We come out on the other side of it looking a little more like Jesus. We can only live one chapter of our lives at a time, and none of us knows exactly what the next chapter will bring. it can cloud our vision or clear our vision. read more, Scripture: That leads to a fourth thing I think you might hear God tell you in the middle of your pain. 52-week preaching calendar to help you plan your sermons, Customizable sermon manuscripts for verse-by-verse preaching, Preach with creativity and impact throughout the year, Help your church understand God's plan in pain, Call your people to experience a higher freedom, Proclaim the gospel to the ends of the earth. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me,for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.. The same is true for our personal pain. So where can you identify with him in your suffering? Pastor John gets to the heart and offers practical suggestions for growing in evangelism. Were on a mission to change that. Please, God.Please, God.Please, God.. According to God's PURPOSE Not according to your PAIN. Live amid broken dreams. Lord, thank You for being a God who sees me and knows me completely. We live in a day when many people are not even interested in knowing God. Try being stoned, scourged (five times), and being beaten with fists, rods and words. There is a nearness, a personalness to God that David immediately feels in trouble. Pain saps our energy and often leads to bitterness and despair. What if we are marked by pain? Exodus 33: 12. For more information, see our, But, my friend, Im here to tell you that this is not how the rest of your life will look! For those who will dare search for pains purpose, there is one more thing. 1. God has all of eternity to lavish his kindness on us (Ephesians 2:7). Knowing Christ this way has changed me. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. Let's pray. I would have felt crushed, bitter, ripped off, full of regret and doubt, wondering whether my bad decision, or someone elses, had kept me from the successful life Id longed for. You shall name him Ishmael, for the Lord has heard of your misery. (NIV). In Psalm 23, David begins by talking about God and his tender care, saying, The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want (Psalm 23:1). If the pain is great enough, youll find out where the strength of a person really lies. Proverbs 31 Ministries thanks Tyndale House Publishersfor their sponsorship of todays devotion. Lead me to the rock that is higher than I.. He says, Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me (Psalm 23:4). Independent/Bible. Hebrews 2:5-18, Denomination: Second,God has the tools we need in our hour of need. He was so deeply distressed and troubled that His sweat turned to blood (Luke 22:44). Free shipping on books, Bibles, gifts, VBS, and church supplies of $50 or more. However, if we are going to be successful in moving forward then well need to let go of all that useless, heavy baggage. Pain strengthens our faith in God. For more uplifting devotionals, grab a copy of Pam Tebows Hope for a Womans Heart. I still cant believe it 6 campuses. It doesnt say approach our throne, it clearly states Gods throne. You will remember that there are only three things that are certain in life . He works in ALL things to produce Christ-like maturity. No matter what pain we are going through, if we are in Christ, we are assured that it wont last forever. They have lived with suffering for so longs; they act out if they have no pain. But heaven may feel like little comfort as days of pain on earth stretch into months and even years. Today we will finish our study of Johns letter. But in Exodus 2:25 and Genesis 15:13-14 we see why these words are pregnant with hope. Or multiple sclerosis. Your kid might be in pain from falling off a wagon, a broken heart, an unexpected breakup, the flu, or the homesickness of your college freshman. Pentecostal. Bible Church. How do we know if we really know God? In order to not cause confusion, I am naming each of the sermons in this series after whatever were covering in the Emotionally Healthy Spirituality book that week. Author of the award-winning and bestselling book, not a fan. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. TEXT: Psalm 139:1-6 They want to live like they want. This is the last message from 1 John summarizing the letter. I. The only doctor available believed my child was not viable. As a servant, Hagar was considered unimportant and was sometimes treated poorly. But the lesson is so difficult, the only way any of us would discover it is that God allows pain to be a part of our lives. All of our resources exist to guide you toward everlasting joy in Jesus Christ. He works in ALL things to produce Christ-like maturity., One way God uses our pain for good is to draw people closer to Christ. But you still have to do the work. Morning Service *, Password The following are actual responses from comment cards given to the staff members at Bridger Wilderness Area in 1996: Trails need to be wider so people can walk while holding hands.Trails need to be reconstructed. read more, Scripture: It doesnt deny our pain or how much it hurts. Paul was saved about five years later, on the road to Damascus. Amazing, isnt it? Its a prime-time witness, when all eyes are on the person