WEBVTT 00:00:00.520 --> 00:00:07.780 Good morning. When I was told that I was going to be preaching on God's supernatural presence 00:00:07.780 --> 00:00:12.980 in suffering, I thought, great, I think I might have some things to share on this this morning. 00:00:13.939 --> 00:00:19.019 You see, I've had a fair few diagnoses in my life, both personally and within my close family, 00:00:19.559 --> 00:00:24.640 that have had huge impacts on my life and grief that's knocked me sideways in a way that I'm sure 00:00:24.640 --> 00:00:29.859 that so many of us here this morning will have done too. And we'll come back to that later. 00:00:30.920 --> 00:00:36.100 But you might imagine my surprise then when this morning's passage that I was given to preach on 00:00:36.100 --> 00:00:42.840 wasn't one of Jesus healing a blind man or someone else with a critical illness. It wasn't one of 00:00:42.840 --> 00:00:49.620 Jesus being present at Lazarus's tomb. It wasn't even one of our Easter passages of Jesus' own suffering. 00:00:51.560 --> 00:00:58.320 Instead, today's passage, as we've just read, starts with Peter's declaration that Jesus is the Messiah. 00:00:58.320 --> 00:01:05.040 It continues on with Jesus predicting his own death and the suffering that was to follow. 00:01:06.700 --> 00:01:13.900 And finishes with the call for his disciples through the generations to follow the same road marked with suffering. 00:01:13.900 --> 00:01:22.960 Now, when I'm preparing a session for the youth or a talk, I find it quite helpful from the outset to have some key word definitions. 00:01:23.360 --> 00:01:30.240 So perhaps here is a good point to define what we mean when we're looking at God's supernatural presence in suffering. 00:01:30.239 --> 00:01:39.500 When we talk about God's supernatural presence, we're talking about his ability to be beyond and above the natural 00:01:39.500 --> 00:01:43.959 or existence beyond the visible and observable universe that we exist in. 00:01:43.959 --> 00:01:51.239 We're talking here about God's presence in the world through his Holy Spirit. 00:01:52.839 --> 00:02:01.179 That's the part of God, the part of the Holy Trinity that is in the world, existing and living within us when we give our yes to Jesus. 00:02:01.180 --> 00:02:10.120 And when we talk about suffering, the Oxford English Dictionary defines it very simply as pain, distress or hardship. 00:02:11.120 --> 00:02:14.939 And that can be physical, emotional or spiritual. 00:02:14.939 --> 00:02:24.259 When we're talking about any kind of suffering, from a sore back to war, from bereavement to natural disaster, 00:02:24.500 --> 00:02:31.099 from life-threatening illness to human-inflicted evil such as genocide, FGM, rape, 00:02:31.639 --> 00:02:35.319 or being forced to flee and seek refuge from your own homeland. 00:02:36.419 --> 00:02:42.579 When it comes to suffering, whether it seems big or small, individual and personal or experienced by the masses, 00:02:42.580 --> 00:02:47.520 size and scale doesn't matter to God because he cares about it all. 00:02:50.560 --> 00:02:54.620 And as we look at God's supernatural presence in suffering this morning, 00:02:54.720 --> 00:02:58.720 I want to remind us right from the outset of a verse that kept coming into my mind 00:02:58.720 --> 00:03:01.540 as I was looking at our passage from Mark 8. 