Finding Hope and Purpose in Grief and Evil

Devotional

Day 1: Jesus Meets Us in Our Grief

In moments of gut-wrenching pain and sorrow, Jesus draws near to us, sharing in our grief and meeting us right where we are. When Mary fell at Jesus’ feet, overwhelmed by the loss of her brother Lazarus, she poured out her raw emotion, and Jesus did not turn away—He was deeply moved and troubled, entering into her pain. In our own seasons of loss and confusion, we are invited to bring our honest cries to Jesus, knowing He is present and compassionate, not distant or indifferent. He understands the depths of our sorrow and offers us His comfort and grace, even when answers seem far away. [02:02]

John 11:32-37 (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!” But some of them said, “Could not he who opened the eyes of the blind man also have kept this man from dying?”

Reflection: When was the last time you brought your honest, unfiltered grief to Jesus? What would it look like to fall at His feet today and let Him meet you in your pain?

Day 2: Jesus Shares Our Anger at Evil

Jesus is not unmoved by the brokenness and evil in the world; He feels righteous anger at the suffering caused by sin and death. As He stood at Lazarus’ tomb, Jesus was deeply moved and troubled—a blend of sorrow and holy anger at the havoc sin has wrought. Our own anger at injustice and evil is not wrong, but we are called to let it lead us to righteousness, not sin. God is not indifferent to the tragedies we witness; He is grieved and angered by them, and He promises to ultimately set all things right. [12:02]

Ephesians 4:26-27 (ESV)
Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and give no opportunity to the devil.

Reflection: What injustice or evil has stirred anger in your heart this week? How can you bring that anger to God and let Him shape it into righteous action rather than bitterness?

Day 3: Jesus Has Overcome the World

In the midst of tribulation and sorrow, our hope is anchored in the victory of Jesus, who has overcome the world. Though we face pain, loss, and the reality of evil, Jesus reminds us that peace is found in Him, not in the absence of trouble. He calls us to take heart, to rise from our grief, and to move forward in the strength He provides, knowing that His resurrection power is at work in us and that ultimate victory belongs to Him. [10:44]

John 16:33 (ESV)
I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.

Reflection: Where do you need to take heart today and trust that Jesus’ victory is greater than the tribulation you face?

Day 4: Responding to Evil with Good

As followers of Jesus, we are called to be part of God’s plan to overcome evil with good, refusing to be conquered by darkness but instead shining His light through our actions. The world’s brokenness is not new, but God’s answer is to send His people—those redeemed by Christ—to bring hope, love, and truth wherever evil is present. We are not to seek vengeance or repay evil for evil, but to conquer evil with good, living out the gospel boldly and tenderly, and praying for revival in our communities. [20:19]

Romans 12:21 (ESV)
Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

Reflection: What is one practical way you can respond to evil or injustice this week by doing good, even when it’s difficult?

Day 5: A Steel Spine and a Tender Heart

The Christian life calls for both boldness and compassion—a steel spine to stand for truth and a tender heart to love and forgive, even those who oppose us. Jesus modeled this perfectly, calling people to repentance while welcoming the repentant sinner with open arms. Our ministry is to preach, worship, pray, and witness without fear, holding fast to the gospel and loving others deeply. In a world that celebrates and tolerates much that is evil, we are to be courageous disciples, living out our faith with valor and grace, leaving a legacy of truth and love. [24:33]

2 Timothy 1:7 (ESV)
For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.

Reflection: Who in your life needs to experience both your boldness for truth and your tenderhearted love today? How can you intentionally show both in your words and actions?

Sermon Summary

In John 11, the story of Lazarus’ death and resurrection reveals the profound reality of grief, the presence of evil, and the hope found in Jesus Christ. When Mary and Martha mourned their brother, they brought their raw pain to Jesus, who did not stand apart from their suffering but entered into it—he was deeply moved, troubled, and even wept. This moment shows that Jesus is not distant from our sorrow; he shares in it, validating our emotions and reminding us that grief is a part of life in a broken world. The events of this past week, including the tragic loss of Charlie Kirk, have brought many of us to a place of gut-wrenching pain, echoing the biblical experience of loss and the desperate longing for God’s intervention.

Yet, in the midst of this pain, there is grace. Jesus meets us in our grief, not to leave us there, but to strengthen us to rise again. The fragility of life and the presence of evil are not new; they have been with us since the fall. But Jesus’ response to death is not passive—he is angered by the havoc sin has wrought, and he acts to bring life and hope. The resurrection of Lazarus points to the greater resurrection and victory of Christ, who has overcome the world. Our hope is not in the absence of tribulation, but in the presence of the Overcomer.

As followers of Jesus, we are called to respond to evil not with vengeance, but with ministry—meeting needs, loving boldly, and proclaiming the gospel. Our anger at injustice must lead to righteous action, not retaliation. We are to have a “steel spine and a tender heart,” holding fast to truth while extending grace even to those who oppose us. The mission is clear: to preach, worship, pray, and witness without fear or shame. In doing so, we become part of God’s answer to evil, bringing light into darkness and hope into despair.

The legacy of those who have gone before us, like Charlie Kirk, is a call to courage and faithfulness. We are to do what they can no longer do—speak truth, love our families, seek reconciliation, and worship with abandon. In this, we honor Christ and advance his kingdom, trusting that what the enemy meant for evil, God will use for good. Let us be a people of valor, ready to stand, serve, and proclaim the risen Lord.

