Emotionally Healthy Discipleship Part 3 – Processing Grief & Loss

Throughout our lives, we all accumulate losses. Some are devastating or unexpected, and some are natural/expected losses. Regardless the severity, losses need to be grieved. If we do not take the time to grieve before the Lord, this emotional pain will continue to weigh heavy on our souls. In this lesson, we discuss Peter Scazzero’s three phases of processing grief and loss, we go to the cross with Jesus and learn from him on how to deal with pain, and we touch on the need to lament (especially in the Psalms).

Mark 8:34; Mark 15:22-32; James 1:2-4

Mark 8:34
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
34 He called the crowd with his disciples and said to them, “If any wish to come[a] after me, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.

Mark 15:22-33
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
22 Then they brought Jesus[a] to the place called Golgotha (which means Place of a Skull). 23 And they offered him wine mixed with myrrh, but he did not take it. 24 And they crucified him and divided his clothes among them, casting lots to decide what each should take.

25 It was nine o’clock in the morning when they crucified him. 26 The inscription of the charge against him read, “The King of the Jews.” 27 And with him they crucified two rebels, one on his right and one on his left.[b] 29 Those who passed by derided[c] him, shaking their heads and saying, “Aha! You who would destroy the temple and build it in three days, 30 save yourself, and come down from the cross!” 31 In the same way the chief priests, along with the scribes, were also mocking him among themselves and saying, “He saved others; he cannot save himself. 32 Let the Messiah,[d] the King of Israel, come down from the cross now, so that we may see and believe.” Those who were crucified with him also taunted him.

James 1:2-4
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition

2 My brothers and sisters, whenever you face various trials, consider it all joy, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith produces endurance. 4 And let endurance complete its work, so that you may be complete and whole, lacking in nothing.