00:03:01.680 --> 00:03:06.439 And that comes from John chapter 16, verse 33, where Jesus says, 00:03:06.600 --> 00:03:12.500 In this world you will have trouble, but take heart, I have overcome the world. 00:03:12.580 --> 00:03:19.200 It makes me think of the lion, the witch and the wardrobe. 00:03:19.820 --> 00:03:24.860 And if you've not seen or read the film or the book, there are no real spoilers here 00:03:24.860 --> 00:03:26.840 because it's basically the gospel story. 00:03:27.380 --> 00:03:32.280 And if you're not familiar with the gospel story, then I'm delighted to hint to you 00:03:32.280 --> 00:03:34.400 the greatest spoiler of them all. 00:03:34.400 --> 00:03:40.460 So if you know the story of the Pevensey children and their adventures beyond the wardrobe 00:03:40.460 --> 00:03:45.800 in the land of Narnia, in the world beyond the spare oom, 00:03:46.439 --> 00:03:50.260 you'll know right from the beginning that there's this battle between good and evil, 00:03:50.400 --> 00:03:52.759 between Aslan the lion and the snow queen, 00:03:53.640 --> 00:03:55.900 who's been trying to take power over the land of Narnia. 00:03:55.900 --> 00:04:01.539 And the story reaches its climax when the snow queen kills Aslan. 00:04:01.920 --> 00:04:04.340 Darkness and winter descend over the land, 00:04:04.439 --> 00:04:07.319 and it seems like the light of summer will never be seen again. 00:04:07.700 --> 00:04:09.980 And it all seems hopeless for the Pevensey children 00:04:09.980 --> 00:04:13.020 and those who were Aslan's faithful followers. 00:04:14.599 --> 00:04:16.819 But then Aslan comes back to life. 00:04:17.620 --> 00:04:19.019 And once he's on the move again, 00:04:19.100 --> 00:04:22.120 he breathes life onto all of his faithful followers, 00:04:22.120 --> 00:04:24.300 like Mr. Tumnus the fawn, 00:04:25.019 --> 00:04:28.500 rescuing them from the evil grips of the snow queen. 00:04:29.199 --> 00:04:32.639 And one by one, he brings back to life his army, 00:04:32.899 --> 00:04:35.759 who are about to fight this incoming battle with him. 00:04:38.220 --> 00:04:44.439 Susan, Peter, Esmond and Lucy have confidence that Aslan is the rightful leader of Narnia, 00:04:44.899 --> 00:04:46.620 that he's strong and he's good, 00:04:46.620 --> 00:04:51.959 but we see that they're not quite sure how Aslan's army of good 00:04:51.959 --> 00:04:55.759 is going to triumph over the snow queen's vast, aggressive army. 00:04:57.280 --> 00:05:00.660 But to the reader or the viewer, perhaps it's more obvious. 00:05:01.759 --> 00:05:02.620 Aslan will win. 00:05:02.759 --> 00:05:04.759 He's already come back to life. 00:05:05.040 --> 00:05:05.980 He's conquered death. 00:05:06.319 --> 00:05:09.500 And this last battle is nothing but a victory. 00:05:10.759 --> 00:05:11.840 Nothing but a formality. 00:05:12.000 --> 00:05:14.980 A sure victory, sealing the victory that is already his. 00:05:14.980 --> 00:05:19.740 And it's just like that with Jesus. 00:05:20.540 --> 00:05:24.200 Jesus, son of God, king of kings, has already conquered death. 00:05:24.740 --> 00:05:28.379 He's bridged the divide that once stood between us and him. 00:05:28.800 --> 00:05:30.920 And we get to stand in his victory. 00:05:32.580 --> 00:05:35.379 As he reminds us in John 16, verse 33, 00:05:35.560 --> 00:05:39.379 we can take heart because he has already overcome the world. 