[Journal Reviews] Guided Journals for Grief

C.S. Lewis wrote, “You can’t see anything properly while your eyes are blurred with tears.”

And tears often come when we lose something or someone that was very important to us. The truth is, grief is something we all experience, especially when we lose someone we love, but even when we experience other loss, like the loss of a job, the death of a dream, and the end of a marriage.

Journaling can be such a helpful way to process some of these complex thoughts and feelings that often come after such a loss. Because of that, I want to review five guided journals designed specifically for those experiencing grief.

Like last time, when we looked at guided journals for depression and anxiety, I’ll share more about each one and how it is created so you can discern if it might be a good fit for you or a friend of yours. And along the way, you’ll glean some tips and advice for journaling through grief.

#1 – Grief Journal: Navigating Difficulty After Loss, by Amanda McNeil

The first journal is called Grief Journal: Navigating Difficulty After Loss, by Amanda McNeil (Amazon affiliate link). It’s about 7 x 10 inches and has a simple black cover—which you’ll find pretty common with grief journals.

In the beginning pages of the journal, Amanda shares some thoughts about grief in general, as well as how to use the journal. And I wanted to pass along a couple of thoughts to you.

First, she notes that “some people are ready to begin processing grief within months of a deep loss, others take over a year before they can speak out it, read a book about it, or actually seek support through therapy or a group.” And I want to remind you that your timeline is your timeline. There is no rush to enter into the grieving process, nor is there any rush to “finish” it, because really, the process is never really finished.

Second, she writes that journaling “may initially bring up emotions that make you feel worse.” And I’ve noticed that with both myself and my clients, too. Her advice mimics mine: be gentle with yourself. If you need to pause or take a break, it’s completely okay.

As far as the content itself, the journal is broken up into 12 different entries, which you can take at your own pace. Each entry features the same 9 questions, plus a space at the end for a written prayer—though I will say that about halfway through the book, the questions change slightly. And at the beginning of each entry is a quote or Bible verse about grief.

This journal is designed to help you process grief over time. And at the very end is a space for you to write a letter saying goodbye to whatever you need to say goodbye to.

#2 – Grieving the Write Way, by Gary Roe

The second journal is entitled Grieving the Write Way, by Gary Roe (Amazon affiliate link), and when I say that, “write” is the writing version of write, not the right and wrong version. This is actually a combination journal and workbook.

This one looks and feels like a regular paperback book, featuring 256 pages. It’s broken up into short chapters, each focused on a different topic like longing, guilt and regret, memory issues, numbness, dreams and nightmares, and unsupportive people. It really covers an array of topics that anyone experiencing any sort of grief is likely to deal with.

The chapters start with a short introduction, then move into some questions, journal prompts, and/or writing exercises.

Toward the beginning of the book, Gary shares how writing can play such a helpful part in the grief and healing process. He says, “Writing steadies our hearts enough to express our emotions in a healthy and productive way. Writing slows our spinning minds down enough to get our thoughts on paper and begin to process them. Writing can enable us to consider the physical impact of grief on our bodies and help us decide what to do about it. Writing gives us a safe place to express and process spiritual questions, doubts, and fears. Writing allows us to share our frustrations about our relationships in an honest and uncensored manner.”

Of course, you can always share your thoughts and writing with others after you’re done, but that initial act of writing and journaling can make such a big difference, which is why I want to share these grief journals with you.

#3 – Even in Darkness, by Morgan Cheek

The third journal is called Even in Darkness, by Morgan Cheek (Amazon affiliate link), and this one is a little more unique in that it is more devotional than it is journal. Let me explain.

Morgan experienced a deep grief of her own, and each devotional is really her writing to God about something she is going through as she processes that grief. It’s almost like her own journal pages. She is honest, she is raw, she is vulnerable, and that is why I recommend this one to you.

Sometimes we feel so alone in our grief and darkness, and it helps to know that others have been there, too. Others are asking some hard questions of God.

This journal is a little bigger, at 7 x 9 inches. For each devotional, the left-hand page is a full-page Bible verse to read and meditate on. Then the devotional is on the right side of the page.

And at the end of each one, Morgan offers two choices for you to do or write about. Because she knows the value of choice, and she also knows that sometimes, one thing might just feel too hard in the moment. You’ll want your own journal to write in for this one, but the questions she asks are really good.

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#4 – 52-Week Devotional Journal for Grief, by Debbra Sell Bronstad

The fourth journal is the 52-Week Devotional Journal for Grief, by Debbra Sell Bronstad (Amazon affiliate link). So this one is also a combination devotional and journal. It is 5.5 x 8.5 inches, so much like a regular paperback book.

Debbra offers a devotional for each week of the year that focuses on a specific topic, like feeling isolated from others, understanding short-term relief, looking at physical symptoms of grief, and experiencing peace after trauma. Then she shares two journal prompts after each devotional.

