When We Come to the “I Can’ts” of Life
Good evening. Welcome to the Monday Night Bible Study. My prayer for each of us, is that we will be able to draw apart from life and all that is going on and simply “BE” with our Abba God who loves us. We all NEED times to simply “be” with Him.Today we are going to look at some verses that will help us when we come into an “I Can’t” moment or season of life.
I really missed being with you all the past few weeks. The study we are going to do tonight was originally written for last Wednesday morning. It is part of the series on Isa. 26:3, He will keep in perfect peace those whose hearts are STEADFAST because they trust in him, but was not written as part of that. Events in my life have been….I don’t have a word for it….unexpected? I kind of think the series on being STEADFAST was/is in part God preparing me and maybe some of you to deal with events, He knew were arising in our lives.
Sometimes we get to a place in certain situations of life where our heart screams, “ I CANT”…Can’t do this anymore, can’t go on, can’t take one more second of whatever it is that has gotten on our last nerve. It could be something really minor but in that moment it is like the proverbial “straw that broke the camel’s back”. Or it could something huge, like a death or a loss of relationship with someone we cherish. It could be the process of leaving behind behaviors that were not good for us, but we have not yet learned to live without them. It could also be a sudden trauma that comes upon us with no warning at all.
Anyone else ever experienced moments like that?
I know a few weeks ago I did, twice. This very weekend a situation arose in my life where I was in a REALLY difficult “ I can’t” circumstance. My situations are different than yours but whatever we are having trouble dealing with, whatever is our own place of “ I can’t “ we can be SURE that God does see, know and care.
In fact “God Who Sees Me” is a name of God in the OT. It was given to God by Hagar. Hagar was not perfect, but a lot of the difficult turns in her life were not by her choice. She was a servant. She belonged to Sarai. She was forced to have a child by Abraham because Sarai was seemingly infertile and that child was supposed to be an heir to Abraham. However when she did become pregnant she was snooty toward Sarai. Sarai went to Abraham who gave her permission to discipline/treat Hagar as she wished. And that was a very difficult time for Hagar, even though in a way, her attitude caused it.
So Hagar ran away to the desert but God sent an angel to her and instructed her to go back, to have her child. It was there, in the desert, that Hagar encountered the Living God via an angel and it was here that the name of God, El Roi (God who sees), was proclaimed and recognized. You can read this story in Genesis 16.
Whatever we are going through, no matter how hard life is, we can trust that God does see us. He knows what we are going through and in addition, He cares. Later in the story of Hagar we find her back in the desert thinking she and her son will die and again God saves her, this time by providing a well. Genesis 21:14-21
We are going to look at some verses about God’s provision, love and care for each of us. We need these especially when we are in an “ I can’t” moment.
Whenever I am in one… and usually it just seems to fall on me suddenly, in the past I would lash out at whoever was the “cause” or nearby.
Or else I would withdraw and begin to sink down in silent despair.
But now most of the time, I go journal and scream I can’t I can’t I can’t inside my head (well truthfully lately I have been saying it outloud sometimes) and every single time, God, our Abba replies (in my mind, In my heart, in my entire being) “I know you can’t but in Me you will.” Sometimes he simply says, “I know, I love you", or "I am with you”.
Our strength comes from God. He is our Strong Tower. He is our place of refuge during every time of need. He knows we will be overwhelmed at times. He knows we will be tempted too to fall back into old ways. He is always aware of us, always with us, and always loving us. He cares. He will invite us to REST our CARES on him.
The problem is, how do we do that?
We do it by talking to Him. We do it by crying with Him. We might journal. We might turn on music LOUD or SOFT. We might need to get in the shower and let those tears flow. Or go outside either to simply sit or walk. Or get in our car and run an errand (or say we are and actually run one) but really get in the car to step away from the situation and talk to Abba. Sometimes we may need to ask a brother or sister in Christ to pray either with or for us.
Anyone like to share what “nurtures your heart/spirit”? Meaning how do you de-stress when you are about to blow…or crash…or reach an “I can’t” place?
LOOK UP VERSES:
Our Strength Comes From God:
Psalm 28:7 The LORD is my strength and my shield; in him my heart trusts, and I am helped; my heart exults, and with my song I give thanks to him.
