Suffering

Outline

And so today we come to the 3rd instalment of this series.

Checkmate.

Arguments against the Christian Faith that would cause people to say, this is something that I just cannot reconcile. So we have talked about the resurrection and the fact that the resurrection was a historical happening that was witnessed y hundreds of people.

Last week Pastor David id talked to us about the Christian doctrine of Hell and how rather than a doctrine that is in conflict with a God who is good, it actually makes sense that a God who is Good and perfect and Holy would bring about justice and n reality give those who want nothing to do with God, what they have asked for; an existence separate from Him.

Today we look at the idea of suffering.

If suffering exists, she would say that God cannot; at least not the Good that many Christian say exists. If suffering exists the way it does, Jesus cannot be who he said He was.

And hey, I would say that this is not an atheist question!! This is not just a question for philosophers and those who are anti-religion; this is a question you and I ask ourselves EVERY day!!

And we have company in Scripture.

Look at King David--he sang a different tune each day--literally---read the psalms

Psalm 18:2 ESV

The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.

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Psalm 13:1–2 ESV

How long, O Lord? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me? How long must I take counsel in my soul and have sorrow in my heart all the day? How long shall my enemy be exalted over me?

“Where are you?” “Why have you left me here to rot so that the ungodly nations are laughing at me and pointing at me

Is this any different than your experience?

Jeremiah, Elijah, Moses, --these guys had some troubles.

And here in the church you are surrounded by people who believe in the same God you do, have claimed the name of Jesus as their leader and forgiver just like you have, and who are suffering just like you are.

Suffering from broken marriages, suffering from work issues, concerns for our children, suffering from identity issues, addiction, the haunting of sickness and death you name it.

And some of you might be saying (rightly so) these people haven’t lost like I’ve lost. These people have not suffered as I’ve suffered.

And that may be true.

But the fact is, if they haven’t in the past, most likely they are going to in the future.

At some point we will walk through the valley.

Maybe you’ve been there already, maybe you are going to be there sometime in the near future; maybe you are in the middle of it right now.

We are broken and in need of a saviour--that’s why we are here.

PAUSE

And thankfully - the scriptures are not silent on this topic.

I want you to turn in your bibles to Romans chapter 8 verse 18.

Now as you are turning there, let me just give you a quick roadmap of what is going on in Paul’s letter.

The apostle Paul—church planter extraordinaire –and the formulator of Christian doctrine and understanding, is explaining in this letter, the implications of Christ and the Cross. That through the cross we see the righteous distaste God has for sin and the mercy and grace that God wants to lavish on his creation, through His son Jesus.

And Paul is explaining that the Cross and the atoning death of Jesus on the cross, and his triumphant resurrection from the grave is central to God’s plan of salvation. It is the climax of the redemption story.

And although they may be attentive to all that Paul is writing and believing on all these promises --------they see something very different and experience something very different than what Paul is talking about.

But Paul knows that the noise of life, the chaos of what his readers face daily, make holding to these truths in any life changing, life altering way….difficult.

It is the same reason we often walk into church week after week and find it difficult to connect worship and the words we sing with the rest of our lives. There seems to be a real disconnect.

Life might look very good on Sunday morning, but then life starts again on Monday and the two worlds seem so far removed from each other.

PAUSE

It is this disconnect that Paul addresses in the text we are about to read.

So let’s stand, out of respect for God’s Word to us today and read from And I’ll be reading from the ESV

Romans 8:18–25 ESV

For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God. For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.

-25

Prayer

Prayer

You can be seated

I can remember conversations with my son years about what we were going to be eating for dinner.

When vacation is coming, when Friday night is approaching, when something good is coming, it is easier for us to handle adversity.

We learn this from an early age.

I can remember conversations with my son about what we were going to be eating for dinner.

I’d have to sit him down and look him in the eye.

I’m not gonna lie to you son.......we are going to be encountering vegetables at the table tonight.

I am not gonna sugar coat this.

So the bribes start.

And you know it s wrong, but ….you’ll get ice cream for desert.

You do that for awhile and then it’s like a negotiation whenever dinner starts—Corn—I don’t like corn—what’s for desert. If they know what is for desert, they know if they can make it through dinner or not.

Corn-I’m gonna need freezies—are there freezies in the freezer.

