Are you stuck in the grief process? Often in our grief, we oppose God, argue with Him, plead with Him for healing, and cut people out of our lives. Understanding spiritual truths will put us on a path of healing to help us move beyond our grief. These Twelve Steps will help us move from the death grip of grief to the restoration of life.
1. Open our hearts to God’s power to free us from the grip of grief.
There is great power in realizing that we are powerless. “Our great power is from God, not from ourselves” (2 Cor. 4:7).
2. Allow God to join us in the powerful emotions of grief.
Faith begins when we believe that God is who He says He is. “Faith shows the reality of what we hope for; it is the evidence of things we cannot see” (Heb. 11:1).
3. Rest in God’s care and help to take our loss and grief.
God is with us no matter what life throws at us. “Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you” (1 Pet. 5:7).
4. Gain a picture of how God sees us as we grieve.
Facing the truth of our brokenness will allow us to experience God’s grace and love. “And we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth” (Jn. 1:14, KJV).
5. Experience the healing that begins with confession.
Confessing the exact nature of our wrongs to ourselves, God, and another person will help us to heal. “Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed” (Jas. 5:16).
6. Get ready for repentance and movement through our grief.
Before we can experience behavioral changes in our lives, we first need to have a “broken and repentant heart” (Ps. 51:17).
7. Allow God’s Spirit to heal our hearts from grief.
Asking God to remove our shortcomings is a joint venture between us and Him. “But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness” (1 Jn. 1:9).
8. Create a list of people our grief may have adversely affected.
Writing a list of those we’ve hurt helps us to see the relationships that need to be healed and restored. “Do to others as you would like them to do to you” (Lk. 6:31).
9. Restore relationships that have been damaged by our sins (when possible), and experience a clean slate.
Making amends to those we’ve hurt will help our relationships with God, others, and ourselves. “Leave your sacrifice there at the altar. Go and be reconciled to that person. Then come and offer your sacrifice to God” (Matt. 5:24).
10. Review daily the defects in us that hinder a healthy life with God and others.
The best way to avoid falling is to take a regular inventory, admit when you are wrong, and take steps to make it right. “If you think you are standing strong, be careful not to fall” (1 Cor. 10:12).
11. Grow closer to God through prayer and meditation.
When we continue in prayer and meditation, we will grow closer to God and know more about his purpose for our lives. “The LORD is good to those who depend on him, to those who search for him” (Lam. 3:25).
12. Bless others with the blessing of healing from grief.
When we have been healed, it is our turn to carry the message of hope to others. “If another believer is overcome by some sin, you who are godly should gently and humbly help that person back onto the right path” (Gal. 6:1).
In The Life Recovery Workbook for Grief, you’ll learn these steps and more on how to recover from grief. For additional help recovering from grief, call 800-639-5433 today.