Theme of the Week: Why Is Life So Hard?
Bible Verse: Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble, and he delivered them from their distress. Psalm 107:6
Scripture Reading: Psalm 107:6, 13, 19, 28
I want to close this week by focusing on the refrain that is repeated several times in the Psalm. Each group of sufferers cries out to the Lord in their trouble, and the Lord delivers them.
Some people, like the rebels and the fools, suffer because of something they have done. They need to humble themselves and repent. They need to stop doing the wrong thing to reduce their suffering.
Others, like the losers, the victims, and the beloved, suffer because of what someone else has done. They need grace to be able to endure those difficult times. They need to seek the loving Lord for strength, patience, and forgiveness, things that Jesus can and longs to offer.
And Jesus understands our suffering. No one knows suffering better than Christ. He has experienced rejection, abandonment, isolation, false accusation, torture, loneliness, hunger, thirst, tiredness, and, ultimately, death. Isaiah 53:3-5 says:
He was despised and rejected by mankind,
a man of suffering, and familiar with pain.
Like one from whom people hide their faces
he was despised, and we held him in low esteem.
Surely he took up our pain
and bore our suffering,
yet we considered him punished by God,
stricken by him, and afflicted.
But he was pierced for our transgressions,
he was crushed for our iniquities;
No matter the reason for the suffering, God is there to deliver his people. His kindness extends to each and every one of them and, consequently, to us.
Prayer: Lord, thank you that you are good and your love endures forever. Help me to keep my eyes fixed on you and press into you during times of hardship and suffering. I look forward to telling the story of how you carried me through this difficult and challenging time to those who need hope. Thank you for using me to bring you glory. Amen.
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