Week 3 - Day 1

Sorrow

"For men are not cast off by the Lord forever. Though He brings grief, He will show compassion, so great is His unfailing love. For He does not willingly bring affliction or grief to the children of men." (Lamentations 3:31-33 NIV)

Does this mean no suffering for God's children? Of course not - quite the contrary - God has said we will most definitely suffer in this world. This verse offers us the hope of God's promise that the suffering in our lives will have meaning and purpose - a good purpose - a holy purpose.

On page 35 of Holding On To Hope, Nancy Guthrie begins to lay out for us several purposes of suffering. First, when we accept and embrace it and seek God in the midst of it, suffering drives us deeper in our devotion to God.

In Luke 9:32-35, Jesus invites us to do much more than endure suffering. He calls us to step away from the mirror and focus on Him instead of ourselves and to learn from our suffering.

"If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross daily and follow Me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake, he is the one who will save it. For what is a man profited if he gains the whole world, and loses or forfeits himself?" (Luke 9:32-35 NASB)

Read 2 Corinthians 4:8-18. What perspective on his sorrow enabled Paul to write about the future with joyful anticipation?

Now take verses 16-18 of 2 Corinthians 4 and write out a personalized version, changing the "we" to "I" and including the specific "troubles" you are facing.