How do we respond to suffering? (sermon by Kelly Krammer for Homiletics class 2010)

A 22 year old student at a theological college in the US paid her school fees by ministering to inner city youth. She married her “high school sweet heart” who worked mowing lawns and teaching handicap youth how to play basketball. They get the news: she’s pregnant! It’s a girl! On the big day, the husband rushes her to the hospital only to find out that the baby they had named Zoe (or life) was strangled by mom’s umbilical cord.

They suffered.

They courted for 7 years before marriage; everyone could tell they were in love. He loved to sing for the Lord; she loved to play and teach the children. They married in June. All their friends looked up to their godly relationship. Until one day, two months into their marriage, a drunk driver ran her over as she walked on the side of the street. She died upon impact; the drunk lived; the husband lived… in agony.

They suffered.

A ten year old girl stared into the beautiful brown eyes of her baby brother, her eyes filled with tears as she remembered her father and mother who died one after another due to AIDS. Her other brother returned from the river with a jerrican full of muddy water and a handful of unga. They stared at each other wondering if they would live to see another day.

They suffered.

Bad things happen to good people.

Often times we immediately ask: Why God? Why me? We did you do this? Or why didn’t you do that? And these are natural and even fair questions, but I would like to propose that the point behind the suffering is not always WHY?, but rather HOW?

I believe this is one point we can draw out of Job 2:7-10. As you are flipping your Bibles to this passage, let me give you the context around it. In the first chapter of Job we meet Job and his family. We find out that he was “blameless and upright, and one who feared God and shunned evil” (1:1)- a good person. We also get to peek into a meeting held in heaven in which God and Satan speak. God tells Satan about Job and Satan basically says, “Of course Job is a good person, he has everything he could ever want- his life is good. But I bet if he weren’t so comfortable, he would curse You.” So God says, “Let’s see… do what you want to him, just don’t hurt him physically.” God allowed Satan to bring suffering to Job. Job loses his property and children and instead of mourning, we see in 1:20, Job worshipped God. So Satan and God meet again and God gave him permission to harm Job physically, sparing only his life. That is where we pick up in 2:7-10. (READ)

Was there any reason why Job suffered? Any WHY? His friends later on try to give their answers saying there was sin in his life, he needs to repent, he is wicked…. And some may say that in the end, Job is more materially blessed and learned a great lesson on pride and humility.

But we must realize that Job was not being punished for anything he had or hadn’t done. It wasn’t a cause and effect thing… Although we can bring suffering upon ourselves because of sin as we see in

Gal 6:8- 8The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature[a]will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life.

Although that can be true… God continually repeats that Job was blameless.

Job did not know about the conversations that God and Satan were having in heaven. He was just living his life and all of a sudden within two days, he had lost everything he owned, all of his children and now he was in pain, covered with boils all over his body. And in the end we see that God does not give us an answer to Why? Rather he tells us that we are even too small to ask that question… he’s angered by Job’s friends who tried to justify Job’s suffering and He blesses Job for persevering through suffering. So, could we say that this story is not about why we suffer, but rather how? In 2:8-10, I think we get a glimpse into how we should suffer.

1. By Acknowledging our suffering/pain.
“And he took for himself a potsherd with which to scrape himself while he sat in the midst of the ashes” (8).
Job did not pretend like he was not suffering.
I had a friend who came to me one day. She was coughing and sneezing, her eyes where bloodshot, she could barely breathe… or even stand. When I went to ask her how she was and see if there was anything I could do, she answered, “In the name of Jesus, I am not sick!!!” But the truth was, she was sick. Could Jesus heal her, sure… He is a healer, but don’t we need to be sick in order to be healed.
Job knew he was in pain, and he did as many would do if they had the same condition- he took himself to the place where the lepers would go, away from others, outside the city and he scraped his wounds.

In suffering, we should not only acknowledge our suffering, but also we can respond to suffering…

2. By holding fast to our integrity and faith in a sovereign God
“Then his wife said to him, “Do you still hold fast to your integrity? Curse God and die!” (9)
Job’s wife tried to discourage him. He was even tempted because he, himself knew that living in this pain and suffering was worse than being dead, and his wife held that in front of his face. But it is clear that his wife saw that he was still holding fast to his integrity. In the midst of all the pain and suffering, Job’s character was shining through- His faith in God remained strong. He did not completely understand what was happening or why, but he trusted that God knew and that God’s will and purposes were greater than his comfort.

