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31-Day Devotionals for Life
Grief: Walking with Jesus
Are those who have faith in God's goodness supposed to grieve? Bob Kellemen reminds us that the Bible is both painfully honest and eternally encouraging about our hurts—assuring us that it is normal to hurt but also possible to hope. This devotional offers suggested resources and reflection questions to help you to apply gospel truth, day by day, to your grief. Be honest with your grief and give voice to it—then see how you can find comfort and even bring comfort to others.
In the 31-Day Devotionals for Life series, biblical counselors and Bible teachers guide you through Scripture passages that speak to specific situations or struggles, helping you to apply God's Word to your life in practical ways day after day.
In the 31-Day Devotionals for Life series, biblical counselors and Bible teachers guide you through Scripture passages that speak to specific situations or struggles, helping you to apply God's Word to your life in practical ways day after day.
88 pages, Paperback
Published September 28, 2018
33 people are currently reading
107 people want to read
About the author
Robert W. Kellemen
32 books54 followersMy passion is to write, speak, and consult on Christ-centered comprehensive, compassioante, culturally-informed biblical counseling and spiritual formation that changes lives with Christ's changeless truth
My web site is: www.rpmministries.org
I have authored:
Beyond the Suffering: Embracing the Legacy of African American Soul Care and Spiritual Direciton
Soul Physicians: A Theology of Soul Care and Spiritual Direction
Spiritual Friends: A Methodology of Soul Care and Spiritual Direction
Sacred Friendships: Celebrating the Legacy of Women Heroes of the Faith
My wife, Shirley, and I have been married for 28 years. We have a married son, Josh (to Andi), and a young adult daughter, Marie, who is a college Senior.
My web site is: www.rpmministries.org
I have authored:
Beyond the Suffering: Embracing the Legacy of African American Soul Care and Spiritual Direciton
Soul Physicians: A Theology of Soul Care and Spiritual Direction
Spiritual Friends: A Methodology of Soul Care and Spiritual Direction
Sacred Friendships: Celebrating the Legacy of Women Heroes of the Faith
My wife, Shirley, and I have been married for 28 years. We have a married son, Josh (to Andi), and a young adult daughter, Marie, who is a college Senior.
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
September 27, 2018
Every person you know is grieving right now or soon will be. Think about it. The experience of loss is universal–not a matter of if but of when. The real question is how we will process our grief when it inevitably arrives. Will we be crushed? Will we be comforted? Will we make good choices in our grief? Will we walk with Jesus through the dark valley of loss?
My friend Bob Kelleman has written an excellent 31 Day Devotional on this very topic in the brand new series from P&R Books on biblical counseling themes. In Grief: Walking with Jesus, Bob has created an unique resource for followers of Christ to process their grief in a biblically thoughtful way. The daily readings are each substantive yet short enough to read in a brief sitting even with the brain fog that often descends in times of heartbreak.
Bob’s book on grief was full of good surprises. I expected a book about comfort, but what I found was a book about Jesus. This was, of course, very comforting–but also very challenging. Bob crafted the book as a study of the life of Jesus progressing from His preexistence in eternity past to His glorious return in the future with a particular application of Jesus’ life to the experience of grief. This unique approach led to many unexpected places, not only for me but even apparently for the author!
For example, there was an emphasis on sacrificially loving other people while experiencing loss. On Day 11, Bob writes:
"Time after time, Jesus refused to stop at comforting hope. He kept pushing me not only toward comforting others, not only toward loving others, but toward forgiving and loving those who caused my grief! Consistently, directly in the context of grief and loss, Jesus gazed on my soul and through his Word said, ‘Bob, ‘love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you' (Luke 6:27–28).’ Remember, these verses come just five verses after Jesus tells us, ‘Blessed are you who weep now, for you shall laugh’ (Luke 6:21). In the context of mourning and weeping, Jesus calls us to a life of forgiving and loving. That's costly discipleship."
I suppose we shouldn’t be surprised because that’s exactly how Jesus loved even as He suffered, but it helped me that Bob was pointing it out.
