hooked on a feeling grief 2 kings 18: 19-33. a. categories of grief genesis 6: 5-6—god grieved...

Hooked on a FeelingHooked on a Feeling

GRIEFGRIEF

2 Kings 18: 19-332 Kings 18: 19-33

A. Categories of GriefA. Categories of Grief

Genesis 6: 5-6—God grieved over Genesis 6: 5-6—God grieved over manman

1 Peter 1:6—Grief comes from 1 Peter 1:6—Grief comes from different kinds of trialsdifferent kinds of trials

1 Tim. 6: 9-10—Grief can come 1 Tim. 6: 9-10—Grief can come from sinful choicesfrom sinful choices

Ephesians 4:30—our sin can grieve Ephesians 4:30—our sin can grieve the heart of Godthe heart of God

A. Categories of GriefA. Categories of Grief

DeathDeath DivorceDivorce RetirementRetirement MovingMoving RejectionRejection Shattered DreamShattered Dream Job LossJob Loss

Children rebelChildren rebel Loss of body partLoss of body part Loss of HairLoss of Hair Loss of PropertyLoss of Property Child going off to Child going off to

school/marriedschool/married

B. Aspects of GriefB. Aspects of Grief

The role of The role of TEARSTEARS

– Tears are almost always part of the Tears are almost always part of the normal grief processnormal grief process

– John 11:35John 11:35– In our culture, tears are frowned upon, In our culture, tears are frowned upon,

especially when it comes to malesespecially when it comes to males– Some have never learned to crySome have never learned to cry


The role of The role of TEARSTEARS

– We should not try to suppress our We should not try to suppress our bury our emotionsbury our emotions

– ““Tears are the vehicle that God has Tears are the vehicle that God has equipped us with to express the equipped us with to express the deepest feelings words cannot deepest feelings words cannot express.” (H. Norm Wright)express.” (H. Norm Wright)

– ““When words are most empty, tears When words are most empty, tears are most apt.” (Max Lucado)are most apt.” (Max Lucado)


1.1. Purposes of GriefPurposes of Grief

– We should see grief as a gift from We should see grief as a gift from God. It is painful, but it is necessary God. It is painful, but it is necessary as move forward in a fallen worldas move forward in a fallen world

– God is gracious to give us the God is gracious to give us the ability to grieveability to grieve


1.1. Purposes of Grief Purposes of Grief

– It is a gift to express our feelings It is a gift to express our feelings about what or who we have lost. about what or who we have lost. We We release our pain.release our pain.

– It is a gift by which we can clarify It is a gift by which we can clarify what is truly important in life. what is truly important in life. We We are forced to examine life.are forced to examine life.

– It is a gift by which we can advance It is a gift by which we can advance into the future with a deeper walk into the future with a deeper walk with God.with God.


2.2. Path of GriefPath of Grief

– Elisabeth Kubler-RossElisabeth Kubler-Ross– On Death and DyingOn Death and Dying– ““Five stages of grief”Five stages of grief”

Five StagesFive Stages

Denial—This can’t be happening Denial—This can’t be happening to meto me

Anger—Why is this happening?Anger—Why is this happening?

Bargaining—Make this not Bargaining—Make this not happen and I will…happen and I will…


Depression— “I’m too sad to do Depression— “I’m too sad to do anything.”anything.”

Acceptance— “I’m at peace with what Acceptance— “I’m at peace with what has happened or is going to happen”has happened or is going to happen”

These stages were given to represent These stages were given to represent the feelings of people who were facing the feelings of people who were facing death.death.


Many today apply them to other Many today apply them to other losseslosses

The problem is that people The problem is that people have taken these and done have taken these and done with them what she never with them what she never intended and used them in intended and used them in ways she never meantways she never meant

Kubler-RossKubler-Ross

““They were never meant to help tuck They were never meant to help tuck messy emotions into neat packages. messy emotions into neat packages. They are responses to loss that They are responses to loss that many people have, but there is not a many people have, but there is not a typical response to loss, as there is typical response to loss, as there is no typical loss. Our grieving is as no typical loss. Our grieving is as individual as our lives.”individual as our lives.”

Two Points to Two Points to RememberRemember We experience many emotions in We experience many emotions in

varying degree and varying order, and varying degree and varying order, and that is normal.that is normal.

There is no timetable of grief. Some There is no timetable of grief. Some take longer than others to work take longer than others to work through issues. The only concern through issues. The only concern should be if we fall into prolonged should be if we fall into prolonged depression or spiritual lethargy.depression or spiritual lethargy.

C. Advancing through C. Advancing through GriefGrief Grief is not something to overcomeGrief is not something to overcome

Grief is a gift to help us to advance Grief is a gift to help us to advance to the next stage of lifeto the next stage of life

We must open the package of We must open the package of provisions and put what is in it to provisions and put what is in it to work for us.work for us.

C. Advancing through C. Advancing through GriefGrief

1.1. Embrace and Acknowledge the Embrace and Acknowledge the LossLoss

– Don’t get caught in denialDon’t get caught in denial

– Eventually we must come to say this Eventually we must come to say this has happened and it hurts. Life is not has happened and it hurts. Life is not going to be the same, but I still have going to be the same, but I still have life before me where I am neededlife before me where I am needed


1.1. Expect and Acknowledge LossExpect and Acknowledge Loss

– Expect emotionsExpect emotions

– Express grief—talk to empathetic Express grief—talk to empathetic people, journalpeople, journal

– Don’t be aloneDon’t be alone


1.1. Embrace and Acknowledge the Embrace and Acknowledge the LossLoss

– Keep talking to God and worshippingKeep talking to God and worshipping

– Wait upon the LordWait upon the Lord

– Hope for the Broken HeartedHope for the Broken Hearted


2.2. Embrace your TheologyEmbrace your Theology

– Our emotions must always submit Our emotions must always submit to the mind and willto the mind and will

– The mind must be tuned to The mind must be tuned to Scripture and the will must submit Scripture and the will must submit and obey Scripture. The emotions and obey Scripture. The emotions will catch up in time.will catch up in time.

C. Advancing through C. Advancing through GriefGrief2.2. Embrace your TheologyEmbrace your Theology

– ““Correct theology also helps us accept Correct theology also helps us accept what happens in life.” (Wright)what happens in life.” (Wright)

– Death of a believer (1 Thess. 4: 13-18)Death of a believer (1 Thess. 4: 13-18)– Death of an unbeliever (Rev. 21:4)Death of an unbeliever (Rev. 21:4)– Losses—2 Cor. 1: 3-4; Rom. 8:28Losses—2 Cor. 1: 3-4; Rom. 8:28


3.3. Look for God’s New Doors and Look for God’s New Doors and ArrangementsArrangements

– Move forward in relationships and Move forward in relationships and involvementsinvolvements

– TRUST HIMTRUST HIM

hooked on a feeling grief 2 kings 18: 19-33. a. categories of grief genesis 6: 5-6—god grieved...

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