2026.05.03 Sermon Notes: Why Does God Let Bad Things Happen?

-

Westside Family Church

 Why Does God Let Bad Things Happen?

2026.05.03 (I didn't attend--migraine and slept through service, watched on 05.09.2026)

Pastor JJ Lane

Jesus ENTERED suffering

Jesus DEFEATED suffering

Jesus is PRESENT in suffering

And Jesus will END suffering


Notes: 

God, why do bad things happen?  Maybe you showed up to church hoping someone can answer the question for me?

Can JJ give us the right answer; stories, represented in our church family?  I wish JJ could answer the question so you can have a relationship with God.

He can't even do it for himself.  Why? JJ's wife and his miscarriage.

What is he certain of? Betting his entire life on---

I have hope and that hope has a name.  That name is Jesus!

Why do bad things happen to good people?

  1. If suffering is meaningless, then what hope do we have?

    There's no justice, no redemption; we just have to live with the suffering of this world.
  2. If suffering is meaningless, why does it feel so wrong?
    
All of these world-views provide an answer, but they don't provide "hope".  They leave us in our suffering to fend for ourselves.
Christianity actually does, it shows us where it comes from and what God has done about it and what He will eventually do about it--this is the HOPE that we have.
There is something broken and bad about the world that we live in
  • This is not the world God created.
    • When we chose to rebel against Him, everything broke!
  • God sent Jesus!

The problem of evil and suffering isn’t contrary to the story of the Bible. It’s central to the story of the Bible. 


Jesus ENTERED suffering 

Jesus DEFEATED suffering 

Jesus is PRESENT in suffering

 And Jesus will END suffering


Notes: 


#1 - Jesus ENTERED suffering 

AW Tozer:
"What comes to your mind when you think about God is the most important thing about us," highlighting the profound impact our perception of God has on our lives.

“What comes into our minds when we think about God is the most important thing about us. ... Worship is pure or base as the worshiper entertains high or low thoughts of God. For this reason the gravest question before the Church is always God Himself, and the most portentous fact about any man is not what he at a given time may say or do, but what he in his deep heart conceives God to be like. We tend by a secret law of the soul to move toward our mental image of God. This is true not only of the individual Christian, but of the company of Christians that composes the Church. Always the most revealing thing about the Church is her idea of God, just as her most significant message is what she says about Him or leaves unsaid, for her silence is often more eloquent than her speech. ...”

We think God is distant, untouchable


John 1:14 (ESV) The Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. 


Hebrews 4:15 (NIV) For we do not have a high priest (Jesus)who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are —yet he did not sin.

Difference between sympathy and empathy:

Sympathy: From far away, you can tell someone: I feel bad for what you are going through.

Empathy: Gets into your pain with you; listen I understand it; "This is what Jesus did for us."


Notes: 


#2 - Jesus DEFEATED suffering 


Isaiah 53:3-5 (ESV) He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief; and as one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not. Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with by his wounds we are healed. 


Romans 8:38-39 (ESV) For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.


Notes: 

God on a throne: we understand

God on a Cross: insane!

God lived the life we could not live.  He's beaten, Jesus is actually chosen to be crucified.  Willingly allowed something bad to happen Him (for us).  Jesus defeated all sin, all death. 
Suffering could not hold him!  The resurrection is the EVIDENCE!

Our pain and suffering is not our final say, Jesus has the final say!





#3 - Jesus is PRESENT in suffering 

Daniel chapter 5: enters into the furnace (fire) with us!

Romans 5:5 (ESV) God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.

Psalm 34:18: The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit. He is for all of us!

John 14:16-18 (ESV): And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you.  I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.

Notes: 

No matter what, God is with us!  

We have a future hope!

#4 - Jesus will END suffering

Revelation 21:3-4 (ESV) And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.” 

Grief, cancer, anxiety will be wiped away!


Revelation 21:5 (ESV) And he who was seated on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” Also he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.” 

It's in the present tense; Jesus is in the process of making new things; he is redeeming ALL THINGS new!

Pain is present---so is Jesus

We do not know why; but even when answers don't come, Jesus still does!

This week:

To start a note in your phone: I don't know why, but this is what I know about God

The Who of Who God is

1 Truth we know about God.


Jesus ENTERED suffering 

Jesus DEFEATED suffering 

Jesus is PRESENT in suffering 

And Jesus will END suffering


Notes: 


Ended service with taking communion.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Weekly Reflection 12.0 || Wow

-
Image
This week's survey, I scored highest on Duty Ethics . I was content with this as it validated: I follow the rules and do what I think I am supposed to do when facing ethical dilemmas I focus on fulfilling my responsibilities and doing what I think is the right thing to do. After I took the survey, I was dealt with a dilemma. Should I submit an application with what I know to be true (and correct and right) or submit the application with how my boss says to do it?  Find out next week....I will update you to see what happens. ____ I updated the application to what my boss said to--and we were actually able to correct the information that I saw.  I'm still torn as to if it was REALLY the correct information--I do have it documented that this is why I did what I did.
Read more

Weekly Reflection 13.0 || Quid Pro Yo!!!

-
Image
Yup, you heard it Quid Pro Quo - heard this phrase WAY TO MUCH this week. I used to only associate this with sexual harassment, now in the media, it is way more prevalent with the impeachment process going on and this phrase being thrown around... Then I realized, I got hit with it. I wanted to throw the employees in my office a nice holiday party this year.  We have all worked hard and I thought what a way to end it.  Upper management told me sure-----but first I need to get a project done (which takes about 24 man hours to complete) before I leave for Thanksgiving break.  If I get THAT done, I can throw the party. It all comes down to one activity. One report and I'm afraid I'm going to let my team down.  But here I am, rocking this report on a Sunday so I can accomplish this goal. Yeah, it's a goal, right??!!  Or is it Quid Pro Quo? With that said, I decided to take the survey with my leadership team in mind. I wonder if I should share this w...
Read more

Part IV: Joy That Defeats Worry: Principle #20: Let People Help You

-
Image
   Memory Verse: Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.  And the peace of God which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. --Philippians 4:6-7 Oh my - I can't believe this is almost the last principle.  It's the end---or is it the beginning?  This was by far something I have struggled my entire life--letting people help me.  I like to help people, I enjoy helping people.  Whether it is at work, helping people get their job done or helping here at home, in the community, online, it brings me great happiness. On the other hand, I am not great at asking for help, I'd rather struggle. Until the last 4 or so years, I felt asking for help was a sign of weakness.  But someone offering help, is a sign of strength "on the askers" part.  I know...I know...strange right?? JOURNAL How can you put yourself in a place of...
Read more