Honoring Christ and Loving People in Times of Darkness, Part 4

16. Express your personal cherishing of the sovereignty of God as the ground of all your hope as you face the human impossibilities of life. The very fulfillment of the New Covenant promises of our salvation and preservation hang on God's sovereignty over rebellious human wills--both ours and others.

Mark 10:24. "The disciples were amazed at His words. But Jesus answered again and said to them, 'Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God! It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.' They were even more astonished and said to Him, 'Then who can be saved?' Looking at them, Jesus said, 'With people it is impossible, but not with God; for all things are possible with God.'"

Jeremiah 32:40. "I will make an everlasting covenant with them that I will not turn away from them, to do them good; and I will put the fear of Me in their hearts so that they will not turn away from Me."

Hebrews 13:20-21. "Now the God of peace, who brought up from the dead the great Shepherd of the sheep through the blood of the eternal covenant, even Jesus our Lord, equip you in every good thing to do His will, working in us that which is pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen."

17. Count God your only lasting treasure, because he is the only sure and stable thing in the universe.

Psalm 73:25-26. "Whom have I in heaven but You? And besides You, I desire nothing on earth. My flesh and my heart may fail, But God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever."

18. Remind everyone that to live is Christ and to die is gain.

Philippians 1:21-23. "For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. . . . I am hard-pressed from both directions, having the desire to depart and be with Christ, for that is very much better."

2 Corinthians 5:7-9. "We walk by faith, not by sight - we are of good courage, I say, and prefer rather to be absent from the body and to be at home with the Lord. Therefore we also have as our ambition, whether at home or absent, to be pleasing to Him."

19. Pray that God would incline their hearts (both the one who is hurt as well as those who inflicted the pain) to his word, open their eyes to his wonders, unite their hearts to fear him, and satisfy them with his love.

Psalm 119:36. "Incline my heart to Your testimonies And not to gain."

Psalm 119:18. "Open my eyes, that I may behold Wonderful things from Your law."

Psalm 86:11. "Unite my heart to fear Your name."

Psalm 90:14. "O satisfy us in the morning with Your lovingkindness, That we may sing for joy and be glad all our days."

20. At the right time sound the trumpet that all this good news is meant by God to free us for radical, sacrificial service for the salvation of men and the glory of Christ. Help them see that one message of all this misery is to show us that life is short and fragile and followed by eternity, and small, man-centered ambitions are tragic.

Acts 20:24. "But I do not consider my life of any account as dear to myself, so that I may finish my course and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify solemnly of the gospel of the grace of God."

Titus 2:14. "[Christ] gave Himself for us to redeem us from every lawless deed, and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good deeds."

Philippians 1:21. "To live is Christ."

Jesus, Priceless Treasure

Here is the text of a wonderful hymn. It was written in the 17th century, on the heels of the 30 Years War. The tune, by Johann Kruger, is in a minor key, which lends it a serious tone. As Christians of that era knew, the battle for truth was hard won and the battlefields were often literal.  Yet, the battle to see and savor Jesus is well worth it!

Jesus, priceless treasure,
Source of purest pleasure,
Truest friend to me,
Long my heart was burning,
And my soul was yearning,
Lord, with you to be!
Yours I am, O spotless Lamb;
Nothing I’ll allow to hide you,
Nothing ask beside you.

In your arms I rest me;
Foes who would molest me
Cannot reach me here.
Though the earth be shaking,
Every heart be quaking,
Jesus calms my fear.
Sin and hell in conflict fell
With their bitter storms assail me;
Jesus will not fail me.

Satan, I defy you;
Death, I now decry you;
Fear, I bid you cease.
World, you cannot harm me
Nor your threats alarm me.
While I sing of peace.
God’s great power guards every hour;
Earth and all its depths adore him,
Silent bow before him.

Hence, all earthly treasure!
Jesus is my pleasure,
Jesus is my choice.
Hence, all empty glory!
What to me your story
Told with tempting voice?
Pain or loss or shame or cross
Shall not from my Savior move me
Since he chose to love me.

