Aug 24, 2010 
”Real pain can alone cure us of imaginary ills.” – Jonathan Edwards
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“Jesus promised the disciples three things—that they would be completely fearless, absurdly happy and in constant trouble.” – G.K. Chesterson
This is the first sermon in a series, “Who you are in Christ.” When we know and remember who we are in Christ, that will help us and enable us to overcome the stresses and struggles and sufferings we will experience in life.
This sermon comes from Romans 8:14-17; you are adopted as a son (or daughter) of God.
We all experience suffering in this life to different extents: mentally, physically, emotionally, spiritually, persecutions, etc. James the brother of John was run through with a sword (Acts 12) and think of all that Peter and Paul went through! Hebrews 11:34-37 is a testimony of some of the harder sufferings many brothers and sisters have gone through. How are we to make sense of our sufferings? How is God a model for how to handle our sufferings? What is the ultimate point and meaning of our sufferings? These are some questions I try to address in Ezekiel 24.
Well, our 2000 van with 95,000 miles may be on it’s last wheels. “Could be a speed sensor, worst case scenario is the transmission. Have to wait to diagnose later this week,” said my mechanic. I took the news calmly, “whatever, it’s up to God, the Lord is in control.” I spoke with a family member about our situation and she flipped out: “What about the timing and your travel plans? What about the cost? I’ll send you a check, I’ll make some phone calls, you do this and this and this.” Who’s in control of the situation? “We’ll deal with this one day at a time and wait upon the Lord and pray,” was my response. When the flood waters of life rise up (and they are powerful at times), who is mightier? Has God lost control of this situation?
Psalm 93 speaks to our circumstances, when the flood waters of life rise up. We must put our trust in the Lord, He is in control of the situation and mightier than the waters.
I used to think the book of Job is in the Bible because it presents a rare and extreme case of human suffering. “Look at this worst case scenario. If you can see the truth here, then surely in your comparatively small problems . . . .”
Now I think the book of Job is in the Bible because the story is so common. Many are thinking, “What on earth has happened to me? I can’t see what I’ve done that explains this devastation. Where is God in this?”
Enter Job’s three friends. They were cautious at first. But with their tidy notions threatened by his untidy realities, the moralism started pouring out of them: “Come on, Job, get real with us. You must have some dirty secret that explains all this. Admit it, and this misery will start going away.” Their finger-pointing oversimplifications intensified Job’s sufferings, and this too is a common experience.
I don’t think the book of Job is about suffering as a theoretical problem — why do the righteous suffer? I think it’s about suffering as a practical problem — when (not if) the righteous suffer, what does God expect of them? And what he expects is trust. When the righteous cannot connect the realities of their experience with the truths of God, then God is calling them to trust him that there is more to it than they can see. As with Job, there is a battle being fought in the heavenlies.
Trust in God, not explanations from God, is the pathway through suffering.
This is a post from Pastor Ray Ortlund at www.thegospelcoalition.org, February 22, 2010
The Joseph Road by Jerry White is a practical and illustrative book with a powerful message. Systematically investigating and developing the story of Joseph and applying it to real life, Jerry White deals with hard and important issues we all face as we walk the Christian road, such as pain, hardship, and ill-fortune. Through the life of Joseph, Jerry White shows us how to cope with trials and tribulations that we face, how to overcome these issues, how to have peace and joy through these times, and how to glorify our Lord in our sufferings. Perseverance, the sovereignty of God in our testings, brokenness, and grace are themes that Dr. White returns to continually throughout his exposition. It is a clearly written and personal book, in which Dr. White shares some of his own travels on “The Joseph Road.” Each chapter concludes with brief study and reflection questions the reader or a small group may benefit from. It is an encouraging book for anyone who honestly wishes to deal with the setbacks of life; it will give you hope and direction and endurance in your walk.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from NavPress Publishers as part of their Blogger Review program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
This is my sermon from Matthew 8:23-27, “Jesus quiets the storm.” You might have heard this a million and six times and seen it on the flannel-graphs in Sunday school, but I hope I have presented a different aspect to it. As Paul prays in Romans 15:13, “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”
I don’t suffer nearly as much as others do. Perhaps what I go through does not deserve to be called suffering. Yet, the hard things I experience are real for me and what I can feel as “suffering.” Many events have come to a head this past week which leads me to new ideas and fresh dealings with my “sufferings”. In many ways I already know this information in my head but as life is lived, God speaks in new ways and shows new insights and applications. He also continues to mold and shape me and is gracious to me despite my thick-headedness.
My discontent and grumblings and complaints about my suffering is sin. Dwelling on how “bad” and “unfair” things are denies God’s goodness and grace and says to Him, “You made a mistake, you are not in control, you don’t know what you’re doing.” This all is displeasing to Him and doesn’t play out well in my life.
How could Paul rejoice and have hope in prison? I’m sure he must have had some hard days, but he found God’s glory and His grace in those hard events. Can’t I do this? Can’t the same Holy Spirit work this in my life?
I have complained and grumbled and not asked God or sought Him out in these sufferings. Sufferings and “deserts” we go through are designed to draw us closer to Him and lean on Him and see Him show up. It has become a regular prayer of mine now to ask Him to “incline my heart” and “please let me see your glory in these events.” I have to confess that my heart these past 2 or 3 days has been softened and my attitude improving. I pray and ask for daily filling through all these difficulties.
Paul Meier and David Henderson are trained MD Christian counselors. In their latest book, Finding Purpose Beyond our Pain, there are seven areas that all people go through in struggling: injustice, rejection, loneliness, loss, discipline, failure and death. There book provides insight and direction as to how to overcome these struggles Each of the seven issues is dealt with by defining and giving real-life (sometimes personal) examples, discussing the issues from a biblical world-view perspective, and self-help and practical steps to take and thoughts for reflection. This book is not in-depth nor deeply theological; it is designed for “everyman” – if you want to delve further into the seven issues they raise, you would need to turn somewhere else; you could find larger volumes dedicated to each of the seven areas. If you’re looking for some quick reference material and counseling concerning these issues, this is a good book. It is helpful to read if you are going through these issues or supporting and encouraging others going through these issues.
I am a member of Thomas Nelson’s Book Review Blogger program @ http://brb.thomasnelson.com
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