“Collapse: Finding God at the end of me”

“Suffering through Loss”

Job 1 (page 304) and Lamentations 3:19-20, 28-33 (page 488)

“People are born for trouble as readily as sparks fly up from a fire.” (Job 5:7)

“How frail is humanity! How short is life, how full of trouble!” (Job 14:1)

 “Pain is God’s megaphone to rouse a deaf world.” CS Lewis

 See James 1:2-5 (page 735)

 Key Thought: Learn to add suffering to the plus column.

 How do we Suffer Well?

1. PRACTICE with the LESSER TRIALS

2. NAME your GREATER Trials

Job 7:11, “I cannot keep from speaking. I must express my anguish. My bitter soul must complain.”

Job 3:25-26, “What I always feared has happened to me. What I dreaded has come true. I have no peace, no quietness. I have no rest; only trouble comes.”

 Philippians 4:6-7, “Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.”

 3. FIGHT through all YOUR TRIALS

 (See Job 1:8-12)

Ephesians 6:10-12, “A final word: Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil. For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.”

4. TRUST GOD in every TRIAL

Job 23:8-12, “I go east, but he is not there. I go west, but I cannot find him. I do not see him in the north, for he is hidden. I look to the south, but he is concealed. “But he knows where I am going. And when he tests me, I will come out as pure as gold. For I have stayed on God’s paths; I have followed his ways and not turned aside. I have not departed from his commands, but have treasured his words more than daily food.”

 (See Isaiah 55:8-9, 53:3-5)

 1 Peter 2:21, “For God called you to do good, even if it means suffering, just as Christ suffered for you. He is your example, and you must follow in his steps.”

Key Thought: You do not choose your suffering. You only choose how you will suffer. Choose to go through it WITH JESUS.