Dealing With Suffering, Part 3
Dealing With Suffering, Setbacks, Satanic Attacks And A Sovereign God – Part 3
By Michael C. Catt
5 Mistakes Those Going Through Trials Can Make:
- YOU CAN BECOME BITTER. Blaming God or others. The only thing bitterness changes is you.
- YOU CAN WALLOW IN SELF PITY. Surrender to a negative attitude. Go out in garden and eat worms – Sing ‘Poor Poor Pitiful Me…
- YOU CAN RESIGN FROM LIFE. If I find one bold message in the O.T. is that you can ask God anything. He’s not threatened. Job asked – Jacob wrestled – Habakkuk questioned – Jeremiah accused God.
- YOU CAN DEMAND AN ANSWER. They you are possibly asking for more than God will reveal. Isa. 55:8,9; Rom. 11:33
Vance Havner ‘I do not understand the why of it all. That waits for heaven. But faith does not wait for explanations to begin praising. Faith does not wait to understand. We have His Word, and if it were not so, He would have told us. In the meantime, what are we to do? Sob and sigh until we die? Some days are not easy, and you may want to resign in disgust. But it works. Hope thou in God…and I shall yet praise Him.”The Lowest Ebb Can Be The Turn Of The Tide - Thinking That Life Has To Be FairTHINKING THAT LIFE HAS TO BE FAIR. 2:10 ‘Shall we indeed accept good from God and not accept adversity?’ 42:2 ‘I know that Thou canst do all things, and that no purpose of Thine can be thwarted.’ When I say, God is not fair, I’m really saying I know more than God.
Refocusing Our Faith When Life Seems Hopeless:
Richard Hendrix “Second only to suffering, waiting may be the greatest teacher and trainer in godliness, maturity, and genuine spirituality most of us ever encounter.”
Elton Trueblood “The fellowship of perplexity, is good fellowship, far superior to the fellowship of easy answers.”
There are 7 images of his hopeless situation found in Job 14
- A withering flower – vs. 2
- A shifting shadow – vs. 2
- A hired hand that puts in his time and then replaced – vs. 6
- A chopped down tree – vs. 7
- Water that evaporates – vs. 11
- A dried up river – vs. 11
- A falling mountain – vs. 18
Job Was Struggling To Hold On/ Survive and Trying To Understand He Didn’t Like What He Was Seeing
Job 7:6 My days come and go swifter than the click of knitting needles, and then the yarn runs out – an unfinished life!
Job 19:10 He tore me apart piece by piece – I’m ruined! Then he yanked out hope by the roots. 19:13-“God alienated my family from me; 14 everyone who knows me avoids me. My relatives and friends have all left; houseguests forget I ever existed. 15 The servant girls treat me like a bum off the street, look at me like they’ve never seen me before. 16 I call my attendant and he ignores me, ignores me even though I plead with him. 17 My wife can’t stand to be around me anymore. I’m repulsive to my family.
- GOD IS PREPARING A BETTER HOME. John 14:1,2; Ps. 23:6
- GOD WILL PROVIDE A BETTER BODY. 2 Cor. 5:1; 2 Tim. 4:6
- GOD’S PROVISIONS INCLUDE A BETTER INHERITANCE. 1 Peter 1:4; Rev. 14:13
- GOD PROMISES A BETTER FELLOWSHIP. Luke 13:29; Rev. 21:4,5; Rev. 22:3
Remember: Satan’s goal is greater than destroying Job, he really wants to discredit God by having one of God’s servants renounce his faith.
Story of Pro Golfer Tommy Bolt, who missed 6 straight putts in a tournament. He shook his fist toward heaven and shouted, “Why don’t you come down here and fight like a man?”
The key to facing a hopeless situation is in 19:25, “I KNOW THAT MY REDEEMER LIVES.’
This is crucial to having the right perspective.
‘I know’ – certain. – Confident in the Person of God.
‘My redeemer lives’ – Hebrew – to ransom/ redeem. In the O.T. a redeemer could come to your defense/ pay off your debt/ set you free.