00:05:41.420 --> 00:05:44.520 But as most of us will have already discovered in life, 00:05:44.519 --> 00:05:46.639 that doesn't mean that we won't have suffering. 00:05:47.339 --> 00:05:51.299 We live in a broken world and we're still waiting for the victory. 00:05:51.759 --> 00:05:55.639 We're still waiting for the final battle of which we already know the outcome. 00:05:56.439 --> 00:05:58.659 We already know that Jesus has won. 00:05:59.620 --> 00:06:02.659 But he tells us to take heart because in the conquering, 00:06:02.799 --> 00:06:03.599 in the overcoming, 00:06:04.079 --> 00:06:06.479 he's standing with us in our pain, 00:06:06.919 --> 00:06:08.659 in sickness, in death and grief, 00:06:08.740 --> 00:06:10.959 in natural disaster, in war and persecution. 00:06:10.959 --> 00:06:13.959 You name it, he's standing with us. 00:06:13.959 --> 00:06:23.639 Our passage today reminds us that when we talk about God's supernatural presence in suffering, 00:06:23.739 --> 00:06:27.419 we're not just talking about his comforting power or his advocating power, 00:06:27.779 --> 00:06:30.319 but that as he stands here with us, 00:06:30.659 --> 00:06:34.579 he knows what we're going through and has already experienced it himself. 00:06:34.579 --> 00:06:38.680 In verse 31 of our passage, 00:06:38.819 --> 00:06:39.279 Jesus says, 00:06:39.639 --> 00:06:42.719 the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected. 00:06:43.680 --> 00:06:46.519 And we can follow the story of the cross throughout the Gospels 00:06:46.519 --> 00:06:48.919 to see for ourselves how that plays out. 00:06:49.579 --> 00:06:54.000 The Son of Man did indeed suffer many things in multiple ways. 00:06:54.639 --> 00:06:57.860 He faced emotional, physical and spiritual suffering. 00:06:57.860 --> 00:07:05.520 We can read Jesus' prayers in the Garden of Gethsemane in Mark 14, 00:07:05.639 --> 00:07:10.199 which show us just how deeply he was troubled by the suffering he was set to endure. 00:07:12.160 --> 00:07:13.900 In verse 14, he says, 00:07:14.020 --> 00:07:16.600 Abba, Father, everything is possible for you. 00:07:16.740 --> 00:07:20.800 Take this cup from me, but not my will, but yours be done. 00:07:20.800 --> 00:07:24.579 The other week in youth Bible study, 00:07:24.660 --> 00:07:30.319 we were looking at this passage as an example of Jesus' own submission and obedience. 00:07:30.600 --> 00:07:34.780 And we talked about how when Jesus prayed in the garden before he was betrayed, 00:07:34.900 --> 00:07:38.100 he suffered anguish to the point of sweating blood. 00:07:39.720 --> 00:07:42.400 Now, this really intrigued the psychologist in me, 00:07:42.439 --> 00:07:45.620 so I had a bit of a Google about what it means for someone to sweat blood. 00:07:46.259 --> 00:07:49.740 And I found out it's called a condition called haemociderosis, 00:07:49.740 --> 00:07:52.860 which means that the capillary blood vessels rupture, 00:07:53.800 --> 00:07:57.540 and that feeds blood into the sweat glands. 00:07:58.120 --> 00:08:03.120 And it happens when someone is under extreme physical or emotional distress. 00:08:04.379 --> 00:08:09.199 And what it tells us is that Jesus, Son of God, 00:08:09.480 --> 00:08:11.420 fully human yet fully God, 00:08:11.900 --> 00:08:14.900 experienced a huge amount of emotional suffering. 00:08:14.899 --> 00:08:21.579 And all that's only added to the fact that he was betrayed by one of his 12 disciples. 