Our lives can be filled with sickness, sadness & suffering. It can be overwhelming at times. But we know that one day, there will be no more mourning, crying, or pain. So, how do we live life in between? How do you go from the problem to the promise? Join us as Pastor Jen shares the prescription that Scripture gives us for navigating life between the brokenness of this world and the promise of a tear-free eternity.
Notes 📓✏️:
In The Between – Jen DeWeerdt
Revelation 21:3-4, “And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be His people, and God Himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”
In this “between” many Christians will fall into two categories…
Ditch of Denial
Ditch of Despair
Scripture prescribes a better way of living in the between. PRAISE
The book of Psalms is called the book of “The Praises.”
LAMENT – a passionate expression of grief or sorrow.
Praise is for the between.
True praise is when we bring the WHOLE OF LIFE into the presence of God.
There are a number of different reasons we can lament:
-The heaviness we carry.
-The heaviness we’ve caused.
-The heaviness of others we love.
-The heaviness of this world.
In his book Dark Clouds, Deep Mercy – Pastor Mark Vroegop defines lament as,
A prayer in pain that leads to trust. (Mark Vroegop)
He also says this…
To cry is human; to lament is Christian.
1. RECOGNIZE God’s presence.
OR TURN towards Him in prayer.
Psalm 77:1,3 (ESV) “I cry aloud to God, aloud to God, and He will hear me. When I remember God, I moan; when I meditate, my spirit faints.”
2. VERBALIZE what you are feeling and experiencing.
Psalm 77:7-9 (ESV) “Will the Lord spurn forever, and never again be favorable? Has His steadfast love forever ceased? Are His promises at an end for all time?
Has God forgotten to be gracious? Has He in anger shut up His compassion?”
Matthew 27:46 (ESV) My God, my God, why have You forsaken me?
Lament calls us to keep talking to God about our pain, instead of allowing pain to become a pit. (Mark Vroegop)
3. EMPHASIZE the character of God and acts of God.
Psalm 77:11-14 (NKJV) “Then I said, “This is my grief; YET I will remember the years of the right hand of the Most High.” I will remember the works of the Lord;
surely I will remember Your wonders of old. I will meditate also on all Your work and ponder on Your mighty deeds. Your way, O God, is holiness;
what god is as great as our God? You are the God who can do wonders; You have declared Your strength among the nations.”
Key Words:
Remember – How God has come through in the past.
Meditate – On what Scripture says about Him.
Ponder – On His promises. What Scripture says He will do.
Remember – Lament is A prayer in pain that leads to trust.
Discussion Questions 📝❓:
- Have you every found yourself in the ditch of denial or despair and what was your experience?
- What can we do to practice bringing our WHOLE LIFE into the presence of God?
- The Bible has transition words that help shift our focus back to the promises of God, what is a promise you need to take hold of in the season of life you are in?
- Where would you like to see yourself grow in recognizing, verbalizing, and emphasizing when it comes to your relationship with God?