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Lesson 7: A Faith that overcomes grief and loneliness

Lesson 7: A Faith that overcomes grief and loneliness. Understanding Grief & Loneliness What Is Grief? Deep mental anguish, as that arising from bereavement Sorrow, distress, sadness, mournfulness, gloom, heartache Not All Grief Is Wrong

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Lesson 7: A Faith that overcomes grief and loneliness

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  1. Lesson 7:A Faith that overcomes grief and loneliness

  2. Understanding Grief & Loneliness • What Is Grief? • Deep mental anguish, as that arising from bereavement • Sorrow, distress, sadness, mournfulness, gloom, heartache • Not All Grief Is Wrong • Jesus manifested grief at loss of a loved one – John 11:32-35 • Jesus wept over the city of Jerusalem – Luke 19:41 • Jesus’ disciples mourned & wept after His death –Mk. 16:10 • Paul wrote of “a continual grief” in his heart – Rom. 9:1-2 • Elders expressed grief at Paul’s departure – Acts 20:36-38 • Paul sorrowed at the illness of Epaphroditus – Phil. 2:27-28

  3. Understanding Grief & Loneliness • Loneliness Is Not Necessarily Wrong • Solitude (which is by choice) is different than loneliness • Loneliness is a feeling of dissatisfaction with the quality and/or quantity of one’s relationships with other people • There is “social loneliness” – isolated from friends & family • There is “emotional loneliness” – feel have no one to talk to • Grief & Loneliness Can Become a Problem • When it makes one useless for any service • When it begins to produce psychosomatic illness • “Loneliness eats into the soul”

  4. Understanding Grief & Loneliness • Common Reactions to Grief & Loneliness • Active solitude – becoming engrossed in some activity that we enjoy and which enriches our lives (positive reaction) • Social action – taking deliberate action that breaks the isolation and involves us with others (positive reaction) • Distraction – doing something to take our minds off our sense of grief & loneliness (more neutral reaction) • Sad passivity – continuing to feel badly and doing nothing to positively impact the problem (negative reaction that can lead to a downward spiral)

  5. A Faith That Overcomes Grief & Loneliness • Remember: Jesus suffered both grief and loneliness! • Grief: Luke 19:41; 22:44; John 11:32-35 • Loneliness: Matt. 26:40, 43, 45; 27:46 • As such, He is better suited to aid us now (Heb. 2:17-18) • Remember: The Lord is with you! • When one walks with God, never truly alone (John 16:32) • Joshua had a close friend in God (Deut. 31:6-8; Josh. 1:1-9) • Assured of His abiding presence (John 14:21, 23; 2 John 9) • He will never leave us or forsake us (Heb. 13:5-6) • He is with us always (Matt. 28:20)

  6. A Faith That Overcomes Grief & Loneliness • Remember: The Lords gives you a family! • The church is the family of God (1 Tim. 3:15; 5:1-2) • We have 100-fold brothers, sisters, mothers (Mk. 10:29-20) • “God sets the solitary in families” (Psa. 68:6) • In this family, we are to bear one another’s grief • By weeping with those who weep (Rom. 12:15) • By sharing in each other’s sufferings (1 Cor. 12:25-26) • By comforting one another with the comfort we each receive from God (2 Cor. 1:3-5) • Many bear their grief alone b/c they don’t have this family

  7. A Faith That Overcomes Grief & Loneliness • We can have a faith that overcomes grief & loneliness by: • Truly believing the Lord wants the best for us (Jn. 14:1-3) • Taking comfort in the promises of God (1 Thess. 4:13-18) • Praying…& praying some more (Lk 18:1; Mt 6:5-6; Ph. 4:6-7) • Remembering Jesus intercedes as our High Priest (Heb 7:25) • Serving others (Matt. 20:25-28) • Consorting with true friends in the church who will strengthen your hand in God (1 Sam. 23:16) • Staying busy in the Master’s work (Ph. 2:12-13; 1 Cor. 15:58) • Studying the Bible…specifically – Finding “YOUR Psalm”

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