Guilt, Grief, and Gratitude with Lauren Washer
In this episode, I chatted with my friend Lauren Washer about the complicated interaction between grief, guilt and gratitude. Lauren is well acquainted with grief of many kinds shared with candor about her grief over her miscarriages, the tragic unsolved murder of her brother, and a difficult diagnosis for one of her children at birth. We talked about the temptation to feel guilt over our grief because it feels like ingratitude and how to biblically navigate living in this tension between weeping and rejoicing, lament and thanksgiving, gladness and grief. I pray that this episode will be an encouragement to you as you navigate this tension in the wake of your own loss.
About Lauren Washer:
Lauren is a wife, mom of six, Bible teacher, and writer who lives in Norfolk, Virginia. She enjoys helping women apply the truth of God's Word to every moment, so they will grow to know and love Jesus more. You can find more of her writing and connect with her on Instagram and her blog.
Questions in this Episode:
Would you start off by just telling us a bit about your own experience with miscarriage?
Let’s just start with some of the griefs that you have known and how you have been tempted to feel guilty for feeling sad?
Why else do you think someone who is grieving a miscarriage might feel guilt over feeling sad or the magnitude of their sorrow? I’m curious in particular about how "at least" comments from others can foster that kind of thinking.
What wisdom does God’s word offer us in this place, when we are tempted to think of grief as being a sinful lack of gratitude?
So we have established that we should fight the temptation to suppress our grief because it feels "ungrateful." But what role, if any, should gratitude play in our grief? Is it something we should still seek to cultivate even while we are lamenting?
What has it looked like for you to let joy and sorrow coexist as you walked through your miscarriages? In the loss of your brother? In tough diagnoses for your children?
Practically speaking, what are some things we can do that will help us to hold grief and gratitude, weeping and rejoicing in tension?
Questions for every guest:What’s one way God has used your experience of miscarriage to work in your heart and life?
If you could encourage a woman to meditate on or memorize any verse or short set of verses in this season, what would it be and why?
Scripture References:
Romans 8
Ecclesiastes 3:1-3
John 11
Philippians 4:11-12
1 Peter 1:3-7
Psalm 18
2 Corinthians 4:7-18
Intro/ Outro Music:
My Soul Will Wait (Psalm 62) [feat. Stacy Lantz], Hilton Head Presbyterian Church
“Held” Book Purchasing Info:
purchasing link (discount code: heldpodcast10 )
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