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            In the fall of 2020 all things had changed. We were basically confined to our homes during those days of the Covid pandemic. For the first time in all of my preaching life I was live-streaming Bible classes from my study at home. It was a new world for me as it was for all of us. At that time I decided to do a series of Bible classes on the subject of grief. I had never before studied the subject. Adding to the challenge was the fact that I had very little material dealing with it.

            Thankfully, I had a couple of books written by two friends of mine from my college days, Ron and Don Williams. They have considerable experience in this area. I knew of brother Bill Flatt and ordered a book of his dealing with the subject. Prompting this study of grief was the fact that several members of the Mabelvale church had been taken from us in death that year. As a result many of us had become “acquainted with grief.” Those lessons were later developed into a ten week study which I used for our All Comers class. The material for those lessons came together into a book titled, Help for the Human Condition A Study of Grief in 2022.

            We decided to print this book as a ministry of the Mabelvale church. It is not to be sold, but used for teaching and helping others. It is a teaching tool that may be used in the same way we would use tracts, or any other teaching materials. This book is designed to help people who are dealing with grief from a loss, or losses, in their life. If you know of someone who has lost a loved one give them a copy of this book. If you meet someone who talks to you about the loss of their spouse, or a child in death, give them this book. If you know of someone who has suffered any traumatic loss give them a copy of this book. Use the book as an open door to invite someone to worship services. Use it as an opportunity to begin a Bible study with someone. Carry a copy or two of it with you to leave in waiting rooms at hospitals, doctors’ offices or cancer centers.

             Help for the Human Condition A Study of Grief has been revised. It has been retitled, Help for the Human Condition Out of the Depths of Grief. The title change reflects Psalm 130:1-2, “Out of the depths I cry to you, O Lord! O Lord, hear my voice! Let your ears be attentive to the voice of my please for mercy!” The cover has been redesigned to reflect the image of the depths mentioned in the psalm. It has been edited and rewritten reducing the number of pages, making it less wordy. Several of the chapters have been retitled. I have added two new chapters dealing with Alzheimer’s disease and dementia. The last two chapters are briefer than the others, mainly urging people to seek help if they or their loved ones are facing either of these two problems. We all know someone who is struggling with Alzheimer’s or dementia.

            “The human condition” is my chosen expression for the ways in which we all suffer pain and loss. It expresses the limitations of body and mind that we all suffer. The human condition, as we know it, began with sin in the garden of Eden. God explained the newly found condition to Eve and Adam in Genesis 3:16-19. Countless people who suffered with the human condition went to Jesus for help (Matt. 4:24). People came to him with their diseases (Matt. 8:1-4). People came to him about the sickness of people not even related to them (Matt. 8:5-15). A woman spent all her money on doctors who could not help the human condition she suffered for twelve years (Mk. 5:24). Jesus went to funerals to comfort those who were grieving (Jn. 11). Jesus went about helping people with the human condition (Acts 10:38). Shame on us if we don’t do the same! We cannot reflect the love of God to others and not care about them!

            Loss and grief effect people in many ways. Some are never quite the same afterwards. It is my hope that this book will be a helpful source to you. May no deficiency in the ministry of comfort be found in us!