Hope In The Valley

“Hope in the Valley”

1 Thessalonians 4:13–14

Life is a struggle and there are times when we go through valleys

It could be a VALLEY:

- of sickness, fear or poverty

- loss or frustration

- sadness and anxiety

The Valley may be:

- the loss of a relationship

- it could be betrayal

- it might be the death of a LOVED one…

The VALLEY may be dark, but:

­ the Christian is NOT ALONE.

­ God walks with HIS CHILDREN

­ through the VALLEY.

Psalm 23:4 (KJV):

“Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.”

God’s presence is our comfort in the valley….

Over the years our Church has lost many faithful saints:

- Each loss leaves a hole in our hearts and

- and an empty spot in our Church family

The pain of their absence is real:

• There is sadness, loneliness, and deep sorrow.

• Even as we trust God's plan,

• We miss them dearly.

Wednesday as I was listening during Mary Lou’s funeral:

- and I looked over to the Organ

- and I could picture Mary Lou playing the organ

- just as I had seen her in real life hundreds of times in real life

We will never see that again:

- we each have experienced the anguish of seeing someone for the last time

- We know the pain that comes with saying our last goodbye

- To someone we never wanted to lose

That pain is called GRIEF:

- and GRIEF is a deep emotional pain and sorrow caused by loss

- I think the pain we feel when we lose someone

- directly reflects the LOVE we had for them

- if that is TRUE, the more LOVE the more the pain.

Grief is commonly expressed through:

­ Sadness and crying

­ Anger or confusion

­ Numbness or shock

­ Guilt or regret

­ Loneliness or emptiness

A minute ago, we spoke about going through VALLEYs:

­ Certainly, everyone has valleys they must travel

­ but not everyone has hope in the valley.

Grief is universal. Death visits every life:

­ But for the Christian,

­ grief is not godless

­ The valley is not hopeless.

Why? Because we know how the story ends.

Every one of us has faced loss:

­ Death has taken from us parents, siblings, friends, children.

­ Some days we long to hear their voices again.

­

But here’s what anchors us:

Ecclesiastes 3:1–2 (NIV):

“There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens: a time to be born and a time to die...”

We may not like the season of grief:

­ but we know that death is a part of life.

­ What a comfort to remind one another

­ That there is more to life than this life.

Christians face DEATH differently:

­ We still feel the sting, but not without salvation

­ We still weep, but not without worship.

­ We still mourn, but not without hope.

1 Thessalonians 4:13–14 (NIV)

“...so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope...”

The world reacts to DEATH with despair:

• Tears with no comfort.

• Mourning with no meaning.

• Because for them, this life is all there is.

But for the Christ follower, the story doesn’t end there.

This sermon will:

­ answer the question of how

­ A Christian can respond to Death and Grief

Remember that….

1. Death is a REALITY, but NOT the END

One of the most frightening things about death:

- is that it is coming for all of us one day

- Jesus may come back prior to our death, but

- if not, death is certain for each of us

I once had a conversation with my friend Andy:

- he was talking about getting older

- and he told me that getting old is the price you pay to get to see your kids grow up

- and he said “Getting older sure beats the alternative”

Woody Allen said:

“I’m not afraid to die…I just don’t want to be there when it happens.”

Winston Churchill said:

“I’m prepared to meet my Maker. Whether my Maker is prepared for the ordeal of meeting me is another matter.”

We can make jokes, but the DEATH is a reality for all of us…

Hebrews 9:27 (NIV) tells us:

“Just as people are destined to die once, and after that to face judgment...”

We live and we die:

- and then we stand before the LORD

- to give an account of this life

- so NOW if the TIME to get RIGHT with the LORD…