Recognizing Life's Awe-Full Moments Amidst Life's Awful Moments

Chico Alliance Church

November 14, 2021

Recognizing Life’s Awe-Full moments amid Life’s Awful moments

Introduction

We live in an awful broken world and won’t fully realize the God-embedded longings and dreams for a restored Eden until Jesus’ glorious return.

For now…we don’t fully realize the full wonder of our identity in Christ.

Beloved, we are God’s children now, and what we will be, has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like Him, because we shall see him as he is. 1 John 3:2

For now, our true life seems hidden from the world and sometimes us.

Our true life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. Colossians 3:3-4

For now, Satan, the prince of the power of the air, exercises authority and influence over this world.

We know that we are from God, and the whole world lies in the power of the evil one. 1 John 5:19

For now, death continues to permeate every aspect of life on this earth.

The last enemy to be destroyed is death. 1 Corinthians 15:26

Only Jesus can and will turn the awful aspects of this current world into the awe-filled wonder of a restored perfect Garden of Eden where communion with the incomprehensible Trinity in a perfect glorious environment becomes an eternal reality. In Christ, God will ultimately reunite all things in heaven and on earth.

So many times in my life and ministry, I have cried, “God what are you doing”.

Sometimes I have even cried, “God where are you?” or “God how could you!”

God, time and time again allowed me to experience the AWE-full amid the awful.

At other times, I still struggle to make sense of other awful moments in our life.

An Omniscient God could have stopped it.

An omnipotent God could have prevented it.

All around the world, seemingly pointless awful tragedies devastate the unbeliever and believer alike.

We tenaciously cling to the declaration of Scripture that God IS good and that He continually orchestrates all things together into good and God’s glory. No one escapes life’s awful moments of pain, confusion, struggle, tragedy. It stems from humanity’s determination to live life on their own terms. God sometimes mercifully and mysteriously still turns awful moments into awe-filled moments. Beauty from ashes. Light for dark. Hope from hopelessness.

The Bible recorded 100’s of examples of life’s awe-full amid life’s awful moments. I hope to encourage you to begin recognizing some awe-filled moments amid some of the awful and even mundane moments of your life.

JOB

Job suffered an awful life tragedy when God allowed Satan to snuff his stuff and his kids. This transpired despite his faithful prayers for their protection.

And when the days of the feast had run their course, Job would send and consecrate them, and he would rise early in the morning and offer burnt offerings according to the number of them all. For Job said, “It may be that my children have sinned, and cursed God in their hearts.” Thus Job did continually. Job 1:5

Scripture noted Job’s AWE-full response.

Then Job arose and tore his robe and shaved his head and fell on the ground and WORSHIPED. And he said, “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return. The LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD.” In all this Job did not sin or charge God with wrong. Job 1:20-22

Job’s awful moments continued with the excruciating loss of his health. He still recognized the awe-full reality of God’s sovereignty.

Shall we receive good from God, and shall we not receive evil?” In all this Job did not sin with his lips.

2:10

Job continued to pursue the why and got no help from his three friends. Eventually, Job demanded God directly explain Himself. God didn’t provide the answers Job demanded but granted the awe-filled encounter Job needed.

Then Job answered the LORD and said: “I know that you can do all things, and that no purpose of yours can be thwarted. ‘Who is this that hides counsel without knowledge?’ Therefore I have uttered what I did not understand, things too wonderful for me, which I did not know. ‘Hear, and I will speak; I will question you, and you make it known to me.’ I had heard of you by the hearing of the ear, but now my eye sees you; therefore I despise myself, and repent in dust and ashes.” Job 42:1-6

God doesn’t always resolve the awful but grants recognition of something AWE-full.

KING DAVID

David suffered numerous AWE-full moments amid the awful. A prominent example concerned the sickness and death of his son.