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Pathway Through Suffering: Finding Purpose and Healing

Explore the depths of suffering, uncovering the universality, personal nature, and hidden meanings behind pain. Discover the theological framework and practical steps to navigate suffering with purpose and redemption.

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Pathway Through Suffering: Finding Purpose and Healing

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  1. What’s Good About Feeling Bad: Developing a Theology of Suffering For the “Building an Effective Cancer Ministry” Conference John C. Thomas, Ph.D.., Ph.D. Thomas, J. C., & Habermas, G. (2008). What’s good about feeling bad: Finding purpose and a path through your pain. Carol Streams, IL: Tyndale.

  2. The Realities of Suffering • Reality 1: Suffering is universal • Reality 2: Suffering is painful • Reality 3: Suffering is personal • Reality 4: Suffering is unnerving • Reality 5: Suffering is mysterious • Reality 6: Suffering is biblical

  3. Beliefs about Suffering • Key Belief 1: I deserve ease and comfort in life • Key Belief 2: I deserve a predictable world • Key Belief 3: I deserve a fair world

  4. Questions about Suffering • Why me? • Why this? • Why now?

  5. Percepts of Suffering • Everyone will suffer • All suffering has meaning • Multiple sources: • A broken & fallen world • Supernatural causes • People’s choices • Our choices • No all-inclusive answer

  6. Percepts of Suffering (2) • God is not obligated to give us a reason • God knows our pain and is with us when we suffer • God is always at work • God can redeem suffering • There is an end to all suffering for the believer

  7. The Purposes of Suffering • The Inward Direction • The Forward Direction • The Outward Direction • The Upward Direction

  8. Inward Purposes of Suffering • A Purified Faith (1 Pt. 1:6-7) • A Humble Heart (2 Cor. 12:7-10) • Test Our Faithfulness (Job 1-2) • Well-Behaved Children (Hb. 12:5-6)

  9. Forward Purposes of Suffering • To Mature Us (Js. 1:2-4) • To Be Christ-like (Ro. 8:29-29) • A Personalized Faith (Job 42:5)

  10. Outward Purposes of Suffering • To Build His Kingdom (Phil. 1:12-13) • A Strong and Caring Church (1 Cor. 12:25-26) • To Minister through Us (2 Cor. 1:3-7)

  11. Upward Purposes of Suffering • See His True Character (Job 42:1-6) • Prepare Us for a Blessing (Job 42:10-17) • Give Believers Dying Grace (Phil. 1:20-21) • Reward Those Who Endure (Js. 1:12) • To Glorify God (Jn. 9:1-4)

  12. The Pathway through Suffering • Probe Your Beliefs about Suffering; look for misconceptions • Assign Your Suffering to God • Apply a Plan of Recovery • Redeem Your Suffering

  13. Pathway: Assign Your Suffering • Release Your Feelings to God • Review the Nature of Your Suffering • Recognize the Ways God Works to Accomplish His Plan • Reaffirm Your Desire to Know God

  14. Pathway: Assign Your Suffering (4) • Reassess Your Dependency & Trust in God • Relinquish Your Destiny into God’s Trustworthy Hands • Rejoice in How God May Use Your Suffering

  15. Pathway: Apply a Plan • Purpose your heart • Change your perspective • Examine your attitude • Change your emotions • Change thinking: Avoid • Examine expectations • Have a proper life perspective

  16. Pathway: Redeem Your Suffering • Prevent undue stress • Surrender protection and be open to others

  17. Providing Ministry • A ministry of presence • An empathic ear • Accept what happened & the person’s response • Seek to instill hope • Pray • Be practical in your help • Be aware of your attitude • Attitude of love & acceptance • Stay in contact

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