Summary: Jesus doesn’t abandon us during grief experiences. In fact, He promises to be with us. We consider three important promises He makes to us during such times.

Intro: In times of loss and deep grief, our Lord

may seem "far away"...but today we can trust in

His presence. He also gives us three precious

promises to consider today as we mourn the loss

of our departed loved one:

I. He promises to HEAR us

1. Many well meaning statements have been

made during the visitation to the family.

2. One question inevitably asked: "How are you?"

3. One bereaved widow said "they must not have

wanted to know, because when I began to tell

them, it was as if they weren’t listening."

4. Jesus promises to HEAR OUR HURTS, OUR ANGER

OUR CONFUSION, OUR FRUSTRATION, AND OUR QUESTIONS

AS WE WORK THROUGH THE LOSS OF OUR LOVED ONE.

5. After all, Jesus is described in Scripture

as a "man of sorrows...aquainted with grief"

6. We can rest assured he will keep his promise

to Hear us...SO CALL UPON HIM OFTEN IN DAYS

AHEAD.

II. He Promises to HELP us

1.During such times, many have reported the

inability to "think straight" and to handle

all tasks that need doing following such

an experience.

2.IF WE CALL UPON HIM, JESUS CAN DISPATCH

JUST THE RIGHT PERSON FOR JUST THE RIGHT

MOMENT OF YOUR NEED...perhaps a friend to

listen, a motivator to encourage us, an

expert to advise on business matters, a legal

expert, a medical person, etc.

3.He told the disciples

"I will not leave you comfortless, I will come

to you."

4. Again, call upon Him often in days ahead

and rest in His promise to dispatch just

the help you need.

III. He promises to HEAL us

1. During such a loss, emotions are fractured,

hearts are broken, our spirits are "paused"

from action due to the heaviness of the loss.

2. Jesus promises that day by day, little by

little, as distance from today’s events

progresses, you will begin to sense your

emotions healing, your heart begins to mend,

and you begin to regain your spirit to move

ahead.

3. This process is assisted by you calling

on Jesus Christ who loves you for help

in this healing process.

4. Jesus can enable you to cope daily with

progressing beyond this moment...He can

and He will begin the healing process for

your hearts and your emotions as you call

for His help.

Remember what He said in our text: "I am with you

always...even to the end of the age." Let us hear

and lean on his precious promises to HEAR, HELP,

AND HEAL US within this most difficult time of

our lives.