Some days are more challenging than others. Some days you wonder why you even bothered to get out of bed. Some weeks are more challenging than others. Some months and even some years are more challenging than others. When we face our challenging times of life, we may wonder if the struggle is worth the trouble.
Challenging times may tempt us to lose heart with life. They are a part of everyone’s experience. We even have sayings that attempt to explain the rough moments we encounter. “Going from bad to worse. Jumping from the frying pan into the fire. Between a rock and a hard place. She said, ‘Cheer up, things could get worse. So I cheered up——and sure enough, things got worse!”
Tough days are a part of living. We all have tough days. Some are worse than others. Like the one the hard—hat employee reported when he tried to be helpful. This account actually appeared on a company accident form. Bruised and bandaged, the workman related this experience:
When I got to the building, I found that the hurricane had knocked off some bricks around the top. So I rigged up a beam with a pulley at the top of the building and hoisted up a couple barrels full of bricks. When I had fixed the damaged area, there were a lot of bricks left over. Then I went to the bottom and began releasing the line. Unfortunately, the barrel of bricks was much heavier than I was——and before I knew what was happening the barrel started coming down, jerking me up.
I decided to hang on since I was too far off the ground by then to jump, and halfway up I met the barrel of bricks coming down fast. I received a hard blow on my shoulder. I then continued to the top, banging my head against the beam and getting my fingers pinched and jammed in the pulley. When the barrel hit the ground hard, it burst its bottom, allowing the bricks to spill out.
I was now heavier than the barrel. So I started down again at high speed. Halfway down I met the barrel coming up fast and received severe injuries to my shins. When I hit the ground, I landed on the pile of spilled bricks, getting several painful cuts and deep bruises. At this point I must have lost my presence of mind, because I let go of my grip on the line. The barrel came down fast——giving me another blow on my head and putting me in the hospital.
I respectfully request sick leave.
The apostle Paul was facing a tough time in his life. The Corinthian Church where he had spent 1 and 1/2 years of his ministry was divided. Paul ‘s authority as a leader was being challenged. Paul ‘s ministry and teachings were being rejected by many people in the Corinthian Church. On top of this, Paul had other churches calling for his attention and leadership and as we know from some of his other letters, Paul ‘s health was not the best as he faced this testing time in his life. It is believed that he may have suffered from malaria and eye problems along with physical problems caused by being beaten and stoned for his faith.
In facing this challenging time of his life, Paul wrote words of faith that stand the tests of time. He told the Corinthians, “we do not lose heart. Though our outer nature is wasting away, our inner nature is being renewed every day. For this slight momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, because we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. ”
Paul is sharing the secret of faith with you. He is telling you how to face those tough days and times when all you want to do is hide from life. Having the ability to see beyond the present obstacle in your life’s journey is the secret to triumphing over the rough days, months, and years of life. As he faced health problems and challenges to his ministry, Paul realized that even though his outer nature was withering, God was building a new nature within him. It was a vision of life in Jesus Christ whom God raised up from a dead-end street called Golgotha.
When facing the challenging times of life, the secret to not losing heart in your living is to hold on to the resurrecting power of God’s presence in your life. The realization of this divine power gave Paul hope for moving beyond the impossible in both his present and his future living.
Charles Allen tells of a little boy named John Todd, born in 1800 up in Rutland, Vermont. Shortly after John’s birth, the Todd family moved to the little village of Killingsworth. And by the time little John was six both of his parents had died. The children had to be parceled out among the relatives, and a kindhearted aunt who lived in North Killingsworth agreed to take John d give him a home. With her he lived until some fifteen years later when he went away to study for the ministry. When he was in middle life, his aunt fell desperately ill and realized that death could not be far off. In great distress she wrote her nephew a pitiful letter——what would death be like? Would it mean the end of everything or would there be, beyond death, a chance to continue living, growing, loving? Here is the letter John Todd sent in reply:
“It is now thirty—five years since I, a little boy of six was left quite alone in the world. You sent me word you would give me a home and be a kind mother to me. I have never forgotten the day when I made the long journey of ten miles to your house in North Killingsworth. I can still recall my disappointment when, instead of coming for me yourself, you sent your colored man, Caesar, to fetch me. I well remember my tears and my anxiety as, perched high on your horse and clinging tight to Caesar, I rode off to my new home. Night fell before we finished the journey and as it grew dark, I became lonely and afraid.
” ‘Do you think she ’11 go to bed before I get there?’ I asked Caesar anxiously. ‘Oh no, ‘ he said reassuringly. ‘ She ’11 sure stay up for you. When we get out of these here woods you’ll see her candle shining in the window. ‘ Presently we did ride out in the clearing and there, sure enough, was your candle. I remember you were waiting at the door, that you put your arms close about me and that you lifted me——a tired and bewildered little boy——down from the horse. You had a big fire burning on the hearth, a hot supper waiting for me on the stove. After supper, you took me to my new room, you heard me say my prayers and then you sat beside me until I fell asleep.
“You probably realize why I am recalling all this to your memory. Someday soon, God will send for you, to take you to a new home. Don’t fear the summons, the strange journey———or the dark messenger of death. God can be trusted to do as much for you as you were kind enough to do for me so many years ago. At the end of the road you will find love and a welcome waiting, and you will be safe in God’s care. I shall watch you and pray for you until you are out of sight, and then wait for the day when I shall make the journey myself and find you waiting at the end of the road to greet me. ”
The secret to not losing heart is to hold on to the resurrecting power of God in your life. Realizing this fact of faith gives hope to your living as you face both your present and your future living.
Are you having one of those challenging days? How about a challenging week or month or year? In the name of Jesus Christ, don ‘t lose heart. God can help you to see and live even beyond the impossible in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.
We Do Not Lose Heart
by Pastor Marc Brown
June 23, 2024
Accompanying Scriptures: 2 Corinthians 4:1-6
Fort Hill United Methodist Church
Order of Worship for June 23, 2024
Scripture Lesson 2 Corinthians 4:1-6
The Good News “We Do Not Lose Heart”
Music “Stand By Me” Hymn #512
Prayer
Blessing
Closing Music “A Mighty Fortress is Our God” arr. Carol Tornquist
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