Introduction

Good morning, dear family in Christ. I am so grateful to stand before you today, to share in the warmth of our fellowship, and to delve into the profound depths of God's Word together. Today, we are going to be examining a portion of Scripture from the book of Job, a book that speaks to the human condition in a way that is both raw and real.

Our passage today is Job 3:11-13, 16, 20-21. It reads as follows:

"Why did I not perish at birth, and die as I came from the womb? Why were there knees to receive me and breasts that I might be nursed? For now I would be lying down in peace; I would be asleep and at rest... Or why was I not hidden away in the ground like a stillborn child, like an infant who never saw the light of day?... Why is light given to those in misery, and life to the bitter of soul, to those who long for death that does not come, who search for it more than for hidden treasures?"

These are heavy words, aren't they? They echo with the pain and confusion that Job was experiencing, and they resonate with us because we too have experienced our own seasons of pain and confusion.

Charles Spurgeon, the great preacher of the 19th century, once said, "Trials teach us what we are; they dig up the soil, and let us see what we are made of." Job's trials certainly revealed what he was made of, and as we examine his response to his trials, we can learn about our own response to the trials we face.

Our sermon today will focus on three main points: Painful Predicaments, Perplexing Questions, and Pursuit of Purpose. We will look at Job's painful predicaments, the perplexing questions he asked, and his pursuit of purpose in the midst of his pain.

But before we begin, let us bow our heads in prayer.

Painful Predicaments

Job's predicament was indeed painful. He had lost everything - his wealth, his children, his health. He was sitting in ashes, scraping his sores with a piece of broken pottery. His wife had told him to curse God and die. His friends had accused him of sinning and brought on his own suffering. Job was in a state of utter despair.

Yet, in the midst of his pain, Job did not curse God. He did not give up on his faith. Instead, he turned to God with his questions, his doubts, his fears. He poured out his heart to God, expressing his confusion and his longing for answers. He did not hide his emotions or pretend that everything was fine. He was honest with God about his pain.

This is the first aspect of Job's painful predicament that we need to understand. Job's pain was real, and it was intense. But he did not let his pain drive him away from God. Instead, he used his pain as a catalyst to draw closer to God. He used his pain as a means of deepening his relationship with God.

The second aspect of Job's painful predicament that we need to understand is that Job's pain was not a result of his sin. Job was a righteous man. He was blameless and upright. He feared God and shunned evil. Yet, he suffered greatly. His suffering was not a punishment for his sin. It was a test of his faith.

This is a hard truth for us to accept. We want to believe that if we do good, we will be rewarded. If we avoid sin, we will avoid suffering. But Job's story reminds us that this is not always the case. Sometimes, the righteous suffer. Sometimes, the blameless are afflicted. This does not mean that God is unjust. It means that we live in a fallen world, where suffering is a part of our existence.

The third aspect of Job's painful predicament that we need to understand is that Job's pain was not meaningless. It had a purpose. God allowed Job to suffer in order to test his faith. God allowed Job to suffer in order to refine his character. God allowed Job to suffer in order to reveal his glory.

This is a comforting truth for us to embrace. Our pain is not meaningless. It has a purpose. God can use our suffering to accomplish his purposes in our lives. He can use our suffering to draw us closer to him. He can use our suffering to refine our character. He can use our suffering to reveal his glory.

The fourth aspect of Job's painful predicament that we need to understand is that Job's pain was not eternal. It was temporary. Job's suffering came to an end. God restored his fortunes. God gave him twice as much as he had before. God blessed the latter part of Job's life more than the former part.

This is a hopeful truth for us to hold onto. Our pain is not eternal. It is temporary. Our suffering will come to an end. God will restore our fortunes. God will bless us. God will turn our mourning into dancing. God will turn our sorrow into joy.

So, as we reflect on Job's painful predicament, let us remember these four aspects. Let us remember that our pain can draw us closer to God. Let us remember that our suffering is not always a result of our sin. Let us remember that our pain has a purpose. And let us remember that our suffering is temporary. God is with us in our pain. He is our comforter, our healer, our redeemer. He is our hope in the midst of our painful predicaments.

Perplexing Questions

Job's questions are not unique to him ... View this full PRO sermon free with PRO