In the land of Uz there lived a man whose name was Job. This man was blameless and upright; he feared God and shunned evil. He had seven sons and three daughters, and he owned seven thousand sheep, three thousand camels, five hundred yoke of oxen and five hundred donkeys, and had a large number of servants. He was the greatest man among all the people of the East. His sons used to hold feasts in their homes on their birthdays, and they would invite their three sisters to eat and drink with them. When a period of feasting had run its course, Job would make arrangements for them to be purified. Early in the morning he would sacrifice a burnt offering for each of them, thinking, “Perhaps my children have sinned and cursed God in their hearts.” This was Job’s regular custom. One day the angels came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan also came with them. The Lord said to Satan, “Where have you come from?” Satan answered the Lord, “From roaming throughout the earth, going back and forth on it.” Then the Lord said to Satan, “Have you considered My servant Job? There is no one on earth like him; he is blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil.” “Does Job fear God for nothing?” Satan replied. “Have you not put a hedge around him and his household and everything he has? You have blessed the work of his hands, so that his flocks and herds are spread throughout the land. But now stretch out Your hand and strike everything he has, and he will surely curse You to Your face.” The Lord said to Satan, “Very well, then, everything he has is in your power, but on the man himself do not lay a finger.” Then Satan went out from the presence of the Lord. One day when Job’s sons and daughters were feasting and drinking wine at the oldest brother’s house, a messenger came to Job and said, “The oxen were plowing and the donkeys were grazing nearby, and the Sabeans attacked and made off with them. They put the servants to the sword, and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you!” While he was still speaking, another messenger came and said, “The fire of God fell from the heavens and burned up the sheep and the servants, and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you!” While he was still speaking, another messenger came and said, “The Chaldeans formed three raiding parties and swept down on your camels and made off with them. They put the servants to the sword, and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you!” While he was still speaking, yet another messenger came and said, “Your sons and daughters were feasting and drinking wine at the oldest brother’s house, when suddenly a mighty wind swept in from the desert and struck the four corners of the house. It collapsed on them and they are dead, and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you!” At this, Job got up and tore his robe and shaved his head. Then he fell to the ground in worship and said: “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I will depart. The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; may the name of the Lord be praised.” In all this, Job did not sin by charging God with wrongdoing. Job 1:1-22, NIV

In a matter of moments, Job lost people, possession, income, and health.

1/ In my loss, I remember that bad things happen to all people.

2/ In my loss, I remember that God is deeply aware and present.

3/ In my loss, I remember that Satan has limited ability.

4/ In my loss, I remember that good theology is essential.

5/ In my loss, I remember that the right community is vital.

Though in slavery, Israel considered Egypt her home which provided a sense of safety, comfort, relationships, and sustenance.

When God removed that to give them something better, they couldn’t make the turn.

That night all the members of the community raised their voices and wept aloud. And they said to each other, “We should choose a leader and go back to Egypt.” Numbers 14:1-4, NIV

Job remembered his past, mourned well in his present, and leaned into his future.

Israel remembered her past, lived in her mourning, and never leaned into her future.

1/ Sometimes we experience the loss of a life.

2/ Sometimes we experience the loss of a dream or desire.

3/ Sometimes we experience the loss of a relationship.

4/ Sometimes we experience the loss of stuff.

5/ Sometimes we experience the loss of functionality.

1/ We can mourn through emotion.

2/ We can mourn through physical expression.

3/ We can mourn through weeping.

4/ We can mourn through praying.

5/ We can mourn through fasting.

6/ We can mourn through journaling.

7/ We can mourn through remembering.

8/ We can mourn through community.

There are certain dangers related to mourning the death of something or someone:

1/ We cannot allow mourning to become bitterness.

2/ We cannot allow mourning to be cut short.

3/ We cannot allow mourning to become a way of life.

1/ In the loss of people, we do not mourn as those without Christ.

See 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18.

2/ In the loss of things, we do not mourn as those without understanding.

See Romans 8:28.

“Grief is like a long valley, a winding valley where any bend may reveal a totally new landscape.” C.S. Lewis

Because Job mourned well and committed to moving into destiny… the Lord restored his fortunes and gave him twice as much as he had before. The Lord blessed the latter part of Job’s life more than the former part. After this, Job lived a hundred and forty years; he saw his children and their children to the fourth generation. And so Job died, an old man and full of years. Job 42:10, 12, 16-17