Why Would God Let Why Would God Let This Happen?This Happen?

1. Logic Based Response…

1. Logic Based Response…

2. Relational Responses that touch the Heart

1. Logic Based Response…

2. Relational Responses that touch the Heart– COMMUNITYCOMMUNITY

1. Logic Based Response…

2. Relational Responses that touch the Heart– COMMUNITYCOMMUNITY– COMPASSIONCOMPASSION

1. The cross shows that God is 1. The cross shows that God is no stranger to pain and evilno stranger to pain and evil

1. The cross shows that God is 1. The cross shows that God is no stranger to pain and evilno stranger to pain and evil

– Isaiah 63:9 (NIV) Isaiah 63:9 (NIV) In all their In all their distress he too was distressed…distress he too was distressed…

2. The cross shows that God 2. The cross shows that God loves on through pain and loves on through pain and sufferingsuffering

2. The cross shows that God 2. The cross shows that God loves on through pain and loves on through pain and sufferingsuffering–1 Peter 4:19 (NIV) 1 Peter 4:19 (NIV) So then, those So then, those

who suffer according to God’s will who suffer according to God’s will should commit themselves to their should commit themselves to their faithful Creator andfaithful Creator andcontinue to do good.continue to do good.

3. The cross shows how God 3. The cross shows how God uses pain and transforms eviluses pain and transforms evil

3. The cross shows how God 3. The cross shows how God uses pain and transforms eviluses pain and transforms evil–1 Corinthians 2:8 (NIV) 1 Corinthians 2:8 (NIV) None of the None of the

rulers of this age understood it, for rulers of this age understood it, for if they had, they would not have if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.crucified the Lord of glory.

1 SOMETIMES GOD USES 1 SOMETIMES GOD USES SUFFERING IN NATURE AND SUFFERING IN NATURE AND HUMAN NATUREHUMAN NATURE

2 SOMETIMES GOD USES 2 SOMETIMES GOD USES SUFFERING AND PAIN IN SUFFERING AND PAIN IN OUR SPIRITUAL LIFE TOO. OUR SPIRITUAL LIFE TOO.

3 SOMETIMES GOD USES PAIN 3 SOMETIMES GOD USES PAIN TO TEACH US. TO TEACH US.

–Hebrews 12:7-8 (NIV) Hebrews 12:7-8 (NIV) Endure Endure hardship as discipline; God is hardship as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For what son treating you as sons. For what son is not disciplined by his father? If is not disciplined by his father? If you are not disciplined (and you are not disciplined (and everyone undergoes discipline), everyone undergoes discipline), then you are illegitimate children then you are illegitimate children and not true sons. and not true sons.

4 SOMETIMES GOD USES PAIN 4 SOMETIMES GOD USES PAIN TO EQUIP US. TO EQUIP US.

4 SOMETIMES GOD USES PAIN 4 SOMETIMES GOD USES PAIN TO EQUIP US. TO EQUIP US. –2 Corinthians 1:4 (NIV) Christ2 Corinthians 1:4 (NIV) Christ

comforts us in all our troubles, so comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we trouble with the comfort we ourselves have ourselves have received from God. received from God.

5 SOMETIMES GOD USES PAIN 5 SOMETIMES GOD USES PAIN TO DRAW US CLOSER TO TO DRAW US CLOSER TO HIMSELF. HIMSELF.

5 SOMETIMES GOD USES PAIN 5 SOMETIMES GOD USES PAIN TO DRAW US CLOSER TO TO DRAW US CLOSER TO HIMSELF. HIMSELF. –1 Peter 4:13 ‘But rejoice in so far 1 Peter 4:13 ‘But rejoice in so far

as you share Christ’s sufferings’as you share Christ’s sufferings’

Is God impervious to our pain?Is God impervious to our pain?–Hebrews 4:15-16 (The Message) Hebrews 4:15-16 (The Message)

We don’t have a priest who is out We don’t have a priest who is out of touch with our reality. He’s been of touch with our reality. He’s been through weakness and testing, through weakness and testing, experienced it all—all but the sin. experienced it all—all but the sin. So let’s walk right up to him and So let’s walk right up to him and get what he is so get what he is so ready to give. Take ready to give. Take the mercy, accept the help. the mercy, accept the help.

Is God impervious to our pain?Is God impervious to our pain?–2 Corinthians 5:21 (NIV) 2 Corinthians 5:21 (NIV) God made God made

him who had no sin to be sin for him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. the righteousness of God.

–2 Corinthians 5:21 (The Message) 2 Corinthians 5:21 (The Message) God put the wrong on him who God put the wrong on him who never did anything never did anything wrong, so we could be wrong, so we could be put right with God.put right with God.