God uses our trials to build our faith, draw us closer to Him, and give us a testimony of His faithfulness for others to see. – Unknown Author
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Welcome back to Renew Inspiration! Today, I want to discuss two topics that are dear to my heart – faith and grief. Do you often wonder if faith is needed to help you overcome grief? I sometimes think about this very question, but before we can make an attempt to answer the question honestly, we need to know and understand the definitions for both faith and grief.
DEFINITIONS – FAITH & GRIEF
God is still writing your story. Don’t let go of your faith because of what you have to see. – Unknown Author
Faith can be defined as:
• Complete trust or confidence in someone or something.
• Strong belief in God or in the doctrines of a religion, based on spiritual apprehension rather than proof.
Grief can be defined as:
• Deep sorrow, especially that caused by someone’s death.
Now, that we have clear definitions of both faith and grief, you should be able to answer the question – Do you often wonder if faith is needed to help you overcome grief? As for me, I believe you must have some level of faith to help you not only overcome grief, but faith is also needed to help you get through the difficult moments you may experience throughout the grieving process.
In addition, I believe we all have some level of faith within us. For example, when someone we love passes away, it is inevitable that questions of faith, spirituality, grief, and healing arise. All of these feelings and emotions can make you feel so many things at any given time.
FOUR PHASES OF GRIEF
Grief never ends…But it changes. It’s a passage, not a place to stay. Grief is not a sign of weakness, nor a lack of faith…It is the price of love. – Unknown Author
Believe it or not, understanding the nature of grief can help us better cope with loss. Grief is a natural and healthy process that enables us to recover from terrible emotional wounds that may occur in life. I don’t know about you, but when I experienced the grief process after both of my parents suddenly passed away, my father (July 2003) and my mother (December 2015) passed away, I was forced to deal with my emotions whether I wanted to or not. In addition, I felt surrounded by darkness and heavy waves of anguish. Even though my husband was there right by my side, I still felt alone throughout this difficult time.
Here’s the four phases of grief that you may encounter throughout the grieving process:
• Shock – You may feel numbness inside like you’re trapped in a bad dream.
• Reality – Deep sorrow sets in accompanied by weeping, sadness, and depression.
• Reaction – Anger or guilt may occur toward family and friends.
• Recovery – There is an attempt to accept the loss within that have occurred.
Even though I’ve provided these four phases of grief, remember that these phases may vary in duration from person to person. Why? Because we are all different and experience life challenges in very unique ways. It’s also important to note that these phases may not be experienced at all, but I know I experienced all of them throughout the grieving process. Quite frankly, it was very hard for me and still is from time to time. I not only have to seek professional help, but I also do a lot of research and reading on my own to learn about different ways to help myself cope. When we neglect to go through the grieving process correctly, you often trigger depression, alcoholism, drug abuse, or other serious problems so don’t be afraid to seek professional help or support from loved ones.
MANAGING GRIEF
No one ever told me that grief felt so like fear. – C.S. Lewis
No matter how strong we are or how much support we are given throughout the grieving process, grief can affect your thinking, behavior, emotions, relationships, and overall health. I have found that one of the most difficult tasks for a bereaved person to encounter is adjusting to the new environment without the loved one who has passed away. For example, decisions have to be made regarding the appropriate time to put away a loved one’s things, make lifestyle changes, or form new relationships. Again, each person may handle these decisions differently so be careful not to judge.
Here’s three steps to recovery using God as a guide and comforter:
• Step 1 – Grieve – Though grief is bitter to our soul, we must allow sorrow to run its natural course throughout our lives. Denying or repressing pain can lead to emotional problems.
• Step 2 – Believe – It’s important to put our unbreakable faith in God’s promises and not our own.
• Step 3 – Receive – God desires to give us peace and comfort, but we must ask Him for it, then be willing to receive it with an open heart.
WAYS TO HELP OTHERS THROUGH THE GRIEVING PROCESS
Those we love don’t go away, they walk beside us every day. – Unknown Author
Everyone grieves differently – depending on personality, religious beliefs, maturity, emotional stability, support factors, and cultural traditions.
Here’s some ways to help others through the grieving process:
• Ask God for guidance about when to speak and what to say.
• Encourage the bereaved person to share his or her feelings openly, then be willing to listen and don’t judge.
• Be flexible and gentle with yourself and others. Allow the grief and mourning process to unfold naturally.
• Don’t push or preach, but if the person indicates an openness, pray and share meaningful Scriptures, not personal opinions.
• Do simple things without being asked, such as providing a healthy meal, running errands, or making yourself available just to talk.
• Encourage the bereaved person to seek the help of a professional grief counselor or local support group.
COMFORTING SCRIPTURES
Healing is an art. It takes time. It takes practice. It takes place. – Maza Dohta
Seek comfort in your soul by reading the Holy Scriptures. This will allow you to start the healing process and allow you to be comfortable with expressing your feelings.
Here’s a few comforting scriptures to help you get started in the healing process:
• Psalm 23:4 (NKJV) – “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.”
• Isaiah 41:10 (NKJV) – “Fear not, for I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.”
• Matthew 5:4 (NKJV) – “Blessed are those who mourn, For they shall be comforted.”
• John 14:26 (NKJV) – “But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you.”
• John 16:33 (NKJV) – “These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”
My prayer for you today is that you take the words from this blog post and hide them deep in your heart. Take time to reflect on them often throughout your journey. Finding healthy ways to cope with unbreakable faith and grief are a part of life and both contribute to our mental health as well as to our total well-being. I think it is very important for people to learn how to survive hardship at some point in life. For me, I am in the midst of this process and use my Renew Inspiration blog as a positive platform to not only encourage myself, but others as well. Embrace unbreakable faith and grief for yourself, and nurture it in others as they seek peace and comfort at such difficult times in life.
SELF-REFLECTION & JOURNAL PROMPTS
Faith isn’t a feeling. It’s a choice to trust God even when the road ahead seems uncertain. – David Willis
Here’s some thought-provoking journal prompts that I want you to focus on:
• What do I give permission for myself to do today?
• What is the best way to increase my faith?
• How does faith help you get through the grieving process?
• Why am I grieving right now?
• What is my fondest memory of my loved one who passed away?
• What are some of my grief triggers that affect me the most?
• When you are alone, what do you do?
• What season holds the most memories for you?
• List five ways you’ve become stronger and more faithful this month.
TIME TO SHARE & COMMENT
Faith is all about believing. You don’t know how it will happen, but you know it will. – Unknown Author
Let’s talk. Journaling through grief takes hard work, commitment and unbreakable faith. Faith that will move the mountains in your life. Do you enjoy journaling through the grieving process? How do you use faith to help you overcome the challenges of grief? Please share your honest response in the comment section. I cannot wait to hear from you.
Believe in yourself today, tomorrow and forever!
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