This letter is written by Pastor Angie Snow who is a licensed Christian Counselor and a member of the American Association of Christian Counselors. She, along with myself, and another pastor close to her, are grieving losses of immediate family members. Pastor Snow wrote this letter to help us and, by extension, all pastors who are dealing with grief while still engaging in ministry. I pray this letter blesses you.
Pastors’ Care Letter April 22, 2026 (updated)
Title: Preach Through It — A Letter to Shepherds Walking Through Loss
Dear Pastor,
Grace and peace to you in the name of our risen Lord.
I write to you not from a distance, but from a place of shared understanding. You have stood with others in their moments of sorrow—spoken hope in hospital rooms, offered comfort at gravesides, and carried the burdens of many. But now, you are walking through loss yourself.
Whether your loss came through a long season of illness or arrived suddenly without warning, the reality remains: loss is real, and it is weighty.
Scripture does not ask you to deny that reality. In the Book of Job 1:21, Job declares:
“The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.”
This is not the language of someone untouched by pain. It is the voice of someone who has been shaken—and yet chooses to remain anchored.
As pastors, we must remember:
- Loss is the event — something has been taken, changed, or ended. Understand, the loss may not always be the loss of a loved one. It could be the loss of relationships, opportunities, ministry career changes, or any number of other scenarios. Some of these losses may cause us pain that builds or compounds over time.
- Grief is the process — how your heart, mind, and spirit respond over time. Losses can cause us to feel in various ways that bring pain, displeasure, or other negative impressions on us internally.
- Mourning is what love looks like when something meaningful is missing. It is…
- The tears you did not expect
- The ache that returns without warning
- The quiet moments when reality settles in
A Word About Mourning
“Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.” — Gospel of Matthew 5:4
Mourning is not something to avoid; it is to be honored as a part of the healing process.
Pastor, mourning is not weakness. It is not a lack of faith. It is not something you have to hide.
Mourning is sacred, and here is the promise: God is near the brokenhearted (Psalm 34:18).
God does not stand at a distance from your mourning—He meets you in it. You do not have to rush through mourning to prove your strength. You do not have to silence your sorrow to prove your faith.
Mourning is part of the journey, and God uses it to bring healing.You may be discovering that grief does not move in straight lines. Some days you feel steady; other days the weight returns unexpectedly. This is not failure; it is human.
Even our Savior, in the Gospel of John 11:35, wept.
If Jesus wept, then your tears are not a contradiction of your calling—they are an expression of it.
Pastor, you do not have to rush your healing to prove your faith. You are still called—but you are also still cared for.
Hold fast to what you know to be true:
“My times are in Your hand…” — Book of Psalms 31:15
Even this time. Even this sorrow.
And because we preach Christ, we do not stand at the grave without hope:
“I am the resurrection and the life…” — Gospel of John 11:25
The Resurrection of Jesus reminds us that what appears to be the end is not final. Death does not have the last word. Separation is not permanent.
So, what does it mean to Preach Through It, now?
It does not mean ignoring your pain.
It means allowing truth to carry you while you feel it.
- Preach with tears if you must
- Lead with honesty when strength feels low
- Declare God’s faithfulness even when you are still processing it
Like David, encourage yourself in the Lord. Like Job, bless Him even when you do not understand. Like Christ, trust the Father even in the valley.
Pastor, one day this will not only be your pain—it will become part of your ministry. God will use what you are walking through now to deepen your compassion, strengthen your voice, and expand your capacity to care for others.
Your life will stand as a trophy of grace—not because you avoided suffering, but because God sustained you through it.
Until then, take this as permission:
- Rest when you need to
- Receive care from others
- Take time to grieve honestly before God
You are not alone.
The same God who called you is holding you.
And because Jesus lives, there is still hope ahead.
With prayer and solidarity,
A Fellow Servant in Christ