Key Takeaways

1. Jesus Shares in Our Grief and Pain The story of Lazarus shows that Jesus does not stand apart from our suffering; he is deeply moved and troubled by our pain. He validates our emotions and meets us in our lowest moments, reminding us that it is not unspiritual to grieve. In our sorrow, we find a Savior who weeps with us and offers his presence as our greatest comfort. [02:02]
2. The Reality of Evil Demands a Righteous Response The events of this week confront us with the tangible reality of evil and the brokenness of our world. Jesus’ anger at death is a model for us: it is right to be upset by injustice and suffering, but our anger must lead to righteousness, not sin. We are called to channel our grief and outrage into action that reflects God’s justice and love. [12:02]
3. Hope Is Found in the Overcoming Christ In the face of death and tribulation, our hope is not in the absence of pain but in the victory of Jesus, who has overcome the world. This hope empowers us to rise from our grief, to keep moving forward, and to trust that God’s purposes will prevail even in the darkest moments. The resurrection is both our comfort and our commission. [10:44]
4. Our Mission Is Ministry, Not Retaliation The Christian response to evil is not vengeance but ministry—meeting needs, loving the broken, and proclaiming the gospel. We are to have a “steel spine and a tender heart,” holding fast to truth while extending grace, even to those who oppose us. Revival and transformation come not through retribution, but through faithful, compassionate witness. [21:25]
5. Live Boldly and Leave a Legacy of Faithfulness We honor those who have gone before us by doing what they can no longer do: speaking truth, loving our families, seeking reconciliation, and worshiping with courage. Our lives are to be marked by valor—courage in the face of evil, steadfastness in mission, and a readiness to be used by God for his purposes. In this, we become part of God’s answer to the world’s pain.

** [24:33]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:54] - Setting the Scene: Lazarus, Mary, and Martha
[02:02] - Jesus Weeps: The Depth of Grief
[03:23] - Personal Grief and the Reality of Evil
[07:09] - The Battle Between Good and Evil
[08:13] - Falling at Jesus’ Feet: Desperation and Hope
[10:44] - Take Heart: Jesus Has Overcome the World
[12:02] - Jesus’ Anger at Death and Evil
[13:10] - God’s Response to Suffering
[15:45] - The Gospel: God’s Answer to Brokenness
[20:19] - Vengeance Belongs to the Lord
[21:25] - Revival as Vindication
[22:35] - Steel Spine, Tender Heart: Responding to Evil
[24:33] - Living Boldly: Our Call to Action
[27:04] - What We Can Do: Love, Reconcile, Worship
[29:41] - A Call to Valor and Courage
[32:24] - Prayer and Commissioning

Bible Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide: John 11 and the Hope of Christ in Grief and Evil

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Bible Reading

John 11:32-37 (ESV)
32 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.”
33 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.
34 And he said, “Where have you laid him?” They said to him, “Lord, come and see.”
35 Jesus wept.
36 So the Jews said, “See how he loved him!”
37 But some of them said, “Could not he who opened the eyes of the blind man also have kept this man from dying?”

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Observation Questions

What emotions does Jesus display when he sees Mary and the others weeping? How does the text describe his reaction?
What does Mary say to Jesus when she first sees him, and what does this reveal about her feelings in that moment?
How do the people around Jesus interpret his weeping? What are the different responses from the crowd?
According to the sermon, what is significant about the way Mary falls at Jesus’ feet? [08:13]

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Interpretation Questions

Why is it important that Jesus is “deeply moved” and “troubled” by the grief around him? What does this tell us about his character and how he relates to our pain? [02:02]
The sermon mentions that Jesus’ anger at death is a model for us. In what way is anger at evil or injustice a “righteous” response, and how can it go wrong? [12:02]
The story of Lazarus points to a greater hope in Christ’s resurrection. How does this story help believers process grief and loss differently than those without hope? [10:44]
The sermon says, “Our hope is not in the absence of tribulation, but in the presence of the Overcomer.” What does this mean for how we live in a broken world? [10:44]

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Application Questions

The sermon says that Jesus meets us in our grief and validates our emotions. When have you experienced grief or loss, and did you feel God’s presence in that moment? If not, what would it look like to invite him into your pain? [02:02]
The pastor shared about feeling gut-wrenching pain after the loss of Charlie Kirk and encouraged the church not to stay in grief but to move forward in God’s strength. Is there an area of your life where you feel stuck in sorrow? What would it look like to take a small step forward this week? [08:13]
The sermon challenges us to respond to evil not with vengeance, but with ministry—meeting needs, loving boldly, and proclaiming the gospel. Can you think of a recent situation where you were tempted to retaliate or respond in anger? How could you have responded differently, with a “steel spine and a tender heart”? [22:35]
The pastor admitted to responding harshly online and then taking it down, realizing it wasn’t a tender-hearted response. Are there places in your life—online or in person—where you need to practice more grace and less retaliation? What’s one practical way you can do that this week? [22:35]
The legacy of those who have gone before us, like Charlie Kirk, is a call to courage and faithfulness. What is one thing you can do this week that honors their legacy—whether it’s speaking truth, loving your family, seeking reconciliation, or worshiping with abandon? [27:04]
The sermon says, “What the enemy meant for evil, God will use for good.” Is there a painful or difficult situation in your life where you need to trust that God can bring good out of it? How can you pray or act differently in light of that truth? [24:33]
The pastor called the church to be people of valor—courageous and ready to stand, serve, and proclaim Jesus. What does “valor” look like for you in your current season of life? Is there a specific area where you need to step out in courage? [29:41]

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Close in prayer, asking God to meet each person in their grief, to give strength to move forward, and to help the group be people of hope, ministry, and courage in a broken world.

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