Grieving with God: A Journey of Healing

Devotional

Day 1: Acknowledging Pain as an Act of Faith

Grieving with God begins with the courage to acknowledge our pain honestly. It is an invitation to share our deepest sorrows with Him, knowing that He is not distant from our suffering. Grief is not a sign of weak faith; rather, it is an expression of love that has nowhere to go. By bringing our pain to God, we allow Him to be present in our suffering, transforming it into a sacred space where healing can begin. This act of faith opens the door to a deeper relationship with God, where we move from knowing about Him to truly knowing Him. [31:41]

"Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and will not be afraid; for the Lord God is my strength and my song, and he has become my salvation." (Isaiah 12:2, ESV)

Reflection: What is one area of pain in your life that you have been hesitant to bring to God? How can you take a step today to share this with Him honestly?

Day 2: Embracing the Journey Through Grief

Grief is often likened to an island of isolation, but the only way to navigate it is to journey through it, not around it. It is okay to not be okay, and God does not require us to pretend otherwise. This journey, though difficult, can lead us to a deeper trust in God. It may feel like a step backward, but it is actually a step toward transformation. By embracing the process of grief, we allow God to work in us, moving us from a place of simplicity to a more profound understanding of His presence in our lives. [37:25]

"For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us." (Romans 8:18, ESV)

Reflection: In what ways have you tried to avoid or bypass your grief? How can you begin to embrace the journey through it with God’s help today?

Day 3: Receiving Comfort from God

Jesus promised that those who mourn will be comforted, yet we often limit our comfort by refusing to mourn. Grieving with God means we do not have to do it alone; He is close to the brokenhearted and desires to comfort us. Allowing God to comfort us requires vulnerability and trust, acknowledging that we need His presence in our pain. By opening ourselves to His comfort, we experience His love in a profound way, which can bring healing and hope even in the midst of sorrow. [50:16]

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

Reflection: How have you been resisting God’s comfort in your life? What is one practical step you can take today to open yourself to His comforting presence?

Day 4: Trusting in God’s Knowledge

Even when we do not understand our circumstances, we can trust that God knows. He exists beyond time, making Him the only one we can trust at all times. Grief may never grow smaller, but we can grow larger, allowing us to move forward with God. Trusting in God’s knowledge means surrendering our need for answers and resting in His sovereignty. It is an invitation to deepen our faith, knowing that He holds our past, present, and future in His hands. [56:44]

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths." (Proverbs 3:5-6, ESV)

Reflection: What is one area of your life where you struggle to trust God’s knowledge? How can you practice surrendering this area to Him today?

Day 5: Grief as Part of the Story, Not the End

The story of Job illustrates that grief can be part of our story, but with God, it does not have to be the end. Trusting in God allows us to carry the memory without the weight of grief, moving forward with His help. Grief is a chapter in our lives, not the entire book. By trusting in God’s presence and purpose, we can find hope and healing, knowing that He is writing a greater story in our lives. This perspective allows us to honor our grief while also embracing the new life that God offers. [58:21]

"And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you." (1 Peter 5:10, ESV)

Reflection: How can you begin to see your grief as part of your story rather than the end? What is one way you can invite God to help you move forward today?

Sermon Summary

Grieving is a universal experience, yet many of us struggle with how to grieve with God. Today, we explored this profound topic, recognizing that while we often know how to grieve without God—turning to distractions like Netflix or comfort foods—grieving with God requires a different approach. We began by acknowledging the pain with honesty, understanding that God invites us to share our grief with Him. He is not distant from our suffering; rather, He is Emmanuel, God with us, who knows what it is to grieve. Grief is not a sign of weak faith; it is an expression of love that has nowhere to go.

We discussed the concept of "Grief Island," a place of isolation and loneliness, and emphasized that the only way through grief is to go through it, not around it. It's okay to not be okay, and God doesn't require us to pretend otherwise. We explored the stages of faith, from simplicity to complexity, and how grief can lead us to a deeper trust in God. This journey can feel like a step backward, but it is actually a step toward transformation, moving from knowing about God to truly knowing Him.

