Title: " When It Seems Like God is Not There "

Text: John 11:21 -- See 11:1-46 & 12:9-11

INTRO:

1. It has Been Said that : " Into Every Life a Little Rain Must Fall."

2. Everyday Translation : Everybody's Gonna Have Troubles Sometimes !!!

3. Jesus Said in John 16:33 : " In the World ye Shall have Tribulation. "

4. Peter said in I Peter 4:12 : " Beloved Think it Not Strange Concerning the Fiery Trial which IS to TRY you. "

5. It's Not a Question of Whether or Not we'll Have Troubles; It's a Promised Fact ; We Will !!!

6. The Question is : What Should we Do When we Have Troubles ? .

7. I want to share with you Today some Things to Remember " When it Seems Like God is Not There."

I. The Fact that We are Suffering Does Not Mean that God Doesn't Love Us.

John 11:3 & 5

II. God Has a Definite Purpose For our Suffering.

John 11:4 c/f Romans 8:16-18

III. Sometimes When We are Suffering It Is Necessary For God to Seemingly Sit Down & Do Nothing but Remain Distant From us In our Pain.

John 11:6

A. Jesus Taught them that it is Never Too Late For God to Turn Things Around in a Person's Life.

B. God May Allow our Lives to Go Through Experiences Totally Beyond our Control to Teach us that HE is our Greatest Need in Life.

IV. Even When God Seems to be Distant & Unconcerned, He is Aware of & In Control of Our Problems.

John 11:6-7 & 11-14

V. When the Right Time Comes ( In His Time ), God will Come to Glorify Himself In our Difficult Circumstances In His Own Way.

John 11:4, 11, 14-15, 39, & 43-45

VI. Our Suffering Gives God an Opportunity to Produce Faith In the Lives of Others.

John 11:15 & 45

*** Notice the Death / Life Principle in the Scriptures :

John 12:24 & II Corinthians 4:1-12

VII. We are Not the First & Only Ones to Go Through Suffering, Confusion, & Personal Set-backs in Life.

A. John 11 -- Mary Martha, & Lazarus Suffered

B. Genesis -- Jacob & Joseph Suffered

C. Job -- Job Suffered

D. II Corinthians 1:8 -- Paul Suffered

E. Gospels -- Mary ( Blessed Among Women & Highly Favored of the Lord ) Suffered

VIII. Jesus Knows Exactly what we Feel Like When we Feel Forsaken by God.

Matthew 27:46 ; Psalm 22:1 ; & Hebrews 4:14-16

IX. Our Troubles Are Actually WORKING FOR Us.

II Corinthians 4:16-18 ; Romans 8:28 ; James 1:2-4 ; & Romans 8:18

X. No Matter What the Circumstances Are, No Matter How Much it Seems Like God Has Forsaken You, REMEMBER MOST OF ALL that Jesus Has Said : " I WILL NEVER LEAVE THEE, NOR FORSAKE THEE."

Hebrews 13:5