Interview with Robbie Iobst

Hosted by Sharon Sands

IN THIS EPISODE

• What it’s like to lose your sister | 2:33
• Jesus can handle our anger | 5:57
• When we focus on the “Even If” and pursue an “Even If” faith | 8:38
• Let it out – don’t hold that ball under the water | 13:33
• Often times we need to sit in the pain rather than run from it, God can use that! | 16:16
• Robbie + John Iobst’s Ministry | laughter, truth, and a deep well | 19:11
• God wants us to be real and bring our ‘hidden things’, respectfully, into the light | 23:52

INSTANT TAKEAWAYS

1 | THERE’S NO SHAME IN SEEKING HELP

You shouldn’t feel less than, or weak, or like you can’t do it yourself if you seek help. There are times in our lives where we can feel the waves crashing in, and it can feel like we’re drowning. That’s what grief does, it blots out the sun and casts despair into every corner of our lives. But, it’s powerful to fight in authenticity and reach out for support. God is there to meet us in our mess and wants to bring us out of that blackness. When you’re struggling, seek out the help you need. The number one thing to remember is that God Loves You!

2 | UNHELPFUL HELP + TANGIBLE HELP

When you’re grieving, we can experience both ‘unhelpful help’ and ‘tangible help’ from those that are around us. Sometimes people just don’t understand what you’re going through because they’ve never gone through something like that or they assume that someone else will be around soon to take over the care portion of the healing.
1 // Make sure you avoid unhelpful help. Be sympathetic to those that are grieving around you. Grief can take many forms, it can occur at different times, and everyone experiences it differently. Don’t try to rush the process for anyone and don’t try to impose our timelines on them. Pray for them, pray that God would heal them and pray that God’s will be done in the situation and just BE with them. Honor Him always.
2 // Try to pursue tangible help. One of the last things people experiencing grief want to do is to make another decision. Pursue practicality for them over trying to be overtly spiritual. Can you take them out to lunch, or no? Can you bring them flowers? Sometimes it’s better just to do, as well. If you ask them to call you if they need anything, often times they won’t. Take the time to bring the initiative to them. Or you can try talking about their loved ones that are gone, often people are so afraid of the subject, we’re not able to reminisce in the joyous memories they have.

3 | DON’T KEEP THE BALL UNDER THE WATER

Grief has a way of returning, even when we think we’re past it and we’ve dealt with it fully. It could be a song, or a movie quote, or a stranger’s voice in passing, we make these connections in our memories to those that we’ve lost. And it’s ok to tell their story, it’s ok to remember them. Whenever you feel the urge to bury those feelings and your grief, don’t! Don’t stuff those away, it’s one of the most toxic things that you can do. When we try and hold that ball under water, it takes all of our energy and leaves us exhausted. Inevitably, it always finds it’s way to the surface in an outburst anyways. Don’t hold back, don’t stuff, don’t hold that ball under the water.

SHOW NOTES

Today on Anchor + Waves we welcome in Robbie Lobst. Robbie has experienced a tremendous amount of grief and death in her life but has always held fast to the one thing that remains; Christ. Listen today as we look at healthy healing, growing closer in your relationships, as well as relying on Jesus when everything around you seems to crumble.

If you’re interested in learning more about supporting Robbie and her husband John, please click on the link below. Or, if you would like to learn more about plugging into the community where you are, or at Mission Hills Church, click the button to send us an email.