To view the video on YouTube: https://youtu.be/urkocYwQ9Rk
SHOW NOTES
On today's episode of the Hope Rescue Podcast, Tim and Kimberly wrap up their series on “Why do Bad Things Happen to Good People?” This week we will discuss the last four myths that people tend to believe about why bad things happen to good people. Kimberly begins the podcast by explaining that the seventh myth is a common belief in many churches, but as believers, we know it is not true.
Myth #7: If you pray harder and read your bible more you will be free from pain.
Although Tim's father did not preach this, Tim explains that he got the sense growing up that if a person prayed harder and studied their bible, then that person's life would fall together. He explains that many of us see it as a formula in which we get what we want from following specific instructions, but that is not the case. Tim explains how important it is to let scripture teach us truth instead of making up our own, because if people believe this myth then they may believe that if their wishes and desires do not come true, then they did not have enough faith. Kimberly asks Tim to clarify John 15:7 which says "If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you." What exactly did the author mean by this? Tim clarifies that people often take this scripture out of its context and assume it basically means ‘ask and you will receive,’ but we have to remember the first part of this scripture which says “...abide in me.” The word “abide” in Greek is menō which means to settle down, be at home, or to remain. When the Word of God is settled into your life, you begin to have a transformed thinking and a transformed wish list. Once this transformation occurs you can ask whatever you wish and it will be done for you. Kimberly explains that when we have intimacy with Christ and His word in our hearts, we take on His nature. His desires become our desires.
Tim also brings up the scripture of Psalm 37:4 which says, “Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.” This is another example of scripture that is taken out of context on this topic because people assume that it means the Lord will give us anything we desire. Tim explains that when we delight ourselves in the Lord, we will desire Him. If someone has a wish list that they want the Lord to meet, they may assume that if they delight themselves in the Lord, He will provide everything on that wish list we created. In reality, once we delight ourselves in the Lord, our wish list is not usually the same as it was before. Continuing with this same scripture, Psalm 37: 5-6 says, "Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him, and he will act. He will bring forth your righteousness as the light, and your justice as the noonday.” The steps given from this scripture when not taken out of context are to 1. start by delighting in the Lord, 2. commit your ways to Him, and 3. He will bring about your righteousness.
Myth #8: If God truly loved us he would do something about pain. If God cared about man, He would not allow pain.
In the book of Job, there is a man named Elihu who gives a speech as a response to Job and his three friends. Tim sums up what Elihu is saying by giving us six points. In Job 33, Elihu says that Job was wrong in saying that he was sinless. He was not saying that Job was suffering because of anything he did wrong, but that he needs to recognize that he is not without sin. He goes on to say that God is always just and does not do evil. Job 34:12 says "It is unthinkable that God would do wrong, that the Almighty would pervert justice." The next point that Elihu gives is that God doesn't listen to empty cries, especially when we just don't see him acting. He is not so simple-minded that He diverts from His purpose to please man. Job 35:13-14 says, "Surely God does not hear an empty cry, nor does the Almighty regard it. How much less when you say that you do not see him, that the case is before him, and you are waiting for him.” You must wait for God in your suffering. The last two points Elihu makes are that Job is speaking without knowledge and God is beyond what Job thinks. Elihu debunks Myth #8 by explaining that God loves us so much that He will allow suffering to fulfill his purpose in us which is a greater value than our personal comfort.
Myth #9: God is less compassionate than man.
Job claims that he is more compassionate than God, and God responds with two speeches. The first speech from God is in Job 38, and the Lord quickly puts Job in his place. In verse 4, God says, "Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth? Tell me, if you have understanding." The second speech from the Lord to Job is in Job chapter 40. Verses 7-8 say, “Dress for action like a man; I will question you, and you make it known to me. Will you even put me in the wrong? Will you condemn me that you may be in the right?” God is the creator and we are His creation, so who do we think we are questioning Him and His purpose? Tim says, “God is more compassionate than we can even imagine, and it's relative to His purpose and His plan.”
Myth #10: God will only let us suffer for a short while and then will relieve that suffering.
Kimberly explains that there is no maximum or minimum amount of time that the Lord allows us to suffer. Some people may suffer for a lifetime and some may suffer for a very short time, but neither of these is because of a set time limit by the Lord. While we may suffer for longer than we would like, scripture is clear that the Lord will strengthen us and equip us as we suffer and go through trials. Tim quotes 2 Corinthians 4:16-17 which says, "So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison.” If we can focus on the eternal, we'll be able to manage the temporal. Kimberly wraps up the podcast by quoting 1 Peter 5:9-10, "Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world. And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you.”
Join us next week to hear Tim and Kimberly’s talk from Timberlake Church in Redmond, Washington! We love you guys!
QUOTES
“When you abide in Christ, it changes your desires.” -Tim
“When you come close to Christ and walk with Him continuously, you take on his nature and His desires so that when you're praying you're actually praying His desires for your life.” -Kimberly
“God loves us so much that He will allow suffering to fulfill His purpose in us which is a greater value than our personal comfort.” -Tim
“God is more compassionate than we can even imagine, and it's relative to His purpose and His plan.” -Tim
“The Lord promises to equip us as we lean into Him during our suffering." -Kimberly
“If we can focus on the eternal, we'll be able to manage the temporal.” -Tim
REFERENCED SCRIPTURE
John 15:7: "If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you."
Psalm 37:4: Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.
Psalm 37: 5-6: "Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him, and he will act. He will bring forth your righteousness as the light, and your justice as the noonday.”
Job 34:12: "It is unthinkable that God would do wrong, that the Almighty would pervert justice."
Job 35:13-14: "Surely God does not hear an empty cry, nor does the Almighty regard it. How much less when you say that you do not see him, that the case is before him, and you are waiting for him.”
Job 38:4: “Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth? Tell me, if you have understanding.”
Job 40:7-8: “Dress for action like a man; I will question you, and you make it known to me. Will you even put me in the wrong? Will you condemn me that you may be in the right?”
2 Corinthians 4:16-17: "So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison.”
1 Peter 5:9-10: "Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world. And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you.”
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