Finding Hope and Purpose in Suffering
Summary
### Summary
In our journey through the book of Mark, we have explored the concept of defiant faith, a faith that stands firm against a challenging culture. Jesus assures us that while we will face troubles in this world, we can take heart because He has overcome the world. This peace and courage come from Him, even as we wrestle with life's difficult questions. Today, we begin a new series addressing some of these challenging questions, starting with, "Why does God allow suffering?"
We all have questions about suffering and pain, whether it's personal tragedies or witnessing others' hardships. The disciples asked Jesus a similar question about a man born blind, seeking to understand the cause of his suffering. Jesus redirected their focus from the cause to the purpose, revealing that the man's suffering was an opportunity to display God's works. This teaches us that while we may not always understand the "why," we can trust in God's greater plan and His heart for us.
God's ways and thoughts are higher than ours, and He often keeps the ultimate reasons for suffering to Himself. However, through Jesus, we see God's heart—His love, care, and promises. Jesus' life, death, and resurrection show us that God does not stay distant from our suffering but joins us in it, offering forgiveness, healing, and hope.
We live in a time of "not there yet," where Jesus has won the victory over sin and death, but we still experience pain and suffering. This period is temporary, and we look forward to the day when Jesus will return, making all things new and ending all suffering. In the meantime, we hold onto the victory and hope in Christ, standing firm on the foundation of His promises.
As we navigate life's challenges, we are encouraged to trust in God's goodness and His ultimate plan. Even when we don't understand, we can find peace in knowing that God is working all things for our good and His glory. May the peace of Christ be with you today and always. Amen.
### Key Takeaways
1. Defiant Faith in a Challenging World: Jesus teaches us to have a defiant faith that stands firm against a culture that challenges us. Despite the troubles we face, we can take heart because Jesus has overcome the world, providing us with peace and courage. This peace is rooted in His victory and promises. [01:33]
2. The Purpose of Suffering: When the disciples asked Jesus about the cause of a man's blindness, He redirected their focus to the purpose of suffering. Jesus revealed that the man's suffering was an opportunity to display God's works. This teaches us that while we may not always understand the "why," we can trust that God has a greater plan and purpose for our pain. [04:49]
3. God's Higher Ways: God's thoughts and ways are higher than ours, and He often keeps the ultimate reasons for suffering to Himself. However, through Jesus, we see God's heart—His love, care, and promises. This understanding helps us trust in God's goodness even when we don't have all the answers. [06:19]
4. Living in the "Not There Yet": We live in a time where Jesus has won the victory over sin and death, but we still experience pain and suffering. This period is temporary, and we look forward to the day when Jesus will return and make all things new. In the meantime, we hold onto the victory and hope in Christ, standing firm on the foundation of His promises. [12:52]
5. Trusting God's Heart: When we face situations that don't make sense, we are encouraged to look to the heart of God and trust in His goodness. Even in our present pain and suffering, we can find peace in knowing that God is working all things for our good and His glory. This trust allows us to stand firm and find hope in the midst of life's challenges. [19:17]
### YouTube Chapters
[0:00] - Welcome
[01:33] - Introduction to the New Series
[03:12] - Personal Struggles with Suffering
[04:49] - The Disciples' Question
[06:19] - God's Higher Ways
[07:47] - Jesus Reveals God's Heart
[09:21] - Understanding God's Promises
[11:05] - The Cross and Suffering
[12:52] - The Time of "Not There Yet"
[14:34] - The Temporary Nature of Suffering
[16:05] - God's Redemption of Pain
[17:38] - Perspective on Suffering
[19:17] - Trusting God's Heart
[20:45] - Closing Prayer and Blessing
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide
#### Bible Reading
1. John 9:1-3 (NIV)
> "As he went along, he saw a man blind from birth. His disciples asked him, 'Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?' 'Neither this man nor his parents sinned,' said Jesus, 'but this happened so that the works of God might be displayed in him.'"
2. Isaiah 55:8-9 (NIV)
> "'For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,' declares the Lord. 'As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.'"
3. 1 Peter 5:10 (NIV)
> "And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast."
#### Observation Questions
1. What question did the disciples ask Jesus about the man born blind, and how did Jesus respond? ([04:49])
2. According to Isaiah 55:8-9, how does God describe the difference between His thoughts and ways compared to ours?
3. What promise does 1 Peter 5:10 give to those who suffer for a little while?
#### Interpretation Questions
1. Why do you think Jesus redirected the disciples' question from the cause of the man's blindness to the purpose of it? ([04:49])
2. How does understanding that God's thoughts and ways are higher than ours help us trust Him during times of suffering? ([06:19])
3. What does it mean to live in the "not there yet" period, and how should this perspective influence our daily lives? ([12:52])
#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on a time when you faced a challenging situation. How did you see or not see God's works displayed through that experience? ([04:49])
2. When you encounter suffering or pain, how can you remind yourself of God's higher ways and thoughts? What practical steps can you take to trust Him more? ([06:19])
3. How can you hold onto the victory and hope in Christ while living in the "not there yet" period? What specific promises of God can you cling to during difficult times? ([12:52])
4. Think about a current struggle you are facing. How can you look to the heart of God and trust in His goodness despite not understanding the "why"? ([19:17])
5. Identify one area in your life where you need to stand firm on the foundation of Christ's promises. What actions can you take this week to strengthen your faith in that area? ([14:34])
6. How can you support someone else who is going through a season of suffering? What specific words or actions can you offer to encourage them? ([16:05])
7. Reflect on the temporary nature of suffering as described in 1 Peter 5:10. How does this perspective change the way you view your current challenges? How can you share this hope with others? ([12:52])
Devotional
Day 1: Defiant Faith in a Challenging World
In a world that often challenges our beliefs and values, Jesus calls us to have a defiant faith that stands firm. This faith is not passive but active, rooted in the assurance that Jesus has overcome the world. Despite the troubles and trials we face, we can take heart because our peace and courage come from Him. This peace is not dependent on our circumstances but on the victory and promises of Christ. As we navigate a culture that may be hostile to our faith, we are encouraged to hold onto this defiant faith, knowing that Jesus has already won the ultimate victory. [01:33]
John 16:33 (ESV): "I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world."
