Grief & Suffering

Grief & Suffering gathers Christian Standard articles that offer comfort, perspective, and practical help for seasons of loss and pain. Here you’ll find biblical encouragement for mourning, guidance for walking through hardship, and resources for supporting others with compassion—grounded in the hope of Christ’s presence, resurrection, and final restoration. These articles aim to help readers lament honestly, endure faithfully, and cling to God’s promises when life hurts.

May 22, 2015

Christian Standard

To Comfort All Who Mourn (Isaiah 61:1-3)

By Neal Windham The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners . . . to comfort all who mourn, and provide for those who grieve in Zion (Isaiah 61:1-3). Jesus loved Isaiah. Again and again, our Lord turned to the trusted old prophet to help orient his disciples in the compassionate ways of the kingdom. For example, he began the Sermon on the Mount

May 1, 2015

Christian Standard

Grace Notes

By Marybeth Bittel As Christians, we often remind each other a key challenge of life is to trust and obey. We acknowledge God is in control, and we know our job is to accept whatever happens with faith, hope, and conviction. Implicit in all of this is the fundamental recognition that life can change at any time, in any way, for any one of us. I”ve spent the majority of my adult life as a lay minister, a small group facilitator, and a worship leader. Music, in particular, has been a cherished part of my life. As a longtime vocalist

April 18, 2015

Christian Standard

Are You Feeling Better?

By Danielle Hance Whether we”re battling chronic illness, mourning a loved one, going through separation, or any number of other painful periods, we all need support. Unfortunately, our efforts to bring comfort often miss the mark. Like the advice offered by Job”s friends, our good intentions can sometimes do more harm then good. Not sure how to support a friend in distress? Here are some bad and better approaches. BAD: “Are you feeling better?” This question practically demands an affirmative response. People expect those who are sick to get well, not worse. This may lead sufferers to feel they are

April 17, 2015

Christian Standard

Helping Through the Hurt

By Susan Lawrence “Let me know if I can do anything to help.” We commonly extend the offer with a genuine desire to help. However, many times, people don”t know what they need, or they”re hesitant to ask. Through many difficult deaths and trials among our church family, I”ve learned a few things that help. Reach out to others even when they”re not reaching out. “¢ Simply be present. You don”t need to have the perfect words. You don”t need to have answers to every question. Sit with someone. Hold a hand. Give a hug through the sobs. “¢ Be

April 17, 2015

Christian Standard

10 Tips for People Dealing with Pain

By Phil Kendon One person walks with dignity and peace through a severe trial that comes upon his life, while another seems to fall apart at the seams. One grows stronger in his faith through the experience, another abandons the faith in anger and disappointment. One exhibits a joy in God despite his circumstances, while another sinks into the dark mists of depression and grief. Death, sickness, financial hardship, or a suffering child””any of these could send us spiraling downwards in a cycle of questions, doubts, anger, and depression. But trials can also draw us upwards in faith, hope, and

April 12, 2015

Christian Standard

How Should Christians Suffer?

By Mark W. Hamilton The Bible helps us answer the question. A good beginning point is in the psalms of lament. Pain and suffering. This word pair names one of the most difficult problems facing Christian faith and practice today. Some Christians seek to dodge the problem by imagining that suffering always marks the presence of sin and that God, because he is good, wishes us to escape pain in all instances. This despite the obvious facts that the pain of Jesus lies at the very heart of the gospel, and that he called us to imitate him as suffering

April 10, 2015

Christian Standard

Mandy’s Story

By Joe Harvey My daughter Mandy always loved music. She was one of those kids who could remember all the lyrics of her favorite songs, and she had a nice singing voice. It wasn”t a surprise when she became a standout vocal talent in high school. At the graduation ceremony (in 2006), she was recognized as the top female vocalist, and a couple months later she arrived at Colorado State University to study music education. Sometimes life progresses along just the way you would expect. My daughter knew what she loved doing, was really good at it, and now had

April 10, 2015

Christian Standard

Toward a Theology of Suffering

By Joe Harvey The story of Job suggests several formulas for figuring out the relationship between God”s purposes, good people, and the suffering they must endure. Not till we reach the end do we understand the proper equation. I suppose everyone has heard the story of Job. In a nutshell, you probably know he was a wealthy, influential man who lived what we now call “the good life.” He had family, money, power, and prestige. The book of Job describes his situation as being ideal. “He had seven sons and three daughters, and he owned seven thousand sheep, three thousand

April 6, 2015

Christian Standard

Forgiving God

By Chad Ragsdale Not long ago I was asked to preach a sermon as part of a series on forgiveness. It was a good idea for a series. There are few things as “Christian” as forgiveness. My topic was a little different from the ordinary sermon on forgiveness, however. I was asked to preach a sermon on forgiving God. I admit I didn”t have the best attitude about the topic. Forgiving God seems like a modern man”s dilemma. Modern man has attempted to kill God but continues to be haunted by his presence. God, the hero, is dismissed and mocked

March 31, 2015

Mark A. Taylor

Resurrection Promise, Hope in Our Pain

By Mark A. Taylor Some preachers choose Mary as the subject for a Christmas sermon, but I”m guessing we”ve never heard an Easter sermon about the mother of Jesus. There”s good reason for this, I suppose, because Scripture barely mentions her in one crucifixion account, and omits her by name altogether in the resurrection stories. But the certain fact that she was there when Jesus died (John 19:25-27) is enough for painters and storytellers and moviemakers to include her, watching and weeping, in their crucifixion portrayals. The Scripture doesn”t describe her anguish or her tears, but we have no trouble

