Issue 7 When It Hurts

When It Hurts

Issue 7: February 21, 2021

Many misunderstand and fit themselves into a false sense of “Christianity”, and because of so many false “prosperity” teachers, some begin to believe that the Christian’s life is smoothed so that the road is easy and straight. Falsely many believe in error that God will eliminate hard burdensome trials from our day and replace it with perfect conditions. But one only need read the scripture to know that is not true in the slightest. Do not misunderstand, God does provide peace amidst trials, grace and power to overcome, and the child of God will be able to rejoice and be glad no matter the troubles. Just remember Paul and Silas in a Philippian jail, not knowing what the morrow will bring, more beatings, even death, and what were they doing, “praying and singing hymns to God” of course (Acts 16:25)! Jesus taught, “In the world you will have tribulation…”, but even then, God’s children will be of good cheer because we know Jesus has, “overcome the world” (John 16:33).

Will we be tested by trials that shake us to the very core: Yes, but our God’s grace is more powerful than any test, and He is still good even when everything around us isn’t. Remember this above all else, God can do the impossible for His own. God is with us 24/7, in the unpleasant and painful times when it is hard to remember what a “good life” felt like—God is still there. Solomon, in his wisdom wrote, “For the Lord is great and greatly to be praised; He is also to be feared above all gods” (1 Chronicles 16:25). Jerimiah says, thus says the Lord, “Inasmuch as there is none like You, O Lord (You are great, and Your name is great in might)” (Jeremiah 10:6). We read words like these and find it easy to praise God for being great—when life is great! When our wallet is full, our belly satisfied, our marriage and homelife is good it is easy, but, life takes a turn, when everything stable begins to fall apart, what then.

This is when we must remember God has it all under control, when we must remember that old saying by Ralph Abernathy, “I don’t know what the future holds, but I know who holds the future”. To Israel God said, “You whom I have taken from the ends of the earth, and called from its farthest regions, and said to you, ‘You are My servant, I have chosen you and have not cast you away’” (Isaiah 41:9). Of course this was written to Israel that they would have assurance of God’s help, but now, we have even greater assurance as members of the body of Christ for to us God says, “But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light” (1 Peter 2:9), to us God has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” (Hebrews 13:5), and to us God has said, “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28).

Have the Right Perspective: Don’t think of yourself as just one small person in a big world full of souls. Consider David’s words, “3 When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, the moon and the stars, which You have ordained, 4 What is man that You are mindful of him, and the son of man that You visit[c] him? 5 For You have made him a little lower than [d]the angels, and You have crowned him with glory and honor.” (Psalm 8:3-5). Your soul is worth more to God than all of creation, more than the moon and stars. Literally, Jesus died for you, but not just you, for every soul (1 John 2:1). Find comfort in knowing that God numbered the very hairs on your head (Matthew 10:30). We may be tiny specks in the awesomeness of creation, but remember you individually are worth more than all the stars in the heavens and remember that God “counts the number of the stars; He calls them all by name” (Psalm 147:4).

Let’s not forget God’s grace. When the Apostle Paul was struggling with, “the thorn in his flesh”, God said to him, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness” (2 Corinthians 12:9). When we are weakened His strength shines through. Whatever the affliction, struggling with sin, falling short of His glory, or be it illness or loss, we cannot forget God’s power and promises, we cannot because doing so will derail us. Remember God’s grace is all sufficient, it is all we need (1 Peter 1:13). When the world around us strikes, we know our God is good, our God will bestow upon us His grace.

Remember God Does it His Way: God does not always do things the way we want or the way we would do it ourselves. “8For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways,” says the Lord. 9 “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts” (Isaiah 55:8-9).

“For we were saved in this hope, but hope that is seen is not hope; for why does one still hope for what he sees?”

Romans 8:24

We always want answers now! He does things in His own time. We want to see results now! He works in secret. Solomon wrote, “He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also He has put eternity in their hearts, except that no one can find out the work that God does from beginning to end” (Ecclesiastes 3:11). It would be nice to know God’s plan, but because we are not God, it is better that we trust God will make the right choice for our situation, and pray something beautiful will come from the lousy circumstance.

Stop Listening to the World: So, what do we do when it hurts? Consider David in Psalm 38, how he speaks of his troubles, his weakened body saying things like, “There is no soundness in my flesh because of Your anger, nor any health in my bones because of my sin” (v.3), or “6 I am [a]troubled, I am bowed down greatly; I go mourning all the day long. 7 For my loins are full of inflammation, and there is no soundness in my flesh. 8 I am feeble and severely broken; I groan because of the turmoil of my heart” (vs.6-8). Then comes sorrows from loved ones, from family, friends, and relatives, who “stand afar off” (vs.11&12). But what David says is remarkable. “13 But I, like a deaf man, do not hear; And I am like a mute who does not open his mouth. 14 Thus I am like a man who does not hear, and in whose mouth is no response. 15 For [b]in You, O Lord, I hope; You will [c]hear, O Lord my God” (vs.13-15). When David experienced trials, he had a deaf ear to them, and placed his hope in his God, in the Lord Who hears. Remember what David did when his first son died because of David’s own sins? Nathan tells David of his sins, he tells him, “…because by this deed you have given great occasion to the enemies of the Lord to blaspheme, the child also who is born to you shall surely die” (2 Samuel 12:14). Indeed, the child becomes ill, David pleaded with God, laid on the ground and fasted for seven days and learned that the child died (vs. 15-18). What did David do? He rose up, anointed himself, change clothes, eat food, and said, “22 And he said, “While the child was alive, I fasted and wept; for I said, ‘Who can tell whether [b]the Lord will be gracious to me, that the child may live?’ 23 But now he is dead; why should I fast? Can I bring him back again? I shall go to him, but he shall not return to me” (vs.20-22-23).

Move On: What we do when troubles come, when life is not good, when illness comes, tragedy strikes? During the time of testing, pray and trust God knows all and that whatever may come He is in control. Afterward, pick yourself up, dust off and praise God, putting the past behind and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. Remember the words of Paul, “And our hope for you is steadfast, because we know that as you are partakers of the sufferings, so also you will partake of the consolation” (2 Corinthians 1:7).

 

In Christ

Love

D. Scarpino

“Or does He say it altogether for our sakes? For our sakes, no doubt, this is written, that he who plows should plow in hope, and he who threshes in hope should be partaker of his hope.” (1 Corinthians 9:10)

Welcome One and All!

Our faithful Creator is worthy to be praised in this assembly. All praise to Him who reigns above in majesty supreme! He gave His Son to die, for all mankind, that He might redeem all. Our blessed Redeemer suffered and died for our sins and is now risen and sitting at the right hand of God as only Head of the church. Let us offer the sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving, knowing that He is the author of eternal salvation to all those who obey Him (Hebrews 5:9). “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; the whole earth is full of His glory!” (Isaiah 6:3)

“Grace, mercy, and peace will be with you from God the Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father, in truth and love” (Rev. 2:10)

What Jesus Said I Must Do to Be Saved?
  1. Hear the gospel John 6:45
  2. Believe the gospel John 8:24
  3. Repent of sins Luke 13:3
  4. Confess Christ Matthew 10:32
  5. Be baptized Mark 16:16
  6. Remain faithful until death Matthew 10:22