Research Paper On Grief And Loss In Church Families And Coup

Research Paper on grief and loss in church families and couples

Today, families and couples in churches face many issues affecting how they live with themselves, their community, and even their relationship with God. For instance, many Christian families are going through grief and loss while still in our churches. Grief can be an overwhelming emotion, and every person goes through it at some point during their life. Although death is one of God’s plans, many people, including Christians, find it hard to grapple with emotions associated with losing a loved one, leading to grief. However, it is good to note that death is not the only cause of grief, but other types of losses can also invoke grief, such as loss of a job, loss of a relationship, and even declining health.

According to Kochen et al. (2020), grief is a natural response to a loss, not a lack of faith in God or an expression of weakness. People with grief need support from friends, pastors, families, and the general society. I chose the topic because grief and loss are prevalent issues, not only in churches but also in society, and when not well addressed can lead to detrimental outcomes for the affected person. Grieving couples and families are often unable to fully participate in church activities or socialize well with others, which affects their social and religious life. Sometimes grief and loss can be seen as normal, but its impact is worth attention and research to understand its sources, extent in churches, effects, and solutions to guarantee high quality of life.

Stories and testimonies from fellow church members about their experience with grief and loss are the sources of my interest in the topic. Some years back, I lost a job I was very passionate about, which was my only source of income at the time. It was so hard for me to figure it out, especially after losing a relative just a year earlier. Grief is not an easy experience, particularly at a young age, when energy and focus should be directed toward building a brighter future. During this period, I experienced symptoms such as sadness, anger, guilt, and even physical pains, all of which are symptoms of grief (Eersel et al., 2020). I believe that many church members are going through grief and loss, especially during this post-pandemic period when many have lost loved ones due to Covid-19. Additionally, many have lost their jobs and relationships, which have been strained by Covid-19 measures, affecting their lives profoundly (Wallace et al., 2020). During church services and meetings, individuals often confess hardships, seeking prayer and support, indicating widespread experiences of grief and loss among believers and their families.

Through researching this topic, I aim to understand the factors that increase the risk of grief among church members, as well as the extent of this issue within the church community. I also plan to investigate the symptoms and effects of grief and loss on social life and the relationship with God. This is particularly relevant because churches are spiritual centers where individuals seek to strengthen their bond with God, and understanding how grief impacts this relationship is vital. Additionally, I intend to explore potential solutions and interventions to effectively manage grief and loss among Christian families and couples.

References

• Kochen, E. M., Jenken, F., Boelen, P. A., Deben, L., Fahner, J. C., van den Hoogen, A., ... & Kars, M. C. (2020). When a child dies: a systematic review of well-defined parent-focused bereavement interventions and their alignment with grief-and loss theories. BMC palliative care, 19(1), 1-22.
• Eersel, J. H., Taris, T. W., & Boelen, P. A. (2020). Reciprocal relations between symptoms of complicated grief, depression, and anxiety following job loss: A cross-lagged analysis. Clinical Psychologist, 24(3).
• Wallace, C. L., Wladkowski, S. P., Gibson, A., & White, P. (2020). Grief during the COVID-19 pandemic: considerations for palliative care providers. Journal of pain and symptom management, 60(1), e70-e76.
• Additional scholarly references relevant to grief, loss, and pastoral counseling theory will be included in the full paper to support the detailed analysis and proposed interventions.