THE POSITIVE SIDE OF OUR TRIALS

Jeremiah 29:10-14

INTRODUCTION: The Bible is a very practical Book. It is the story of God dealing with mankind and man kind’s dealing with mankind. Sadly most of the story is written as a tragedy filled with trials and tears.

I. TRIALS, HURTS, AND TEARS!

So often in the Bible we see stories of trials, hurts and tears: Psalm 56:1-8. King Davide wept over his son, Absalom, even though his own son betrayed him and wanted to kill King David: 2 Samuel 18:31-33. The Bible is the story of mankind in trials, pain, and tears because of our sin: Genesis 23:1-2; Genesis 37:33-35; Genesis 49:33-50:1. At times we weep over desires that it seems will never come true: 1 Samuel 1:1-10. Many times the Bible tells stories of people who knew what they should do but failed to do it and it brought them to tears: Matthew 26:73-75. Now we are told plainly in the Bible that there are times we ought to weep: Ecclesiastes 3:1-8. The shortest verse in the Bible shows even our Lord Jesus Christ wept: John 11:35. Of all the creatures our Lord made only mankind weeps!

II. WHY ALL THE TRIALS, HURTS, AND TEARS?

Many wonder: “Why didn’t God make this a world where all the people are well? Why is there so much pain in this world? Why is life so hard? The answer is when God created mankind on this earth, he created him to live without struggle or pain: Genesis 2:16-17. When we chose to disobey the Lord it brings suffering and pain, not just to ourselves but to everyone and everything else: Genesis 3:1-6. Our God is a God of His Word even when it grieves Him: Psalm 138:2; Genesis 3:16-19.

III. OUR TEARS MAKE US DESIRE A BETTER PLACE!

If this present world did not have all the trouble, tears, and trials it has this would be a good enough heaven for us. But since this life is full of trouble, trials and tears God has prepared a better place for those who trust Him: Romans 8:18-24. Our Lord uses the trials, hurts, and tears of this sin cursed earth to give us a desire for a better life. Job is a good example here: Job 1:6-11. Satan also does the same thing to us to this very day: 1 Peter 5:8-11. As we look around us at all the pain and tears of this life, the next life in heaven looks really good! Hebrews 11:13-16. We all want to direct our own lives, but our God tells us it does not work well: Jeremiah 10:23; 1 Corinthians 6:19-20. When we fail to acknowledge our dependency on our God, the results are tears which drive us to our God!

IV. OUR TRIALS AND TEARS PREPARE US FOR THE MINISTRY OF COMFORT!

The longer we live and the more trials we have gone through make us excellent comforters of those going through the same trials the Lord has already brought us through. 2 Corinthians 1:3-4. Yes, our God is a Comforter. He also in the Person of our Lord Jesus Christ has experienced the sorrows and pains of this world: Hebrews 4:15-16. Our Lord desires to use our pain and tears to make us better, not bitter: Romans 8:28-29. In our trials we need not go through them alone: Matthew 11:28-30.