Ebook
There is nothing more devastating than the death of a loved one. And whether it comes suddenly and unexpectedly, or at the end of a long and painful illness, every death is experienced anew, a shocking loss that takes our breath away and leaves us disoriented and lost.
Grief is mysterious, misunderstood, and experienced differently from individual to individual, yet there are certain universal elements. In this compassionate epistolary handbook on grief, a pastor offers comfort and understanding to a man suffering a profound loss, showing grief as a healthy process that God can use to mend broken hearts.
Revised and updated, this twentieth-anniversary edition features prayers and scripture meditation, as well as a new introduction and epilogue. Simple, profound, personal, compassionate … When You Lose Someone You Love tenderly walks the grief-stricken through sorrow to peace and, eventually, renewed joy.
There is nothing more devastating than the death of a loved one. And whether it comes suddenly and unexpectedly, or at the end of a long and painful illness, every death is experienced anew, a shocking loss that takes your breath away and leaves you disoriented and lost.
Grief is mysterious, misunderstood, and experienced differently from individual to individual. Yet there are certain universal elements, and in this compassionate epistolary handbook on grief, a pastor offers comfort and understanding to a man suffering a profound loss, showing grief as a healthy process that God can use to mend broken hearts.
Simple, profound, personal, compassionate … When You Lose Someone You Love tenderly guides you through sorrow to peace and, eventually, renewed joy.
“It takes tremendous trust to bare your heart and soul to God when it requires you to express disappointment, doubt, and anger. Somewhere we have picked up the idea that these are not the kinds of emotions a ‘true’ Christian should have. Still, for those who are grieving, such feelings are real, and in order to work through them, they must honestly share them with God. It’s their only hope. Denial is nothing more than a slow death.” (source)
“Because grief is so painful, you have probably been tempted to seek not only relief, but also escape. Don’t!” (source)
“The apostle Paul tells us, ‘Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn’ (Romans 12:15).” (source)
“The first is the temptation to pretend that you are fully recovered when you’re not” (source)
“The shock we experience initially is His way of helping us deal with the pain of our loss. It works like a divine tranquilizer that enables us to comprehend the reality of death without feeling the full depth of our devastating loss. As the initial shock wears off, the promise of eternal life with our departed loved one becomes the gift of hope that keeps us going until grief has done its healing work.” (source)
Richard Exley is the author of twenty-nine books. His articles have appeared in numerous magazines, including Leadership Journal, Charisma, Ministries Today, and New Man. He has served as senior pastor of churches in Colorado and Oklahoma, hosted several popular radio programs, including the nationally syndicated Straight from the Heart, and has appeared on the 700 Club, Richard Roberts Live, and a host of other local television and radio programs. Richard and his wife, Brenda Starr, spend their time in a secluded cabin overlooking picturesque Beaver Lake in Northwest Arkansas.