Blessed in the Mess: Comfort & Grief
As followers of Jesus, we are called to walk alongside those who mourn, sharing in their grief and offering the hope of God’s presence, even when we don’t always recognize Him. In this message, Pastor Robyn Elliott explores how God’s blessing often meets us in the midst of pain, grief, and brokenness. Drawing from the Beatitudes, we’ll see how grief is not something to avoid, but a doorway to comfort, healing, and restoration.
Discussion Questions:
- What do grief and mourning look like in your family, culture, or community?
- Have you experienced deep grief before? Who was by your side to weep with you?
- Robyn asked the question, “How often is God present in our pain but we don’t notice?” Can you think of a difficult time when you may have felt abandoned or alone, but can now in hindsight, see glimpses of Jesus? Can you identify moments when God showed up?
- What lessons about grief can we learn from Mary Magdalene?
- Is there pain in your life that are you running from right now?
- How do you respond when others around you are grieving or mourning? What would it look like for you to “weep with those who weep” in a more tangible way?
- In what ways can we as a church bring restoration and comfort to those who are grieving? How can you do that personally?
- What are some of the “griefs” you carry that might not be immediately obvious to others (e.g., unspoken losses, disappointments, or dreams deferred)? How can you begin to bring these losses into the light?
- What does it mean to you that the Kingdom of God is not just a future promise, but something we can experience now, especially when we share in each other’s grief?