Robert McLaughlin Bible Ministries
To handle suffering, you must develop genuine humility. Pastor John Farley.
Friday, January 26, 2007
Suffering depletes our human resources and confronts us with our total dependence upon the grace of God, 2CO 12:9-10.
Suffering impresses upon us our need to conform to God’s plan.
We experience the reality that God is “a very present help in trouble –
PSA 46:1 “God is our refuge and strength, A very present help in trouble.”
Suffering is designed for our good and for His glorification: He is glorified by sustaining and blessing us in any situation, whether prosperity or adversity.
It is for His own glory, and that is why in the midst of hardships and disasters of life God promises, “I will never desert you, nor will I ever forsake you,” JOS 1:5; HEB 13:5.
PSA 55:22 Cast your burden upon the Lord, and He will sustain you; He will never allow the righteous to be shaken.
Rather than eliminating suffering from our lives, He gives us far greater benefits by walking with us even “through the valley of the shadow of death,” PSA 23:4.
This is why each stage of spiritual growth contains divine assets that may be used to solve particular problems that cause or accompany suffering.
To help the believer recall and utilize the grace of God in the midst of overwhelming pain, the divine provisions for problem solving are best described in highly objective language.
Under stress the believer needs straight answers.
The purpose for accurate and precise terminology is to make absolutely clear to the suffering believer that God has provided real assets that both transcend his current misery and offer him effective help in time of need.
The Christian way of life is a supernatural way of life that demands a supernatural means of execution.
Rebound – brings us to the invisible, behind-the-scenes ministry of God the Holy Spirit in the believer’s life.
We call it rebound – because it causes the believer to bounce back after failure, restoring his fellowship with God, avoiding the trap of a guilt complex.
The next problem-solving device in the Christian way of life is faith-rest, which enables the believer to control his own mental attitude.
The accurate application of doctrine appropriate to a crisis demands a stabilized mentality.
A confusing, complicated situation must first be reduced to utter simplicity by claiming stated promises of God,HEB 4:1.
PRO 3:5-6 Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He will make your paths straight.
PSA 37:4-5 Delight yourself in the Lord; And He will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord, Trust also in Him, and He will do it.
1PE 5:7 casting all your anxiety upon Him, because He cares for you.
PSA 4:8 “I will both lay me down in peace and sleep; for You Lord only make me to dwell in safety.”
PSA 34:19 “Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers him out of all of them.”
PSA 55:22 “Cast all your burdens upon the Lord and He shall sustain you; He shall never suffer the righteous to be moved.”
DEU 31:8 “And the Lord, He it is who goes before you; He will not fail you or forsake you. Fear not, neither be confused.”
Now, stabilized by divine promises, the believer can now recall principles he has learned and eventually reach doctrinal conclusions.
Another basic problem-solving device which is vital in handling suffering is a personal sense of destiny.
This answers the question “Where am I going in life?”
To handle suffering, you must develop enforced and genuine humility.