Grief for Joy

Message Study Questions

Message Summary

Grief is the response to the loss of something important, particularly the loss of someone important. This world is filled with grief. But God takes the bad things and exchanges them with good and eternal gifts.

Jesus understands our grief, and is familiar with our suffering and pain. He knows we will experience grief, but He promises that our grief will turn into joy—like the miracle of childbirth.

We grieve but we don’t grieve without hope. Joy isn’t found in our current circumstances but in our future destiny.

Rather than deny, delay or distract ourselves from grief, it is better to admit the grief, acknowledge the pain and to talk about it with other caring people. We should also talk to God about our pain and loss first and foremost and always “pray without ceasing.” We hear from God and get to know Him better through His word, the Bible. He also created us in His image and created us to be in community with one another to encourage one another, to serve one another, and help each one find healing.

1. Can you share a painful experience in your life that resulted in joy?
   

2. How has God made your joy complete?
   

Consider This

Often grief happens suddenly, even if we expect the loss, grief hits hard. In times of great loss, you might feel like you can’t even catch your breath.

1. Read John 3:16. God gave Jesus as a gift to pay the penalty for our sins and save us.

   • How much grief do you think this “gift” cost God?
     

   • Think about it. How much does God love you?
     

2. You can know something in your head, but it is another kind of knowledge when you experience that same thing.

   • What was Jesus’ experience with the grief of loss in John 11:33-34, 38?

   • What was Jesus’ experience with pain and suffering in Isaiah 53:3-5

   • How well then can Jesus relate to your grief and pain?

3. Read John 16:16-22. The disciples asked how long? But we, like them can have joy in tough circumstances because this pain is temporary.

   • What does temporary mean?

   • Why does God love you? (see John 16:27)

   • What does Jesus promise his followers in verses 22 and 33?

4. Read Psalm 16:11. What do we have in God’s presence?

   • Why does God’s presence bring fullness of joy?

   • How do you get God’s presence?

5. Read Psalm 30:11-12. How does this apply to pursuing God during our grief? What was the result for the psalmist?

6. Read the end in Revelation 21:1-4. The reason we can have joy, right now, even if you are in the midst of grief is we have a hope and future. We know the end of the story and Jesus has overcome the world.

   • What do we have now in this life according to verse 4?

   • What will happen to those things?

   • What will happen to us (those who believe in Jesus)?

7. Here and now God gives us a measure of what we will experience with him for eternity. The Holy Spirit gives us what we need to endure the pain we will experience in this world.

   • Do you have any pain you would like to acknowledge today?

   • Joy is a fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23). Have you brought your grief to God in prayer?

   • How can we encourage community and vulnerability with others who are hurting?

Moving Forward – Application

Being a Christian doesn’t mean you have to hide your struggle and pretend that it is ok. We come to God in our brokenness and allow him to heal and change us.

1. What grief, pain and suffering do you need to entrust to God this week? On what truth from God’s word will you rely upon?

2. Make a plan this week to pursue God through prayer and scripture daily.

3. Will you be vulnerable with God, even in anger or doubt this week?

4. How can you support others in their grief through your presence and through prayer this week?