Handling Grief
Thought For Today: “Handling Grief”
Grief is one of those stressors we cannot control or prevent. We grieve not only due to our own actions, but also the actions of others.
If there is anyone who understood this, it was King David. He understood how much it damages our soul.
“Have mercy on me, O Lord, for I am in trouble; my eye wastes away with grief, yes, my soul and my body.” (Psalm 31:9)
When grief overwhelms, we shouldn’t throw a pity party, play the “what if” game, or withdraw and isolate ourselves. Instead, we should employ these three things.
First, accept what can’t be changed. Now I don’t want to be hard or unfeeling, but our grief isn’t going to change what has happened, what it does change, however, is how we respond.
Second, take our grief to God. We aren’t to exaggerate it but rather give it to God because while pain is an inevitable part of grief, being miserable is optional.
Finally, focus on what’s left. We need to focus on what we have and not what we’ve lost, because the best is still before us, not behind us.
To relieve our grief the Lord has given to us His Son, Jesus Christ, of whom the prophet Isaiah said that He would console those who mourn, give them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, and the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness. (Isaiah 61:3)
Dennis Lee is Senior Pastor at Living Waters Fellowship, Mesquite, Nevada. He presently has two books, “From Here to There: A Journey to Spiritual Transformation,” and “Wells of Living Waters,” He also writes a religious column for a local newspaper entitled, “Rediscover the Bible for Life,” along with daily devotionals and thoughts that he posts on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Living Waters Fellowship’s Website
Image by DEEPAI
correct,–The “Other Comforter”:
Relying on Christ Jesus’ promise of the “Other Comforter” (John 14:16), which abides with believers, provides spiritual support and assures that life is not lost, only its physical influence changes.
Grief stems from a mistaken belief in material life , rather than from the spiritual, immortal reality of God’s creation. We should be encouraged to understand life as everlasting and God as divine Love, whose comfort and life-sustaining presence never leaves us, thereby transforming the sense of loss into the certainty of ongoing spiritual connection. Thank you Dennis for this.
Your Friend – His servant,
Isaac Otieno
Thank you for your response and attention to the Holy Spirit as our Comforter, the one who comes alongside.
Take care and God bless
So true. 1 Thessalonians 4:13 tells us, “But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope.” Furthermore, if we give our grief to God with that hope that we have in Him through the most heart-wrenching circumstances, whether it’s the death of a loved one or something we go through due to our own actions or the actions of others towards us, God will give us the comfort we need to carry on and move forward. He doesn’t just give us this comfort for ourselves, but also to be able to comfort others who are going through the same thing that God just brought us through. 2 Corinthians 1:3-4, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.” The Holy Spirit within us for each and every believer in Jesus Christ is that comforter. (John 14:26).
Thank you for the great additions. There is no one correct or right response to grief. But we can and should always give it to the Lord who knows our grief, and who carries our sorrows. And the wonderful gift of the Holy Spirit who comforts us in our time of need.
Take care and God bless
Thank you for the great additions. There is no one correct or right response to grief. But we can and should always give it to the Lord who knows our grief, and who carries our sorrows. And the wonderful gift of the Holy Spirit who comforts us in our time of need.
Take care and God bless