Why Did This Happen? Pastor Dave Jansen June 18, 2017 Series: Cries of the Heart

Why do bad things happen?

Why do bad things happen?

1. Our Adversary is responsible for much of our adversity. Why do bad things happen? 1. Our Adversary is responsible for much of our adversity.

The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life. John 10:10 (NLT)

1. Our Adversary is responsible for much of our adversity. Why do bad things happen? 1. Our Adversary is responsible for much of our adversity.

Watch for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. 1 Peter 5:8 (NLT)

1. Our Adversary is responsible for much of our adversity. Why do bad things happen? 1. Our Adversary is responsible for much of our adversity.

Why do bad things happen?

2. Our own sins are often responsible for our suffering. Why do bad things happen? 2. Our own sins are often responsible for our suffering.

Why do bad things happen?

Why do bad things happen? 3. Our world is often responsible for our wounds.

To the woman he said, "I will greatly increase your pains in childbearing; with pain you will give birth to children. Your desire will be for your husband, and he will rule over you." To Adam he said, "Because you listened to your wife and ate from the tree about which I... (cont’d) Genesis 3:16-18 (NIV)

...commanded you, 'You must not eat of it,' "Cursed is the ground because of you; through painful toil you will eat of it all the days of your life. It will produce thorns and thistles for you, and you will eat the plants of the field. Genesis 3:16-18 (NIV)

Why do bad things happen? 3. Our world is often responsible for our wounds.

All creation was subjected to God’s curse. Romans 8:20 (NLT)

Why do bad things happen? 3. Our world is often responsible for our wounds.

Why does God allow us to experience pain?

Why does God allow us to experience pain?

1. God uses pain to get our attention Why does God allow us to experience pain? 1. God uses pain to get our attention

Why does God allow us to experience pain?

2. God uses pain to display his healing power Why does God allow us to experience pain? 2. God uses pain to display his healing power

This happened so the power of God could be seen in him. John 9:3 (NLT)

2. God uses pain to display his healing power Why does God allow us to experience pain? 2. God uses pain to display his healing power

Three different times I begged the Lord to take it away. Each time he said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me. (cont’d) 2 Corinthians 12:8-10 (NLT)

That’s why I take pleasure in my weaknesses, and in the insults, hardships, persecutions, and troubles that I suffer for Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong. 2 Corinthians 12:8-10 (NLT)

2. God uses pain to display his healing power Why does God allow us to experience pain? 2. God uses pain to display his healing power

Why does God allow us to experience pain?

3. God uses pain to grow our faith Why does God allow us to experience pain? 3. God uses pain to grow our faith

joy. For you know that when your Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing. James 1:2-4 (NLT)

3. God uses pain to grow our faith Why does God allow us to experience pain? 3. God uses pain to grow our faith

Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth? Tell me, if you know so much. Who determined its dimension and stretched out the surveying line? What supports its foundations, and who laid its cornerstone as the morning stars sang together and all the angels shouted for joy? Job 38:4-7 (NLT)

God’s answer to the why question is this: Trust me

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. Proverbs 3:5 (NIV)

All I know now is partial and incomplete, but then I will know everything completely. 1 Corinthians 13:12 (NLT)

do when this “Why?” question screams What should we do when this “Why?” question screams from within us?

this “Why?” question screams from within us? What should we do when this “Why?” question screams from within us?

this “Why?” question screams from within us? What should we do when this “Why?” question screams from within us? 1. Praise God anyway

The Lord gave me what I had, and the Lord has taken it away. Praise the name of the Lord!” Job 1:21 (NLT)

this “Why?” question screams from within us? What should we do when this “Why?” question screams from within us? 1. Praise God anyway

this “Why?” question screams from within us? What should we do when this “Why?” question screams from within us? 1. Praise God anyway 2. Lay your questions at the cross

this “Why?” question screams from within us? What should we do when this “Why?” question screams from within us? 1. Praise God anyway 2. Lay your questions at the cross 3. Look ahead

For our present troubles are small and won’t last very long For our present troubles are small and won’t last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever! So we don’t look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever. 2 Corinthians 4:17-18 (NLT)

my body has decayed, yet in my But as for me, I know that my Redeemer lives, and he will stand upon the earth at last. And after my body has decayed, yet in my body I will see God! Job 19:25-26 (NLT)

Why Did This Happen? Pastor Dave Jansen June 18, 2017 Series: Cries of the Heart