Last week (Saturday morning to be exact) after posting the following blog on Friday, I sensed God impressing upon me to change my sermon to preach on A Wise Woman. You can read about that here. So I pushed back one week the “wannabe preached” sermon to this week. So I’m just refreshing the post a bit and using it this weekend. Not much has changed except I’m adding a song at the end of this post for you to enjoy.
Those two words are seldom seen together. I mean, who in their right mind would want to be submissive to suffering? But perhaps we need to take a second look.
In his book, Suffering, Paul David Tripp wrote:
Physical suffering exposes the delusion of personal autonomy and self-sufficiency.
If you and I had the kind of control we tend to think we have, none of us would ever-and I mean ever-have to go through anything difficult. I would not have chosen to be hit by a hit-n-run driver and suffer the consequences of his misguided actions. And I certainly would not have chosen to have another accident just over 3 months later that was more devastating than the first.
Suffering is part and parcel of life. I like what someone has said: “Suffering is inevitable; misery is optional.” No matter how “charmed” a life someone may seem to be leading, suffering will be involved in some way. No one escapes it.
What makes a difference is how we respond to it. That is my point this week as I look at Sermon #3 from Romans 8. Romans 8:18-27 will be my Scripture for this week. Your prayers for me to clearly preach the message of suffering and for light bulbs to go on the minds and hearts of the people would be much appreciated. Thanks.
And here is that song. I’m going to show this before I start preaching. Enjoy.
You reiterated something that God has been pointing out to me – and perhaps it came clearest to me through Psalms 34. And then this morning through a book I’m reading by Dr David Jeremiah. And now your blog. 😊 It’s the message that seems hidden in the Psalms – praise, contentment, gratitude in the midst of whatever comes my way. And even in the midst of that asking God and listening to what he may be teaching me, alert and receptive to his discipline (molding/refining/pruning) purposes. That’s my longing since he has “turned all the lights on” in that area – definitely have a ways to go as when “pain” is intense it doesn’t come naturally. David is definitely my Biblical hero in regards to this!
I do think that is definitely one of the messages of Psalms, Crystal. In spite of the pain and downturns praise does change things…at least our perspective.
I love that quote: “Suffering is inevitable, misery is optional. I’ll do my best to remember that, Bill, and I’ll be praying for you!
Blessings!
Thanks Martha for your prayer. Sure hope you have a great time with your mom this week as you visit.
“In this world you will have trouble, but take heart for I have overcome the world”.
Yep. No one can avoid trouble in this life. The only thing we can do is rely on the One Who is sovereign over His creation and our circumstances.
Well said Floyd.