Overcoming Hurts and Disappointments

Part IIRealities to Embrace

Last Week

Nonnegotiables to Remember1. Suffering is Inevitable2. There is Purpose in Suffering3. God is With Us in Suffering4. God is Trustworthy While Suffering

Today:Realities About Suffering We Need To Embrace

Suffering Can Overwhelm Us

Moses – Exodus 5:22“Moses returned to the Lord and said, “O Lord, why have you brought trouble upon this people? Is this why you sent me? Ever since I went to Pharaoh to speak in your name, he has brought trouble upon this people, and you have not rescued your people at all.”

Moses – Exodus 17:4“Then Moses cried out to the Lord, “What am I to do with these people? They are almost ready to stone me.”

Suffering Seems Unfair To Us

Gideon – Judges 6:13“But sir,” Gideon replied, “if the Lord is with us, why has all this happened to us? Where are all his wonders that our fathers told us about when they said, ‘Did not the Lord bring us up out of Egypt?’ But now the Lord has abandoned us and put us into the hand of Midian.”

Suffering Is Difficult To Explain

Job 1:12; 2:3,10“The Lord said to Satan, “Very well, then, everything he has is in your hands, but on the man himself do not lay a finger…he (Job) still maintains his integrity, though you incited me against him to ruin him without any reason…In all this, Job did not sin in what he said”

The Effect of Suffering

Suffering leads many to reject God:“How could a loving God allow this to happen?”Even avowed atheists and those simply disinterested in God respond to suffering:“How could God do this, allow this, not have stopped this?”

The Effect of Suffering

It is not uncommon to witness individuals go from indifference and denial of God, to anger toward God, in an instant as a result of suffering

The Effect of Suffering

Suffering also leads many to GodIn his book, “The Problem of Pain” C.S.Lewis wrote:“Suffering plants the flag of truth within the fortress of a rebel heart.”In suffering we come to realize we don’t have all the resources to deal with our need. We don’t have enough strength, wisdom, insight, understanding, skill….

The Effect of Suffering

In short, we become aware first hand that we are not in control, and never wereThe Lord uses pain and suffering to bring us, guide us, lead us, and sometimes drive us to himselfLewis wrote, “God whispers to us in our pleasure, speaks in our conscience, but shouts in our pain.”

The Effect of Suffering

Samson – Our Strength Comes From The Lord

Judges 16:28“Then Samson prayed to the Lord, “O Sovereign Lord, remember me. O God, please strengthen me just once more, and let me with one blow get revenge on the Philistines for my two eyes.”

The Effect of Suffering

Deepen Our Devotion To God

Hananiah, Mishael, Azariah – Daniel 3:16-18“…O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to save us from it, and he will rescue us from your hand, O king. But even if he does not, we want you to know, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.”

The Effect of Suffering

Paul – Develop Humility and Gentleness

II Corinthians 12:7-10“To keep me from becoming conceited because of these surpassingly great revelations, there was given me a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”

The Effect of Suffering

II Corinthians 12:7-10

“Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Messiah’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Messiah’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”

How Will Suffering Effect You?

The Criminals on the Cross – Luke 23:39-43

“One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: “Aren’t you the Messiah? Save yourself and us!.” But the other criminal rebuked him. “Don’t you fear God,” he said, “since you are under the same sentence? We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.” Then he said, “Yeshua, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” Yeshua answered him, “I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise.”

How Will Suffering Effect You?

We see suffering as an unexpected and undesired detour in the course of our life.We often ask, “Where is God in this place?” He is where He always is, with you, in you, beside you…Indeed He has led you to that placeThe real question is, “Will you allow the place of suffering to bring you closer to the Lord?”