Happy Lunar New Year, called Tet in Vietnamese. As with the Western New Year, it is a time to wish for the best for ourselves and others. It is also an opportunity to make resolutions again! How did we go with our last ones from January 1?

It is also the case that a New Year might be a challenge for some of us. Life is not without suffering. Pastor Hung Nguyen shares the good news with us today to help us reduce suffering.

Pastor Hung shows us guidance from the bible in the story of Joseph about suffering in the context of being a child of God. Life is a mystery, a seemingly purposeless sequence of events. By reflecting on the following points, however, Christians can lessen their burdens.

1. Understand God's way through faith – Have faith that God works in the world (Hebrews 11:3a). Developing faith comes from a personal relationship with God.
2. God works in all things for our good – Suffering is part of human lives (Romans 8:17). God works in all things, including suffering, for our good. Joseph's statement to his brothers in Genesis 50:20 highlights the differences between the plans of men and the plans of God. And what is our good? "…conformed to the image of His Son" (Romans 8:29a).
3. Is this great promise for everyone? – "…those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose". In fact there is wrath for those who don't love Him (Romans 1:18).

Take heart, have faith in the Lord by loving him.