UnderCurrents
Undercurrents: Grief
1 Thessalonians 4:13
1. Grief is the natural response to loss. (1 Thess. 4:13)
- We grieve to the level that we love.
- Grief creates a sense of waiting.
“It gives life a permanently provisional feeing. Up till this I always had too little time. Now there is nothing but time, almost pure time, empty successiveness.” - C.S. Lewis – A Grief Observed
2. We can have hope in grief because: (John 11)
- The glory of God is seen even in grief. (vs. 1-4)
- God is sovereign. (vs. 5-11)
- Our belief in Christ deepens. (vs.12-15)
- Jesus conquered death and gave us life. (vs. 16-44)
Key Questions:
- What is the biblical response to grief? -- “How then shall we live?”
- What is the best response to help one in grief? – Presence
Final thought: We grieve with hope when we choose life in the face of death.
Series Information
Sometimes a seemingly calm body of water can have hidden, yet treacherous, undercurrents that can sweep us off our feet and pull us into deeper water. The same thing can happen in our lives; anxiety, anger, and grief are just some of the "undercurrents" that can pull us into places we'd rather not go. How the believer deals with these crises is a testimony to the outside and an opportunity to be drawn closer to the Father.