Hence, all fears and sadness,
For the Lord of gladness,
Jesus, enters in.
Those who love the Father,
Though the storms may gather,
Still have peace within.
For, whatever I must bear,
Still in you lies purest pleasure,
Jesus, priceless treasure!

For a nice version of this hymn, click on this link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5_366MZpYvc#

Post-Father's Day Thoughts

“Remember your leaders,” says Heb. 13:7, “those who spoke to you the word of God.  Consider the outcome of their way of life, and imitate their faith.”  Joseph of Nazareth may not be one we would typically consider a leader, but I think after considering the outcome of his way of life, you will be moved to imitate his faith.  When life is breathed into this often downplayed man, it becomes apparent that he is part of the great cloud of witnesses that surrounds us.  And since we are surrounded by people such as Joseph, we can be encouraged to “also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God” (Heb. 12:1-2).

What a man and model Joseph of Nazareth is for us.    

“And he rose and took the child and his mother by night and departed to Egpyt” (Mt. 2:14).  Fathers, one of the best ways to protect those entrusted to us is to obey God right away, without delay and without arguing.  Boys and singles, make it your habit to imitate Joseph in obedience: the life of your future family may one day depend on your obedience.  Right away, no delay, and no arguing.  Are we living our lives and leading our families in such a way that God will bless and not chastise us?  If we don’t follow God’s ways, think of the danger we bring to our families.  The consequences for our disobedience will be experienced by our family.  In Joseph’s case, lack of immediate obedience would have resulted in the death of Jesus and immense pain for Mary.   

Honoring Christ and Loving People in Times of Darkness, Part 3

11. Point the hurting to the momentous issues of sin and repentance in our own hearts and the urgent need to get right with God through his merciful provision of forgiveness in Christ, so that a worse fate than death will not overtake us.

Luke 13:1-5. "Now on the same occasion there were some present who reported to Him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mixed with their sacrifices. And Jesus said to them, 'Do you suppose that these Galileans were greater sinners than all other Galileans because they suffered this fate? I tell you, no, but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish. Or do you suppose that those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them were worse culprits than all the men who live in Jerusalem? I tell you, no, but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.'"

Revelation 9:18-21. "[As a judgment of God] a third of mankind was killed by these three plagues, by the fire and the smoke and the brimstone which proceeded out of their mouths. . . . The rest of mankind, who were not killed by these plagues, did not repent of the works of their hands, so as not to worship demons, and the idols . . . and they did not repent of their murders nor of their sorceries nor of their immorality nor of their thefts."

Revelation 16:8-9. "The fourth angel poured out his bowl upon the sun, and it was given to it to scorch men with fire. Men were scorched with fierce heat; and they blasphemed the name of God who has the power over these plagues, and they did not repent so as to give Him glory."

12. Remember that even those who trust in Christ may be deeply hurt, but that does not mean they have been abandoned by God or not loved by God even in those agonizing hours of suffering. God's love conquers even through calamity.

Romans 8:35-39. "Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? Just as it is written, 'FOR YOUR SAKE WE ARE BEING PUT TO DEATH ALL DAY LONG, WE WERE CONSIDERED AS SHEEP TO BE SLAUGHTERED.' But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord."

13. Mingle heart-wrenching weeping with unbreakable confidence in the goodness and sovereignty of God who rules over and through the sin and the plans of rebellious people.

Lamentations 3:32 "For if He causes grief, Then He will have compassion According to His abundant lovingkindness. For He does not afflict willingly Or grieve the sons of men."

Genesis 45:7 [Joseph said to his brothers who sinfully sold him into Egypt] "God sent me before you to preserve for you a remnant in the earth, and to keep you alive by a great deliverance."

Genesis 50:20 [Joseph says to his fearing brothers] "As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good in order to bring about this present result, to preserve many people alive."

Other texts on the absolute sovereignty of God over all things: Ephesians 1:11; Isaiah 46:9-10; Lamentations 3:37; Amos 3:6; Proverbs 16:33; Exodus 4:11; 1 Samuel 2:6-7; 2 Samuel 12:15-18; John 9:2-3; James 4:15; 1 Peter 3:17; 4:19; Matthew 10:29.

