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 Thanks, Robert. And thanks, Luca. And as Luca said, my name's Archie. I'm one of the ministry

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 trainees here at Brunsfield. I'd be really grateful if you could keep Job 3 open in front

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 of you. You'll find that really helpful as we go through this morning. Let me begin by asking a

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 question. What makes comedy, comedy? Katie and I were recently watching Hot Fuzz together.

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 It's a well-known comedy. If you haven't seen it, it's a film. And it has some properly hilarious

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 moments in it. But it's not the laughter that makes it a comedy. A comedy is about the shape

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 of the story. This story, it begins with this incredibly impressive fledgling big city police

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 officer. But very quickly, things start to go wrong for him. He loses his girl. He's transferred to the

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 countryside. And when he gets there, he realizes that it's not all as it seems. Murderers left,

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 right and center. It all seems to be going wrong. But spoiler alert, because of course,

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 it ends with him riding into town on horseback and winning the day. That's the shape of a comedy.

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 It's like a smiley face. Glorious beginnings, a downward spiral, but a hopeful and victorious

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 conclusion. That's a comedy. A tragedy is the opposite. We know the shape of a tragedy,

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 the Braveheart or the Titanic, dare I say Scottish football. It's like a frown, humble beginnings,

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 a triumphant climax, and then a bitter return to the grave. And most stories take one or other

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 of these shapes. They're either a comedy or a tragedy. But what about our story?

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 What about the story of life? Is life a comedy or a tragedy? What's the shape of our story?

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 Do we come into this world and then climb and grab and achieve and enjoy whatever we can,

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 making the most of our short time here on earth? And then at the end of it all, do we simply just

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 return to where we've begun? Nothingness, despite the thrills of life? That's a tragedy,

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 is it not? But that's the story that we tell, isn't it? But that really isn't how life goes.

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 My life certainly hasn't taken that shape. I wonder, has yours taken that shape? I mean,

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 even if you're one of those lucky enough to have really quite a good life, maybe you even just have

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 a positive attitude in life. You have to say that life isn't always rosy, is it? I mean,

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 you can't guarantee a smooth ride. In fact, what you can guarantee is the opposite.

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 We all face it at some point, don't we? Horrific suffering. Have you ever lost someone that you

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 loved? I mean, really loved? It's horrible, that feeling, isn't it? If you haven't,

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 you probably will at some point. I think more or less all of us face that at some point in life.

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 If you've ever been properly ill or injured yourself, real pain, real anxiety, real fear.

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 Have you ever asked yourself, am I even going to survive this?

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 Have you faced that? Because again, if you haven't, you will.

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 At some point in life, most of us will probably face that kind of real,

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 am I going to survive this sort of suffering at least a couple of times in our lives?

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 And ultimately, we all face it in the end, don't we, when we face death.

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 So our story, it simply doesn't take that shape of tragedy, that frown, beginning and ending awfully,

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 but with nothing but pleasure in between. Life isn't like that. Life is more complex than that.

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 Life is harder than that. Life is more full of suffering than that.

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 We've got to be honest about this as Christians.

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 You know, very often, non-Christian friends of mine will ask me if I'm one of those happy,

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 clappy Christians. Have you ever been asked that? Happy, clappy Christian?

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 To be honest, I don't think they mean much by it. I think they're just sort of asking whether we

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 have a guitar or an organ when we sing. But when I'm asked if we're happy, clappy Christians,

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 I want to get annoyed. Because the idea that Christianity should be happy,

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 clappy all the time, just makes no sense to me. It ignores the reality of the world that we live in.

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 Friends, whatever it is that you're facing, I've said this before and I will say it again.

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 Friends, do not be ashamed of your suffering as a Christian. The Bible doesn't promise us a life

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 free from suffering. The Bible doesn't pretend that our lives are going to take that shape

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 of a tragedy. If you've been here at all in the last few weeks, as we've been in Job in the mornings

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 and in James in the evening, it's just been so clear that the Bible doesn't expect the Christian life

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 to be a happy, clappy life. A life without suffering. A life where all we do is rejoice all the time.

