Latest / The Rescue Cowboy Church / “When the Trail Gets Tough — Finding God in Our Loss”
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- Episode 2 “When the Trail Gets Tough — Finding God in Our Loss”: Well howdy friends, and welcome to the Rescue Cowboy Church Podcast. We're mighty glad you've joined us today. No matter where life's trail is taking you, remember that God is always by your side. His grace is sufficient, and his love never fails. So grab yourself a cup of coffee, settle in, and let's spend a little time together in God's Word. I'm glad you're riding along with us. May the Lord bless you and keep you. Now let's saddle up and get into God's Word. Good morning, friends. Out here in Cowboy Country, we know a little something about loss. We know what it feels like to lose a good horse, a faithful dog, a piece of land, a job, or even a way of life we thought would last forever. But the hardest losses aren't always the ones we can see. Sometimes we lose someone we love, sometimes we lose a marriage, a friendship, our health, or a dream we've carried for years. And sometimes we lose someone so important to us that we wonder how we're ever going to ride another mile without them. Grief is a hard trail to ride, and the truth is there's no shortcut through it. But I've got some good news for you this morning. God doesn't expect you to ride that trail alone. Psalm chapter 34, verse 18 says, The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. Notice what that verse doesn't say. It doesn't say God is only near to the strong, it doesn't say he's only near to those who never cry, never question, or never struggle. It says he's near the brokenhearted. Sometimes we think we've got to put on a tough cowboy face, tighten our belt, pull our hat down low, and just get on with life. We tell everybody we're doing fine when deep down we're hurting. Now there's nothing wrong with being strong, but being strong doesn't mean pretending you don't hurt. Even Jesus wept when his friend Lazarus died. Jesus knew he was going to raise Lazarus, and yet he stood at the grave and cried. That tells me something important. Tears aren't a sign that your faith is weak, they are a sign that love has left a mark on your heart. So if you're carrying a loss today, you don't have to hide it from God. You can bring him your tears, your questions, your anger, and your pain. He's not afraid of your broken heart, he's the one who draws near it. When you're riding across a big stretch of country, you don't always see the whole trail ahead. Sometimes all you can see is the next bend, the next fence post, or the next rise in the ground. Grief can be like that. You might not know how you're going to get through the next month, you might not even know how you're going to get through tomorrow, and that's alright. God doesn't always show us the whole road. Sometimes He gives us just enough grace for the next step. Lamentations chapter 3, verses 22 and 23 Remind us that God's mercies are new every morning. That means you when you wake up tomorrow and the herd is still there, God's mercy will be there too. When you sit down at the supper table and you notice an empty chair, his mercy will be there. When you hear a familiar song, see an old photograph, or ride past a place filled with memories, his mercy will be there. You may not feel strong every day, you may take two steps forward, one step back and Healing doesn't always happen in a straight line, but keep trusting the Lord for today's strength. You don't have to ride the whole trail today, just take the next step with God. As Christians, we grieve differently, not because we don't hurt, but because we have hope. In John chapter 11, verse 22, Jesus said, I am the resurrection and the life. Our hope isn't that we'll never face a grave, our hope is that the grave doesn't get the final word. Because of Jesus Christ, death is not the end for those who belong to Him. The cross reminds us of the price of God's love, and the empty tomb reminds us that death has been defeated. That doesn't mean we won't miss those we lost, it doesn't mean that the memories won't bring tears. It means our sorrow doesn't have to be without hope. Even when our loss isn't death, when it's a dream that fell apart, a relationship that ended, or a seasonal life that passed, we can trust that God is still working in us. He can bring us purpose out of pain, he can grow compassion out of sorrow, and he can teach us to lean on him in ways we never did before. God may not give us back what we've lost, but he will not abandon us in our loss. I want to leave you with this thought. A cowboy knows that some trails are easy, some are rough, sometimes the weather turns, the creek rises, and the miles seem longer than we expected. But the good news is our heavenly Father knows every trail we're traveling. He knows what you've lost, he knows what you missed, he knows the tears you've cried when nobody else was around, and he hasn't forgotten you. So if you're grieving today, don't feel like you have to have it all figured out. Let yourself grieve, lean on your church family, open your Bible, talk to the Lord, and remember the promise of Psalm chapter 34, verse 18. The Lord is near to the brokenhearted. You may be riding through a valley of loss today, but you're not riding alone. The Good Shepherd is right there beside you. And one day, for those who trust in Jesus, we'll reach that place where sorrow and death are no more, and God will wipe away every tear. Until then, keep your faith in the saddle, keep your eyes on the Savior, and take the next step with him. Heavenly Father, we come before you today with hearts that sometimes carry more hurt than words can express. every loss represented here, every empty chair, every broken dream, and every tear. Lord, draw near to those who are hurting, give them strength for today, peace for tonight, and hope for tomorrow. Help us to remember that we don't have to be strong every minute because we can rest in your strength. Teach us to comfort one another, to listen without judgment. And to love those who are grieving. Remind us through Jesus Christ, loss and death do not have to have the final word. Guide us down the rough trails, hold us close when we stumble, and lead us home by your grace. In Jesus' name, Amen. Well, friends, it's time to ride down the trail, but before we go, remember this. No matter what tomorrow brings, the Lord is already there waiting for you. Keep your faith strong, your heart humble, and your eyes fixed on Jesus. When the trail gets rough, lean on him, because you never have to face life's storm alone. Thank you for joining us today. May God bless you, protect you, and keep you safe until we meet again. If this message encouraged you, share it with a friend, a neighbor, or someone who could use a reminder of God's love. Until next time, keep your Bible close, your prayers honest, your heart humble, and your eyes on Jesus. Remember, the trail may get rough, but But when you're walking with the Lord, you never have to travel alone. This is the Rescue Cowboy Church Podcast, where faith rides strong, hope runs deep, and Jesus is always welcome. Until next time, keep the faith, ride with grace, and walk with the Lord. God bless you and happy trails.