I remember once my daughter praying before a meal and saying

Dear Jesus thank you for today, thank you for our family, and thank you that you love us, thank for the healthy food, and the food we LIKE to eat after that.

But that’s how it works. Is the end product good enough for me to endure this?

You eat the stuff you don’t like then you get the dessert.

You go to school for 10 months and then you get summer vacation.

You usually work first, then get paid.

Most people would find it difficult to be motivated to work hard if they were not getting paid at the end of it.

In this text Paul uses this idea of perspective to encourage his readers.

And 18 is a springboard for his argument.

For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.

Let’s camp here for a second. Because this is Paul’s whole argument in one verse.

And There are a few things we need to notice.

First, Christianity is not nieve to the fact of pain. And any gospel that promises a pain free existence, a healthy and wealthy one, is manipulating the scripture. And is a gospel made in the image of western society.

Scripture is never in denial. And we should never be in denial about pain. We should never be like the black night in Monty Python who is having all his limbs lobbed off claiming they are mere flesh wounds.

And Paul does not try to hide the fact that believers suffer. In fact, he highlights it. Paul knew first hand that as people who identify with the one who came to overturn the values of this world, Christians will inevitably share in the rejection and trials Jesus experienced. –

In fact we can read Paul’s resume of suffering in

imprisoned

countless beatings

often near death

5 different episodes of being whipped

3 times beaten with rods

3 times shipwrecked

in danger of robbers, rivers,

in the city, in the wilderness

hunger and thirst

exposed on the cold

and on top of all that an ongoing anxiety.....ya think!!

2 Corinthians 11:23c–28 ESV

Are they servants of Christ? I am a better one—I am talking like a madman—with far greater labors, far more imprisonments, with countless beatings, and often near death. Five times I received at the hands of the Jews the forty lashes less one. Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned. Three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I was adrift at sea; on frequent journeys, in danger from rivers, danger from robbers, danger from my own people, danger from Gentiles, danger in the city, danger in the wilderness, danger at sea, danger from false brothers; in toil and hardship, through many a sleepless night, in hunger and thirst, often without food, in cold and exposure. And, apart from other things, there is the daily pressure on me of my anxiety for all the churches.

Paul is not listing this to complain.

Paul is not listing this to complain.

As Pastor Mark explained last week, Paul saw himself as a servant first. To suffer as he did for the sake of Jesus was right where he wanted to be.

Paul knew pain and understood that to live was to suffer on some level.

But he would also argue secondly, that whatever the level of suffering we may have to walk through. Whatever depths we may find ourselves in, it is moving somewhere.

And he doesn’t say this to trivialize human brokenness. It isn’t to say get over it, suck it up.

In fact, one of the defining characteristics of the Christian faith is that it takes aim at the issue of suffering. It explains its origin, the damage it does, how to cope in the midst of it, and ultimately our deliverance from it.

Notice that Paul says this glory is to be revealed “to us”, the NIV says “in us”.

Don’t read over this too fast.

Paul is implying that this glory already exists.

Peter writes about this too- he writes about a

1 Peter 1:4–5 ESV

to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God’s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

Paul is saying that there is a reality far more concrete than what we now observe.

Peter and Paul are saying—your present circumstance is not worth comparing to what is already at work in you and one day will be fully revealed to you.

and that present suffering and future glory ---cannot even be spoken of using the same vocabulary. They are so far removed from each other.

It would be like only having the vocabulary to describe dirt and trying to use it to describe the sun!! There is no comparison.

And so, true to Paul’s style, trained to piece together an argument step by step, Paul begins his explanation of this statement.

And the first thing he says is this:

I. Suffering is a fact of life –vv.19-21

This is not a surprise to anyone

There is not a person who walked in these doors who has not suffered some sort of injustice, some sort of pain this week. And maybe even sitting here, they are holding back tears. Suffering. It may be the result of one word, it may be the result of an ongoing assault on your soul. whether physically, emotionally, or spiritually.

PAUSE

And if we’re honest, the cause of our suffering can come from several sources. And maybe some of us need to do a little inventory.

a. Sometimes we suffer because of our bad choices,

Some people throw their hands in the air over and over again crying out “Why me?

“Why is this happening to me?”.

The answer may be simple.

