“Godward, gospel-centered busyness has the potential to remind you of who you are as a child of God, what your potential is even when you are suffering, and the things that God has called you to do that are eternally bigger than you and what you are facing.”- Paul David Tripp
Paul David Tripp completes Chapter 6 of Suffering as he discusses the final four ways to fight doubt’s debilitating power.
3. Daily confess your struggle to believe. Pastor Tripp exhorts you to humbly confess your struggle to believe in the midst of your suffering. As a result, God welcomes you with arms of love. In addition, He blesses you with His presence, power, and sustaining grace. When you honestly confess your struggle, He always responds to your confession with mercy.
4. Get busy. Pastor Tripp remarks that he finds the content of 1 Peter very interesting. Since Peter writes to people suffering through very difficult things, you’d expect his epistle to express sympathy, comfort, and encouragement. While those themes exist in 1 Peter, his call to pursue everything God called them to and blesses them to experience dominates the content. Also, Peter calls his readers to base their responses on who they are as the children of God in suffering.
Yet, as the author explains, it’s not wise to focus too much on suffering:
“Sympathy is an appropriate response to suffering, but the danger there is that too much focus on suffering has the potential to magnify its impact on the way you think about yourself, God, and your suffering.”
5. Encourage other doubters. One of the most powerful ways to receive encouragement is to encourage others. As one who suffers, you’re uniquely positioned to help others who suffer. Most noteworthy, Pastor Tripp states, your weakness provides you with powerful things to offer others who are weak.
6. Let doubt drive you to Jesus. In moments of doubt, determine to run to your Lord – not away. Because the Lord truly hears your cries. And He won’t turn His back on you in your time of need.
Today’s question: What Scriptures direct your focus to Godward, gospel-centered busyness? Please share.
Tomorrow’s blog: “Denial – never a biblical response to suffering”