Explore the intersection of faith and suffering, emphasizing that even in times of pain and doubt, we can trust in God's wisdom, find comfort in His presence, and discover purpose in our suffering.
Good morning church family. Today, we're diving into some deep waters together. We're going to tackle the tough issues of pain, doubt, and suffering in our lives and how they intersect with our faith in God. It can be hard to understand how a loving God can allow us to go through such tough times.
As Timothy Keller once wrote, "God will only give you what you would have asked for if you knew everything he knows." We may not understand God's ways, but we can trust in his wisdom and goodness.
Let's look at this together in the words of Scripture. Habakkuk 3:17-19 tells us:
"Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Savior. The Sovereign Lord is my strength; he makes my feet like the feet of a deer, he enables me to tread on the heights."
And then in Psalms 34:18-19, we read:
"The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. The righteous person may have many troubles, but the Lord delivers him from them all."
Let's pray together.
Father, as we gather here today, we ask for your wisdom and grace. Help us to understand your will in our times of suffering and to see your love even in our pain. Comfort us with your presence and help us to find our strength in you. In Jesus' name, we pray, Amen.
Now, let's dive in.
When we face pain, it's natural to question God. We wonder why He allows us to suffer, why He doesn't intervene, why He seems silent in our darkest hours. This questioning is not a sign of weak faith; rather, it's a testament to our human nature, our limited understanding, and our deep desire to know and understand our Creator.
Biblical examples: Job, a man described as blameless and upright, questioned God after losing his children, his wealth, and his health. David, a man after God's own heart, questioned God in the Psalms, crying out, "Why, Lord, do you stand far off? Why do you hide yourself in times of trouble?" (Psalm 10:1). Even Jesus, in His humanity, questioned God on the cross, echoing the words of David, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" (Matthew 27:46).
It's okay to question God in our pain: It's okay to cry out, to seek answers, to wrestle with our faith. God is not threatened by our questions. He is not angered by our doubts. He is a loving Father who welcomes our honesty, who meets us in our pain, who comforts us in our suffering.
Not without its challenges: It can lead us to doubt God's goodness, to question His love, to wonder if He is really there. It can lead us to feel isolated, misunderstood, even abandoned. But it can also lead us to a deeper understanding of God's character, to a stronger faith, to a more intimate relationship with our Creator.
When we question: We’re forced to confront our beliefs about God. We are forced to examine our faith, to wrestle with our doubts, to seek answers in His Word. This process can be painful, but it can also be transformative. It can lead us to a deeper understanding of God's love, His grace, His sovereignty.
A deeper understanding of ourselves: It can reveal our fears, our doubts, our insecurities. It can expose our false beliefs, our misconceptions, our misunderstandings. It can challenge our pride, our self-reliance, our self-sufficiency. It can force us to acknowledge our need for God, our dependence on Him, our inability to navigate life on our own.
God is not distant or detached from our pain: He is a God who suffers with us, who empathizes with our pain, who understands our struggles. He is a God who was willing to enter into our world, to experience our pain, to suffer on our behalf. He is a God who promises to be with us in our pain, to comfort us in our suffering, to give us hope in our despair.
Pastor, here would be a good place to share a personal story about a time when you questioned God in your pain and how that experience shaped your faith.
Finding comfort in God's judgement may initially seem like a paradox ... View this full PRO sermon free with PRO
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