14. Trust God for his ability to do the humanly impossible, and bring you through this pain or nightmare and, in some inscrutable way, bring good out of it.

Romans 8:28. "And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose."

Lamentations 3:21-24. "This I recall to my mind, Therefore I have hope. The LORD's lovingkindnesses indeed never cease, For His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness. 'The LORD is my portion,' says my soul, 'Therefore I have hope in Him.'"

2 Corinthians 1:8-9. "For we do not want you to be unaware, brethren, of our affliction which came to us in Asia, that we were burdened excessively, beyond our strength, so that we despaired even of life; indeed, we had the sentence of death within ourselves so that we would not trust in ourselves, but in God who raises the dead."

2 Corinthians 4:17. "Momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison."

15. Explain, when the time is right, and they have the wherewithal to think clearly that one of the mysteries of God's greatness is that he ordains that some things come to pass which he forbids and disapproves of.

The clearest example is his ordaining that his Son be killed.

Acts 4:27-28. "Truly in this city there were gathered together against Your holy servant Jesus, whom You anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, along with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel, to do whatever Your hand and Your purpose predestined to occur."

See the Appendix titled "Are There Two Wills in God? Divine Election and God's Desire for All to Be Saved," in The Pleasures of God (Sisters, OR: Multnomah Press, 2000), pp. 313-340.

Five More Ways to Help Those Who Are Hurting

6. Affirm that Jesus Christ tasted hostility from men and knew what it was to be unjustly tortured and abandoned, and to endure overwhelming loss, and then be killed, so that he is now a sympathetic mediator for us with God.

Hebrews 4:15-16. "For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted [or "tested" which makes the application larger!] in all things as we are, yet without sin. Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need."

Isaiah 53:3-6. "He was despised and forsaken of men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief; and like one from whom men hide their face He was despised, and we did not esteem Him. Surely our griefs He Himself bore, and our sorrows He carried; yet we ourselves esteemed Him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But He was pierced through for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; the chastening for our well-being fell upon Him, and by His scourging we are healed. All of us like sheep have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; but the LORD has caused the iniquity of us all to fall on Him."

7. Acknowledge that God has permitted a great outbreak of sin against his revealed will, and that we do not know all the reasons why he would permit such a thing now, when it was in his power to stop it.

Deuteronomy 29:29. "The secret things belong to the LORD our God, but the things revealed belong to us and to our sons forever, that we may observe all the words of this law."

Romans 11:33-37 "Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and unfathomable His ways! For WHO HAS KNOWN THE MIND OF THE LORD, OR WHO BECAME HIS COUNSELOR? Or WHO HAS FIRST GIVEN TO HIM THAT IT MIGHT BE PAID BACK TO HIM? For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever. Amen."

8. Express the truth that Satan is a massive reality in the universe that conspires with our own sin and flesh and the world to hurt people and to move people to hurt others, but stress that Satan is within and under the control of God.

Job 1:6, 12, 21-22; 2:6-10. "Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan also came among them. . . . Then the LORD said to Satan, 'Behold, all that he has is in your power, only do not put forth your hand on him.' So Satan departed from the presence of the LORD. . . [After losing all his possessions and his ten children Job says] 'Naked I came from my mother's womb, And naked I shall return there. The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away. Blessed be the name of the LORD. Through all this Job did not sin nor did he blame God. . . . [After a second meeting in heaven] the LORD said to Satan, 'Behold, he is in your power, only spare his life.' Then Satan went out from the presence of the LORD and smote Job with sore boils from the sole of his foot to the crown of his head. . . . Then his wife said to him, 'Do you still hold fast your integrity? Curse God and die!' But he said to her, 'You speak as one of the foolish women speaks. Shall we indeed accept good from God and not accept adversity?'"

Job 42:2, 11. "I know that You can do all things, And that no purpose of Yours can be thwarted. . . . Then all his brothers and all his sisters and all who had known him before came to him, and they ate bread with him in his house; and they consoled him and comforted him for all the adversities that the LORD had brought on him.