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 But is there a better story? The shape of a comedy? Not a story that says our suffering is funny or that

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 is anything other than complicated as it is. But is there a story that is marked by a downward spiral

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 where things go wrong and life is hard, but a hopeful story that ends with glorious, victorious,

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 eternal peace and rest? What's the story? What's Job's story? Just think about where we've been in

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 the last couple of weeks in Job. Look at what the guy has suffered. In chapter one, everything he owns

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 is taken away. And in that same chapter, his entire family is killed. And last week, even his own

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 health is afflicted. And we might be thinking that that sort of suffering really isn't normal.

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 Surely Job has done something to deserve it. But of course he hasn't, has he? I mean, do you remember

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 why Job suffered? It was specifically because of his faith, specifically because he trusted God. Job didn't

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 deserve it at all. In fact, Job is often held up as an incredible example of faith. That's how the

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 New Testament frames it. Faith through and despite suffering. He is that. I mean, in chapter one,

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 verse 21, he responds to his first bout of suffering by saying this, the Lord gave and the Lord has taken

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 away. May the name of the Lord be praised. It's what we've just sung, isn't it? And it's a brilliant,

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 faithful response to suffering that. In chapter two, verse 10, something similar. Shall we accept good

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 from God, Job says, and not trouble? Job is a wonderful example of faith in the face of suffering.

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 But too often, I think, when we think of Job, we stop at those verses. And we simply say, well, then if we

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 suffer, we just need to keep trusting that our God is good and he is working it all out in his purposes.

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 And that's true. But this book, the book of Job, it also gives us room to express our curses, our cries,

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 and our questions as we suffer. That's exactly what Job does next. And what we've just had read for us

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 by Robert in chapter three of this story. And it's really powerful. One of the reasons it's so powerful

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 is because it's Hebrew poetry. And much of the rest of this book, in fact, pretty much all of the rest of

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 this book is written in Hebrew poetry. Actually, 30% of our Bibles are written in Hebrew poetry. So I

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 think it's probably worth just noting a couple of things about how Hebrew poetry works before we begin,

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 because it's really not like English poetry. It doesn't have a sort of rhyming or rhythmical

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 scheme to it. I mean, it obviously doesn't have that in translation, but the Hebrew doesn't have that

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 either. Instead, what we get is these repeated, identical or intentionally contrasting ideas.

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 Have a look at verse 11 of chapter three. We've just had that read for us, but here's a simple

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 example. Why did I not perish at birth and die as I came from the womb? Do you see both those lines say

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 essentially exactly the same thing as each other, don't they? They're repeated ideas with slightly

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 different imagery. And there's the other thing about this poetry. It's full of highly charged

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 imagery. Of course, our poetry in English can be too, but in Hebrew, there's metaphor in virtually

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 every single line. And the purpose of that is to engage our imaginations. It's a bit like watching

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 Downton Abbey or Bridgerton on TV compared to reading a history book about the same period. When we are

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 reading poetry, it isn't just there to give us information like history books are. They just

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 give us, make us think in a certain way, don't they? History books. But instead, poetry is art. It's a bit

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 like a TV drama. It's meant to make us feel a certain way. And so in chapter three, as Job offers a curse,

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 a cry and a question, the poetry is simply there to help us feel that with him, to help us sit with him

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 as he suffers. But it also helps us think about our own suffering and what to do with it. So let's dive

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 in together into Job's curse in verses one to 10. You see right away in verse one, what this curse is all

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 about. You see that in verse one, Job opened his mouth and cursed the day of his birth. He's desperately

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 looking back and saying, the day on which I was born was a bad, bad day, a day that should never

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 have existed. Do you see that in verse three, may the day of my birth perish and the night that said a boy

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 is conceived. Not only does he curse the day on which he was born, but the very day on which he was

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 conceived. The day on which mum and dad came together, the moment that two DNAs fused and became

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 one unique and valuable human being, that beautiful day. May that day be cursed. May it in verse four

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 turn to darkness. May God above not care about it. May no light shine on it. Just appreciate the imagery

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 here. In the beginning, God created the world and he said, let there be light. Job says on that day,

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 let there be darkness. Let that day cease to exist. Let that day be uncreated. And do you see how that

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 imagery is repeated in verses five and six? Gloom, utter darkness, a cloud, blackness, thick darkness.

