Finding Purpose in Suffering: A Divine Perspective

Devotional

Day 1: Embracing an Eternal Perspective on Suffering

Our earthly life is a mere fraction of our eternal existence. When we place our faith in Jesus, we are not adding to our suffering but are instead being rescued from eternal suffering. This perspective allows us to transcend our temporary trials, understanding that they are fleeting compared to the eternal joy that awaits us. By focusing on the eternal, we can find peace and hope even in the midst of our current struggles. [03:59]

"For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal." (2 Corinthians 4:17-18, ESV)

Reflection: How can you shift your focus from temporary struggles to the eternal joy promised by God? What practical steps can you take today to remind yourself of this eternal perspective?

Day 2: Experiencing Immediate Blessings of Faith

The moment we become Christians, we are blessed with spiritual gifts that equip us to endure life's trials. These blessings include the lifting of guilt, the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, and the joy of a relationship with God. These gifts are not just future promises but present realities that empower us to face challenges with strength and hope. By recognizing and embracing these blessings, we can navigate life's difficulties with a sense of peace and assurance. [06:39]

"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places." (Ephesians 1:3, ESV)

Reflection: What immediate blessings have you experienced since becoming a Christian? How can you rely on these blessings to help you through a current challenge?

Day 3: Viewing Suffering as a Tool for Growth

Suffering is not an arbitrary addition to our lives but a tool for sanctification and growth. Through God's grace, what was once certain and deserved suffering is transformed into a means of salvation and spiritual maturity. By viewing suffering in this light, we can see it as an opportunity for growth rather than a burden. This perspective allows us to embrace our trials, knowing that they are shaping us into the people God intends us to be. [09:53]

"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: How can you view a current or past suffering as an opportunity for growth? What steps can you take to embrace this perspective in your daily life?

Day 4: Witnessing God's Transformative Power

God uses our weaknesses and sufferings to demonstrate His power and grace. Like Paul's thorn in the flesh, what was meant for harm is used by God for good, turning potential misery into a source of strength and joy. By witnessing God's transformative power in our lives, we can find hope and encouragement in the midst of our struggles, knowing that He is working all things for our good. [10:52]

"But he said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.' Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me." (2 Corinthians 12:9, ESV)

Reflection: In what areas of your life have you seen God's transformative power at work? How can you rely on His strength in your current weaknesses?

Day 5: Reorienting Our Perspective on Suffering

We are encouraged to reorient our perspective on suffering, seeing it as divine therapy that leads to eternal health and joy. Instead of viewing suffering as a burden, we can see it as a means to deepen our faith and reliance on God. This radical reorientation helps us to embrace our trials with a sense of purpose and hope, knowing that they are leading us to a greater understanding of God's love and grace. [12:03]

"Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope." (Romans 5:3-4, ESV)

Reflection: How can you reorient your perspective on a current suffering to see it as a means of deepening your faith? What practical steps can you take to embrace this new perspective today?

Sermon Summary

In today's discussion, we explored the challenging question of why God allows suffering, especially for those who have placed their trust in Him. This question was prompted by Bernice, a young woman from Kenya, who is grappling with doubts about God's goodness after a conversation with a friend. Her friend believes that following God leads to additional suffering, which has caused Bernice to question her faith.

To address this, we first examined the misconception that following Christ results in more suffering. This view is quantitatively and chronologically flawed. Quantitatively, it fails to consider the eternal perspective. Our earthly life is but a fleeting moment compared to eternity. Believing in Jesus does not increase suffering; rather, it rescues us from eternal suffering. Chronologically, the goodness of God is not something we wait for after enduring trials. The moment we become Christians, we experience immediate blessings: the lifting of guilt, the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, and the joy of a relationship with God. These blessings equip us to endure life's trials.

The second point addressed why God allows suffering for believers. Instead of viewing suffering as an arbitrary addition to our lives, we should see it as something that was once certain and deserved but is now transformed by God's grace to serve our salvation. Suffering, in this light, becomes a tool for sanctification and growth. As illustrated by Paul's experience with the thorn in his flesh, what was meant for harm is used by God for good, demonstrating His power in our weakness.

In conclusion, we are encouraged to reorient our perspective on suffering. Life is eternal, and God has limited our suffering to a mere fraction of it, offering us everlasting joy. Moreover, God transforms our deserved sufferings into divine therapy, leading to eternal health and joy. This radical reorientation helps us see suffering not as a burden but as a means to deepen our faith and reliance on God.

Key Takeaways

1. Eternal Perspective on Suffering: Our earthly life is a mere fraction of our eternal existence. Believing in Jesus does not increase suffering but rescues us from eternal suffering, offering us a perspective that transcends our temporary trials. [03:59]
2. Immediate Blessings of Faith: The moment we become Christians, we experience immediate spiritual blessings that equip us to endure trials. These include the lifting of guilt, the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, and the joy of a relationship with God. [06:39]
3. Suffering as a Tool for Growth: Instead of viewing suffering as an arbitrary addition, we should see it as a tool for sanctification and growth. God transforms what was meant for harm into a means of salvation and spiritual maturity. [09:53]
4. God's Transformative Power: Like Paul's thorn in the flesh, God uses our weaknesses and sufferings to demonstrate His power and grace, turning potential misery into a source of strength and joy. [10:52]
5. Radical Reorientation of Perspective: We are encouraged to reorient our perspective on suffering, seeing it as a divine therapy that leads to eternal health and joy, rather than a burden to bear. [12:03]
** [12:03]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:13] - Introduction to the Question of Suffering
[00:49] - Doubts About God's Goodness
[01:24] - The Cost of Following Jesus
[02:48] - Misconceptions About Suffering
[03:59] - Eternal Perspective on Life
[05:28] - Quantitative and Chronological Errors
[06:19] - Immediate Blessings of Faith
[07:53] - Enduring Trials with God's Goodness
[08:17] - Why God Allows Suffering
[09:19] - Reorienting Our View of Suffering
[10:22] - Paul's Thorn in the Flesh
[11:46] - Eternal Joy and Limited Suffering
[12:25] - Conclusion and Encouragement

Bible Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:

Mark 8:34 - "If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me."
Matthew 25:46 - "Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life."
2 Corinthians 12:9 - "But he said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.' Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me."

