Transcript Dealing with Suffering I walked a mile with Pleasure; She chatted all the way, But left me none the wiser For all she.

Dealing with Suffering
I walked a mile with Pleasure;
She chatted all the way,
But left me none the wiser
For all she had to say.
I walked a mile with Sorrow
And ne’er a word said she;
But oh, the things I learned from her
When Sorrow walked with me.
1. Suffering points out that we are frail human
beings and not gods.
Daniel 4:19 Then Daniel, whose name was Belteshazzar,
was astonished for a time, and his thoughts troubled him.
So the king spoke, and said, "Belteshazzar, do not let the
dream or its interpretation trouble you." Belteshazzar
answered and said, "My lord, may the dream concern
those who hate you, and its interpretation concern your
enemies! 20 The tree that you saw, which grew and
became strong, whose height reached to the heavens and
which could be seen by all the earth, 21 whose leaves
were lovely and its fruit abundant, in which was food for
all, under which the beasts of the field dwelt, and in
whose branches the birds of the heaven had their home -22 it is you, O king, who have grown and become strong;
for your greatness has grown and reaches to the heavens,
and your dominion to the end of the earth.
23 And inasmuch as the king saw a watcher, a holy one,
coming down from heaven and saying, 'Chop down the
tree and destroy it, but leave its stump and roots in the
earth, bound with a band of iron and bronze in the tender
grass of the field; let it be wet with the dew of heaven,
and let him graze with the beasts of the field, till seven
times pass over him'; 24 this is the interpretation, O king,
and this is the decree of the Most High, which has come
upon my lord the king: 25 They shall drive you from men,
your dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field, and
they shall make you eat grass like oxen. They shall wet
you with the dew of heaven, and seven times shall pass
over you, till you know that the Most High rules in the
kingdom of men, and gives it to whomever He chooses.
26 And inasmuch as they gave the command to
leave the stump and roots of the tree, your
kingdom shall be assured to you, after you come
to know that Heaven rules. 27 Therefore, O king,
let my advice be acceptable to you; break off your
sins by being righteous, and your iniquities by
showing mercy to the poor. Perhaps there may be
a lengthening of your prosperity."
Daniel 4:28 All this came upon King Nebuchadnezzar. 29
At the end of the twelve months he was walking about
the royal palace of Babylon. 30 The king spoke, saying,
"Is not this great Babylon, that I have built for a royal
dwelling by my mighty power and for the honor of my
majesty?" 31 While the word was still in the king's
mouth, a voice fell from heaven: "King Nebuchadnezzar,
to you it is spoken: the kingdom has departed from you!
32 And they shall drive you from men, and your dwelling
shall be with the beasts of the field. They shall make you
eat grass like oxen; and seven times shall pass over you,
until you know that the Most High rules in the kingdom of
men, and gives it to whomever He chooses."
33 That very hour the word was fulfilled concerning
Nebuchadnezzar; he was driven from men and ate grass
like oxen; his body was wet with the dew of heaven till his
hair had grown like eagles' feathers and his nails like
birds' claws. 34 ¶ And at the end of the time I,
Nebuchadnezzar, lifted my eyes to heaven, and my
understanding returned to me; and I blessed the Most
High and praised and honored Him who lives forever: For
His dominion is an everlasting dominion, And His kingdom
is from generation to generation. 35 All the inhabitants of
the earth are reputed as nothing; He does according to
His will in the army of heaven And among the inhabitants
of the earth. No one can restrain His hand Or say to Him,
"What have You done?"
36 At the same time my reason returned to me,
and for the glory of my kingdom, my honor and
splendor returned to me. My counselors and
nobles resorted to me, I was restored to my
kingdom, and excellent majesty was added to me.
37 Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and extol and
honor the King of heaven, all of whose works are
truth, and His ways justice. And those who walk
in pride He is able to put down.
2. Suffering can bring us closer to God.
2 Corinthians 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father
of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies
and God of all comfort, 4 who comforts us in all
our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort
those who are in any trouble, with the comfort
with which we ourselves are comforted by God.
3. Suffering can help us see the ugliness of sin
and it consequences more clearly.
Romans 5:12 Therefore, just as through one man
sin entered the world, and death through sin, and
thus death spread to all men, because all sinned –
Genesis 4:7 "If you do well, will you not be
accepted? And if you do not do well, sin lies at the
door. And its desire is for you, but you should rule
over it."
4. Suffering helps us to appreciate the small
things of life.
We, by our suff’rings, learn to prize our bliss.
5. Suffering will teach us to be compassionate.
There is a saying, “Do not judge a man until you
have walked a mile in his shoes” but there is also
another saying, “One cannot effectively comfort
until he has lain in the bed of suffering.”
Hebrews 2:17 Therefore, in all things He had to
be made like His brethren, that He might be a
merciful and faithful High Priest in things
pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the
sins of the people. 18 For in that He Himself has
suffered, being tempted, He is able to aid those
who are tempted.
