loader from loading.io

153 How To Deal with Grief and Maintain our Hope

Your Hope-Filled Perspective with Dr. Michelle Bengtson podcast

Release Date: 03/17/2022

262 How To Help a Friend Facing Cancer show art 262 How To Help a Friend Facing Cancer

Your Hope-Filled Perspective with Dr. Michelle Bengtson podcast

Episode Summary: We all want to help. When we hear someone whose been given a devastating diagnosis, we want to try to help make things better. Or, at least make things less bad. But, sometimes, inadvertently, we can say and do things that cause more harm than good. Through my history with cancer and my husband's history with cancer, we've learned a few things. So in this replay of a conversation I had with Amy Connell, I'm going to share some insights that I think you'll find helpful so you can know how best to help a friend with cancer. This episode not only sheds light on the emotional and...

info_outline 261 How Your CORE Strength Can Bring Freedom and Empowerment in Your Health show art 261 How Your CORE Strength Can Bring Freedom and Empowerment in Your Health

Your Hope-Filled Perspective with Dr. Michelle Bengtson podcast

Episode Summary: In a world bent on touting certain diets and restrictive eating, our guest, Amy Connell, desires we learn about our core strength. After releasing her book Your Worthy Body, written for women over 40, she had moms approach her saying “I need something like this for my daughters!”  Her hope is to be a conduit between mom and daughter to help them both foster a healthy relationship with food, exercise and their body so they can grow in their relationship with each other. She does this through her new book Your Core Strength: A Christ-Centered, Diet-Culture-Free book for...

info_outline 260 Hope Amidst Hardship: Breaking the Cycle of Generational Poverty show art 260 Hope Amidst Hardship: Breaking the Cycle of Generational Poverty

Your Hope-Filled Perspective with Dr. Michelle Bengtson podcast

Episode Summary: Some pro-life advocates mistakenly assume that once a pregnant woman has chosen life for her baby, the battle has been won. However, the truth is that for mothers living in poverty, especially generational poverty, the battle has only begun. These women lack resources, support, finances, and hope. While pregnancy centers succeed in leading women to choose life and providing aid through the baby's first year, impoverished mothers are then left to fight a solitary battle for the life of their child every day. Join me with Marisol Maldonado Rodriguez as we talk about hope for...

info_outline 259 What Is Sexual Abuse and Offering Hope for Survivors show art 259 What Is Sexual Abuse and Offering Hope for Survivors

Your Hope-Filled Perspective with Dr. Michelle Bengtson podcast

Episode Summary:  Join me with Melissa Heiland as we talk about an important but sensitive topic: what is sexual abuse, and how we can offer hope for sexual abuse survivors.  In the US, 10% of all children experience some form of sexual abuse before they turn 18. These numbers are likely low since sexual abuse is underreported. The victims are most likely to be female (75%), but these numbers are rapidly changing as boys are increasingly the targets of molesters. A whopping 90% of the children who are abused know their abuser which often points to a family member, teacher, scout...

info_outline 258 How to Hold Onto Faith While Waiting for Healing show art 258 How to Hold Onto Faith While Waiting for Healing

Your Hope-Filled Perspective with Dr. Michelle Bengtson podcast

Episode Summary: Dr. Michelle Bengtson joins David Robison of LifeToday to explore the challenging journey of maintaining faith during periods of waiting for healing. Drawing from her personal struggles and professional insights as a neuropsychologist, Dr. Bengtson shares about the emotional, physical, and spiritual pain that tests our faith. Through her new book, "The Hem of His Garment," she offers hope, encouragement, and practical advice to those navigating the complexities of pain and waiting. Join us as we discuss the importance of pressing into faith, the biblical examples of those who...

info_outline 257 The Truth About Anxiety in Motherhood: How to Overcome Overwhelm and Fear show art 257 The Truth About Anxiety in Motherhood: How to Overcome Overwhelm and Fear

Your Hope-Filled Perspective with Dr. Michelle Bengtson podcast

Episode Summary:  All moms worry, right? Motherhood tempts many moms to worry, especially about the wellbeing of their children. Are they breathing? How can I keep them healthy? What if they don’t make friends at school? But for moms who experience anxiety, worry quickly elevates into debilitating overwhelm, fear, and doubt. This can make normal tasks of motherhood overwhelming and joy-less. Courtney Devich and I share the truth about anxiety in motherhood and how to overcome overwhelm and fear.   Quotables from the episode: Many moms believe the adage, “I’m a mom, it’s my...

info_outline 256 Lessons You Can Learn from Broken Friendships show art 256 Lessons You Can Learn from Broken Friendships

Your Hope-Filled Perspective with Dr. Michelle Bengtson podcast

Episode Summary:  Relationship conflict can be difficult. Can good come from broken relationships? How do deal with mutual friends after a breakup? How do we get over the pain of friendships that end? And how does Jesus teach us to be a good friend? Join me with Jessica Van Roekel for Lessons You Can Learn from Broken Friendships. Quotables from the episode: It could be safe to say we become God’s enemy when we harbor the sin of unforgiveness in our heart, which is why we must be careful not to point fingers at our ex-friend. Jesus tells us to take care of the log in our own eye before...

