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27 Aug, 2008

It makes sense when life doesn't

Pain and suffering raises questions, but it also provides answers.

Today's Story

Jesus Endured The Ultimate Pain And Suffering...

...Because He Is The Ultimate Answer To All Of Our Questions...

C.S. Lewis said, "God whispers to us in our pleasures; speaks in our conscience; but shouts in our pains. It's His megaphone to rouse a deaf world."

photos courtesy images.google.com

God's Story

Romans 8:28 (NLT)

28 And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.

1 Peter 3:14-16 (NLT)

14 But even if you suffer for doing what is right, God will reward you for it. So don?t worry or be afraid of their threats. 15 Instead, you must worship Christ as Lord of your life. And if someone asks about your Christian hope, always be ready to explain it. 16 But do this in a gentle and respectful way. Keep your conscience clear. Then if people speak against you, they will be ashamed when they see what a good life you live because you belong to Christ.

As we wrap up this series on "GOOD" OUT OF BAD, let's review:

We found out from Paul that God causes everything to work for our "good". That "good" is that God wants us to glorify Him as we become more like Jesus Christ.

One of those "good" results is that PAIN AND SUFFERING CAN TEACH US. Remember, God's purpose is to make us Holy, not happy.

Another "good" is that PAIN AND SUFFERING CAN GLORIFY GOD THROUGH US. When Christians personally apply the truths of Who God is, in their lives, God is glorified through the pain and suffering of His children.

PAIN AND SUFFERING CAN PURIFY US. The trials that we face in life are part of the process that God uses to refine us by "fire". If we respond to the "fire" by trusting God, our faith is strengthened and we become useful to serve God.

God's discipline proves that He loves us even more than we understand. Another "good" out of bad is that PAIN AND SUFFERING CAN MATURE US. Our loving Father uses it to help us grow up to be more like Jesus Christ.

PAIN AND SUFFERING CAN EQUIP US TO COMFORT OTHERS. God doesn't always remove our troubles, but He always provides comfort as we endure life's hard times. God is equipping us to some day bring His comfort to others.

What does today's God's Story scripture teach us about another "good" result that can come out of pain and suffering?

PAIN AND SUFFERING CAN REACH US AND OTHERS. Life's trials often cause people to seek answers to difficult questions. Only Jesus Christ offers hope because He died to forgive our sins and rose from the dead to prove that He alone is the answer to the ultimate question about life and death. Can others see your hope in Christ?

Are you ready and willing to tell them what Christ has done in your life?

My Story

How can we connect today's God's Story scripture to our lives?

Thank God that though He will not keep you from all pain and suffering, He will never leave you alone with your problems. Praise Him for being in control, infinite in wisdom, and that His love for you is perfect! Ask Him for the faith you need to trust Him when you are tested. Let God know of your desire to let Him teach you about Himself. Ask Jesus to help you glorify Him in tough times. Ask God's Spirit to point out to you any impurities in your life that you need to confess and then thank Jesus for His forgiveness. Thank God that He will use pain and suffering to discipline you to grow in spiritual maturity. Ask God to show you opportunities to bring comfort to someone else who is facing a difficult challenge that you've already faced with God's love and strength. Thank God that His Spirit will use pain and suffering to reach people. Ask for loving courage to be able to share your hope in Christ with others.
Write down examples of how God gives you the opportunity to learn another person's story of need; to share your story of knowing Christ; and to share God's story of hope through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Talk to your youth leader, pastor or another Christian friend about what you've written down and ask for their input and prayer. Find a cause you can support through prayer or become involved with in your community.

Their Story

How can we connect today's story and God's Story scripture and our story to others?

Pray regularly for the opportunity to share the answer you have found in Christ with others who are looking for hope in the middle of life's difficult questions.
Share this DAILYBIDE about "good" out of "bad" with a friend, your small group or your youth group.

About Daily Devos

The Daily Bide is brought to you by a team of writers from Youth for Christ/USA. The writers all have various years of experience in youth ministry but share a common bond in serving Jesus and discovering what it means to abide deeply everyday and to connect God's Story with those around them. A number of the Daily Bide writers have also written portions of our 3Story® resources. You can check out our resources at the 3Story.org website or connect with our writers at 3story@yfc.net. If you have a question or a story you would like to share, please reference the Daily Bide date in your email.

YFC works with young people on campus and in the community in over one hundred countries around the world so that they might have an opportunity to become a follower of Christ and be a part of a local church.