Grieving

Jenn Blackston

jennifer.mcgarvey@mailbox.ciu.edu

1-21-11

Grief is a necessary and messy part of life. Too often, we try to make the pain go away or we offer unhelpful suggestions on how to "get over" the losses of life. Sadly, the church doesn't always do a good job of coming alongside its people who are hurting. If we never face honestly our own pain, how in the world will we ever be able to enter in to someone's pain? When we face our pain and receive the comfort the Lord desires to give us, we can in turn comfort others with that same comfort. One sweet day, we will grieve no more! Jesus grieved so why is it so hard for the body of Christ to grieve and to extend that grace and mercy to other hurting people? We grieve but not as the world grieves; we grieve with hope. The church has an unique opportunity to testify of the love of Jesus by showing the body of Christ and those yet to know him by providing safe places for folks to grieve. Honest presence with people is one of the best gifts we can give to them in their time of suffering. We don't need to have all the answers; we love them and point them to Jesus and oftentimes, the best thing we can do is simply BE with the person who is hurting. I want to be a leader who grieves well in my own life and provides a safe haven for others to also grieve well.