Choose Faith Over Suffering Series

This story is great because of the way Job dealt with his suffering! We will NEVER forget Job as he has been a source of strength for many people ever since people began searching the Bible for answers.

We find when we read the story of Job that he responded to his great suffering with an even greater faith. His stories, and his response, leave us with a very important question that we must ask ourselves and that is:

How are YOU going to respond when it seems as if your world is caving in? Are you going to strike out in ANGER? Or will you dare to choose faith over anger? Now choosing faith OVER anger in the midst of your suffering is NOT an easy thing to do and I realize this!

Our story this morning reveals that as well, but we find that even IF we are willing to make the choice of faith over anger in our time of suffering… that it does not mean the battle is over! But what we realize is that when we choose faith over anger in the midst of our suffering… we can find that the battle we have with our suffering can be far from over. Just because we have faith in God… this does NOT mean all our trials, tribulations and suffering will end…

Scripture teaches us that suffering and those trials and tribulations that we face in life are like that water-logged family from Biloxi, MS during Hurricane Katrina! There are going to be times when the biggest battles come after the storm has passed.

This morning I have a very simple outline. I want us to take a look at 3 things that choosing faith over anger in our suffering won’t do for someone, and 3 things that choosing faith over anger in your suffering WILL do for the believer.

1. Choosing faith in suffering will not eliminate the pain.

Job was nearly crushed by the pain of suffering. He tore his robe, shaved his head, and fell to the ground when he heard that his children had died (Job 1:20). His physical ailments were so painful; he used broken pottery as the instruments in his homemade surgery (Job 2:7).

And yet in the midst of such pain and heartache, Job issued some of the greatest statements of faith ever heard. Let’s look Job 1:21…and Job 2:10

Job 1:21 - "Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked I will depart. The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away; may the name of the LORD be praised."

Job 2:10 - Shall we accept good from God, and not trouble?" In all this, Job did not sin in what he said.

How is it that a man can choose such great faith, and still feel such great pain? How else could it be? If we take the risk of loving those around us, the grief will be tremendous if those we love are taken from us. The alternative to grief is to never love at all, and Job simply would not take that alternative.

Illustration: A preaching professor at Harvard University tells the story of the year his 5-year-old son was working on an art project in his kindergarten class. It was made of plaster, resembled nothing in particular, but with some paint, sparkle and time in a kiln, it was ready to be wrapped as a gift. He wrapped it himself, and was beside himself with excitement. It would be a gift for his father, one three months in the making.