No matter where we turn, suffering seems to be all around us. If we turn on the TV, it’s there in the nightly news stories. Each day we hear of more deaths, more fighting, and more discord—no matter the country, city, or people. If we go online, we see suffering in the pictures, viral videos, and testimonies that are shared. When we look into one another’s faces, we can see its mark.
For many of us, the world feels out of control and seems to be getting worse by the day. The suffering we witness and experience can be overwhelming. It seems like one heartbreaking event gives birth to yet another, and many people have begun to wonder where God is amid all the sorrow. With all the pain, all the evil, all the suffering that people are going through, does God even see our pain or, worse yet, does He even care?
We have all weathered many storms. With a global pandemic, natural disasters, job changes, moves, lost relationships, deaths, and health complications, we are all well acquainted with sorrow and pain. Some days feel like too much to handle. Suffering has taught me to cry out to the Lord in new ways. The events taking place, not only in my personal life but around the world, have created in me a desire to learn more about lament.
Through my suffering, I’ve turned to the book of Psalms numerous times as I’ve tried to put into words the sorrow I was feeling in my heart. Many times I found myself reading David’s Psalms of lament and nodding my head in agreement. And never before could I understand the heartbreak of Lamentations and Jeremiah’s sorrow like I can now.
Suffering’s aim is our demise. But it doesn’t have to be that way.
I pray that as you embark on this study, you will learn that it is healthy to cry out to the Lord in sorrow, heartbreak, injustice, and pain. David, Jeremiah, and Paul have modeled well for us the importance of lamenting in the midst of our suffering. Like each of them, I pray that you will also learn to trust God at a deeper level and, in the end, learn to rejoice even in your sorrow.
You are not alone in your pain, heartbreak, and suffering. Jesus has walked that road before and will walk it with you, each step of the way. What Satan plans to use as our demise, God will use to strengthen our faith. So cry out to the Lord in your suffering; you don’t have to hold back the tears any longer. Jesus understands and He grieves with you. I pray that through this study, you too will learn to trust God in the midst of your suffering and regularly engage in the practice of lament.
We are looking forward to starting the Trusting God in the Midst of Suffering study with you on MONDAY!
Grab your new journal today in our online store!
Looking for our online Bible study group to join? You can find our Love God Greatly Online Bible Study group here!
Friend, it’s never too late to join us!
To find out more about this study and our journal, click the image below!
100% of the proceeds from your order go straight back to the ministry, helping us fight biblical illiteracy around the world and equip women with God’s Word in 40+ languages.
Thank YOU for your investment and support!
Read more about our mission and the languages we reach here.
—
More from Love God Greatly:
