Week 4: God Sees Us in Suffering
This week, we're reminding ourselves that God Sees Us in Suffering. We all suffer at some point in our lives and no matter how bad it is or isn't, it always sucks. Not many of us can say we've willingly suffered for anything, but Christ came to earth as a man to willingly suffer and die for our sin. Through that death, we were granted the privilege of becoming coheirs with Him and no longer have to suffer fruitlessly.
In what ways have you suffered in life thus far? How have you seen God at work through your suffering?
Scripture to
Meditate
Listen: Psalm 46 by Shane and Shane
“Oh, come behold the works of God the nations at His feet
He breaks the bow and bends the spear
And tells the wars to cease”
Words of Wisdom: ‘Your Suffering Is Never for Nothing’
by Elizabeth Elliot
“And I’ve come to see that it’s through the deepest suffering that God has taught me the deepest lessons. And if we’ll trust Him for it, we can come through to the unshakable assurance that He’s in charge. He has a loving purpose. And He can transform something terrible into something wonderful. Suffering is never for nothing.”
Social Media Encouragement
“We are not okay. The world is broken, and sometimes it takes a whole series of devastating heartbreaks and one unbelievable injustice after another to slap us out of our distracted stupor —that far-too-easily-pleased reverie we’re often eager to numb ourselves by.
Yes —by God’s grace, sweet babies are born, flowers bloom, the smell of rain still evokes memories, good belly laughs still heal, sunsets linger longer than necessary, and faithful friends still exist. By God’s grace small and wondrously big miracles still happen everyday. God is still at work…even when we can’t see it clearly through our tears.
“If we find ourselves with a desire that nothing in this world can satisfy, the most probable explanation is that we were made for another world.” (C.S. Lewis)
The balm to my homesick, worn out, grieving-over-this-broken-world heart these days is the reminder that God WILL MAKE ALL THINGS NEW. That pit in your stomach feeling you’ve got —is a good reminder that we’re not meant to get too comfortable here.
But in the meantime. In the meantime, when we don’t have words, when we don’t have answers, when we just want all the hurt, hate, and hopelessness to go away...we will:
1. STAY AWAKE. (1 Thess 5:6)
2. Guard our hearts from ambivalence, (Prov. 4:23), and...
3. Love our neighbor AS ourselves. (Mark 12:31)
What a difference it’d make if we just start there.❤️”
“So I exhort the elders among you, as a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, as well as a partaker in the glory that is going to be revealed: shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight, not under compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you; not for shameful gain, but eagerly; not domineering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock. And when the chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory. Likewise, you who are younger, be subject to the elders. Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”
Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you. Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world. And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you. To him be the dominion forever and ever. Amen.
By Silvanus, a faithful brother as I regard him, I have written briefly to you, exhorting and declaring that this is the true grace of God. Stand firm in it. She who is at Babylon, who is likewise chosen, sends you greetings, and so does Mark, my son. Greet one another with the kiss of love.
Peace to all of you who are in Christ.”