who hurts. It is for people who live each day with an anxious foreboding about their future. We know that hes aware of our struggle. It doesnt yet serve a purpose, but it is lovingly pushed, molded and fired at extremely high temperatures so that it will be ready for its final purpose. John 1:18, Denomination: He is all around us, in front of us and behind us, and His hand is on us. Jesus knows what it is to suffer and He knows our pain. Jesus fully understands me, but I can understand only the mere edges of him. Is there a way I can get reimbursed?Reflectors need to be placed on trees every 50 feet so people can hike at night with flashlights.Escalators would help on steep uphill sections.A MacDonald's would be nice at the trailhead.The places where trails do not exist are not well marked.Too many rocks in the mountains. Baptist, C.S. It was a miraculous salvation experience, complete with a blinding light and the thunderous voice of Jesus, sending Paul into three days of repentant fasting. full of fake relationships. On three separate occasions Paul pulled out all the stops to ask God for a miracle of his own. While I may not see or understand any of them, I know that the Lord would never make me suffer unnecessarily. But make no mistake about it. He battled temptation and anxiety over his young churches. In real life, its a wounded soldier coming home, still proud of the uniform and the duty that cost him so much. Genesis 25:29-33, A. We live in a day when many people are not even interested in knowing God. God can heal the wounded spirit and the sin sick and broken heart. Instead, this idea is best used as a self-study. It has been said that there are only 2 things that are certain in life . And that my pain wouldnt last any longer than was absolutely necessary. The God who has numbered every hair on your head and knows every sparrow that falls to the ground is aware of every detail of your situation. Sold by his own brothers, betrayed by an employers wife, forgotten by friends in a prison, and ignored by the God who once had promised him a position of leadership and power. You will remember that there are only three things that are certain in life . He gives life to the dead and calls into existence things that do not exist (Romans 4:17). Paul asked God to remove the pain, whatever it might have been. 2. Hed been the focus of riots and death threats, and after one harrowing, near-death experience, he was snake bitten! Psalm 56 begins with David's cry for mercy because his enemies are attacking him. When we experience it our natural tendency is to shut everyone out. Assembly Of God, THE TRINITY V Paul did, and you can. If we invite Christ to meet us right where we are, knowing full well that He knows our pain and without masking our emotions, we can be triumphant in our defeats. He knows exactly how long our pain will last, and he will give us everything we need as we wait. Introduction: When you run from God in seasons of challenge, all you're left with is your own limited ability to cope with what you're walking through. All good words. Of course, we desire his help and healing. Denomination: Church Of God. INTRODUCTION I will say that being an God knows your heartaches! Peter, the natural leader of the post-Pentecost church, had only two such experiences, according to Lukes history. Seeing God Through Your Pain and Suffering - James River Church Or if you have ever begged God to remove your anguish, and God denied your desperate request, you can know a little of Christs fellowship in suffering. read more, Scripture: His focus, energy, and resilience were nearly frightening. How deeply ignorant and shameful it is of us ever think that Jesus cannot comprehend what we are going through, when in fact, it is the other way around. 19Then said they unto him, Where is thy Father? He had seen rejection and disappointment as surely as you have. That doesnt mean that God causes our pain. No word from God will ever fail (. Perhaps we should note that Paul didnt hear from the Lord very often. That is, to know by experience, to know personally and intimately, not merely intellectually. So I did the only thing I could: I offered it to Him. God loves you in your finest moment and your darkest hour. * (01) I picture my Savior yielding to the spike-like barbs, wholly embracing his own suffering to rescue me. Or any number of the stunning array of diseases, disabilities or discouragements that can come our way. I Know Im Saved! In verse 29, we get God's definition of "good." He defines good as conforming us to the likeness of his son. These are lessons that can be learned only in the classroom of suffering, and only the student enrolled there is allowed to make the discovery. God Knows Our Suffering | Theology of Work God will make all things new; we have endless and painless joy awaiting us in heaven. Mark 5:21-43 Jesus knows all about pain and He knows your pain. Share with us in the comments, and well pray for you! He knows our motives and our deepest desires. Jesus answered, Ye neither know read more. He knows your misery. Isaiah 43:18-19, Denomination: When we are hurting, we want God to be aware of us. When youre in pain it may be from falling off the wagon, a broken heart, an unexpected text you werent supposed to see, losing someone you love, or driving away from dropping off