HOW TO HANDLE THE GRIP OF GRIEF

1. Grief will make you question God.

John 11:17-21 (NLT) 17 When Jesus arrived at Bethany, he was told that Lazarus had already been in his grave for four days. 18 Bethany was only a few miles down the road from Jerusalem, 19 and many of the people had come to console Martha and Mary in their loss. 20 When Martha got word that Jesus was coming, she went to meet him. But Mary stayed in the house. 21 Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if only you had been here, my brother would not have died.

2-Areas You May Question God.

1.) His timing.

2.) His love.

John 11:5 (NLT) 5 So although Jesus loved Martha, Mary, and Lazarus, 6 he stayed where he was for the next two days.

John 11:34-37 (NLT) 34 “Where have you put him?” he asked them. They told him, “Lord, come and see.” 35 Then Jesus wept. 36 The people who were standing nearby said, “See how much he loved him!” 37 But some said, “This man healed a blind man. Couldn’t he have kept Lazarus from dying?” 

Psalm 34:18 (NLT) The Lord is close to the brokenhearted; he rescues those whose spirits are crushed.

2. Grief will make you go through a wide-range of emotions.

John 11:33 (NLT) 33 When Jesus saw her weeping and saw the other people wailing with her, a deep anger welled up within him, and he was deeply troubled.

John 11:38 (NLT) 38 Jesus was still angry as he arrived at the tomb, a cave with a stone rolled across its entrance. … 

Hebrews 2:14-15 (NLT) 14 Because God’s children are human beings—made of flesh and blood—the Son also became flesh and blood. For only as a human being could he die, and only by dying could he break the power of the devil, who had the power of death. 15 Only in this way could he set free all who have lived their lives as slaves to the fear of dying.

3. Jesus wants to go to the places that stink in your life.

4. There will be a great family reunion one day!