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 And again, in verse nine, may its morning stars become dark. In other words, as Job looks back,

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 he says, may the sun fail to rise on that day. May it be dark and remain dark. Ignoring all the

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 blessings that he has received. Remember, Job is an incredibly wealthy man. He has a large family,

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 a very happy life. But he looks back and he sees right through all of that to curse that day.

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 And isn't that just such a normal thing to do when things go wrong? To forget about the good

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 in between and just look back in desperate gloom. And so Job says, will you join me in cursing that day?

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 In verse eight, may those who curse days curse that day. Those who are ready to rouse Leviathan.

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 And you're into cursing days. Will you curse that day with me? Job says, will you call upon Leviathan?

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 We're going to come across this character Leviathan again, but just picture with me for now a great,

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 big, massive sea monster, really just a symbol for chaos and evil. In Hebrew poetry, the sea is

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 basically the go-to anti-God image. Will you call upon that chaos with me, Job says, and curse that day?

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 And it's a ridiculous thing that, isn't it? Because birth is such a wonderful, joyous thing.

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 The shape of our story, it can't be a tragedy because it doesn't start sad.

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 And so to curse that day feels ridiculous. And so why does Job do it?

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 Well, at the end of the section in verse 10,

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 to hide trouble from my eyes, I wish I should never have been born.

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 Then at least I would have been spared this suffering.

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 And that makes more sense, doesn't it? It's not really his birth that's the problem here.

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 It's his story. Because it takes the same shape as yours. It's the same shape as mine.

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 A life marked by times of trouble. That's not the shape of a tragedy at all, is it? It's the shape of a comedy.

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 And Job is stuck looking back. Looking back at his suffering. Looking back at the day of his birth.

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 And we do that too, don't we? I mean, you probably know what it feels like getting stuck in a rut where we can't help but remember.

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 Maybe you faced some untold trauma.

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 There was a moment in your life that seems to have defined your suffering.

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 Maybe some scars, a constant physical reminder of your suffering.

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 You might have a very specific moment to blame your suffering on.

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 In my experience, it's all too easy to get stuck dwelling on what could have been.

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 Wishing that what was really wasn't.

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 It's easy to look back and curse our past.

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 Just like Job does here.

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 In our next section, verses 11 to 19, that curse turns into a cry.

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 Come to verse 11 with me.

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 You see what he says?

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 Why did I not perish at birth and die as I came from the womb?

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 Why were the knees there to receive me and breasts that I might be nursed?

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 His cry here has a very similar flavor to his curse, doesn't it?

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 The subject hasn't changed.

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 It's classic Hebrew poetry.

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 I wish I should never have been born, he says.

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 But with that, Job transitions into a cry for rest.

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 I wish I should never have been born, for then I would have rest.

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 Look at verse 13 with me.

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 For now I would be lying down in peace.

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 I would be asleep and at rest.

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 This is what Job desires.

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 Eternal rest.

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 The rest in verses 14 and 15 that is experienced by kings, rulers and princes.

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 They had palaces and houses full of gold and silver.

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 They were rich, just like Job was rich, and that was stripped from them when they died.

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 Just as it's been stripped from Job.

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 But the difference is they're now at rest.

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 And that is the rest that Job desires.

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 In verse 17, even the wicked cease from toil and the weary are at rest.

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 And in verse 18, even captives enjoy their ease and no longer hear the slave drivers shout.

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 All these people, small and great in verse 19, no matter who they are,

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 they all seem to get rest and peace from the troubles of this life.

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 And Job cries out, give me that rest.

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 Do you see the story that Job is longing for?

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 He longs for his story to be a comedy.

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 A story that though it's marked by suffering, ends with peace and rest.

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 And we desire that rest too, don't we?

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 In some ways, it's just so natural to echo that cry and the struggles and the pain of life.

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 Do we not desire and cry out for peace, for rest?

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 It's important, I think, to say that Job isn't being explicitly suicidal here, is he?

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 I mean, he wishes he'd never been born and he wishes that he would die.

