Good Grief

I really enjoy watching the Peanuts movies with my daughter Sophia.  Hearing Charlie Browns catch phrase "good grief" got me thinking if there is anything such as good grieving.  So as I continue my grief journey I would like to add two more things to my last post regarding grief.

So first to have good grief you must run head long into that pain that you are experiencing like I stated last time.  There are two more essential things that get me through grief, and they are as follows:


1.  Don't Run from Grief/Pain:

• Express emotions.
• Don't be afraid of how others might react to your grief.
• There is no shame getting help.  Get counseling and/or join a support group.  That's why God gave us the Church.

"Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted." (Matthew 5:4, NET)

or

Admit your pain and Jesus and the Church will surround you with love.

2.  Don't live in your grief:

Once you face the pain don't get so lost in grief that it becomes your new identity.  In the first episode of Star Trek: Deep Space 9 we meet Commander Sisko.  He is accused by the worm hole aliens of living in the grief of losing his wife.  His grief had consumed him and it's not until he is confronted with this fact that he is able to move on with his life.  Sisko's loss became his identity without him even realizing it.

I'm not saying that you won't ever experience sadness over missing someone  That is normal and to be expected.  However, you don't have to allow that void to define you.  Especially if you have Jesus in your life you have everything that you will ever need.

   “Now we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers and sisters, about those who are asleep, so that you will not grieve like the rest who have no hope.” (1 Thess. 4:13, NET)

or

When you're sad, look to the cross for hope.  

3.  The Joy of the LORD is your strength: 

Lastly, and most important, before tragedy ever finds you in life you must learn to make Jesus the sole source of Joy in your life.  Because if it comes from any other person or thing grief will smack you so hard it will be difficult to get back up again.

"Count it all joy when you experience various trials." (James 1:3)  

or

If you have Jesus, it doesn't matter what's going on around you.

"Weeping may tarry for the night, but joy comes with the morning." (Psalm 30:5b)

or

Sadness is temporary and short compared to the wonderful love of Jesus.

"Do not be grieved, for the joy of the LORD is your strength." (Nehemiah 8:10b)

or

If your Joy is found in Christ alone, then nothing can overcome you in this world!

So right now I challenge you to start making daily worship and celebrating Jesus a daily habit.  You will be able to see the effects in your life almost immediately.  And, it will certainly be a source of comfort and the only thing that will remove the darkness that seems to surround you.

With that I would like to leave you with the song Joy of the Lord by Rend Collective.