DEATH
Definition: Death is the enemy of life. It is defined as the act of dying; termination of life. Further, it is the state of being dead.
Brief Explanation: Issues of death and dying will frequently come up in counseling. Being aware of the common reactions people may have during the dying process and for the bereaved after the loss of a loved one is essential to good counsel and care in general.
Grieving is often misunderstood. It is thoroughly biblical and healthy to grieve, mourn, but if believers, not without hope. That is, we grieve our loss (blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted) but with the knowledge that to be absent in the body is to be present in the Lord. Glib “he or she is in a better place” or “God needed your mom or dad more than you” can be cruel, and are to be avoided. The ministry of presence, listening empathetically, is the best medicine for one in times of grief. Of course, watch for delayed responses, sometimes years later of unresolved grief. See Grief Relief by Dr. Stan DeKoven.
The Word of God: Psalm 116:15 “Precious in the sight of the Lord Is the death of His godly ones.”
Psalm 23:4 “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil; for Thou art with me; Thy rod and Thy staff, they comfort me.”
Romans 6:23 “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
John 11:25, 26 “Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me shall live even if he dies, and everyone who lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?”
Hebrews 9:27, 28 “And inasmuch as it is appointed for men to die once and after this comes judgment, so Christ also, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, shall appear a second time for salvation without reference to sin, to those who eagerly await Him.”
1 Thessalonians 4:14 “For if believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who have fallen asleep in Jesus.”
1 John 3:2 “Beloved, now we are children of God, and it has not appeared as yet what we shall be. We know that, when he appears, we shall be like Him, because we shall see Him just as He is.”
Revelation 21:4 “…and He shall wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there shall no longer be any death; there shall no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away.”
1 Corinthians 15:55-57 “O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?” The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law; but thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”
GRIEF
Definition: Grief is a deep mental anguish, as that arising from bereavement. It is a source of deep mental anguish, due to loss, whether by death, situation, or other relationship.
Brief Explanation: Grief is a process, beginning with a traumatic (to the client) event in their life. Issues of death and dying will frequently be encountered in counseling. Being aware of the common reactions people may have during the dying process and for the bereaved after the loss of a loved one, is essential to good counsel and care in general. As covered under the topic of death above, grieving is often misunderstood. It is thoroughly biblical and healthy to grieve, mourn but if believers, not without hope. That is, we grieve our loss (blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted) but with the knowledge that to be absent in the body is to be present in the Lord. Glib “he or she is in a better place” or “God needed your mom or dad more than you” can be cruel, and are to be avoided. The ministry of presence, listening, empathetically, is the best medicine for one in times of grief. Of course, watch for delayed responses, sometimes years later of unresolved grief. See Grief Relief by Dr Stan DeKoven.
The Word of God: Matthew 5:4 Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.
John 11:35, 36 Jesus wept. So the Jews were saying, “See how He loved him!”
John 14:1 “Believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father is in Me; otherwise believe because of the works themselves.”
1 Peter 1:3-5 “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, who are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.”
1 Thessalonians 4:13, 14 “But we do not want you to be uninformed, brethren, about those who are asleep, so that you will not grieve as do the rest who have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who have fallen asleep in Jesus.”
This concludes the study from “The Bible in Counseling.” Please leave your questions and comments, I would love to hear from you. Next month we begin the study of “Fresh Manna.” See you then…
Blessings,
Dr. Stan
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