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Observation Questions:

What does Jesus mean when he says to "take up his cross" in Mark 8:34? How does this relate to the concept of suffering as discussed in the sermon? [02:12]
According to Matthew 25:46, what are the two eternal outcomes for humanity? How does this passage provide an eternal perspective on suffering? [04:53]
In 2 Corinthians 12:9, how does Paul describe the role of God's grace in his suffering? What does this reveal about the purpose of suffering? [10:52]
How does the sermon describe the immediate blessings that come with faith, and how do these blessings equip believers to endure trials? [06:19]

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Interpretation Questions:

How does the concept of eternal life in Matthew 25:46 challenge the idea that following Christ leads to more suffering? What does this imply about the nature of suffering for believers? [05:28]
In what ways does the sermon suggest that suffering can be a tool for sanctification and growth? How does this align with Paul's experience in 2 Corinthians 12:9? [09:53]
How does the sermon encourage believers to reorient their perspective on suffering? What role does God's transformative power play in this reorientation? [12:03]
What are the implications of Jesus' call to deny oneself and take up the cross in Mark 8:34 for a believer's daily life? How might this affect one's understanding of suffering? [02:12]

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Application Questions:

Reflect on a recent trial or suffering you have experienced. How might viewing it through an eternal perspective change your response to it? [03:59]
Identify a specific blessing you have experienced since becoming a Christian. How has this blessing equipped you to face challenges in your life? [06:19]
Consider a current struggle you are facing. How can you invite God's transformative power into this situation to turn it into an opportunity for growth? [10:52]
How can you practically apply the concept of taking up your cross in your daily life? What might this look like in your relationships or work? [02:12]
Think of a time when you felt weak or inadequate. How can you rely on God's grace to find strength in that weakness, as Paul did? [10:52]
How can you support a friend or family member who is struggling with doubts about God's goodness due to suffering? What encouragement can you offer them based on the sermon? [00:49]
What steps can you take to reorient your perspective on suffering, seeing it as a means to deepen your faith and reliance on God? [12:03]

Sermon Clips

What Bernice's friend sees is that when Jesus calls us to himself, he says if anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. Mark 8:34. In other words, following Jesus involves taking up a cross, which is an instrument of suffering and death. [00:02:00]

When in fact our life between birth and death is an infinitesimal fraction of life which in fact lasts forever. When you come into existence at the conception in your mother's womb, you begin a life that never ends. It goes on forever, first in this tiny tiny fraction of life in this world. [00:04:02]

It is simply wrong to say that believing in Jesus brings more suffering. It doesn't. It brings infinitely less suffering because it rescues from eternal suffering. Let me say that again, believing in Jesus brings infinitely less suffering because it rescues from eternal suffering. [00:05:28]

The very moment that we are born again, that we become Christians, that very moment the blindness of Satan is taken away and we see the beauty of Christ. The burden of guilt in that very moment is lifted from our conscience with every sin forgiven. [00:06:23]

The omnipotence of God shifts from being against us to working everything together for our eternal good. All of this and more begins the instant we are born again. It is simply not true to say that becoming a Christian brings more trials before we can enjoy God's goodness. [00:07:21]

What if instead of seeing Christian suffering as something added to our lives because we become Christians, we see our suffering as something that up till now was certain and deserved but now by the grace of God has become suffering that is made to serve our salvation. [00:09:06]

In other words, instead of seeing suffering as something that God randomly adds to your life, you see suffering as something that you deserved and that was coming for sure and that would eventually destroy you, but now God as the all-wise, all-powerful, all-compassionate physician miraculously causes all that suffering to serve us. [00:09:48]

Without Jesus Christ, that thorn would be entirely destructive, but because of Christ, even though that thorn is a messenger of Satan, verse 7, God makes it into an instrument of Paul's sanctification and joy. When Paul asks that the thorn be taken away, Christ answers, my grace is sufficient for you. [00:10:21]

In other words, the very suffering that is designed by Satan for our misery and would result in eternal misery without Christ, that very suffering is turned by God into a means of our salvation. [00:11:17]

First, when you consider the sufferings of life, remember that life lasts forever, not just 80 years, and God gave his son to restrict your suffering to a tiny fraction of that life and then give you everlasting joy. [00:11:37]

Reorient the way you see your sufferings so that you see God turning deserved and inevitable sufferings into the kind of divine therapy that leads to everlasting health and joy. Radical reorientation is right. [00:12:03]

Thank you, Pastor John, and thank you, Bernice. You can ask a question of your own, search through our growing archive, or subscribe to the podcast. You can do all that at desiringgod.org forward slash ask pastor john. [00:12:25]

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Finding Purpose in Suffering: A Divine Perspective

Devotional

Day 1: Embracing an Eternal Perspective on Suffering

Day 2: Experiencing Immediate Blessings of Faith

Day 3: Viewing Suffering as a Tool for Growth

Day 4: Witnessing God's Transformative Power

Day 5: Reorienting Our Perspective on Suffering

Sermon Summary

Key Takeaways

Youtube Chapters

Bible Study Guide

Sermon Clips

Chatbot

Finding Purpose in Suffering: A Divine Perspective

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