Embracing Grief: The Call to Love and Action

In times of deep instability and heartbreak, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed, exhausted, and tempted to say, “I’m done.” The events of the past week—tragedies, violence, and the sense that the “bad guys” keep winning—have left many of us carrying heavy questions and a longing for answers that never seem to come. When the world feels broken beyond repair, the temptation is to stop caring, to numb ourselves, or to withdraw from loving and grieving altogether. But this response, while understandable, comes at a cost: it risks our very humanity and the calling God has placed on us.

Psalm 73 gives voice to this struggle. The psalmist is honest about his frustration: he’s done everything right, but the wicked seem to prosper while he suffers. He confesses that bitterness and numbness made him “a brute beast,” losing touch with his own heart and with God. Yet, in his honesty, he finds a turning point—not by denying his grief, but by bringing it before God. The psalmist realizes that even in his lowest moments, God is with him, holding his hand, guiding him, and being his strength.

Jesus himself models this way of living. He grieves, he mourns, he feels compassion in his very being for the suffering of others. His grief is never the end; it always precedes healing, action, and love. Jesus is not “done”—and he sends his followers into the world with the same mission: to care, to grieve, to love, and to act, even when it hurts. To avoid grief is to avoid love, and the world desperately needs people who care enough to grieve its brokenness.

In the face of overwhelming pain, the invitation is not to withdraw, but to draw near—to God and to one another. Sometimes, the physical presence of others, the simple act of holding hands, is a tangible reminder that we are not alone. The church, as the body of Christ, is called to be this presence for each other and for the world. Even when we feel like we’re done, God is not done, and neither is the work he’s called us to. In our grief, in our unity, and in our courage to keep loving, we find the nearness of God and the hope to carry on.

Key Takeaways

• 1. The temptation to say “I’m done” is a deeply human response to pain, injustice, and exhaustion, but it’s important to examine what we’re actually giving up when we say it. Often, it’s not just a task or a burden, but our willingness to care, to love, and to remain engaged with the world’s brokenness. Numbing ourselves may feel like relief, but it comes at the cost of our humanity and our calling. [10:35]
• 2. Grief is not a weakness to be avoided, but a necessary part of loving deeply in a broken world. Jesus’ words, “Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted,” remind us that comfort comes not by bypassing grief, but by moving through it. To grieve is to acknowledge the value of what’s been lost and the depth of our love; to refuse grief is to refuse love itself. [15:41]
• 3. Jesus’ compassion is not passive; it is the wellspring of his healing and redemptive action. Again and again, Jesus is moved in his guts by the suffering of others, and this grief always leads him to move toward people, not away from them. As followers of Jesus, we are called to let our grief and compassion propel us into loving action, refusing to be “done” even when it’s hard. [18:31]
• 4. The psalmist’s turning point comes not from answers, but from presence: “Yet I am always with you; you hold me by my right hand.” In seasons of instability and unanswered questions, the nearness of God is our true refuge and strength. Retribution and justice belong to God; our role is to remain close to him, trusting that he holds us and will guide us through. [24:10]
• 5. The church is called to be the tangible presence of Christ in the world—a body that holds hands, stands together, and reminds each other that we are not alone. In moments when we feel most tempted to withdraw, the physical and spiritual unity of God’s people becomes a living reminder of God’s nearness and our shared mission. We are not done, because Jesus is not done, and together we carry hope into a hurting world. [28:50]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [00:58] - Not About Politics: The Real Issue
• [01:48] - The Weight of “I’m Done”
• [03:38] - The Tipping Point: When the World Feels Broken
• [04:33] - Turning to Psalm 73
• [06:35] - The Prosperity of the Wicked
• [09:34] - The Cost of Giving Up
• [10:35] - The Temptation to Stop Caring
• [12:16] - Jesus and the Blessing of Mourning
• [15:41] - Grief as the Price of Love
• [17:31] - The Compassion of Jesus
• [18:31] - Grief That Leads to Action
• [20:54] - Jesus Sends Us Into the World
• [22:17] - Finding Refuge in God’s Presence
• [24:10] - Letting God Handle Justice
• [26:45] - The Church as the Body of Christ
• [28:50] - Standing Together: A Call to Unity
• [30:01] - Closing Prayer and Blessing

Bible Reading

Psalm 73 (ESV) – Selected Verses —
> 1 Truly God is good to Israel, to those who are pure in heart.
> 2 But as for me, my feet had almost stumbled, my steps had nearly slipped.
> 3 For I was envious of the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.
> ...
> 21 When my soul was embittered, when I was pricked in heart,
> 22 I was brutish and ignorant; I was like a beast toward you.
> 23 Nevertheless, I am continually with you; you hold my right hand.
> 24 You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will receive me to glory.
> 25 Whom have I in heaven but you? And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides you.
> 26 My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.
> ...
> 28 But for me it is good to be near God; I have made the Lord GOD my refuge, that I may tell of all your works.

Matthew 5:4 (ESV) —
> “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.”

Luke 7:13 (ESV) —
> And when the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her and said to her, “Do not weep.”

Observation Questions

1. In Psalm 73, what emotions does the writer express about seeing the wicked prosper? What does he say happens to his own heart and spirit as a result? ([06:35])
2. According to Matthew 5:4, who does Jesus say are “blessed,” and what promise does he give them? ([12:16])
3. How does the psalmist describe his relationship with God after his turning point? What does he say God does for him? ([22:17])
4. In Luke 7:13, what is Jesus’ response when he sees someone grieving? What word is used to describe his feelings? ([17:31])

Interpretation Questions

1. The psalmist admits that bitterness and numbness made him “like a brute beast.” What does this suggest about the effect of shutting down emotionally in response to pain? ([11:32])
2. Jesus says those who mourn are blessed and will be comforted. Why might comfort come through mourning, rather than by avoiding it? ([15:41])
3. The sermon says that Jesus’ compassion always leads him to move toward people, not away from them. What does this reveal about the kind of love Jesus models for us? ([18:31])
4. The psalmist’s turning point comes not from getting answers, but from experiencing God’s presence. What does this say about where we should look for hope and strength when we feel overwhelmed? ([22:17])

Application Questions

1. The sermon talks about the temptation to say “I’m done” and to stop caring because the world feels so broken. When have you felt this way? What did you do in response? ([10:35])
2. The psalmist confesses that bitterness and numbness made him lose touch with his own heart and with God. Are there areas in your life where you’ve become numb or stopped caring? What would it look like to bring those feelings honestly to God? ([11:32])
3. Jesus grieved and felt compassion deeply, and his grief always led to action. Is there a situation or person in your life right now where you feel grief or compassion? What is one small step you could take to move toward them in love, rather than withdrawing? ([18:31])
4. The sermon says, “To avoid grief is to avoid love.” Are there losses or hurts you’ve tried to skip over or ignore? How might allowing yourself to grieve actually help you love more deeply? ([15:41])
5. The psalmist finds hope not in answers, but in God’s nearness—“you hold me by my right hand.” When you feel overwhelmed or “done,” what helps you remember that God is with you? Is there a practice or reminder you could use this week? ([22:17])
6. The church is called to be the tangible presence of Christ, holding hands and standing together. Who in your life needs to know they’re not alone right now? How could you be a physical or emotional presence for them this week? ([28:50])
7. The sermon challenges us to keep loving, grieving, and acting, even when it’s hard. What is one area where you feel tempted to give up? What would it look like to trust that “God is not done” in that area? ([30:01])