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 But he's not attempting or even threatening to attempt to take matters into his own hands, is he?

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 It is natural and good and right for us to desire eternal rest.

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 But there's no hint here that attempting to end our own suffering, attempting to take our own life,

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 is in any way in God's purposes for bringing us into that rest.

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 And so if that is you, if your suffering is pushing you to thoughts of how to maybe end it yourself,

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 please, please come and talk to us, because we would love to help.

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 Finally then, Job's cry for rest becomes a question in verses 20 to 26.

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 Verse 20, let me read it.

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 Have a look at verse 20.

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 Why is light given to those in misery and life to the bitter of soul?

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 To those who long for death that does not come, who search for it more than hidden treasure,

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 who are filled with gladness and rejoice when they reach the grave?

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 What is Job's question?

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 I think he's asking, why, God, do you give light and life to those who seek darkness and death?

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 Why do you give light and life to those who, like me, seek darkness and death?

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 When all I want is to be swallowed up and have rest from this life,

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 why do you continue, God, to give light and life to those like me who seek death?

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 Do you see the imagery seeking death like the frenzied treasure hunters?

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 Picture the American gold rush, something like that.

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 I desperately, Job says, I desperately seek to die.

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 And then in verse 23, he asks the same question again from another angle.

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 Why is life given to a man whose way is hidden?

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 In other words, why would you give life to a man and then hide your blessing and your grace from him?

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 And that last line of verse 23, whom God has hedged in.

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 If you were here two weeks ago in Job chapter one, you might remember, do you notice the irony here?

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 In chapter one, verse 10, Satan describes how God has protected Job,

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 how he's blessed him and seen him prosper.

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 And he says, Satan says that God has hedged Job in.

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 But here, Job describes God's hedge not as protective, but rather as oppressive,

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 imprisoning him in this world of grief and suffering.

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 And so Job is asking God, what's the point?

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 Why do you give life only to withhold your blessing and trap us in suffering?

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 We know how this feels, don't we?

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 You ever ask that question, why?

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 Why do you withhold your blessing from me?

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 It might not even be in the light of some great suffering that,

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 but maybe you're just having one of those days.

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 You know, the sort of day you've hit snooze, probably one too many times.

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 You burn the porridge to the bottom of the pan.

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 You set out for work, expecting it to be sunny.

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 And then five minutes later, the heavens open.

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 You get to work, your boss is in a bad mood.

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 It's lunchtime.

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 You've forgotten your lunch.

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 You know the sort of day.

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 And you just can't help but ask, why?

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 But we don't want to play down Job's suffering here.

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 Because do you see the emphasis in verses 24 to 26?

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 He's groaning for things that have come upon him.

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 He says,

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 The sighs that have become his daily food.

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 What he feared has come upon him.

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 And what he dreaded has happened to him.

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 These experiences are the reality of Job's life and they're brutal.

00:21:24.039 --> 00:21:28.240
 They cause him to groan and sigh and fear and dread.

00:21:28.500 --> 00:21:31.059
 And they just seem to be happening to him.

00:21:31.099 --> 00:21:33.599
 And he has no way of knowing why they're happening.

00:21:33.599 --> 00:21:36.459
 And that makes him deeply uneasy.

00:21:37.480 --> 00:21:39.159
 And so this is his question of God.

00:21:39.279 --> 00:21:39.639
 Why?

00:21:40.399 --> 00:21:42.439
 Why are you letting this happen?

00:21:44.199 --> 00:21:47.419
 The poem then reaches its climax in verse 26.

00:21:48.139 --> 00:21:49.179
 Have a look at that.

00:21:49.740 --> 00:21:51.159
 I have no peace.

00:21:52.119 --> 00:21:53.579
 No quietness.

00:21:54.019 --> 00:21:55.759
 I have no rest.

00:21:56.199 --> 00:21:58.019
 But only turmoil.

00:21:58.019 --> 00:22:04.359
 The conclusion of this poem is of utter hopelessness, isn't it?

00:22:04.660 --> 00:22:11.039
 As Job suffers, all he can see is his lack of peace, quietness and rest.

00:22:11.440 --> 00:22:14.619
 All he can see is his turmoil, his suffering.