00:08:22.259 --> 00:08:24.439 Judas, with whom he'd shared his life, he'd taught, 00:08:24.519 --> 00:08:31.519 he'd given the same authority to go out to feed the multitudes, 00:08:31.699 --> 00:08:34.500 to heal the sick, to raise the dead, to cleanse the leper, 00:08:34.639 --> 00:08:36.459 to cast out demons, 00:08:37.879 --> 00:08:41.759 and whose feet he'd washed in an act of humble servitude. 00:08:41.759 --> 00:08:45.519 And after being betrayed by Judas, 00:08:46.379 --> 00:08:50.679 the crowds demanded the release of a convicted murderer over his sinless self. 00:08:51.220 --> 00:08:53.259 And then Peter, one of his three best friends, 00:08:53.639 --> 00:08:56.679 disowned and denied him not once but three times. 00:08:56.679 --> 00:09:02.199 If anyone knew emotional suffering, 00:09:02.379 --> 00:09:03.039 it was Jesus. 00:09:04.399 --> 00:09:08.339 So when we experience betrayal and disappointment from others, 00:09:08.419 --> 00:09:13.139 when we experience anxiety, stress, or emotional turmoil, 00:09:13.139 --> 00:09:16.399 we get to stand in the knowledge that he is with us 00:09:16.399 --> 00:09:20.120 and he can comfort us from a place of understanding what we're going through. 00:09:20.120 --> 00:09:25.460 Once Jesus had come before Pilate, 00:09:25.600 --> 00:09:29.940 he was subject to the physical humiliation of being beaten and spat on. 00:09:30.419 --> 00:09:31.720 And then he was flogged. 00:09:32.779 --> 00:09:35.220 Flogging was such a brutal punishment, 00:09:35.519 --> 00:09:38.179 which was when people were whipped with bits of leather, 00:09:38.259 --> 00:09:39.960 which were encrusted with bits of bone. 00:09:40.539 --> 00:09:43.440 People tended not to make it as far as the crucifixion 00:09:43.440 --> 00:09:47.380 because they'd die first from the brutality of flogging. 00:09:49.240 --> 00:09:51.800 But in his love for each of us, 00:09:52.180 --> 00:09:54.520 knowing that his death would set us free, 00:09:55.200 --> 00:09:57.860 he determinedly powered through to the top of the hill 00:09:57.860 --> 00:10:00.620 where he was crucified and died for us. 00:10:01.920 --> 00:10:03.980 Jesus knew physical suffering. 00:10:03.980 --> 00:10:09.120 Then whilst he was hanging on the cross, 00:10:09.240 --> 00:10:10.840 he cried out those famous words, 00:10:10.980 --> 00:10:12.820 Eli, Eli, Lima, Sabathani. 00:10:13.600 --> 00:10:17.399 My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? 00:10:19.600 --> 00:10:21.920 This is the only time in the Bible 00:10:21.920 --> 00:10:25.620 when God calls God, God and not my father. 00:10:26.519 --> 00:10:29.379 Because in his darkest, weakest hour, 00:10:29.820 --> 00:10:32.180 the father turned his face away from the sun 00:10:32.179 --> 00:10:34.459 because he couldn't look at the weight 00:10:34.459 --> 00:10:37.000 of the world's sin on Jesus' shoulders. 00:10:38.459 --> 00:10:40.419 Jesus knew spiritual suffering too. 00:10:44.699 --> 00:10:47.059 In the cross, Jesus endured it all. 00:10:47.979 --> 00:10:50.279 Physical, emotional, spiritual suffering. 