your college freshman. The angel of the Lord appeared to Hagar as she was alone and despairing in the wilderness and assured her that it was safe to return. Some of us wont experience reprieve in this life. My heart becomes more aligned with his. 12:7-10 To keep me from becoming conceited because of these surpassingly great revelations, there was given me a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. . God Knows Your Pain By Marcus Donaldson August 28, 2019 God, our benevolent and gracious God, knows what pain is. death and taxes. read more, Scripture: When you begin to doubt that God sees you, turn again to Psalm 139. What if we limp? During my last pregnancy on that faraway island, this psalm became especially meaningful to me. God loves us as we are, but He loves us too much to leave us that way. Wouldnt you want to know what caused such a fury? As it turned out, God was very much at work, right in the middle of the pain. Emotionally Healthy Spirituality, prt. You will have pain, but y our pain will turn into joy. That brings back memories of the doctors office and that giant needle moving ever closer. The weightier the suffering, the greater the comfort, the richer the fellowship, and ultimately the deeper the joy. The purpose of this message is to inform the I couldnt see Him, but I sensed His presence in ways I cannot express in words. Perhaps you already have. He is using your suffering and pain in ways you would not believe if someone told you. Fellowship is an irreplaceable means of grace in the Christian life and offers us two priceless joys: receiving Gods grace through the helping words of others and giving his grace to others through our own. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing. And in both of those cases, the pain of great loss clouds the vision of pains purpose. As tears streamed down my face, I understood how lonely and forgotten I had been feeling. We cannot fathom the pain He experienced on our behalf andin our rightful place. 1 John 1:1-5:21, Denomination: 3 People, Permanent, and Perfected Pain 2.Now you know God (v9) Copyright 2023 Proverbs 31 Ministries. Mark 5:21-43 Pain and offense are tools used by the Devil to isolate individuals and make them more susceptible to spiritual attack. Pain has a purpose. You say no again. God knows how much pain we can handle. In the past you did not know God (v8) But Christian/Church Of Christ. That means your pain is never in vain. That tiny little irritant slips inside the tight seal of an oysters shell, and immediately causes discomfort. And, if you listen carefully, you might just hear him whispering, DONT GIVE UP! . I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. (NIV), Genesis 16:11, The angel of the LORD also said to her: You are now pregnant and you will give birth to a son. In Ephesus, Pauls had what might be his most successful ministry anywhere, preaching there fore more than two years until all who lived in the province of Asia heard the Gospel. I know, because I have experienced this before. He knows what disappointmentfeels like and He knows how stubborn mankind is because He created all things (Colossians 1:16), knows all things (Psalm 139), and can experience in perfect matrimony, all things. God gives us pain for different reasons. If you were to die today and stand before God seated upon the great white throne of judgment, would He or would He not let you into Paul also had a vision, however, of a man from Macedonia (Acts 16:9) and an angel of the Lord (Acts 27:2324). And most importantly, God was working on Josephs own heart, testing and probing and forming a young man who simply would not waver from his faith in God, even if life took him to the bottom of the dungeon, or the height of power and prosperity. Or perhaps its one who suffers from Lou Gehrigs Disease. Agonize, wondering how our loved ones will manage. (115). Crowns of glory. Tomorrow may bring redemption beyond our wildest dreams, as Naomi, Joseph, and Job experienced. Surely it became known that they had come to town speaking of a Jewish messiah! Jesus is the epitome of love (1 John 4:8), He is forgiving (Matthew 18:21-35), slow to anger, gracious, and compassionate (Nehemiah 9:17). To know him by experience and not just academically. In the midst of the suffering, it is extremely difficult to find the purpose of our pain, and to celebrate that purpose. Suffering can open our eyes to Gods glory we see and experience it rather than learn what glory means intellectually. Yes, there remain unanswered questions. Bishop TD Jakes - Watch Sunday Sermon: God Knows When! - Sermons Online Reminder: You are currently impersonating {{userSessionData.email}}. All of our resources exist to guide you toward everlasting joy in Jesus Christ. He's been taking care of most of the hard stuff that life keeps throwing at you and only allowing those challenges that are most important for your growth. "I know their sufferings, and I have come down to deliver them" (Exodus 3:7). We live in a world that is filled with hurting people. Deals with one of the reasons people give for taking thier lives into thier own hands near the end of life, the second part of a 3 part series. Wonder of wonders, in some small measure, lowly me gets to identify with and enter his grief. Introduction After all, those early letters were filled