H. Norman Wright - Quiet Times for Those Who Grieve: Hope and Healing for Your Heart

We have openings available for a few area-wide, one-day seminars with Norman Wright as seminar leader!

Grief Recovery Seminar

(For those experiencing any type of loss)

This seminar will help the participants:

Prepare in advance for hurt, loss, and crisis

Identify ungrieved losses

Discover and implement the process of grief

Understand the causes and recovery steps in trauma

Understand what depression and anger are telling you

Eliminate worry and anxiety from your life

Learn a biblical perspective on loss and discover the comfort of God

Learn how to say goodbye to what you have lost and move ahead in life

For more information on scheduling a seminar, call 1-800-875-7560

Helping Others at a Time of Loss, Crisis, and Trauma

(For ministers, therapists, lay counselors, graduate students, nurses)

Everyone in our country will experience their own personal Ground Zero at one time or another. Most people in our communities have never been given guidance on how to confront their everyday losses and grieve over them so they carry burdens of pain and turmoil. This seminar will help people on the path to recovery. Ministers and counselors can become the hands of Christ in ministering to those within the church and outside the church. But we need to be equipped. Thats the reason for this training experience.

In this seminar you will:

Learn the various types of losses in life and the steps needed to recover

Be given a step-by-step procedure to follow with actual statements to use in helping others at a time of loss

Be given a very specific structure model of helping in both loss and crisis situations. (This will cover the stages of crisis and What to Do and Say at each stage)

Observe how to help others in a time of loss, crisis, or trauma. Guidance will be given on what to do and say to assist others with their anger, depression, and anxiety

Learn how to determine the strength of each person in crisis, what spiritual resources to use and apply, and when to apply them

Be given suggestions on equipping every person in your church to handle loss and care for others

For more information on scheduling a seminar, call 1-800-875-7560

I ts quiet. All you hear are the sounds of silence. At times, the quiet brings a sense of relief, even a respite from whatever has occupied your mind for the past days or even weeks. For many, quietness is a welcomed visitor. For others, it means facing the pain they so furiously try to avoid. Activity has been used as Novocain to deaden the pain that has moved in as an uninvited companion. Quietness speaks to us in many voices. It can have the voice of blame, which questions what we either didnt or did do and wished we hadnt. Then, we feel our spirit being battered by the accusing voices.

Quietness also has a voice that brings to mind a vivid picture of the person who is no longer a part of our life. This thought overwhelms our heart and the cascade of tears begins. Perhaps thats why many fill their days with so many activities and peoplebecause it deadens the ache.

What do most want from times of quiet? They want to hear the voice of comfort. Anyone who is hurting, struggling with sorrow, trying to cope with the aftermath of a loss, and grieving is looking for comfort. Is this you?

Comfort a simple seven-letter word. Its a word with numerous meanings. It can mean strengthening aid, consolation in time of trouble or worry, a feeling of relief or encouragement, or easing the grief or trouble of it. Is this your situation? Is it relief that you need right now? Is there some way in which you need to be encouraged? What is the grief in your life that you would like to see lifted at this time? Right now, your desire is probably for the companionship of comfort. Perhaps youre one of those who wonders if there is any comfort to be had.

Youre not alone. When the devastation of life fell on Job with the loss of his children and most of what he owned, he said, I go about mourning without comfort. The psalmist cried out to God, When will you comfort me?

Comfort will come and perhaps when and where you least expect it. Hold on to this knowledgeit may take your head to convince your heart that it is so. Your grief will not last forever. It may seem that way, but eventually it will subside.

Gods Word will be one of your sources of comfort as will a touch, a word, or a prayer from others. The psalmist said, This is my comfort and consolation in my affliction: that Your word has revived me and given me life (Psalm 119:50 AMP ).

He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their woundscuring their pains and their sorrows (Psalm 147:3 AMP ).

Then maidens will dance and be glad, young men and old as well. I will turn their mourning into gladness; I will give them comfort and joy instead of sorrow (Jeremiah 31:13).

You will grieve but your grief will turn to joy (John 16:20).

Remember these words and pray them several times today,

God, I need, I want, and I desire your comfort. Encourage me and bring others into my life to walk alongside me to hold me up. Thank you for hearing my prayer and responding. In Jesus name, amen.

C omfort. Sometimes its elusive, especially when it seems the upsets and losses wont stop. They just keep coming, and theres no time to address the latest one before a new one enters your life. Where is the relief? you wonder. Remember, comfort means to be encouraged. Encouragement can come from many sourcesa friend calls, a card arrives in the mail, someone gives a gentle hug. It can also come from another sourceGods Word. Listen to these words and promises from Psalm 121:

I will lift up my eyes to the hillswhere does my help come from? My help comes from the L ORD , the Maker of heaven and earth. He will not let your foot sliphe who watches over you will not slumber; indeed, he who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep. The L ORD watches over youthe L ORD is your shade at your right hand; the sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon by night. The L ORD will keep you from all harmhe will watch over your life; the L ORD will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore.

What did you see as you read this psalm that offers you comfort? God watches over you constantly. He doesnt sleep. Hes always there. Even if you wonder where he is now, hes watching over you. Hes protecting you during the day and the night. What are your nights like at this time? For many, theyre the worst. You lay down and try to sleep. The more you try, the worse it gets. And your mind goes into high gear. The more you go over your scenario, the wider awake you are. Then you look at the clock and realize an hour has passed as your mind wandered. You keep saying, Ive got to sleep, but it doesnt work. The night fears and insomnia are constant companions.

Remember Gods promise! He will protect you by night. When youre awake, follow the advice in this verse and you could be amazed by the results: If Im sleepless at midnight, I spend the hours in grateful reflection (Psalm 63:6 MSG ). Verses 7 and 8 can bring you comfort for the present and the future: Because youve always stood up for me, Im free to run and play. I hold on to you for dear life, and you hold me steady as a post.

There are four things to remember:

1. God preserves you from evil. Remind yourself of this several times today. Even if the worst happens, you wont face it alone. Life is not out of control, even if we dont understand whats happening at the moment.

2. God preserves your life, here and forever. If we have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, our life never ends. You have the gift of eternal life.

3. God preserves you every day, not just certain days of the week. Sometimes we wonder where he was on that particular day. Have you ever said, God is with me today at all times and in all places? He is not limited by time and space. He knows your thoughts, feelings, and intentions. When you walk into that store or drive that car, youre not alone. Take comfort in that fact.