Loss of a child 2: Process - Karen Schoehals and Jim Logan

This sermon explores the psychological and spiritual dimensions of grief, utilizing John Bowlby's stages of mourning to explain how individuals process loss. It emphasizes that grief is a normal, active process involving shock, denial, acute pain, and eventual reorganization, rather than a condition to be avoided. The speaker highlights the importance of acknowledging both positive and negative emotions, warning against ineffective coping mechanisms such as addictions, overwork, or defensive numbing. By sharing personal experiences and clinical insights, the message encourages believers to be vulnerable, share their feelings authentically, and allow God to provide meaning in their pain. The tone is pastoral and instructional, aiming to equip listeners to support themselves and others through the complex journey of bereavement.