God's Grace in our Suffering
9.24.23. Mars Hill UMC
<Our Suffering>
I would like to ask the question David Powlison posed in his book "God's Grace in Your Suffering": "In your life, what is the single most significant experience of suffering that you have gone through? It could be the most intense, the most painful, the most enduring suffering, the one that lasted the longest, the one that never went away, the most pervasive sorrow in your life, the thing that touched the most parts of your life, the one that put its fingerprints on everything, the most distressing, and the most devastating."
There are four types of suffering in our lives: birth, aging, illness, and death. These different forms of suffering affect various developmental stages and ages. We are born into suffering. There is suffering for a baby to come out of a mother's womb, just as there is suffering for a mother during delivery. Hannah's suffering in her pre-K school experience is the most significant for her. Youth also endure suffering during their growth. Students face suffering as they progress through high school, college, and larger institutions. As we age, we may experience illness, whether physical, mental, emotional, or even spiritual. It's challenging when we can't do what we used to do. We also face suffering when we deal with the death of loved ones, which is the most powerful form of suffering in our lives.
Recently, I was diagnosed with thyroid cancer, introducing new suffering into my life. However, God has given me special blessings that I wouldn't have received without this experience. I would call this "God's Grace." May God help us connect our suffering to His Grace today.
<Paul's First Missionary Journey>
In our ongoing journey through Paul's missionary travels, we now explore the journey of God's grace in his first missionary journey. This journey took place in AD 48-49, as recorded in Acts 13-14. Paul traveled through several places, including Seleucia, Cyprus, Salamis, Paphos, Perga, Pamphylia (where John Mark left them), Antioch in Pisidia, Iconium, Lystra, and Derbe. During this journey, he wrote the book of Galatians, emphasizing Jesus as the way to be part of God's family by faith, not through adherence to other rules (Judaism).
Paul and Barnabas initially encountered Jewish people on their journey, referring to them as brothers, part of Abraham's family, and God-fearing people. Paul highlighted that Jewish leaders had condemned and killed Jesus but proclaimed God's Grace in His resurrection, inviting them to receive God's grace through forgiveness. Despite facing persecution, their message spread.
<God's Grace in Paul and Barnabas' Suffering>
As they faced jealousy and blasphemy from the Jewish people, Paul and Barnabas turned to the Gentiles. In Acts 13:48, we see God's grace at work as the Gentiles received and praised the word of the Lord.
Despite enduring more suffering and persecution, the disciples found joy and the Holy Spirit's presence in Acts 13:52. In Iconium, the suffering continued, with Jews inciting the Gentiles and mistreating Paul and Barnabas. Yet, God's grace prevailed as they performed signs and wonders and spoke the word of His grace.
The suffering escalated in Lystra, where Jews from Antioch in Pisidia and Iconium stoned Paul, leaving him seemingly dead. However, God's grace closed this tragic chapter in Acts 14:22-23. The next day, they continued their journey, strengthening disciples, appointing elders, and spreading the word.
<God's Grace in Our Suffering>
What will be the ending of your story of suffering? How do you connect God's grace and your suffering? Instead of a quick answer, let's reflect slowly to experience God's grace in our suffering.
God's grace is present in my suffering. I have found simplicity amid the complexity of life. I used to strive for perfection and juggle numerous tasks simultaneously. However, my suffering has made me realize that I can't do everything, shouldn't do everything, and don't need to do everything. My meditation on the most powerful suffering, "death," has led to more significant self-awareness. Overcoming the fear of death grants us the power to live more fully, focusing on the purpose of our lives. This experience has increased my understanding of those in suffering. Paul and Barnabas' journey, with God's grace in their suffering, inspires me to find God's grace in my suffering. We are not fighting for victory, but we are fighting from victory, with the final triumph of God's grace.
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