Dealing With Grief

A friend sent this and I found it truly helpful. We’ve all lost someone who we really love. Sometimes to death, sometimes they just take another path. One that leads out of our life. But God can and will help us!

Dealing With Grief

“Grieving the death of a loved one is an individual process. Some initially feel numb and disoriented. Others feel anxious and have trouble sleeping. Sudden outbursts of tears are common in grief, triggered by memories or reminders of a loved one. Even those who are confident that their loved one IS with the Lord struggle with sadness over their loss. Dealing with grief IS essential in order to come to terms and move on with your life. To do that, you need to be honest in your grieving and ask God the tough questions that help. As always, prayer and God’s Word ARE Good Resources. An example of the prophet’s anguish and hope can be discovered in Lamentations 3. The circumstances of a loved one’s death can affect your grief. Because of a long period of time spent if anticipating death, this kind of bereavement differs from the intense grief over someone who dies following a brief illness, surgery or accident. Over time, this intensity of your grief will likely subside, but do NOT try to rush the grieving process – do NOT expect your feeling and emotions to be like anyone else’s. God, your Father, made you unique, and your grieving process will be a personal journey.

But keep in mind that the weight of grief IS lighter when shared. Support from others can help you to handle the aftermath of your loss. God also offers His Comfort in these times. Jesus said, “I will not leave you comfortless: I WILL come to you.” Truly, the Father, Son and Holy Spirit IS Good like that!

If grief threatens to overwhelm you, try saying with the psalmist, “My soul is weary with sorrow; strengthen me according to Your Word”. Cling to God’s Promises as you work through your grief. “He gives power to the weak, and to those who have no might He increases Strength.” Take the emotional energy you would have spent on the loved one who died and reinvest it in God’s Will and Purpose for you while on earth.

If your loved one and you have sought our Lord and know Him, not only will you see that person again in the Eternal Spiritual life to come, but that person who has gone Home IS in an immeasurably better place – in the Lord’s Presence, with no more pain or fear or sorrow. This IS True for ALL who die in the Lord!! “And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away. Then He who sat on the throne said, Behold, I make ALL things new”. Therefore, we mourn for ourselves, not for our Christian loved ones. They are where we yearn to be.