Luke 22:31-32. "Simon, Simon, behold, Satan has demanded permission to sift you like wheat; but I have prayed for you, that your faith may not fail; and you, when once you have turned again, strengthen your brothers."

2 Corinthians 12:7-9. "Because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, for this reason, to keep me from exalting myself, there was given me a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to torment me - to keep me from exalting myself! Concerning this I implored the Lord three times that it might leave me. And He has said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.' Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me."

Compare the following two perspectives on the cause of Jesus' death.

Luke 22:3-4 "Satan entered into Judas who was called Iscariot, belonging to the number of the twelve. And he went away and discussed with the chief priests and officers how he might betray Him to them."

Acts 4:27-28. "Truly in this city there were gathered together against Your holy servant Jesus, whom You anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, along with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel, to do whatever Your hand and Your purpose predestined to occur."

9. Express that those who cause the pain or hurt rebelled against the revealed will of God and did not love God or trust him or find in God their refuge and strength and treasure, but scorned his ways and his Person.

2 Thessalonians 3:1-2. "Finally, brethren, pray for us . . . that we will be rescued from perverse and evil men; for not all have faith."

Galatians 5:6. "For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision is of any avail, but faith working through love."

Galatians 5:16. "Walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh."

James 4:1-4. "What is the source of quarrels and conflicts among you? Is not the source your pleasures that wage war in your members? You lust and do not have; so you commit murder. You are envious and cannot obtain; so you fight and quarrel. You do not have because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, so that you may spend it on your pleasures. You adulteresses, do you not know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God."

10. For those who were hurt by intentionally others, rebellion against God was at the root of the act.  In light of this, we all should fear such rebellion in our own hearts, and turn from it, and embrace the grace of God in Christ, and renounce the very impulses that caused this tragedy.

Proverbs 3:5-6. "Trust in the LORD with all your heart And do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He will make your paths straight."

Psalm 9:10. "And those who know Your name will put their trust in You, For You, O LORD, have not forsaken those who seek You."

Psalm 56:3. "When I am afraid, I will put my trust in You."

Five Reasons to not Begrudge Affliction

In his blog, John Piper shares five specific benefits from Psalm 119: 67 and 71 that God gives in sending us affliction.  He notes that, principally, affliction comes to help us learn God’s word, to understand God’s word and keep it. There are innumerable ways affliction can benefit us, as there are innumerable experiences. But here are five that Piper mentions: 

1. Affliction takes the glibness of life away and makes us more serious so that our mindset is more in tune with the seriousness of God’s word.
2. Affliction knocks worldly props from under us and forces us to rely more on God which brings us more in tune with the aim of the word.
3. Affliction makes us search the scriptures with greater desperation for help rather than treating it as marginal to life.
4. Affliction brings us into the fellowship of Christ’s sufferings so that we fellowship more closely with him and see the world more readily through his eyes.
5. Affliction mortifies deceitful and distracting fleshly desires, and so brings us into a more spiritual frame which fits God’s word more.

How God Teaches the Deep Things of His Word

Honoring Christ and Loving People in Times of Darkness, Part 1

2 Cor. 1:4 gives us one reason for our sufferings: so that we will experience God's comfort and be able to comfort those who are in any affliction.  It doesn't say it is limited to those who suffer in the same way as us, but to any kind of suffering.  The people at Desiring God have put together an extremely helpful list of 21 ways we can minister to other who are hurting.  I will post them five at a time, six on the last post.  Your pain, and the comfort God give you in that pain, is a gift meant to be shared. 

1. Pray. Ask God for his help for you and for those you want to minister to. Ask him for wisdom and compassion and strength and a word fitly chosen. Ask that those who are suffering would look to God as their help and hope and healing and strength. Ask that he would make your mouth a fountain of life.

James 1:5. "If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him."

Deuteronomy 32:2. "May my teaching drop as the rain, my speech distil as the dew, as the gentle rain upon the tender grass, and as the showers upon the herb."

Proverbs 13:14. "The teaching of the wise is a fountain of life, To turn aside from the snares of death."

