Embracing Change: Grief, Growth, and New Beginnings

Devotional

Day 1: Embracing Liminal Times—Living at the Threshold of Change

Liminal times are unsettling, marked by uncertainty and the tension between past and future, yet they are also moments of opportunity for transformation. In these seasons, it is natural to feel rooted in memories and unsure about what lies ahead, but it is precisely in this space that God invites us to discern, reflect, and prepare for new directions. Rather than resisting or fearing change, we are called to acknowledge our discomfort and open ourselves to the creative possibilities that God may be unfolding, even when the path is not yet clear. [01:11]

Ecclesiastes 3:1-4 (ESV)
For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven: a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted; a time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance.

Reflection: Where in your life do you sense you are standing at a threshold, and how might you invite God into your uncertainty and anticipation today?

Day 2: The Necessity of Grieving Loss Before Embracing New Life

True transformation requires us to honestly name and grieve what has been lost, whether it is a beloved tradition, a relationship, or a way of life. Grief is not a sign of weakness or lack of faith; rather, it is a necessary process that allows us to let go of the past and make space for what God is doing next. By acknowledging our sorrow and honoring what was, we prepare our hearts to receive new possibilities and to move forward with hope and courage. [11:02]

Psalm 34:18 (ESV)
The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.

Reflection: What is one loss—big or small—that you need to name and grieve before you can move forward? How can you bring this honestly before God today?

Day 3: David’s Lament—Honoring Complex Relationships and Change

David’s grief over Saul and Jonathan reveals the depth and complexity of human relationships, showing that even in difficult or fractured connections, there is room for lament and honor. David did not rush past his pain or ignore the significance of his losses; instead, he allowed himself to feel deeply, to honor both the good and the difficult, and to recognize that change often comes with both sorrow and new responsibility. His example teaches us that embracing change means making space for honest lament and honoring the past, even as we step into an unknown future. [16:23]

2 Samuel 1:23-27 (ESV)
"Saul and Jonathan, beloved and lovely! In life and in death they were not divided; they were swifter than eagles; they were stronger than lions. You daughters of Israel, weep over Saul, who clothed you luxuriously in scarlet, who put ornaments of gold on your apparel. How the mighty have fallen in the midst of the battle! Jonathan lies slain on your high places. I am distressed for you, my brother Jonathan; very pleasant have you been to me; your love to me was extraordinary, surpassing the love of women. How the mighty have fallen, and the weapons of war perished!"

Reflection: Is there a relationship or season in your life that you need to honor and grieve, rather than simply moving on? What would it look like to do that this week?

Day 4: Jesus Wept—God’s Presence in Our Grief

In the story of Lazarus, Jesus does not stand apart from human sorrow but enters into it, weeping with those who mourn. His tears show us that God is not distant from our pain; rather, God is present with us in our grief, validating our emotions and walking with us through loss. This divine empathy assures us that our grief is seen and shared, and that even in the darkest moments, God is preparing the way for resurrection and new life. [18:16]

John 11:32-36 (ESV)
Now when Mary came to where Jesus was and saw him, she fell at his feet, saying to him, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.” When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in his spirit and greatly troubled. And he said, “Where have you laid him?” They said to him, “Lord, come and see.” Jesus wept. So the Jews said, “See how he loved him!”

Reflection: When was the last time you allowed yourself to truly feel and express grief? How might you invite Jesus to sit with you in that place today?

Day 5: Resurrection Requires Letting Go—New Life Emerges from Loss

The story of Lazarus reminds us that resurrection—new life, new energy, new beginnings—can only come after we have faced and accepted the reality of loss. It is only by letting go of what was, by naming and grieving our endings, that we make room for God’s creative and courageous new work among us. This is true for churches, communities, and individuals alike: the path to vitality and renewal is paved with honest reckoning, courageous release, and hopeful anticipation of what God will do next. [19:11]

John 12:24 (ESV)
Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit.

Reflection: What is one area of your life or community where you sense God is inviting you to let go, so that something new might take root? What step can you take toward that release today?

Sermon Summary

We find ourselves at a threshold—a liminal space—where the past is still very present in our memories, but the future remains uncertain and unsettling. This is not unique to our congregation or even our denomination; it is a reality facing much of the church today. Many of us remember a time when our sanctuary was full, the choir sang robustly, and our programs for children and youth were vibrant. We remember when our church was a hub for social service agencies that are now thriving elsewhere. But that era is gone, and it is not coming back in the same way. This realization is difficult, especially for those who have been part of this community for decades. The challenge before us is to honestly face our current reality and to discern, together, what God is calling us to become in this new season.

