There was a beautiful sixteen year old girl, who might have been the most popular girl in her huge high school, who hung with the in crowd and was the envy of most girls and the desire of every guy who would never have the chance to date her. The world was hers for the taking.

All that changed with one dive that resulted in a broken neck and a life sentence in a wheel chair as a quadriplegic. She asked, “Do you think God had anything to do with her breaking her neck?”

Why would a loving God permit or ordain such a tragedy?

Suffering, is there anyone here this morning that has not suffered? Did your suffering make sense or in the midst of your suffering did you demand answers?

It is easy to trust God when things are going our way and the world makes sense. But when suffering strikes – especially seemingly senseless suffering – we are filled with doubt and stunned by events spiraling beyond our control.  In the midst of our suffering, we often question the foundation of our faith, our belief in God who says he loves us.

A friend answered the 16-year-old's question, “Do you think God had anything to do with my breaking my neck?” This is what he said. “God put you in that chair, Joni. I don’t know why, but if you’ll trust Him instead of fight Him, you’ll find out why – if not in this life, then in the next.  He let you break your neck because He loves you.”  (When God Weeps pg.12)

You might think "with a friend like that who needs enemies". But that friend joined Joni Eareckson Tada in a study of and a journey through God’s Word.  He joined her in a search of God’s promises of hope.  It has been over 30 years since Joni was paralyzed.  Today she travels the world as a Christian motivational speaker.  She has written books and has a faith that exemplifies this morning's scripture text.

Since our trust and obedience rests on God’s character, the questions that life’s tragedies force us to face are difficult and frightening.  The question I want to ask you this morning is this, Do you believe God is big enough to understand suffering, wise enough to allow it and powerful enough to use it for a greater good than we can ever imagine.

We tend to forget that our almighty and all-powerful God can be sensitive.  God has a tender heart.

Do you think for one moment that God is not weeping?

At the acts of arson that have caused the destruction of forest and homes in California;

At random acts of terrorism and violence that disrupt peace in the world;

At the fact that every twenty seconds a person dies of starvation?

Do you think for one moment that God is not weeping?

With grandparents who care for the children of their drug addicted son or daughter;

With parents because their children’s hearts are swept away in the tide of sensuality?

Jesus uses a very familiar analogy used in the OT to illustrate the anguish Israel or a person might have to endure before God’s wonder and blessing are finally experienced. In John 16:21,22 Jesus speaks of a woman in labor and childbirth. The woman’s suffering in childbirth recalls the suffering of God’s people before the Lord brings final deliverance.

Ask any woman who has ever given birth to a child, while they are still in the labor and delivery room if she wants another child and you will get a resounding NO! How quickly the pain of childbirth diminishes when that son or daughter is placed on the Mom’s chest.

God’s ability to restore life is beyond our understanding.  Forests burn down and they grow back.  Grief is experienced but it is not a permanent condition.  Our tears of sadness give way to tears of joy when we remember that death is a way for us to go home.

Thanks to Jesus Christ our tears water seeds of hope that will grow into an abundant harvest if we trust our God.

Psalm 126 affirms this great truth.  Life with God ends in triumph.

Life may be filled with sorrow today but one day you will rejoice provided you keep your eye on God’s promises.  Think of who you are today.  If pain and sorrow had not entered your life what kind of person do you think you would be today?  In what ways has your character been transformed into the image of Christ through suffering?

Life is a laboratory to put God’s Word to the test. Tears are powerful tools of prayer. Tears may flow but you and I are not prisoners of sorrow but prisoners of hope. If you are weeping today, remember joy cometh in the morning, through your faith and trust in God.