| In our society today, we seem to have adopted an unfounded, unBiblical supposition about grief ... and that is that it only occurs at the death of a loved one. While grief does naturally and normally occur at the death of a loved one, it is simply not true that death is the only cause of grief. In this day and age, there are probably as many causes of grief as there are negative happenings to experience and people to experience them. There is a saying in this world ... "knowing what the problem is, is half the battle." Once we realize what is wrong, we can then correct it. This is true with grief and/or depression, as well. These study pages are intended to give you some questions for thought, and to give you Scripture references to study so that you may learn how to overcome it from a Biblical perspective. |
| The Biblical perspective of grief encompasses a much broader sense than solely intense personal sadness. In the Bible, grief is a normal response to the ways of a fallen world. The Lord Himself grieved over the sinful ways of His human creation. Some of the prophets grieved due to knowledge of impending judgment. And there were those who grieved for the ones who had forgotten who God is. Even Jesus wept ... not for Himself, but for those who should have known Him, but didn't. |
| Grief is ... for all intents and purposes ... a state of being sad. Emotional anguish. Its intensity can range from the occasional "blues" that we all experience from time to time, to deep, intense and life-altering depression. Some causes of grief: death (not just physical death, but "death" in all its forms ... death of a relationship, an ideal, a dream or goal, a personality. There are lots of different aspects of death that we grieve over), tragedy or traumatic events (such as abuse, loss of a body part, relational problems, incarceration, etc.), emotional or spiritual causes (such as guilt feelings or spiritual oppression). Grief can even be cause by physical problems (such as hormonal imbalance or postpartum depression). |
| If you saw yourself in any of the above, or if you have other reasons to believe you are suffering from grief and/or depression, TAKE HEART!! There is HOPE! Identifying the problem is crucial to overcoming it ... we have only begun, but we are well on our way to victory! |
| Most importantly, Jesus tells us to come unto Him as little children. So ..... come to Him. By His stripes, you were healed. Believe as a little child, in His great and awesome love for you. And, when you feel like you have "one foot on a banana peel..." place the other foot in the hand of God. It's the safest place there is to be!! |
| By JANE E. HARBER, LBT |
| "A wise man is strong; yea a man of knowledge increaseth strength." Proverbs 24: 5 |
| Click here for next study: SYMPTOMS & STAGES |
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| One Foot on a Banana Peel ... Looking Through Grief to the God of all Comfort Click here for your copy |
Gentle Springs of Hope
| Scripture refrences to study concerning grief: John 10: 10 Psalm 31: 9 - 13 Genesis 6: 6, 7 Isaiah 17: 10, 11 Psalm 6: 7 Proverbs 10: 1 Romans 6:23 John 11: 35 Romans 9:2 Esther 4: 16 |
Questions for Contemplation #1 Does any of this apply to your own life? Do you now understand that it is grief you may have been experiencing through certain circumstances in you past? #2 Do you agree that sin is at the "root" for all dysfunction? Why or why not? #3 Why should the Biblical view of grief matter to us today? Does it apply to you? How? |
