Talk

Praise in the Pain

Ben Stuart

April 24, 2022

Ben Stuart looks at just a few verses that unlock what God does with our pain and why we have it. It’s a tough world to navigate, and as believers, we often feel set apart and alone. This talk focuses on God’s word that proves He has never left us and has purposely chosen us.

Key Takeaway

There is a purpose and plan to our pain. We are not left out to dry by God even though we experience suffering and trials for his namesake. He is constantly at work with His chosen people and moving them to the places where He wants to spread His Gospel.

How do we make sense of being set apart by God and then suffering? Of being made holy and it ends up hurting you?

Read 1 Peter 1:1-12. Peter is the perfect person to write a letter of encouragement to a group of people who are suffering and turmoil. He knew what that type of pressure was like and for life to not get easier with Jesus. He was well acquainted with what it was like to be rejected and to reject. He rejected his own Savior at his lowest moment, but we don't see him buried in shame. He's a changed man, joyful and buoyant, fully committed to remaining true to Jesus Christ. He is able to give them a perspective on their pain.

Your pain is part of God's plan. 1 Peter 1:1-2Peter is very pastoral in his greeting. He introduces himself not as Simon, but as Peter, the name Jesus gave him. In Aramaic it is Cephas, and it's translated into Greek as Peter; his new name means rock. He also calls himself an apostle, which means "official emissary", an eyewitness that's been sent out to tell the Gospel of Jesus. So, he's comforting them by saying he's going to stand strong like a rock in the truth of who Jesus is and what He's done.Peter is also going to orient them. They had been scattered abroad and were experiencing suffering, so he reorients them through God, broader society, and people of faith (past and present). He reminds them that they are "elect" or "chosen". God chose them! In society today, this can become a philosophical war, but from a Biblical standpoint, it's always presented as a comfort. It's inconceivable to understand the mystery of it, but it's a consolation to know God chose us. Peter also recognizes they were in "exile" meaning that they were living in the community, but never accepted as one of them. We are out of place in culture. One theologian said "Christianity is at home in every culture, but it also challenges every culture." We live our lives among the masses, but we challenge how women are treated, sexual ethics, caring for the poor, etc. As Christians, we are elected exiles: insiders who are outsiders. It was the same for Abraham, Daniel, Jeremiah, Esther, and many more. Peter makes the connection of their currently being dispersed and lost back to their history which shows God always moves His people and knows exactly where they are. We are part of a bigger story! God has a plan and keeps His covenant.

Your pain has a purpose. 1 Peter 1:6-7 Our pain is temporary and often serves the purpose of refining us. Refining is an excruciating process where fire is used to burn out all of the impurities of metal. We are being made pure every day and through every fire. When all the impurity is removed, what is left is steady and strong. The same is true of our lives.Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego literally walked into the fire because they refused to worship anyone/anything other than God. Elected exiles. But the outcome of their refining was God getting glory and His power on display for all to see. They conducted their lives in such a respectful manner that they proved that suffering and sweetness can coexist and are winsome to those looking for God.

Know that you'll prevail. 1 Peter 1:8-12

Our victory in Jesus is assured, therefore, knowing the end is taken care of, we can be bold right now. We don't need to be needlessly offensive, but we also don't need to be ashamed. We know who wins the battle.

Take heart. Life is hard. God is Good. Do you know Him? You're made to.

“

"Life is not made unbearable by circumstances. It's made unbearable by lack of meaning and purpose."

”

Viktor Frankl

Discussion Questions

How do you make sense of being set apart by God, but then suffering?
What had Peter done that made him the best person to write a letter of encouragement to suffering and scattered people?
What does Peter's name mean? (See John 1:42) Why is that significant to his audience?
What does elect mean? How does the Bible always present it?
In what ways do you feel like an exile in your community and culture today?
God is a covenant-keeping God, so what He started with Abraham, He continued throughout the rest of the generations. Who were some of the other examples given as being exiles and how did God work in their life?
Describe the process of refining. What is the end goal?
Since you already know you will prevail, how does that play into your life currently?
Ben said that there's no need to be needlessly offensive, but you also don't have to be ashamed. How do you find a balance?
What is one practical way you can reorient yourself as you suffer?