with corrections, some of them quite harsh. God's Love is still with us, even in life's darkest seasons. Baptist. Presbyterian/Reformed, Where is God when life hurts? What Do You Know? Well feel that, I know your storm feels long right now, but today I want you to focus on, he leads me beside peaceful streams. It seems unreal that pain could be turned into joy. The physical pain that many suffer from injuries or some type of Marcus Donaldson has been following Christ since 2004. As I got up this morning I felt pains in my body that are a result of sparring in my karate class, preparing for a tournament later this week. Our heart can only be healthy if we are close to God's heart. When not studying for his Master's Degree, he's wedding planning with his fiance, watching the Boston Celtics, reading, playing Xbox, or adding to his tattoo collection. Three times Paul was shipwrecked, and he once spent a full day a night and a day, as he puts it on the open sea. Free Sermons and Sermon Outlines for Preaching : How Can We Determine God's Will For Our Lives? Illustration: The beauty of a single pearl, or a string of the precious stones, is unmistakable. John 16:17-24, Denomination: In the pictures of the ancient Roman method of threshing grain, one man is always seen stirring up the sheaves while another rides over them in a crude cart equipped with rollers instead of wheels. Pain becomes our teacher when God wants to teach us something. And perhaps he had other such encounters, but Luke only tells us of these. By purchasing products through these links, I may receive a small commission, however, your cost for the item does not change. We may not know Gods plan for our pain until heaven, but we can be assured, as Hagar was: He sees us and loves us. You desperately want to help, but theres nothing you can do. Our suffering is momentary and for a little while as we consider and experience it in light of eternity. In verse 29, we get Gods definition of good. He defines good as conforming us to the likeness of his son. The Character of GodPart 1God Knows Psalm 139:1-4 O LORD, you have searched me and you know me. Paul concluded for himself that his thorn was meant to keep him from becoming conceited about his miraculous life and ministry. Are you in pain? What youre experiencing may have caught you off guard, but it didnt take God by surprise. Those who deny pain. Privacy Policy, Click here to view our policy on 3rd party links, Sweet Relief: How the Gospel Frees Us From a Life of Striving, "Small Things in Love Change the World" T-Shirt. Hebrews 4:15-16 tells us thatJesus can empathize with our pain and weakness: Whenever I read that passage I find myself marveling at the fact we, sinful humans, can approach Gods throne with confidence, so that we can receive mercy and find grace to, help us in our time of need. This proves a couple of things. 3 You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways. We will call this read more, Scripture: Paul asked again. Pain happens. Stay here and keep watch.. But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." I want us to look into the Bible and look at some Bible characters and at some lives transformed in 40 days. Marked In her latest inspiring book, Songs of Suffering, she tells of a friend who has become my friend as well. The image calms my heart, but best of all, it binds me to his love. He is absolutely in control. A people without hope. In fact, as he set about his world planting churches, and becoming the leader of the evangelistic movement among Gentiles, he seemed to endure an incredible amount of pain. Senior Center Devotional What would you do in the hours that followed such an event? VARIOUS KINDS OF PAIN 3 Because I ache does that call for me to quit? You are currently impersonating {{userSessionData.email}}. He will walk with you through every dark valley. He knows what its like to hunger and thirst, to endure sleepless nights and exhausting days, to experience agonizing pain, and to pour himself out for others who are hostile in return. Here are six things that God wants to tell you when you are in the middle of your pain. Do you know what its like when someone you love is in pain? Thats why the Bible says we can go to him with confidence: For we do not have a high priestwho is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we areyet he did not sin. 2 Cor. THERE IS A REASON - There is Purpose in Your Pain You may feel as if you are invisible, that no one really sees you or comprehends your hurt and despair. Perhaps Paul explained why it would be a good idea to have the pain removed. Need to Know I know it hurts. Just think, our field of knowledge DOUBLES every 18 months! Scripture: read more, Scripture: Teach me, teach us, Your statutes. One of the most difficult things about pain is the feeling that its pointless. All of us want deliverance in this life, and many of us will see it. O Lord, you are good and do good. Upon accepting an award, the late Jack Benny once remarked, "I really don't deserve this. How Can God Help You Through the Tough Times? 