00:22:15.839 --> 00:22:18.059
 And that's what it's like when we suffer, isn't it?

00:22:18.059 --> 00:22:19.859
 All we can see is the turmoil.

00:22:20.180 --> 00:22:22.539
 It's impossible to find peace.

00:22:22.539 --> 00:22:27.819
 It's very hard if we're suffering to sing it as well with my soul.

00:22:29.099 --> 00:22:31.240
 And so we ask with Job, don't we?

00:22:31.319 --> 00:22:31.879
 Why, God?

00:22:31.940 --> 00:22:33.779
 Why would you put me through this?

00:22:34.339 --> 00:22:35.940
 Why would you let this happen to me?

00:22:36.019 --> 00:22:37.379
 Wouldn't you give me rest?

00:22:38.899 --> 00:22:43.279
 Your suffering might be external like it was for Job in chapter one.

00:22:44.139 --> 00:22:46.299
 Maybe you've taken a financial hit this year.

00:22:47.359 --> 00:22:50.599
 COVID might have meant that you struggled for work and struggled for money.

00:22:50.599 --> 00:22:53.819
 Maybe you've lost loved ones recently.

00:22:54.240 --> 00:22:56.599
 Maybe because of COVID or for whatever reason.

00:22:57.959 --> 00:23:00.019
 Or maybe your suffering is internal.

00:23:00.279 --> 00:23:01.399
 It's personal to you.

00:23:01.519 --> 00:23:03.779
 It's isolating that kind of suffering, isn't it?

00:23:03.779 --> 00:23:07.339
 Because you know that no one else can face it and experience it with you.

00:23:09.319 --> 00:23:10.740
 A physical illness.

00:23:11.579 --> 00:23:12.559
 Anxiety inducing.

00:23:12.879 --> 00:23:14.759
 Constantly excruciating.

00:23:14.939 --> 00:23:16.500
 Potentially life-threatening.

00:23:16.500 --> 00:23:19.440
 Or a mental illness.

00:23:19.440 --> 00:23:21.160
 Hard to stay on top of.

00:23:22.380 --> 00:23:23.980
 Moods that you don't understand.

00:23:24.220 --> 00:23:25.680
 Thoughts that you don't want.

00:23:25.819 --> 00:23:27.660
 Emotions that you can't control.

00:23:29.400 --> 00:23:34.519
 And in whatever it is that you are facing, it is normal to ask, along with Job, why?

00:23:35.259 --> 00:23:36.019
 Why God?

00:23:36.119 --> 00:23:37.079
 Why me?

00:23:37.859 --> 00:23:38.759
 Why now?

00:23:38.759 --> 00:23:38.879
 Why?

00:23:42.319 --> 00:23:47.920
 As we close then, I want to ask what difference Jesus makes.

00:23:49.420 --> 00:23:53.740
 I want to draw an application for us as a church, as Christians.

00:23:54.160 --> 00:23:58.980
 One from each of Job's curse, his cry, and his question.

00:24:00.039 --> 00:24:04.019
 And if you're here this morning, or if you're watching on YouTube and you're not a Christian,

00:24:04.019 --> 00:24:08.200
 if you don't have faith in Jesus, you might have got to this point and thought, well, this

00:24:08.200 --> 00:24:09.960
 all makes quite good sense, really.

00:24:10.039 --> 00:24:14.339
 I can see how it's normal to curse and cry and question in the midst of suffering.

00:24:14.339 --> 00:24:15.599
 And I think that's quite right.

00:24:16.960 --> 00:24:21.700
 But there's more to suffering as a Christian than what we've seen so far.

00:24:22.599 --> 00:24:25.660
 Because with faith, Job has hope.

00:24:26.680 --> 00:24:29.099
 And with Jesus, we can too.

00:24:29.099 --> 00:24:35.279
 We saw as Job cursed the day that he was born that he couldn't help but look backwards.

00:24:36.519 --> 00:24:40.359
 And I know that that's the natural temptation for us too, as we suffer.

00:24:41.759 --> 00:24:43.240
 Are you stuck looking backwards?

00:24:44.279 --> 00:24:48.359
 With Jesus, you can suffer today with hope.

