You’ve Got to Let Yourself Grieve

[You’ve Got to Let Yourself Grieve](J7rwp-YN9:m:1:2618166767:1D5878F8291CD40C7C99C75946BAC6BB:r) Current Teaching Series [Living in the Goodness of God](J7rwp-YN9:m:1:2618166767:1D5878F8291CD40C7C99C75946BAC6BB:r) [Listen to Today's Broadcast](J7rwp-YN9:m:1:2618166767:1D5878F8291CD40C7C99C75946BAC6BB:r) [You’ve Got to Let Yourself Grieve](J7rwp-YN9:m:1:2618166767:1D5878F8291CD40C7C99C75946BAC6BB:r) By Rick Warren — March 13, 2019 [Facebook](J7rwp-YN9:m:1:2618166767:1D5878F8291CD40C7C99C75946BAC6BB:r) [Twitter](J7rwp-YN9:m:1:2618166767:1D5878F8291CD40C7C99C75946BAC6BB:r) [Pinterest](J7rwp-YN9:m:1:2618166767:1D5878F8291CD40C7C99C75946BAC6BB:r) [Email](J7rwp-YN9:m:1:2618166767:1D5878F8291CD40C7C99C75946BAC6BB:r) [Devotional image from Rick Warren](J7rwp-YN9:m:1:2618166767:1D5878F8291CD40C7C99C75946BAC6BB:r) “The LORD is close to the brokenhearted, and he saves those whose spirits have been crushed” (Psalm 34:18 NCV). Every change we experience in life includes loss, because you give up something old to get something new. And there's no loss without pain, and there is no pain without grief. Grief is not bad. It's the way we get through the transitions of life. What is bad is unprocessed grief. If you don’t grieve, you get stuck emotionally, and you spend the rest of your life reacting to something that happened a long time ago. That’s unhealthy! Sometimes the only appropriate, logical response to life is grief—the losses, disappointments, sin, and suffering in the world. God doesn’t expect you to be happy all the time. In fact, God wants you to be intentional in your grief. Grief is a choice. Not everything that’s helpful and healthy feels good. You’ve got to let yourself mourn losses so you can receive God’s blessing. There's no hurt you can experience that Jesus doesn't understand. He's experienced all of the loneliness, all of the betrayal, and all of the rejection that we can possibly experience. And the good news is he came to heal our hearts.  When you are sad, God draws you close to himself. Psalm 34:18 says, “The LORD is close to the brokenhearted, and he saves those whose spirits have been crushed” (NCV). When you grieve, you may feel like God is a million miles away. But what you feel and what’s real are not always the same. God is not a million miles away. In fact, he’s never been any closer: “He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds” (Psalm 147:3 NIV). Let God restore your soul by doing three things: - Trust the Good Shepherd to forgive your sins. Romans 3:23-24 says, “All of us have sinned and fallen short of God’s glory. But God treats us much better than we deserve, and because of Christ Jesus, he freely accepts us and sets us free from our sins” (CEV). - Release your offenders, and focus on the future. Your soul cannot be restored until you let go of resentment. “Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice . . . forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you” (Ephesians 4:31-32 ESV). - Team up with Jesus to carry your load. When you're yoked up with Jesus, you don’t have to bear your burden alone: “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light” (Matthew 11:28-30 NLT). [PLAY today’s audio teaching from Pastor Rick >>](J7rwp-YN9:m:1:2618166767:1D5878F8291CD40C7C99C75946BAC6BB:r) Talk About It - Is there a loss that you have failed to grieve? How has it affected you physically, emotionally, and spiritually? - What does it mean to have your soul restored? - Why do you think God often feels far away when we are at our lowest point? What do you think he wants you to do when you feel like