“A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped. Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion.”
– Mark 4:37-38
The above framed glass hangs in our living room. I mentioned it this past week in the sermon on this text from Mark. It points to a couple of “truths” about the issue of pain, suffering, and evil in the world.
The problem of pain, suffering, and evil in our lives is very complicated. But there are two biblical “truths” I want us to consider.
- Pain, suffering, and evil are very real in our lives. That should not be a surprise because we live in a sin-filled, imperfect world where the devil still roars, trying to turn us away from God. Sin, our own or that of others, causes pain and suffering in our lives. The fallen world is no longer perfect, thus disease and death impact all of us. And the devil is real. So, pain, suffering, and evil exist and we experience the consequences.
- God is at work in all things, including pain, suffering, and evil, giving us the strength we need to go on. God is not asleep while storms rage around us. God is at work, helping us handle what we are given, speaking peace into our lives.
God bless.
Pastor John