For example, one of the prompts asks, “In what ways, if any, have you experienced isolation or withdrawal from your family or support community? Make the prayer in Psalm 25 your own today.”

Scattered throughout the book are sections entitled “Observing Grief.” And it is here that she invites you to enter into some grief exercises, one in which you look back and one in which you look forward. It’s not the same exercise each time, so you have various ways to keep processing your grief. And I really appreciate that.

While designed as a devotional to carry you through the year, you could easily do one devotional a day or schedule it out however it works best for you.

Debbra describes her devotional journal as a Scripture-based guidance for reflecting on and managing your grief. It is her own grief journey, as well as her background in church ministry and counseling, that led her to create this book for others. It really is beautifully done.

#5 – How to Carry What Can’t Be Fixed: A Journal for Grief, by Megan Devine

And finally, the fifth journal is How to Carry What Can’t Be Fixed: A Journal for Grief, by Megan Devine (Amazon affiliate link).  It is about 7 x 11.5 inches, so not quite a letter size book.

What sets this journal apart is that it’s an illustrated journal, and it’s filled with creative ways to open a dialogue with grief itself. Remember when we talked about the guided journals for anxiety and depression, and how a couple of them offered more creative prompts rather than writing prompts? This one fits into that category.

For example, on one page, she asks you to create a “safety box” of sorts for the fears you have surrounding grief. She invites you to name those fears, but to use the safety box to help contain them, to not let them run wild.

There are places to create lists, to write, to log your anxious thoughts, and more. These are all different prompts as you work your way through the book.

Like many of these journals, you can decide which prompt to focus on; there is no specific order. You pick a prompt based on what you are experiencing in the moment.

This creative way of approaching grief can be so freeing for those who feel like words are hard right now. Of course, there’s a place to write in the journal, but there’s also room to draw, glue something in, and so forth.

Megan reminds us of some truths about grief in the early pages of her book. She writes, “Grief isn’t a problem to be solved; it’s an experience to be carried. If you’re going to survive your grief, you’ll need to find ways to inhabit grief—to live between those two extremes of ‘all better’ and ‘hopelessly doomed.’” You need tools to build a life alongside your loss, not make that loss disappear.”

If that resonates with you, I would definitely encourage you to grab her journal.

Journal Prompt: What do I need to grieve?

Again, grief can cover a lot of different things, not just the loss of someone we love. The journal prompt for this week is, What do I need to grieve?

It might be something recent, like moving from one season to the next with your children. Though there is joy and celebration at the milestones they are crossing, there might still be some loss involved with that as you let go who they were as younger children.

It might be something in the past, like a friendship that fizzled out or a childhood home you grew up in.

It might be something secondary, like how your friendships changed while you were taking care of your aging mother.

What do you need to grieve? And how might you go about processing that? What support do you need?

More Ways to Process Grief

If you are experiencing grief and want some prompts you can journal through in your regular notebook, I’d love for you to grab my free Grief Journal Prompts by going to lovedoesthat.org/griefjournal.

And of course, you’re always welcome to join Journal Gently. This 8-week program is intentionally designed to help you process your grief with God through writing. It’s a gentle approach, leaving you with some simple choices to make as you take steps toward healing. Learn more and sign up at lovedoesthat.org/journalgently.

Prayer

To close today, I’d like to share an excerpt from Morgan Cheek’s guided journal, Even in Darkness.

Lord, help me to have hope for what You say is eventually coming. Help me to know that the weight of this day does not have to smother me in light of Your future promises for me. I do not have to rest in this horrible suffering; but, may I rest in You in the midst. Thank You for not leaving me. Thank You for never letting me go and for telling me that every day is a part of Your perfect plan, even when everything in clear view feels like chaos. Help me to trust You more, here in this place.

Amen.

GUIDED JOURNALS FOR GRIEF:

(Amazon affiliate links)

• Grief Journal: Navigating Difficulty After Loss, by Amanda McNeil
• Grieving the Write Way, by Gary Roe
• Even in Darkness, by Morgan Cheek
• 52-Week Devotional Journal for Grief, by Debbra Sell Bronstad
• How to Carry What Can’t Be Fixed: A Journal for Grief, by Megan Devine

RELATED EPISODES:

• Episode 50: Gritty Faith in the Midst of Grief with Prayer Artist Jessy Paulson
• Episode 55: Reflection and Journaling as a Lifelong Practice with Business Strategist Elizabeth McCravy
• Episode 102: Sitting with Others in their Grief and Loss with Grief Coach Julie Lynn Ashley
• Episode 142: [Journal Reviews] Guided Journals and Devotionals for Advent
• Episode 154: [Journal Reviews] Guided Journals for Depression and Anxiety

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