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God Understands Grief

God Understands Grief. Psalm 88 Page 925. What Is Grief?. Grief is the normal process of reacting to a loss.

branden-blackburn
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God Understands Grief

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  1. God Understands Grief Psalm 88 Page 925

  2. What Is Grief? Grief is the normal process of reacting to a loss. The loss may be physical (such as a death), social (such as divorce), or occupational (such as a job). Emotional reactions of grief can include anger, guilt, anxiety, sadness, and despair. Physical reactions of grief can include sleeping problems, changes in appetite, physical problems, or illness.

  3. Grief Is Personal No two people experience grief in the same way. My Story.

  4. A Part of Our Story: Grief is a part of the human experience. Grief is also a part of the spiritual experience. It is often during the grief of losing people that people turn to, or away from, God.

  5. Psalm 88 Page 925 a Psalm of Lament A lament or lamentation is a song, poem, or piece of music expressing grief, regret, or mourning. Written by Heman the Ezrahite. He has a long term illness or depression. I did not find any Pslams grieving the death of a loved one.

  6. Psalm 88:1-4 Page 925 O LORD, the God who saves me, day and night I cry out before you. PS 88:2 May my prayer come before you; turn your ear to my cry. PS 88:3 For my soul is full of trouble and my life draws near the grave. PS 88:4 I am counted among those who go down to the pit; I am like a man without strength.

  7. Psalm 88:5-7 Page 926 PS 88:5 I am set apart with the dead, like the slain who lie in the grave, whom you remember no more, who are cut off from your care. PS 88:6 You have put me in the lowest pit, in the darkest depths. PS 88:7 Your wrathlies heavily upon me; you have overwhelmed me with all your waves. Selah

  8. Psalm 88:8-10 Page 926 8 You have taken from me my closest friends and have made me repulsive to them. I am confined and cannot escape; PS 88:9 my eyes are dim with grief. I call to you, O LORD, every day; I spread out my hands to you. PS 88:10 Do you show your wonders to the dead? Do those who are dead rise up and praise you? Selah – Think on that.

  9. Psalm 88:11-14 Page 926 Is your love declared in the grave, your faithfulness in Destruction? PS 88:12 Are your wonders known in the place of darkness, or your righteous deeds in the land of oblivion? PS 88:13 But I cry to you for help, O LORD; in the morning my prayer comes before you. PS 88:14 Why, O LORD, do you reject me and hide your face from me?

  10. Psalm 88:15-18 15 From my youth I have been afflicted and close to death; I have suffered your terrors and am in despair. PS 88:16 Your wrathhas swept over me; your terrors have destroyed me. PS 88:17 All day long they surround me like a flood; they have completely engulfed me. PS 88:18 You have taken my companions and loved ones from me; the darkness is my closest friend.

  11. What Can We Learn? Your Answers… God can take the blame even if it is not true. God is always approachable. We need to take time to listen and change perspective. Grief is often raw and illogical but God still listens. We need to look to Jesus for answer to the questions of grief and loss.

  12. God Knows Grief At the start I said that grief is a human and spiritual experience. Grief is also an experience that God shares with us. What does John 3:16 say??

  13. God Knows! God knows what it is like to lose a son. More than that, He knows what it takes to sacrifice a son. That is more than any of us has had to go through.

  14. What Should We Say? • The answer depends on the source of the suffering. • Our Own Sin – God Wants Repentance • The Sin of Others – God Provides Comfort and Justice. • Fallen World – We Look Forward to Heaven and Organize our Priorities • Righteousness – Tests our Faith and Strengthens Us

  15. 1 Peter 1:6-7 In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. 7 These have come so that your faith--of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire--may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.

  16. Conclusion When we are grieving God wants to hear from us. He knows what it is like and He alone can provide true compassion and healing. Next week: God wants to hear our prayers for Mercy – Psalms 28 and 79

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