Building Meaning from the Ashes
We hate discomfort!
We want to wrap pain in purpose to make chaos feel controlled.
Life is messy.
The real truth is that sometimes we don’t find reasons.
*But meaning can be built from ashes.
What do you say or what do others say when something bad happens?
“God doesn’t give you more than you can handle.”
“God must be up to something cause He doesn’t make mistakes.”
“This is a blessing in disguise. It’s God’s will and plan.”
Underlying response: Someday you’ll be glad this happened cause everything happens for a reason.
Human Nature:
*We want to know there’s a _reason_.
When people say ‘Everything happens for a reason.”
•God takes care of _all things_ in a believer’s life.
•Nothing happens by _chance_ (God is in control.)
•It’s all a part of God’s _plan_.
Unshakable Truths:
•God has a _plan_.
•God is in absolute _charge_.
•God is _good_.
However, it does not mean that God is the direct cause of everything and that everything that God “allows” is _good_.
Where did we come up with the idea that “Everything happens for a reason” and “everything is good if you wait long enough?”
“And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.” – Romans 8:28 (ESV)
“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” – Romans 8:28 (NIV)
The “stand alone” truth about Romans 8:28….
*Not all things are _good_, but in all things God is at _work_. And God is good.
The contextual truth about Romans 8:28.
“Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written: “For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.” No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” – Romans 8:35–39 (NIV)
Not matter what happens, not even bad things can affect God’s _love for us_.
That’s a promise!!
Pastor’s Personal Perspective:
•*Pain often refuses to be explained. That’s the real truth sometimes, we don’t find reasons. But we can build meaning from the ashes.
Finding meaning doesn’t require a reason.
•A reason tries to explain WHY something happened.
•A meaning asks, “What can I do with this now?”
•In other words, meaning is something you create, not something that is handed to you.
•In other words meaning is something you create, not something that is handed to you.
•We don’t have to turn our wounds into wisdom overnight.
•Grief heartbreak, failure, loss- these aren’t problems to be solved, but seasons to move through.
•When we can’t find the reason, be the reason.
•If everything doesn’t happen for a good reason, maybe we can be the reason something good still happens.
Matthew 5:16
In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in Heaven.