Finding Comfort in Christ During Life's Trials

 

Summary

Life often presents us with challenges that bring tears to our eyes and pain to our hearts. In these moments, it can feel as though God has made a mistake by allowing such trials and tribulations to occur. However, when life throws us a curveball, it is not the time to distance ourselves from God but rather to draw closer to Him. It is in these times of hurt that we should approach God with our questions, seeking understanding without doubting His wisdom. Jesus, our great High Priest, empathizes with our suffering. He has experienced the depths of human pain, loneliness, and rejection, and He knows what it means to cry. Yet, He also knows how to intercede for us, joining us in prayer to the Father, asking for divine assistance to address the hurts we face on earth.

We are not alone in our suffering. Jesus walks with us, cries with us, and prays with us. He is a constant companion in our times of need, offering love and care when we feel most vulnerable. As we face life's challenges, we must remember that we have a Savior who is intimately acquainted with our pain and who stands by us in our darkest moments. When tears fall, and life feels overwhelming, we should turn to God in prayer, bringing our pain and honesty before Him. We are never alone in our suffering; God is always with us, ready to provide comfort and support.

Key Takeaways:

1. Life's challenges can make us feel as though God has made a mistake, but these are the moments to draw closer to Him, not away. It's important to approach God with our questions, seeking understanding without doubting His wisdom. [00:34]

2. Jesus, our great High Priest, empathizes with our suffering because He has experienced the depths of human pain, loneliness, and rejection. His understanding of our struggles is profound, and He stands ready to support us in our times of need. [01:18]

3. In our prayers, Jesus joins us as an intercessor, partnering with us to seek help from heaven for the hurts we face on earth. This divine partnership is a source of strength and comfort, reminding us that we are not alone in our struggles. [01:30]

4. We are never alone in our suffering; Jesus walks with us, cries with us, and prays with us. His presence is a constant source of love and care, offering solace when we feel most vulnerable. [01:46]

5. When life feels overwhelming, and tears fall, we should turn to God in prayer, bringing our pain and honesty before Him. In doing so, we find comfort in knowing that God is always with us, ready to provide support and understanding. [02:10]

Youtube Chapters:

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:22] - Life's Challenges and Pain
[00:34] - Questioning Without Doubting
[00:50] - Drawing Closer to God
[01:05] - Jesus, Our Empathetic High Priest
[01:18] - Jesus' Experience of Human Suffering
[01:30] - Jesus as Our Intercessor
[01:46] - Never Alone in Suffering
[01:58] - Jesus' Constant Presence
[02:10] - Turning to God in Prayer

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
1. Hebrews 4:14-16 - "Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has ascended into heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin. Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need."
2. Matthew 11:28-30 - "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 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. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."

Observation Questions:
1. According to the sermon, how does Jesus empathize with our suffering? What experiences of human pain has He shared with us? [01:18]
2. What role does Jesus play when we pray to the Father, as mentioned in the sermon? [01:30]
3. How does the sermon describe our relationship with God during times of suffering? [01:46]
4. What is the significance of approaching God with our questions without doubting His wisdom, as highlighted in the sermon? [00:34]

Interpretation Questions:
1. How does the concept of Jesus as our High Priest, who empathizes with our weaknesses, change the way believers might approach God in prayer? [01:05]
2. In what ways does the sermon suggest that Jesus' intercession provides strength and comfort to believers facing life's challenges? [01:30]
3. How might understanding that Jesus has experienced human suffering influence a believer's perspective on their own trials? [01:18]
4. What does the sermon imply about the importance of honesty in prayer, especially during times of pain and vulnerability? [02:10]

Application Questions:
1. Reflect on a recent challenge you faced. How did you respond to it, and how might you approach it differently knowing that Jesus empathizes with your suffering? [01:18]
2. When life feels overwhelming, what practical steps can you take to draw closer to God rather than distancing yourself from Him? [00:50]
3. Consider a time when you felt alone in your struggles. How can the knowledge that Jesus walks and prays with you change your approach to similar situations in the future? [01:46]
4. How can you incorporate the practice of bringing your pain and honesty before God in your daily prayer life? What might that look like for you personally? [02:10]
5. Identify a specific area in your life where you have questioned God's wisdom. How can you seek understanding without doubting His wisdom in that area? [00:34]
6. Think of someone in your life who is currently facing a difficult time. How can you be a source of comfort and support to them, reflecting the love and care that Jesus offers? [01:46]
7. What is one practical way you can remind yourself of Jesus' constant presence and support during your daily routine? [01:58]

Devotional

Day 1: Drawing Closer to God in Trials
Life's challenges can often make us feel as though God has made a mistake, but these are the moments to draw closer to Him, not away. When faced with trials, it is important to approach God with our questions, seeking understanding without doubting His wisdom. In these times, we are invited to deepen our relationship with God, trusting that He is sovereign and has a purpose for our pain. By bringing our honest questions and emotions before Him, we open ourselves to His guidance and comfort. [00:34]

Hebrews 4:16 (ESV): "Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need."

