What if the good life demands difficult moments? God is the comfort we can’t find anywhere else. We Can Engage Suffering with Compassion Job 2:11–13 Now when Job’s three friends heard of all this evil that had come upon him, they came each from his own place, Eliphaz the Temanite, Bildad the Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite. They made an appointment together to come to show him sympathy and comfort him. 12 And when they saw him from a distance, they did not recognize him. And they raised their voices and wept, and they tore their robes and sprinkled dust on their heads toward heaven. 13 And they sat with him on the ground seven days and seven nights, and no one spoke a word to him, for they saw that his suffering was very great. 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, 4 who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. We Can’t Equate Suffering with Sin Job 4:7–9 “Remember: who that was innocent ever perished? Or where were the upright cut off? 8 As I have seen, those who plow iniquity and sow trouble reap the same. 9 By the breath of God they perish, and by the blast of his anger they are consumed. Job 8:3-6 Does God pervert justice? Or does the Almighty pervert the right? 4 If your children have sinned against him, he has delivered them into the hand of their transgression. 5 If you will seek God and plead with the Almighty for mercy, 6 if you are pure and upright, surely then he will rouse himself for you and restore your rightful habitation. We Can Endure Suffering with Faith Job 3:1–5 After this Job opened his mouth and cursed the day of his birth. 2 And Job said: 3 “Let the day perish on which I was born, and the night that said, ‘A man is conceived.’ 4 Let that day be darkness! May God above not seek it, nor light shine upon it. 5 Let gloom and deep darkness claim it. Let clouds dwell upon it; let the blackness of the day terrify it. Job 13:15 Though he slay me, I will hope in him; yet I will argue my ways to his face. Job 19:25 For I know that my Redeemer lives, and at the last he will stand upon the earth. Psalm 121:1-2 I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come? [2] My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth. Job 19:25 For I know that my Redeemer lives, and at the last he will stand upon the earth. Lifepoint Women’s Gathering – Sept. 5 | 6:00–8:30 PM lp.life/women Lifepoint Men’s Gathering – Sept. 6 | 9:00–11:30 AM lp.life/men