When Life Hurts
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-Introduction
-In recent lessons, I’ve made references to the fact that life isn’t always easy.
-last Sunday evening – references to Noah – God delivers the faithful – 2 Pet. 2:9
-Yet, deliverance doesn’t necessarily indicate ease of life.
-God offers ultimate deliverance from sin and its consequences.
-As faithful Christians, we can depend upon our faith, draw strength from it, endure and
overcome
-7 churches of Asia – Revelation chapters 2 & 3
-Our responsibility is to endure and overcome, not to avoid.
-Sure, there can be self-inflicted hardships (i.e. sin or foolishness). And, we want to
avoid them as much as we can.
-But, there are hardships, difficulties, tragedies, etc. that you and I face that come
before us outside of the realm of our own control.
-Understanding the Details – Not a Requirement
-The scriptures inform us that hardships will come. Yet, I cannot find in the scriptures
a requirement to understand those hardships – why those things come about, why us,
why now, etc.
-Some might say, “But, Richard, didn’t you say in a recent lesson that these trials and
tribulations work toward disciplining us, training us and making us stronger?”
-Jas. 1:2-4, Rom. 5:1-5, Heb. 12:3-13
-“He [the author of Hebrews] calls on the strong to strengthen and encourage the
weak; and on the weak to take fresh courage and run their race with patient
perseverance, in view of the fact that God is with them, caring for them, and
sanctifying even their greatest afflictions to their good” (Robert Milligan, A Commentary
on The Epistle to the Hebrews, Nashville: Gospel Advocate, 1989, 456).
-Rom. 8:28 – We can put faith and trust in such statements but that doesn’t mean that
we have to – or even that we can – fully understand the process.
-You hear the phrase – “Everything happens for a purpose.”
-example of Jerry and Mary – How could you approach the tragic loss of a son
from the standpoint of purpose? And, remember God is not a micro-manager.
-Yet, in God’s wisdom, He knows that enduring trials can indeed make us
stronger – some how, some way.
-example of another family losing a child – Who was best equipped to help?
-We don’t have to be able to look for and understand good in all things. We are to do the
best we can with the faith and trust in God. It is He who knows how various situations
can be utilized for good – for us & for others.
-I’m afraid that we sometimes “beat ourselves up” unnecessarily. “I should be
stronger than this. I know better than this. I shouldn’t be frustrated or discouraged.
I should have these questions in my mind…etc.”
-Remember, we don’t always understand and we don’t always have the answers. But,
we have faith and trust in the One who does.
-Scriptural Examples
-Jeremiah - Jer. 1:8-10, 17-19; 20:7-9
-“There are many things about heaven that I do not understand. I therefore hope
that I am not speaking irreverently when I suggest that in our final abode, it would
be a supreme thrill to embrace Jeremiah and heartily thank him for the
encouragement he has lent to my life” (Wayne Jackson, Jeremiah and Lamentations,
Stockton, CA: Courier Publications, 1997, preface).
-Job – James 5:11
-Did Job understand the situation? No. He had questions. He had doubts.
He made accusations (utilizing legal terminology).
-Yet, we know that God was utilizing Job (having chosen him from all those on earth)
to disprove an accusation made by Satan. Yet, there are no indications that Job was
given that explanation.
-Elijah – 1 Kings 19 (vs 9-13)
-John the Baptizer – Luke 7:18-20
-Summary and Invitation
-We don’t have to try to convince ourselves that we can have all the answers, that we can
take anything/everything in stride, that nothing will “get us down.” Are we stronger than
Jeremiah, Job, Elijah, John, and others?
-Yet, we can continue to look to God, pray to God, depend upon God and study His
word. And, we can receive strength and support from our Christian family.
-Will we always understand what is happening and/or why it is happening? No. But,
we can face it, do the best we can regarding it, endure and overcome.
-Back to Milligan’s comments regarding Heb. 12:3-13: “He [the author of Hebrews]
calls on the strong to strengthen and encourage the weak; and on the weak to take
fresh courage and run their race with patient perseverance, in view of the fact that God
is with them, caring for them, and sanctifying even their greatest afflictions to their
good” (Milligan, 456).
-Are we sometimes hesitant to reach out to those who are hurting because we don’t have
answers for them? We don’t have to have the answers. But, we need to be there for
them.
-Heb. 12:3 - And, always remember this. Jesus is there for you. Heb. 4:14-16)
-Isn’t it wonderful to have a Savior like Jesus?
