Has your religion helped you deal with disappointment or loss?

Question

If so; how? I am referring to practical solutions that can be used in the middle of the stressful circumstance.

Answer 1

Three yrs. ago this June my daughter who now has four kids ran over and accidentally killed what was then her 2 yr. old baby, Nia Leilani Arnold. A gorgeous little girl who clung to her like lint does to dress pants.

I raised 2 of my eight children in this amazing religion that taught my daughter,Maggie who was the first of my kids to get baptized by choice as a teenager and who still is an avid member how to ease the pain of a mother who just lost her baby daughter by her hands, accidental as it may have been.

I ended up in a mental institution from grief and guilt of Nia's death. Maggie on the other hand through her belief in God and her personal knowledge of our Lord and Savior held up much better than I did including my other grandchildren Nia's brother and sister's. They all knew where Nia went to and were happy she was with God up in Heaven and although they would miss her for now it would be just a little while before they reunited with her in Heaven again in the future.

I was never prouder of my daughter and grandchildren than at that moment of personal grief. I was inactive from the church for many years prior and since then have returned and made my peace with God and am well on the way to be sealed forever with my children in Temple for all eternity a covenant so important and goal in my near future.

This marvelous church I speak of is the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints the Mormon's. Their number is 1-800421-2565 call them and ask that our Elder Missionaries deliver to u a free copy of the Book of Mormon and a free DVD telling u about or church.

I was a devoted Catholic and my other family members except for Maggie and my son Jun-Jun r all Catholics but love our Missionaries so much that they r still investigating our church with prayers from Mags, Jun and me that soon they will open their eyes as we did and join God's other sheep mentioned in the Holy King James Version of the Bible. I invite u to seek and it shallbe opened unto u and if ye ask of God directly He shall guide ur path on what church u should belong to al u have to do is believe, be patient and ask of God URSELF.

I say these things to u in truth and by my testimony in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

Answer 2

Dear Sawyer,

This is a great question. Thanks for asking.
I have to answer: Yes, Yes and again I say YES!!!

But I have to differentiate between religion and Relationship.
The former is man-made and there are nearly as many religions as there are human beings. Relationship with the awesome uncreated Creator of the universe is a different matter all together.

Two, no three things that were and still are a tremendous help to me are:
!. Reading the Bible from cover-to-cover
2. Singing Jesus Loves Me and personalizing it.
3. Memorizing and repeating John 14:27 when I'm in especially stressful circumstances.

I didn't read the Bible from cover-to-cover until my life was falling apart at the seams. I was going through an unwanted divorce and then I got laid off 15 years ago at this time. Reading The Daily Walk Bible was the only place I could find any comfort. It was so good that I couldn't put it down and I finished it in 90 days.

Looking back I'm sorry I didn't read it before I started dating, before I graduated from high school, before I went to college, before I married, before I had children. But I'm so glad I read it because it was and continues to be the BEST thing I've ever done in my life.

Now, I can look back and see that as painful as some of the things I went through were, they caused me to draw near to the LORD and I can be thankful.

A few years ago I found Charles H. Spurgeon's book Morning and Evening at the library and enjoyed it so much that I bought my own copy. He really knew Scripture and our heavenly Father so I guess that brings to 4 my practical solutions. I sure do hope you may be blessed by them!

Edit: Make it 5 things - Put on the full armor of God as you begin each day! (Ephesians 6:10-18). Before I was Born Again that used to sound really wierd but what a difference it makes!

Answer 3

Yes, my faith has gotten me through all of the trials and disappointments in my life.I'm certainly not saying that I've had an easy time dealing with these things but I did get through them and carry on with my life without falling apart. During stressful times, I ask God for help and guidance in dealing with the situation and it does make a difference. Believe me, I've been through a lot and don't know if I would be here today if I didn't have faith.

Answer 4

I am not religious, but very spiritual. That simply means I don't have a religion. However, I strongly believe that my Creator is with me every step of my way and that I will not be left alone ever. It is comforting to have your very best friend with you at all times. Speak to God like you would speak with anyone else. You may be surprised to learn just how close He is.

Answer 5

Sometimes... It is not too easy to explain. Only God knows what in store in us.

Praying, asking, seeking for comfort from friends and family which it is not easy either.

I am dealing with depression right now and it is kind of hurting me inside.

So May the peace be with ya

Answer 6

Reading how other religious people reacted to disappointment or loss is helpful, in Job or Psalms for example

Answer 7

No, focusing on my past problems, and working on my wrong ideas that I carried through life helped me to learn to let go and see my problems for what they really were. I got a lot of help from self-help books. I learned in stressful times to keep things in prospective, it can always get worse. Sometimes what you think is big problem really isn't, and there are always good things in every ones life that make you life better.

For example, I use to hang onto the fact that I had a bad childhood, and felt that was why I had a troublesome adult life. That was until I read a story about a woman who's father use to rape her and prostitute her out to his friends and business clients. She learned to look past that and live a happy life. I realized my life wasn't that bad, and if she could keep going on with that kind of baggage in her life, I could go on to.

Answer 8

Hey Sawyer,
Yes, religion has helped me a lot. I'm Jewish and my faith in G-d has helped me through a major life event. I was paralyzed in a car accident 3 years ago, and my faith has sustained me through all the stress with the promise of a better future in eterntiy.

Answer 9

Right after I got saved, my wife filed for divorce, I lost my job, and was downright depressed. However, the love and mercy of God sustained me through it all. If I didn't have that, I would surely be dead. I now have a beautiful wife, a lovely daughter, and a child on the way. It is all due to God's grace. I thank Him that he is the God "of the second chance".

Answer 10

It has erased the concepts of disappointment and loss. Unless of course I forget and fall back into old habits.

Even then all I need to do is remember and the truth comes back and chases the silly dreams of discontent away.

Love and blessings Don