Loss is inevitable in life, but hopeful grief is a life-giving choice (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18). Many culturally choose not to grieve to avoid the pain of loss, deciding instead to repress unconsciously or suppress consciously their painful memories. Refusing to grieve will ultimately prove to be deeply detrimental. God calls us to grieve with hope, to journey through our sorrow with lament to a place of strength and health. We are able to grieve with hope because we know that grief is for a season, that God is at work in us and in all things, and that this world is momentary in light of eternity in His presence (Ecclesiastes 3:1,4; Romans 8:28; 2 Corinthians 4:16-18).