God Help Me, I’m GrievingНамуна

Grief Impacts Our Growth

As we deal with the pain of losing someone we love, we change and grow through the process. Perhaps that is why our Savior, Jesus, was described as “a man of suffering, and familiar with pain” (Isaiah 53:3). His character was shaped and molded by what He experienced. He knows what we are going through when we grieve and is able to sympathize with us in our times of deepest sorrow. Trust Him to help you through the grieving process.

Just as the grief process is personal for adults, it is personal, as well, for children and adolescents. It can be difficult to gauge how young people are really feeling and if they are processing their feelings of loss appropriately. Adults bear the responsibility of providing a safe and supportive environment for young people to heal from loss. One very important factor to bear in mind is the cognitive, emotional, and spiritual development of each child. Every child is different and should be allowed to express grief in his or her own way and in his or her own time.

Young people may have difficulty verbalizing their feelings of loss. To cope with their grief, they may develop behaviors deemed inappropriate by adults. They may demonstrate anger toward whomever or whatever they believe is responsible for their loss. They may feel the need to become a caretaker for others. They may also have difficulty concentrating on school, chores, and other necessary tasks.

Be patient and open to adjusting to a grieving child or youth’s individual needs. At every stage of life and development, it is vital to remember that there is no right way to grieve and no wrong way to grieve. There is only your way to grieve.

Grief is inevitable. It is a normal response to loss. It is a deeply personal process, and it changes us. Grief takes time. Be patient with yourself and others who grieve, and lean on God to help you through the pain. As you submit to Him, He will restore and strengthen you. He loves you.

This devotional plan was based on the first chapter of the book God Help Me, I’m Grieving: Finding Healing After Loss by Katherine B. Barner. To read more about this topic, please click here.