"FAITH IS THE VICTORY!"
In Overcoming Grief
INTRODUCTION
- Jesus promised to provide an "abundant life" when He said:
"...I have come that they may have life, and that they may have
it more abundantly." (Jn 10:10)
- We have already seen how Jesus provides that abundant life by
helping us to overcome many things we face in this world, such as:
- Sin, anxiety, boredom, and depression
- Despair, discontent, and fear
-- That is why I am persuaded that "Faith Is The Victory!", as
expressed in 1Jn 5:4-5
- Before we conclude this series, I wish to illustrate the victory of
faith in Jesus in dealing with two more problems we often face:
grief and loneliness
[In this lesson we shall consider the subject of "grief", beginning
with...]
- UNDERSTANDING GRIEF
- GRIEF DEFINED...
- According to the American Heritage dictionary: "Deep mental
anguish, as that arising from bereavement"
- Synonyms include: sorrow, sadness, mournfulness, gloom
- The feeling of grief can often be like the feeling of fear, as
observed by C. S. Lewis: "No one ever told me that grief felt
so like fear." (A Grief Observed)
- NOT ALL GRIEF IS WRONG...
- Jesus manifested grief when He saw how others were grieved
over the loss of a loved one - Jn 11:32-35
- Paul wrote of "a continual grief" that he had in his heart
- Ro 9:1-2; cf. Ro 10:1
- Having grief and expressing it is an important part of
overcoming traumatic experiences such as the loss of a loved
one
- Paul and the Ephesian elders expressed their grief as they bid
him a sad farewell - Ac 20:36-38
- GRIEF CAN BECOME A PROBLEM...
- When it makes one useless for any service
- E.g., when one's grief sends them into extended isolation
- E.g., when one's grief makes them unable to comfort others
in their grief
- When it begins to produce a psychosomatic illness
- Many physical illnesses are either caused or made worse by
emotional distress
- Grief is certainly one kind of emotional distress that can
take its toll on the body
[So while there is a place for grief in the life and heart of a
Christian, it is imperative that grief not take control of our lives.
With the help of faith in Jesus, that need not happen...]
- FAITH IN JESUS HELPS US TO OVERCOME GRIEF
- JESUS PROVIDES COMFORT TO THE GRIEVING SOUL...
- As previously noted, Jesus certainly understands our grief
- While in the flesh, He experienced grief - Jn 11:35
- Indeed, He became flesh to be better suited to come to our
aid - He 2:17-18
- He therefore taught His disciples how to find comfort when
troubled
- To believe in Him - Jn 14:1-3
- To keep His commandments, that we might abide in His love
- Jn 15:10-11
- To pray, that we may have joy and peace - Jn 16:24,33;
cf. Php 4:6-7
- He also provides comfort with the promise of our resurrection
- cf. 1Th 4:13-17
- JESUS PROVIDES A FAMILY TO HELP BEAR OUR GRIEF...
- Those who believe in Jesus and do His will are part of a
family - cf. Mt 12:46-50
- That family is the family of God, the church - 1Ti 3:15;
cf. 1Ti 5:1-2
- In which we have "a hundredfold" brothers, sisters,
mothers, etc. - Mk 10:29-30
- In which we are to
- As a family, we can bear one another's grief
- By weeping with those who weep - Ro 12:15
- By sharing in each other's sufferings - 1Co 12:25-26
- By comforting one another with the comfort we each receive
from God - 2Co 1:3-5
- Sadly, many do not take advantage of this blessing of a family
- E.g., those who think they can get what they need watching
religious programs
- E.g., those who may "belong to a church", but never become
involved
-- And so when their grief comes, they must often bear it
alone
CONCLUSION
- Jesus certainly did not intend for us to bear our grief alone...
- He taught us how to have lasting joy and peace, even in the midst
of grief
- He died and rose from the dead, that our grief even in death
might be temporary
- He now intercedes as our High Priest, to comfort us in our times
of grief
- He built His church to be a family, so we can receive comfort in
times of grief
- For one to enjoy such blessings, it requires faith in Jesus...
- Faith in Jesus to believe what He taught
- Faith in Jesus to believe what He did
- Faith in Jesus to obey what He commanded that we might abide in
His love
- Faith in Jesus to become an integral part of His "church family"
So if we wish to overcome grief through Jesus Christ, then "Faith Is
The Victory!"