I hope the songs and stories from my grief journey were encouraging and helped point you to Him.
I wanted to leave you with a list of grief resources as you move forward in your journey of loss. (or as you help someone else on their journey). It’s not a quick path – it truly is a lifetime of learning to live in light of the Truth – and not to believe the lies. (of fear and discouragement and probably many others.) You’ll need help along the way. Remember, our ultimate help comes from God and His Word. (“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” Psalm 46:1).
I pray that God will be with you and tenderly heal your hurting heart.
BOOKS: Obviously start with THE BOOK: The Bible! Make sure this is your first book of choice. Be in the Word daily, it is “Alive” and powerful. It is unlike any other book.
Hebrews 4:12 (ESV) “For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.”
Here are just a few of some good passages on grief & hope from the Bible:
- Psalm 34:18. “He is near the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit”
- Psalm 31:9–10. “Be gracious to me, O LORD, for I am in distress; my eye is wasted from grief; my soul and my body also. For my life is spent with sorrow, and my years with sighing; my strength fails because of my iniquity, and my bones waste away.”
- Psalm 61:2–3. “from the end of the earth I call to you when my heart is faint. Lead me to the rock
that is higher than I, for you have been my refuge, a strong tower against the enemy.” - Isaiah 26:3 “You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you.
- Joshua 1:9 ” Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”
- Lamentations 4:21-26. “But this I call to mind, and therefore I have hope: The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. “The Lord is my portion,” says my soul, “therefore I will hope in him.” The Lord is good to those who wait for him, to the soul who seeks him. It is good that one should wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord.”
- Matthew 5:4. “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.”
- Matthew 11:28–30 “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”
- Phillipians 4:6-7. “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
- 1 Thessalonians 4:13–14. “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. For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep.”
- 2 Corinthians 1:3-5 “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 affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. For as we share abundantly in Christ’s sufferings, so through Christ we share abundantly in comfort too.”
- 2 Corinthians 7:10–11 “For godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret, whereas worldly grief produces death. For see what earnestness this godly grief has produced in you, but also what eagerness to clear yourselves, what indignation, what fear, what longing, what zeal, what punishment! At every point you have proved yourselves innocent in the matter.”
- 1 Peter 1:6–7. ” In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.”
- Revelation 21:4 “He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”
OTHER BOOKS:
A Grace Disguised by Gerald L. Sittser
Dark Clouds, Deep Mercy by Mark Vroegop
When God doesn’t Fix It by Laura Story
The Scars that have Shaped me – by Vaneetha Rendall Risner
Making sense out of Suffering by Peter Kreeft
Therefore I have Hope by Cameron Cole
Songs of Suffering by Joni Eareckson Tada
Where is God when it Hurts by Philip Yancey
GRIEF MINISTRIES:
GriefShare Ministries. Many churches sponsor this ministry. Find a local Grief Share ministry near you. https://www.griefshare.org
Association of Biblical Counceling offers wonderful articles and churches that offer Counciling. https://biblicalcounseling.com/resource-library/topic-index/grief/?srsltid=AfmBOoofE3mid26FZHcoJIf2zMQMboL02EwFuUW2wjkS7ZKLn6iIOM6C
Stephen Ministries. https://www.stephenministries.org/griefresources/default.cfm/774
LOCAL CHURCH: Get involved with your local church. If you don’t already have one, find a good solid, bible-believing church and get involved. Here’s a good resource: Church Search. In addition to Sunday worship, most churches have smaller weekly community groups and discipleship groups and opportunities to serve. All this will foster community and friendships with fellow believers who can encourage you and who need your encouragement too. It will be part of the healing of your heart and the growing of your spiritual walk.
AND….I’m always happy to come and share my story and songs with your group, in a church or community setting, or as a “home concert” where you invite friends. Just reach out to me at pam.hamilton@me.com if you’re interested.
“Shady Grove” – the place of many woods walks, ponderings, and prayers.