Resources for Grieving Families

By: Jessika Sanders & Becca Tomasello

God Blesses those who mourn, for they will be comforted. -Matthew 5:4 NLT

Navigating child loss, childhood illness and hospitalizations are stressful.  Each circumstance comes with its own set of complexities, questions and emotions.  Often families feel alone as they navigate these difficult situations.  For those in the midst of these often unexpected situations, it is tough know what resources are available.  Because these situations are unexpected, many haven’t had time to look for, nor do they have the energy to begin looking for resources and support.

Praying Through Ministries offers many resources for grieving and suffering families that can provide comfort and hope.  The resources are meant to walk families through the grieving process, give them encouragement and help prevent the isolation that can accompany grief and suffering. (hits on keywords again). Praying Through ministries offers a number of free programs and resources that fall under the headings of support and encouragement.

Packages of Gospel Hope

One of the most impactful resources Praying Through ministries provides is ongoing support through packages of gospel hope (https://www.prayingthroughministries.org/request).   Each package is customized with a book for each member of the family, personalized notes of encouragement, and other small items to help families fix their eyes on Jesus.A family grieving the loss of a child receives 5 packages of gospel hope over the course of one year  The packages for grieving families center on themes of grief and loss, emotions, the hope of Heaven, and The Good Shepherd. A family navigating the suffering of childhood illness or hospitalization receives 7 packages of gospel hope over the course of one year.  Packages center on themes of prayer, anxiety, healing, God’s character, and praise. Additional packages can be customized to meet the needs of the family and anything with which they might be struggling.  Packages are currently only available to those living within the United States.  

1:1 Peer Support

Another impactful program Praying Through Ministries offers is 1:1 Peer Support for women grieving the loss of a child or navigating the suffering of childhood illness or hospitalization. (https://www.prayingthroughministries.org/peersupport).  Women are carefully matched with a volunteer who has navigated similar circumstances. Together the two determine the boundaries for their interactions and communicate by message, text, voice, or video. The peer support serves as a listening ear, an encouragement, and a prayer partner to the mother navigating grief and or suffering.  It’s important to note the peer support is not a counselor nor does she offer any medical advice, but rather provides comfort as the Lord has comforted her.  

Weekly Encouragement

Praying Through Ministries offers written encouragement to grieving and suffering families via their weekly newsletter and blog posts.  ( www.prayingthroughministries.org/subscribe and  https://www.prayingthroughministries.org/blog).  The weekly newsletter invites families to join in on a Bible reading plan and encourages them with a short devotion written by Praying Through ministries contributors, some of which include published authors! The written encouragement found on the Praying Through blog is themed and longer in length.  It also comes with links to Praying Through merch, inviting families to not only write God’s Word on their hearts, but to wear it too.  Each purchase results in dollars being donated to our ministry efforts. 

Praying Through Podcast

Still in the stages of creation is The Praying Through Ministries Podcast, a resource for grieving and suffering families. With the hope of specifically reaching fathers and families in the car on their way to work or to hospital visits, this podcast will share the hope of the gospel as guest pastors, counselors, and authors address some of the questions grieving and suffering families have as they navigate the grief of childhood illness, hospitalization, and or child loss. 

E-resources

Praying Through ministries offers free, downloadable e-resources to grieving and suffering families around the world.  Our team of writers, counselors, and theologians have created unique resources for families navigating the grief of child loss and the suffering of childhood illness and hospitalization. 

God-Centered Facebook Communities

Finally, Praying Through ministries offers support to women through two God-centered facebook communities: Praying Through Child Loss (https://www.facebook.com/groups/287042860097309 ) and Praying Through the NICU and childhood hospitalizations (https://www.facebook.com/groups/681969442700257 ).  These groups provide a God-centered and God-honoring space where women can be vulnerable, process their pain, and be encouraged with the hope of the gospel as they navigate the grief of child loss and the suffering associated with childhood illness and hospitalization. 

If you or someone you know is navigating the grief of child loss or the suffering of childhood illness and hospitalization, we pray you’ll feel equipped and empowered knowing about the free resources and support Praying Through ministries offers. 

Jessika Sanders is a published writer who has been featured in Proverbs 31 Ministries’ Hope When Your Heart is Heavy devotional (2021), Focus on the Family’s Clubhouse Jr. magazine (2023), and Tyndale’s So God Made a Mother (2023). She is also the co-author of The Good Book Company's, In His Hands: Prayers for Your Child or Baby in a Medical Crisis ( July 2024). Jessika is also the founder and president of Praying Through ministries.

Becca Tomasello is a writer for Praying Through Ministries. She has a Bachelors Degree in English and a Masters Degree in Children's Ministry. She has been working or volunteering in Children's and Youth Ministry for 10 years.