OUR ATTITUDE IN GRIEF

JEREMIAH 10:1

A. "THIS IS A GRIEF, AND I MUST BEAR IT"
  1. There comes a time in the life of most of us when grief is such a great word:
    1. That we are unable to utter another
    2. When the past is powerless and the present is gray
  2. What is to be done in such an hour?
    1. God's answer is, "I must bear it"
    2. There is no other solution B. IN THIS HOUR DEEP SORROW AND GRIEF, WHEN WORDS OF MEN ARE POWERLESS WHEN LIFE IS COVERED WITH A CLOUD, LET US MEDITATE UPON THE WORDS OF OUR TEXT
  3. Grief - what is it?
    1. In an hour like this - grief is inward pain and a state of perplexity; deep sorrow which affects our being
    2. Job's suffering - Job 2:13; 6:2
    3. David in deep distress - Ps. 31:7
  4. Of great consolation is our knowledge that in the hour of sorrow and grief we are not alone:
    1. The Bible assures us that our Saviour is "acquainted with grief" - Is. 53:3
    2. More than that "He hath born our grief, and carried our sorrows" - Is. 53:4
    3. Said the Lord, "In all their affliction he was afflicted" - Is. 63:9
  5. Note, prayerfully, God's comforting assurance:
    1. "But though he cause grief, yet will he have compassion according to the multitude of his mercies"
    2. "For He doth not afflict willingly nor grieve the children of men" - Lam. 3:32-33
  6. This is a grief, and I must bear it:
    1. That is the answer of faith in God when sorrow and grief seem to shut out the light - Examples: Said Job, "Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him" - Job 13:15
    2. Faith looks beyond this hour of sorrow and rests in God's promises, "Say unto the righteous, that it shall be well with them" - Is. 3:10 C. THE OUTLOOK AND THE UPLOOK
  7. In moments life these, when sorrow seems to overwhelm the strongest of us:
    1. We are well advised to receive comfort that the loved one has fallen asleep in Jesus
    2. That she had the assurance that her sins were under the blood of Jesus
    3. That she will rise again unto everlasting life
    4. That if we are faithful there will be a reunion again with the loved ones
  8. There is but one challenge that comes to the sorrowing ones:
    1. Will we meet her again?
    2. Will we make it possible for a family reunion by loving and serving the Lord as she did
    3. Does our faith in God look beyond the grave to the glorious resurrection morning?
  9. What then shall we do with our griefs?
    1. The only reasonable answer is bear them
    2. Bear them in hop
    3. Bear them because we are not alone, we have a sympathetic Saviour who sustains us in the hour of sorrow and grief
    4. Bear our grief - because that is the lot of men in this present world


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