00:10:50.719 --> 00:10:53.899 And we read in verse 34 to 36 of our passage 00:10:53.899 --> 00:10:55.120 that Jesus said, 00:10:55.239 --> 00:10:57.919 whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves, 00:10:58.199 --> 00:10:59.759 take up their cross and follow me. 00:10:59.759 --> 00:11:03.059 For whoever wants to save their lives will lose it, 00:11:03.139 --> 00:11:05.019 but whoever loses their lives for me 00:11:05.019 --> 00:11:07.240 and for the gospel will save it. 00:11:07.879 --> 00:11:10.559 What good is it for someone to gain the whole world 00:11:10.559 --> 00:11:11.980 yet forfeit their soul? 00:11:15.200 --> 00:11:19.139 I mentioned at the start that Jesus is present with us 00:11:19.139 --> 00:11:22.620 by the supernatural power of his Holy Spirit. 00:11:23.019 --> 00:11:24.580 And he knows what he's talking about 00:11:24.580 --> 00:11:25.899 when it comes to suffering. 00:11:25.899 --> 00:11:30.079 Taking up our crosses and following God 00:11:30.079 --> 00:11:32.259 isn't just about suffering, 00:11:32.379 --> 00:11:33.579 but it is our focus today. 00:11:33.980 --> 00:11:34.860 And to quote my mum, 00:11:35.279 --> 00:11:38.039 the cross is symbolic of everything that will come our way. 00:11:38.500 --> 00:11:39.740 We're not being crucified, 00:11:40.279 --> 00:11:42.980 but we have to daily take up our cross. 00:11:43.840 --> 00:11:48.500 We have to choose to daily surrender to the will of God, 00:11:48.620 --> 00:11:51.419 whatever that means for us in our own personal journeys. 00:11:51.419 --> 00:11:56.799 But here comes the good news, 00:11:57.339 --> 00:11:59.479 because also in the cross, 00:11:59.899 --> 00:12:01.819 Jesus conquered all that suffering. 00:12:02.279 --> 00:12:05.439 And we have this joyful yet slightly complicated theology 00:12:05.439 --> 00:12:07.099 of the now and the not yet, 00:12:07.759 --> 00:12:09.259 that he's won the victory, 00:12:09.419 --> 00:12:11.779 but we're still waiting for the fullness of that. 00:12:13.279 --> 00:12:14.419 I won't go into it now 00:12:14.419 --> 00:12:16.179 because that would be a whole different sermon, 00:12:16.339 --> 00:12:18.899 but it basically is where we find ourselves now, 00:12:18.899 --> 00:12:21.419 that Jesus has conquered death, 00:12:21.879 --> 00:12:23.779 but we still live in this broken world 00:12:23.779 --> 00:12:24.799 where there is suffering, 00:12:24.959 --> 00:12:28.659 where there's pain and death and hurt and war and sin 00:12:28.659 --> 00:12:29.740 and all the rest. 00:12:30.159 --> 00:12:32.199 But because we're in the now and the not yet, 00:12:32.319 --> 00:12:34.000 because Jesus has come, 00:12:34.079 --> 00:12:35.519 we have the Holy Spirit too. 00:12:37.279 --> 00:12:40.039 Jesus says in John chapter 16, verse 7, 00:12:40.120 --> 00:12:42.240 that he has to go to heaven 00:12:42.240 --> 00:12:45.019 so that the advocate, the Holy Spirit can come down. 00:12:45.019 --> 00:12:50.899 It means that when, like Peter in our reading, 00:12:51.500 --> 00:12:54.759 when we recognise that Jesus is the Messiah, 00:12:54.879 --> 00:12:56.779 that he is the son of the living God, 00:12:56.860 --> 00:12:58.159 when we give our yes to him, 00:12:58.500 --> 00:13:01.419 the Holy Spirit part of God lives in us. 00:13:02.500 --> 00:13:04.960 And that, amongst so many things, 00:13:05.340 --> 00:13:07.279 means that we are never alone. 00:13:07.279 --> 00:13:12.159 It means that even in our darkest moments, 00:13:12.339 --> 00:13:13.740 God is with us. 00:13:15.319 --> 00:13:17.399 It means even when we feel lonely, 00:13:17.740 --> 00:13:19.500 God is with us. 00:13:21.439 --> 00:13:24.720 Psalm 139 vocalises it so well. 00:13:25.679 --> 00:13:27.519 You hem me in behind and before, 00:13:27.699 --> 00:13:29.480 you lay your hand upon me. 00:13:30.199 --> 00:13:31.860 Where can I go from your spirit? 