What is something that was hard to go through become something that has allowed you to be helpful to others?
Focus 4 | Grieving is Beneficial
Grieving seems personal, and it in some ways, it is. That being said, grieving (as a concept) is also universal. Everybody grieves, and it isn't bad, weak, shameful, or foolish to grieve. It's even beneficial, and one of the ways that it's most beneficial is that it empowers others to grieve in valuable ways, especially with each other.
Now that you'd answered the icebreaker question, let's think about another question - this one about the phrase "misery loves company."
You've made it to the final Spotlight of the "Grieving in a Certain Light" series.
The first Spotlight focused on the way that grieving is worthwhile because God comes to be with you as you grieve. The second focused on the idea that grieving is unique and particular to each person who goes through it - which is absolutely OK because God is able to serve each person uniquely even through his universal grace. The third Spotlight focused on the forbearance of God turning pain and death from something bad into something that can be good. This final Spotlight will focus on how going through grief (even with the complexity, pain, and sadness that come with it) can be beneficial not only to the one who grieves, but also to those around them.
You're welcome to use the summaries below to jog your memory further if that's useful!
The first Spotlight focused on the way that grieving is worthwhile because God comes to be with you as you grieve. The second focused on the idea that grieving is unique and particular to each person who goes through it - which is absolutely OK because God is able to serve each person uniquely even through his universal grace. The third Spotlight focused on the forbearance of God turning pain and death from something bad into something that can be good. This final Spotlight will focus on how going through grief (even with the complexity, pain, and sadness that come with it) can be beneficial not only to the one who grieves, but also to those around them.
You're welcome to use the summaries below to jog your memory further if that's useful!
Grieving is beneficial because it puts those who have grieved in a position to help those who do grieve. There's nobody, of course, better at this than God, and God has certainly grieved. Ask God to join you using the song "Weep with Me."
You can find a lot of hope in the ways God uses grief to bring us together. Use this video to consider that. You may want to open the Bible to Psalm 6 as you do.
Step 1:
Open www.taps.org on your phone.
Step 2:
You have 5 minutes to explore the site and find the most actionable or inspiring thing someone could do today to support grieving military families.
Step 3:
When time’s up, share your find with your group. Choose one as "most actionable" and one as "most inspiring." Happy Memorial Day!
Open www.taps.org on your phone.
Step 2:
You have 5 minutes to explore the site and find the most actionable or inspiring thing someone could do today to support grieving military families.
Look for things like:
Something you could do from your phone
A real story that moved you
A specific way to help or get involved
A surprising need you hadn’t thought about
Step 3:
When time’s up, share your find with your group. Choose one as "most actionable" and one as "most inspiring." Happy Memorial Day!
Feel free to submit a prayer request by filling out the below form.
(If you choose to make your request public, you'll see it display in the Current at the end of the Spotlight along with anyone else who did the same.)
(If you choose to make your request public, you'll see it display in the Current at the end of the Spotlight along with anyone else who did the same.)
Pray through your requests—together—as a group.
After submitting your requests in the above form, take some time to share with your group whatever requests the group might have for this week.
After submitting your requests in the above form, take some time to share with your group whatever requests the group might have for this week.
Finish the series with this responsive prayer.
God of all comfort,
we bring to you our grief—
not to be erased, but to be honored.
In your light, we see that grief is worthwhile.
It tells the truth about what we’ve loved.
For every loss that still aches,
for every name we whisper only in silence—
you know each one.
In your light, we see that grief is particular.
Each sorrow carries a story you remember.
When we stumble through sadness,
when we speak sharp words or go silent for too long—
you stay patient with us.
In your light, we see that grief requires forbearance.
Your grace gives us room to breathe, and room to grow.
Though we would not have chosen this pain,
you do not waste it.
You shape it into compassion.
In your light, we see that grief can be beneficial.
It softens us toward one another and opens us to love.
And so we do not grieve as those without hope.
We grieve as those who are bound together
by memory, by mercy, and by resurrection.
In your light, our grief connects us.
It draws us closer to one another, and closer to you.
Amen.
God of all comfort,
we bring to you our grief—
not to be erased, but to be honored.
In your light, we see that grief is worthwhile.
It tells the truth about what we’ve loved.
For every loss that still aches,
for every name we whisper only in silence—
you know each one.
In your light, we see that grief is particular.
Each sorrow carries a story you remember.
When we stumble through sadness,
when we speak sharp words or go silent for too long—
you stay patient with us.
In your light, we see that grief requires forbearance.
Your grace gives us room to breathe, and room to grow.
Though we would not have chosen this pain,
you do not waste it.
You shape it into compassion.
In your light, we see that grief can be beneficial.
It softens us toward one another and opens us to love.
And so we do not grieve as those without hope.
We grieve as those who are bound together
by memory, by mercy, and by resurrection.
In your light, our grief connects us.
It draws us closer to one another, and closer to you.
Amen.
Sing along with (or listen to) this song to close out this Spotlight.
Feel free to sing along or simply listen. Do what makes you comfortable—but do whatever helps you focus on the song's meaning best.
Feel free to sing along or simply listen. Do what makes you comfortable—but do whatever helps you focus on the song's meaning best.
Let's wrap things up by taking a look at what's Current at Illume.
Tap on the buttons in the frame below to see what’s currently happening at Illume—information on everything from current and upcoming online content to live events and opportunities to serve in the community can all be found here.
Tap on the buttons in the frame below to see what’s currently happening at Illume—information on everything from current and upcoming online content to live events and opportunities to serve in the community can all be found here.
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