Finding Hope and Joy in a Broken World
Summary
In a world marred by sin and brokenness, it is crucial to understand that everything on this planet is flawed. This brokenness stems from humanity's choice to deviate from God's instructions, leading to confusion and suffering in various aspects of life, including relationships, purpose, and morality. Despite this, there is hope and joy to be found, even amidst the chaos. God's purpose for our lives transcends the pain and problems we face, offering a promise of good for those who love Him and are called according to His purpose.
Romans 8:28 is a profound promise that God works all things for the good of those who love Him. However, this promise is not universal; it is specifically for those who are aligned with God's purpose. It is important to recognize that not everything that happens is good or God's will. Earth is not heaven, and God's will is rarely done here due to human rebellion. Yet, God can bring good out of bad situations, turning crucifixions into resurrections.
In times of deep sorrow and loss, such as the death of a loved one, it is essential to remember that God grieves with us. The enemy, Satan, seeks to destroy our lives, but God's love and purpose are greater. Even in the darkest moments, we can choose joy, not as a fleeting emotion but as a deep-seated assurance rooted in God's goodness and faithfulness. This choice is not about denying pain but about trusting in God's greater plan and His ability to bring hope and healing.
Key Takeaways:
- Understanding Brokenness: The world is broken due to sin and human choices that deviate from God's instructions. This brokenness manifests in confusion and suffering across various aspects of life. Recognizing this helps us understand the root of our struggles and the need for God's guidance. [00:12]
- God's Promise in Romans 8:28: This verse assures us that God works all things for the good of those who love Him and are called according to His purpose. It is a promise of hope and transformation, but it is not universal; it applies to those who align their lives with God's will. [03:03]
- Choosing Joy Amidst Pain: Joy is not the absence of pain but a deep-seated assurance in God's goodness and faithfulness. Even in the darkest moments, we can choose joy by trusting in God's greater plan and His ability to bring hope and healing. [12:18]
- God's Grief and Our Enemy: God grieves with us in our pain, and we have an enemy, Satan, who seeks to destroy our lives. Understanding this spiritual battle helps us rely on God's strength and love to overcome the enemy's schemes. [08:01]
- Hope in God's Love: Despite life's disappointments, we can have hope because God has poured His love into our hearts. This hope is not based on circumstances but on the assurance of God's presence and His ultimate plan for our lives. [18:24]
Youtube Chapters:
[00:00] - Welcome
[00:12] - Understanding Brokenness
[01:02] - Confusion in the World
[02:30] - Finding Joy in a Broken World
[03:03] - Romans 8:28 Explained
[04:35] - Misunderstandings of God's Will
[06:13] - The Reality of Earth vs. Heaven
[07:12] - God's Grief and Our Enemy
[08:49] - Satan's Destructive Intentions
[10:06] - Personal Story of Loss
[12:18] - Choosing Joy Amidst Pain
[14:28] - Kay's Journey to Joy
[17:17] - Deep Roots in God's Goodness
[18:24] - Hope in God's Love
[20:29] - The Power of Prayer and Community
[22:39] - Faith and Hope in God's Healing
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide
Bible Reading:
1. Romans 8:28 - "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose."
2. Isaiah 24:5-6 - "The earth is defiled by its people; they have disobeyed the laws, violated the statutes and broken the everlasting covenant. Therefore a curse consumes the earth; its people must bear their guilt."