Another surprise was pondering the emotional life of our Lord–especially in some of the raw emotions that come with grief. I expected to read about how Jesus wept at the tomb of his friend Lazarus (and that’s in there), but I didn’t foresee thinking about what Kelleman calls Jesus’ holy disappointment when His friends let Him down when He needed them most. On Day 26, Bob leads us to the Garden of Gethsamane saying:
"Jesus models holy disappointment. He asked Peter and the two sons of Zebedee to watch with him. He wanted and needed them to be on emotional sentry duty with him. But they went emotionally AWOL. And it disappointed Jesus. ‘He came to the disciples and found them sleeping. And he said to Peter, ‘So, could you not watch with me one hour?’‘ (Matt. 26:40). Can you hear the emotional disappointment? Can you feel the emotional fatigue? Jesus does not lash out, but neither does he minimize or deny the reality that they have let him down.
We have said previously that shared sorrow is endurable sorrow. We’ve painted pictures of climbing in the grief casket with each other. Jesus longed for his disciples to climb into his casket of sorrow, but they fell asleep on their watch. And it hurt Jesus."
Insightful! That was really helpful to me because it helps me to think about how negative emotions can be processed in God-glorifying ways such as confrontation and lament. If Jesus could do “holy disappointment,” so can (and should!) we.
Don’t get me wrong. There was plenty of comfort in these pages, too, especially as we watch the Man of Sorrows grieve Himself and as we contemplate our hope that is still to come. But this book offers hidden depths and not just the usual tried and truisms. Each daily entry also ends with a few prompts for personal reflection. Someone who is hurting could go through it profitably several times in a row.
I will be buying Grief: Walking with Jesus by the caseload to give out liberally as an invariably helpful resource for those who are experiencing loss. In fact, I’m ordering one this minute to send to a friend whose mom died yesterday.
Loss is unavoidable in this life, but Jesus has gone through it before us and promises to walk with us every painful step of the way.
My friend Bob Kelleman has written an excellent 31 Day Devotional on this very topic in the brand new series from P&R Books on biblical counseling themes. In Grief: Walking with Jesus, Bob has created an unique resource for followers of Christ to process their grief in a biblically thoughtful way. The daily readings are each substantive yet short enough to read in a brief sitting even with the brain fog that often descends in times of heartbreak.
Bob’s book on grief was full of good surprises. I expected a book about comfort, but what I found was a book about Jesus. This was, of course, very comforting–but also very challenging. Bob crafted the book as a study of the life of Jesus progressing from His preexistence in eternity past to His glorious return in the future with a particular application of Jesus’ life to the experience of grief. This unique approach led to many unexpected places, not only for me but even apparently for the author!
For example, there was an emphasis on sacrificially loving other people while experiencing loss. On Day 11, Bob writes:
"Time after time, Jesus refused to stop at comforting hope. He kept pushing me not only toward comforting others, not only toward loving others, but toward forgiving and loving those who caused my grief! Consistently, directly in the context of grief and loss, Jesus gazed on my soul and through his Word said, ‘Bob, ‘love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you' (Luke 6:27–28).’ Remember, these verses come just five verses after Jesus tells us, ‘Blessed are you who weep now, for you shall laugh’ (Luke 6:21). In the context of mourning and weeping, Jesus calls us to a life of forgiving and loving. That's costly discipleship."
I suppose we shouldn’t be surprised because that’s exactly how Jesus loved even as He suffered, but it helped me that Bob was pointing it out.
Another surprise was pondering the emotional life of our Lord–especially in some of the raw emotions that come with grief. I expected to read about how Jesus wept at the tomb of his friend Lazarus (and that’s in there), but I didn’t foresee thinking about what Kelleman calls Jesus’ holy disappointment when His friends let Him down when He needed them most. On Day 26, Bob leads us to the Garden of Gethsamane saying:
"Jesus models holy disappointment. He asked Peter and the two sons of Zebedee to watch with him. He wanted and needed them to be on emotional sentry duty with him. But they went emotionally AWOL. And it disappointed Jesus. ‘He came to the disciples and found them sleeping. And he said to Peter, ‘So, could you not watch with me one hour?’‘ (Matt. 26:40). Can you hear the emotional disappointment? Can you feel the emotional fatigue? Jesus does not lash out, but neither does he minimize or deny the reality that they have let him down.