‘And at the last, He will take His stand on the earth’ – Confidence in the Process. God WILL HAVE THE LAST WORD IN ALL THIS.
Joseph Bayly ‘Remember in the darkness what you have learned in the light.’
- God sometimes uses trouble to keep us from sinning. Job 33:18-29
- God may use tests to INSTRUCT. Luke 22 – the sifting of Peter – 2 Cor. 12:7-10 – the thorn for Paul. Whatever it is, God authorizes it
Jimmy Draper “It is always too soon to despair. The Christian need never give up in any situation. God is able to bring victory out of the most desperate situations. It is never too late to bring God into our experiences. Commit your circumstances to Him. Claim His power for your weakness. Don’t despair. Claim Him as the power needed for your life.” - God sometimes send tests to form us into His image. Job 36:5-15; Heb. 12:5-7,11; Rom. 8:28-31God is just and does all things consistent with His justice – Ps. 37:28
God is holy – and does all things consistent with his holiness – Ps. 145:17
God is omniscient – He knows our ‘load limit’ – 2 Peter 2:9
God is purposeful – He never wastes our sorrows – Rom 8:28
God is love – Nothing can separate us from it – Rom 8:35-39
God guards the gate of our lives – there are no trespassers. - God may be slow, but He’s never late. Job 33:12-14; 34:5-6; 34:10; 36:5; 36:26; 37:21
Wrap This Up – Job’s Friends Have Accused Job & Job’s Been Complaining to God
Chp. 31 Job cried out, “Let the Almighty answer me.”
Chp. 38 – He got what he asked for. Vs.1 ‘Then the Lord answered Job out of the whirlwind and said, Who is this that darkens counsel by words w/out knowledge? Now gird up your loins like a man, and I will ask you, and you instruct Me.’
Job had been, in some ways, accusing God of not knowing what He was doing – PRESUMED God was ABSENT or DIDN’T CARE
The word ‘complain’ is found more times in book of Job than any other book in Bible and nearly ½ of all complaints in the Bible come from this book.
THIS WAS THE 1 SIN JOB WOULD ULTIMATELY REPENT OF –
Complaining has been a problem since the beginning.
Israel complained about their situation in Egypt.
- after the got out of Egypt.
- In the wilderness.
- Not having a deliverer – and complained about one they had.
- No food or water – and complained about food they had
- Because God punished them for complaining.
- COMPLAINING IS A SYMPTOM OF UNBELIEF.
- we love the PROMISES but we hate the PROCESS.
God shows up and replies to Job’s complaints of God’s unfair treatment.
His reply is a bombardment of question – 77 in all – and he sidesteps 35 chapters of debate on the reasons for suffering.
vs.4 ‘Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth? Tell me, if you have understanding
vs.18 ‘Have you understood the expanse of the earth? Tell me if you know this.
Job had demanded that God take the witness stand and God puts Job on the witness stand and drills him.
vs2 “Who is this that darkens counsel by words w/out knowledge?’
God jumps from one part of creation to the other – challenging Job to explain it – any of it.
As Soon As You Come Up With An Answer – Jump Right In
40:1 ‘Then the Lord said to Job, will the faultfinder contend with the Almighty? Let him who reproves God answer it. Then Job answered the Lord and said, “Behold, I am insignificant; what can I reply to Thee? I lay my hands on my mouth….’
Job’s responses: 1. I am nothing 2. I have no answer 3. I’ve said too much already.
God’s response: 1. I have a right 2. I have a reason 3. I have a reward
Read Ron’s “That I May Know Him” devotional.
©2004 Michael C. Catt. All rights reserved.
Dealing With Suffering, Setbacks, Satanic Attacks And A Sovereign God – Part 3
By Michael C. Catt
5 Mistakes Those Going Through Trials Can Make:
- YOU CAN BECOME BITTER. Blaming God or others. The only thing bitterness changes is you.
