Dealing With Loss | Pastor Mac Hammond| August 7, 2022

Recap:
One of the most difficult hurdles to overcome in life is loss. Whether it’s the loss of someone you love, the loss of financial stability, or the loss of a dream, loss can change your theology and drastically change your personal quality of life. Loss, however, doesn’t have to affect you in this way. You can learn how to deal with loss in a manner that honors God and ultimately brings you more peace and blessing in your life. How? That’s what Pastor Mac talked about this past weekend.

Dive Deeper:
You will experience loss in this life. That’s not a bad confession; that is a fact, for we live in a fallen world, and loss will happen. Loss isn’t the end of your joy, however. In fact, God can bring deep comfort to you in the middle of loss. People who handle loss well will have a life filled with peace, joy, and contentment. Their quality of life will be much better than someone who blames God for what has happened.

So how can you embrace loss well? First, you mourn. You let the tears flow and mourn your loss. Second, you begin to celebrate what you had. The season of life with that person or experience or dream had beauty, and you can celebrate the time you had prior to the loss. As you celebrate, you can thank God for His grace and love He will provide to you going forward. You can thank Him that He will provide you with supernatural comfort during this upcoming season of life.

Another key to embracing loss well is embracing mystery. You will often not understand loss, and that’s okay. Paul tells us that we see in a glass darkly now, and everything will not be clear until we reach heaven. Instead of attempting to understand everything, turn your trust to God. Trust His Word and His promises, even when you don’t understand.

Remember this: people who have little faith in God judge God by what He does not do. People who have great faith in Him judge God by who He says He is and what He promises in His Word.

Read About It:
Matthew 5:4 KJV
Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.
2 Corinthians 1:3–4 KJV
Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.

1 Corinthians 13:8–13 KJV
Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away. For we know in part, and we prophesy in part. But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away. When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things. For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known. And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.

Philippians 4:4–7 KJV
Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say, Rejoice. Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand. Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

John 12:23–24 KJV
And Jesus answered them, saying, The hour is come, that the Son of man should be glorified. Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit.

Discussion Questions:
1. Have you experienced loss?
2. Have you learned to embrace the mystery of loss in life?
3. How did God help you walk through loss well?

Rewatch or catch up on the full sermon with the link below!

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