As we look ahead, we must recognize that change is not optional—it is already happening. We can either resist it and risk stagnation, or we can embrace it with creativity and courage. The task group that has been working diligently has called us to develop a plan that is both creative and courageous, one that is relevant to today’s spiritual and social context. But before we can move forward, we must first name and grieve our losses. The sale of our building, the decline in membership, and the changes in our ministry model are all sources of grief. It is important to acknowledge these feelings, to give ourselves permission to mourn what has been lost, and to celebrate what was good.

Scripture gives us powerful examples of this process. David grieved deeply for Saul and Jonathan, even though Saul had been his adversary. David’s lament was honest and complex, recognizing both the pain of loss and the depth of relationship. Similarly, in the story of Lazarus, Jesus does not rush past the grief of Mary, Martha, and their community. He enters into their sorrow, weeping with them, before the miracle of resurrection occurs. The true miracle is not just Lazarus’s return to life, but the way Jesus honors the reality of loss and grief.

For us, the path to new life—our own resurrection story—begins with honest grieving. Only by letting go of what was can we make space for what God wants to do next. This will not be easy or comfortable, but it is the way of discipleship. As we move forward, may we do so with prayerful discernment, honest evaluation, and a willingness to embrace the new life that God is preparing for us.

Key Takeaways

1. Liminal times are deeply unsettling because they force us to live between what was and what is yet to come. In these moments, we are called to acknowledge our uncertainty and resist the temptation to cling to the past, trusting that God is present even when the future is unclear. This threshold is not a place of passivity, but of active discernment and openness to transformation. [01:11]
2. The pain of change is often rooted in loss, and loss brings grief. Naming and honoring our grief is not a sign of weakness, but a necessary step toward healing and renewal. Only by honestly facing what we have lost—be it people, places, or cherished ways of being—can we begin to move forward with integrity and hope. [11:02]
3. Scripture models for us the importance of lament. David’s grief for Saul and Jonathan is a testament to the complexity of human relationships and the necessity of mourning, even when change is inevitable or relationships have been fraught. Lament is not just about sadness; it is about honoring the depth of what was and preparing our hearts for what is to come. [15:41]
4. The story of Lazarus reveals that resurrection is always preceded by death and grief. Jesus does not bypass the pain of loss; he enters into it, weeping with those who mourn. This teaches us that new life—whether in our personal journeys or as a church—can only emerge when we have fully acknowledged and experienced our losses. [18:16]
5. Embracing a creative and courageous future requires both prayerful discernment and decisive action. While prayer grounds us, we must guard against “prayer paralysis” that avoids the hard work of change. God calls us to grieve, to discern, and then to act—trusting that resurrection and new vitality are possible when we let go of what was and step faithfully into what can be. [20:20]
** [20:20]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[01:11] - Living in Liminal Times
[02:33] - Different Perspectives in the Congregation
[04:10] - Facing the Reality of Change
[06:05] - The Need for a New Ministry Model
[07:45] - The Task Group’s Work and Report
[09:30] - The Call for Creative and Courageous Planning
[10:50] - The Challenge of Change and Decline
[11:02] - Grief and Loss in the Face of Change
[13:30] - The Importance of Naming Our Grief
[14:49] - David’s Lament for Saul and Jonathan
[16:23] - The Complexity of Human Relationships
[17:19] - Jesus, Lazarus, and the Miracle of Grief
[18:16] - Resurrection Requires Death and Grief
[19:11] - Applying Resurrection to Our Church’s Future
[20:20] - The Discomfort of Discipleship and Closing Prayer

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading

2 Samuel 1:17-27 (ESV) — > And David lamented with this lamentation over Saul and Jonathan his son... “Your glory, O Israel, is slain on your high places! How the mighty have fallen!... I am distressed for you, my brother Jonathan; very pleasant have you been to me; your love to me was extraordinary, surpassing the love of women. How the mighty have fallen, and the weapons of war perished!”

John 11:32-44 (ESV) — > Now when Mary came to where Jesus was and saw him, she fell at his feet, saying to him, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.”... When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in his spirit and greatly troubled... Jesus wept... He cried out with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out.” The man who had died came out...