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Observation Questions:
1. According to Romans 8:28, who benefits from God's promise to work all things for good? How does this align with the sermon’s message about God's purpose? [03:03]
2. In Isaiah 24:5-6, what are the consequences mentioned for humanity's disobedience? How does this passage help explain the brokenness discussed in the sermon? [00:28]
3. The sermon mentions that God's will is rarely done on Earth. What reasons are given for this, and how does it relate to the concept of brokenness? [05:57]
4. How does the sermon describe the role of Satan in the brokenness of the world, and what is his ultimate goal according to the pastor? [08:01]
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Interpretation Questions:
1. Romans 8:28 is often quoted for comfort. How does the sermon clarify the conditions of this promise, and why is it important to understand these conditions? [03:33]
2. The sermon discusses the difference between Earth and Heaven. How does this distinction affect our understanding of God's will and the presence of evil in the world? [05:26]
3. The pastor shared a personal story of loss. How does this story illustrate the concept of choosing joy amidst pain, and what does it teach about the nature of joy? [12:18]
4. How does the sermon explain God's grief in response to human suffering, and what does this reveal about God's character? [07:48]
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Application Questions:
1. Reflect on a time when you experienced brokenness in your life. How did you seek God's guidance during that time, and what was the outcome? [01:15]
2. Romans 8:28 speaks of aligning with God's purpose. What steps can you take to better align your life with God's will, especially in challenging situations? [03:47]
3. The sermon emphasizes choosing joy even in difficult times. What practical ways can you cultivate a deep-seated assurance in God's goodness in your daily life? [12:18]
4. Consider the spiritual battle described in the sermon. How can you rely on God's strength to overcome the enemy's schemes in your life? [08:01]
5. The pastor mentioned the importance of community and prayer. How can you engage more deeply with your faith community to support each other through life's challenges? [20:03]
6. The sermon discusses the reality of suffering and God's presence in it. How can you remind yourself of God's love and hope during times of disappointment or loss? [18:24]
7. Reflect on the pastor's story about his son. How can you support someone in your life who is going through a similar struggle, and what role does faith play in that support? [10:06]
Devotional
Day 1: Recognizing the Root of Brokenness
In a world filled with confusion and suffering, it is essential to understand that the root of this brokenness lies in humanity's deviation from God's instructions. This deviation has led to a world marred by sin, affecting relationships, purpose, and morality. Recognizing this brokenness helps us understand the struggles we face and highlights the need for God's guidance in our lives. By acknowledging the flawed nature of the world, we can better navigate the challenges we encounter and seek God's wisdom to guide us through the confusion. [00:12]
"For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now." (Romans 8:22, ESV)
Reflection: What is one area of your life where you feel the impact of the world's brokenness? How can you seek God's guidance to navigate this area today?
Day 2: Aligning with God's Purpose
Romans 8:28 offers a profound promise that God works all things for the good of those who love Him and are called according to His purpose. This promise is not universal but is specifically for those who align their lives with God's will. It is important to understand that not everything that happens is good or God's will, as human rebellion often leads to a divergence from His plans. However, God can bring good out of bad situations, transforming crucifixions into resurrections. By aligning with God's purpose, we can experience His transformative power in our lives. [03:03]
"And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose." (Romans 8:28, ESV)
Reflection: In what ways can you align your daily actions with God's purpose to experience His transformative power in your life?
Day 3: Choosing Joy in the Midst of Pain
Joy is not the absence of pain but a deep-seated assurance in God's goodness and faithfulness. Even in the darkest moments, we can choose joy by trusting in God's greater plan and His ability to bring hope and healing. This choice is not about denying pain but about embracing the assurance that God is with us and will see us through. By choosing joy, we affirm our trust in God's goodness and His ability to work through our circumstances for our ultimate good. [12:18]
"Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness." (James 1:2-3, ESV)
Reflection: Think of a current challenge you are facing. How can you choose joy in this situation by trusting in God's plan and faithfulness?
Day 4: Understanding God's Grief and Our Spiritual Battle
God grieves with us in our pain, and we have an enemy, Satan, who seeks to destroy our lives. Understanding this spiritual battle helps us rely on God's strength and love to overcome the enemy's schemes. In times of deep sorrow and loss, it is essential to remember that God is with us, grieving alongside us, and providing the strength we need to persevere. By recognizing the spiritual battle we face, we can better equip ourselves with God's armor to stand firm against the enemy. [08:01]
"Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour." (1 Peter 5:8, ESV)
Reflection: How can you be more vigilant in recognizing the spiritual battles in your life, and what steps can you take to rely on God's strength to overcome them?
Day 5: Finding Hope in God's Love
Despite life's disappointments, we can have hope because God has poured His love into our hearts. This hope is not based on circumstances but on the assurance of God's presence and His ultimate plan for our lives. By focusing on God's love, we can find strength and encouragement to face the challenges of life with confidence. This hope is a reminder that God's love is greater than any obstacle we may encounter, and His plans for us are filled with promise and purpose. [18:24]
"May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope." (Romans 15:13, ESV)
Reflection: In what ways can you remind yourself of God's love and presence in your life today, and how can this assurance bring you hope amidst your current circumstances?
