Intro:

• This week is dedicated to walking through the deep waters of loss and tragedy

Setup:

• Today’s message
  • Will feel a little like I’m going into surgery, but I promise we will emerge with joy and victory.
  • Is felt by everyone at some point in their life.
  • Will minister to some, will prepare others
• We all go through STORMS
  • Example: Storms in Louisiana, 2016 Rain, or sailing story
• The Bible is full of stories of tragedy and loss
  • We learn from Job - “The Lord gives, the Lord takes away, blessed be the name of the Lord”
  • We learn from Joseph - From favor to a pit, to a slave, to a prisoner, and never lost character
  • We learn from David - After losing his son, he went into the house of the Lord
  • We learn from Jesus - Loses first cousin
  • You have stories - Loss, sickness, tragedy, marriage, job, change
• Transition to Paul
  • So many victories, so many storms

Passage:

 2 Corinthians 1:3–7 (NLT) — 3 All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is our merciful Father and the source of all comfort. 4 He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us. 5 For the more we suffer for Christ, the more God will shower us with his comfort through Christ. 6 Even when we are weighed down with troubles, it is for your comfort and salvation! For when we ourselves are comforted, we will certainly comfort you. Then you can patiently endure the same things we suffer. 7 We are confident that as you share in our sufferings, you will also share in the comfort God gives us.

Coming through the deep of tragedy

1. Before the storm
   1. In all of these stories there is a common undeniable thread: RIGHTEOUS PEOPLE HAVE MOMENTS OF GRIEF AND PAIN. 
   2. Since this is reality, preparing ourselves for what’s to come is vital. 
   3. Pre-decide your response
      1. I will worship
      2. I will draw close to the Lord
      3. I will draw close to His people
   4. Build an arsenal of gratitude
      1. Build an arsenal of the things you are grateful for
   5. Know your God
      1. His character
      2. His promises
      3. His hope
2. During the storm
   1. Build an altar of worship
      1. Job worshiped, David worshiped
      2. Altar’s will forever stand
   2. Pray through the pain
      1. God can handle your prayers
   3. Lay claim to His nearness
      1. Psalm 34:18 (NLT) — 18 The LORD is close to the brokenhearted; he rescues those whose spirits are crushed.
   4. Lean on God’s people 
      1. Be like a barnacle on God’s boat the church
3. Through the storm
   1. Mindsets of an overcomer:
      1. This is temporary, I am forever!
         1. 2 Corinthians 4:16–18 (NLT) — 16 That is why we never give up. Though our bodies are dying, our spirits are being renewed every day. 17 For our present troubles are small and won’t last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever! 18 So we don’t look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever.
      2. Evil - God - Good
         1. Joseph, Moses, David, Daniel
         2. Jesus! The cross
      3. God will get glory through this story

Isaiah 43:1–7 (NLT) — 1 But now, O Jacob, listen to the LORD who created you. O Israel, the one who formed you says, “Do not be afraid, for I have ransomed you. I have called you by name; you are mine. 2 When you go through deep waters, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown. When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you. 3 For I am the LORD, your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior. I gave Egypt as a ransom for your freedom; I gave Ethiopia and Seba in your place. 4 Others were given in exchange for you. I traded their lives for yours because you are precious to me. You are honored, and I love you. 5 “Do not be afraid, for I am with you. I will gather you and your children from east and west. 6 I will say to the north and south, ‘Bring my sons and daughters back to Israel from the distant corners of the earth. 7 Bring all who claim me as their God, for I have made them for my glory. It was I who created them.’ ”