Hope from Suffering

Hope In Suffering

Romans 5:3-5

No one is exempt from difficulty and suffering.

If we do not have a biblical view of suffering, we will be greatly discouraged.

That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.Matthew 5:45

Tribulation: an oppressive (weighing heavily) state of physical, mental, social or economic adversity

Three Categories of People

Those going through a trial.

Those coming out of a trial.

Those who soon find themselves in a trial.

Suffering creates strength and steadfast endurance.

Steadfast endurance develops proven character, perseverance and experience.

Behold, I go forward, but he is not there; and backward, but I cannot perceive him: On the left hand, where he doth work, but I cannot behold him: he hideth himself on the right hand, that I cannot see him: But he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold. My foot hath held his steps, his way have I kept, and not declined. Neither have I gone back from the commandment of his lips; I have esteemed the words of his mouth more than my necessary food.Job 23:8-12

Walking with Jesus through trials will bring hope.

Hope: a confident expectation in God for the future based on His character and the promises of His Word.

Suffering -> Strength -> Perseverance -> Proven Character -> Hope

Our hope is directly linked to our faith.

Now therefore go to, speak to the men of Judah, and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, saying, Thus saith the LORD; Behold, I frame evil against you, and devise a device against you: return ye now every one from his evil way, and make your ways and your doings good. And they said, There is no hope: but we will walk after our own devices, and we will every one do the imagination of his evil heart.Jeremiah 18:11-12

Our hope rests in not what we can do, but what God can do.

But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible.Matthew 19:26

Hope in God will never disappoint.

Hope in man will fail, frustrate and embarrass.

Confidence in an unfaithful man in time of trouble is like a broken tooth, and a foot out of joint.Proverbs 25:19

God has a track record of faithfulness.

Our fathers trusted in thee: they trusted, and thou didst deliver them. They cried unto thee, and were delivered: they trusted in thee, and were not confounded.Psalm 22:4-5

The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way. Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the LORD upholdeth him with his hand. I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread.Psalm 37:23-25

Hope in God requires us to wait on His timeline.

But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.Isaiah 40:31

Are there any among the vanities of the Gentiles that can cause rain? or can the heavens give showers? art not thou he, O LORD our God? therefore we will wait upon thee: for thou hast made all these things.Jeremiah 14:22

God’s deliverance is worth the wait.

Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD.Psalm 27:14

Behold, as the eyes of servants look unto the hand of their masters, and as the eyes of a maiden unto the hand of her mistress; so our eyes wait upon the LORD our God, until that he have mercy upon us.Psalm 123:2

Hope brings peace and rest.

Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoiceth: my flesh also shall rest in hope.Psalm 16:9

Hope brings God’s blessing.

Blessed is the man that trusteth in the LORD, and whose hope the LORD is.Jeremiah 17:7

Where is your hope?