So how do we overcome grief?  Where do we start?  If you feel like all your
hopes and dreams have been destroyed and your life is in chaos ... or
worse yet, you fee like you have no life left in you ... then what will you do?  
Well, the first thing is to suck in that next breath of air!  Force it out.  And
then do it all over again!!

The first step is in realizing and admitting that it exists.  Denial of its
existence will bring us and keep us further away from healing than the
trauma did in the first place.  

Once you've drawn that breath, the next thing of
importance is to realize that while healing and transformation are possible,
restoration may not be.  Just by the very nature of the words, we can see
that it would be impossible for our loved one to come back to life, our
personal possessions were destroyed in that tornado, and we cannot
change the reality of the past.  But what we CAN change is  it's power and
affects over our future.
Since the transformation before us is impossible through human
strength alone, it would be wise to realize that we must begin to
develope a perspective from the standpoint of truth ... God's standpoint
... in order to overcome grief.    Build a house on a good foundation, and
it has a better chance of standing when the storms hit.

The same is true of our emotional "house."  The cornerstone of a
well-built emotional "house," is prayer.  Pray.  Ask the Lord to heal you,
and to give you wisdom and guidance.  

As you are fighting for your healing, realize that God is fighting with you.  
Begin to work with Him.  The response of faith is a good place to start.  
And here's the good part ... even if you feel that you're too weak and you
have no faith in you, God has the answer even for that.  "Lord, I believe ...
help Thou mine unbelief.." (Mark 9: 24)  Ask the Lord to increase your
faith so that you can begin to believe for and appropriate His healing. He
has all the answers.  He knows what you have need of ... just ask Him.
In the process of healing, give some thought, prayer and good quality
time to investigating the life of Jesus Christ.  Check out how He
handled tragic situations.  He suffered more than anyone else could ...
to the point of shedding great drops of blood.  His suffering in and
among us, makes God not simply some distant being who is out there
controlling the world with some mysterious power.  He is not aloof from
our sufferings, but draws us near to Himself through them.
By JANE E. HARBER, LBT
Gentle Springs of Hope
The Pathway
to Healing
One Foot on a Banana Peel

Looking Through Grief to the
God of all Comfort

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Scripture References
to study:

Romans 8: 37
Deuteronomy 30: 19
Romans  12: 2
Isaiah 55: 8
John 14: 6
Mark 9: 24
Jeremiah 29: 11
Isaiah 61: 1
Psalm 39: 10
Hebrews 13: 5
James 1: 5
Luke 22: 39 - 46
II Timothy 1: 7
Proverbs 3: 5, 6



Questions for Contemplation

#1.  In what ways can comfort be had by looking into the life of
Jesus Christ?  How about the others in the Scriptures?

#2 Name some specific, positive steps you can and will take to
overcome the grief you are experiencing.
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Practical Suggestions
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