A well-written story draws us in with characters we grow to care for . For two hours, we’re given a glimpse into someone else’s world, and we can feel genuinely sad when something tragic happens . But our sadness evaporates as quickly as the movie fades to dark, as we step back into our own life stories . But here in the real world, we can feel real sadness or grief that doesn’t quickly fade .

We all experience loss, and it’s natural—even healthy—to grieve . The “secret” is to couple our grief with a hope and trust in God . What does that look like? The writer of Psalm 116 shows us.