WHERE IS GOD IN MY PAIN?A Question of the Ages

VIRTUE IN DISTRESSAnd Vice in Triumph… Often Make Atheists of Mankind.

WHEN I SUFFER..

Am I being punished? Have I done something to make God mad?

Why did this happen? I thought God loved me.

If God is good and all powerful, why didn’t he stop it?

I thought God wanted me to have a happy life. What happened?

Oh, God…where are You? I am hurting!

JOB ASKED THAT QUESTION

I had only heard about you before but now I have seen you with my own eyes.

I take back everything I said, and I sit in dust and ashes to show my repentance.”

–Ravi Zacharias

“The Problem of Evil Is More of a Mystery than a Problem.”

WHY A MYSTERY?

“It is the glory of God to conceal a matter; to search out a matter is the glory of kings.” (Prov. 25:2)

“But who are you, O man, to talk back to God? Shall what is formed say to Him who formed it, ‘Why have you made me like this?’

Does not the potter have the right to make from the same lump of clay one vessel for special occasions and another for common use?…’” ( Rom.9:20)

THE OLD TESTAMENT MODEL

God gave earthly blessings to people who do good ( the wise)

God withheld earthly blessings and punished those who do bad things (the foolish)

The Book of Proverbs repeats many times

But things are different in the NT: bad things happen to good people—like Jesus!

WHY CHRISTIANS SUFFER

“If the world hates you, remember that it hated me first.” (Jesus in John 15:18-25)

“Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour.” (1Peter 5:8)

“Then the dragon was enraged at the woman and went off to wage war against the rest of her offspring--those who keep God's commands and hold fast their testimony about Jesus.” (Rev. 12:17)

“This illness does not lead to death. It is for the glory of God, so that the Son of God may be glorified through it.” (Jesus in John 11:1-16)

"Neither this man nor his parents sinned," said Jesus, "but this happened (born blind) so that the works of God might be displayed in him.” (Jesus in John 9:3)

GOD IS:

Omnipresent: He is everywhere—He sees us!

Omniscient: He Knows everything—all of our pain.

Omni-Compassionate: He cares for us more than we do.

He understands our pain and suffering

HE IS OMNIPRESENT

“The eyes of the LORD are everywhere, keeping watch on the wicked and the good.” (Prov. 15:3)

“God is…a very present help in trouble.” ( Ps. 46:1)

“Nothing in all creation is hidden from God's sight.” (Heb. 4:3)

“I can never get away from your presence!” (Ps. 139:7)

“Do you not know that you yourselves are God's temple, and that God's Spirit dwells in you?” (1 Cor. 6:19)

And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” ( Jesus in Matt. 28:20)

GOD IS OMNISCIENT

He counts the number of the stars; He calls them all by name….His understanding is infinite.” (Ps. 147:4-5)

"But the very hairs of your head are all numbered” ( Matt. 10:30)

“You know when I sit down or stand up. You know my thoughts even when I’m far away. You know what I am going to say even before I say it, Lord.” ( Ps. 139:2-4)

GOD IS OMNI-COMPASSIONATE

“The LORD is close to the brokenhearted; he rescues those whose spirits are crushed.” (Ps. 34:18)

“Even if my father and mother abandoned me, the LORD would take me in.” (Ps. 27:10)

“Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.” ( Ps. 23:4)

For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who was tempted in every way that we are, yet was without sin. Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.…” (Heb. 4:15)

"See that you do not despise one of these little ones. For I tell you that their angels in heaven always see the face of my Father in heaven.” (Jesus in matt. 18:10

GOD IS OMNI-COMPASSIONATE

“He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted…” (Is. 61:1)

God says: “I have heard your prayer and seen your tears; I will heal you.” ( God to Hezekiah in 2Kings 20:5)

WHERE IS THE DEVIL IN MY PAIN?

Causing much of our pain

Using pain to get us to accept lies about ourselves or others

Those lies lead to painful emotions and sinful choices & actions

Sinful choices can lead to bondages, more pain and more lies

He’s hoping we don't process pain through a biblical lens

DOESN’T GOD WANT ME HAPPY?

God is far more interested in our holiness than our happiness

He desires that our main happiness be in our walk with Him

God is more concerned with our character than our comfort

He wants to be our main Comforter

God will not be satisfied until He is our greatest treasure and our greatest pleasure.

WE ARE HIS MASTERPIECE (EPH. 2:10)So Where is God in My Pain?

PREPARING TO REIGN WITH JESUS

“If we endure, we will also reign with Him; if we deny Him, He will also deny us…” (2Tim. 2:12)

And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of their testimony about Jesus… They had not worshiped the beast… They came to life and reigned with Christ a thousand years.” (Rev. 20:4)

REFINING, PRUNING, SCOURGING

I will bring that group through the fire and make them pure. I will refine them like silver and purify them like gold. I will say, 'These are my people,' and they will say, 'The LORD is our God.’" (Zechariah 13:9)

“I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit He prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. “ (Jesus in John 15:1-2)

“Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as his children…God disciplines us for our good, in order that we may share in his holiness. No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.” (Heb. 12:7-11)

THE GREATER THE CALLING…

The Greater the Cost

THE BUTTERFLY STORYWhere is God in My Pain?

GOD IS AT WORK IN OUR PAIN

“Therefore we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, yet our inner self is being renewed day by day.

For our light and temporary affliction is producing for us an eternal glory that far outweighs our troubles. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen.” (2 Cor. 4:17)