Quotes
now the fact is since sin entered the world and evil entered the world everything was broken nothing works perfectly on this planet now if you want a chapter of the Bible that explains modern culture it's Isaiah 24 let me just show you a couple verses Isaiah 245 and9 the Earth suffers for the sins of its people in other words the Earth has been damaged by our sins for they have Twisted the instructions of God violated his laws and broken his Covenant therefore the Earth has broken down and is utterly collapsed everything is lost we're lost spiritually we get lost emotionally we get lost you everywhere abandoned and Confused everything in the world is confused there's confusion about money there's confusion about sexuality there's confusion about time and place there's confusion about your purpose what what on Earth I on Earth am I here for there's confusion about relationships in every area of life there's confusion we should accept this fact that everybody's broken and everything is broken [00:00:04]
because of sin and evil why is there sin and evil in the world because God gives you and me a choice and we can choose to do wrong and we often do and usually choose to do what we want to do rather than what God wants to do and that just breaks the world and breaks us even more you don't break God's laws they break you if you jump out of a building you say I'm going to break the law of gravity it's going to break you you don't break God's laws they break you and everything's broken you say well all of this sin in the world couldn't God just get rid of all the sin in the world sure get rid of you you're the sinner I'm The Sinner we're the ones rabbits aren't sinning they're not messing up the environment okay they're not racist they're not bigots they're not raping people no sin comes from us and God could easily get rid of all the sin in the world get rid of all the people who do it which sorry I'm one of them so are you [00:01:22]
because we know that even though life isn't always good God is God is always good and he has a good plan for your life and he has a greater purpose God's purpose for your life is greater than the pain you're going through God's purpose for your life is greater than the problem you're going through that gives me joy one of the greatest verses in the Bible is Romans 8:28 it's a great verse of uh comfort and a great promise and it says this we know that in all things not some things not most things not the good things we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him that's a great promise and have been called according to his purpose now this verse is one of the most misunderstood misused and misapplied verses in the Bible so I need to tear it apart to show you what it doesn't say first this is not a promise for everybody it's only a promise for a select group of people it says God works in all things God works for the good of those who love him and are following his purpose are called to his purpose [00:02:38]
if you don't love God and you're not trying to live for his purpose all things are not working together for good in your life in fact all things are working together for bad in your life because God owes you nothing if you're out there doing your own thing and if if you're out there you don't love God you're not trying to fulfill his purpose all things are working together for bad why because you're in conflict and Rebellion with your Creator and your arms are too short to box with God you're going to lose that one you're not going to win in a battle against God so it doesn't it says this is a promise only for those who love him but if I love him then I I know that God will take even the bad in my life and use it for good God Specializes in turning crucifixions into resurrections he specializes in bringing good out of bad anybody can bring good out of good God can bring good even out of bad [00:03:50]
now what does it not say it doesn't say that everything that happens is good that's obviously not true there's a lot of bad in the world there's a lot of evil in the world rape is bad leukemia is bad uh a fire sweeping through a town and destroying right bad terrorism is bad bigotry is bad there's a lot of bad things in the world and God is not the author of evil so don't blame God for those things it doesn't say everything happens good most a lot of things aren't good in life it also does not say that everything that happens is God's will no this is not heaven a lot of people confuse heaven and Earth and they want heaven to be on earth it isn't going to happen why because there's sin and evil here heaven is heaven and earth is Earth now in heaven everything is perfect in heaven why because God's will is done perfectly in heaven on Earth everything is broken why because God's will is done rarely on Earth [00:04:48]
God's will is rarely done on this planet why because we're always choosing our will and other people choosing their will and we hurt each other sometimes intentionally sometimes unintentionally that's why Jesus said we are to pray in the Lord's Prayer thy will be done on Earth as it is in heaven why are we to pray that because in heaven God's will is done perfectly and on and on Earth God's will is done rarely in heaven God's will is done instantly on Earth God's will is done delayed so we're to pray thy will be done on Earth just like it's done in heaven that's how we're we're to pray sometimes I'm doing funerals for people and I'll hear people say you know somebody dies in a horrible accident or they get blown up in the War uh in Afghanistan or something and and you'll hear some Pious person go well it must have been God's will really is that your kind of God really you don't think God's grieving over this [00:05:52]
