A Crown of Beauty for the Brokenhearted

“The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” Psalm 34:18.

The above verse is such a sweet promise for those who are grieving for the death of a loved one. It is a wonderful promise that God would draw close to us in our brokenness and save us. Lately I have been no stranger to grief. Last week I found out I had a miscarriage and I had one in October as well. This is a trying time, but in my grief I can sense God’s love and care for me more than I have before. If you are experience some sort of grief whether from a miscarriage or the death of a family member or friend, I hope this entry will give you hope. Here are some things that you can do, some of which have helped me in dealing with my grief.

Allow yourself time to grieve.  There is no proper time frame that suggests how long you should fill sad and at what point you should be healed from the pain of grief. Don’t feel guilty that time has passed and you are still hurting. I know from experience that there may be some people who try to tell you that you shouldn’t feel sad anymore or that you need to get over it. Don’t allow anyone to tell you that you do not hav  a right to feel sad or that it is time for you to get over it. Allow yourself to take time in the healing process.

Talk to a trusted friend about your feelings and your grief.

Consider joining a support group for those who are grieving or attending grief counseling. Compassionate friends is a support group that meets in Lafayette for those who are grieving from the loss of a child. Those suffering from the loss of a miscarriage or stillbirth are welcome to go as well. The Healing House in Lafayette offers support group for children age 4-18 who have lost a loved one. The Greif Recovery Center in Baton Rouge and the Seasons Greif Center in New Orleans also offer counseling and support group services.

Cry out to God in your mourning. “To all those who mourn in Israel he will give a crown of beauty for ashes,  a joyous blessing instead of mourning, festive praise instead of despair. In their righteousness they will be like great oaks that the Lord has planted for his own glory.”  Isaiah 61:3

Journal. Journaling always helps me to express my feelings and discover feelings I may not have known I had prior to journaling.

Find scriptural promises you can stand on dealing with grief. A couple to look up are Matthew 5:4 and Revelations 21:4. Next week I will be posting more bible verses for those who are grieving.