2. Feel and express empathy with those most hurt by this great evil and loss; weep with those who weep.

Ecclesiastes 3:1. "There is an appointed time for everything. And there is a time for every event under heaven . . . A time to weep and a time to laugh; A time to mourn and a time to dance. . . . A time to embrace and a time to shun embracing."

Romans 12:15. "Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep."

3. Feel and express compassion because of the tragic circumstances of so many loved ones and friends who have lost more than they could ever estimate.

John 11:33-35. "When Jesus therefore saw her weeping, and the Jews who came with her also weeping, He was deeply moved in spirit and was troubled, and said, 'Where have you laid him?' They said to Him, 'Lord, come and see.' Jesus wept."

Luke 19:41-44. "When He approached Jerusalem, He saw the city and wept over it, saying, 'If you had known in this day, even you, the things which make for peace! But now they have been hidden from your eyes. For the days will come upon you when your enemies will throw up a barricade against you, and surround you and hem you in on every side, and they will level you to the ground and your children within you, and they will not leave in you one stone upon another, because you did not recognize the time of your visitation.'"

Luke 7:11-17. "Soon afterwards He went to a city called Nain; and His disciples were going along with Him, accompanied by a large crowd. Now as He approached the gate of the city, a dead man was being carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow; and a sizeable crowd from the city was with her. When the Lord saw her, He felt compassion for her, and said to her, 'Do not weep.' And He came up and touched the coffin; and the bearers came to a halt. And He said, 'Young man, I say to you, arise!' The dead man sat up and began to speak. And Jesus gave him back to his mother. Fear gripped them all, and they began glorifying God, saying, 'A great prophet has arisen among us!' and, 'God has visited His people!' This report concerning Him went out all over Judea and in all the surrounding district."

4. Take time and touch, if you can, and give tender care to the wounded in body and soul.

Matthew 8:14-15. "When Jesus came into Peter's home, He saw his mother-in-law lying sick in bed with a fever. He touched her hand, and the fever left her; and she got up and waited on Him."

Mark 1:40-41. "And a leper came to Jesus, beseeching Him and falling on his knees before Him, and saying, 'If You are willing, You can make me clean.' Moved with compassion, Jesus stretched out His hand and touched him."

Luke 10:30-37. "Jesus replied and said, 'A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among robbers, and they stripped him and beat him, and went away leaving him half dead. And by chance a priest was going down on that road, and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. Likewise a Levite also, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan, who was on a journey, came upon him; and when he saw him, he felt compassion, and came to him and bandaged up his wounds, pouring oil and wine on them; and he put him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn and took care of him. On the next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper and said, "Take care of him; and whatever more you spend, when I return I will repay you." Which of these three do you think proved to be a neighbor to the man who fell into the robbers' hands?' And he said, 'The one who showed mercy toward him.' Then Jesus said to him, 'Go and do the same.'"

5. Hold out the promise that God will sustain and help those who cast themselves on him for mercy and trust in his grace. He will strengthen you for the impossible days ahead in spite of all darkness.

Psalm 34:18. "The LORD is near to the brokenhearted And saves those who are crushed in spirit."

Isaiah 41:10. "Fear not, for I am with you, be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my victorious right hand."

Psalm 23:4. "Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me."

2 Corinthians 1:3-4. "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction so that we will be able to comfort those who are in any affliction with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God."

2 Corinthians 1:8-9. "We do not want you to be unaware, brethren, of our affliction which came to us in Asia, that we were burdened excessively, beyond our strength, so that we despaired even of life; indeed, we had the sentence of death within ourselves so that we would not trust in ourselves, but in God who raises the dead."

Book Recomendations

Due to a change in schedule, there will not be a fourth message on Suffering as I originally intended.  It seems to me that the last message accomplished much of what I would have liked in a fourth sermon, so I feel like it is ok to move on.  Even with a fourth message, the biblical ideas we have considered are hard to grasp and love.  The best thing to do is to continue to wrestle with these issues in prayer, in Scripture, and with other godly, reliable guides.  Below is a list of books that have helped me immensly in having peace about the issue of suffering, and I believe, strengthening my faith in our personal, all-good and all-powerful God who plans all things for the great good of conforming me to the image of His glorious Son, Jesus Christ.  Several of these books are available as free, on-line books. 

