Job Week 3

Intro- have you ever got lost and

“Grief is like a long valley, a winding valley where any bend may reveal a totally new landscape.” ― C.S. Lewis, A Grief Observed

When everything feels like it’s falling apart, hold on to the God who never fails.

You cannot go around grief, only through it.

The New International Version (Chapter 3)

After this, Job opened his mouth and cursed the day of his birth. 2 He said:

3 “May the day of my birth perish,

and the night that said, ‘A boy is conceived!’

4 That day—may it turn to darkness;

may God above not care about it;

may no light shine on it.

5 May gloom and utter darkness claim it once more;

may a cloud settle over it;

may blackness overwhelm it.

The New International Version (Chapter 3)

20 “Why is light given to those in misery,

and life to the bitter of soul,

21 to those who long for death that does not come,

who search for it more than for hidden treasure,

22 who are filled with gladness

and rejoice when they reach the grave?

23 Why is life given to a man

whose way is hidden,

whom God has hedged in?

Pain is something that takes time to process.

Love is what makes loss hurt so much.

Grief is the result of not only great loss, but great love.

Job’s grief was big because his loss was big and his loss was big because his love was big.

John 11 Jesus raises Lazarus

God grieves when you grieve.

Psalm

The New International Version (Psalm 34)

18 The LORD is close to the brokenhearted

and saves those who are crushed in spirit.

Matthew

The New International Version (Chapter 5)

4 Blessed are those who mourn,

for they will be comforted.

“God weeps with us so that we may one day laugh with him.” -JÜRGEN MOLTMANN

Joe Bayly once said, “Don’t forget in the darkness what you have learned in the light.”

Yancey, Philip. Where Is God When It Hurts? (p. 233). Zondervan. Kindle Edition.

Ways To grieve in a healthy way

5 Ways To Grieve In Healthier Ways

Realize that grief is not linear and that it is a process

Show picture

-Turn To Good grief (don’t turn to vices)

-Do it in Community (more on that next week)

-Grieve with eternity in mind

New Living Translation (Chapter 19)

25 “But as for me, I know that my Redeemer lives,

and he will stand upon the earth at last.

26 And after my body has decayed,

yet in my body I will see God!

27 I will see him for myself.

Yes, I will see him with my own eyes.

I am overwhelmed at the thought!

Rev

The New International Version (Chapter 21)

Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. 4 ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ u or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”

5 He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!”

Romans

The New International Version (Chapter 8)

18 I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. 19 For the creation waits in eager expectation for the children of God to be revealed. 20 For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope 21 that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the freedom and glory of the children of God.

-Allow Grief to be a chance to be with God

“Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand.”

‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭41:10‬ ‭

“God is our refuge and strength, always ready to help in times of trouble. So we will not fear when earthquakes come and the mountains crumble into the sea. Let the oceans roar and foam. Let the mountains tremble as the waters surge! ….“Be still, and know that I am God!”

-Psalms‬ ‭46:1-3, 10‬ ‭

“Only when our greatest love is God, a love that we cannot lose even in death, can we face all things with peace. Grief was not to be eliminated but seasoned and buoyed up with love and hope.”

Keller, Timothy. Walking with God through Pain and Suffering (p. 44). Penguin Publishing Group. Kindle Edition.

When everything feels like it’s falling apart, hold on to the God who never fails.