Finding Hope and Healing Amidst Grief and Loss

This week has been heavy, marked by tragedy and loss, and many of us have come together carrying burdens, questions, and a sense of exhaustion. Yet, in the midst of all this, God remains our refuge and strength, our ever-present help in trouble. When the world feels broken and evil seems to prevail, worship becomes an act of defiance—a declaration that God is still on the throne, still in control, and still worthy of our trust and praise. We are invited to bring everything—our pain, our confusion, our grief—to the feet of Jesus, knowing that He alone can bring healing and hope.

The reality is, many of us are wrestling with the question, “Why do the bad guys keep winning?” Like the psalmist in Psalm 73, we may feel that our efforts to live with integrity are in vain when we see the wicked prosper. This can lead to a place of being “done”—done with caring, done with trying, done with hope. But Scripture reminds us that to stop caring, to become numb or embittered, is to lose something essential about our humanity. Grief, as Queen Elizabeth II said, is the price we pay for love. To avoid grief is to avoid love itself, and that is a far greater loss.

Jesus Himself was deeply moved by the brokenness of the world. He grieved, He wept, He felt compassion in His very being. His grief always preceded His ministry; it was His love and sorrow for people that moved Him to act. And just as Jesus was not “done” with the world, neither are we. We are called to be people who care enough to grieve, who refuse to become numb, and who remain present in the world’s pain. Our comfort is not in having all the answers, but in the nearness of God—“it is good to be near God.” And in the body of Christ, we are given a tangible reminder that we are not alone. We hold each other up, we grieve together, and we remind one another of God’s presence and faithfulness.

In these unstable times, the greatest blessing is to be with God and with His people. We are not done. God is not done. And together, we continue to hope, to worship, and to love.

---

Key Takeaways

• 1. Worship as Defiance and Refuge In times of chaos and tragedy, worship is not escapism but a bold act of defiance against the brokenness of the world. By gathering to praise God, we declare that He is still sovereign, our anchor and foundation, even when circumstances are overwhelming. Worship recenters our hearts on the unchanging character of God and invites His peace into our storms. [01:02]
• 2. The Danger of Numbness and the Call to Grieve When we are overwhelmed by evil and suffering, the temptation is to become numb, to stop caring as a form of self-protection. Yet, Scripture warns that this numbness robs us of our humanity and leads to bitterness and isolation. True blessing is found not in avoiding grief, but in allowing ourselves to mourn, for it is through grief that we remain connected to love and to God’s comfort. [40:14]
• 3. Jesus’ Compassion as Our Model Jesus was deeply moved by the pain and suffering of others; His compassion was visceral, and His grief always preceded His ministry. He did not withdraw from the world’s brokenness but entered into it fully, allowing it to move Him to action. As followers of Jesus, we are called to embody this same compassion, refusing to be “done” with the world, and instead letting our grief fuel our love and service. [47:04]
• 4. Letting Go of Retribution and Trusting God’s Justice The psalmist’s journey in Psalm 73 leads to the realization that seeking revenge or obsessing over the prosperity of the wicked is not our calling. Retribution belongs to God, not to us. Our focus is to draw near to God, trust in His justice, and let go of the burdens of vengeance, finding peace in His presence rather than in the outcomes we cannot control. [54:02]
• 5. The Gift of Community and the Presence of God In seasons of instability and grief, the nearness of God is experienced most powerfully through the body of Christ. We are not meant to stand alone; the church is called to be the tangible presence of God for one another. Holding hands, praying together, and sharing burdens are sacred acts that remind us we are seen, loved, and never abandoned. [57:14]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [01:02] - Worship as Defiance and Refuge
• [02:12] - Trusting God in Uncertainty
• [04:27] - Christ Our Cornerstone
• [08:27] - House of Miracles: Bringing Everything to Jesus
• [13:13] - The Invitation to Bring Our Burdens
• [14:34] - A Personal Story of God’s Refuge
• [16:27] - Giving as Worship and Building Refuge
• [27:13] - Acknowledging a Difficult Week
• [30:11] - “I’m Done”: The Temptation to Quit
• [33:18] - Wrestling with Psalm 73
• [40:14] - The Cost of Numbness and the Call to Grieve
• [47:04] - Jesus’ Compassion and Grief
• [50:54] - We Are Sent: Not Done Yet
• [54:40] - Drawing Near to God and Each Other
• [57:14] - The Body of Christ: No One Stands Alone
• [59:12] - Blessing and Benediction

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.”

John 17:15-18 (ESV) —
> 15 I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one.
> 16 They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world.
> 17 Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth.
> 18 As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world.

Observation Questions

1. In Psalm 73, what struggle does the writer describe when he sees “the prosperity of the wicked”? ([34:26])
2. According to the sermon, what happens to our humanity when we become numb or embittered by grief? ([40:14])
3. How does Jesus respond to the pain and suffering of others, as described in the sermon? ([47:04])
4. What does the psalmist ultimately decide is “good” for him, even when he doesn’t have all the answers? ([54:40])

Interpretation Questions

1. Why do you think the psalmist is so honest about his doubts and frustrations with God? What does this teach us about bringing our real feelings to God? ([33:18])
2. The sermon says that “grief is the price we pay for love.” How does this idea challenge the temptation to become numb or stop caring? ([45:48])
3. Jesus’ compassion is described as something that moved him deeply and led to action. What does it mean for us to let our grief and compassion move us to action, rather than withdrawal? ([47:04])
4. The psalmist lets go of the need for retribution and chooses to trust God’s justice. What does it look like to release the desire for revenge or “getting even” in our own lives? ([54:02])

Application Questions

1. The sermon describes worship as an act of defiance in the face of tragedy and chaos. When was the last time you worshiped God even when you didn’t feel like it? What did that experience do for your heart? ([01:02])
2. Have you ever felt “done”—like you wanted to stop caring, grieving, or hoping? What triggered that feeling, and what helped you move forward? ([30:50])
3. Is there a situation or person in your life right now where you are tempted to become numb or stop caring? What would it look like to choose to grieve and care instead? ([39:36])
4. The sermon says that “blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.” How have you experienced God’s comfort in times of grief? If you haven’t, what would it look like to invite God or others into your pain? ([41:32])
5. Jesus didn’t withdraw from the world’s brokenness but entered into it. Is there a place in your life where you sense God calling you to stay present and compassionate, even when it’s hard? ([50:54])
6. The psalmist finds peace not in answers, but in the nearness of God and the support of community. Who in your life helps you experience God’s presence when you’re struggling? How can you be that person for someone else this week? ([55:18])
7. The sermon ends with a call to hold each other up and not stand alone. What is one practical way you can support someone in your church or community who is grieving or struggling right now? ([57:14])