Introduction: The Christian life should be filled with praise to our Heavenly Father. Praise is a note that rings throughout the Bible.

The Israelites sang songs of praises after leaving Egypt:
Exo 15:2 The LORD is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation. He is my God, and I will praise him, my father's God, and I will exalt him.

The Israelites praised God for the land of Canaan:
Deu 8:10 When you have eaten and are satisfied, praise the LORD your God for the good land he has given you.

(Should you give thanks before you eat, or after you eat? Reminds me of the story of the atheist and the bear!)

Job says the angels sang and praised God at the Creation of the world.

The Author of Hebrews wrote:
Heb 13:15 Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise--the fruit of lips that confess his name.

I. One great attribute of God that should bring praise to our lips is His great COMPASSION (2 Corinthians 1:3).

A. He is not some impersonal "force" like in Star Wars. Nor is He the cruel Kali of Hinduism, wearing a necklace of skulls, with blood dripping from her mouth. But Yahweh cares, He pities, He loves His children.

B. Verses about the compassion of God:

Psa 103:13 As a father has compassion on his children, so the LORD has compassion on those who fear him;

Psa 145:9 The LORD is good to all; he has compassion on all he has made.

The compassion of God is seen most clearly in the deeds of Jesus:

Mark 1:39-42
So he traveled throughout Galilee, preaching in their synagogues and driving out demons. A man with leprosy came to him and begged him on his knees, "If you are willing, you can make me clean." Filled with compassion, Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. "I am willing," he said. "Be clean!" Immediately the leprosy left him and he was cured."

Luke 7:11-16
"Soon afterward, Jesus went to a town called Nain, and his disciples and a large crowd went along with him. As he approached the town gate, a dead person was being carried out--the only son of his mother, and she was a widow. And a large crowd from the town was with her. When the Lord saw her, his heart went out to her and he said, "Don't cry." Then he went up and touched the coffin, and those carrying it stood still. He said, "Young man, I say to you, get up!" The dead man sat up and began to talk, and Jesus gave him back to his mother. They were all filled with awe and praised God. "A great prophet has appeared among us," they said. "God has come to help his people."

II. Paul, the Corinthians, Everyone has Troubles, Trials and Tribulations.

Job spoke out of his trials:
"Yet man is born unto trouble, as the sparks fly upward." (Job 5:7)
Sparks never fly down. They always fly UP. Job meant: Trouble, suffering and pain is our natural condition. Children don't understand. But as you age you will see illnesses, accidents, wars, birth defects, great pain and suffering, abuse, crime, betrayals, hatred, deaths of friends, brothers and sisters, parents, your own physical decline and bad health and death. This is all inevitable! It is the curse of sin, brought upon us by Adam.

III. God comforts us in our trials and sufferings: How?

1. He gives meaning to our suffering: "The sufferings of Christ flow over into our lives." (2 Co. 1:5) Romans 8:28 reminds us that God has a good purpose in our suffering: "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." He explains to us that He is making us into the image of His Son Jesus: The Captain of our salvation was "made perfect through suffering." Even so, as we suffer, we become able to help others who are suffering (2 Co. 1:4). The iron being heated red hot, pounded on the anvil, suffers, but becomes thereby a useful tool (the carpenter's saw, the farmer's plow, the surgeon's scalpel). God is making us into useful tools, that we might help others. The only way to become Christlike is through suffering.

2. He informs us that He knows and cares (Matt. 10:29-32):
"Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows. Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven."

3. He promises that He will bless us so much in the next life that the pain of this life will seem inconsequential (2 Co. 4:17):
"For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory." Romans 8:17-18
"Now if we are children, then we are heirs--heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory. I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us." (and Paul suffered a lot!)
Revelation 21:4
"And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away."

Conclusion: Someone once said that pastors should remember "There are problems in every pew." I'm sure that some of you here this morning are suffering, and you are looking for comfort and encouragement. I want to assure you this morning. Have faith, God loves you! God knows about your suffering. He knows about your problem. God care about how you feel. Hebrews 4:15-16 "For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are--yet was without sin. Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need." God is going to bring something good out of your problem. You may not understand it now, but someday you will. Amen.