It’s hard to see the end of things when you’re stuck in the middle of pain.
When life is heavy, when prayers seem to echo unanswered, when sorrow settles in deep – the darkness can feel endless. It can seem impossible to believe that anything good could come out of the ashes.
But the good news is this: God has already proven that death and darkness do not get the final word.
When death delivered its deadliest blow to Jesus on the cross, it looked like evil had won. The sun refused to shine. The earth itself trembled. Hope seemed crushed. But three days later, just as He had promised, Jesus rose from the dead. He stood up from the ashes of defeat, triumphant over every enemy – even death itself.
That resurrection changes everything for us. It tells us that no matter how deep the darkness, light is coming. No matter how painful the season, there is hope on the horizon.
And even more: it tells us that in the middle of the suffering – not after it, not once it’s all wrapped up neatly – we are invited to worship.
This Sunday at Mount Lebanon Church, we are continuing our sermon series with a message titled "Doxology."
We’ll be looking closely at the story of Job, a man who lost everything: his wealth, his health, his family. If anyone had reason to curse God, it was Job. Satan certainly thought he would.
But Job didn’t curse.
He clung.
Even as he sat in agony, scraping his wounds, Job declared the goodness of God. Even when Satan, through the voice of Job’s own wife, tempted him to give up, Job fought to hold onto hope.
Job’s story reminds us of an important truth: Even when the gifts of God are taken away, God Himself remains.
And because God remains, we can sing.
We see this echoed in the words of the Apostle Peter as well. Instead of explaining away suffering or giving easy answers, Peter leads the early believers into a doxology – a song of praise. He helps them, and us, understand that suffering does not mean God has left us. On the contrary, even in suffering, God is actively shaping us, growing us, and drawing us closer to Himself.
Everyone wants an explanation for their suffering. We want to know why. We want to make sense of it. But so often, our desire for answers comes from the assumption that suffering is bad and God’s goodness can only be seen in our comfort.
Job shows us something different.
He shows us that even through the deepest pain, we can trust the goodness of God.
We sing – not because the suffering is easy, but because God is faithful.
We worship – not because we understand the darkness, but because we trust that the light is still coming.
And we know it’s coming, because it already has.
Jesus Christ rose from the dead.
And because He rose, we can rise, too.
This Sunday, we invite you to come and rise with us.
Come and discover how worship becomes a weapon against despair.
Come and learn how a song of praise can silence the enemy.
Come and remember that even in the ashes, God is with us – and He is making all things new.
Bring your sorrow. Bring your questions. Bring your heart.
And come ready to sing.
We can’t wait to see you this weekend at Mount Lebanon Church.