Reflection: Think of a current challenge you are facing. How can you intentionally draw closer to God in this situation, seeking His wisdom and understanding?


Day 2: Jesus, Our Empathetic High Priest
Jesus, our great High Priest, empathizes with our suffering because He has experienced the depths of human pain, loneliness, and rejection. His understanding of our struggles is profound, and He stands ready to support us in our times of need. Jesus' empathy is not distant or theoretical; it is deeply personal and rooted in His own experiences of suffering. This means that when we bring our pain to Him, we are met with compassion and understanding from someone who truly knows what we are going through. [01:18]

Hebrews 2:17-18 (ESV): "Therefore he had to be made like his brothers in every respect, so that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. For because he himself has suffered when tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted."

Reflection: Reflect on a time when you felt misunderstood in your suffering. How does knowing that Jesus fully understands your pain change the way you approach Him in prayer?


Day 3: Jesus as Our Intercessor
In our prayers, Jesus joins us as an intercessor, partnering with us to seek help from heaven for the hurts we face on earth. This divine partnership is a source of strength and comfort, reminding us that we are not alone in our struggles. Jesus' role as an intercessor means that He is actively involved in our lives, advocating for us before the Father. This assurance allows us to pray with confidence, knowing that our prayers are heard and that we have divine support in our times of need. [01:30]

Romans 8:34 (ESV): "Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us."

Reflection: Consider a specific area of your life where you need divine intervention. How can you invite Jesus to intercede for you in this situation today?


Day 4: Never Alone in Suffering
We are never alone in our suffering; Jesus walks with us, cries with us, and prays with us. His presence is a constant source of love and care, offering solace when we feel most vulnerable. In moments of deep pain, it can be easy to feel isolated and forgotten. However, the truth is that Jesus is always with us, providing comfort and companionship. His presence reassures us that we are not abandoned, and His love sustains us through our darkest times. [01:46]

Isaiah 43:2 (ESV): "When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you."

Reflection: Think of a time when you felt alone in your suffering. How can you remind yourself of Jesus' constant presence and love in your current circumstances?


Day 5: Turning to God in Prayer
When life feels overwhelming, and tears fall, we should turn to God in prayer, bringing our pain and honesty before Him. In doing so, we find comfort in knowing that God is always with us, ready to provide support and understanding. Prayer is not just a ritual; it is a lifeline that connects us to the heart of God. By bringing our raw emotions and struggles to Him, we open ourselves to His healing presence and find peace in His unwavering love. [02:10]

Psalm 34:17-18 (ESV): "When the righteous cry for help, the Lord hears and delivers them out of all their troubles. The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit."

Reflection: Identify a specific pain or struggle you are currently facing. How can you bring this before God in prayer today, trusting in His promise to hear and deliver you?

Quotes


i'm sure that you would agree with me with the statement life hurts many times circumstances in our lives bring tears to our eyes hurt to our hearts sadness to our emotions in fact sometimes you feel like god has missed it and he's made a mistake by allowing the travail the trials the circumstances and the pain that life brings our way [00:12:00]

but when life has thrown a curveball at you that's not the time to run from the lord that's the time to run to him that's the time to ask him the questions without questioning him but ask him lord why are you allowing me to hurt like this this long this bad and this deep [00:39:92]

the good news is that jesus our great high priest knows how to cry with us he knows how to shed tears because he's felt the weaknesses he's felt the lonelinesses he's felt the hurt the pain the rejection and the crucifixion that life brings our way [01:03:19]

but he also knows how to join us in prayer to the father he is an intercessor when we talk to the father he joins us he partners with us to intercede alongside of us to ask for help from heaven to the hurts of earth [01:06:88]

i want you to know you don't hurt alone you have a savior who loves you who cares for you who cries with you who walks with you and who prays with you when you remember that as tears roll down your eyes because life hurts you just remember you're never hurting alone [01:09:52]

go to god in prayer with your pain with your honesty just know you're not going to him alone [01:29:28]

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Transcript
What was the most surprising thing in this sermon?
Were there any personal stories shared?