Scripture References

1Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ,

To God’s elect, exiles scattered throughout the provinces of Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia and Bithynia, 2who have been chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through the sanctifying work of the Spirit, to be obedient to Jesus Christ and sprinkled with his blood:

2who have been chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through the sanctifying work of the Spirit, to be obedient to Jesus Christ and sprinkled with his blood:

Grace and peace be yours in abundance.

3Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,

4and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. This inheritance is kept in heaven for you,

5who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time.

6In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials.

7These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.

8Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy,

9for you are receiving the end result of your faith, the salvation of your souls.

10Concerning this salvation, the prophets, who spoke of the grace that was to come to you, searched intently and with the greatest care,

11trying to find out the time and circumstances to which the Spirit of Christ in them was pointing when he predicted the sufferings of the Messiah and the glories that would follow.

12It was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves but you, when they spoke of the things that have now been told you by those who have preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven. Even angels long to look into these things.

54Then seizing him, they led him away and took him into the house of the high priest. Peter followed at a distance.

55And when some there had kindled a fire in the middle of the courtyard and had sat down together, Peter sat down with them.

56A servant girl saw him seated there in the firelight. She looked closely at him and said, “This man was with him.”

57But he denied it. “Woman, I don’t know him,” he said.

58A little later someone else saw him and said, “You also are one of them.”

“Man, I am not!” Peter replied.

59About an hour later another asserted, “Certainly this fellow was with him, for he is a Galilean.”

60Peter replied, “Man, I don’t know what you’re talking about!” Just as he was speaking, the rooster crowed.

61The Lord turned and looked straight at Peter. Then Peter remembered the word the Lord had spoken to him:

“Before the rooster crows today, you will disown me three times.”

62And he went outside and wept bitterly.

16Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego replied to him, “King Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter.

17If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to deliver us from it, and he will deliver us from Your Majesty’s hand.

18But even if he does not, we want you to know, Your Majesty, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.”

19Then Nebuchadnezzar was furious with Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, and his attitude toward them changed. He ordered the furnace heated seven times hotter than usual

20and commanded some of the strongest soldiers in his army to tie up Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego and throw them into the blazing furnace.

21So these men, wearing their robes, trousers, turbans and other clothes, were bound and thrown into the blazing furnace.

22The king’s command was so urgent and the furnace so hot that the flames of the fire killed the soldiers who took up Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego,

23and these three men, firmly tied, fell into the blazing furnace.

24Then King Nebuchadnezzar leaped to his feet in amazement and asked his advisers, “Weren’t there three men that we tied up and threw into the fire?”

They replied, “Certainly, Your Majesty.”

25He said, “Look! I see four men walking around in the fire, unbound and unharmed, and the fourth looks like a son of the gods.”

26Nebuchadnezzar then approached the opening of the blazing furnace and shouted, “Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, servants of the Most High God, come out! Come here!”

So Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego came out of the fire, 27and the satraps, prefects, governors and royal advisers crowded around them. They saw that the fire had not harmed their bodies, nor was a hair of their heads singed; their robes were not scorched, and there was no smell of fire on them.

27and the satraps, prefects, governors and royal advisers crowded around them. They saw that the fire had not harmed their bodies, nor was a hair of their heads singed; their robes were not scorched, and there was no smell of fire on them.

28Then Nebuchadnezzar said, “Praise be to the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, who has sent his angel and rescued his servants! They trusted in him and defied the king’s command and were willing to give up their lives rather than serve or worship any god except their own God.

Ben Stuart

Ben Stuart is the pastor of Passion City Church D.C. Prior to joining Passion City Church, Ben served as the executive director of Breakaway Ministries on the campus of Texas A&M. He also earned a master’s degree in historical theology from Dallas Theological Seminary. He and his wife, Donna, live to inspire and equip people to walk with God for a lifetime.