Truth In Tragedies

It's OK and normal to grieve.

You have to grieve thoroughly before you can move on.

We are emotional beings.

We hurt.

Jesus wept. - John 11:35

Jesus grieved Lazarus. 

He loved Lazarus.

Even in the midst of the knowledge that He, fully God and fully man, would raise him from death, He wept.

a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance;  - Ecclesiastes 3:4

Tragedies will happen in this life.

I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world." - John 16:33

12 Now if Christ is proclaimed as raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead?

13 But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised.

14 And if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain.

15 We are even found to be misrepresenting God, because we testified about God that he raised Christ, whom he did not raise if it is true that the dead are not raised.

16 For if the dead are not raised, not even Christ has been raised.

17 And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins.

18 Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished.

19 If in Christ we have hope in this life only, we are of all people most to be pitied. - 1 Corinthians 15:12-19

But he said to her, "You speak as one of the foolish women would speak. Shall we receive good from God, and shall we not receive evil?" In all this Job did not sin with his lips. - Job 2:10

Don't withdraw.

Stay connected.

This is one of Satan's best ploys. 

Get you isolated so he can attack you in his subtle ways.

9 Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil.

10 For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up!

11 Again, if two lie together, they keep warm, but how can one keep warm alone?

12 And though a man might prevail against one who is alone, two will withstand him-a threefold cord is not quickly broken. - Ecclesiastes 4:9-12

God is for you.

King Jesus stands with you.

Lean into God for He will be there.

In the midst of trials, worship the King!

Focus on your direction not your destination.

Keep your eye on heaven.

There you will find your hope.

Enjoy this day!

13 Come now, you who say, "Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a town and spend a year there and trade and make a profit"-

14 yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes.

15 Instead you ought to say, "If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that."

16 As it is, you boast in your arrogance. All such boasting is evil.

17 So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin. - James 4:13-17

"Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble. - Matthew 6:34

God cares about your pain.

The enemy will say if God loves you why did He let this happen?

casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you. - 1 Peter 5:7

the LORD appeared to him from far away. I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore I have continued my faithfulness to you.  - Jeremiah 31:3

Thanks Pastor Kevin!!