info_outline 255 How to Heal After a Friendship Breakup show art 255 How to Heal After a Friendship Breakup

Your Hope-Filled Perspective with Dr. Michelle Bengtson podcast

Episode Summary:   The contributors to a friendship breakup are varied and as individual as the parties involved. A spectrum of relationship commitments falls under the umbrella of friendship. Friendships can range from acquaintances, colleagues, familial, casual, close, or intimate. The type of friendship prior to a breakup affects the depth of the wound. Many questions exist around friendship breakups ranging from “why do friendships end?” to “what does this say about me?” and even “what do we need when friendships end?” In the last episode, Jessica Van Roekel and I talked...

info_outline 254 How To Repair a Friendship with Grace to Move from Hurt to Healing show art 254 How To Repair a Friendship with Grace to Move from Hurt to Healing

Your Hope-Filled Perspective with Dr. Michelle Bengtson podcast

Episode Summary:   What do you do when your friend walks away from your relationship without explanation or chance for reconciliation? Guilt and shame keep Christian women from talking about it. It’s embarrassing, confusing, and often heartbreaking. In this episode, Jessica Van Roekel and I talk about a common event, that few in Christian circles discuss openly.  Misunderstandings happen and disagreements occur even in the healthiest of relationships. In a world that seems to thrive on discord, it can be tempting to run from conflict in a friendship. But conflict can bring about...

info_outline 253 How To Find Your Natural Prayer Style and Unleash Your Prayer Potential show art 253 How To Find Your Natural Prayer Style and Unleash Your Prayer Potential

Your Hope-Filled Perspective with Dr. Michelle Bengtson podcast

Episode Summary:  Do you ever feel uncomfortable praying in public? Do you ever envy the prayer-life or prayer style of others after you hear them pray? Do you ever feel guilty for not praying more like those you admire? What if I assured you that God is more interested in your heart and in having a relationship than he is the eloquence of your prayers? Join me with Janet McHenry to discover how your personality influences your prayer life and learn practical ways to pray so that you find your natural prayer style.   Quotables from the episode: I started prayerwalking in the fall of...

info_outline
 
More Episodes

Episode Summary:
In this episode, I talk with my friend, Donna Fagerstrom, about how to deal with grief. Donna shares the truths she learned during her own grief journey and in walking with others through the grieving process. We can maintain our hope, because Jesus is our hope, and become an overcomer through the tough times.

Quotables from the episode:

  • The gift of mercy is feeling another’s pain as though it were your very own.
  • When we grieve or mourn, it attests to the degree we loved someone or something.
  • After most every loss, we experience grief.
  • The fact that Jesus wept after Lazarus died, knowing He was going to bring him back to life again, modeled the healthy nature and the gift of grief God gave us.
  • We need to give ourselves permission to grieve.
  • When we stuff our grief, it will end up coming out at another albeit less expected and less appropriate time.
  • We don’t grieve like people who don’t know Jesus. Our grief leads to our hope and our hope leads to Jesus. The hope of Heaven is our great comfort.
  • Our hope here is temporal, but our hope in Heaven is for all eternity.
  • There are so many different ways we have experienced grief, loss, and mourning over the past couple of years.
  • Don’t stand in judgment when others grieve…it’s a very individual process.
  • The example of the thief on the cross when Jesus died can comfort us when we don’t know where a loved one will spend eternity.
  • There’s no right or wrong way to grieve—only the best way for you.
  • If you haven’t given yourself permission to grieve, you will just beat yourself up by putting unrealistic expectations on yourself.
  • Don’t let others put their expectations on you for how you should grieve or how long it will take. Be gentle and kind with yourself.
  • In your grief, seek out those who have the gift of mercy and a willingness to listen. 

Scripture References:

  • Jeremiah 31:3 "I will turn their mourning into gladness; I will give them comfort and joy instead of sorrow, says the Lord."
  • Psalm 34:18 "The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and He saves those who are crushed in spirit."
  • Hebrews 13:5 "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you."

Recommended Resources: 

Social Media Links for Guest and Host

Connect with Donna Fagerstrom:

Facebook / Instagram

For more hope, stay connected with Dr. Bengtson at:

Order Book Breaking Anxiety’s Grip / Order Book Hope Prevails  /  Website  /  Blog  /  Facebook / Twitter (@DrMBengtson)  /  LinkedIn  /  Instagram / Pinterest / YouTube

Guest:

Born and raised in West Michigan, Donna Fagerstrom was spiritually impacted by Holland Youth for Christ, surrendering her life to God and full-time ministry.  Donna is a gifted writer, communicator, worship leader and women’s disciple-maker. Her alma mater, Cornerstone University, awarded her the Woman of Influence award in 2010. After serving for 49 years in a variety of life-engaging ministries (Local Church; Seminary; Church Planting and Marketplace Chaplaincy), Doug and Donna have retired to write, coach executive leaders and nurture their family. 

Hosted By: Dr. Michelle Bengtson
Audio Technical Support: Bryce Bengtson