Walking through loss with God

Opening prayer

“God of all comfort, we come before you with heavy hearts, seeking your peace in our time of loss. We ask for wisdom to understand your faithfulness, even when we don't understand our circumstances. Strengthen our trust in you and help us to release our hurt and anger into your care. We pray this in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.”

Lesson: God's steadfast love in a broken world

Introduction

The Bible never promises that life will be without sorrow. In fact, it acknowledges that a result of living in a fallen world is that we will all face loss and grief. This is not a punishment from God, but a result of sin's corruption in the world. When we experience loss, it is natural to have questions and feelings of anger, but we must be careful not to mistake our pain for God's malice. He is not indifferent to our pain; He is a compassionate God who draws near to the brokenhearted.

Scripture reading

• Genesis 3:17-19: Sin introduces suffering into the world.
• Psalm 34:18: The Lord is close to the brokenhearted.
• Job 1:20-22: Job's response to devastating loss.
• Romans 8:28, 38-39: God works for good, and nothing can separate us from His love.
• John 16:33: We will have trouble, but Jesus has overcome the world.

Discussion and reflection

1. Reflecting on the brokenness: How does the biblical account of sin's entrance into the world help frame our understanding of why bad things happen?
2. Job's profound faith: When Job lost everything, he fell to the ground and worshiped. How is his worship not an act of pretending but a radical statement of trust in God's character?
3. God’s nearness, not His distance: Psalm 34:18 says God is near the brokenhearted. How does this promise challenge the feeling of abandonment that can accompany loss?
4. Embracing honest grief: The Psalms are full of honest prayers and laments. Why is it important to bring our true feelings to God instead of masking them?
5. Understanding "all things work for good": Romans 8:28 is often quoted, but how does the context of verses Romans 8:38-39 deepen our understanding that God's love and purpose are unshakable, even when we cannot see the good yet?

Activity: From mourning to trust

Materials: Paper and pen for each person.

Instructions:

• Create a three-column chart labeled: "What I have lost," "How I feel," and "God's truth."
• In the first column, write down the specific losses you are grieving. This can be the death of a loved one, a job, a relationship, or a dream.
• In the second column, honestly write down the emotions associated with each loss, including any anger or confusion towards God.
• In the third column, find and write down a scripture verse that speaks to your specific emotion. For example, if you feel abandoned, you could use Deuteronomy 31:8, "He will not leave you nor forsake you". If you feel crushed, you could use Psalm 34:18, "The Lord is near to the brokenhearted".
• Finish by silently praying through your chart, laying each loss at God's feet and trusting His truth.

Bible Devotion: Finding strength in the sorrow

Passage: Lamentations 3:31-33

“For the Lord will not cast off forever. Though He causes grief, yet He will show compassion according to the multitude of His mercies. For He does not afflict willingly, nor grieve the children of men.” (NKJV)

Reflection:
The human heart wants to make sense of suffering, to find a reason for the pain. It's a natural reaction to believe that hardship is a punishment or a sign of being forgotten. But the book of Lamentations, written after immense loss and destruction, speaks a powerful truth. It reminds us that even when God permits grief to touch our lives, it does not come from a place of malice or a desire to harm.

This passage reveals God's heart. He is a God of compassion and abundant mercy. His nature is not to "willingly" cause us grief. When we walk through the valley of the shadow of death, we are not abandoned. We have a God who not only walks with us but is also the source of our comfort and strength. His love is the anchor in the storm, reminding us that even in our deepest pain, we are still held by His unfailing love.

Thought for the day:
My grief does not change God's character. His compassion is greater than my sorrow.

Prayer:
“Dear God, when my heart feels heavy and my spirit is crushed, help me to remember your promises. Remind me that you do not willingly bring me grief but that your compassion and love are endless. Strengthen me to endure, not through my own will, but through the assurance of your presence. Soften my heart and mind to receive your comfort. I ask these things in Jesus' name, Amen”.

Navigating the loss of a child is an immense and devastating sorrow. It is natural to have intense emotions, including anger and grief, during this time. This study and devotion are intended to provide biblical comfort and a path toward faith when it feels most difficult.

Bible study: The journey of David

This Bible study examines the story of King David, who grieved deeply for his dying child, and how he processed that loss with God.

Read: 2 Samuel 12:15–23.

The story:
King David committed adultery with Bathsheba, and she became pregnant. God sent the prophet Nathan to confront David, telling him that while he was forgiven, the child would die. During the child's illness, David pleaded with God through prayer and fasting, but the child ultimately died.

Questions for reflection

1. David's mourning: David mourned and fasted while his child was sick. What does this reveal about his desire for his child's life and his relationship with God? How does it differ from his reaction after the child's death?
2. After the loss: After the child died, David's servants were astonished when he stopped fasting, washed himself, and ate. David's response was: "Can I bring him back again? I shall go to him, but he shall not return to me" (2 Samuel 12:23). What does this statement reveal about his understanding of God's will and eternal hope?
3. Worship in the midst of sorrow: David's first action after the death was to go to the house of the Lord and worship. Why might he have chosen to do this rather than retreat in anger or bitterness?
4. A model for grief: David's journey shows that it is possible to experience profound grief and wrestling with God while also maintaining faith and worship. What can we learn from his example about bringing our honest sorrow to God without abandoning our trust in his character?.
5. Focus on hope: David's hope was not in reversing the past but in a future reunion. How can this perspective help shift focus from "why did this happen?" to the promise of God's ultimate plan?

Group activity (if applicable): Share a time when you saw God's goodness and grace even in a difficult situation. How did that experience impact your faith?

Devotion: Clinging to the Comforter

The sorrow of losing a child can feel like an impossible weight, tempting you to believe that God is distant or even cruel. But the Bible presents a different story: God is intimately acquainted with grief and draws near to the brokenhearted.

Scripture

Several scriptures can offer comfort, including Psalm 34:18, John 11:35, Matthew 5:4, Revelation 21:4, and 2 Corinthians 1:3-4.

Reflection

Jesus understands pain, as shown by his weeping with those mourning Lazarus. The idea that a child's death is punishment is challenged by God's love demonstrated through the sacrifice of his Son. While answers for suffering may not be simple, the Bible offers hope through Jesus' resurrection and the promise that sorrow will end.

Application

It is acceptable to share feelings of sorrow, questions, anger, confusion, and pain with God. The Holy Spirit offers comfort, and you are not alone in your burden. Focusing on an eternal perspective helps, as suffering is temporary, and there is a promise of reunion and the end of tears.