00:24:49.019 --> 00:24:54.399
 Hope knowing that God is in control, that he has good purposes in our suffering.

00:24:54.400 --> 00:24:59.240
 Hope knowing that Jesus by his spirit is right there with you.

00:25:00.720 --> 00:25:07.180
 Hope knowing that your past does not define your present or your future with Jesus.

00:25:08.180 --> 00:25:13.940
 And hope knowing that the world that we live in is full of light and life.

00:25:15.300 --> 00:25:18.440
 That we receive good gifts from God every day.

00:25:19.660 --> 00:25:23.519
 Ecclesiastes chapter 2, the teacher there puts it like this.

00:25:23.519 --> 00:25:30.180
 A person can do nothing better than to eat and drink and find satisfaction in their own toil.

00:25:31.639 --> 00:25:40.299
 So as we suffer, even in the provision of food and drink, there is joy and goodness to be had.

00:25:41.759 --> 00:25:43.440
 And so are you stuck looking backwards?

00:25:44.579 --> 00:25:48.740
 With Jesus, you can suffer today with hope.

00:25:48.740 --> 00:25:55.559
 We saw, as Job cried out for rest, that his desire was for something eternal.

00:25:55.779 --> 00:26:00.279
 And indeed, for the Christian, we cannot only desire that same eternal rest.

00:26:00.359 --> 00:26:01.740
 But do you desire rest?

00:26:03.640 --> 00:26:07.620
 Well, with Jesus, you can look to the future with hope.

00:26:07.619 --> 00:26:16.819
 As we face the sort of suffering that makes us curse and cry and question, we can know that one day it will be over.

00:26:17.719 --> 00:26:24.019
 Because Jesus not only died to rescue us from sin, he also smashed the grave to bits and rose again.

00:26:24.359 --> 00:26:25.579
 He defeated death.

00:26:25.659 --> 00:26:29.539
 He walked that path from suffering to eternal rest.

00:26:29.539 --> 00:26:32.920
 And because he did that, we know that we can too.

00:26:34.379 --> 00:26:36.240
 Isn't that just incredible news?

00:26:37.180 --> 00:26:40.359
 Don't you want to share that with folks that don't know it?

00:26:41.559 --> 00:26:46.119
 Pointing those around us to true rest, real hope.

00:26:47.259 --> 00:26:48.960
 Do you desire rest?

00:26:49.659 --> 00:26:53.680
 With Jesus, you can look to the future with hope.

00:26:53.680 --> 00:26:58.960
 Finally, we saw in Job's question, the desire to know why.

00:27:00.500 --> 00:27:01.460
 Do you have questions?

00:27:02.799 --> 00:27:07.420
 Well, with Jesus, you can know that there is a hopeful purpose.

00:27:08.500 --> 00:27:11.120
 We desperately want to know why we suffer, don't we?

00:27:11.160 --> 00:27:14.539
 And ultimately, there is no complete answer to that question.

00:27:14.940 --> 00:27:19.600
 But what we do know is that God is in control, complete control.

00:27:20.180 --> 00:27:23.340
 And that our suffering has a purpose.

00:27:23.680 --> 00:27:29.060
 1 Peter chapter 3 verses 17 and 18 say this.

00:27:30.080 --> 00:27:34.960
 For it is better, if it is God's will, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil.

00:27:35.539 --> 00:27:43.400
 For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God.

00:27:44.840 --> 00:27:48.680
 See, Jesus faced horrific suffering in those his final hours.

00:27:49.580 --> 00:27:52.720
 Perhaps the most horrific moment was on the cross as he cried out.

00:27:52.720 --> 00:27:54.259
 Quoting from Psalm 22.

00:27:54.259 --> 00:27:57.920
 My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?

00:27:58.819 --> 00:28:01.059
 Do you see what Jesus' question is there?

00:28:01.420 --> 00:28:01.880
 Why?

00:28:02.380 --> 00:28:03.519
 Why, God?

00:28:04.360 --> 00:28:05.779
 And yet we know.

00:28:06.220 --> 00:28:11.420
 And Jesus knew that the Father had a glorious purpose for that suffering.