It is happening because you are continuing to make bad choices.

Why am I always having my heart broken—maybe its because you hook up to easily and for the wrong reasons.

Maybe the best placed to meet the man or woman of your dreams is not at a night club.

Maybe the reason you have no friends is because you are mean! Maybe its because your opinion seems to be the only one in the room. Maybe because you are more concerned with being right than being compassionate.

Maybe you continue to find yourself in bad situations because you spend time with the wrong people.

Maybe you continue to make bad decisions because you do not seek wise counsel!!

And the wisest thing you could to is to have someone feed into your life.

We often bring trouble and suffering on ourselves.

BUT sometimes we’re not the cause.

B. Sometimes we suffer because of the bad choices of others

This is often one of Paul’s main themes

In Paul’s day. To be a Christian meant suffering!!

Which was not a surprise to Paul and shouldn’t be a surprise to us.

These were Jesus very words in the Gospel of

“If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first.

If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you.

There’s a verse that didn’t make it into the Little Book of Bible Promises.

I’ve never said goodnight to my 4 year old daughter and left her with those words of Jesus.

It has been a fact historically since the beginning of the church. Whether physically or spiritually, that those who follow Jesus as their Rabbi, as their leader, as their King, will suffer for it, because this world follows a different king.

PAUSE

sometimes suffering invades our lives not because of our decisions and not because of the decisions of others, but simply because (and this is what Paul is hitting on in our test today,

C. Creation itself is corrupted (v. 21)

In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth, and saw that everything He made was good, tells us. But Adam, the first man, chose self over God and brought about a curse that affects all of creation.

And everything in all of creation is gradually deteriorating.

Big business has figured this out as one of the greatest ways to get our money.

Capitalism thrives off this!!

To make us feel like the process isn’t happening as fast as it is. Help us cover it up.

I know things are going from bad to worse when go to get my haircut, and the hairdresser starts trimming my earlobes without asking!! Like it’s a normal thing.

I dont even know how you measure an anti-oxident!!

Things naturally go from good to bad.

As we get older we see the effects on our bodies.

When I see an increase of grey hair and “creases” on my face.

I feel pain in places I’ve never felt pain before.

When I have 10 people a day tell me I must be getting old because I hurt my knee playing soccer.

LOTS OF YOUNG GUYS HURT THEIR KNEES TOO YOU KNOW!??

I know things are going from bad to worse when go to get my haircut, and the hairdresser starts trimming my earlobes without asking!! Like it’s a normal thing.

PAUSE

SLOWLY

And we see and experience the affects of creations groaning when we hear the diagnosis of cancer, when we lose a child, when a calamity takes place and we cannot find anyone to blame for it. It is the kind of suffering that causes us to call out to God in tears, and ask God, like King David----why he is hiding his face. Why is a loving God allowing these things to take place?

PAUSE

There are more psalms of complaint in the Bible than any other type.

God does not require a sugar coating of “thees” and “thous”. He invites us to be upset and call out in our distress.

Because complaining to God in the midst of our suffering is actually a proclamation that our lives are in His hands. That he is in control.

Like David in we are allowed to call out—my God my God why have you forsaken me, why are you so far from saving me, from the words of my groaning. Oh my God, I cry by day, but you do not answer , and by night, but find no rest.

And many of us can relate to this kind of cry!!

PAUSE

PAUSE

Slowly

It is a fact of life, AND it is universal

Almost all of the psalms of complaint begin with an address to Yhwh—the personal name of God. The goal is not to distance themselves but to be brought closer to him in the midst of their lament and suffering.

We are allowed to respectfully complain to God in our suffering.

PAUSE

Paul goes on to say that…

II. Suffering causes universal groaning  vv. 22-27

A. Creation groans  v. 22

Paul uses personification –you remember that word from English class--giving human qualities to a non-human thing. to explain that creation has been plummeted into corruption against it’s will it says in verse 20. Because of Adam’s choice. And so decay and the affects of humanity on the environment are evident everywhere.

Paul says that

B. believers also groan v. 23

And as Paul adds believers to the mix he paints a new kind of word picture. The picture of childbirth. Where verses 22 and 23 meet Paul talks about the groaning like those related to the coming of new life.

