The Sixth Stage of Grief: Hope in Christ

We often hear about the five stages of grief—denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance—first introduced by Elisabeth Kübler-Ross. While these stages can help us understand our emotions, they don’t follow a set order. Grief ebbs and flows; some days, we feel like we’ve moved forward, and other days, we find ourselves wrestling through the stages all over again.

But as believers, we have something more.

Paul, in 1 Thessalonians 4:13, writes:
"Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope."

This verse introduces what I believe is the sixth stage of grief—hope.

Through Jesus’ resurrection, we have confidence that our loved ones in Christ are with Him and that one day, we will be reunited. But we also grieve other kinds of losses—divorce, job changes, broken relationships, and life transitions. And in all of these, we can still cling to the hope Jesus gives.

This doesn’t mean we won’t experience deep sorrow. Even Jesus wept at the tomb of Lazarus (John 11:35). But our grief is different because it is anchored in the promises of God.

Hope is not just a final stage—it’s a thread that weaves through every part of the journey. Hope allows us to handle the ebb and flow of grief with the steady assurance that Jesus is near.

The Five Stages—And the One That Remains

•           Denial – We struggle to accept reality.

•           Anger – We wrestle with pain and unanswered questions.

•           Bargaining – We try to regain control in the midst of loss.

•           Depression – We feel the weight of our sorrow.

•           Acceptance – We come to terms with what has happened.

Grief is never a straight path. We move throughout the five stages. But there is one stage that is constant: Hope.

•           Hope – We hold on to the nearness of Jesus in our pain.

The sixth stage of grief is an invitation to rest in God’s promises—an unshakable hope that carries us through the darkest nights.

How has hope in Jesus shaped your journey through grief?

Blessings,

Luke Merrill, MA, LPC