Episode 30: What People Don't Tell You About Grieving - with Natasha Smith
EXCLUSIVE BOOK GIVEAWAY!
Enter to WIN one of three SIGNED copies of Can You Just Sit With Me? Healthy Grieving for the Losses of Life by Natasha Smith!
How do we grieve healthily AND find real hope?
We often associate grief with the loss of a loved one, or perhaps a serious tragedy. But grief is much more common (and normal) than we think. It’s a natural part of life’s transitions, unexpected hurts, and a wide variety of challenges.
And yet, most of us were never taught how to grieve well. Instead, we default to pushing our hard emotions to the side and fight to stay “positive” and “have more faith.”
Because deep down, we’re afraid of being so overwhelmed by our losses - that we lose ourselves in the process.
Today, we sit down with Natasha Smith, author of Can You Just Sit with Me? Healthy Grieving for the Losses of Life. Through her personal journey of navigating 30+ years of painful losses, she shares insights on why healthy grieving matters, as well as how to allow grief to draw us closer to God rather than pull us away.
We also dive into the unspoken aspects of grief and uncomfortable emotions, from "invisible grief" that usually gets overlooked, to managing the tension of grieving honestly WHILE putting our faith in God at the same time.
If you or someone you know might be experiencing grief (perhaps without even realizing it), there is hope available for you.
As Natasha writes, it’s not a matter of getting OVER grief - but of allowing God to help you THROUGH it.
Let’s dive into what that looks like - and step into practical ways of finding hope and healing, even in the midst of real pain and disappointment.
KEY TOPICS:
2:48: Natasha's personal journey & what led her to write this book
8:18: What is grief & why it matters
11:15: Invisible & unrecognized grief
15:03: Growing closer vs. drifting away from God
20:15: Practical ways to process grief & lament with God
24:50: Bereavement leave & societal constraints
27:52: "Why do I need more time/space than others?"
32:00: Does grief ever go away? (WandaVision)
38:30: Collective grief (Israel-Hamas war, social & racial injustices, etc.)
45:09: How to ask for help (or space) when you're grieving
48:08: How to help others who are grieving
49:40: Last words for those who are grieving
50:32: Last words for those who want to help those grieving
54:15: A prayer for you ❤️
55:59: BOOK GIVEAWAY - win one of 3 SIGNED copies of Natasha's book!
And more…
ABOUT THE GUEST
Natasha Smith is a wife, mother, and writer from North Carolina. She is the author of Can You Just Sit with Me? Healthy Grieving for the Losses of Life. Her work has appeared at Her View from Home, Focus on the Family, and TODAY Parents. You can listen to her podcast and read her blog at imnatashasmith.com, or follow her on Twitter / Instagram: @imnatashasmith.
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Transcript
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