All This Suffering
Greetings church family!
“Why isn’t God doing something about all this suffering?”
We witness suffering on a grand-scale. Just over a week ago we witnessed the tragic collapse of the Baltimore Bridge, which led to the loss of 6 construction workers. Wars in Gaza and in Ukraine continue to rage on, claiming the lives of over 500,000,000 million people combined to date.
We experience suffering on a personal level. Maybe you are struggling to make ends meet financially. Perhaps you have been dealing with pain and disease for longer than you can remember. Maybe you’ve lost a loved one and are wrestling with grief and sorrow.
At some point, we’ve probably all asked the question, “Why isn’t God doing something about all this suffering?”
In this Sabbath’s message, we will journey through the Wisdom and Poetry books of the Bible - Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and Song of Solomon. We will specifically look at what these books teach us about navigating the suffering and disappointment life presents us.
But today, I want to encourage you with this truth. The Heavenly Father HAS done something about the suffering we endure.
Consider this. Suppose the Arizona Cardinals were playing the San Francisco 49ers. You’ve missed most of the game, but turn the game on in the 4th quarter. There’s 2 minutes left in the game, and the score is Cardinals 40, 49ers 7. It’s likely your response would be that the game is basically over, it’s just a matter of time.
Last weekend we celebrated the turning point in human history - the resurrection of Jesus Christ. The Father sent His precious Son to Earth to defeat sin and death and suffering. When Christ came out of that grave on the first Resurrection Sunday, He essentially put an expiration date on hate, greed, disease, sorrow, pain, and death. It’s only a matter of time.
However, the Father didn’t just send us Jesus, He also gives us the Holy Spirit as our Comforter. In these final days of Earth’s history, while we go through the trials of life, we are never alone. God is always with us through the presence and power of the Holy Spirit. If you put your trust in the Spirit, He will empower you to know joy even in the midst of pain and peace in the midst of chaos.
Be encouraged church family. Suffering has been defeated. It’s only a matter of time!
Remember, God is with you, God is for you, and God loves you.
Pastor Chris