Here we see the Psalmist reminding himself of what I bet he has kind of forgotten for the moment. He says, “The LORD is my strength AND my SHIELD.”
Strength is kind of an internal gift and shield implies external.
So we see the reminder that God, the LORD is our internal strength and our external shield.
Remember that the sort of shield they are talking about is no flimsy thing. Let me show you a photo of one:
The Psalmist goes on to restate…"in Him (GOD) my heart trusts”.
This is a choice we make. One time at salvation then every time we need to as we go through life. He says, “I am helped”.
You know back in the OT they would build what is called an “altar of remembrance” when God showed up in a special way. We can do that personally and I would encourage you to do that either in a notebook or on your computer. To record the times you had a special touch or revelation from God. Then, just as this Psalmist did, you can “remember” when things are difficult.
Anyone thinking of one you would like to share? These things help us hold fast during times of stress, trial or other difficulty.
Then the Psalmist goes on to say, “My heart exults, and with my song I give thanks to HIM….. a little praise can work miracles in lifting our mood and helping us focus on God again instead of the situation.
Let me show you something. Take your hand and make your hand out, palm open. Draw it up close to your face while you focus on something across the room. Then take your hand away. Do you see how whatever you focus on becomes THE FOCUS. When the hand is up close it looks huge and blocks the thing in the distance, but when your hand is further away, it does not.
We get to CHOOSE.
Sometimes it's hard to choose what to focus on, think about and talk about…. our problem or our God.
I believe that when the Psalmist wrote this and began to remember what God has promised and what God had done in the past and then began to FOCUS on God by singing in this case, the problem took its right perspective. I am certain that is true for me. I can focus on my current things I don’t have, or can’t do or I can focus on God and other things….Make sense?
Next verse:
Psalm 121 We are going to just read/listen to the entire thing, then break it down.
I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come? My help comes from the LORD, who made heaven and earth.
He will not let your foot be moved; he who keeps you will not slumber.
Behold, he who keeps Israel will neither slumber nor sleep. The LORD is your keeper; the LORD is your shade on your right hand. The sun shall not strike you by day, nor the moon by night. The LORD will keep you from all evil; he will keep your life. The LORD will keep your going out and your coming in from this time forth and forevermore.
I lift up my eyes to the hills.( I CHOOSE my focus, what to set my concentration upon).
From where does my help come? My help comes from the LORD, who made heaven and earth. ( We REMIND ourselves of truth, past, present and future. Our HELP comes from GOD.)
He will not let your foot be moved; (He will be our stability) he who keeps you will not slumber. Behold, he who keeps Israel will neither slumber nor sleep. ( HE DOES NOT SLEEP ON THE JOB. This is a good verse if we are in a time where sleep is difficult for us)
The LORD is your keeper; the LORD is your shade on your right hand. The sun shall not strike you by day, nor the moon by night. ( Promise reminders of truth)
The LORD will keep you from all evil; he will keep your life. (No matter what had happened to us in the past, or what is going on right this moment, or what will happen in the future, God KEEPS us. In part this reflects that whatever horrible things did happen in the past, here we are….right now tonight…. alive today. Also at the end of our time on earth, we WILL BE SAFE with GOD in HEAVEN)
The LORD will keep your going out and your coming in from this time forth and forevermore.
Forevermore is a long long time…it is eternity.
God Is Our Strong Tower:
Proverbs 18:10 The name of the LORD is a strong tower; the righteous man runs into it and is safe.
Psalm 18:2 The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.
Psalm 61:3 For you have been my refuge, a strong tower against the foe.
Psalm 91:2 I will say of the LORD, "He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.”
Let’s look at what a strong tower meant back in bible times and what it means today…I am using a source from a site called “Building Your Spirit. I was looking for the actual biblical definition but this next bit is great so I am sharing all of it. Sometimes we hear terms like “strong tower”, “refuge” etc and it has very little meaning for us personally. It helps to know what “everyone knew” back when the text was written.
Here is a picture of a strong tower:
In my town, or near me, in St Augustine there is a fort called Castillo de San Marco. It is made of limestone called coquina and has towers. When pirates attacked an alarm would sound and residents would hurry to the fort for safety. It is made out of a sort of rock like material that is actually harvested near there on the beach and composed of tiny shells. Coquina is unique because instead of breaking from cannon balls, it absorbed the shock and the balls actually lodged in the walls and did no or very little damage. Still standing since 1600s.
