Grief Is a Process: Forgiving Others - Living Free - August 6

Grief Is a Process: Forgiving Others

Tuesday, August 6, 2019

Living Free Every Day®
A ministry of LivingFree.org

Today's Scripture
"Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you." Colossians 3:13 NIV

Thoughts for Today
Forgiveness is one of the most difficult tasks to be accomplished in the process of working through grief. If we are honest with God about our hurts and disappointments, he will lead us into the freedom of forgiveness.

Sometimes it will be another person you need to forgive: the deceased for dying and leaving you, the medical personnel for not saving your loved one's life, or someone you think may have contributed to your loved one's death. You might even be struggling with forgiving yourself for those last words you did—or didn't—say.

Forgiveness is never easy, but we remain prisoners of those we fail to forgive. Forgiveness allows us to be released from the hold another person, living or dead, has on us.

Consider this … 
Are you struggling with unforgiveness? Consider taking these thoughts and feelings to God today. Be honest with him and allow him to help you. With the help of his strength and his love, you can overcome. Only then can you move on to complete healing and a future filled with hope.

Prayer
Father, thank you for forgiving me for every failure, every sin. I've let you down so many times, and yet you continue to forgive—and to love. Help me be more like you. Help me to forgive those I've held things against. Help me to forgive myself. In Jesus' name …

These thoughts were drawn from …Handling Loss and Grief: How to Face Losses in Life and Grieve Christianly by Raymond T. Brock, Ed.D. As a person goes through this group they will be able to identify what the Bible has to say about handling the losses of life. To grieve is human; how to grieve Christianly is supernatural. It requires us to invite the Holy Spirit to guide us through the grieving process. This study also provides guidance in the use of Scripture to help the grieving. It offers biblical coping methods for facing loss and comfort to  those who have faced loss.

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