January 21, 2015

Christian Standard

The Ultimate Question

By Jim Tune When life delivers pain or confusion, our first response is often to look at God and shout, “Why is this happening?” This is what we are really asking, “Why did you let this happen?” Sooner or later we will all end up sitting in a hospital waiting room, funeral home, or lawyer”s office, asking ourselves, “Is God still in all of this?” When shaken by tragedy, we do well to ask ourselves if we can still believe in a God who lets bad things happen. I”ve had a few personal bouts of what Philip Yancey calls “disappointment

November 25, 2014

Mark A. Taylor

How to Cope with Grief at the Holidays

By Mark A. Taylor In the wake of several deaths close to my family in recent months, I”m especially sensitive to the grief some friends are facing this holiday season. And I”m grateful for one way my church offers to help. Late in November every year, our seniors ministry conducts a service of remembrance for families whose deceased loved one attended our congregation. It”s a simple service, with hymns and Scripture. But the unique touch is the Christmas tree in one corner of the chapel. Beside the tree are boxes of white ornaments, each bearing a different name, handwritten in

October 5, 2014

Christian Standard

Avalanche

By Dudley Rutherford A well-known, yet misguided, quote says, “What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas.” The opposite is actually true. What happens in Vegas can stay with you the rest of your life.  In California, we have our own adage that rings true: “What happens in California will sweep across the country within 10 years.” My guess is it”s actually two or three years, but who”s counting? When I think of the moral decline on display in California today, the only word that comes to mind is avalanche. And I am not talking about a little snowball rolling down

July 15, 2014

Christian Standard

Suffering All Around

By Dusty Rubeck (From our series “The Best or Worst Advice I”ve Ever Received.”) About 15 years ago a wise older man on one of my boards told me, “Dusty, never underestimate the level of human suffering that exists in our world.” Then he repeated it. Again and again and again and again.  Obviously, he could see this young leader wasn”t getting it. Now I do. Don, wherever you are, “Thank you.” I wish I”d listened more carefully back then. I see it now. You cannot turn in any direction without running into people who are suffering unimaginable pain (physical,

May 23, 2014

Christian Standard

How You Can Help at a Time of Loss

By M. Ben Williams A funeral is a hard time. Family and friends are dealing with shock and sadness that accompany grief. Their loved ones are also dealing with confusion. What do I do? We have all heard the phrase, “If there is anything I can do, let me know.” In fact, most of us have said those words. Such offers typically are not helpful. The sentiment may be, but the statement is a step short of actually doing something. When dealing with the throes of grief, we do not always know what we need. It takes an enormous amount

November 29, 2013

Christian Standard

Questions, Answers, Death, and Life

By LeRoy Lawson Honest Questions, Honest Answers: How to Engage in Compelling Conversations about Your Christian Faith David Faust Cincinnati: Standard Publishing, 2012 Cheating Death: The Doctors and Medical Miracles that Are Saving Lives Against All Odds Sanjay Gupta New York: Wellness Center, 2009 Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption Laura Hillenbrand New York: Random House, 2010 David Faust is known: pastor, preacher, author, columnist, editor, professor, university president, and national Christian leader. We don”t have a more prominent leader in the Christian churches/churches of Christ. His reputation is reason enough to read Honest Questions, Honest Answers. It”s

October 24, 2013

Christian Standard

What I”m Learning from the Suffering so Close to Me

By Dave Smith When I left for seminary more than 27 years ago, I had stars in my eyes and wings on my feet. I knew God was calling me to vocational ministry. After fulfilling my obligation to the United States Army, I resigned my commission and moved to Chicago. And what could go wrong? In my Disney World Discipleship, Candy Land Christianity view of the world, life was going to be easy. After all, why wouldn”t God protect me from difficulties since I was now training for pastoral ministry? And to sweeten the pot for God, I told him

April 30, 2013

Christian Standard

Defining Normal

  By Mark A. Taylor It”s been two weeks since the Boston Marathon bombings, April 15. The cable news channels and major web portals continue to report on the aftermath with any shred of related content they can muster. But most of us have turned away from the horror of that day and are concentrating, instead, on the demands of this one. What other choice do we have? We must be about our jobs, our families, our churches””our kids, our spouses, our parents, our neighbors. And besides the press of our own responsibilities, there”s another factor that pushes us to

April 23, 2013

Christian Standard

In Contrast to the Ugliness

By Mark A. Taylor Robert Randolph, minister with the Brookline Church of Christ in Boston, described Monday, April 15, as a “terribly emotional day” for Boston. Christian Chronicle reported that Randolph was providing an energy drink for his daughter Margaret Randolph a few miles from the finish line when the first bomb exploded. She had sprained her ankle and was running slower than usual. Otherwise, “we would have been at the finish line when the bombs went off,” Randolph said, according to the Chronicle. Hank Wilson, pastor with REUNION Christian Church in Boston, met with his ministry team early Tuesday, the

December 19, 2012

Christian Standard

We Still Can Celebrate

By Mark A. Taylor Some residents in the small, close-knit community of Newtown, Connecticut, took down and put away their Christmas decorations this weekend, and we probably can”t blame them. In the wake of Friday”s trauma and loss, many residents of that small town can”t face holiday festivity. Any of us, even those far from Connecticut, have trouble sorting out our feelings after nonstop news about the horror. The Muzak cycle of “Holly, Jolly Christmas,” “Jingle Bells,” and “I”ll Be Home for Christmas” rings hollow””especially when we think about so many who will never again be home for Christmas. But

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