Dark Days of Suffering
Suffering can be a transformative experience that brings great joy and peace, and can lead to a deeper fellowship with God.
In this sermon, Basil E. Shlink shares his personal experiences and insights on the topic of suffering and grief. He emphasizes that even in the midst of pain and difficulty, God has something glorious in mind. Shlink testifies to the transformative power of Jesus' love in times of loneliness, sorrow, physical sickness, and spiritual suffering. He encourages listeners to have faith, pray, and commit their ways to the Lord, trusting that He will do everything right and provide comfort. Shlink also highlights the importance of truly believing that Jesus is greater than our suffering and that His love will help us, regardless of the cost.
Full Transcript
God lives and works today, and when his ways are painful, difficult, and hard to understand, it is then especially that our Heavenly Father has something glorious in mind. Today's meditation by Basilia Schlenk shares what this is. Who can measure the great treasure suffering and grief hath brought? Who has sight and understanding for the good that pain has brought? Value suffering, such joy bringing, and the cross of Jesus' love.
Let us bravely bear our crosses and inherit crowns above. All of us are acquainted with dark days of suffering. Perhaps a loved one has been taken from us.
Perhaps we've been greatly disappointed. Perhaps we have to suffer emotionally or spiritually owing to sickness or loneliness. Mother Basilia testifies from her own life.
She writes, In my five decades of walking with Jesus, I've experienced how decisive it is to really believe Jesus is greater than my suffering. Yes, I must believe that his love will help me now, whatever the cost might be. He wants to let balsam flow into my comfortless, wounded heart.
Jesus stands by everyone who bears sorrow. He is there as the eternal, divine life. He lets some of this divine life, which is peace and heavenly joy, flow into us.
Through this, everything is transformed. My comfortless heart becomes filled with comfort, peace, and heavenly joy. This is a truth to which I can bear witness.
In periods of loneliness and sorrow, I've experienced that Jesus Christ is all-sufficient. Through his love, he can bring great joy into our hearts. In physical sickness and pain, in spiritual sufferings and temptations, I've experienced that the presence of Jesus is triumphant.
It's especially in such times that I'm led into a deeper fellowship with him. When loved ones were taken from me, I experienced that Jesus' comfort was greater than all the suffering in my heart. Therefore, in dark days of suffering, if you have faith and pray, I commit my ways to the Lord, he will do everything right.
You will experience that he does do everything right, and that he will comfort you. God's will is goodness and lovingkindness, and good the ways he leads us on. Pain disregarding, see it's rewarding, this be my song forevermore.
Grace the suffering, seen us transforming, for everlasting life with Christ. Amen.
Sermon Outline
- I. Suffering Brings Great Treasure
- A. Suffering can bring joy and peace
- B. Jesus' love can help us through suffering
- C. Suffering can lead to a deeper fellowship with God
- II. Jesus Stands by Those Who Suffer
- A. Jesus is the eternal, divine life
- B. Jesus brings peace and heavenly joy to those who suffer
- C. Jesus' presence is triumphant in times of suffering
- III. Faith and Prayer Can Transform Suffering
- A. Faith and prayer can bring comfort and peace
- B. God's will is goodness and lovingkindness
- C. God can bring great joy into our hearts through suffering
Key Quotes
“Value suffering, such joy bringing, and the cross of Jesus' love.” — Basilea Schlink
“He wants to let balsam flow into my comfortless, wounded heart.” — Basilea Schlink
“In periods of loneliness and sorrow, I've experienced that Jesus Christ is all-sufficient.” — Basilea Schlink
Application Points
- We can find comfort in Jesus' love and presence, and by committing our ways to the Lord.
- Faith and prayer can bring comfort and peace, and can help us see that God's will is goodness and lovingkindness.
- Suffering can be a transformative experience that brings great joy and peace, and can lead to everlasting life with Christ.