DEALING WITH GRIEF
GRIEF IS NORMAL
Millions of people around the world have died as a result of Covid 19.
All of us will or have experienced the loss of family members or friends
At some point in our lives. The normal human emotion to the loss of
A loved one is grief. All of us experience grief in different ways and at
Different times. Grief is the emotional suffering at the loss of someone
Or something. It is deep distress or sorrow.
GRIEF EXAMPLES IN THE BIBLE
Throughout the Bible God has presented us with people who have
Experienced grief.
People react and respond to grief in different ways.
Isaac and Rebekah grieved because of the actions of their son
Genesis 26:34-35
34 When Esau was forty years old, he married Judith daughter of Beeri the Hittite, and also Basemath daughter of Elon the Hittite. 35 They were a source of grief to Isaac and Rebekah.
The mother of Samson grieved because she could not conceive a child.
1 Samuel 1:15-17
\”Not so, my lord,\” Hannah replied, \”I am a woman who is deeply troubled. I have not been drinking wine or beer; I was pouring out my soul to the Lord. 16 Do not take your servant for a wicked woman; I have been praying here out of my great anguish and grief.\”
Sometimes people are grieved by what they know
Ecclesiastes 1:18
18 For with much wisdom comes much sorrow;
the more knowledge, the more grief.
NIV
People grieve at the loss of loved ones.
Genesis 38:12
12 After a long time Judah\’s wife, the daughter of Shua, died. When Judah had recovered from his grief, he went up to Timnah, to the men who were shearing his sheep, and his friend Hirah the Adullamite went with him.
The disciples grieved when Jesus told them that He would be crucified
Matthew 17:22-23
\”The Son of Man is going to be betrayed into the hands of men. 23 They will kill him, and on the third day he will be raised to life.\” And the disciples were filled with grief.
Even God experiences grief when we are disobedient to Him.
Ephesians 4:30
And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.
My main point is your grief is normal. The key is to know that God knows your grief and is with you.
John 16:22-23
Now is your time of grief, but I will see you again and you will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy.
God will make a way for your recovery
REASONS FOR GRIEF
People grieve for many reasons. Here are a few:
- A divorce or relationship breakup
- Loss of health
- Losing a job
- A miscarriage
- Death of a pet
- Illness
- Loss of safety after trauma.
- Moving to a new city
- The loss of a loved one.
REACTIONS TO GRIEF
Some normal reactions to grief are;
Anger
Anxiety
Crying spells
Depression
Fatigue, lack of energy
Guilt
Loneliness
Pain
Sadness
Trouble sleeping
BE AVAILABLE FOR THOSE WHO GRIEVE
We should never minimize someone’s grief. We should learn to recognize
When someone is grieving and be there to support them.
Don’t try to fit someone\’s grief into your way of thinking. Their grief is
Unique to them.
Some cope with grief by ignoring the pain
Some people are emotionally stronger and not deeply affected
Some people express their grief by crying
Some people eternalize their grief without any outward signs.
Some people get through the grieving period faster than others.
RECOVERING FROM GRIEF
The grief and lost website helpguide.org give some suggestions on
How to cope during the grieving process.
- Acknowledge your pain
Say it out loud
Call on the Lord
- Accept that grief can trigger many different and unexpected emotions.
- Understand that your grieving process will be unique to you.
- Seek out face to face support from people who care about you.
- Support yourself emotionally by taking care of yourself physically
- Recognize the difference between grief and depression.
- Plan a distraction
- Start a new tradition
- Make a donation in the name of the lost loved one,
- Pray
STAGES OF GRIEF
According to the same website, there are five stages of grief.
- Denial: This can’t be happening to me.
- Anger: Why is this happening? Who is the blame
Mary and Martha blamed Jesus for Lazarus\’ death.
Lord If you had been here, he would not have died
- Bargaining: Lord make this happen and I will be alright.
Jacob on his way to find a wife made a vow to God
That if He would protect and provide for him, that he
Would serve and give a tenth all he earned to the Lord
- Depression: I and too sad to do anything.
Some people seem to be stuck where they are and accept
Satan lies that any effort is useless.
- Acceptance: Be at peace with what has happened.
Accept the fact that God knows best,
GRIEF GOD’S WAY
As Christians, we must find a way to refocus on the Word of God.
It may be very difficult to believe God is with us when we are
Grieving.
It may be hard to let go of our pain and let God control our emotions.
Yet the truth is God is with us always through all things.
That is easy to say than to put in practice.
