2013 AUGUST WEEK TWO STUDY / ACTIVITY

WEEK 32: Sunday August 11, 2013.

CAUSES AND MANAGEMENT OF GRIEF AND GRIEVING II

MAIN TEXT: Job 2:1-13

MEMORY VERSE: Romans 8:28

This lesson concludes our discussion on grief and grieving. We shall specifically look at the four broad ways in which people express grief. These expressions show our humanness, and remind us that we need one another in this life no matter our ethnic, political, and religious background.

Death of a loved one is a painful experience. Bereaved families grieve such a loss in diverse ways which include expression of intense sorrow by way of weeping, abstinence from food, and some forms of entertainment for a period of time. Generally, grief is expressed physically, emotionally, socially, and spiritually.

• Physical expressions of grief often include crying and sighing, headaches, loss of appetite, difficulty in sleeping, weakness, fatigue, feelings of heaviness, aches, pains, and other stress-related ailments.
• Emotional expressions of grief include feelings of sadness and yearning. But feelings of worry, anxiety, frustration, anger, or guilt are also normal.
• Social expressions of grief may include feeling detached from others, isolating yourself from social contact, and behaving in ways that are not normal for you.
• Spiritual expressions of grief may include questioning the reason for your loss, the purpose of pain and suffering, the purpose of life, and the meaning of death. After a death, your grieving process is influenced by how you view death.

Discussion Questions

1. What would you do to deal with physical expressions of grief?
2. What would you do to deal with emotional expressions of grief?
3. What would you do to deal with social expressions of grief?
4. What would you do to deal with spiritual expressions of grief?
5. In what practical ways can we support people who are grieving?
6. How did Job’s wife support him in his moment of grief? Job 2:9

CONCLUSION

Intense grief can bring on unusual experiences. After a death, you may have vivid dreams about your loved one, develop his or her behaviors or mannerisms, or see or hear your loved one. In the case of Job he tore his robes, shaved his head and sat in ashes. Job 1:20.   If you feel fearful or stressed by unusual experiences after a loss, talk to your doctor and a mental health professional or your pastor experienced in grief counseling.