PAUSE

But there is a surreal chaos that seems to take place in a hospital room when a child is being born—there is pain, and groaning, there are tears (AND THAT WAS JUST ME)

and hands being squeezed,

And sometimes, on occasion there is frustration, harsh language and things might be thrown.

But-There are also encouraging words are being whispered.

there is a sense of anticipation. There is an understanding that after all this you will experience new life. You will hold onto something you have only hoped for, only imagined, only prayed for./ And it is here at last.

That’s why verse 19 says we wait with eager longing. The greek here literally means to crane your neck. To look hard to see what is coming over the horizon and how soon.

It’s the family in the waiting room continually looking at the door waiting for the doctor to enter the room and tell you there is new life.

That is the picture Paul is going for here. There is something coming!!

We’ve been given a taste of the divine, a sense of the eternal. We understand the promises God has for us, and so while we walk through the struggles of life, while we witness the pain and suffering around us, the birth pangs, we long for the day, when cancer no longer runs rampant, when we no longer have to watch loved ones pass away; when we no longer have to explain to our children about the evils of our world, and stay up late fearing for their safety.

PAUSE

It was in THAT hope that we were saved it says in verse 24. Not some disembodied existence, but a new glorified body. What shows the triumph and power of God more than the renewed bodies of his adopted children?

Yes, we are God’s children already — justified, reconciled, and brought into his family. But we are not yet God’s children in the way we one day will be — possessing the full inheritance, enjoying perfect holiness in resurrected bodies; glorified.

PAUSE

But the question is, how do we get from here to there?

A question that I am sure many Christians living in the Roman Empire were asking in Paul’s day. A question that many of us would ask as well.

How can we live out our future hope in the present, in our weakness, in our suffering?

That’s great Paul, that’s great pastor, but my marriage is all but finished, that’s great news, but I just had to take my child to emergency!; I am existing in a shadow that will not pass.

So pie in the sky when you die, just might not cut it for me right now.

How do we walk toward the promise of glory when our feet are continually being boken?

Pause

Paul would say that the bridge between the present state of struggle and future glory is the Holy Spirit.

The Holy Spirit who dwells within believers, and helps us in our weakness it says in v. 26.

We do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings to deep for words.

C. The Spirit groans v. 26

It says it again in v 27—the Spirit intercedes for the saints (you and I) according to the will of God.

In other words—whatever else you might get from these verses ----get this---The Holy Spirit is for you. And he is working to make sure your prayers are answered.

YOUR groaning becomes HIS groaning

I cannot understand fully what all this entails, this idea of the Spirit interceding for you and I and how that works with the Trinity etc, etc.

But the language Paul uses here is not some emotionless repeating of our requests to our Heavenly Father--there is an agony, an intensity to the Holy Spirits work on our behalf.

When we struggle, when we groan the very spirit of God groans.

Interceding for us.

PAUSE

Edwin Ruiz is my mechanic.

And I always hate having to explain what is wrong with my care to him.

He’ll be like---well what’s the problem?

its broken

what’s it doing?

Something different than when I bought it.

It would be useful at times to have someone who can take what is in my mind and place it in the mind of the mechanic.

But the problems are almost always too intricate for me to understand let alone have the language to explain to the car wizard.

That is what Paul says the Spirit does for you and I.

Taking our prayers and presenting them to God. Having a fuller knowledge of ourselves than we do, the Spirit prays for us!

Groaning on our behalf. As we hurt in some mysterious way, he hurts as well.

I don’t get it. I don’t know how it works, but I am thankful for it. I am in awe of it.

The Spirit of God is for us.

PAUSE

The last point Paul makes in this passage and really it is the height of his argument is that …..

III. Suffering is on the way out  vv. 28-30

The power death and suffering once held, the grip it enjoyed over humanity and creation reached its peak in the obsurd storyline of Jesus (God in human flesh) carrying the sins of humanity to the cross.

And with the glorious resurrection of Jesus….all that Satan had dominion over—all that Creation had been suffering.

at that moment was reversed. Not that the affects were felt immediately, but the pieces were at that point all put into place for the redemption and redeeming and re-creating of all of Creation

And although there are continued affects of sin and suffering in the world, Paul would argue that they are on their way out.

28And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.

In other words what is happening to you Paul says, is actually part of a process being used by God

And this is important.