We have said previously that shared sorrow is endurable sorrow. We’ve painted pictures of climbing in the grief casket with each other. Jesus longed for his disciples to climb into his casket of sorrow, but they fell asleep on their watch. And it hurt Jesus."
Insightful! That was really helpful to me because it helps me to think about how negative emotions can be processed in God-glorifying ways such as confrontation and lament. If Jesus could do “holy disappointment,” so can (and should!) we.
Don’t get me wrong. There was plenty of comfort in these pages, too, especially as we watch the Man of Sorrows grieve Himself and as we contemplate our hope that is still to come. But this book offers hidden depths and not just the usual tried and truisms. Each daily entry also ends with a few prompts for personal reflection. Someone who is hurting could go through it profitably several times in a row.
I will be buying Grief: Walking with Jesus by the caseload to give out liberally as an invariably helpful resource for those who are experiencing loss. In fact, I’m ordering one this minute to send to a friend whose mom died yesterday.
Loss is unavoidable in this life, but Jesus has gone through it before us and promises to walk with us every painful step of the way.
September 29, 2018
Have you ever been convicted in grief? This book may do just that. But don’t be intimidated! It is a good conviction that I believe will encourage growth within the grieving Christian. “Grief: Walking With Jesus” is not nor does it claim to be a guide for coping with loss. Instead, author Bob Kellemen presents quality insights into certain biblical passages pertaining to grief: particularly the grief of Jesus. Kellemen’s insights include worshipping and glorifying God through grief and gospel-centered lament.
The title struck me as interesting and relevant so I requested it, and I am glad I did. At the end of each devotional reading, Kellemen offers a couple of paragraphs for reflection and action based on the day. I recommend that the reader take time to work through the suggestions, and not skim through each day as is often the temptation with devotional books.
To be honest, I do not read a significant amount of devotionals as they often cannot go into the depth that their topics really demand. Even the more doctrinally solid devotionals tend to lack significant depth simply because of space constraints. However, I can say I thoroughly appreciated this book as my own family and congregation are in a season of grief. Kellemen is able to be gentle while not encouraging readers to wallow in their grief or focus unbiblically on the self. He presents biblical reflections on grief, reminding readers that we do not grieve as the world does. “Grief: Walking With Jesus” has been a wonderful reminder of the transcending hope that Jesus brings to the grieving.
The title struck me as interesting and relevant so I requested it, and I am glad I did. At the end of each devotional reading, Kellemen offers a couple of paragraphs for reflection and action based on the day. I recommend that the reader take time to work through the suggestions, and not skim through each day as is often the temptation with devotional books.
To be honest, I do not read a significant amount of devotionals as they often cannot go into the depth that their topics really demand. Even the more doctrinally solid devotionals tend to lack significant depth simply because of space constraints. However, I can say I thoroughly appreciated this book as my own family and congregation are in a season of grief. Kellemen is able to be gentle while not encouraging readers to wallow in their grief or focus unbiblically on the self. He presents biblical reflections on grief, reminding readers that we do not grieve as the world does. “Grief: Walking With Jesus” has been a wonderful reminder of the transcending hope that Jesus brings to the grieving.
August 15, 2022
Not usually a devotional guy, but this little book has been a balm to my soul, spurring on prayers, tears, and hope. I happily recommended it to my fellow sufferers.
January 18, 2019
When your heart breaks, turn to the suffering Shepherd and through his comfort and in his strength, comfort and shepherd others also. Do something great for your great Savior by serving others. The gospel also opens our eyes to the ascension and return. That's the rest of the story. When we forget the end of the story, we're tempted to live as if this life were the only story.
