God uses tribulation. He uses our pain, not simply to punish us, but to polish us,

to sanctify us. In many cases, we go into the refiners' fire so that God will remove the

draws from our lives, draw us close to himself, and in the process

of pain and suffering, we are made more like Christ.

We all face challenges in life, and sometimes they can feel overwhelming.

And yet, Scripture reminds us that our suffering is never without purpose.

Welcome to the Wednesday edition of Renewing Your Mind.

We continue R.C. Sproul series dealing with difficult problems.

Just a reminder that you can receive lifetime digital access to all six messages. Continue R.C. Sprawl series dealing with difficult problems.

Just a reminder that you can receive lifetime digital access to all six messages in this

series for your donation today.

Well, in this message, R.C. looks at the different ways people respond to suffering and

what the Bible says about the way we should respond. Here's Dr. Sprole.

Several years ago, I was invited to give a lecture at Covenant College

down in Lookout Mountain, Tennessee.

And I remember the address that I gave at that time was called the locusts,

not locust like the insect, but the locus of astonishment.

That is the place where we focus on what is really amazing to us. And pointed out in that address on that occasion that we sing amazing grace and give lip service to the sense in which we are amazed by grace, but I wonder

how amazed we really are, where we have become so accustomed

to the mercy of God, the patience of God, and the grace of God, that we begin to take it for

granted and to assume it and then pretty soon to demand it, and so that when he is gracious

to us, we're hardly surprised.

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