1 Thessalonians 4:13-14
“But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope.
For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with Him those who have fallen asleep.” (ESV)
Introduction
• Every human being experiences loss. We lose loved ones, health, jobs, dreams, and seasons of life we can never return to.
• Grief is not foreign to the Christian life- it is woven into the story of a fallen world.
• The problem of pain confronts us with the tension between the goodness and sovereignty of God and the deep reality of human suffering.
Yet the questions remain:
• How does a believer grieve?
• How does the Gospel shape our sorrow?
We don’t deny the reality of pain, but we interpret it through the sovereignty of God and the hope of the resurrection.
1. Grief Is a Real and Right Response to Loss
• John 11:33–35 “Jesus wept.”
• Even our Lord, who knew He would raise Lazarus, wept at the tomb.
• Psalm 34:18 reminds us: “The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.”
2. God Is Sovereign even in our Loss
Romans 8:28–30 “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.”
3. Christ Redeems our Grief
Isaiah 53:3–4 “He was despised and rejected by men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief.”
4. The Church Walks together through Grief
Galatians 6:2 “Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.”
Practical Exhortation:
• Be present, not just helpful.
• Pray Scripture with those who mourn.
• Remind them of the promises of the Gospel – gently, patiently, faithfully.
5. Hope Anchors the Soul
Conclusion:
Grief is a valley every believer will walk through, but it is not a valley without a Shepherd.
Psalm 23:4 “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me.”
In that valley:
• God is sovereign.
• Christ is present.
• The Spirit comforts.
• The resurrection is certain.
Therefore, we grieve – but not without hope.
We lament – but not without faith.
We weep – but out of love, not loss … one day, He will wipe away every tear.