In my communication class in college – we were introduced to the 6 – one word questions that anyone doing an investigation must ask: Who? What? Where? When? WHY? How?
Often the most challenging question is determining the WHY?
The Why questions begin when kids are 2-3 years old and really never stops.
You might find yourself, like many people in this moment, asking the WHY question? Why is this virus wrecking so much of life? Why would God allow this? Why did I have to lose my job? Why does my friend have to suffer alone? Why all this uncertainty?
Several years ago, there was a commissioned national survey – asking people what question they’d ask if they could only ask God one thing. *The number one response was: “Why is there suffering in the world?”
Unlike some other religious leaders who wrote off pain and suffering as just being illusions, Jesus was honest about it. He told us the truth in John 16:33.
“I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.” –John 16:33
Jesus (in this one verse) offers us the 2 very things we need when we’re hurting: peace to deal with our present and courage to deal with our future.
How?
Because he has conquered the world! Through His own suffering and death, He has deprived this world of its ultimate power over you.
Suffering doesn’t have the last word anymore.
Death doesn’t have the last word anymore.
Jesus has the greatest & last word over you – as a follower of Him!
God’s ultimate answer to suffering isn’t an explanation; it’s the incarnation.
Suffering is a personal problem; and it calls for a personal response…so God responded in a personal way: by sending His Son.
God isn’t some distant, detached, and distracted Deity; He entered into our world and personally experienced our suffering.
When tragedy strikes; when suffering comes; when you’re wrestling with the pain life can bring – as we choose to TURN to Jesus we’ll find peace to deal with the present, we’ll find courage to face our future, and we’ll have the incredible promise of eternal life in heaven that holds us secure no matter what!
You and I – who are IN Christ. We are not victims, causalities or doomsayers; we are OVER-COMERS, just like our Amazing Savior. We can TAKE HEART!
“I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.” -John 16:33
He said that before the cross and resurrection – then he went out and proved it!
We may never fully understand suffering.
We may never fully answer the WHY questions of life.
We will continue to wrestle with: Why do bad things happen to good people?
But we must remember: our Christian faith is built upon the reality that the worst possible thing happened to the best possible person – Jesus; and yet God still worked the ultimate GOOD FROM IT.
God doesn’t cause evil and suffering.
God will work for our good in all things. (see Romans 8:28)
The day is coming when suffering will cease and God will judge evil and set all things right.
Jesus promises to always be present with us, in the midst of the ups and downs of life – our good moments and our moments of suffering. (see Matthew 28:20)
God has guaranteed that our best days are ahead – for all who have given allegiance to Jesus.
Take Heart, friend.
*if you want to catch the service/sermon – go here
jackschull.wordpress.com 