Allowing God to comfort us is crucial. Jesus said, "Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted." We limit our comfort when we refuse to mourn. Grieving with God means we don't have to do it alone. The story of Job illustrates that grief can be part of our story, but with God, it doesn't have to be the end. Trusting that God knows, even when we don't, is essential. He exists beyond time, making Him the only one we can trust at all times. Grief may never grow smaller, but we can grow larger, allowing us to move forward with God.

Key Takeaways

1. Acknowledge the Pain with Honesty: Grieving with God begins with acknowledging our pain. God invites us to share our grief with Him, and He experiences it with us. Grief is not a sign of weak faith; it is an expression of love that has nowhere to go. [31:41]
2. Journey Through Grief, Not Around It: Grief Island is a place of isolation, but the only way through grief is to go through it. It's okay to not be okay, and God doesn't require us to pretend otherwise. This journey can lead us to a deeper trust in God. [37:25]
3. Allow God to Comfort You: Jesus said, "Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted." We limit our comfort when we refuse to mourn. Grieving with God means we don't have to do it alone, and He is close to the brokenhearted. [50:16]
4. Trust That God Knows: Even when we don't understand, we can trust that God knows. He exists beyond time, making Him the only one we can trust at all times. Grief may never grow smaller, but we can grow larger, allowing us to move forward with God. [56:44]
5. Grief is Part of the Story, Not the End: The story of Job shows us that grief can be part of our story, but with God, it doesn't have to be the end. Trusting in God allows us to carry the memory without the weight of grief, moving forward with His help. [58:21]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[31:41] - Introduction to Grieving with God
[32:55] - Acknowledge the Pain
[35:48] - Difference Between Sadness and Grief
[37:25] - Grief Island
[39:13] - Stages of Faith
[44:59] - Trust and Love
[46:05] - Personal Story of Loss
[48:03] - Allowing God to Comfort
[50:16] - Blessed are Those Who Mourn
[51:06] - Limiting Our Comfort
[52:16] - Grieving with God
[53:18] - The Story of Job
[54:17] - Grief is Part of the Story
[56:44] - Trust That God Knows
[58:21] - Growing Larger Than Grief
[61:38] - Moving Forward with God
[62:27] - Invitation to Worship
[63:15] - Closing Prayer

Sermon Clips

"The thing about Grief Island is there's no way around. You can only go through it. Oftentimes, it feels alone. You feel alone. You feel like you're isolated, but there's no way around it, only through it. And here's the truth. If you're not hearing anything so far, I want you to hear this, please. I believe the Holy Spirit wants us to hear this this morning, that it is okay to not be okay." [00:37:46] (29 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

"Job shows us how to grieve with God. What does Job show us? He shows us in chapter one that we can praise God even in the middle of grief. I love Job. Job's friends did a lot of things wrong, if you read the story, but we know what they did right. As soon as Job really went through losing all of his stuff, they sat with him for seven days and said nothing. They cried with him. They created space." [00:54:17] (25 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

"Grief may never grow smaller, but we can always grow larger. I'm not just saying that because it sounds good. It's true. The truth is, is when we get to this place of love and trust. The grief is there. Thanksgiving is going to come, and they're not going to be there. Christmas is going to come, and that house that you've lived in, that you lost, isn't going to be there. Whatever it might be, the grief, the irreplaceable loss, it's not there, and that's going to be a part of the story. But it doesn't have to be the whole story. There's more." [00:58:49] (31 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

"I can choose to say, Lord, on one hand, it never should have happened. And on the other hand, I'm trusting you to lead me. On one hand, I'm sad. But on the other hand, I have joy in my heart. Because I know it's not the end of the story. I'm moving forward with you. I have faith with you. Even when I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil. For you are with me. You are with me. You are for me." [01:01:48] (28 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

"How many of us have been, for years, chained to the grief? Not because we can't have it, but because we haven't dealt with it. And invited, here it is, invited God to walk with us hand in hand. To show us. How to live. With God. Say with God." [01:02:59] (25 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

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