Psalms 147:3 He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.

The only time we have total permission from God to become self-absorbed is when in crisis. If you read through Lamentations or the cries of David’s heart in Psalms, you will see how these men are deep in their grief and can’t see anything else but how they are feeling. If God felt it so important to include these stories in the Bible, then it must be important for us to know it is okay, when in deep grief, to focus completely on ourselves.

God gave no time limits or boundaries to our grief. All He asks is that we call out to Him. This experience is between only the one grieving and Him. He is okay with our angry, our denial, our tears and our raw emotions. He knows each of us individually and does not have a formula for grief or a time line for grief. All He wants is to walk with us daily through our grief, even if it takes a life time. He will never leave us or forsake us.

God will send people to help us through the grief process. Accept the help, never be too proud to let someone serve you in any way they can.

When coming out of our grief, all God wants from us is to focus on Him and to know that He will take everything that was meant to harm us or that brought us deep grief into Himself.  God can and will turn it around for our good and for His glory.

To those who are sharing in someone’s grief and helping them through it remember, when you give in Spirit or in tangible ways to someone grieving, it is a ministry action.  These are some guidelines I like to keep in mind.

• Give without expecting thanks.
• Give without comparing yourself to others and what they are doing or giving.
• Pray unceasingly for those who are grieving.
• Don’t expect anything you say or do to make a difference in the raw emotion they feel. The best thing to do is to pray and encourage.
• You don’t have the answers for their situation, only God does. Share only what He tells you to.
• Silence is a wonderful gift.
• Sometimes people need solitude give them time to process and rest.
• If the grief is at a point where someone may harm them self or others, find professional help for them.
• Remember grief can last a life time, check in with them occasionally to see how they are doing.
• Let them know you are praying and thinking of them. A simple text, card or email can really help them in their day. Don’t except a response, just know you have reached out and touched them.

Lastly when it comes to our businesses or our jobs – your health is first. God will provide!

Need prayer for what is happening in your life or business right now; go to shepherdsguide.ca and click the prayer button. We would be honored to pray for you.

Are you in:

Toronto?  Look for the Shepherd’s Guide in your local church.

Vancouver Island?  Look for the Shepherd’s Guide in your local church.

Metro Vancouver? Taking ads for the Metro Vancouver Guide.

Saskatoon?  Taking ads for the Saskatoon Guide.

Edmonton?  Taking ads for the Edmonton Guide.

Please email any questions or concerns to:  dawn.magee@shepherdsguide.ca

Feb, 2019