I was recently asked for resources designed to offer help and hope to a family where one of the children had committed suicide. Extreme helplessness often drives a question like this because there is no way to undo the horror of the child's action. This is how I responded. This grief is a deep anguish that only Christ can touch with hope and help. Our son did not commit suicide, but the principles of encouragement are universal when reaching out to a grieving family. Though we cannot fully understand what another person is experiencing under any conditions, you can be better equipped to offer help and hope if you try to understand their journey. Read books on grief and how to encourage a grieving family. Accept that you cannot fix their broken hearts. Your task is to be a channel of God's compassion that helps turn their hearts toward Him.

These are some resources we offer through MARKINC Ministries that will help you better understand the deep sorrow as well as equip you to offer help and hope to this dear family:

Treasures of Encouragement: In this book I share how the ministry of encouragement is God's way of keeping many of His promises to His children. In Chapter 11 I list specific ways people encouraged us in our own journey of grief. There are basic encouragement principles that apply to all situations, even a family suffering the horror of the suicide of their child.

Loss of a Loved One: This is a one hour interview with my husband and me. We describe our own grief journey and our struggle to reconcile God's love with His sovereignty. This CD is from our signature resource: Learning to See When the Lights Go Out CD series.

Treasures in Darkness: A Grieving Mother Shares Her Heart - In this book I share my own wrestling match with God. Though our son did not commit suicide, I had to learn how to trust God in the darkness. Friends who gave me freedom to grieve honestly were priceless.

You can order these resources from www.markinc.org and clicking on the Inspirational Store icon at the top of the page or by clicking here.

You will have more freedom and confidence in God's strength as you reach out to these families if you remember, you cannot fix them. Your task is to offer help and hope through the love of Christ, to understand that they have to go through the anguish of grief, that it's a long, arduous journey and you cannot make it shorter. Your task is to reflect Christ in a way that helps turn their hearts toward Him.

When God calls us to such a task, He equips us. Praying you will experience His strength as you respond in obedience to His call.

In His grip,
Sharon