Why, O Lord? (Lessons in Suffering)
Ps 22:1-5, Romans 5:3-5, James 1:2-4
- J. Todd Billings, Rejoicing in Lament
- The Bible is full of people asking God Why? And How long?
- A Difficult Pregnancy ( 25:22)
- When the pursuit of freedom brings more suffering (Ex 5:22-23)
- When food & water are lacking? (Num 11:11-12, 20:4)
- Joshua asks God why the nation was defeated in a battle (Josh 7:7)
- And then of course there is the story of Job (Job 3:11-12, 16, 20, 23, 7:20, 10:18)
- Why doesn’t God stop it? (The Unanswerable Question)
- How we should approach our suffering and the suffering of others
- Seek God’s face (Gen 25:22, Ex 33:11)
- Remember that there are no quick and easy answers (Job 1-2, 38:2-3)
- Some Reasons for Suffering
- Original Sin (Rom 8:20-22)
- Other’s sin (Josh 7:7, 1Sam 14:41, 37)
- Our Sin (1Cor 6:18)
- For growth (Rom 5:3-5, James 1:2-4)
- Suffering, hardship, difficulty or adversity may come upon people so that they grow in their faith and relationship with God.
- Suffering forces us to answer the Question, “Is God worth this?” (Psa. 89:8)
- Suffering equips us for ministry. (2Cor 1:4)
- For Longing to be with God (Mt 27:46, Ps 22)
- Conclusion
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