Surviving Grief

Besides the obvious emotional pain, loss has a financial side that many people aren’t ready to face. In this incredibly helpful episode, Megs and Kelley talk through what you can expect, and offer wisdom on how to navigate everything from paying for memorial services, to working with banks, to finding good help when you need it most. Join a Grief Support Group live or online here . Share your stor...

When his beloved father passed away, pastor Chuck Mingo was well aware of all that he had lost. But when he shifted his perspective onto what his father had gained, it changed everything. While still feeling the sting of the loss, knowing that his father was now on the receiving end of so many of the gifts he had given in his life on earth, Chuck found peace and comfort that only God can give. Thi...

While podcasts, articles, and sermons can be helpful for understanding and processing grief, there is nothing quite as powerful as a Grief Group. In this episode, Kelley takes listeners behind the curtain on everything Grief Groups—from why they exist, to the role they’ve played in her own life, to what you’ll actually experience when you show up for one. You don’t have to go it alone. Whether you...

Suffering can be disorienting, confusing, and overwhelming—and yet, God often uses it as the path that leads to hope. In this episode, Kelley and Megs confront some common misconceptions about suffering, and then point us toward hope that only God can bring. When you bring your pain to God, you find the promise of scripture is true, that He is “close to the brokenhearted" (Psalm 34:18).  Join a Gr...

No matter the specifics of your grief journey, nearly everyone finds it difficult to forgive themselves. In the light of loss, the words we may have spoken, the action we took (or left undone), or the regret of not finding help sooner can become a weight around our necks that makes it impossible to move forward. In this powerful episode of Surviving Grief , Megs and Kelley discuss the need everyon...

Numbness is a common response to grief. While it can be a survival mechanism, when left unchecked it can prevent us from progressing forward. In this episode, Megs and Kelley talk about their own experiences with numbness, and practical steps you can take to move beyond it. Even in grief, God has a good future prepared for you.  Join a Grief Support Group live or online here . Share your story wit...

Bitterness is a root that can grow quickly and deeply in our lives. This is especially true in the aftermath of a loss and in times of grief. In this episode, Megs and Kelley talk about the dangers of bitterness and share practical steps to overcoming it. Bitterness doesn't have to win. A life of freedom and joy is still available. Join a Grief Support Group live or online here . Share your story...

Guilt can sneak in after loss, even when we’re not truly responsible. It’s easy to replay moments in our minds, wishing we could have done things differently. Recognizing where guilt comes from is the first step toward letting God lift the burden. Learn the difference between guilt and regret and find freedom in God's grace. Join a Grief Support Group live or online here . Share your story with us...

Grief can make us feel as though no one really understands what we’re going through. Even in a crowd, we might feel isolated. Recognizing that loneliness is part of the process can help us turn to God for the companionship we need. God doesn’t just visit us when we’re surrounded by people; He meets us in the quiet, empty spaces of our hearts. Even when we feel alone, we are never truly alone—His S...

Anger in grief often comes from deep love—love that’s lost its method of expression. David didn’t hide his anger or confusion from God; he poured it out. That’s what God invites us to do too. Anger isn’t the enemy, it’s a messenger. Even Jesus felt angry when He saw death and suffering. Our anger can actually lead us toward healing if we bring it to God instead of letting it consume us. Join a Gri...

Disappointment is the place where faith is tested—and where intimacy with God can deepen. When we lean into the gap between what we hoped for and what He’s preparing, His greatest work can be revealed. Grief leaders, Megs and Kelley, discuss how they have learned to process disappointment in their own lives, and how it’s moved them from pain to healing.  Join a Grief Support Group live or online h...

This is the 30th and final episode of Season 1 of Surviving Grief . Special thanks to everyone who has spent time with us, listened to episodes, and shared them with friends and loved ones. In this quick episode, Megs shares some next steps you can take to fill in the gap as the podcast takes a break. Surviving Grief will return for Season 2 later in 2025.  Join a Grief Support Group live or onlin...

Katie’s perfect world came crashing down around her when compounding crises hit all at once. Fighting for her marriage, wrestling with faith, and trying to process a terminal diagnosis for her father, she unexpectedly found herself in a Crossroads worship service. What happened next was something she’d never expected. Katie bravely shares the lesson she learned along the way—the power of honestly...

