1. Biblical Counselor Training Class Lesson 14: Trials & Suffering

2. XVII. Trials and Suffering 1 1 Adapted from material by NANC and Randy Patten

3. A. The Big Picture 1.The key to dealing with trials and suffering is to see God and His purposes in the midst of it. 2.Biblical examples: a.Joseph – Gen. 50:20 b.Job – Job. 23:10 c.James – James 1:2-4 d.Paul – Rom. 5:3-5, 2 Cor. 12:9-10

4. B. Unbiblical Views of the Origin of Trials and Suffering 1.Trials and suffering are always the result of my sin 2.Trials and suffering are always someone else’s fault (victim mentality) 3.Trials and suffering just happen (fatalism) 4.God is punishing me. God is out to get me. 5.God is unwilling or unable to help me. 6.Trials and suffering always come from Satan.

5. C. The Bible on Trials and Suffering 1.Trials and suffering are a result of sin (Gen. 1-3, Rom. 8:20-23) 2.God is always sovereign and in control of all things, even trials and suffering a.God causes both calamity and blessing (Jer. 32:42, Lam. 3:37-38) b.Yet God is never morally responsible for sin and wickedness (James 1:12-18) c.God sovereignty is such that He works His good and holy will even through the sin and wickedness of others (Gen. 50:20, Rom. 8:28, Is. 46:9-11, Job 1-2)

6. D. How Does God Call Believers to Respond? 1.Seek to please and glorify God in all things. We must be responsible regardless of how we feel (2 Cor. 5:9-10) 2.Pray for God to grow and change us, not just get us through the difficulty (Rom.8:28-29, James 1:2-4) 3.Reasons God brings trials and suffering: a.Unconfessed sin (1 Cor. 11:30, 2 Kings 5:15-27) b.To discipline His children (Heb. 12:5-11) c.To increase our usefulness (John 15:2, 2 Cor. 1:3-9, 2 Pet. 1:5-8)

7. D. How Does God Call Believers to Respond? d.To show us that we live in a fallen world (Gen. 3:8-19, Rom. 8:22-24) e.To show us that the sins of others can have an effect on us (Eph. 6:4, Josh 7, Jonah 1) f.To allow us to reap what we sow (Gal. 6:7-8, Prov. 5:22) g.To teach us about our own weakness and cause us to depend on God (2 Cor. 1:3-9, 12:7-10) h.To help us realize we have put our hope in something or someone else other than God (1 Pet. 1:13, Heb. 6:19)

8. D. How Does God Call Believers to Respond? i.To enlarge our appreciation of His sufficiency (2 Cor. 4:7, 12:7-10) j.To test and strengthen our faith (1 Pet. 1:6-7, 4:12) k.To create opportunities to witness for Christ (Phil. 1:12ff) l.To develop Christ-like character (James 1:2-5) m.To cause us to recognize our need of one another in the body of Christ (1 Cor. 12:25, Rom. 12:15, Gal. 6:2) n.To always bring glory to Himself (John 9:1-3)

9. E. Biblical Encouragement 1.The Father is carrying out His will which is good, acceptable, and perfect (Rom. 12:2) 2.Christ prays on our behalf (John 17:20-21, Heb. 4:14-16) 3.The Holy Spirit indwells believers (1 Cor. 6:19-20) 4.God’s grace is sufficient (2 Cor. 12:1ff) 5.No temptation is too powerful. God promises victory, not necessarily deliverance (1 Cor. 10:13)

10. E. Biblical Encouragement 6.Our earthly life is short compared to eternity with the Lord (2 Cor. 4:16-18) 7.The church body is there to help (Heb. 10:24-25)

11. F. Resources D.A. Carson, How Long O Lord? (Baker, 1990) Jay Adams, How to Handle Trouble (P&R, 1982) R.C. Sproul, Surprised by Suffering (Tyndale, 1989) John MacArthur, The Power of Suffering (Victor, 1995) Jerry Bridges, Trusting God (Navpress, 1988) Martin Lloyd-Jones, Why Does God Allow Suffering? (Crossway, 1994).