Reflection: In what specific area of your life do you feel your faith is being challenged by the culture around you? How can you actively stand firm in your faith in that area today?
Day 2: The Purpose of Suffering
When the disciples encountered a man born blind, they questioned Jesus about the cause of his suffering. Instead of focusing on the cause, Jesus redirected their attention to the purpose of the man's suffering. He revealed that the man's blindness was an opportunity to display God's works. This teaches us that while we may not always understand the "why" behind our pain, we can trust that God has a greater plan and purpose for it. Our suffering can become a platform for God's glory and His works to be displayed in our lives. [04:49]
John 9:3 (ESV): "Jesus answered, 'It was not that this man sinned, or his parents, but that the works of God might be displayed in him.'"
Reflection: Think of a recent hardship or suffering you have experienced. How can you view this situation as an opportunity for God's works to be displayed in your life?
Day 3: God's Higher Ways
God's thoughts and ways are higher than ours, and He often keeps the ultimate reasons for suffering to Himself. However, through Jesus, we see God's heart—His love, care, and promises. This understanding helps us trust in God's goodness even when we don't have all the answers. Jesus' life, death, and resurrection show us that God does not stay distant from our suffering but joins us in it, offering forgiveness, healing, and hope. By looking to Jesus, we can find comfort in knowing that God's ways, though mysterious, are always rooted in His love for us. [06:19]
Isaiah 55:8-9 (ESV): "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts."
Reflection: When faced with a situation that doesn't make sense, how can you remind yourself of God's higher ways and His heart for you? What practical steps can you take to trust in His goodness?
Day 4: Living in the "Not There Yet"
We live in a time where Jesus has won the victory over sin and death, but we still experience pain and suffering. This period is temporary, and we look forward to the day when Jesus will return and make all things new. In the meantime, we hold onto the victory and hope in Christ, standing firm on the foundation of His promises. This "not there yet" period can be challenging, but it is also an opportunity to grow in faith and perseverance, knowing that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. [12:52]
Romans 8:18 (ESV): "For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us."
Reflection: How can you hold onto the hope and victory in Christ during this "not there yet" period? What specific promises of God can you cling to in your current struggles?
Day 5: Trusting God's Heart
When we face situations that don't make sense, we are encouraged to look to the heart of God and trust in His goodness. Even in our present pain and suffering, we can find peace in knowing that God is working all things for our good and His glory. This trust allows us to stand firm and find hope in the midst of life's challenges. By focusing on God's heart—His love, care, and promises—we can navigate our difficulties with a sense of peace and assurance that He is in control and has a purpose for everything we go through. [19:17]
Jeremiah 29:11 (ESV): "For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope."
Reflection: In what area of your life do you need to trust God's heart more fully? How can you remind yourself of His love and promises in that area today?
Quotes
### Quotes for Outreach
1. "Jesus says, in this world you will have troubles, but take heart, because I have overcome the world. And ultimately this heart, this courage that we have, comes from the peace that Jesus gives us, the peace that He leaves with us." [01:33] (16 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "Faith has answers. And faith helps us make sense of, gives meaning to, and offers a solution for some of these challenging questions in life." [03:12] (12 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "Even in the presence of pain and suffering, we're reminded ultimately that God is God and that God is good. And to see this most clearly, we see it through the picture or the window, of the cross." [11:05] (16 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "When you hold on to the victory, and when you lean into the hope, that is ours, the ground may be shaking beneath you. But you're standing on firm foundation. A foundation that cannot be taken from you." [16:05] (11 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "When we face situations in life that don't make sense, things that we can't reconcile, things that… there's this gap between what I understand and what I don't. And so for us, what I am experiencing, it's in those moments that we look to the heart of God and in faith trust his goodness." [19:17] (24 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
### Quotes for Members
1. "We want to know the mind of God, but as we see here, Jesus, He helps us see something else. And so Jesus answers the question. It wasn't His parents or this man, so it wasn't His own doing. It wasn't something that someone else did to Him in this situation. But what it is for this man in this moment is so that God's works might be displayed through Him." [07:47] (23 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "God in Christ has revealed His heart, His love, His care, His protection, His promises to you. And as we understand God's heart, we're better to understand the evil and the suffering of the world, the questions that, the situations that make us ask why." [09:21] (23 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "We live in this time, a time that is marked by dysfunction, and difficulty. But notice the key word here is temporary. It's not lasting forever. It will come to an end, and it will be over." [12:52] (22 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "For us, those living in the not yet, not there yet season, sometimes we'll get to see how God takes it, redeems it, restores it, and uses it ultimately for His glory and for our blessing. But sometimes we may not get to. And that's the challenge of this." [16:05] (19 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "When we have the right perspective of God, everything changes. And here's where I'll end today as we think about this. And so St. Augustine, ancient early church father, he describes life this way. He says it's… life is like you live with your face pressed up against a stained glass window." [17:38] (23 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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