I can't think of two things that are struggled with more than the issues of pain and suffering. No matter who you are, where you live, how much money you have, Christ-follower or not everybody struggles with a life full of both.Pain in particular tends to be or become a stumbling block to people's relationship with God.
How could a good God allow us to hurt?? Why would He take away someone that I love?? How could He allow ______ to suffer?? Why won't He take _______ away from my life??
I'm sure that you can add to that short list from your own experiences.
Paul was a guy who spent his life experiencing the pain and consequences of life. He literally traveled thousands of miles planting churches all over the Roman empire and was beaten, shipwrecked, imprisoned, stoned, whipped scorned by his own people and brought to trial multiple times because of it. And yet it was Paul who sitting in chains wrote these words to the Christ-followers in Philippi-
I've learned by now to be quite content whatever my circumstances. I'm just as happy with little as with much, with much as with little. I've found the recipe for being happy whether full or hungry, hands full or hands empty. Whatever I have, wherever I am, I can make it through anything in the One who makes me who I am. Philippians 4:11b-13 The Message
Over the next two weeks we are going to explore some of the answers to these questions in our services. Hopefully it will become a little clearer how Paul could write and believe those words.
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2 comments:
Hi Travis. I enjoyed the topic of "pain" that you spoke about on Sunday. I'm hoping you will be able to delve deeper into this topic some time. I felt like you touched the surface of "ignoring" pain in our lives. I've very recently learned that part of the healing process is to not ignore and suppress pain in our lives but to feel it and not let it overtake your life. I know we all feel pain, but I think it's just as big of a problem for people to go on with their lives and act like it doesn't exist. It's ok to experience and feel pain in order to heal. Any chance we could explore all of this further down the road? What happens after the pain and learning to heal and grow from our pain... Thanks again for talking on this topic. I'll keep you and Christina in my prayers with your house situation.
Hey Ana thanks for the coment. I am glad that you were able to get something out of the lesson.
I definitley think that you are on to something in the mistake of ignoring pain. And yes the whole point to having that"warning system" that is pain is to call us to action in examining it.
We'll see where God leads things in regard to the teaching aspect. I may hit on a little bit of that this coming week when I talk about fear.
I'll be praying for you as you continue moving forward in your walk particularly in your healing process.
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