1. read more, Scripture: End of Life: Our Fear of Pain The only thing that they were certain of was that God was there in the fire with them. And now, there was a thorn in the flesh. How bad was this particular pain? But, almost more than this, we want to know that he is still there, that he knows and cares for us. Its easier to persevere when theres a reward for being faithful during times of testing. John was very specific about his read more, Scripture: Suffering brings an intimacy with God, a mysterious and sacred fellowship that cannot be captured in words. Psalm 139:1-6, Denomination: Introduction: The Psalmist declares that God knows the number of stars in the universe. Your community. This still does not ease the oyster's suffering. I understand in part. It takes a tremendous step of faith to pray to a God who allows the suffering and say, God, I dont know the purpose of this pain, but I trust you to have a purpose in it.. 3 - People, Permanent, And Perfected Pain, Pain Perspective - Pt. Of course, as Christians we know that God is always with us and that there is nowhere we can flee from his presence (Psalm 139:78), but actually sensing Gods presence and comfort is different. Without that we do not have eternal life; we have eternal punishment. We can tell the story in a minute or two. God will get on us sometimes for not listening. . Have you ever listened carefully to what God might be saying to you? Our God sees us, knows everything about us and loves us perfectly! There is some pain so great, it seems impossible to bear. 1 John 2:3-6, 1 John 2:3-29. He is faithful and will do what He says (1 Thessalonians 5:24). But God valued her enough to communicate with her directly. And in the New Testament, its Paul crawling out from underneath a pile of rocks in Lystra, dusting himself off, and heading to Derbe. We want to know that Jesus understands our suffering, which he does, but there is an even deeper fellowship when we understand a little of his. Everyone experiences pains, and while the size and scope may vary, our source of help does not. The king looked into the furnace and exclaimed, Look! This morning I want to give you the most important "Pop Quiz" you will ever take: . As I got up this morning I felt pains in my body that are a result of sparring in my karate class, preparing for a tournament later this week. Audio, Trip Lee Explains Meaning of At the Cross Single. Will a professing Christian go to hell if he never shares the gospel? He knows you fully. If the Devil can use your pain to drive a wedge between a believer and Christ; he is doing his job. And after, say, 572,282,325 years of heaven, I dont think youll even remember the pain you had on earth. Pain happens. My name is Adam That kind of process leads to a maturity found through no other process. God knows everything, both good and bad Those truths grounded me. In other words, Paul decided he was fine with the pain. Furthermore, the more we share in Jesuss sufferings, the more we understand the power of his resurrection, and the more we can see his glory. No, Are you a Small Group Leader? Mark 14:33-34 states, he (Jesus) began to be deeply distressed and troubled. It turns heaven into hell. Its the only way I can, through Christ, do everything. (1 Peter 5:10). Yet pain is the very stuff of joy. According to most scholars time-lines, Jesus was crucified about A.D. 30. Many Jesus told Paul, My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness. The message, and the messenger, gave Paul a tremendous boost. Yes You will be marked by power, by destiny, by purpose, by anointing, etc. Sharp stones and rough bits As I share in Christs suffering, I find an unusual closeness to Jesus that offers a rare glimpse of his glory. If The Preacher Is Dead, The Sermon Will Be Dead, Chasing The Dream, Preaching Greatness, And Knowing Your Audience. : but he that endureth to the end shall be saved. For more information, see our, MY FAVORITE CHRISTMAS PICKS FOR THE CRAFTER ON YOUR LIST, EASY DIY FALL AND THANKSGIVING PILLOWS WITH FREE SVG FILE . Jesus knew pain, of course, weeping at the tomb of Lazarus, and over unrepentant Jerusalem. read more, Scripture: You wake up face down on the pavement You look to see the birds outside your window and see nothing but buzzards Your B-day cake .read more. November 1999 He doesnt cause all things, but he does cause them to work together for our good. If we are his, our pain will most surely and completely end. Why? And as we experience a portion of what he did and yield to him in it, we find a precious intimacy with him. To read Pauls letters to those churches, one might come away with the idea that Paul was continually frustrated, and that his work wasnt very successful. And now is doubling at the rate of every 18 months. He could write more letters. While we can know more about Jesus through Bible study, small groups, books, and sermons, some of the richest dimensions of our relationship with him will be forged through suffering. Perhaps God allows cancer to teach us to value what is eternal. read more, Scripture: death, taxes, and then we added pain to the list because we are told in Genesis 3:19 that because of our own fallenness we will be: And again. Everything might have been fine, except I had no medical care at all. He knows your secret guilt. My union with Christ, a reality for every believer, melts into sweet communion in my pain. As he has promised, No eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love him (1 Corinthians 2:9). Something that we can have whenever we want it.. without really knowing who he really is..