Dealing with Suffering
1.Suffering points out that we are frail human
beings and not gods.
2.Suffering can bring us closer to God.
3.Suffering can help us see the ugliness of sin and
its consequences more clearly.
4.Suffering helps us to appreciate the small
things of life.
5.Suffering will teach us to be compassionate.
6. Suffering sharpens our awareness that this
earth is not our permanent home.
1 Peter 2:11 Beloved, I beg you as sojourners and
pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts which war
against the soul, 12 having your conduct
honorable among the Gentiles, that when they
speak against you as evildoers, they may, by your
good works which they observe, glorify God in
the day of visitation.
Hebrews 11:13 These all died in faith, not having
received the promises, but having seen them afar
off were assured of them, embraced them and
confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims
on the earth. 14 For those who say such things
declare plainly that they seek a homeland. 15
And truly if they had called to mind that country
from which they had come out, they would have
had opportunity to return. 16 But now they
desire a better, that is, a heavenly country.
Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their
God, for He has prepared a city for them.
Romans 8:18 For I consider that the sufferings of
this present time are not worthy to be compared
with the glory which shall be revealed in us.
2 Corinthians 5:1 For we know that if our earthly house,
this tent, is destroyed, we have a building from God, a
house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. 2 For
in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed with our
habitation which is from heaven, 3 if indeed, having been
clothed, we shall not be found naked. 4 For we who are in
this tent groan, being burdened, not because we want to
be unclothed, but further clothed, that mortality may be
swallowed up by life. 5 Now He who has prepared us for
this very thing is God, who also has given us the Spirit as
a guarantee. 6 So we are always confident, knowing that
while we are at home in the body we are absent from the
Lord. 7 For we walk by faith, not by sight. 8 We are
confident, yes, well pleased rather to be absent from the
body and to be present with the Lord.
As Henry Ward Beecher once said:
“God washes the eyes with tears until they can
behold the invisible land where tears shall come
no more.”
7. Suffering motivates us to pray.
Luke 18:1 Then He spoke a parable to them, that
men always ought to pray and not lose heart,
Psalm 55:22 Cast your burden on the LORD, And
He shall sustain you;
1 Peter 5:6 Therefore humble yourselves under
the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in
due time, 7 casting all your care upon Him, for
He cares for you.
Philippians 4:6 Be anxious for nothing, but in
everything by prayer and supplication, with
thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to
God; 7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all
understanding, will guard your hearts and minds
through Christ Jesus.
Luke 22:44 And being in agony, He prayed more
earnestly. Then His sweat became like great
drops of blood falling down to the ground.
Pray when you’re happy;
Pray when in sorrow.
8. Suffering tempers the soul and helps prepare it
for eternity.
1 Peter 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord
Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has
begotten us again to a living hope through the
resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 to an
inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not
fade away, reserved in heaven for you, 5 who are kept by
the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be
revealed in the last time. 6 In this you greatly rejoice,
though now for a little while, if need be, you have been
grieved by various trials, 7 that the genuineness of your
faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes,
though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor,
and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ,
James 5:11 Indeed we count them blessed who
endure. You have heard of the perseverance of
Job and seen the end intended by the Lord -- that
the Lord is very compassionate and merciful.
9. Suffering brings out the best in people.
Matthew 5:14 "You are the light of the world. A
city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 "Nor
do they light a lamp and put it under a basket,
but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who
are in the house. 16 "Let your light so shine
before men, that they may see your good works
and glorify your Father in heaven.
2 Corinthians 5:10 For we must all appear before
the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may
receive the things done in the body, according to
what he has done, whether good or bad.
11 Knowing, therefore, the terror of the Lord, we
persuade men;
10. Suffering separates the shallow from the
stable.
1 Corinthians 3:11 For no other foundation can
anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus
Christ. 12 Now if anyone builds on this
foundation with gold, silver, precious stones,
wood, hay, straw, 13 each one's work will
become clear; for the Day will declare it, because
it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test
each one's work, of what sort it is. 14 If anyone's
work which he has built on it endures, he will
receive a reward. 15 If anyone's work is burned,
he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved,
yet so as through fire.
1 Corinthians 3:11 For no other foundation can
anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus
Christ. 12 Now if anyone builds on this
foundation with gold, silver, precious stones,
wood, hay, straw, 13 each one's work will
become clear; for the Day will declare it, because
it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test
each one's work, of what sort it is. 14 If anyone's
work which he has built on it endures, he will
receive a reward. 15 If anyone's work is burned,
he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved,
yet so as through fire.
Matthew 13:20 "But he who received the seed on
stony places, this is he who hears the word and
immediately receives it with joy; 21 "yet he has
no root in himself, but endures only for a while.
For when tribulation or persecution arises
because of the word, immediately he stumbles.