Pulpit Voices

By David Busic

What Nazarenes Are Preaching

Throughout human history people have struggled to reconcile the idea of a loving God with the pain and suffering they see around them. The struggle becomes even more difficult when the pain is either ours or that of someone we love. During those times God can seem hidden. The questions can come faster than the answers. It can be difficult to hold onto our faith when God seems absent.

Theologians have a word for this struggle: theodicy. Theodicy is how we reconcile the tension between evil and suffering, and the belief in a good and loving God.

In order to address these kinds of congregational questions, I developed a five-week sermon series called “When the Pieces Don’t Fit: Where Is God When I Hurt?” It was not an attempt to give simplistic answers to complex questions, but to think biblically and intellectually about the problem of human suffering. Different theological traditions answer these questions in very different ways. It was my hope to offer answers that were faithful to the Wesleyan view of Scripture.

The sermon titles and scripture references included:

1. “Why Is There Suffering in the World?” from Job 1

2. “Where Is God When I Hurt?” from Romans 8:18-26

3. “How Can I Pray When I Am Hurting?” from Psalm 88

4. “Finding Hope in Difficult Times” from Romans 5:1-5

5. “How to Help a Hurting Friend” from 2 Corinthians 1:3-7

As a way to prepare for this series, I asked Glaphre Gilliland, a member of our church, to help me. She had experienced a great deal of personal suffering and also helped many people walk through their own suffering. Twenty years ago, Glaphre wrote a book entitled When the Pieces Don’t Fit . . . God Makes the Difference. Her publisher hoped the book would sell 8,000 copies. It sold over 180,000! I believe it was a bestseller because of her honesty regarding her personal journey and deep faith in God through great difficulties.

Because Glaphre was bedridden, I brought her the five sermon scriptures I intended to use, and asked her to meditate prayerfully on them. She then summarized her thoughts into a microcassette recorder. Having those comments during my preparation enabled me to weave her thoughts and ideas into the sermons. Her contribution was invaluable.

I informed the congregation that Glaphre was helping me preach these messages, and her book was made available as a supplemental resource to the sermon series. On the first Sunday of the series, I had Glaphre call in during the worship service (the congregation could hear her speaking through the sound system). Many had not heard her voice in years. She shared her hopes and dreams for those who would participate in the study, and then offered a prayer of blessing for the people. I watched dozens wipe away tears as she spoke. It was a powerful God moment!

Although I couldn’t have known at the time, God’s timing was perfect. I began the sermon series in January 2005, just one week following the devastating South Asian tsunami that killed thousands of people. Many people were asking “God” questions at that very time.

Glaphre went to heaven one month after the series was completed.