00:13:32.000 --> 00:13:33.959 Where can I flee from your presence? 00:13:34.600 --> 00:13:36.240 If I go up to the heavens, you are there. 00:13:36.240 --> 00:13:39.259 If I make my bed in the depths, you are there. 00:13:41.899 --> 00:13:44.899 There is literally nowhere that we can go 00:13:44.899 --> 00:13:46.620 where God isn't with us. 00:13:47.759 --> 00:13:50.519 And the reason for that is because he loves us. 00:13:51.799 --> 00:13:53.759 That's why he endured the suffering 00:13:53.759 --> 00:13:55.259 and rejection of the cross. 00:13:55.980 --> 00:13:58.740 That's why, as Hebrews 12, verse 2 reminds us, 00:13:58.799 --> 00:14:00.299 for the joy set before him, 00:14:00.299 --> 00:14:02.100 he endured the cross. 00:14:02.759 --> 00:14:04.240 Because he loves us. 00:14:04.240 --> 00:14:05.860 And because he loves us, 00:14:05.940 --> 00:14:08.299 he will never, ever leave our side. 00:14:13.399 --> 00:14:15.159 So what about this question 00:14:15.159 --> 00:14:16.820 that titles our theme today? 00:14:17.000 --> 00:14:19.639 How is God with us supernaturally 00:14:19.639 --> 00:14:20.519 in our suffering? 00:14:22.440 --> 00:14:23.659 I said at the beginning 00:14:23.659 --> 00:14:25.820 that I have my own personal story 00:14:25.820 --> 00:14:27.240 of suffering in my life. 00:14:27.299 --> 00:14:28.860 And perhaps here is a good point 00:14:28.860 --> 00:14:31.120 to share some of my own personal story with you. 00:14:31.120 --> 00:14:35.639 I did debate what to share with you this morning, 00:14:35.720 --> 00:14:38.139 so I hope you'll forgive the slight vagueness of this. 00:14:38.700 --> 00:14:40.759 But about two and a half years ago, 00:14:40.860 --> 00:14:42.700 after seven years of waiting lists 00:14:42.700 --> 00:14:44.860 and slightly traumatising appointments, 00:14:45.039 --> 00:14:47.000 I was diagnosed with a health condition, 00:14:47.480 --> 00:14:49.220 which sent me into a little bit of a spin. 00:14:51.000 --> 00:14:53.279 Day-to-day, it means I can have a lot of pain, 00:14:53.399 --> 00:14:54.580 it means I can get really exhausted, 00:14:54.779 --> 00:14:57.740 and sometimes my brain doesn't quite function on top form. 00:14:57.740 --> 00:15:00.320 But beyond the day-to-day in the wide picture, 00:15:00.399 --> 00:15:01.500 I don't know what it means, 00:15:01.580 --> 00:15:04.539 and that can feel like quite a big thing to think about. 00:15:05.720 --> 00:15:07.159 And I remember that summer, 00:15:07.320 --> 00:15:09.759 sitting on the floor of my bedroom at home, 00:15:10.440 --> 00:15:11.840 saying to God very literally, 00:15:12.139 --> 00:15:14.100 where on earth are you in this? 00:15:14.159 --> 00:15:15.639 Because this doesn't feel good, 00:15:15.720 --> 00:15:17.740 and this doesn't feel full of your faithfulness. 00:15:17.740 --> 00:15:18.139 Faithfulness. 00:15:20.919 --> 00:15:22.860 But I just remember God saying to me, 00:15:22.899 --> 00:15:24.379 Emily, I am with you, 00:15:24.659 --> 00:15:25.919 and that's a sure promise. 00:15:26.620 --> 00:15:28.100 I know the promises I've made you, 00:15:28.159 --> 00:15:29.840 and I'm faithful to keep them. 00:15:32.279 --> 00:15:35.519 See, whether it's emotional, physical, or spiritual pain, 00:15:35.740 --> 00:15:37.299 God doesn't leave us, 00:15:37.320 --> 00:15:38.919 because that's not who he is. 00:15:39.340 --> 00:15:40.940 He's the God who stays. 