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White River Christian Church
Hope In The Midst Of Suffering | Permission
Locations & Times
White River Christian Church - Noblesville Campus
1685 N 10th St, Noblesville, IN 46060, United States
Sunday 9:00 AM
Sunday 11:00 AM
What do we do when we can’t explain our suffering?
Job 1:1-12
1There once was a man named Job who lived in the land of Uz. He was blameless — a man of complete integrity. He feared God and stayed away from evil. 2He had seven sons and three daughters. 3He owned 7,000 sheep, 3,000 camels, 500 teams of oxen, and 500 female donkeys. He also had many servants. He was, in fact, the richest person in that entire area.
4Job’s sons would take turns preparing feasts in their homes, and they would also invite their three sisters to celebrate with them. 5When these celebrations ended — sometimes after several days — Job would purify his children. He would get up early in the morning and offer a burnt offering for each of them. For Job said to himself, 'Perhaps my children have sinned and have cursed God in their hearts.' This was Job’s regular practice.
6One day the members of the heavenly court came to present themselves before the Lord, and the Accuser, Satan, came with them.
7Where have you come from?' the Lord asked Satan. Satan answered the Lord, 'I have been patrolling the earth, watching everything that’s going on.'
8Then the Lord asked Satan, 'Have you noticed my servant Job? He is the finest man in all the earth. He is blameless — a man of complete integrity. He fears God and stays away from evil.'
9Satan replied to the Lord, 'Yes, but Job has good reason to fear God. 10You have always put a wall of protection around him and his home and his property. You have made him prosper in everything he does. Look how rich he is! 11But reach out and take away everything he has, and he will surely curse you to your face!'
12All right, you may test him,' the Lord said to Satan. 'Do whatever you want with everything he possesses, but don’t harm him physically.' So Satan left the Lord’s presence.
Job 1:1-12
1There once was a man named Job who lived in the land of Uz. He was blameless — a man of complete integrity. He feared God and stayed away from evil. 2He had seven sons and three daughters. 3He owned 7,000 sheep, 3,000 camels, 500 teams of oxen, and 500 female donkeys. He also had many servants. He was, in fact, the richest person in that entire area.
4Job’s sons would take turns preparing feasts in their homes, and they would also invite their three sisters to celebrate with them. 5When these celebrations ended — sometimes after several days — Job would purify his children. He would get up early in the morning and offer a burnt offering for each of them. For Job said to himself, 'Perhaps my children have sinned and have cursed God in their hearts.' This was Job’s regular practice.
6One day the members of the heavenly court came to present themselves before the Lord, and the Accuser, Satan, came with them.
7Where have you come from?' the Lord asked Satan. Satan answered the Lord, 'I have been patrolling the earth, watching everything that’s going on.'
8Then the Lord asked Satan, 'Have you noticed my servant Job? He is the finest man in all the earth. He is blameless — a man of complete integrity. He fears God and stays away from evil.'
9Satan replied to the Lord, 'Yes, but Job has good reason to fear God. 10You have always put a wall of protection around him and his home and his property. You have made him prosper in everything he does. Look how rich he is! 11But reach out and take away everything he has, and he will surely curse you to your face!'
12All right, you may test him,' the Lord said to Satan. 'Do whatever you want with everything he possesses, but don’t harm him physically.' So Satan left the Lord’s presence.
Job 1:1-12
Job’s suffering is not outside God’s sovereignty!
Your suffering is not outside of God’s sovereignty!
The book of Job teaches that there is an aspect of human [suffering] that is not the penalty for sin, not correction in righteousness, not redemptive in itself, and not the noble bearing of persecution for righteousness’ sake. Job’s suffering was of this aspect; we might say that the reason for his suffering was as a tool to teach angelic beings. Job made known the manifold wisdom of God to the principalities and powers in the heavenly places.
So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. For this light momentary affliction is preparing us for an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison…”
2 Corinthians 4:16-17, ESV
2 Corinthians 4:16-17, ESV
Your suffering is not outside of God’s sovereignty!
What suffering are you not trusting to God’s sovereignty?