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

Present Comfort

Present Comfort is for those who have experienced loss as well as for those who are at a loss to understand the myriad emotions of grief. It is for those who feel sad, bewildered, frustrated, or…Continue

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…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

Other Love

In grief we are very suggestible. Sometimes we take our emotional cues from the relationship of others to the one we grieve who has died. When “should” takes on larger than life or larger than death proportions, often we set ourselves up for an experience of grief that feels neither personal nor authentic.

Continue

I have been young, and now am old, yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken or their children begging bread. They are ever giving liberally and lending, and their children become a blessing. Psalm 37:25-26 NRSV

If you have lost your life partner, anxious moments may occur as you individuate and adjust to meet the needs of your children—or fit into the lives of adult children—who are now without a father or mother. Regardless of the ages of your children, your role as parent without the equal and opposite presence of your husband or wife is different—imperceptibly redefined. This is a kind of forced individuation. Young children and even teens may demand more of your time and energy. Grown children may perceive you as more dependent and in need of a substitute husband or wife, a role you neither desire nor want them to fulfill. You may feel ignored or hurt if they presume on your strength when, in fact, you need their support. In turn, they may feel inadequate to satisfy your emotional and physical needs. Whatever your loss, rebalancing relationships within a permanently altered family structure is an emotional complication of grief, especially as imperceptibly you continue to individuate.

God, the structure of our family is confused by the death of the one loved and lost. I pray for your righteousness as I individuate and grow within our family. Amen.

Relationships are complicated; each individual family has its own dynamic.

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

Ask Julie