What is a Strong Tower? A tower is not a modern day skyscraper or any tall building. A Strong tower is a place of safe refuge. It fights more enemies in its range, it causes more damage to the enemies, and can take more damage than the normal watch tower. A strong tower has large areas to sleep large amounts of men, and can hold and store a large amount of food. Its huge and heavily fortified. They are built of thick stone blocks and they are tough.
Now the spiritual similarities: Strong towers have thick stone blocks and are enormous. Our God is a rock, He is our fortress, Our stronghold. In fact in Psalm 61:3, David says of the Lord been his refuge and strong tower against the foe. How true. Our God is so huge. In Jeremiah 23:24 our Lord declares He fills the Heavens and the Earth. That's how big our God is. He fills it ALL. No situation is too Big for him. Luke 1:37 says ' For with God all things are possible'.
A strong tower is also a place of abundance. There is a great storage of food and provision. Our Lord is a provider. He says cast all your burdens on Me because I care. Psalm 23 says the, 'The Lord is my shepherd I shall not want'! Matthew 6:31-33 says' Do not worry saying what shall we eat or what shall we drink? or what shall we wear? for the pagans run after these things, and your heavenly father knows that you need them. But seek his kingdom and righteousness , and all these things will be given to you as well'. Jehovah Jireh is His name, the Lord our provider in times of great need. The Lord will supply all your needs according to His great riches.
Wasn’t that fun information?
He is our place of refuge during every time of need.
Psalm 146:1-3 God is our refuge and strength, A very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth should change And though the mountains slip into the heart of the sea; Though its waters roar and foam, Though the mountains quake at its swelling pride. Selah.
He is our REFUGE and STRENGTH. A very PRESENT help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear….and then it says Selah which means… pause and think on this (truth).
And yet again in Psalm 144:2 He is my loving God and my fortress, my stronghold and my deliverer, my shield, in whom I take refuge, who subdues peoples under me.
Did you notice a CHOICE and an ACTION?
We CAN go after “them”. We can plot revenge. Or we can CHOOSE to pray for them, release them and forgive them and THAT places US securely in the refuge of and under the DEFENSE of God.
I remember a long time ago when it finally got into my stubborn mind that God is a LOT better at taking care of ME and of taking care of “them” or “the situation” than I am.
Psalm 46:1 God is our refuge and strength, A very present help in trouble.
This is a powerful yet simple statement, isn’t it?
Anyone like to share a story of a time when God was YOUR refuge/strength/help in a time of trouble?
He knows we will be overwhelmed at times.
My favorite verse for this comes from Psalms.
Psalm 61:2 From the end of the earth will I cry unto you, when my heart is overwhelmed: lead me to the rock that is higher than I.
WHEN not if, WHEN then we simply call out to Jesus and ADMIT exactly how we are feeling…
Another one is Jesus’ own invitation in Matthew 11:28 "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.
If we were not going to ever be burdened and weary, aka overwhelmed, then WHY would Jesus offer this invitation to us?
A premeditated solution is found in Philippians 4:8.
Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. (Philippians 4:8)
He knows we will be tempted too to fall back into old ways.
He even addresses that temptation in 1 Corinthians 4:8 No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.
He is always aware of us, always with us, and always loving us.
2 chronicles 16:9a For the eyes of the LORD range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him.
Deu 31:8 The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.”
He cares. He will invite us to REST our CARES on him. It says so in 1 Peter 5:7 Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.
Tonight… let’s leave here with a heart that is assured of His loving care for us.
Let’s go knowing that when, not if, when, we are overwhelmed or when we need to go say/scream I CANT, we have a God who understands. He not only understands, He cares. He not only cares, He is WITH us and He is not only WITH us, He is UPHOLDING us.
Isaiah 41:10 So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. and Deuteronomy 33:27 The eternal God is your refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms. He will drive out your enemies before you, saying, 'Destroy them!’
And this my friends, includes the crafty enemy of fear and despair which wants us to think I CANT is the end, but in reality when our heart cries I CANT, it is the beginning of GOD reaching out to us, with HIS I CAN.
No comments:
Post a Comment