POINTLESS?

What's the point!? Have you ever wondered what the point of life is? Questioned why? especially in the light of so much suffering.

When going through personal hardships, we may ask, what's the point?

As we age and become less able, we may ask, what’s the point?

When we watch on our screens the horrors of war, killing and death, we may ask, what's the point?

When we receive bad news, terminal illness, tragedy, we may ask, what’s the point?

When we hear of children suffering abuse and murder, we may ask, what’s the point?

When you have a child who was once full of life and ability but now has a brain injury, we HAVE asked what's the point?

This world is full of suffering, difficulties, hardships and tragedies.

This world is broken and so are we, every single one of us and that's one reason why terrible and difficult things happen. But what’s the point of all this? The point is, that God has put us on planet earth for a reason. His reason.

The reality is, that sadly sufferings happen everyday but rather than focussing on the suffering, the question we need to ask ourselves is, what are we going to do with it when we encounter it? If we see suffering as a part of God’s reason for us and our lives then, we can use it as part of the answer? We could make a difference, however small we think it is by using our suffering.

When we think about our own personal situation with our son Nathanael, we have had to ask ourselves, how can we possibly use this devastating, heartbreaking, tragic situation for good? We could spend the rest of our lives asking 'what's the point'? and although I’m sure we will again, there has to come a point when we, and indeed all of us, in our sufferings ask for God's strength to use what is before us, for good.

Many times we cannot see how good can come out of terrible situations, for example in Israel right now. But one thing for sure is that we can and must pray, and we can give financially and do whatever God lays on hearts to support.

We will all suffer but we are God's hands and feet in a hurting world, that is THE point. When we see brokenness and suffering - do we see pointlessness or do we see an opportunity?

Matthew 25v31-40

“When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. And he will place the sheep on his right, but the goats on the left. Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’ Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’

We should do all things as unto the Lord suffering or not, that is the point. As we care for Nathanael we do so because he is our son, a gift from God and we love him to bits but also because we are serving the Lord in our caring and suffering.

Thankfully despite any suffering and pain. Jesus is coming again to make all things right and so that we can inherit an eternal kingdom. Even so, come Lord Jesus so that we can finally and fully see the point from YOUR perspective.

Prayer - Dear Lord, we don’t always understand why there’s so much suffering around us and why it continues. But Lord please help us to see things from your perspective and to be your voice, your hands, your feet as and where we can. Amen