Psalm 34 17 19 not doubtfree certainty rather

Psalm 34: 17 -19

“…not doubt-free certainty; rather, it is tenacious obedience. ” John Ortberg

The Pain of Christianity

“Salvation is free. Discipleship costs. ” C. Y. Kim

“Where are You, God? ” C. Y. Kim Job 7: 17 -21

“ 3 Questions that no one asks. ” (but we all do - Job started it) n Is God unfair? Job 10: 2 -9 21: 6 -17

“ 3 Questions that no one asks. ” (but we all do - Job started it) n Is God unfair? Job 10: 2 -9 21: 6 -17 n Is God silent? Job 19: 7 30: 20

“ 3 Questions that no one asks. ” (but we all do - Job started it) n Is God unfair? Job 10: 2 -9 21: 6 -17 n Is God silent? Job 19: 7 30: 20 n Is God hidden? Job 13: 23 -24 23: 3 -5

“Where is God when it hurts? ” Psalm 71: 12

PAIN “God’s great mistake? ”

Psalm 139: 13 -17 “Fearfully & Wonderfully Made”

“When you have no experience of pain, it is rather hard to experience joy. ” George Wald

Job 36: 15 - Elihu speaks “But those who suffer he delivers in their suffering; he speaks to them in their affliction. ”

God’s megaphone. . “God whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks in our conscience, but shouts in our pain. It is His megaphone to rouse a deaf world. ” C. S. Lewis

The big IF. . . Romans 8: 16 -17

The big IF. . . Romans 8: 16 -17 BUT verse 18

“light & momentary. . ? ” II Corinthians 4: 16 -18

What is already a part of your relationship? “Though He slay me…” Job “Your law is my delight…” David

Doesn’t God know that He might actually drive people away from Him? Psalm 119: 67, 71, 75

A faith refined. . . I Peter 1: 6 -7 Isaiah 48: 8 -11

As you suffer, God may not show you why, but He will show you Who. Job 38 -42

The wicked prosper. . The righteous are afflicted. . I Peter 5: 10 Job 20: 4 -5 Psalm 73

Rain & Sun Righteous & Unrighteous Matthew 5: 45

“If I have sinned, Job 7: 20 what have I done to you, O watcher of men? Why have You made me your target? Have I become a burden to you? ” Is pain & suffering God’s punishment for our sin? Psalm 89: 20 -37

Why do bad things happen to those who love Jesus & to those loved by Jesus?

Is my suffering proportional to my sin? Lamentations 3: 31 -33 Lamentations 3: 37 -40 Psalm 28: 3 -4 Psalm 94: 1 -2 Psalm 103: 8 -10 Pay ‘em back, God, but….

Wages of sin is…. ? Suffering?

Does God punish & discipline me? Hebrews 12: 4 -11 What for?

Is all my pain & suffering because of my sin? John 9: 1 -3 Luke 13: 1 -5 John 11

Not “Why? ” but rather. . . To What End? “…now I rejoice not because you were pained, but because the pain led you to turn back to God. ” II Corinthians 7: 8 -11 Complete Jewish Bible

Why won’t God just heal us?

Do we allow God to use us, however He sees fit, to draw others to Him? Philippians 1: 29 I Peter 4: 12 -19

Isn’t the Bible full of examples of healing? II Corinthians 12: 7 -10 I Timothy 5: 23 II Timothy 4: 20

If God can heal, then why won’t He?

What is my perspective toward suffering?

Do we get what we deserve? Psalm 53: 1 -3 Matthew 19: 16 -17 James 2: 10 -11

Do we get what we deserve? Psalm 103: 8 -18

What has changed about God? What has been healed? Isaiah 53: 4 -6 I Peter 2: 21 -25

“Jesus gave God a face, and that face is streaked with tears. ” Philip Yancey

“Where is God when it hurts? ” Psalm 10: 17 -18 Psalm 22: 24

“My comfort in my suffering is this: Your promise preserves my life. ” Psalm 119: 50

“Endurance is not just the ability to bear a hard thing, but to turn it into glory. ” William Barclay

Does our suffering glorify God? II Thessalonians 1: 3 -10 Philippians 3: 10 -11

This isn’t the way God intended for it to be. . . Revelation 21: 1 -4 What is to be: No more death, mourning, crying or pain

Our attitude toward suffering? It’s our choice. . . “A relationship with God does not promise supernatural deliverance from hardship, but rather a supernatural use of it. ” Philip Yancey

Help to keep them from suffering for the wrong reasons • God is trying to tell you something • must be a reason for your suffering • you must have sinned confess & be healed • if only you had more faith

Why does God allow suffering in the world? If God dwells in us now, then shouldn’t the question be. . .

From the pain of the moment, to the joy of eternity. . . John 16: 33 Romans 8: 28 Psalm 34: 17 -18

“Where is God when it hurts? ” “There from the beginning there to the end. ”