No More Pain

2 Corinthians 4:16-18

Trials dark on every hand,
And we cannot understand
All the ways that God could lead us
To that blessed promised land;
But He guides us with His eye,
And we’ll follow till we die,
For we’ll understand it better by and by.

By and by, when the morning comes,
When the saints of God are gathered home,
We’ll tell the story how we’ve overcome,
For we’ll understand it better by and by. 

- Charles Tindley

1. The problem of pain (v16)

…he who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus and bring us with you into his presence. 2 Corinthians 4:14

The Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intention of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. Genesis 6:5

2. The purpose of pain (v17)

Aren’t two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them falls to the ground without your Father’s consent. Matthew 10:29 (CSB)

So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows. Matthew 10:31 (CSB)

God has cast me into the mire, and I have become like dust and ashes. I cry to you for help and you do not answer me; I stand, and you only look at me. You have turned cruel to me; with the might of your hand you persecute me. Job 30:19–21

I do not call you servants anymore, because a servant doesn’t know what his master is doing. I have called you friends, because I have made known to you everything I have heard from my Father. John 15:15

…he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him.” John 14:21

“If, however, you are privileged enough to be taken by one of the high-ups into the magnificent electrical signal-box that lies athwart platforms 7 and 8, you will see on the longest wall a diagram of the entire track layout for five miles on either side of the station, with little glow-worm lights moving or stationary on the different tracks to show the signalmen at a glance exactly where every engine and train is. At once you will be able to look at the whole situation through the eyes of the men who control it: you will see from the diagram why it was that this train had to be signalled to a halt, and that one diverted from its normal running line, and that one parked temporarily in a siding. The why and the wherefore of all these movements becomes plain, once you can see the overall position.” - J.I. Packer

Every millisecond of your pain — from fallen nature or fallen man — every millisecond of your misery in the path of obedience is producing a peculiar glory you will get because of that suffering. - John Piper

One thing have I asked of the Lord, that will I seek after: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and to inquire in his temple. Psalm 27:4

“…to be united with the beauty we see, to pass into it, to receive it into ourselves, to bathe in it, to become part of it.” - C.S. Lewis

And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. 2 Corinthians 3:18

3. The prescription for pain (v18)

If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above… Colossians 3:1

We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed. 2 Corinthians 4:8-10

LIFE GROUP DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

• What is the essential Thanksgiving side dish?

• What is one thing you’re looking forward to this holiday season? What is one thing that is making you anxious?