you have an enemy and you need to wake up to the fact you have an enemy on this planet who wants to destroy your life he wants to mess it up wants to waste your life and he wants you to keep you from knowing god and loving God as much as God knows and loves you his name is Satan Satan is not your friend I don't care how much Hollywood makes sin look attractive Satan is not your friend he wants to destroy your life and Satan wanted to destroy my life and uh Matthew's life and everybody else's why because Satan hates whatever God loves God created and you and he and God loves you so Satan hates you and wants to destroy you because he hates everything God loves and God creates and his plan is to get you to waste your life to mess your life and if you can destroy your life through drugs or STDs or any kind of anything else [00:07:49]
when Matthew died God wept too because he knew how it would hurt those of us who loved him you have an enemy and you need to wake up to the fact you have an enemy on this planet who wants to destroy your life he wants to mess it up wants to waste your life and he wants you to keep you from knowing god and loving God as much as God knows and loves you his name is Satan Satan is not your friend I don't care how much Hollywood makes sin look attractive Satan is not your friend he wants to destroy your life and Satan wanted to destroy my life and uh Matthew's life and everybody else's why because Satan hates whatever God loves God created and you and he and God loves you so Satan hates you and wants to destroy you because he hates everything God loves and God creates and his plan is to get you to waste your life to mess your life and if you can destroy your life through drugs or STDs or any kind of anything else [00:07:49]
how do you choose joy in the middle of your worst night Nightmare how do you choose your heart your joy when your heart is exploding in pain how do you choose Joy when you just want to fall into a puddle of grief how do you choose Joy when every worst fear you've ever had is coming to realization how do you choose Joy well I'll let Kay tell you about it give her a warm welcome thank you thank you Saddleback I've missed you as Rick said I was wearing a necklace that day that said choose Joy after I'd written that book a couple years ago I needed something that would remind me on a daily basis of the truths that I was learning about how to choose Joy because I've struggled with low-level depression for most of my life and I wrote the book because I would read the Bible and see this gap between what the Bible seemed to say that Christians could experience on a daily basis that they could experience a life of joy and I looked at my own life and it did didn't match up [00:13:27]
Romans 53:5 says we can have joy Even in our troubles because we know that these troubles produce endurance and endurance produces character and character produces hope and this hope will not disappoint us because God has poured his love to fill our hearts so I've been wearing this necklace almost every day for about 6 months and the day that Matthew passed away I had a very strong sense of for boing I knew it in my heart there were very strong reasons even beyond what Rick has shared with you of why I was very certain that what we had dreaded was going to take place and had probably already taken place that something catastrophic had happened to our boy so I deliberately picked this necklace out of my jewelry box that morning with shaking hands a pounding heart a heaving stomach not thinking clearly at all but somehow knowing that by putting it on I was fighting back against the horror that I was sure was going to unfold that day [00:15:07]
Joy is possible and you must know that has to be one of the things that you become absolutely convinced of that even though life is difficult and life doesn't always make sense that God can be trusted that God is good and that God has a better plan but there's this little phrase in the middle of that verse at the end of that verse actually that I want to focus on for just a few minutes because it takes us to the third thing that you have to know that last section of that verse says and this hope will not disappoint us because God has poured out his love in our hearts I would be lying to you if I didn't tell you that my Hope was incredibly disappointed My Hope was severely crushed for weeks I couldn't even look at a verse that said something like that but this third thing that we have to know moves us into a place where we can keep going life is a battle but we can have hope because we know that there's more to the story [00:18:05]
I enlisted a group of confidential incredible people who agreed to pray for Matthew and for us on a regular basis and I would send them very specific updates very specific requests and I would tell them what I was asking them to pray for on that day or that week or that moment would you lift him to Jesus and they would send me encouraging emails back supportive emails they would send me scriptures that they said God told me to pray this or Matthew and this is what I'm praying for him and for you and I began to underline those in my Bible and read those verses over and over and over again and if you are part of that confidential very small group of people either here or online and you're watching I want you to know that there's no way I can ever thank you enough I cannot put into words how grateful I am for the ways that knowing your prayers and your encouragement kept me going through some very very dark days [00:20:00]
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