00:15:42.100 --> 00:15:44.899 The Bible tells us over and over again 00:15:44.899 --> 00:15:47.600 that God is near to people in their suffering. 00:15:47.740 --> 00:15:51.600 Psalm 34 verse 18 tells us 00:15:51.600 --> 00:15:53.200 that he is close to the brokenhearted 00:15:53.200 --> 00:15:55.500 and saves those who are crushed in spirit. 00:15:56.980 --> 00:15:58.039 I don't know about for you, 00:15:58.139 --> 00:16:01.200 but this reminds me that God is a God of proximity, 00:16:01.779 --> 00:16:03.639 of compassion and care, 00:16:03.860 --> 00:16:06.120 and who's present in all of our tears. 00:16:07.419 --> 00:16:11.799 God's supernatural presence is reliable and dependable, 00:16:11.799 --> 00:16:13.360 because it's always been the way, 00:16:13.740 --> 00:16:14.659 it always is the way, 00:16:14.779 --> 00:16:17.259 and it always will be the way. 00:16:18.299 --> 00:16:19.200 It's his character, 00:16:19.360 --> 00:16:20.600 it's who he is. 00:16:20.700 --> 00:16:21.399 So for me, 00:16:21.740 --> 00:16:24.320 when I asked God where he was in my pain, 00:16:24.659 --> 00:16:25.340 in my suffering, 00:16:25.419 --> 00:16:29.220 I was suddenly reminded of exactly where he was. 00:16:30.480 --> 00:16:31.860 He was right there next to me, 00:16:31.879 --> 00:16:33.299 because that's where he's always been, 00:16:33.419 --> 00:16:35.600 that's where he always will be. 00:16:35.960 --> 00:16:38.180 And I take great comfort in knowing 00:16:38.180 --> 00:16:40.840 that he deeply empathizes with me, 00:16:40.840 --> 00:16:42.240 because he goes before me, 00:16:42.399 --> 00:16:43.840 and he's been through it all. 00:16:47.800 --> 00:16:49.480 I don't want anyone here to think 00:16:49.480 --> 00:16:52.300 that I've mastered this whole suffering in faith thing, 00:16:52.399 --> 00:16:53.800 or faith in suffering thing, 00:16:53.800 --> 00:16:55.960 because there have been so many times in my life 00:16:55.960 --> 00:16:58.019 when my approach to suffering, 00:16:58.139 --> 00:17:00.440 or my understanding of God's presence in suffering, 00:17:00.680 --> 00:17:03.440 wouldn't have made for a good story in today's sermon. 00:17:03.440 --> 00:17:06.000 But I share it with you, 00:17:06.100 --> 00:17:09.120 because in those moments of sitting on the floor, 00:17:09.240 --> 00:17:11.940 asking God where on earth he was, 00:17:12.600 --> 00:17:15.000 how this aligned with his faithfulness, 00:17:15.000 --> 00:17:18.779 he taught me something that I hope that we can all learn from, 00:17:18.840 --> 00:17:20.320 and take away today. 00:17:20.319 --> 00:17:26.119 And that is that there is nothing insurmountable 00:17:26.119 --> 00:17:27.579 when God is with us. 00:17:28.519 --> 00:17:30.559 And there is nothing that he hides from. 00:17:31.539 --> 00:17:33.579 Be it our health or bereavement, 00:17:33.939 --> 00:17:36.419 be it the war that carries on going in Ukraine, 00:17:37.279 --> 00:17:40.480 we can turn to God and ask him where he is. 00:17:40.960 --> 00:17:42.139 And in this stillness, 00:17:42.240 --> 00:17:45.700 he gently reminds us time and time again, 00:17:46.379 --> 00:17:48.559 he is right here with us. 00:17:50.319 --> 00:17:54.759 If we go back to our passage from Mark 8 this morning, 00:17:54.839 --> 00:17:56.339 when Jesus told his disciples 00:17:56.339 --> 00:17:58.179 that he was going to suffer many things, 00:17:58.599 --> 00:17:59.960 and be rejected by the elders, 00:18:00.119 --> 00:18:01.720 the chief priests, the teachers of the law, 00:18:01.899 --> 00:18:03.059 and that he must be killed, 00:18:03.200 --> 00:18:05.159 and then on the third day he would rise again. 