Pastor Chris reminded us that the human tendency to avoid the emotional pain caused by a significant loss allows that injury to retain its power over us. Paying attention to the pain, however, no matter how counterintuitive that may feel, propels us along in the grieving process so that we can move past what happened.
MY STORY
Describe a time when you felt like God had abandoned you because the pain of a difficult situation was felt so deeply.
WHAT DOES GOD WANT US TO HEAR?
How long, O Lord? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me? How long must I take counsel in my soul and have sorrow in my heart all the day? How long shall my enemy be exalted over me? Consider and answer me, O Lord my God; light up my eyes, lest I sleep the sleep of death, lest my enemy say, “I have prevailed over him,” lest my foes rejoice because I am shaken. But I have trusted in your steadfast love; my heart shall rejoice in your salvation. I will sing to the Lord, because he has dealt bountifully with me. (Psalm 13)
Why did David feel forgotten by God?
What is it about being in the middle of a tragedy that can make it feel like your harshest critics must be gloating?
Where was David placing his focus during his “dark night of the soul”?
What does God want us to hear? Based on the passages above, what are the factual “takeaways” that are meaningful to you?
WHAT DOES GOD WANT US TO DO?
Why is it often more challenging to see God’s sovereignty at work in the middle of a trial than when it is all over?
How have you been shaped by the difficult experiences in your life? How did you see God at work in what happened after that challenging period was over?
Why is it important to pay attention to your internal pain while facing down a significant loss?
What could happen if you kept avoiding, or trying to suppress, the emotional agony caused by one of life’s injuries?
What does God want us to do? Flowing out of our reading and interpretation, what action does this passage or the Spirit’s leading, nudging us toward?
WHAT DOES GOD WANT ME TO DO?
What type of emotional pain are you, perhaps, trying to avoid in order to minimize a monumental loss in your life?
Why are you likely to get angry once you start paying attention to that pain and acknowledge that what happened really was a big deal to you?
What are some futile things you might try to do in order to make up for, or to replace, what you lost?
What would acceptance, or “healthy resignation,” look like for that loss, once it’s been fully grieved?
This week, move into the grieving process for a prominent loss in your life, no matter how painful it might feel at first.
What does God want ME to do? What is the personal application and action step that the Holy Spirit is calling you toward?
Message Notes
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