Grieving a Suicide: Help for the Aftershock

CCEF Minibooks

by David A. Powlison

Someone you know and love has died. You feel the emptiness and sorrow of loss. That alone is extremely hard. But suicide adds many other painful reactions to the heartache that death brings. Common reactions are feelings of anger, guilt, betrayal, and many, many unanswerable questions.This is one of life's broken, dark experiences in which you need help and encouragement to remember that the promises and presence of your God and Savior are real. CCEFs David Powlison speaks into this darkness with Grieving a Help for the Aftershock. Powlison points you toward God who will be with you, uphold you, and help you live by faith through this tragedy. All the minibooks in our Christian bookstore offer gospel-centered hope for everyday issues like parenting, marriage, and personal change. These easy-to-read discipleship and biblical counseling resources tackle lifes toughest issues in 30 minutes or less.Minibooks are frequently used by pastors and ministry leaders to help others apply biblical wisdom to specific life issues. Churches, biblical counseling ministries, and missional organizations make the minibooks available in their acrylic display cases to further discipleship and gospel-centered living.

Genres: Counselling

24 pages, Paperback

First published July 2, 1905

About the author

David Powlison, MDiv, PhD, (1949–2019) was a teacher, counselor, and the executive director of the Christian Counseling & Educational Foundation (CCEF). He wrote many books and minibooks, including Speaking Truth in Love, Seeing with New Eyes, Good and Angry, Making All Things New, God's Grace in Your Suffering, Safe and Sound, and Take Heart. David was also the editor of The Journal of Biblical Counseling.

Reviews

[Andrzej Stelmasiak · Rating 3 out of 5]

Actually it is 3.5 stars.

It's OK, and in a very short space aims to highlight some typical issues, but has that sermonic feel to it and makes it a lot about 'you', and in the paragraph on community support local church is not even mentioned.

I would give it to someone who is grieving a suicide, but not because it's very good, but rather because so far I did not find anything better, that would be both brief and meaningful.

I really appreciate that Powlison points those who are grieving to God, who truly is the source of comfort. That emphasis is crucial, and is unmistakably present in this pamphlet.

[Andrea · Rating 4 out of 5]

18 page pamphlet briefly offering biblical counsel for the aftermath of suicide.

"The actions of those around us influence us both for good and bad. You might say that we counsel each other with our actions. When someone you love commits suicide, you are receiving some very bad counsel. The counsel that comes from a suicide is that the way to deal with disappointment and hardship is to isolate oneself. Suicide is an act done in isolation that leads to utter isolation and desolation. You need to resist this counsel by clinging to God, by connecting with other people, by trusting in God's mercy, and by living in a way that is fruitful."

[En Yi WEI · Rating 5 out of 5]

Imagine a person who took his own life, and afterwards was able to read this book, would the person still do it? Hmm ....

This little booklet gives (in succinct form) the battles and challenges faced by those whose loved ones have chosen to take their own life.

Well worth a read.

[Chloe Lawrence · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was fine, but I'm not sure it's tender enough to give someone right after a close friend or family member dies.