1. More theological, intelectual: 
1. How Long, O Lord? by D.A. Carson.  This book is not light reading, but does provide a strong biblical argument that God is all-powerful and all-good as he ordains evil and suffering.  Carson writes that this book is "written by a Christian to help other Christians think about suffering and evil."  He is not writing to unbelievers as an apolegetic, but unbelievers would certainly gain an understanding of the Bible's perspective on suffering and evil.  Continues Carson, "one of the major causes of devastating grief and and confusion among Christians is that our expecations are false.  We do not give the subject of evil and suffering the thought it deserves until we ourselves are confronted with tragedy.  If by that point our beliefs--not well thought out but deeply ingrained--are largely out of step with the God who has disclosed himself in the Bible and supremely in Jesus, then the pain from the personal tragedy may be multiplied many times over as we begin to question the very foundations of our faith."
2. The Invisible Hand: Do All Things Really Work for Good? by R.C. Sproul. Sproul writes in his usual, practical yet apologetic style anchored firmly in the Bible.  In describing his book, Sproul writes, "Every woman who has delivered a stillborn baby knows the devestation it brings to the heart.  Who can experience such a thing without crying to heaven and asking, 'Why?'  It is normal to wonder where God is in such circumstances.  It is where the rubber of human anguish meets the road of divine providence.  This book is an effort to face those issues and questions that arise with regard to God's providence.  It is designed to look at the question of providence, not only from a doctrinal viewpoint, but chiefly from an examination of concrete experiences in the flesh-and-blood people whose lives and struggles are recoreded for us in sacred Scripture.  The Providence of God is our fortress, our shield, our very great reward.  It is what provides courage and perseverence for His saints."
2. Practical: 
1. Thinking Right When Things God Wrong by John C. Hutchison.  Hutchison is professor of Bible exposition at Talbot School of Theology, and a former professor of mine.  One thing is clear when you spend time with John, he is a theologian with a pastor's heart.  This book provides invaluable counsel in how to prepare for and deal with hard, seemingly inexplicable circumstances.  In this book, he provides a guide that helps Christians understand biblical passages about trials and suffering.  What is particularly helpful in his treatment of this topic is his practical, yet biblical, advice that gives us the means to develop a thinking process that can prepare us for difficult times and minimize the shock and paralysis of soul-crushing events.
3. Personal: 
1. Trusting God: Even When It Hurts by Jerry Bridges.  This is a personal book, almost like reading a hurting man's diary as he deals with pain, disapointment, and evil in a pastoral way.  Bridges asks. "Why is it easier to obey God than to trust him?  Adversity is hard to endure, and can even be harder to understand.  If God were really in control, why would He allow a tragic auto accident or a crucial job loss?  How could He permit cancer in a loved one of the death of a child?"  In an effort to strengthen his own trust in God during a time of adversity, Jerry Bridges began a lengthy Bible study on the topic of God's sovereignty.  What he learned changed his life, and he now shares the fruit of that study with you in Trusting God.
2. When God Weeps: Why Our Sufferings Matter to the Almighty by Joni Eareckson Tada and Steven Estes.  From the back of the book: "If God is loving, why is there suffering?  What's the difference between permitting something and ordaining it?  When bad things happen, who's behind them--God or the devil?  When suffering touches our lives, questions like these suddenly demand an answer.  From our persepctive, suffering doesn't make much sense, especially when we believe in a loving and just God.  After more than thirty years in a wheelchair, Joni Eareckson Tada's intiamate experience with suffering gives her a special understanding of God's intentions for us in our pain.  In When God Weeps, she and lifelong friend Steven Estes probe beyond glib answers that fail us in our time of deepest deend.  Instead, with firmness and compassion, they reveal a God big enough to understand our suffering, wise enough to allow it--and powerful enough to use it for a greater good than we can ever imagine."