We can respond to suffering…

3. By coming against discouragement
“But he said to her, “You speak as one of the foolish women speaks. Shall we indeed accept good from God, and shall we not accept adversity?”” (10).
Job came against discouragement from his wife. Job’s very own wife spoke as someone who rejects God. Job could have given into the discouragement, followed the foolish advice, but instead he shows his trust and confidence in God and does not heed to his wife.

We can respond to suffering…

4. By refraining from sin. Do not sin.
"In all this Job did not sin with his lips” (10).
That’s quite self explanatory. However, it is much easier said than done. How many of us have found ourselves in situations where pain and suffering seem so difficult that we begin to question God. We begin to doubt him. We doubt his sovereignty. We doubt his plans. We doubt his goodness. I know that I, for one, am not innocent of this. Some of us fall into pits of depression; often times it is in the face of suffering that many turn from God and resort to other coping methods besides God like drinking, love of another, witch doctors, medicine…etc.
Suffering can either make or break you. But God has set us up for victory; we must choose it!

Even in suffering, when you are tempted to doubt or sin against God- know that you can make it, that He will give you a way out.

Let me encourage you that when the devil, who comes to kill, steal and destroy, brings suffering your way, you should respond by:

1. Acknowledging your suffering/pain
2. Holding fast to your integrity and faith in a sovereign God.
3. Coming against discouragement.
4. Refraining from sin.

Let us pray.

My mommy....

My mommy has been asking about when I would update my blog... so I thought I would do so quickly now. Life is good because God is good... when we start looking at like from a Kingdom perspective, we see a lot of amazing things and understand even our failures and sufferings in a different light.
I am currently on midterm break from school. I cant believe I have been in Kenya for over a year, but at the same time, I can totally believe it... life is here! My classes are pretty good this term. I have Systematic Theology with Dr Black- let me tell you, this guy is all about deconstructing our preconceived notions and brainwashed traditions and challenging us to think for ourselves and know what we believe and why. Its tough and amazing. Then there is homiletics (preaching)- will give my first exegetical sermon at NEGST in a week... any suggestions on passage to use? Greek- what?!? You know the saying "It's all Greek to me!" Imagine actually studying Greek... let's just say I took my midterm exam yesterday and left there like, "I either got 100% or 50%." Not a great feeling... but its over with and all i can do is pray that God will help through the rest of the three terms of Greek :) And finally, I have Pentateuch (first five books in OT). It is really interesting as well, seeing as though it is my first Bible book class at NEGST. I just turned in a paper on Deception on Genesis that really challenged me and made my ask questions I had never thought of asking before.
Then, there is ministry. I am still singing with Nairobi Chapel Worship team and loving it! Also, am leading YUP (Youth with Unlimited Potential). It is on NEGST campus. A lot of the youth seem to live their lives with little accountability or instruction on things that interest them, things that really matter to them in their lives as youth. We meet every Monday for a few hours. This term, we just finished our series on music (thank you Kerah and DJ Krowbar) and will begin our next series on relationships after the midterm break. God is doing amazing things in the lives of the youth- truly transforming their minds and therefore, there actions to be focused on Him and His ways! Also part of YUP, we have the YUP band- we try to lead chapel at least once a term... this is a time for the youth to get exposed in the area of using their musical gifts for the Lord... also been awesome!
Suvia Childrens Home is doing well. I visited a few months ago and plan on visiting Oct 23rd. I will update yall on how that goes. This time we are partnering with many people. My E-group (Bible Study) will do a program in the morning of songs and skits and crafts and games. We will eat lunch with the girls, then K-krew guys will do an awesome concert for the community. Furthermore, I have some amazing friends who are donating dresses and other things to the girls that we will deliver on that day! (Thanks to everyone involved!)
What else? Plan on giving some vocal lessons to youth. Tried guitar lessons again... but decided need to do it at a time when the time and passion are both there. Hope to start painting and writing songs again. Been supporting my three little girls from church. Friends are good, although the move off campus as changed many of those friendship dynamics in good and sad ways. My E-group is awesome- iMPRINT! Although, we have been going through some tough times- many friends and family members of iMPRINT members have passed away in the last two months (keep them in your prayers). Anything else will have to wait to be updated next time... I just got served uji by my wonderful roommates- Sally na Marion! Gotta go! Peace and love!