- YOU CAN WALLOW IN SELF PITY. Surrender to a negative attitude. Go out in garden and eat worms – Sing ‘Poor Poor Pitiful Me…
- YOU CAN RESIGN FROM LIFE. If I find one bold message in the O.T. is that you can ask God anything. He’s not threatened. Job asked – Jacob wrestled – Habakkuk questioned – Jeremiah accused God.
- YOU CAN DEMAND AN ANSWER. They you are possibly asking for more than God will reveal. Isa. 55:8,9; Rom. 11:33
Vance Havner ‘I do not understand the why of it all. That waits for heaven. But faith does not wait for explanations to begin praising. Faith does not wait to understand. We have His Word, and if it were not so, He would have told us. In the meantime, what are we to do? Sob and sigh until we die? Some days are not easy, and you may want to resign in disgust. But it works. Hope thou in God…and I shall yet praise Him.”The Lowest Ebb Can Be The Turn Of The Tide - Thinking That Life Has To Be FairTHINKING THAT LIFE HAS TO BE FAIR. 2:10 ‘Shall we indeed accept good from God and not accept adversity?’ 42:2 ‘I know that Thou canst do all things, and that no purpose of Thine can be thwarted.’ When I say, God is not fair, I’m really saying I know more than God.
Refocusing Our Faith When Life Seems Hopeless:
Richard Hendrix “Second only to suffering, waiting may be the greatest teacher and trainer in godliness, maturity, and genuine spirituality most of us ever encounter.”
Elton Trueblood “The fellowship of perplexity, is good fellowship, far superior to the fellowship of easy answers.”
There are 7 images of his hopeless situation found in Job 14
- A withering flower – vs. 2
- A shifting shadow – vs. 2
- A hired hand that puts in his time and then replaced – vs. 6
- A chopped down tree – vs. 7
- Water that evaporates – vs. 11
- A dried up river – vs. 11
- A falling mountain – vs. 18
Job Was Struggling To Hold On/ Survive and Trying To Understand He Didn’t Like What He Was Seeing
Job 7:6 My days come and go swifter than the click of knitting needles, and then the yarn runs out – an unfinished life!
Job 19:10 He tore me apart piece by piece – I’m ruined! Then he yanked out hope by the roots. 19:13-“God alienated my family from me; 14 everyone who knows me avoids me. My relatives and friends have all left; houseguests forget I ever existed. 15 The servant girls treat me like a bum off the street, look at me like they’ve never seen me before. 16 I call my attendant and he ignores me, ignores me even though I plead with him. 17 My wife can’t stand to be around me anymore. I’m repulsive to my family.
- GOD IS PREPARING A BETTER HOME. John 14:1,2; Ps. 23:6
- GOD WILL PROVIDE A BETTER BODY. 2 Cor. 5:1; 2 Tim. 4:6
- GOD’S PROVISIONS INCLUDE A BETTER INHERITANCE. 1 Peter 1:4; Rev. 14:13
- GOD PROMISES A BETTER FELLOWSHIP. Luke 13:29; Rev. 21:4,5; Rev. 22:3
Remember: Satan’s goal is greater than destroying Job, he really wants to discredit God by having one of God’s servants renounce his faith.
Story of Pro Golfer Tommy Bolt, who missed 6 straight putts in a tournament. He shook his fist toward heaven and shouted, “Why don’t you come down here and fight like a man?”
The key to facing a hopeless situation is in 19:25, “I KNOW THAT MY REDEEMER LIVES.’
This is crucial to having the right perspective.
‘I know’ – certain. – Confident in the Person of God.
‘My redeemer lives’ – Hebrew – to ransom/ redeem. In the O.T. a redeemer could come to your defense/ pay off your debt/ set you free.
‘And at the last, He will take His stand on the earth’ – Confidence in the Process. God WILL HAVE THE LAST WORD IN ALL THIS.
Joseph Bayly ‘Remember in the darkness what you have learned in the light.’