Grief comes in many forms. Losing a job, a spouse, a friend, or even a purpose and with these many forms, many of us handle grief poorly. I am guilty of this myself. This devotion was a great reminder that in grief walking with Jesus takes on a whole new light. I just need to turn my eyes outward instead of inward. Easier said than done but it is the only way to healing. It is also in grief that we experience the gospel like no other time. When squeezed, it is said the hidden things come out.
Each day the devotion starts with a scripture and a time of grief. What does grief look like and more importantly what we can do with it. Don't waste it. Don't run from it. Give yourself to feel that grief as it is God's way to bring himself to you. There is a time of reflection and action after each day.
Grief is so prevalent in our world today and must not let it crush us. Being praying for others as grief can be a real struggle with some. We can learn many things of the gospel in our time of grief to give others a taste of the gospel as well. Highly recommend.
A Special Thank you to P & R Publishing and Netgalley for the ARC and the opportunity to post an honest review.
Grief comes in many forms. Losing a job, a spouse, a friend, or even a purpose and with these many forms, many of us handle grief poorly. I am guilty of this myself. This devotion was a great reminder that in grief walking with Jesus takes on a whole new light. I just need to turn my eyes outward instead of inward. Easier said than done but it is the only way to healing. It is also in grief that we experience the gospel like no other time. When squeezed, it is said the hidden things come out.
Each day the devotion starts with a scripture and a time of grief. What does grief look like and more importantly what we can do with it. Don't waste it. Don't run from it. Give yourself to feel that grief as it is God's way to bring himself to you. There is a time of reflection and action after each day.
Grief is so prevalent in our world today and must not let it crush us. Being praying for others as grief can be a real struggle with some. We can learn many things of the gospel in our time of grief to give others a taste of the gospel as well. Highly recommend.
A Special Thank you to P & R Publishing and Netgalley for the ARC and the opportunity to post an honest review.
October 2, 2018
No one escapes loss in this life. It may be the loss of a secure job, good health, a sweet pet or a dear loved one. The natural response to loss is grief—an expression of deep sorrow. It can be a scary journey of hills and valleys. People grieve in many ways—keeping busy, isolation or even numbing themselves with drugs and alcohol. How are Christians supposed to grieve?
Grief: Walking with Jesus brings hope to those who are grieving. In this 31-day devotional, Bob Kellemen takes readers through a biblically woven path on the grieving life of Christ. Each entry will move readers from understanding to reflection and application, teaching them how to grieve.
This devotional delivers the unexpected by leading the reader into worship of Jesus Christ in their grief. The reflection questions and practical suggestions encourage the reader to invite Jesus into their grieving process—revitalizing their walk with Jesus. This devotional is a must for anyone who has experienced loss.
Grief: Walking with Jesus brings hope to those who are grieving. In this 31-day devotional, Bob Kellemen takes readers through a biblically woven path on the grieving life of Christ. Each entry will move readers from understanding to reflection and application, teaching them how to grieve.
This devotional delivers the unexpected by leading the reader into worship of Jesus Christ in their grief. The reflection questions and practical suggestions encourage the reader to invite Jesus into their grieving process—revitalizing their walk with Jesus. This devotional is a must for anyone who has experienced loss.
October 7, 2023
This devotional connected scripture to the grieving process in ways I could not. Grateful we were given this as a gift. My husband and I started it a week or after losing our precious baby girl. It has been very helpful, recommend to anyone experiencing grief.
August 13, 2024
Thankful for this devotional. A balm to my soul and a conduit of grace to help myself and others open up more.
6/24-8/12/2024 with friends from church and as a part of an assignment for 33477ww
4.5/5 🌟
6/24-8/12/2024 with friends from church and as a part of an assignment for 33477ww
4.5/5 🌟
March 26, 2023
One thing: Your grief is not wasted.
December 24, 2020
Great little book on grief. I’ve been through a year full of loss on many levels. This is an excellent book on how to turn to Jesus and follow his example through grief. Very comforting and biblical. Will use as a reference as well.
Read this book thru again this year. More grief, changing grief. Great reference book.
Read this book thru again this year. More grief, changing grief. Great reference book.
February 7, 2021
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews