Stages of Grief

John 14:1 “Let not your hearts be troubled.”

These favorite words of comfort from Jesus own lips have ministered to believers over the years as they have faced grief. In speaking to His disciples on this occasion, Jesus knew that He was facing immanent death on the cross. His disciples may not have been sure what He meant by these words of the fourteenth chapter of John's Gospel. What they did seem to know was, that Jesus was preparing them for His departure from this earth.

We are never ready to give up our loved ones in death. Death is always premature whether it be an infant, child, young person, parent or even elderly grandparent.

God made us to adjust in stages to the death of our loved ones. These stages of adjustment do not necessarily come in the same order but normally we all experience them to varying degrees.

Some of the steps of grief can be as follows:

  1. Shock over the loss...

  2. Disbelief that death has occurred...

  3. Denial that the loved one is gone...

  4. Anger at God or others...

  5. Blame oneself or others...

  6. Loneliness from the loss...

  7. Readjustment and being able to move on with our lives...

  8. Crying and weeping may occur at any or all of the above stages of grief...

  9. Remember, it is all right to cry for one of the most beautiful examples of Jesus life was that, “Jesus wept.”

  10. It takes time to grieve...

  11. Do not let anyone make you feel guilty for not holding up and being strong during your grieving...

  12. Each person responds differently in their grief process...

  13. God created you uniquely, so be your self in your grieving process...

  14. Keep your focus upon Jesus and His words of comfort, “Let not your heart be troubled, you believe in God, believe also in me for in my Father's house are many mansions” John 14:1

 


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