lives so that we might see our need to trust Him: "Yet we believe now that we had this sense of impending disaster so that we might learn to trust, not in ourselves, but in God who can raise the dead" (2 Corinthians 1:9, PHILLIPS).
8. If the bereaved expresses guilt over some aspect of the death of the loved one (this is common in the case of suicides), advise not to second-guess the situation at this point. He or she should not carry guilt for something that should or should not have been done. The death and all that may have preceded it is past, and the bereaved person needs to leave all regrets with the Lord. If he or she has something to confess to God, do so, but then accept the reality of His forgiveness (1 John 1:9).
9. If the caller seems overwhelmed with a sense of loss, of loneliness, or of uncertainty about the future, suggest confiding in family or friends, trusting them for emotional support and encouragement. Involvement in a church can do a great deal to fill the areas left void. The pastor may be able to offer substantial emotional support.
Learning to accept God's will for what has happened, having a thankful heart for the years of love shared during the life of the loved one and for the promise of the eternal life to come, and reaching out in Christian love to help others who are hurting will all be great therapy and will help the bereaved in learning to live fully again.
10. Pray with the inquirer for understanding, comfort, and blessing in his or her life.
10. Pray with the inquirer for understanding, comfort, and blessing in his or her life.