He has predestined us Paul says—if something is predestined it is fixed- it is as if it has happened.

And what has been predestined? That we will be conformed to Christ-likeness.

The Greek word for “conformed” is morpha—God’s goal is to “metamorphosize” us. to change us.

Everything that needs to be in place for this transformation to happen is in place.

He has called us, he has justified us—he has made it so that we no longer stand before him with guilt on our shoulders.

And now through the work of the Holy Spirit and the result of everything that happens in our lives —whether good or bad—He works to transform us into the nature of His Son, Jesus.

And this is important.

PAUSE

Because you and I were not just predestined to be glorified, we were predestined to be conformed to the likeness of Jesus Christ.

for all this to take place. And Many Christians live their lives this way.

In vs 29 we see a hint as to why we might go through struggle. Why pain is often permitted to be a part of our existence.

It’s because we were not just predestined to be glorified, we were predestined to be conformed to the likeness of Jesus Christ.

That means that God’s ultimate goal for you and I is not our comfort it is Christ-likeness. It is maturity in our faith.

4. And that means that suffering can be part our sanctification- part of what make us who we are meant to be

a. It helps to mature us

That’s why James can say in

James 1:2–4 ESV

Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

2 eCount it all joy, my brothers,2 when you meet trials fof various kinds, 3 for you know thatg the testing of your faith hproduces steadfastness. 4 And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be iperfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

We’ve all met children who lacked discipline?

Charming. And none of them thinks they need it at the time!

Ever met an adult who has no discipline? less charming. And discipline is not fun.

When Lalainia and I have to discipline our children we take no pleasure in it.

It can be difficult and uncomfortable

BUT OUR LOVE FOR THEM MAKES IT BOTHMANDATORY AND PAINFUL.

Scripture makes it clear that God finds no pleasure in our suffering.

Scripture makes it clear that God finds no pleasure in our suffering.

but there is a benefit that comes in suffering that can not come otherwise.

but our maturity, our is a growth in us that cannot take place otherwise. Or a lifting up of our hearts and mind off the temporary and on to the eternal.

I’m not sure my kids have every thanks me for disciplining them. But their joy in the moment is not out goal.

And the purpose (the Goal) is a growth in us that cannot take place otherwise. Or a lifting up of our hearts and mind off the temporary and on to the eternal.

And we would rather they suffer short term discomfort for long term health and maturity.

Suffering is part of our sanctification

SLOWLY

there is another aspect of suffering and how it plays a part in our sanctification, that I

think is often over looked and that is this:

B. Suffering binds us to Jesus in a way that nothing else can. (X2)

There is an intimacy with Jesus that can only be had through suffering.

If we claim to follow the servant king Jesus, who as Mark preached on last week, “humbled himself, submitted himself to death, even death on a cross it makes sense that we would suffer as well.

So, when we find ourselves rejected, hurt, suffering pain, rather than being far from Christ, we may be closer to him than ever, identifying with our God in a more intimate way then ever possible were we to walk through life with only blessing.

To cry out in pain--God why can’t I see you in this

may give us a deeper understanding of the pain that Jesus must have felt when he called out “Father why have you forsaken me”

To be rejected and alone may give us a deeper understanding of what Jesus suffered when he was deserted by his friends

Are you facing pain and darkness and death; Jesus our Savior has been there. Sweating drops like blood, asking his Father if there might be another way.

We do not serve a Saviour who is unsympathetic.

***We serve a Savior who took on shame and torment willingly, to ultimately take torment and shame away for good.***

There is no greater way to having a deeper understanding of the suffering servant the lamb of God, than to suffer ourselves and suffer well.

PAUSE

Finally, at the end of this chain of thought Paul brings us back to the idea of glorification.

He says in vs 30 that all of God’s work in us eventually leads to our glorification.

And again he speaks of it as if completed.

If God has predestined something—it will happen.

Paul’s main goal is simply to assure believers that God has a plan he is unfolding, one that provides fully for our future glory. He wants us to come away from this text not with a stronger theology, but comfort and assurance.: that the God who began a good work in us will indeed bring it to completion in the day of Christ Jesus ().

When our lowly bodies will be transformed to be like his glorious one!!

Jesus encourages his disciples with similar words in

33"I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world."

