Compassing Light

Why Me?

Why Now?

Why This or That?

Why Suffering and Pain?

Is God not good?  Or is God not powerful enough to stop it?

Romans 8:18-25 (I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.   For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God;   for the creation was subjected to futility, not of its own will but by the will of him who subjected it in hope;   because the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to decay and obtain the glorious liberty of the children of God.  We know that the whole creation has been groaning in travail together until now;   and not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the first fruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies.   For in this hope we were saved.  Now hope that is seen is not hope.  For who hopes for what he sees?  But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience. )

Creation has been wounded by sin.  Without sin there would be no suffering.

Mary and Martha were very upset by the death of Lazarus.   They were also disappointed that Jesus didn't come in time to heal Lazarus and they were confident He could.

John 11:21 (Martha said to Jesus, "Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. )

In other words, why didn't you come in time?

It is not wrong to tell God how much you are hurting.

Psalm 42:10 (As with a deadly wound in my body, my adversaries taunt me, while they say to me continually, "Where is your God?")

God is our refuge.

Psalm 42:11 (Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you disquieted within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my help and my God. )

Psalm 62:8 (Trust in him at all times, O people; pour out your heart before him; God is a refuge for us.)

Don't doubt that God loves you.

1 Peter 5:6-10 (Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that in due time he may exalt you.   Cast all your anxieties on him, for he cares about you.   Be sober, be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking some one to devour.   Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same experience of suffering is required of 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, establish, and strengthen you. )

God will establish you.

Romans 8:38,39 (For I am sure that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers,  nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. )

God loves us.

Romans 8:1 (There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. )

There is no condemnation.

Hebrews 13: 5b (for he has said, "I will never fail you nor forsake you." )

God will never leave you or abandon you.

Romans 8: 14,26 (For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.   Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with sighs too deep for words. )

God will comfort us.

Romans 8:28 (We know that in everything God works for good with those who love him, who are called according to his purpose.

God transforms evil in to good.

We get discouraged when God doesn't meet our expectations.

Romans 8:18 (I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. )

2 Corinthians 4:17 (For this slight momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, )

Don't demand to understand.  Just because it doesn't make sense to us doesn't mean that it is without reason.

We just don't have complete knowledge yet.

James 1:2,3 (Count it all joy, my brethren, when you meet various trials, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. )

Exercise your faith by trusting in God.

John 11:25 (When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who came with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in spirit and troubled; )

Isaiah 53:4,5 (Surely he has borne our grief's and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted.  But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that made us whole, and with his stripes we are healed. )

Sin is destroyed; sufferings forgotten.

2 Corinthians 1:3-5 (Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.  For as we share abundantly in Christ's sufferings, so through Christ we share abundantly in comfort too.)

Comfort others.