that? [Facebook](J7rwp-YN9:m:1:2618166767:1D5878F8291CD40C7C99C75946BAC6BB:r) [Twitter](J7rwp-YN9:m:1:2618166767:1D5878F8291CD40C7C99C75946BAC6BB:r) [Pinterest](J7rwp-YN9:m:1:2618166767:1D5878F8291CD40C7C99C75946BAC6BB:r) [Email](J7rwp-YN9:m:1:2618166767:1D5878F8291CD40C7C99C75946BAC6BB:r) J7rwp-YN9:m:1:2618166767:1D5878F8291CD40C7C99C75946BAC6BB:r [Our Gift: Living in the Goodness of God Scripture Cards](J7rwp-YN9:m:1:2618166767:1D5878F8291CD40C7C99C75946BAC6BB:r) The evidence of God’s goodness is everywhere. Everything you have — your faith, your loved ones, your abilities — comes from God’s love for you. Sometimes, it just takes a little reminder to see his goodness every day. That’s why we’re releasing—for a LIMITED TIME — a collection of Scripture Cards to complement Pastor Rick Warren’s on-air teaching, Living in the Goodness of God. These Scripture Cards will help you learn how God wants to help you: • Live in the confidence that he’ll meet all your needs. • Be assured that he’ll refresh and replenish you when you need it. • Trust that he’ll guide you to make the best decisions when you seek him. [LEARN MORE](J7rwp-YN9:m:1:2618166767:1D5878F8291CD40C7C99C75946BAC6BB:r) J7rwp-YN9:m:1:2618166767:1D5878F8291CD40C7C99C75946BAC6BB:r [Complete Audio Series (Purchase)](J7rwp-YN9:m:1:2618166767:1D5878F8291CD40C7C99C75946BAC6BB:r) Includes 12 full-length teaching CDs from Pastor Rick's series Living in the Goodness of God. [LEARN MORE](J7rwp-YN9:m:1:2618166767:1D5878F8291CD40C7C99C75946BAC6BB:r) J7rwp-YN9:m:1:2618166767:1D5878F8291CD40C7C99C75946BAC6BB:r [Series Summary](J7rwp-YN9:m:1:2618166767:1D5878F8291CD40C7C99C75946BAC6BB:r) Message 1: Is God Really Good All the Time? Message 2: Letting God Meet My Needs Message 3: Relaxing in God’s Goodness Message 4: How God’s Goodness Can Restore You Message 5: How to Be Led by God’s Spirit Message 6: The God of My Valleys Message 7: How Jesus Treats His Sheep Message 8: How God Lifts Me Up When I’m Worn Down Message 9: Living an Anointed Life Message 10: From Overwhelmed to Overflowing Message 11: Why You Don’t Need to Fear Your Future Message 12: Heaven: God’s Eternal Goodness to You [PLAY TODAY'S BROADCAST](J7rwp-YN9:m:1:2618166767:1D5878F8291CD40C7C99C75946BAC6BB:r) Pastor Rick Warren [Facebook](J7rwp-YN9:m:1:2618166767:1D5878F8291CD40C7C99C75946BAC6BB:r)[Twitter](J7rwp-YN9:m:1:2618166767:1D5878F8291CD40C7C99C75946BAC6BB:r) [Instagram](J7rwp-YN9:m:1:2618166767:1D5878F8291CD40C7C99C75946BAC6BB:r) [Linkedin](J7rwp-YN9:m:1:2618166767:1D5878F8291CD40C7C99C75946BAC6BB:r) Enjoy today's Devotional? [Listen instantly to the full radio message at Daily Hope Radio.](J7rwp-YN9:m:1:2618166767:1D5878F8291CD40C7C99C75946BAC6BB:r) Did someone forward this devotional to you? [Subscribe to Pastor Rick Warren's Daily Devotional.](J7rwp-YN9:m:1:2618166767:1D5878F8291CD40C7C99C75946BAC6BB:r) This devotional is based on the current Daily Hope radio series at [pastorrick.com](J7rwp-YN9:m:1:2618166767:1D5878F8291CD40C7C99C75946BAC6BB:r). Rick Warren has helped people live with hope and on purpose for more than 40 years. He’s the founding pastor of Saddleback Church in Southern California and author of several books, including The Purpose Driven Church and The Purpose Driven Life, which has been translated into 137 languages and sold more than 50 million copies in all formats. He created the PEACE Plan (plant churches of reconciliation, equip servant leaders, assist the poor, care for the sick, educate the next generation), which is used by churches in 196 countries. His radio teaching and daily devotional, Daily Hope, is offered around the world. This devotional © 2018 by Rick Warren. All rights reserved. Used by permission. You can unsubscribe at any time by changing your e-mail preferences. This message was intended for: {EMAIL} You were added to the system December 23, 2016. [Unsubscribe](