During times of grief, it is easy (and sometimes tempting) to look for comfort anywhere we can get it—in a sign, a message, or someone claiming the ability to reach our loved ones. In this episode, Megs and Kelley explain why this type of comfort never lasts, what’s going on in our brains that drives us to superstition, and why true hope can only be found in Christ. When we let go of our superstit...

Eric’s life was turned completely upside down when his beloved wife, Katie, was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer. Overnight, Eric became a caregiver, all while still trying to balance caring for his five daughters, ranging in age from 13 to 6. Eric’s story is one of incredible courage and care, highlighting the importance of having the right people around you. Whether you are navigating grief, or wal...

In their final book study conversation, Kelley and Megs unpack specific ways healing from grief-based anxiety can renew your mind, leading to more gratitude, experiencing forgiveness, and moving into deeper levels of trust with God. There is hope in working through grief, and this important conversation helps bring it into focus. Find the book they have been discussing, Anxiety: The Missing Stage...

In part two of a three part series diving into the book Anxiety: The Missing Stage of Grief , Megs shares her own expertise around the brain, how it works, and what proactive steps we can take to grieve properly.  Find Anxiety: The Missing Stage of Grief by Claire Bidwell-Smith, here . Join a Grief Support Group live or online here . Share your story with us at podcasts@crossroads.net 

Anxiety influences millions of Americans, but what many of them don’t realize is that it can be a response to grief. In the first of three episodes, Kelley and Megs discuss a book— Anxiety: The Missing Stage of Grief —which helped them both navigate their own grief-based anxiety. In this introductory episode, they discuss recognizing grief-based anxiety, facing the physical manifestations, and how...

Grief doesn’t always express itself in easy-to-recognize ways. Case in point: anxiety. Grief Leaders, Kelley and Megs, were both surprised to find their own grief journeys passed through times of significant anxiety. It wasn’t until they were able to recognize it, and name it, that they began the process of healing. In this episode, they share their own stories, ideas on how to confront your own a...

Grief can be messy, complicated, and deeply personal—we move at our own speeds, and many days it feels like "one step forward, two steps back." Because of that, it's easy to feel like we're stuck. What do we do then? Grief leaders, Kelley and Megs, discuss how to recognize if you’re stuck in grief, and what you can do to get back on the path to healing.  Join a Grief Support Group live or online h...

The first year after experiencing a loss is full of firsts—the first holiday without your loved one, the first anniversary of their passing, and the first time attending (or choosing not to attend) events that you once shared together. In this teaching episode, grief leaders Megs and Kelley offer empathy, wisdom, and practical insights into navigating the “Year of Firsts.” Join a Grief Support Gro...

When you are walking through grief, the holiday season can feel more demanding, more painful, and more exhausting than ever before. In this episode, Grief Leaders Megs and Kelley share a goldmine of proven strategies and tips to help you survive the holiday season. From ensuring you are getting enough sleep, to trying new traditions, to taking on less responsibility, this episode is filled to the...

Recorded live during a recent weekend service at Crossroads Church, teaching pastor Chuck Mingo expounds upon the power of dealing with our emotions honestly, and including God in that process. Looking back at times of grief in his own life, and in learning to be more proficient with his feelings, Chuck found that God wasn’t put off by his emotions—rather, it was something that drew them closer to...

Podcast host, and grief ministry leader at Crossroads, Megs Gelfgot, looks back on the loss of miscarriage. After a healthy first pregnancy, losing a baby was the last thing in her mind. In this teaching episode, Megs remembers what was helpful, what wasn’t, and how the grief of miscarriage influences not only the mother, but the father as well.  Join a Grief Support Group live or online here . Sh...

Karen shares her powerful story of loss, hope, and finding purpose. 8 years after her son took his own life, she is volunteering in grief support, serving others, and continuing to grow. That doesn’t mean there aren’t hard days, but Karen’s story highlights the power of persistence in pursuing healing.  Join a Grief Support Group live or online here . Share your story with us at podcasts@crossroad...