LYF Bible Class
03.08.09
Biblestudies/Suffering.Good News part 1.030809
WHY SUFFERING?
Why? Why? Why? Why would (my grandmother, mother, son, daughter, husband, wife, or I) be allowed to suffer like that/this??? What kind of a God would allow someone to suffer so? Perhaps if they were a horrible person like Hitler, then they would deserve it - but not (my grandmother, mother, son, daughter, husband, wife, or myself)! What does the Bible have to say about suffering? Is there a purpose for it? Do we all have to go through it? Perhaps if I could just understand some of the “why’s”, then I could at least be better prepared to respond to the sufferings I will encounter in my own life and the lives of those I love. Today’s LYF Bible Class will begin a study of the subject of suffering. We will be using several resources including the “Good News” issue on this topic as well as the video “When God Doesn’t Make Sense”! This is the third of your “2009 Questions” that we are now using as for your Bible class topics.
“In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.” John 16:33
Note that the bible verse says that we WILL HAVE tribulation - not that we might have some if we happen to be unlucky or something. It WILL be there for all of us; therefore, lets do our best to get ready for it!
2. Page 3 of Issue #23 of “Good News” magazine on the topic of “Suffering” introduces us to several of the most important truths about the various sources of suffering:
-some suffering is brought on by our own sinful actions ... for example, if we drink too much alcohol we will suffer from damage to our liver; if we get in a fight and someone punches us in the mouth, we will probably suffer from broken teeth, etc; and on a larger scale think of all the suffering that comes from wars!
-some suffering is used by God to reach those He loves and draw us closer to Himself ... for example, in Hosea 5:15, we read “I will go away and return to My place until they acknowledge their guilt and seek My face: in their affliction they will earnestly seek Me”.
-some suffering is used by God to discipline us ... for example, in Proverbs 3:11-12 we read, “My son, do not despise the Lord’s discipline and do not resent his rebuke, because the Lord disciplines those he loves, as a father the son he delights in.”
-some suffering is used by God to cause us to bear more fruit ... for example, in John 15:1-2 we read the words of Jesus: “I am the 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.”
-some suffering is designed so that the glory of God might be displayed ... for example, in John 9 we read about Jesus healing a man who was born blind - and when asked why he was born blind Jesus answers “it was in order that the works of God might be displayed in him” when he is healed. (I consider this to be a more difficult verse needing further study.)
-some suffering comes as a direct attach from Satan himself as in the Old Testament book of Job ... (more on this in a later session)
-and some suffering comes as a warning from God ... (more on this in a later session)
One of the keys to knowing how to respond to our situation of suffering is to attempt to prayerfully determine the source of our suffering! But regardless of which of the above sources our suffering is coming from - we need to remember and trust that it has been filtered through the loving hands of God before it gets to us!
3. We also watched the first 15 minutes of the video “When God Doesn’t Make Sense”. Here are a few of the highlights:
-God is not obligated to tell us why things are happening and why He is allowing them to happen to us!
-When we are going through a time of suffering and don’t know why - it is as though we are in “God’s waiting room”.
-There are times when we simply need to “carry it” and trust that God’s grace is sufficient for our situation
-There is probably no tougher times in our lives when we are going through suffering without knowing why. Unfortunately, these times often lead to a crises of faith - nevertheless, these times of suffering and testing are found all throughout the Bible.
-When the Old Testament person of Job was going through his sufferings, it wasn’t the suffering itself that he complained about - but rather that it didn’t seem that God was hearing his prayers and talking to him.
4. And when Joseph was going through his troubles, there is no evidence from the Bible that God had earlier explained what was going to happen to him! Joseph had to simply trust God at every step along the way.
...to be continued!