Observation Questions

In 2 Samuel 1, what emotions does David express in his lament for Saul and Jonathan? What stands out about the way he grieves both men?
In John 11, how does Jesus respond to the grief of Mary, Martha, and the community before raising Lazarus?
According to the sermon, what are some specific losses our church has experienced in recent years? ([02:33])
What does the sermon say is the first step before moving forward into a new season as a church? ([11:02])

Interpretation Questions

Why might it have been important for David to grieve Saul, even though Saul had been his adversary? What does this teach us about the complexity of grief and relationships? ([14:49])
The sermon says that Jesus did not rush past the grief of Lazarus’s family but entered into it. What does this reveal about how God views our pain and loss? ([18:16])
The sermon describes our current time as a “liminal space.” What does it mean to live in a liminal time, and why is it so unsettling for a church community? ([01:11])
Why is it necessary to name and honor our grief before we can move forward as a church? ([11:02])

Application Questions

The sermon challenges us to honestly name and grieve our losses as a church. What is one specific loss (a person, place, or tradition) that you personally need to grieve? How might you begin to do that? ([11:02])
David’s lament for Saul and Jonathan was both honest and complex. Is there a relationship or situation in your life that you need to grieve honestly, even if it’s complicated? What would it look like to do that? ([15:41])
Jesus wept with Mary and Martha before the miracle of resurrection. When was the last time you allowed yourself to fully feel and express grief, rather than rushing to “fix” things or move on? ([18:16])
The sermon warns against “prayer paralysis”—praying without acting. Are there areas where you have been stuck in prayer or discussion, but have avoided taking action? What is one step you could take this month? ([20:20])
The idea of a “creative and courageous plan” was raised. What does a creative and courageous step forward look like for you personally, or for our church? ([07:45])
The sermon says that resurrection and new life only come after we let go of what was. Is there something you are holding onto from the past that is preventing you from embracing what God might want to do next? ([19:11])
How can we support each other as a group in both grieving our losses and stepping into new possibilities together? ([20:20])

Sermon Clips

But here we are trying to recognize what's going on. But we can't. We can't fully understand what God is doing. And we're kind of worried about that. And we're unsure. We're not sure what to do. And the reality check that on that threshold, that being in this reality place, this present place, is difficult. It's difficult to see the reality of the situation for us. [00:01:59] (33 seconds) #embracinguncertainty

All of that is gone and it's not coming back at least it's not coming back in the way that you associate with the worshiping life of Dominion Chalmers and that's a difficult place to be in. [00:04:42] (24 seconds) #lettinggogrowth

I for one believe that we need to go in a completely different direction we need to envision a whole new ministry model we need to really think about an entirely different understanding of of what a congregation looks like in this place in downtown Ottawa serving this neighborhood. [00:05:20] (21 seconds) #reimaginingministry

The task group reported some interesting things that I've I've sort of really sort of reflected on and prayed on and the first thing it it says is that we need a creative and courageous plan a creative and courageous plan but one that's relevant today's spiritual and social context a creative and courageous plan I wonder what that means to you I wonder the degree to which you're ready to embrace a creative and courageous plan. [00:07:25] (34 seconds) #creativecourage

We do need and we are pressed in terms of we do have a reality in front of us about decisions we have to make and therefore a prayerful posture of discernment has a has a kind of end point and that is the point where as a congregation we do need to make some choices. [00:08:52] (21 seconds) #namingemotionalchange

It's only then that you can truly embrace change and isn't that true about your lives isn't that true about your lives that you can only really move move into new life when you have spent the time and you have spent the time and you have spent the time grieving the loss of what was once important to you. Whether that be a loved one, something in your life, something you were doing, perhaps your physical, mental abilities, whatever that loss is, you can only truly move forward when you have named that and put it out there and have been honest about it. [00:13:45] (48 seconds) #grievingtomoveforward

Why is that significant for us? Well, what is the resurrection story in the decisions that we make as a church? That's going to be a question I ask you over and over and over again to the point where you're sick of hearing it from me. What is the resurrection story for us as a church? Because the story of Lazarus tells us there has to be death first. That in fact, it is only through that way that new life can truly emerge. That new energy and vitality and strength and revitalization can happen when we're willing to recognize the death. [00:18:45] (53 seconds) #embracingnewlife

Take that same idea and put it into your life. Are you ready to embrace that notion that through grieving, through whatever that death, that loss is in your life, then and only then can you start to embrace something new and beautiful and wonderful and creative. That creative and courageous idea that we've been tasked with as a church. [00:19:40] (30 seconds) #challengingdiscipleship

Are you ready to embrace that notion that through grieving, through whatever that death, that loss is in your life, then and only then can you start to embrace something new and beautiful and wonderful and creative. That creative and courageous idea that we've been tasked with as a church. It's not an easy process. But then again, why should it be? There should be nothing comfortable and easy about being a church. If it is, then we're in the wrong business, folks. There should be nothing easy and comfortable about being disciples of Christ. [00:19:46] (49 seconds)

It's not an easy process. But then again, why should it be? There should be nothing comfortable and easy about being a church. If it is, then we're in the wrong business, folks. There should be nothing easy and comfortable about being disciples of Christ. [00:20:12] (22 seconds) #decisivefaith

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