But when faith takes charge of our minds, we will be drawn back to
His great love.
Lamentations 3:32
Though he brings grief, he will show compassion,
so great is his unfailing love.
The Lord has such compassion for us that He makes all
Promises to our wellbeing.
Deuteronomy 31:8
The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.\”
Before you got into your grieving situation, God was already there
Directing your way.
In the case of the loss of a loved one, we must remember the Words
Of our Lord:
1 Thessalonians 4:13-15
13 Brothers, we do not want you to be ignorant about those who fall asleep, or to grieve like the rest of men, who have no hope. 14 We believe that Jesus died and rose again and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him.
In the case of a sudden death or accident there can be tremendous
Financial burdens. When bills are piling up the grieving process is
Heighten and can be prolonged.
How do you handle the addition financial burden?
That is when you have relay on your faith and put the
Finances in God hands.
Matthew 7:7-8
7 \”Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. 8 \”For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.
Your recover is based on your efforts.
You have to ask before God will give. You have knock before God opens the door
You have to seek before God puts what you need to be found.
John 16:23-24
23 And in that day ye shall ask me nothing. Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give it you.
Again ask, then God gives
Philippians 4:6-7
Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Prayer is a key tool to your recovery.
All of this may be hard to believe when you are grieving.
You have a choice. You going to believe something.
You can believe in gloom and doom, or you can believe that
God is going to make good out of your grief.
Believe in the good of the Lord rather than the lies of the devil.
YOUR GRIEF IS NORMAL
YOU ARE NOT ALONE
GOD IS WAITING ON YOU TO ASK FOR HIS HELP
YOU WILL RECOVER
Rev. M. Mitchell
Thank you for this post it was very meaningful and helpful to me. I am going through a lot right now and this just what I need.
Ah, yes “Religion is the opium of the people”. Sitting at home having hope or wishful thinking will not solve any of your problems. In time of grief you need to set aside your emotions then be calm and rational so that you can made good decisions and take good actions. Science is the answer to your problems my friend.
Yes, hope is never a proper response for any calamity!
Face uncertainty with stoicism, and never store up treasures in heaven where neither moth or rust corrupt.
Seek the truth in other-words the facts proven by scientific study.
Science can be helpful at answering certain types of question. Science is good at answering what is happening and maybe how it happened but science can not answer:
(１) questions as to the meaning and significance of something. In other words Science can not answer “why questions” . It can only answer ‘what’ and ‘how’, but not why.
(2) CASIMIR EFFECT. Can we get energy from nothing?
(3) Where Does Consciousness Come From?
(4) How Did Life Begin? and where did life come from?:
(5) Shame, Love, guilt, and other emotions or feelings. Science can only observe those feelings and what we might or might not do when we have those feelings, but science can not answer why we have those feelings.
(6) If things are evolving what caused things to evolve, why do somethings evolve and others do not? why do things evolve one way and not another?
(7) If there was nothing before the big bang, how did nothing create something? And, if there was something before the big bang where did that something come from was that something timeless?
(8) morals (right and wrong) science derive morals and it can’t tell us what is moral right and what is morally wrong to do.
This good stuff, BUT all we need to know is Jesus. We, just need a simply faith. Remember the disciples were just country bumpkins, they were academics, scientist, rabbis, nor were they teachers of the law,
Thanks Mr Silver. It is good to relize that God chose ordinary woking men to be his disciples. Non had any formal
education. God can take the least of us and bring the very best to the world. It is not what we know but waht the
Holy spirit teaches us. Its not the power that we have, but the power of God working through us.
Thanks
Rev Mitchell
I dig your new website and your content! However, I wish you would write in paragraphs more.
Thank you for your comments. I will take that in consideration.
Thank for this diachronic study of the characters in the Bible as they went through and dealt with grief and struggles. You know I have tended to think of Bible as being a book about people I couldn’t relate to, people who were always happy, never doubted, and always faithful. But, the Bible is about people who were just like us in every way.
I need to study the Bible more and let the holy spirit speak through it to me rather than assuming I know what it says already.
Thank Rev Mitchell for this post
The Bible is written to you. The new Testament is over 2000 years old. The Old testment was complete 300 years before the birth of Jesus
It is still revelant today as it was when the first word from God was written down.
There is nothing new under the sun. I believe that no matter waht your situation is, God
has word of encouragement and direction
Continue your study
Grief, trails, and tribulations are all things we have got to face But, remember this:
Diamonds are made under pressure! And God being the crafts man that he is prefects us through pressure, too.
Amen Mr Green