00:28:11.420 --> 00:28:16.940
 To place the sins of this world on his shoulders, destroying him.

00:28:16.940 --> 00:28:18.180
 Why?

00:28:18.180 --> 00:28:20.759
 To bring us to God.

00:28:21.000 --> 00:28:24.080
 So that Jesus might be raised again to new life.

00:28:24.180 --> 00:28:26.920
 And in doing so, promising us that we can have the same.

00:28:27.660 --> 00:28:30.820
 Promising that we will face suffering too.

00:28:30.960 --> 00:28:36.059
 But that if we trust him, then we will also be raised to new life.

00:28:36.059 --> 00:28:38.559
 Do you have questions?

00:28:39.859 --> 00:28:44.759
 Well, with Jesus, you can know that there is a hopeful purpose.

00:28:46.740 --> 00:28:49.039
 We know, don't we, that life is not a tragedy.

00:28:50.039 --> 00:28:55.139
 Where we're born and then we live the thrills and spills and happiness and then we die.

00:28:55.940 --> 00:28:58.000
 A story that takes the shape of a frown.

00:28:58.619 --> 00:29:00.099
 Some people want to paint it like that.

00:29:00.099 --> 00:29:02.119
 Some people want to live like that.

00:29:02.179 --> 00:29:03.879
 But we know that that's not true.

00:29:04.779 --> 00:29:08.339
 Because life begins with the wonder of new life.

00:29:08.399 --> 00:29:12.240
 And it is a road that is then marked with suffering for all who live it.

00:29:13.000 --> 00:29:20.939
 But it is a story that, like a smiley face, can end in glorious, victorious peace and rest.

00:29:21.740 --> 00:29:24.459
 As we join Job in his suffering.

00:29:24.459 --> 00:29:28.339
 As we offer up our own curses, cries and questions.

00:29:28.339 --> 00:29:32.480
 Will we cling to Jesus in faith as we do?

00:29:33.959 --> 00:29:34.879
 Do you have hope?

00:29:35.159 --> 00:29:35.859
 Real hope?

00:29:36.359 --> 00:29:37.599
 Hope in this story.

00:29:37.699 --> 00:29:44.279
 The story that ends in glorious, victorious peace and rest.

00:29:45.699 --> 00:29:46.899
 Let's pray together.

00:29:50.559 --> 00:29:54.539
 Heavenly Father, life is hard.

00:29:56.699 --> 00:29:58.079
 Life isn't easy.

00:29:58.339 --> 00:30:06.539
 And we humans cannot help but look back and curse the days that have seen us suffer.

00:30:10.139 --> 00:30:12.179
 Would you help us to do that with hope?

00:30:15.119 --> 00:30:20.419
 Or we cannot help but cry out for rest, eternal rest in our suffering.

00:30:20.419 --> 00:30:23.299
 Would you help us to be a people who can do that with hope?

00:30:23.299 --> 00:30:23.359
 Hope.

00:30:23.359 --> 00:30:23.419
 Hope.

00:30:23.419 --> 00:30:23.859
 Hope.

00:30:23.859 --> 00:30:23.919
 Hope.

00:30:28.339 --> 00:30:29.679
 Would you be a people who can do that with us?

00:30:29.679 --> 00:30:30.959
 Would you be a people who can do that with us?

00:30:30.959 --> 00:30:31.539
 Would you be a people who can do that with us?

00:30:31.539 --> 00:30:32.039
 Why we suffer, Lord?

00:30:32.039 --> 00:30:32.500
 Why us?

00:30:32.579 --> 00:30:33.079
 Why now?

00:30:36.299 --> 00:30:38.539
 Help us see the hopeful purpose in it all.

00:30:38.539 --> 00:30:43.279
 Lord Jesus we cling to you today

00:30:43.279 --> 00:30:44.879
 by faith

00:30:44.879 --> 00:30:48.539
 would you hold us fast

00:30:48.539 --> 00:30:52.839
 Holy Spirit would you be with us

00:30:52.839 --> 00:30:54.319
 comfort us

00:30:54.319 --> 00:30:59.299
 we pray in Jesus name

00:30:59.299 --> 00:31:00.940
 Amen