Where Is God When I'm Hurting? Series

We’re going to see today that no one cares more about you than God does! In every area of your life He is vitally interested and He doesn’t turn His back on you when you’re going through pain. Instead, He is able to take your pain and suffering and turn it around into some very positive results!

Where is God when I’m hurting?

HE’S PROMPTING POSITIVE CHANGES IN ME.

We mentioned Job a few moments ago and its interesting to note that, not only was he perplexed about God’s whereabouts while he was suffering but he also expressed this confidence nonetheless; Job went on to say:

"But he knows what I am doing, and when he tests me, I will be pure as gold." Job 23:10 (CEV)

What tests have you been experiencing lately? Do you think nothing good can come of them? If you don’t think so, think again!

Testing has the potential to burn out your impurities. Difficulties are part of God’s refining process. My pain is often the fire that makes me better. And as I become a better person, I experience more of the joy and fulfillment in life that God created me to experience. I become more like God. (I’m not saying I become God. Some religions falsely teach that.) I’m saying I become more and more like Jesus. And as I become more and more like Jesus - God can bless me to a greater degree. (Come see how this works by joining us on Wednesdays for the conversation about "The Life God Blesses.")

Difficulties in my life have tremendous power to change me – for better or for worse. I get stronger or weaker – more positive or more negative - I become more hopeful or more cynical – depending on my response to my pain.

What am I supposed to do while going through the change process? The Bible gives me help.

I am told to...

"Wait for the Lord. Be strong. Let your heart be strong. Yes, wait for the Lord." Psalm 27:14 (NLV)

My biggest problem when I have problems is waiting! I don’t want to wait! I want to wrestle. I’m like Jacob in the Old Testament. I want to wrestle with God and I want to wrestle with my problems.

But that’s not what God wants! God wants me to approach my problems with faith in Him. He wants me to exercise confidence in His timing. God doesn’t always take away our problems because, quite frankly, His goal isn’t for us to live a problem-free life. His design is for us to become more like His Son Jesus.

How do I get to the place of “waiting on the Lord?” How am I supposed to act while I’m waiting? What can I do to facilitate the changes in me that God is using my suffering to accomplish?

a. I yield my will to do things God’s way.

"Abraham was willing to wait and God gave to him what He had promised." Hebrews 6:15 (NLV)

Circle that word “willing.” Ask yourself, “Am I willing to wait on God or do I want to do things my way?”

What’s this verse on Abraham about?

God promised Abraham that he would bless him and the future generations that followed him. Yet even into his golden years Abraham and his wife Sarah were childless.

Even though this Bible verse praises Abraham for being willing to wait, he did have a hiccup or two in his faith-walk. (Which is good news for the rest of us because we’re not going to be perfect expressing confidence in God either. It’s good to know God is patient with us while we learn.)