Why Should I Hope in the Lord Any Longer

Happy Sunday. I'm sure that you're praying for those impacted by hurricanes Helen and Milton. Please keep it up. We live in a world of extremes: one day peace, the next day war; one day calm sailing, and the next day a horrible storm.

At times we can have extreme spiritual swings, from depression to elation, from brokenness to revival, from communion to distance. The Apostle Paul wrote of our spiritual extremes in Romans chapter 7. I'll begin at verse 15. There Paul said, "I don't really understand myself, for I want to do what is right, but I don't do it. Instead, I do what I hate. I want to do what is right, but I can't. I want to do what is good, but I don't. I don't want to do what is wrong, but I do it anyway. But if I do what I don't want to do, I'm not really the one doing wrong; it's sin living in me that does it. I've discovered this principle in life, that when I want to do what is right, I inevitably do what is wrong. I love God's law with all my heart," Paul says, "but there's another power within me that is at war with my mind. This power makes me a slave to the sin that that is still within me."

Today I want us to look at a story of extremes, extremes in a very confused king. His name is Jehoram. He was the king of Judah around 850 BC. The great prophet Elisha had given King Jehoram a great miraculous military victory over the armies of the king of Aram. You can read the story in 2 Kings chapter 6, and I recommend 2 Kings chapter 6.

A few years after this great victory, Judah was invaded once again, and times were tough. The king, for some reason, decided now to blame Elijah. He was so mad that he wanted to kill the great man of God. In verse 33 of chapter 6, King Jehoram says to Elijah, "This trouble is from the Lord. Why should I hope in the Lord any longer?" Such sad words: "Why should I hope in the Lord any longer?"

As you likely know, King Jehoram isn't the only one to speak such words. Over the years I've met the walking wounded that have expressed that very thought: why should I hope in the Lord any longer? For various reasons, people on occasion go from one extreme to another. I'm reminded of this warning from 1 Peter 5:8. There we are told, "Discipline yourselves, keep alert. Like a roaring lion, your adversary the devil prows around, looking for someone to devour."

Many, it seems, get devoured. We all have targets on our backs. The devil would love to shake your faith. What can we do, then, to protect ourselves from spiritual tsunamis that can blow us away? Let me share this verse with you from Hebrews 11:27. It's talking about Moses, and it says this: "By faith he left Egypt, unafraid of the king's anger, for he persevered as though he saw him who is invisible."

Did you see the great truth there? Moses persevered as though he saw him who is invisible. Moses kept his eye on God, his heart on God. Moses had some tough times, but he never forgot. He persevered. He remembered all that God had done for him. When we remember what he has done, we are much less likely to pivot over to the wrong extreme.

Nancy Ortberg tells the story of a girl named Jen. She was 23, an engineer with a great job. She was clinically depressed. Jen had been in and out of different treatment centers. She tried lots of medications, had seen lots of counselors.

Ncy Ortberg said, "One day I tied a string around Jy's finger and told her, 'Don't forget to remember, Jen. Don't forget to remember.' When she looked at me, her eyes were filled with tears. She pulled me close and whispered, in response to a sermon she had heard, 'Is it true? Is God really that close, even in hard times?' I whispered back, 'Yes, Jen, especially in the hard times.'"

The next week Jen returned to church and wanted to show Nancy something. Jen said that she had been to a tattoo parlor that week. Nancy, she wasn't too sure how to respond, but Jen rolled up her sleeves. Her wrists were scarred from suicide attempts, but now tattooed on each wrist was the Hebrew word forid. It means loving kindness.

It reminded Jen of God's grace, his love, his kindness toward her. Jen said, "I wanted to remember the presence of God, who is always with me. The string kept falling off my finger. This doesn't come off." H, I'm not suggesting you all go get cat tattoos. I'm suggesting you remember and that you stay consistent always.

God is with you. Don't forget. Persevere as if you see the one who is invisible. Pray with me.

God, we pray for the ones in the storms. They could be hurricanes, they could be life happenings, from job to family to health, who knows. But I pray that we remember what you have done, your goodness, your HED toward us, your loving kindness. And, Father, in that we'll be encouraged. Help us to stay close always. Thank you for being there and for putting up with us. In Jesus' name we pray, amen.

God bless. Stay safe.