Basics%20of%20Biblical%20Counseling

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Basics of Biblical Counseling

• Lesson 11 Trials and Suffering

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X. Trials and Suffering1
1 Adapted from material by NANC and Randy Patten
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A. The Big Picture

• The key to dealing with trials and suffering is
  to see God and His purposes in the midst of it.
• Biblical examples
• Joseph Gen. 5020
• Job Job. 2310
• James James 12-4
• Paul Rom. 53-5, 2 Cor. 129-10

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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 elses
   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.

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C. The Bible on Trials and Suffering

• Trials and suffering are a result of sin (Gen.
  1-3, Rom. 820-23)
• God is always sovereign and in control of all
  things, even trials and suffering
• God causes both calamity and blessing (Jer.
  3242, Lam. 337-38)
• Yet God is never morally responsible for sin and
  wickedness (James 112-18)
• God sovereignty is such that He works His good
  and holy will even through the sin and wickedness
  of others (Gen. 5020, Rom. 828, Is. 469-11,
  Job 1-2)

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D. How Does God Call Believers to Respond?

• Seek to please and glorify God in all things. We
  must be responsible regardless of how we feel (2
  Cor. 59-10)
• Pray for God to grow and change us, not just get
  us through the difficulty (Rom.828-29, James
  12-4)
• Reasons God brings trials and suffering
• Unconfessed sin (1 Cor. 1130, 2 Kings 515-27)
• To discipline His children (Heb. 125-11)
• To increase our usefulness (John 152, 2 Cor.
  13-9, 2 Pet. 15-8)

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D. How Does God Call Believers to Respond?

1. To show us that we live in a fallen world (Gen.
   38-19, Rom. 822-24)
2. To show us that the sins of others can have an
   effect on us (Eph. 64, Josh 7, Jonah 1)
3. To allow us to reap what we sow (Gal. 67-8,
   Prov. 522)
4. To teach us about our own weakness and cause us
   to depend on God (2 Cor. 13-9, 127-10)
5. To help us realize we have put our hope in
   something or someone else other than God (1 Pet.
   113, Heb. 619)

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D. How Does God Call Believers to Respond?

1. To enlarge our appreciation of His sufficiency (2
   Cor. 47, 127-10)
2. To test and strengthen our faith (1 Pet. 16-7,
   412)
3. To create opportunities to witness for Christ
   (Phil. 112ff)
4. To develop Christ-like character (James 12-5)
5. To cause us to recognize our need of one another
   in the body of Christ (1 Cor. 1225, Rom. 1215,
   Gal. 62)
6. To always bring glory to Himself (John 91-3)

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E. Biblical Encouragement

1. The Father is carrying out His will which is
   good, acceptable, and perfect (Rom. 122)
2. Christ prays on our behalf (John 1720-21, Heb.
   414-16)
3. The Holy Spirit indwells believers (1 Cor.
   619-20)
4. Gods grace is sufficient (2 Cor. 121ff)
5. No temptation is too powerful. God promises
   victory, not necessarily deliverance (1 Cor.
   1013)

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E. Biblical Encouragement

1. Our earthly life is short compared to eternity
   with the Lord (2 Cor. 416-18)
2. The church body is there to help (Heb. 1024-25)

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F. Resources

• D.A. Carson, How Long O Lord? (Baker, 1990)
• Jay Adams, How to Handle Trouble (PR, 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).

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Homework

• Reading in additional book
• Memorize James 12-4