- God sometimes uses trouble to keep us from sinning. Job 33:18-29
- God may use tests to INSTRUCT. Luke 22 – the sifting of Peter – 2 Cor. 12:7-10 – the thorn for Paul. Whatever it is, God authorizes it
Jimmy Draper “It is always too soon to despair. The Christian need never give up in any situation. God is able to bring victory out of the most desperate situations. It is never too late to bring God into our experiences. Commit your circumstances to Him. Claim His power for your weakness. Don’t despair. Claim Him as the power needed for your life.” - God sometimes send tests to form us into His image. Job 36:5-15; Heb. 12:5-7,11; Rom. 8:28-31God is just and does all things consistent with His justice – Ps. 37:28
God is holy – and does all things consistent with his holiness – Ps. 145:17
God is omniscient – He knows our ‘load limit’ – 2 Peter 2:9
God is purposeful – He never wastes our sorrows – Rom 8:28
God is love – Nothing can separate us from it – Rom 8:35-39
God guards the gate of our lives – there are no trespassers. - God may be slow, but He’s never late. Job 33:12-14; 34:5-6; 34:10; 36:5; 36:26; 37:21
Wrap This Up – Job’s Friends Have Accused Job & Job’s Been Complaining to God
Chp. 31 Job cried out, “Let the Almighty answer me.”
Chp. 38 – He got what he asked for. Vs.1 ‘Then the Lord answered Job out of the whirlwind and said, Who is this that darkens counsel by words w/out knowledge? Now gird up your loins like a man, and I will ask you, and you instruct Me.’
Job had been, in some ways, accusing God of not knowing what He was doing – PRESUMED God was ABSENT or DIDN’T CARE
The word ‘complain’ is found more times in book of Job than any other book in Bible and nearly ½ of all complaints in the Bible come from this book.
THIS WAS THE 1 SIN JOB WOULD ULTIMATELY REPENT OF –
Complaining has been a problem since the beginning.
Israel complained about their situation in Egypt.
- after the got out of Egypt.
- In the wilderness.
- Not having a deliverer – and complained about one they had.
- No food or water – and complained about food they had
- Because God punished them for complaining.
- COMPLAINING IS A SYMPTOM OF UNBELIEF.
- we love the PROMISES but we hate the PROCESS.
God shows up and replies to Job’s complaints of God’s unfair treatment.
His reply is a bombardment of question – 77 in all – and he sidesteps 35 chapters of debate on the reasons for suffering.
vs.4 ‘Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth? Tell me, if you have understanding
vs.18 ‘Have you understood the expanse of the earth? Tell me if you know this.
Job had demanded that God take the witness stand and God puts Job on the witness stand and drills him.
vs2 “Who is this that darkens counsel by words w/out knowledge?’
God jumps from one part of creation to the other – challenging Job to explain it – any of it.
As Soon As You Come Up With An Answer – Jump Right In
40:1 ‘Then the Lord said to Job, will the faultfinder contend with the Almighty? Let him who reproves God answer it. Then Job answered the Lord and said, “Behold, I am insignificant; what can I reply to Thee? I lay my hands on my mouth….’
Job’s responses: 1. I am nothing 2. I have no answer 3. I’ve said too much already.
God’s response: 1. I have a right 2. I have a reason 3. I have a reward
Read Ron’s “That I May Know Him” devotional.
©2004 Michael C. Catt. All rights reserved.
Michael served as the President of the Large Church Roundtable, the Southern Baptist Convention as an IMB Trustee, President of the Georgia Baptist Convention’s Preaching Conference, Vice President of the Georgia Baptist Convention, and President of the 2008 Southern Baptist Convention Pastors’ Conference. He has spoken at conferences, colleges, seminaries, rallies, camps, NBA and college chapel services, well as The Billy Graham Training Center at The Cove. Michael is the recipient of The Martin Luther King Award, The MLK Unity Award, and a Georgia Senate Resolution in recognition of his work in the community and in racial reconciliation.
Michael and his wife, Terri, have two grown daughters, Erin and Hayley.
