Suffering arrives in our lives in many ways, sudden or slow-onset, long-lasting or short-lived, many different varieties afflict us. How do we handle suffering? What is our response to tragedy in our lives? In Job 2, we see a man faced with not only the loss of his children and all his earthly riches, but … More Responses to suffering
John Piper, from Part 1 of a sermon series on Job, “Reverent in Suffering”: Did you notice that in the two heavenly scenes God handed Job over to Satan’s power? But when Satan had done his work of taking Job’s wealth and family, Job said in 1:21, “The Lord gave and the Lord has taken … More The Absolute Sovereignty of God is our Rock of Refuge in Suffering
What can we learn about God this month as we read through the book of Job? In chapter 1 we read: [Satan Allowed to Test Job] [6] Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan also came among them. [7] The LORD said to … More Learning about God from Job
Ray Stedman reflects on Lamentations 3: Suddenly, in the midst of a long wail, he [Jeremiah] says (verse 22-33): The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases, his mercies never come to an end;they are new every morning; great is thy faithfulness.“The Lord is my portion,” says my soul, “therefore I will hope in him.”The Lord is good … More Behind all the desolation is the work of love.
In the introduction to his sermon, “The Holy Spirit Will Help You Die,” John Piper gives two examples of martyrs and then says: I think it is very important for every one of you to think hard about what you would do if cultic terrorists hijacked your plane and before they blew it up offered … More Do You Have the Strength to Die for Christ?
Ray Stedman on Lamentations 2: Chapter 2 describes the thoroughness of judgment. At the beginning of this chapter you have a description of how the armies of Nebuchadnezzar utterly devastated the city. Jeremiah, however, does not attribute this destruction to the armies of Nebuchadnezzar, but to the Lord. He looks behind the immediate circumstance to … More God Does Exactly What He Says
Ray Stedman on Lamentations, to be continued over the next few days: What a description of the utter despair of the human spirit in the grip of deep distress and sorrow! And yet, in each of these chapters an insight is revealed, a lesson that God teaches through sorrow that otherwise would never have been learned. … More The Therapy of Trouble
John Piper, in a sermon “How To Suffer for Doing What Is Right” [1 Peter 2]Verse 23: “While being reviled, He [Jesus] did not revile in return; while suffering, He uttered no threats, but kept entrusting Himself to Him who judges righteously.” Here is one of the most important keys to how patient endurance of … More Suffering unjustice? Defer to God
Are you ever struck by how God seems to speak directly to us through multiple Bible passages, saying the same things and reinforcing the message? Today I’ve been reading in: JEREMIAH 29….Remember the promises of God…turn on your “windshield wipers” when the mud flies in your face…..as the windshield clears so we can see the … More Message that needs repeating?
Ecclesiastes 7:13 Consider the work of God: who can make straight what he has made crooked? The following was written by a mom named Laura, whose daughter, Hannah, was diagnosed with Incontinentia Pigmenti, I.P.,a rare disorder, and Cerebral Palsy. She started the website, IP Hugs, to encourage other parents of children with this rare disease. … More For who can make straight what He has made crooked?
Knowing God through His Word ... Day by Day 