Ministering to the Bereaved: Sharing the Burden

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Ministering to the Bereaved: Sharing the Burden

Handling Loss and Grief

Living Free Every Day®

Today's Scripture
"Share each other's burdens, and in this way obey the law of Christ." Galatians 6:2 NLT

Thoughts for Today
Sharing the burdens of a person who has lost a loved one includes offering our presence and spiritual support. But it can also include much-needed acts of service. Cooking meals. Cleaning. Providing transportation. Caring for children. Errands. Whatever is needed. James makes it clear that words need to be supported by acts. We need to ask God to help us be sensitive to all the needs and to give us wisdom to help in any way we can.

Dear friends, do you think you'll get anywhere in this if you learn all the right words but never do anything? Does merely talking about faith indicate that a person really has it? For instance, you come upon an old friend dressed in rags and half-starved and say, "Good morning friend! Be clothed with Christ! Be filled with the Holy Spirit!" and walk off without providing so much as a coat or cup of soup — where does that get you? Isn't it obvious that God-talk without God-acts is outrageous nonsense? James 2:14-17 MSG

Consider this …
In order to share the burdens with people from the impact of death, it is vital to take care of yourself physically so that you will have the stamina required. You also need to encourage the survivors to take necessary precautions to be strong through the bereavement period.

Regular exercise (at least a half-hour session of aerobic exercise three or four times a week) is important. Balanced and nutritious meals are needed three times a day and from eight to nine hours of sleep each 24 hours are essential.

Prayer
Father, as I reach out to help people who have lost a loved one, help me to truly share their burden — in prayer and spiritual support and also practical acts of service. Help me to be sensitive to their needs and give me wisdom in responding. 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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