3. A Grief Observed by C.S. Lewis.  From the back of the book: "This book was written by Lewis after his wife's tragic death as a way of surviving the 'mad midnight moments.'   A Grief Observed is C.S. Lewis's honest reflection of the fundamental issues of life, death, and faith in the midst of loss."  Lewis writes, "Nothing will shake a man--or at any rate a man like me--out of his merely verbal thinking and his merely notional beleifs.  He has to be knocked silly before he comes to his senses.  Only torture will bring out the truth.  Only under torture does he discover it himself."  This book is of great help in training us how to hurt with those who are hurting and stand beside them as they heal.
4. Free On-Line Resources:
1. Beyond the Bounds edited by John Piper, Justin Taylor, and Paul Kjoss Helseth.  Chapter three by Mark R. Talbot was instrumental in helping me to grasp that the Bible teaches God is all-powerful, and all-good and ordains everything, even evil, yet man is held fully responsible for the evil he does.  Chapter three is called, "True Freedom: The Liberty that Scripture Portrays as Worth Having."  Here's the link: http://www.desiringgod.org/ResourceLibrary/OnlineBooks/ByTitle/2397_Beyond_the_Bounds/
2. Suffering and the Sovereignty of God by John Piper, Joni Eareckson Tada, Steve Saint, Carl Ellis, David Powlison, Dustin Shramek, and Mark Talbot.  This book was written after these people addressed a conference by the same title.  I attended the conference and was greatly helped by each person.  Having their thoughts in writting and, in some places, expanded beyond what they shared is a great wealth of help and wisdom.  Here's the link: http://www.desiringgod.org/ResourceLibrary/OnlineBooks/ByTitle/2439_Suffering_and_the_Sovereignty_of_God/
3. Here are the audio messages from the conference: http://www.desiringgod.org/ResourceLibrary/ConferenceMessages/ByConference/1/
4. When the Darkness Will Not Lift by John Piper.  About this book, Piper writes: "Even the most faithful, focused Christians can encounter periods of depression and spiritual darkness when joy seems to stay just out of reach. It can happen because of sin, satanic assault, distressing circumstances, or hereditary and other physical causes. This book, which is an expansion of a chapter in When I Don't Desire God, aims to give some comfort and guidance to those experiencing spiritual darkness."  Here's the link: http://www.desiringgod.org/ResourceLibrary/OnlineBooks/ByTitle/1929_When_the_Darkness_Will_Not_Lift/
5. The Misery of Job and the Mercy of God by John Piper.  Job lost everything: his wealth, his health, and his ten children. All swept away in one satanic storm. Reduced to a heap of flesh, ashes, and tears—rebuked by friends and jeered by strangers—righteous Job wrestled over the purpose and presence of God in the midst of unbearable pain. In this book, John Piper recounts the story of Job in beautiful, compassionate poetry and revels in God's sovereign and surprisingly joyful purposes in allowing exquisite suffering in the lives of his saints. A deeply moving book, especially for those experiencing great suffering and loss. Includes stunning photographic illustrations by Ric Ergenbright.  You can also listen to Piper read the poem as you follow along. Here's the link: http://www.desiringgod.org/ResourceLibrary/OnlineBooks/ByTitle/2441_The_Misery_of_Job_and_the_Mercy_of_God/

There are many other books and articles and sermons that deal with this topic.  Not all are helpful.  Not all are biblical.  I hope that in reading and considering the above works, you will be led to our Rock and Sure Harbor in storms and sunny days.  Find out who these authors have read and read them.  Best of all, read the Bible.  Books like Lamentations, Job, Habakkuk, 1 and 2 Peter all deal with these issues.  Read the Psalms too.  I trust God will bring you understanding as you think about these things. 

Unseen Purposes for Disappointment

June 10, 2008  |  By: John Piper

When Christ died he purchased for you the Yes to all God’s promises (2 Cor. 1:20), and that includes the promise to use his sovereign power to govern all the inexplicable, maddening detours and delays of your life for wise and loving purposes. He is doing a thousand things for you and for his glory in your disappointed plans.