-Invitation
<Return to Sermon Outlines>
-Introduction
-In recent lessons, I’ve made references to the fact that life isn’t always easy.
-last Sunday evening – references to Noah – God delivers the faithful – 2 Pet. 2:9
-Yet, deliverance doesn’t necessarily indicate ease of life.
-God offers ultimate deliverance from sin and its consequences.
-As faithful Christians, we can depend upon our faith, draw strength from it, endure and
overcome
-7 churches of Asia – Revelation chapters 2 & 3
-Our responsibility is to endure and overcome, not to avoid.
-Sure, there can be self-inflicted hardships (i.e. sin or foolishness). And, we want to
avoid them as much as we can.
-But, there are hardships, difficulties, tragedies, etc. that you and I face that come
before us outside of the realm of our own control.
-Understanding the Details – Not a Requirement
-The scriptures inform us that hardships will come. Yet, I cannot find in the scriptures
a requirement to understand those hardships – why those things come about, why us,
why now, etc.
-Some might say, “But, Richard, didn’t you say in a recent lesson that these trials and
tribulations work toward disciplining us, training us and making us stronger?”
-Jas. 1:2-4, Rom. 5:1-5, Heb. 12:3-13
-“He [the author of Hebrews] calls on the strong to strengthen and encourage the
weak; and on the weak to take fresh courage and run their race with patient
perseverance, in view of the fact that God is with them, caring for them, and
sanctifying even their greatest afflictions to their good” (Robert Milligan, A Commentary
on The Epistle to the Hebrews, Nashville: Gospel Advocate, 1989, 456).
-Rom. 8:28 – We can put faith and trust in such statements but that doesn’t mean that
we have to – or even that we can – fully understand the process.
-You hear the phrase – “Everything happens for a purpose.”
-example of Jerry and Mary – How could you approach the tragic loss of a son
from the standpoint of purpose? And, remember God is not a micro-manager.
-Yet, in God’s wisdom, He knows that enduring trials can indeed make us
stronger – some how, some way.
-example of another family losing a child – Who was best equipped to help?
-We don’t have to be able to look for and understand good in all things. We are to do the
best we can with the faith and trust in God. It is He who knows how various situations
can be utilized for good – for us & for others.
-I’m afraid that we sometimes “beat ourselves up” unnecessarily. “I should be
stronger than this. I know better than this. I shouldn’t be frustrated or discouraged.
I should have these questions in my mind…etc.”
-Remember, we don’t always understand and we don’t always have the answers. But,
we have faith and trust in the One who does.
-Scriptural Examples
-Jeremiah - Jer. 1:8-10, 17-19; 20:7-9
-“There are many things about heaven that I do not understand. I therefore hope
that I am not speaking irreverently when I suggest that in our final abode, it would
be a supreme thrill to embrace Jeremiah and heartily thank him for the
encouragement he has lent to my life” (Wayne Jackson, Jeremiah and Lamentations,
Stockton, CA: Courier Publications, 1997, preface).
-Job – James 5:11
-Did Job understand the situation? No. He had questions. He had doubts.
He made accusations (utilizing legal terminology).
-Yet, we know that God was utilizing Job (having chosen him from all those on earth)
to disprove an accusation made by Satan. Yet, there are no indications that Job was
given that explanation.
-Elijah – 1 Kings 19 (vs 9-13)
-John the Baptizer – Luke 7:18-20
-Summary and Invitation
-We don’t have to try to convince ourselves that we can have all the answers, that we can
take anything/everything in stride, that nothing will “get us down.” Are we stronger than
Jeremiah, Job, Elijah, John, and others?
-Yet, we can continue to look to God, pray to God, depend upon God and study His
word. And, we can receive strength and support from our Christian family.
-Will we always understand what is happening and/or why it is happening? No. But,
we can face it, do the best we can regarding it, endure and overcome.
-Back to Milligan’s comments regarding Heb. 12:3-13: “He [the author of Hebrews]
calls on the strong to strengthen and encourage the weak; and on the weak to take
fresh courage and run their race with patient perseverance, in view of the fact that God
is with them, caring for them, and sanctifying even their greatest afflictions to their
good” (Milligan, 456).
-Are we sometimes hesitant to reach out to those who are hurting because we don’t have
answers for them? We don’t have to have the answers. But, we need to be there for
them.
-Heb. 12:3 - And, always remember this. Jesus is there for you. Heb. 4:14-16)
-Isn’t it wonderful to have a Savior like Jesus?
-Invitation
<Return to Sermon Outlines>
