Why Do We Suffer?

By Pastor Don Jackson, August 24, 2025
Sunday, August 24, 2025

BIG Idea: A Biblical Worldview

Why Do We Suffer? 1 Peter 4:12

Honest Questions During Suffering

  • Where is God?
  • Is God even real?
  • Why is this happening?
  • Why doesn’t God do something about it?
  1. Suffering: Not “ ” but “

    James 1:2-4 – Suffering is

  • Suffering is not the for us; it’s the
  • This world is absolutely by sin
  • Scope – Tornadoes, earthquakes, and droughts just as much as lying, lust, and murder
  • My pain should cause me to recognize the gravity and extensiveness of
  1. Suffering: Not “ ” but “

    Job 1:20-22 – Suffering is

  • I may never know the specifics of “ ” suffering came
  • I can know the “ ” that is sovereign over all things
  1. Suffering: Not “ ” but “

    2 Corinthians 1:3-7 – Suffering is

  • God His church together through our suffering
  • I am of and back to God when people who also suffer walk with me
  • My can become my

Jonah came out of the great fish…

Daniel came out of the lion’s den…

Lazarus came out of the grave…

You WILL come out of the desert of suffering!

Conclusion: Easy answers are not satisfying to those who are dealing with intense suffering. We demonstrate the proven love of God when we weep with those who weep and rejoice with those who rejoice. We continue to trust in a God Who permits suffering to ultimately point us to the cross of Christ.