A Grip On Suffering

A Grip On Suffering

(Job 23:1-11 (OT))

(Hope, Memorial Day, Suffering)

(Deductive)

INTRODUCTION:

Have you ever asked God the question: Why God are you allowing me or my loved ones to suffer like this? If you have ever gone through some type of emotional, spiritual, or physical pain, then chances are you have asked or thought about this question.

That question went through the minds of Daryl and Clarita Gusstafson? This God loving, dedicated Christian couple was infertile for many years, despite exhaustive medical tests and procedures. They prayed consistently for God to grant them the privilege of bringing a child into the world, but the heavens were silent and the womb remained barren. Then one day it happened, Clarita discovered that she was pregnant. God had spoken at last. A healthy baby boy was born seven months later, and he was named Aaron, after Moses’ brother. This child was their pride and joy.

When Aaron was three years old, however, he was diagnosed as having a very dangerous form of cancer. What followed were 10 months of painful chemotherapy and radiation treatment. In spite of all the efforts to arrest the disease, Aaron’s little body continued to deteriorate. Despite many prayers and countless tears, Aaron went to be with the Lord in 1992, at four years of age.

And so the question echoed in Daryl and Clarita’s mind “Why God did you allow our precious child to suffer like this?

IN the Bible there are many reasons why we experience pain and suffering.

We suffer because of the Nature of Sin., We suffer so that our character may be built up. and We may suffer because God is showcasing us to Satan like He did with Job.

But the message that I am going to present this morning is not geared around why we suffer, but how we can handle it. We could all audition for a the part of suffering today. As you put that flower on the grave. Suffering.

As you sign salute ether flag on this memorial day ..suffering…. as you hear taps played on the trumpet suffering.

THIS MORNING, I WILL DELIVER TWO CRUCIAL PRINCIPLES THAT WE SHOULD REFLECT ON WHEN WE ARE SUFFERING PHYSICALLY, OR EMOTIONALLY.

FIRST, DURING OUR TIMES OF SUFFERING,

GOD IS NEAR WHEN HE Feels FAR AWAY. (Job 23 1:-11)

1. When we experience difficult trials and tribulations, we normally pray to God and ask Him for immediate relief. However, as we all know, God answers prayer in His own time, ON HID WATCH so we may not receive immediate help from Him. We may have to go through many days, or weeks, or months or years of trying times.

2. And after suffering awhile we start wondering why God hasn’t intervened. We begin questioning ourselves. What have I done to deserve this and then we begin to question whether or not God even cares. We feel as though God has abandoned us and that He is nowhere to be found. We feel alone and isolated from God.

Have you ever felt this way?

When I first became a Christian If let like God had abandoned me. Left me. My heart was heavy my chest hurt And I took some Pepto-Bismol and pronto God was back

a. In the Bible, many great men of God experienced these types of emotions.

(1) For example, David experienced a feeling of isolation from God when he was running for his life from Saul.

We read in (Ps. 13:1), that David Cried out to God and said, “How long, O Lord? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me?” If you read the rest of the Psalm, you will realize that David, who was obedient to God at this time, believed that God was not with him during his time of intense trials. He felt isolated from God.

(2) Job, who lost everything--his children, his wealth, his servants, his reputation, and his friends--experienced despair and isolation from God.

Read... (Job 23:1-11. Listen to job in chapter 23

It is common and natural to feel Isolated from God when we experience difficult times, however, the Bible assures us that God is present even when He seems far away!

Even when God seems 1,000 miles away and uninterested in our affairs, He is with us step-by-step during difficult times. A wonderful illustration of this unseen presence is described in (Luke 24:13-35 esp. vs. 15).

In this passage, two of Jesus’ disciples were walking toward a village called Emmaus. They just came from Jerusalem and were undoubtedly very upset and depressed because they witnessed the crucifixion of their Lord Jesus. They were not only discouraged because Jesus was dead, but also because it was the third day and they had hoped that Jesus would have been raised from the dead, as their Lord promised.