Our Joy in Suffering

Concluding the series on God, Suffering, and Evil, this sermon looks at how we can cope with suffering as Christians. Not only can we endure suffering by the grace of God but we can rejoice in suffering since suffering: (1) deepens our faith and holiness; (2) causes us to rely on God; (3) weans us from the world so our hope is set on God alone; and (4) prepares us for the eternal weight of glory.

Considering suffering and it's affects in our lives, consider the following questions:

1. Does suffering and hardship in your life produce the four things mentioned above? Or, do you deal with suffering as the world deals with suffering: by turning to entertainment, distractions, worldly comforts, or some other distraction to provide relief for the symptoms of affliction?

2. Like Israel broke down the idols and high places in the land when they realized their sin, are you willing to remove the "idols" from your life so that you turn to God rather than these "idols"? Should you abstain from watching sports or TV, reading the news, buying possessions, etc., to wean yourself from this world to set your affections on God?

3. How would you live your life differently if you or someone close to you was diagnosed with a serious cancer? Could you rejoice in God, or would you curse him? What would this tell you about your priorities and what your heart is fixed on in this life?

4. Is there anything else you heard that you must take action on?

In times of suffering, as Christians, we must remember that God's sovereignty (his complete control over all things) is our greatest comfort. We also have the promise of Romans 8:28 that, as Christians, his control over all things is for our good, even through difficulties.

God, Suffering, and Evil

In today’s culture, many see the problem of evil and suffering as evidence that God doesn’t exist. How are we to respond to such an objection? Not only do we have to deal with intellectual challenges regarding the problem of evil and suffering, but we also have to deal with the experiential challenges of real suffering and evil in our world. How do we as Christians reconcile what we see in the world with what the Bible teaches about God? How do we cope when we experience great suffering? As always, the Bible, being the very words of God, gives us answers to life’s toughest questions.

Tim Stephens

Tim Stephens is the senior pastor of Fairview Baptist Church. Tim grew up on a farm in Eastern Ontario and has graduated with a Computer Engineering degree from Queen’s University, a Masters of Divinity degree from Detroit Baptist Theological Seminary, and is currently pursuing his Doctor of Ministry in Expository Preaching at the Master’s Seminary. He is happily married to Raquel and they have eight children.