William Wilberforce

Today

‘Courage in the face of adversity’

Esther 4

‘Esther – a beauty that’s more than skin deep’

The king and Haman sat down to drink, but the city of Susa was bewildered

Est 3:15b

Grief in Esther’s day

When Mordecai learned of all that had been done, he tore his clothes, put on sackcloth and ashes, and went out into the city, wailing loudly and bitterly ...

In every province … there was great mourning among the Jews … Many lay in sackcloth and ashes

Est 4:1-3

People grieve in different ways

Grief in our day

‘An important normal response to the loss of any significant object or person’

People grieve in different ways

“Grief is the price we pay for love”

The Queen (2001)

Stage 1 - Shock/Numbness

Grief is a process

Stage 2 - Fantasy/Reality

Stage 3 - Release of grief

Stage 4 - Acceptance/Readjustment

He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can

comfort others. When others are troubled, we will be able

to give them the same comfort God has given us.

2 Cor 1:4

Supporting others through their grief

“Whoever thinks s/he has the ways of God conveniently tabulated, analysed and correlated

with convenient, glib answers to ease every question from aching hearts has not been far in

the maze of mystery we call life and death”

Vance Havner

Supporting others through their grief

Be present and available

Supporting others through their grief

Gently encourage to express feelings

Listen carefully

Help make decisions

Provide practical help

Pray if appropriate, but don’t preach!

The LORD is close to the broken-hearted;

He rescues those who are crushed in spirit

Psalm 34:18

I am the resurrection and the life. Those who believe in me, even though they die like everyone else, will live again. They are given eternal life for

believing in me and will never perish

John 11:25-26

The triumph of the Christian message

"Now the dwelling of God is with men, and He will live with them. They will be His people, and God

Himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no

more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away."

Rev 21:3-4

For the Christian, death isn’t the end …

“The Christian church is the only society on earth that

never loses a member through death!

As a Christian, I believe not just in life after death, but in

life through death”

When Esther’s eunuchs and female attendants came and told her about Mordecai, she was in great distress.

She sent clothes for him to put on instead of his sackcloth, but he would not accept them

Est 4:4

It takes courage to make a stand for God

‘Do not think that because you are in the king’s house you alone of all the Jews will escape.

For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another

place, but you and your father’s family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to your

royal position for such a time as this?’

Est 4:13-14

It takes courage to make a stand for God

‘Go, gather together all the Jews who are in Susa, and fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my attendants will fast as you

do. When this is done, I will go to the king, even though it is against the law.

And if I perish, I perish’

Est 4:16

It takes courage to make a stand for God

“I am only one, but I am one. I cannot do everything, but I can do something. And that which I can do,

by the grace of God, I will do”

D L Moody