Resources for your grief journey

You will grieve, but your grief will turn to joy. - John 16:20b

We grieve because we love.

How does the heart understand grief when it is broken by the death of a loved one? To survive and live forward, those who grieve must find answers. As we grieve, slowly we understand that grief is not a crisis of faith—it is a crisis of the heart. Here you will find comfort, guidance, and spiritual support on your journey through grief. The hope is that these resources will lead you toward renewed hope and fullness of life as you emerge at last from the darkness of grief into the light of new life, your soul restored through the steadfast love and faithfulness of God.

Here you will find a broad range of topics on the emotional, spiritual, and practical aspects of grief most of us experience. Walk through your grief journey alongside Julie Yarbrough, who understands the pain of grief. The blogs, books, daily devotionals, prayers, and support for grief groups offer her personal insight to guide and encourage you on your journey through grief.

Explore helpful books and group guides on your path to restoration after loss.

Books

Beyond the Broken Heart – A Journey Through Grief

Beyond the Broken Heart – A Journey Through Grief is a dual-purpose resource. It is well-suited for anyone who has lost a loved one to death – a family member, child, friend, or spouse -…Continue

Secure in the Storm

This pocket book is a collection of Scripture verses offering comfort and hope to anyone who is experiencing loss or discouragement. In it there are 150 promises from the Word of God conveniently…Continue

Inside the Broken Heart Grief Understanding for Widows and Widowers

Inside the Broken Heart Grief Understanding for Widows and Widowers is a resource to meet the spiritual and emotional needs of those who have lost a spouse. It specifically addresses many of…Continue

A Journey Through Grief – Life Beyond the Broken Heart

A Journey Through Grief – Life Beyond the Broken Heart explains the journey through grief in a small, concise format. Because it covers a range of grief questions and topics, this short pocket…Continue

Beyond the Broken Heart Daily Devotions for Your Grief Journey

Beyond the Broken Heart Daily Devotions for Your Grief Journey offers 365 topical devotions for grief. Each includes a scripture, a thought for meditation, a prayer, and an assurance to remember.…Continue

Beyond the Broken Heart – A Journey Through Grief Leader Guide

Beyond the Broken Heart – A Journey Through Grief Leader Guide is a comprehensive guide for the Leader of a grief group. The Leader Guide includes how to start a group, how to lead a group, and…Continue

Beyond the Broken Heart – A Journey Through Grief DVD

Beyond the Broken Heart – A Journey Through Grief DVD is the third component of the grief group program. The DVD includes eight short (8-11 minutes) video segments that introduce the Session…Continue

Thanksgiving

On October 3, 1863 President Abraham Lincoln issued a Proclamation, “to set apart and observe the last Thursday of November next, as a day of Thanksgiving and Praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the Heavens.” At that historic time of divisive war, no one was spared from grief. Everyone lost someone or something - a loved one, property, dignity, or an old way of life.

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O give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; for his steadfast love endures forever. Psalm 107:1 NRSV

Thanksgiving Day is an all-inclusive holiday of gratitude to God for the rich heritage of a prosperous nation. This holiday is especially steeped in tradition. Without your loved one, the picture around the table is not the same as in years past. Many illustrations, such as those by Norman Rockwell, idealize the family as a multigenerational group, clearly connected by warmth and love. On this day of thanks and celebration, pass on traditions to those gathered together. Share in the love of the one absent yet dearly remembered.

God, your goodness and steadfast love are the rich harvest of life. I celebrate today the life of the one absent from our table in thanksgiving for abundant love. Amen.

I give thanks for spiritual bounty.

Originally published in Beyond the Broken Heart - Daily Devotions for Your Grief Journey, Abingdon Press 2012

More Devotionals

It is my prayer that you will experience both personal and spiritual growth as your broken heart is transformed through the healing grace of God. - Julie Yarbrough

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