GRIEF

ONE OF THE MAIN CAUSES FOR SEVERE GRIEF IS THE DEATH OF A LOVED ONE. THIS IS A TIME OF LONELINESS. IN TIMES LIKE THESE WE MUST NOT QUESTION GOD BUT PLACE UTMOST CONFIDENCE IN HIM. TRAGEDY MUST NOT BE BLAMED ON GOD: RATHER, SATAN COMES TO KILL, STEAL, DESTROY, AND TAKE AWAY. REGARDLESS OF HOW THE CIRCUMSTANCES ARE, GOD CAN WORK RECEPTIVELY IN THE SITUATION.

HIS GRACE IS SUFFICIENT FOR US. WE MAY WALK THROUGH A VERY DEEP VALLEY, BUT WE CANNOT LOOK BACK. WE MUST PRESS FORWARD AND MOVE AHEAD, AND WE CAN COME TO NEW MOUNTAINTOP EXPERIENCES OF GOD’S BLESSINGS AND EXPERIENCE HIS GLORY IN NEW WAYS.

WE MUST TRUST THE LORD COMPLETELY AND COMMIT OUR FUTURES TO HIM. HE WILL SOOTHE THE HEART THAT IS MOURNING AND GIVE COMFORT. WE MUST LEARN TO CONTINUALLY BELIEVE GOD IN THE MIDST OF ANY DISCOURAGEMENT, AND THE PEACE OF HIS SPIRIT WILL OVERCOME THAT LONELINESS IN WHICH WE MAY BE ENGULFED.

GOD WILL GIVE US STRENGTH AND PEACE. IF A PERSON CONTINUES IN A GRIEF STRICKEN STATE OF MIND, IT CAN SOMETIMES OPEN THE WAY FOR OPPRESSIVE FORCES TO PUT A PERSON IN REAL BONDAGE. JUST AS 2 TIMOTHY 1: 7 FEAR IS REFERRED TO AS A SPIRIT, SPIRITUAL FORCES CAN OPPRESS ONE WITH A SPIRIT OF GRIEF.

THIS TYPE OF OPPRESSION NEEDS TO BE REBUKED IN THE SAME WAY AS THE SPIRIT OF FEAR AND THESE FORCES BOUND AND COMMANDED AWAY FROM AN INDIVIDUAL. GOD WANTS US TO HAVE HIS COMFORT AND TO WALK IN HIS JOY AND PEACE.

SCRIPTURES ON GRIEF

“BE STRONG AND OF A GOOD COURAGE; BE NOT AFRAID, NEITHER BE THOU DISMAYED: FOR THE LORD THY GOD IS WITH THEE IN WHITHERSOEVER THOU GOEST.” JOSHUA 1: 9

“NEITHER BE YE SORRY, FOR THE JOY OF THE LORD IS YOUR STRENGTH” NEHEMIAH 8: 10

“BE GLAD IN THE LORD, AND REJOICE, YE RIGHTEOUS: AND SHOUT FOR JOY, ALL YE THAT ARE UPRIGHT IN HEART.” PSALM 32: 11

“THE RIGHTEOUS IS TAKEN AWAY FROM THE EVIL TO COME.” ISAIAH 57: 1

“AS ONE WHOM HIS MOTHER COMFORT, SO WILL I COMFORT YOU?” ISAIAH 66: 13

“LET THY WIDOWS TRUST IN ME.” JEREMIAH 49: 11

“LO, I AM WITH YOU ALWAYS, EVEN UNTO THE END OF THE WORLD.” MATTHEW 28:20

“LET YOUR HEART NOT BE TROUBLED: YE BELIEVE IN GOD, BELIEVE ALSO IN ME. IN MY FATHER’S HOUSE ARE MANY MANSIONS: IF IT WERE NOT SO, I WOULD HAVE TOLD YOU. I GO TO PREPARE A PLACE FOR YOU. AND IF I GO AND PREPARE A PLACE FOR YOU, I WILL COME AGAIN, AND RECEIVE YOU UNTO MYSELF; THAT WHERE I AM, THERE YE MAY BE ALSO.” JOHN 14; 1 – 3

“WILLING RATHER TO BE ABSENT FROM THE BODY, AND TO BE PRESENT WITH THE LORD.” 2 CORINTHIANS 5: 8

“AS SORROWFUL, YET ALWAYS REJOICING.” 2 CORINTHIANS 6: 10

“FOR TO ME TO LIVE IS CHRIST, AND TO DIE IS GAIN.” PHILIPPIANS 1:21

“REJOICE IN THE LORD ALWAYS: AND I SAY AGAIN, REJOICE.” PHILIPPIANS 4: 4

“”I WOULD NOT HAVE YOU IGNORANT, BRETHREN, CONCERNING THEM WHICH ARE ASLEEP, THAT YE SORROW NOT, EVEN AS OTHERS WHICH HAVE NO HOE. FOR IF WE BELIEVE THAT JESUS DIED AND ROSE AGAIN, EVEN SO THEM ALSO WHICH SLEEP IN JESUS WILL GOD BRING WITH HIM. WE WHICH ARE ALIVE AND REMAIN UNTO THE COMING OF THE LORD SHALL NOT PREVENT THEM WHICH ARE ASLEEP, FOR THE LORD HIMSELF DESCEND FROM HEAVEN WITH A SHOUT, WITH THE VOICE OF THE ARCHANGEL, AND WITH THE TRUMP OF GOD, AND THE DEAD IN CHRIST SHALL RISE FIRST: THEN WE WHICH ARE ALIVE AND REMAIN SHALL BE CAUGHT UP TOGETHER WITH THEM IN THE CLOUDS, TO MEET THE LORD IN THE AIR: AND SO SHALL WE EVER BE WITH THE LORD. WHEREFORE COMFORT ONE ANOTHER WITH THESE WORDS.” 1 THESSALONIANS 4: 13 – 18