00:18:05.839 --> 00:18:07.899 Peter took him aside and rebuked him. 00:18:09.079 --> 00:18:10.939 He couldn't understand that this man, 00:18:11.019 --> 00:18:13.419 the Messiah, who was standing in front of him, 00:18:13.460 --> 00:18:14.619 was going to be killed. 00:18:17.359 --> 00:18:19.859 But Jesus rebuked Peter in return, 00:18:19.859 --> 00:18:20.339 and said, 00:18:20.839 --> 00:18:23.019 you do not have in mind the concerns of God, 00:18:23.079 --> 00:18:24.779 but merely human concerns. 00:18:27.459 --> 00:18:30.079 I'm not going to stand here and pretend it all makes sense to me, 00:18:30.119 --> 00:18:31.779 because it absolutely doesn't. 00:18:32.500 --> 00:18:37.339 But I can stand here and say that we can fully trust God 00:18:37.339 --> 00:18:40.740 that we'll always find purpose in our suffering. 00:18:42.799 --> 00:18:45.500 Suffering was never part of God's plan. 00:18:45.500 --> 00:18:46.480 He doesn't cause it, 00:18:46.519 --> 00:18:47.480 and he doesn't like it, 00:18:47.539 --> 00:18:49.420 but we serve a powerful God 00:18:49.420 --> 00:18:52.460 who will always triumph over suffering. 00:18:53.859 --> 00:18:57.480 And as Romans 8 verse 28 tells us, 00:18:57.480 --> 00:19:01.200 We know that in all things he works for good, 00:19:01.839 --> 00:19:06.319 we know that in all things he works for the good of those who love him, 00:19:06.500 --> 00:19:09.120 who have been called according to his purpose. 00:19:09.119 --> 00:19:13.979 Whether it seems big or small, 00:19:14.379 --> 00:19:15.579 personal and individual, 00:19:15.839 --> 00:19:17.779 or experienced by the masses, 00:19:18.500 --> 00:19:20.319 when it comes to suffering, 00:19:20.500 --> 00:19:23.439 size and scale does not matter to God, 00:19:23.500 --> 00:19:25.659 because he cares about it all. 00:19:26.059 --> 00:19:28.039 And he will always work it together 00:19:28.039 --> 00:19:29.319 for his good, 00:19:29.799 --> 00:19:30.639 for his glory, 00:19:30.759 --> 00:19:31.739 and for his purpose. 00:19:31.740 --> 00:19:33.700 And in our suffering, 00:19:33.960 --> 00:19:37.000 God is always present right here with us, 00:19:37.500 --> 00:19:38.319 comforting us, 00:19:38.779 --> 00:19:40.660 and fighting for us. 00:19:43.539 --> 00:19:44.480 Heavenly Father, 00:19:44.660 --> 00:19:46.859 thank you that you are a God 00:19:46.859 --> 00:19:49.039 who is present with us in our suffering, 00:19:49.620 --> 00:19:51.680 that you always fight for us, 00:19:52.779 --> 00:19:54.500 that you always comfort us, 00:19:54.920 --> 00:19:57.799 and that you don't shy away from the big things, 00:19:58.220 --> 00:20:00.640 but you also care about the small things. 00:20:02.539 --> 00:20:04.960 Would you just help each of us here today 00:20:04.960 --> 00:20:07.039 to go away from this morning 00:20:07.039 --> 00:20:10.539 knowing that you are present with us in suffering. 00:20:11.779 --> 00:20:12.779 In your name we pray. 00:20:13.700 --> 00:20:14.099 Amen.