Dear friend,

Almost every day we are bombarded with news of earthquakes, typhoons, pandemics, genocide, wars, or other horrors that bring great suffering to countless persons and nations. As bad as this news is, we are also confronted with personal tragedies in our lives and in the lives of those closest to us. Such occasions test our faith, and we often find ourselves stretched to the breaking point. The death of a child, a terminal illness, a disabling injury, persistent joblessness, and similar circumstances may make us cry out, “How long, O LORD?” (Ps. 13:1).

No truth is more important during these times than the truth of God’s sovereignty. Knowing that He works in all things for our good and His glory sustains us in the midst of tragedy. On January 22-23, 2010, Dr. Derek W.H. Thomas and I will be examining the Lord’s sovereignty over our suffering at our first Winter Conference at Ligonier Academy in Orlando, Fla. We will look at the role of sin and Satan in our suffering, the suffering Jesus endured on our behalf, suffering for Christ’s sake, the hope in store for us, and other topics related to the purpose of our troubles and our comfort therein. Please join us this January for a few days of prayer, fellowship, worship, and teaching as we study how the Lord is faithfulness in our darkest hours.

           In Christ,

           R.C. Sproul