This four-week series, Turning Points, explores the pivotal times of change in the lives of four people in the Bible. We will observe God's invitation in each of these moments to change and grow in a deeper relationship with Him. We are challenged to trust God even when we don't see an answer. In fact, trusting only when we see the answer doesn't require much faith at all. God wants us to exercise our faith muscle, even when it isn't easy.
Jesus grieved the death of Lazarus. Jesus's presence offered comfort to Mary and Martha during their time of grief. Martha and Mary were almost swallowed up with sorrow for the death of their brother. Culture influences the way we grieve. We live in a fast-paced culture that cares about making the world go around and not about how you feel. In our culture, there is no time to grieve. Maybe the way our culture brushes over loss and grief causes us to fear how we respond to grief. There is no surprise that in our "hurry up and get over it" culture, grieving becomes a lonely journey, a journey only the grieving participate in - and even then, they are not willing participants.