Sorrows Are Normal for Now, What to Expect on Your Journey Home by David Mathis

On this wonderful article by David Mathis from Desiringgod.org we’re reminded that our struggling on this life is short-term.

As I thought of this convention of younger professionals, and the chance to talk to you about “what to anticipate in your journey residence,” my thoughts went again twelve years.

My spouse and I had been deeply embedded in a neighborhood of younger adults at Bethlehem Baptist Church in downtown Minneapolis. On January 10, 2013, that neighborhood gathered for the funeral of a five-month-old. His identify was Henryk. His father, Michael, and mom, Emily, had been our dearest pals. They’d came upon at an ultrasound the earlier April that one thing wasn’t proper. Henryk survived his delivery in July however clearly was weak. We didn’t understand how lengthy he’d dwell, whether or not simply hours, days, weeks, and even months. He made it 5 months and died in January.

For my spouse and me, and lots of of our closest pals, this was our first unshielded grownup encounter with the pains of life on this fallen age. Tragically, some encounter these in childhood. Others are shielded as kids, and lots of at the same time as teenagers and school college students, however in the end, the sorrows and struggling of the actual world come crashing in.

I’ll learn you a small part of the eulogy I gave for Henryk:

For many people, particularly us youthful adults round Michael’s and Emily’s age, this was our first (or certainly one of our first) awakenings to how tousled issues actually are on this world. This was certainly one of our first up-close encounters with what it implies that the creation is cursed and subjected to futility due to sin, and that the place we dwell shouldn’t be but the house we lengthy for.

For many people who love this household, the issue of ache has gone from being theoretical to being intensely private. We’ve caught glimpses of God’s goodness within the midst of wave after wave of disappointment and sorrow, however we’re studying the robust lesson that on this world, God’s goodness towards us hardly ever means ease, and sometimes means nice hardship. If this world and this life had been all there’s, we might be on the point of despair. The tensions God is lovingly creating in our hearts on this fallen age are supposed to be resolved in an age to return.

We’ve discovered that saying “God is nice” doesn’t imply that he makes our lives simple, however typically that he makes them onerous, however not joyless.

A few of you’ve gotten already had a primary up-close grownup encounter with deep sorrow or struggling. Should you haven’t, it’s coming. And when you have, extra are coming. My activity this morning is to level you to what to anticipate on this journey residence, as we dwell in a world that’s “not but the house we lengthy for.”

Most likely no guide within the New Testomony higher prepares us for struggling than 1 Peter. I’d prefer to take us to a number of passages in 1 Peter, however I wish to draw from one particularly initially of the letter as we search to sketch a theology of sorrow and struggling. Flip with me to 1 Peter 1:6–9:

On this you rejoice, although now for a short while, if crucial, you’ve gotten been grieved by numerous trials, in order that the examined genuineness of your religion — extra treasured than gold that perishes although it’s examined by fireplace — could also be discovered to lead to reward and glory and honor on the revelation of Jesus Christ. Although you haven’t seen him, you’re keen on him. Although you don’t now see him, you imagine in him and rejoice with pleasure that’s inexpressible and full of glory, acquiring the end result of your religion, the salvation of your souls.

This message has 4 components, primarily based on 1 Peter 1:6–9 and some associated passages we’ll attract. Right here’s the abstract:

Sorrows and sufferings on this journey residence are anticipated, designed, restricted, and rewarded.

You’ll have sorrows and struggling. You’ve had them, or have them now, or they’re coming. Peter writes to Christians who “have been grieved by numerous trials.” And this isn’t a fluke or aberration of regular Christianity; that is regular Christianity on this world, on this journey. We’re grieved by numerous trials. We’re sorrowful, and we endure. So, Peter says, we should always count on sorrows and struggling. First Peter 4:12–13 says,

Beloved, don’t be stunned on the fiery trial when it comes upon you to check you, as if one thing unusual had been occurring to you. However rejoice insofar as you share Christ’s sufferings, that you could be additionally rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed.

As a result of sorrows and struggling will come, Peter desires us to arrange our hearts and be sober-minded (1 Peter 1:13). Don’t assume struggling and debilitating sorrows gained’t come to you. Assume they are going to. Count on them.

So, he says in 1 Peter 4:1: “Since . . . Christ suffered within the flesh, arm yourselves with the identical mind-set.” Arm yourselves! Christ suffered; why gained’t I? We count on it on this journey residence; we’re not naive, not stunned. Count on opposition to a lifetime of religion. Suppose it not unusual to have sorrows and struggling right here, however suppose it unusual once we don’t.

Brothers and sisters, infants and kids will die. Family and friends within the prime of life might be minimize down. It’s possible you’ll get most cancers or a terminal illness. You’ll expertise damaged relationships, whether or not breakups or divorce, or estranged household and expensive pals. There might be insults, opposition, and ostracism to your religion. It’s coming. Sorrows are coming. Struggling is coming. Will you be stunned?…” from the article: Sorrows Are Normal for Now, What to Expect on Your Journey Home by David Mathis