*Christian and Hebrew Scriptures say that loss and grief are universal human experiences and psychologists tell us that the process of mourning is often prolonged, painful, and emotionally complex.

Members of the clergy are often sought for counsel in situations associated with grief and loss. In a survey of over 1,200 American adults, 89 percent said that if they were facing their own death, they would find comfort in “believing in [the] loving presence of God or [a] Higher Power,” and 71 percent said they would be comforted by a visit from a clergyperson.

According to the National Funeral Directors Association, clergy officiate at approximately 1.5 million funeral or memorial services annually in the US. This means that every year clergy and other church leaders interact with millions of people who are grieving the loss of a close friend and/or family member.

Religious faith can help individuals cope with the death of a loved one. Several studies in diverse populations have shown a positive relationship between religious involvement and a successful response to the loss of a family member or close friend. Faith communities can offer both social support and a cognitive framework to address grief and loss.

A friend emailed me this song recently, its beautiful and powerful song about What Faith Can Do and I want to share it with you, regardless of your specific faith I hope the song gives you hope and inspires comfort;

CLICK LINK: That’s What Faith Can Do

*portion of post by Andrew J. Weaver is a United Methodist minister and research psychologist living in New York City, USA. He has co-authored 14 books including Counseling Survivors of Traumatic Events (Abingdon, 2003) and Reflections on Grief and the Spiritual Journey (Abingdon, 2005).

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