January is one of the most critical times to offer care. For many grieving people, the start of a new year doesn’t bring hope. It brings dread.
The calendar turns, but their loss hasn’t. While others resolve to chase goals, those in grief continue to struggle to get out of bed, answer a text, or make it through a church service without tears.
As a church leader, you have the opportunity to speak into this vulnerable moment. The weeks after the holidays are some of the hardest—and most overlooked—for those mourning the death of a loved one. And yet, it’s also one of the best times to offer them a tangible step toward hope and healing.
The new year can feel cruel to someone in grief. The pressure to cultivate productivity, set goals, or return to normal only emphasizes how not normal life is without their loved one.
Some quietly wrestle with:
Others simply feel numb—drifting from one day to the next, unsure how to reenter life.
The structure of the holidays (as painful as they were) is gone. And so are the people who reached out during December.
The grief still remains.
“I remember when the calls stopped coming, I just felt so lonely ... I didn’t even know what I needed from people.” Eventually she concluded, “What I really needed was God.” Vaneetha, whose infant son died.
As pastors and ministry leaders, you’re often the first place people turn to when life falls apart. Your church has a critical role to play in helping people understand that they are not alone in their pain, that God is near, and that healing is possible.
For this reason, a GriefShare group can make all the difference.
GriefShare is a 13-week, lay-led, Christ-centered support group that meets people in the rawness of their grief and gently guides them toward hope. Churches around the world use GriefShare not only as a healing ministry but as a way to reach hurting people beyond their walls.
“GriefShare lets you cry, reminds you that you’re not alone, and shows there will be light at the end of the tunnel.” Marilyn
Many churches see an increased need for pastoral care in the new year. More people are reaching out for counseling, struggling with depression and anxiety, navigating family tensions, or disengaging from church altogether.
Few churches have the margin to meet all those needs individually. That’s where structured group support like GriefShare becomes vital. It gives grieving people a path, and gives your church a way to provide ongoing care that doesn’t rest solely on the pastor’s shoulders.
And right now, people are actively searching for help. Visits to griefshare.org increase significantly in January as people look for ways to survive their pain. Starting a group now allows your church to be there when they need it most.
Churches that host GriefShare consistently report:
“Everybody’s here because they want people to experience the comfort that’s only found in Christ.” Steve Grissom, founder of Church Initiative.
For many grieving people, joining a GriefShare group is the moment they realize they’re not alone in their pain, they’re not going crazy, and—perhaps most importantly—God hasn’t abandoned them. Surrounded by others who understand, they begin to see that healing is possible.
Host a GriefShare group at your church. Help hurting people find community, learn how to grieve, and take their first steps forward. Let your church be that safe place—the place where people who are grieving find comfort, connection, and Christ.
“Before GriefShare, I felt lost in the darkness of grief. By joining a group, I received a roadmap to my grieving journey. It provides practical ways to handle grief that other counseling didn’t.” Heather