At the annual ADEC (Association of Death Education and Counseling), I spoke with Reverend Michael Jemmott about faith and spirituality after loss.

Reverend Michael works with bereaved people in Baltimore and runs an organization called Roberta’s House, which is a family grief support center.

When it comes to dealing with grief, where is God in all of this? Reverend Michael gives his take in the video below.

Here are some key takeaways from the video:

• One of the things Reverend Michael found out over time is that God is always present, but usually ignored.
• The only way that you can do harm to someone else is if you ignore the fact that God is with us, and that you and the other person are both His children.
• There is always a lot of anger against God in those who are dealing with grief and loss. The problem is that we tend to get a little bit of information about God and think that’s enough. No matter what you know, it’s always going to be challenged.
• Something Reverend Michael tells people who have tried a lot of things other than going to church when dealing with grief, is that we’re created in this image. By God’s divine plan we are connected.
• The issue with the above point is, do we believe that to be a dependable truth and then pursue that to find out what else that truth has to offer us?
• Reverend Michael likes to do an exercise with folks regarding the writing of Footprints In The Sand. What do you think the guy’s response was after God said: “My precious, precious child, I would never leave you or forsake you. During those difficult times, it was then that I carried you.”
• Regarding the above point, Reverend Michael’s final message is to ask yourself what the guy may have said to God as his response? And, do you think God made the statement with all divine sincerity?

For more video interviews, please see the Open To Hope YouTube channel.