Why, O Lord? (Lessons in Suffering)

Ps 22:1-5, Romans 5:3-5, James 1:2-4

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