Why and How I Need to Share My Grief with Others

In review of Galatians 6:2, I'm reminded to  “Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.” (NIV)

I should never think that I am totally independent and not need help from others, nor should I feel excused from the task of helping others. The body of Christ functions only when the members work together for the common good. Humbly and gently reach out and offer to help lift the load if someone needs it.

During this coronavirus crisis, my emotional health needs to be an important priority. Feelings are neither good nor bad, they’re just emotions but they need to be expressed appropriately to God and to a trusted friend. Today’s verse reminds me to, “Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ” (Galatians 6:2 NIV).

I do not have to share my feelings with everybody, but I do need to have one person I can confide in. Someone I can go to and say, "Hey, can I just tell you how I'm really feeling right now?" This is someone who will listen, share in my pain and frustration, and then help me move forward.

Paul gives a great example of sharing feelings instead of stuffing them in: “My friends, I want you to know what a hard time we had in Asia. Our sufferings were so horrible and so unbearable that death seemed certain” (2 Corinthians 1:8 CEV).

If Paul, the greatest Christian who ever lived next to Jesus Christ himself, could be gut-level honest about what he was going through, then we can do it, too.

Sharing my problems includes sharing my frustrations, fears, and feelings. I’m living in unprecedented times, and everyone is feeling the stress of the pandemic. There are a lot of losses and missed opportunities due to the upheaval in the world. 

I need to grieve those losses, and not just in private. Grief is a good, healthy thing. It’s how I can transition. Sharing my grief with others keeps me from isolation and loneliness and will remind me of God’s provision.

God created me to need others! He designed me to share my feelings with others. But he also wants me to share my feelings with him: “The LORD is there to rescue all who are discouraged and have given up hope. The LORD's people may suffer a lot, but he will always bring them safely through” (Psalm 34:18-19 CEV).

Sharing my feelings with others may not come naturally. But it is the only way to be emotionally healthy. Find a person I trust to help me process what I’m experiencing, and then be that friend to someone else.

In summary, Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. I should never think that I am totally independent and not need help from others, nor should I feel excused from the task of helping others. I need to humbly and gently reach out and offer to help lift the load if someone needs it. Emotions need to be expressed appropriately to God and to a trusted friend. I do need to have one person I can confide in, someone who will listen, share in my pain and frustration, and then help me move forward. I need to grieve losses, and not just in private. Grief is a good, healthy thing. It’s how I can transition. Sharing my grief with others keeps me from isolation and loneliness and will remind me of God’s provision. God created me to need others! He designed me to share my feelings with others. But he also wants me to share my feelings with him: So I need to find a person I trust to help me process what I’m experiencing, and then be that friend to someone else.

Father thank you for this verse and study today. It has helped point out that I need someone to confide in/with. I’m taking some of my grief to too many people and not the right audience just to feel justified. I’m feeling let down by my direct leadership and a strong loss of trust. I pray that with the help of the Holy Spirit that you help me to find the right person that I can confide in. Also with the Spirit’s help, be someone others can confide in and where they can share their grief as well. I ask for forgiveness and help with my attitude toward my leader. I also ask you for wisdom and guidance for my day, my work, my tasks, my leadership and my interactions to others. These things I pray through your Son Jesus name, Amen.