So let me conclude by saying this…. FIRST, do not walk alone

A few weeks ago I sat across from a couple who were at the end of their rope.

Struggling emotionally and physically and unsure how they were going to go on.

This wasn’t about each other it was just life.

And as we unpacked the situation it was evident that although they were surrounded by loving caring strong people who could have been a part of helping them through the situation much earlier before it led to such a valley, they never spoke up, never reached out, just suffered silently.

We are the church of Jesus Christ and as such we have been called to meet together not to appease God by weekly attendance, but to spur each other on and encourage each other as we await the day of Jesus return.

SLOW

Do not suffer alone! And please do not wait until you are going to burst.

We are meant to do life together.

That is why we push life groups so strongly here. Get into a lifegroup and do life together.

Besides that get into relationships with healthy Christian brothers and sisters.

Notice I said healthy. Not all community is the same.

Young married couples get into relationships with older couples who have a few years on them. You are not the first to face problems in a marriage.

Of course the flip side of this is that we as a church be a community of believers who reach out. Who have the kind of Religion that James talks about in that takes care of widows and orphans in their distress, that reaches out even when its uncomfortable to be the hands and feet of Jesus to the hurting.

***Often the answer to someones prayer; to someones distress is YOU.***

We need to be available

And Second,

Besides Church community make sure you nurture your communion with the Holy Spirit.

Because truth be told this side of heaven you may never be given a reason for what you are walking through. don't simply reach for answers when you are suffering. reach for the person of Christ, and the comfort of his spirit.

Next to Jesus the man Job probably suffered most.

And after he suffered, losing family, wealth, health, he suffered through 3 friends who tried their best to help him figure out what was going on and why God was allowing all the suffering in his life.

Eventually, Job spoke to God one on one and gave him his complaint.

what Job would have loved to hear at the end was a great explanation of why He had to suffer the way he did. But that’s not what Job gets. What he gets is a very convincing list of God's ability and knowledge and care for his creation.

Like Job, we want to know why we have been required to walk through whatever God has required us to walk through.

His power, his goodness, His love His sovereignty over every situation. Understanding that he has not abandoned you, He has not rejected you, and He continues to walk with you and work in you even in the midst of whatever you are walking through.

Leading you ultimately to himself for eternity.

SLOWLY:

The Apostle John describes that day. A day which every believer needs to remind themselves of daily. Like a child eating vegetables and waiting for the stuff we like to eat after that.

21:1 Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. 2 And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place [1] of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, [2] and God himself will be with them as their God. [3] 4 He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”

With all that in mind. Understanding that God is at work in us, and walks with us, and has a plan for us I think there are a few questions we need to ask ourselves when we

walk through times if suffering and pain.

And they are a kind of inventory I think is important for believers who have faith but still need help with our faith.

1. How am I responding?

2. How should I be responding? Is my response as it should be . Does my response reflect what I hold to be true of the character of God.

3. Am I learning from it? Am I allowing this to be a moment where I am attentive to the voice of God.

4. Does my response demonstrate faith, love for God and for others, and Christ-like character?

5. How can God use this in my life? Many ministries have been birthed out of suffering. Usually it is those who have suffered pain, who find themselves offering counsel and encouragement to others because in their suffering they have walked intimately with Jesus and they have found themselves maturing in their faith because of it.

So I want to invite you to bow your heads, and in quiet I want to invite you to be very honest with your Creator. Lament, confess your brokenness, invite him to be an intimate part of it.

Prayer

Jesus we are broken people. there is not one of us here who has it all together.

That is why we call on you to be our savior. but not only our Savior. but our comfort, our Sanctifier, YHWH God who is close and personal, and our king who will one day return and flip creation on its head, bringing peace, and healing, and wiping every tear from our eyes.

There will be no more pain, no more anxiety, depression, loneliness, brokenness, suffering.

But Jesus until that day we invite you into our trials and our hurt.

Using these moments to shape us more into your image. to have a greater understanding of who you are and what you endured for our sake and the sake of Your creation.

We offer our bodies over to you as living sacrifices made a be holy and pleasing to you.

Amen

I am going to leave you with a benediction but before I do so

I invite you to stick around after the service—there will be some of us here who would love to talk and pray with you.

Let me leave you with these words, which follow the text we’ve looked at today.