Explore the story of Job to understand how God uses our troubles for good, teaching us to trust in His wisdom and giving us hope for a better future.
Good morning, family! I am so glad to see you all here today. We are going to delve into the story of Job, a story that shows us how God understands our troubles, turns things around for our good, and gives us hope for a better future.
As Christian author Max Lucado once said, "God will use your mess for good. We see a perfect mess; God sees a perfect chance to train, test, and teach."
Let's read from Job 42:16-17,
"After this, Job lived a hundred and forty years; he saw his children and their children to the fourth generation. And so Job died, an old man and full of years."
Shall we pray?
Dear Heavenly Father, we come before You today with open hearts and minds. Please illuminate our understanding as we explore Your word. Help us to see the lessons You have for us in the story of Job. May we learn to trust in Your wisdom, even in the midst of our troubles. We thank You for the hope You give us every day, and the promise of a better future. In Jesus' name, we pray, Amen.
Let’s get started.
The first point that we want to delve into is the truth that God understands our troubles. It's not just that God is aware of our troubles - He truly understands them. He knows the depth of our pain, the complexity of our problems, and the intensity of our struggles.
The story of Job: We see a man who was subjected to unimaginable suffering. He lost his wealth, his health, and his children. His friends accused him of sinning, and his wife told him to curse God and die. Yet, in the midst of all this, Job knew that God understood his troubles. He said in Job 23:10, "But he knows the way that I take; when he has tested me, I will come forth as gold." Job understood that God was not oblivious to his pain.
An active, empathetic understanding that comes from a place of love: In the New Testament, we see this understanding personified in Jesus Christ. Hebrews 4:15 tells us, "For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin." Jesus, God in human form, experienced the full range of human emotions and struggles. He understands our troubles because He has walked in our shoes.
Goes beyond empathy: God also understands the root causes of our troubles. He sees the hidden factors that contribute to our struggles. He understands the societal pressures, the family dynamics, the personal insecurities, and the spiritual battles that underlie our troubles. This understanding enables Him to provide us with the right solutions. In Job's case, God restored his fortunes, gave him twice as much as he had before, and blessed the latter part of his life more than the former part (Job 42:10-12).
He knows how much we can bear: In 1 Corinthians 10:13, the Apostle Paul assures us that "God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it." God will not allow our troubles to overwhelm us. He will always provide a way for us to endure and overcome.
God understands our troubles in the context of His grand plan for our lives: He sees how our current troubles fit into the bigger picture. He knows how these troubles can shape our character, strengthen our faith, and prepare us for greater things. Romans 8:28 assures us that "in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose."
In the midst of our troubles: We can take comfort in the fact that God understands. He sees, He cares, and He is actively working to bring about good from our struggles. He is not a distant, uncaring deity, but a loving Father who is intimately involved in our lives.
Pastor, here would be a good place to share a personal story about a time when God showed you he cared and understood during a time of trouble. How did it affect your faith?
God's ability to turn things around for our good is a recurring theme in the Bible, and it is particularly evident in the story of Job ... View this full PRO sermon free with PRO
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