Triumph Over Trials Sermon Vi: Take Refuge In The Comfort Of God Series

WHEN TROUBLES OVERWHELM, CHRISTIANS TAKE REFUGE IN THE COMFORT OF GOD

Perhaps you’ve heard it said, or you yourself have said, “I’m at my wits’ end”! In other words: “I’m so exhausted trying to figure out how to deal with problems and difficult situations that I don’t know which way to turn (what to do next)”.

While doing ancestral research at the State Archives on the campus of the University of South Carolina, I had gone about as far as my feeble brain would take me when I overheard a conversation by two gentlemen standing nearby – and one of them sounded like he knew what he was talking about.

Going up to the expert, I said in exasperation, “Is there anything you can do to help me? After searching all morning, I’m at the end of my rope”! To which the gentleman replied, “That’s exactly where I found some of my ancestors.” Thus began a professional relationship and friendship that lasted a long time.

Some folks who find themselves “at the end of their rope” are simply tired of this or that . . . would rather take a beating than to go through the process all over again – whether it be medical procedures, therapy sessions or whatever. A favorite book title says it best: “Tired of Being Tired”.

So exhausted by suffering . . . sorrows . . . stress . . . bad news . . . pain . . . uncertainties . . . worrying about this or that, or what might be or might not be! Feeling much like Mark Twain when he remarked, “I’m an old man and have known many problems in my life, most of which never happened!” What’s the use of worrying?

“Nobody knows the trouble I’ve seen” is the familiar title of a spiritual sung in the old days, but when we finish reading one of today’s scripture passages – and if we recall all the stuff that Paul endured throughout his entire ministry - we will most likely conclude that really and truly nobody had ever known the troubles Paul had seen by the time he told about coming to “the end of his rope” – 2 Corinthians 1:8-11 . . . (Phillips 8-9):

“We want you, brothers and sisters, to know about the troubles we had to go through in Asia. At that time we were completely overwhelmed – under great pressure, beyond our ability to endure - the burden was more than we could bear. In fact we thought that we had received the death sentence. Yet, we now believe that we had this experience of coming to the end of our rope so that we might learn to trust, not in ourselves, but in the God who can raise the dead!”

The extent of the pressure Paul was under is accentuated by his use of the word beyond – beyond our ability to bear and beyond our capacity to deal with it. “It was so bad we didn’t think we were going to make it” (The Message). “The burdens on us were so great, so heavy, that we gave up all hope of living”.

Quote from a 17th Century English Presbyterian Minister John Flavell:

“Man’s extremity is God’s opportunity”! Based on this quote, many sermons have been preached and books written.

Allow me to tweak that quote a bit to make a point that we need to grasp: My extremity (having exhausted my capacities to understand and my abilities to get things done, consequently finding myself at the end of my rope) is my opportunity to wholly rely on the Lord God my Maker, Father and Redeemer!

Which, however, does not excuse me from doing my part, but does put the pressure and the power where they belong – in the mind and in hands of Almighty God! As Mr. Beasley, my neighbor, called to me many mornings from across the street: “Remember, Charles, with God on your side, how can you lose?” Together, with God on our side, we shall overcome!

Victory over suffering, sin and death is (will be) ours because of (3 reasons): Who God is to you . . . What God does through you . . . What God does for you! Thanks be to God who gives us the victory!

As hard as life had been on him, Paul could not sing his own praises but oh how he sang the praises of God in whom he put his trust and in whose hands he placed his circumstances – 2 Corinthians 1:3-4a . . .

Praise is such an important factor in achieving victory over suffering! Paul praised God because He IS God . . . the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ . . . Father of mercies and God of all comfort! “As a father pities (has compassion on) his children, so the LORD pities (has compassion on) those who respect and revere Him” (Psalm 103:13).