370. Fear of Loss (Fear)

This episode explores the deep and universal fear of losing the people we love. While losing small things like keys or a wallet can be frustrating, the pain of losing loved ones is far greater and inevitable in a fallen world. In these moments of grief and uncertainty, Scripture reminds us that God is near to the brokenhearted (Psalm 34:18) and is the source of all comfort (2 Corinthians 1:3–4). Even Jesus Himself experienced sorrow, as seen when He wept at Lazarus’s tomb (John 11:35), showing that He understands our pain. Though loss is a real and painful part of life, it is not the final word for the believer. Because of Christ’s death and resurrection, we have the hope of a future where death, mourning, and pain will be no more (Revelation 21:4). Until that day, God faithfully walks with His people, comforting them and sustaining them through every loss.

Transcript

Welcome And Purpose

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Happy Hump Day friends. This is Moments of Worship, and I'm your host, Pastor Keith McMahon. Thank you for joining me on March the 18th. March the 18th. This podcast seeks to be an encouragement to you in the worship of Almighty God each weekday. This podcast is sponsored by AbidingGod.org. Well, I don't know about you, but I like to think of myself as a fairly organized person. I love structure, I love things to be neat and tidy. I love a good Google Sheet. And if you know me, you know that I love a good Google document. I like things to be in order. But despite that, I seem to have a recurring problem. I often misplace my wallet and my keys. I need to get some new air tags to keep them to where I can find them quickly. Well, it's kind of frustrating to lose those items, and but in the grand scheme of life, they're small and ultimately insignificant, but I still need them to function in everyday society. I've got to drive my car to the office and unlock the door when I get to my office. But when they go missing, even for a few minutes, it can cause a lot of stress. But today we're not talking about losing small things like keys or wallets or maybe a pair of shoes. Today we're talking about the fear of loss. This is a deeper kind of fear. It is the fear of losing the people we love. I feel that sometimes when I'm waiting up from my middle child Carly to come home at night when she's work late, and I feel it when my son Jonah drives back to Belmont, twelve hours away. I feel that when my wife Joy travels somewhere, I do not like losing things, and I certainly do not like losing people. Goodbyes are hard. It's painful when friends move away, and it's even more painful when someone we love is suddenly taken from us. The reality is that in this fallen world loss is something we all will face. God is near to us in those moments, dear friend. The scripture reminds us the Lord is near to the broken hearted and saves the crushed in spirit. Psalm thirty four eighteen When grief enters our lives and it will. Whether through the loss of a loved one, the distance of a dear friend or the ache of separation, God is not distant, he is near. I have dear friends Missy and Tim Linkletter, who lost their wonderful son in a tragic car accident years ago. My heart still aches when I think about their loss. It's the kind of sorrow that only God Himself can truly comfort. The Lord promises that He is present even in those very moments of grief. The apostle Paul writes that God is the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all of our affliction. Second Corinthians one three through four. When the pain of loss feels overwhelming, and it will, God draws near to his children with real comfort and sustaining grace, and we know that his grace is sufficient even when we can't seem to see it or to breathe. We know that even Jesus Himself entered into the sorrow of loss. You remember at the tomb of Lazarus. Scripture simply tells us Jesus wept John eleven thirty five. Our Savior understands grief, and he sympathizes with our weaknesses as we read in Hebrews four. He is not distant from our suffering. But for the Christian, loss is never the final word. Our hope rests in the finished work of Jesus Christ. Because of his death and resurrection, there is coming a day when sorrow will be no more. Scripture promises that God will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more. Neither shall there be mourning nor crying nor pain any more. Revelation twenty one four. Until that day we live in a world affected by sin, a world that was broken long ago in Genesis three when Adam sinned, and the sin entered creation. See Romans five for Paul's wonderful logic regarding this. Loss and death are painful reminders that this world is not yet as it should be. But God has not left us alone, dear friend. He walks with us through every sorrow, he comforts the brokenhearted in every moment, and one day we will see Christ face to face, where loss will be replaced forever with constant joy in His presence. Friend, I don't know if you are facing loss today or in a season of loss, but know that Jesus cares for you, he sees you, he is with you, he will never leave you or forsake you, and he is near to the brokenhearted, and he cares for you. Well, friend, thank you for joining me on Moments of Worship. I look forward to seeing you right back here on Wednesday, March the 19th. Well, until then and forever, may we worship Jesus Christ. Thanks for listening.