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Recovering
From Life’s Disasters Rick White, Mark Ellington, David Walker and Joe CoquillardSeptember
15-16, 2001 “Sometimes something useless happens on earth. Bad things happen to good people, and good
things happen to bad people.” Ecclesiastes 8:14 (NCV) HOW TO RESPOND TO TRAGEDY
“Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be
comforted.” Matt. 5:4 “Pour out your heart to God, for he is hour refuge”
Ps. 62:8 “The Lord is close to the broken hearted and saves
those who are crushed in spirit.” Ps.
34:18
“Carry each other’s burdens…” Gal. 6:2 “By helping each other with your troubles, you obey
the law of Christ.” (NCV) “Look after each other so that not one of your will
fail to find God’s best blessings.” Heb. 12:15 (LB)
“Some people have no happiness at all; they live
and die with bitter hearts” Job 21:25 (GN) “Watch out that no bitterness takes root among you…it causes deep trouble, hurting many in their spiritual lives” Heb. 12:15 (LB) The
antidote: ·
Accept what cannot be changed “…Reach out to God…then face the world again, firm and courageous…” Job 11:13,16 ·
Focus on what’s left, not what’s lost “No matter what happens, always be thankful, for this is God’s will for you.” 1 Th. 5:18 (LB)
“Jesus said…Life is not measured by how much one owns.” Luke 12:15 (NCV) “We brought nothing into the world, and we can take
nothing out of it.” 1 Tim. 6:7 (NIV)
“I have learned that secret of being happy at any
time in everything that happens, I can do all things through Christ, because he
gives me strength.” Phil 4:13 (NCV) HOW? ·
LEAN on Christ for stability! “Those who trust in the Lord are steady as Mount
Zion, unmoved by any circumstance” Ps. 125:1 (LB) “You, Lord, give true peace to those who depend on
you…” Is. 26:3 (NCV) “Such a person will not be overthrown by evil
circumstances. God’s constant care of him will make a deep impression on all
who see it. He does no bear bad news, nor live in dread of what may happen. For
he is settled in his mind that God will take care of him.” Ps. 112:6-7 (LB) ·
LISTEN to Christ for direction! “’I know what I am planning for you,’ says the Lord.
‘I have good plans for you, not plans to hurt you. I will give you hope and a
good future.’” Jer. 29:11 (NCV) ·
LOOK to Christ for salvation! “God is our protection and our strength. He always
helps in times of trouble. So we will not be afraid even if the earth shakes,
or the mountains fall into the sea.” Ps. 46:2 (NCV) “We were really crushed and overwhelmed, and feared
we would never live through it… we saw how powerless we were to help ourselves;
but that was good, for then we put everything into the hands of God, who alone
could save us…And he did help us and saved us…and we expect him to do it again
and again.” 2 Cor 1:10 (TLB) |