2. WHO SAID LIFE WAS FAIR?? Is There Any Rational Explanation As To Why Bad Things Happen To Good People? Ecclesiastes 8:10-14, 9:1-2, 11-12 Ecclesiastes 2:12-17 We Live in A “Broken” World 2Corinthians 11:23-27, 12:6-10 There Is No Escape… At Some Point Bad Things Will Happen To All Of Us

3. Many Think Life Promised Them A Rose Garden One Needs To Remember Rose Bushes Have Thorns As Well As Flowers There Will Be Days Of “Darkness” Ecclesiastes 11:7-8 Job 5:7, 14:1,22 Psalms 32:3-4 We Can Bring About Suffering From Our Own Sins Law Of Consequences: Intended & Unintended Is It Possible To Find A Positive In Something Negative? “casting all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you”

4. JOB “Why Me?” HE SUFFERED: Loss of family; Possessions; Reputation/Mocked; Physical Health MENTAL STATE: Wished he was never born; Thought life unjust; Severely depressed COMFORTED: By God Learned patience in suffering. Complete trust in God’s wisdom though we may not understand ourselves HE SUFFERED: Death threat against him; Forced into hiding MENTAL STATE: Extreme depression; Sought death; Loneliness COMFORTED: Attend to physical health; Direct to get busy; Misconceptions corrected Learned he was not alone. God will not forsake His people ELIJAH “Take My Life”

5. DAVID “My Body Wasted Away” HE SUFFERED: Guilt, which led to a cover up and a death MENTAL STATE: An emotional and physical wreck. Extreme depression COMFORTED: Reproved, then repented of sins. Granted forgiveness Learned God is abundant in mercy and forgives those who truly mourn over their sins SUFFERED: Physical afflictions; Threats of violence; Imprisonment; Burden of concern for church MENTAL STATE: Fear; Conflicts on every side; Anxiety COMFORTED: News of problem resolved Learned God provides abundant comfort for those who love Him and seek to do His will PAUL “Daily Pressure Upon Me”

6. SUFFERING CAN COME FROM EXTERNAL & INTERNAL FORCES Galatians 5:19-21 Proverbs 26:28 Suffering from sinful behavior of others Proverbs 8:36, 11:19,31 Suffering from own sinful behavior Acts 11:28 Philippians 2:25-27 Suffering from natural law Trial Under Pressure: Part Of The Human Experience Sometimes Things Just Happen: Luke 13:2-5

7. There Will Be “Those Days” Matthew 6:34 Live Only One Day At A Time Prepare & Learn To Handle Difficult Life Situations Matt. 11:28-30 Really Trust God Psalms 46:1, 55:22 Learn To REALLY Pray Luke 11:1 1Peter 5:7 Develop Inner Calm & Christian Friendships GET A FIRM HANDLE/GRIP DON’T GIVE IN TO “DRAMA”