Add some verses to this Isaiah ?

Isaiah 54 1-10

John 3:36 - God’s wrath is already on the sinner.

Eccl 7: 2-4

Anyone here ever experience suffering?

Been angry or unhappy with life?

I have and I am sure everyone has either experienced some form of suffering, or at least
witnessed someone close to them go through it.

There is an argument out there that says God can’t exist because there is so much suffering in
the world. It goes like this:
God is a good, loving, all powerful God. He would not allow suffering to exist. This is
because of his goodness and lovingness, and since he is all powerful he would prevent it
from occurring. Wouldn’t you protect your children from suffering? But suffering does
exist, and since God would prevent it if he did exist then he must not exist.

Ever hear this before? This concept has driven many people away from Christianity. In fact,
Oprah cites this as her reason for abandoning her faith. It dignifies a response. Let’s turn to the
Bible and see what it says.

Incidentally, do you know the Bible has a lot to say?

James 1:2 - Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds…

Numbers 14:33-34 - Your children will be shepherds here for forty years, suffering for your
unfaithfulness, until the last of your bodies lies in the desert. For forty years—one year for each
of the forty days you explored the land—you will suffer for your sins and know what it is like to
have me against you.

2 Kings 14:26 - The LORD had seen how bitterly everyone in Israel, whether slave or free, was
suffering; there was no one to help them.

There are 145 references to the word in the Bible. Add to that the lifes of the disciples and Jesus
himself and the Bible makes it clear that suffering not only exists but that we will suffer. The
argument is a clever one, but it does not appeal to Biblical truth. It appeals to our emotions. It
appeals to the way we want things to be rather than to how things really are.

If the Bible said that God as a good, loving, all powerful God does not allow suffering to happen
to his people then we would know the Bible is a lie. But it does not, and does not contradict what
we know to be true (that we all suffer).

Why is there suffering?

First, there is Adam’s sin. I won’t read the passage because we all know it well enough. When
Adam decided to not follow God’s instructions he threw away God’s protection. If Adam had
followed God’s instructions then he never would have suffered, and neither would we. Isn’t it
that way with your kids? Every time my kid’s suffer it is because they aren’t following my
instructions.

Second, God cursed the ground.

Genesis 3:17-19 - To Adam he said, …Cursed is the ground because of you; through painful toil
you will eat of it all the days of your life. It will produce thorns and thistles for you, and you will
eat the plants of the field. By the sweat of your brow you will eat your food until you return to the
ground, …

Moral and natural evil. The Bible conforms to reality (suffering exists), it explains why suffering
exists (because of us), and it also explains the purpose of suffering.

Isaiah 38 - Surely it was for my benefit that I suffered such anguish. In your love you kept me
from the pit of destruction; you have put all my sins behind your back.

If we had read the full sentence in James earlier it reads “Consider it pure joy, my brothers,
whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith
develops perseverance.”

Suffering also points to God. Whenever any tragedy strikes, who is the first person called out
to? God. Some are cries for help and others are cries in anger, but both acknowledge God. In
truth, if we never suffered we would never think of God. We know this because everyone
blames God when things go wrong, but few praise him when things go right.

The Bible (and by default Christianity) is the only faith that provides a complete and satisfactory
response to suffering. It confirms what we already know to be true (that suffering exists and is
going to exist), why suffering exists, the purpose it serves, and it also tells us what we can do
about it.

What is the opposite of suffering? Many would say happiness.

Happiness is not the opposite of suffering, peace is the opposite of suffering.

Psalm 22:24 - For he has not despised or disdained the suffering of the afflicted one; he has not
hidden his face from him but has listened to his cry for help.

Psalm 119:50 My comfort in my suffering is this: Your promise preserves my life.

Romans 15:13 - May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that
you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

You can go read the entire self help section in any bookstore and get lots of advice on how to be
happy. None of them offer any real comfort, because peace does not come from within us. God,
and God alone, is the source of peace.

Footprints in the sand.

Are you walking with God?