Grief is better than laughter, for when a face is sad, a heart may be glad. Ecclesiastes 7:3
Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. Matthew 5:4
Mourn - penthountes, a deep feeling of grief that literally means: to have a broken heart.
This Week’s Power Verse:
The Lord is close to the brokenhearted; He rescues those whose spirits are crushed. Psalm 34:18
For we do not have a High Priest who is unable to sympathize and understand our weaknesses and temptations, but One who has been tempted [knowing exactly how it feels to be human] in every respect as we are, yet without [committing any] sin. Hebrews 4:15 (AMP)
Jesus wept. John 11:35
He was despised and rejected by mankind, a man of suffering, and familiar with pain. Isaiah 53:3
3 Responses to Grief
1)
David pleaded with God for the child. He fasted and spent the nights lying in sackcloth on the ground. The elders of his household stood beside him to get him up from the ground, but he refused, and he would not eat any food with them. 2 Samuel 12:16-17
And now, dear brothers and sisters, we want you to know what will happen to the believers who have died so you will not grieve like people who have no hope. 1 Thessalonians 4:13
On the seventh day the child died. David’s attendants were afraid to tell him that the child was dead, for they thought, “While the child was still living, he wouldn’t listen to us when we spoke to him. How can we now tell him the child is dead? He may do something desperate.” 2 Samuel 12:18
David noticed that his attendants were whispering among themselves, and he realized the child was dead. “Is the child dead?” he asked. “Yes,” they replied, “he is dead.” 2 Samuel 12:19
2)
Then David got up from the ground. After he had washed, put on lotions and changed his clothes, he went into the house of the Lord and worshiped. Then he went to his own house, and at his request they served him food, and he ate. 2 Samuel 12:20
You keep track of all my sorrows. You have collected all my tears in your bottle. You have recorded each one in your book. Psalm 56:8
In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord. Isaiah 6:1
Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. Romans 12:15
3)
His attendants asked him, “Why are you acting this way? While the child was alive, you fasted and wept, but now that the child is dead, you get up and eat!” 2 Samuel 12:21
He answered, “While the child was still alive, I fasted and wept. I thought, ‘Who knows? The Lord may be gracious to me and let the child live.’ But now that he is dead, why should I go on fasting? Can I bring him back again? I will go to him, but he will not return to me.” 2 Samuel 12:22-23
4)
Then David comforted his wife Bathsheba, and he went to her and made love to her. She gave birth to a son, and they named him Solomon. The Lord loved him; 2 Samuel 12:24
And there will be no night there—no need for lamps or sun—for the Lord God will shine on them. And they will reign forever and ever. “He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever. Revelation 21:4-5
For the kind of sorrow God wants us to experience leads us away from sin and results in salvation. 2 Corinthians 7:10
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Prayer Request
- YNG Winter Camps
YNG Winter Camp weekend is a weekend getaway for your Middle School or High School student November 15th-17th at Twin Oaks Ranch in Buda. It’s filled with powerful worship, encouraging, age specific and biblical messages as well as activities, rec time and discussion groups. Your child will grow in their friendships and most importantly their relationship with God. Sign up for YNG Winter Camp below. HERE.
- Marriage Date Night
You’re invited to a Marriage Date Night on Friday, October 4th at 7pm hosted by Pastor Cole and Pam. Come have fun with your spouse, connect with others, and enjoy a memorable night out together! Marriage date night is free but but childcare $10 per child. RSVP HERE Today!
Connection Group Discussion Questions:
1. Reflect on Your Own Grief:
- Think about a time when you experienced deep grief. How did you initially respond to it? Did you repress, express, or release it?
- How can the biblical example of David’s grief in 2 Samuel 12 help you process your own grief?
2. Mourning vs. Moaning:
- Pastor Cole distinguished between mourning and moaning. How would you describe the difference between mourning and moaning?
- How can we support each other in our group to mourn well without falling into moaning and self-pity?
3. Finding Comfort in God:
- Psalm 24:18 says, “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted.” Have you experienced this closeness during difficult times? How?
- What practical steps can you take to release your grief to God and allow Him to comfort you?
4. The Role of Community:
- Romans 12:15 says, “Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn.” How can we better support each other in times of joy and grief?
- Share a time when community helped you through a tough situation. What did people do that was most helpful?
5. Facing Reality and Moving Forward:
- David accepted his child’s death in 2 Samuel 12:22-23. Is there something in your life you need to accept but have struggled to let go of?
- How can focusing on what’s left (rather than what’s lost) help you move forward in faith?
6. God’s Greater Plan:
- Revelation 21:4 promises a future without pain, sorrow, or death. How does this eternal perspective change how we process grief in the present?
- How can this hope help you face current or future losses?
7. God’s Purpose in Grief:
- Pastor Cole said, “Nothing is wasted when you give it to God.” How might God be using a current or past grief to shape your life or faith?
- What steps can you take to trust God’s purpose, even through painful moments?