When Tragedy Strikes-What am I going to do?


I have a very special friend, named Dave. It is my prayer that the Holy Spirit will use me to encourage Dave, and you as well.

I met Dave over five year ago, and by all humanistic terms, Dave is successful. You see Dave has all the things that we look at as the measuring stick for success.

Dave, has a great academic background
He has a great Job in a huge Fortune 500 Company
Dave earns a six figure salary
Dave married and successful and attractive woman
He has the standard 2.3 children
Lives in a great big on a hill
Has a great BMW Convertible
And has many friends


So you see if would look at Dave from the exterior you would “That’s how its done” that’s how I want it, that’s being a success!

But I tell you the truth, many of us appear to have things all together, and yet are so lifeless, so utterly depressed at how we see ourselves.

Last week, Dave called me and like of many of our conversations, I expected to hear the upbeat voice on the other end of the phone. But that wasn’t the Dave that I heard.

The person on the other end of that phone was depressed, frustrated and angry. As if it all happened in day,

Dave’s wife became ill
His children were sick as well
He father in law died with cancer
He had taken ill
He was about to lose his job

He yelled out to me from the other end of the phone, “Chris, you’re my spiritual counselor, you tell me, why is this happening, why has God unleashed hell against me, what kind of God would do this!

Dave said Chris im on a spiritual fence, and I fall either way, to God or to the Dark side, tell me why is this happening!

As If God knew I needed to time to prepare an answer the phone rang and Dave had to go.



So for the past few days I have been agonizing, praying for answers of what to tell Dave,

What to tell you, for you see, what happened to Dave will or has happened to each one of us.

Our lives will be going great and it can feel as if we are on a roll, every is going our way, then, “It “happens.

That “It” can be

Sickness
Loss of a loved one
Job Loss
Family Loss
Financial Ruin
Separation
Divorce

Or anything that causes our sudden pain and tragedy. The same questions Dave has, you will one day have;

What am I going to do?
What do I want those around me to do?
Why did this happen
Where do I go from here?


There is a story about a man in the bible that was successful. He could have been Dave. Things were going well in his life when one day, tragedy struck. He asked the same questions that Dave did, let’s see how he answered the first question.


JOB
Chapter 1
1 There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job; and that man was blameless and upright, and one who feared God and shunned evil.

2 And seven sons and three daughters were born to him.
3 Also, his possessions were seven thousand sheep,
Three thousand camels,
Five hundred yoke of oxen,
Five hundred female donkeys,
And a very large household,

so that this man was the greatest of all the people of the East.

So we see here that

Job was very successful, similar to Dave, except for one thing, Job trusted the Lord, he did not waiver with his relationship as Dave did.

Let’s read on;

6 Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan also came among them. 7 And the LORD said to Satan, "From where do you come?" So Satan answered the LORD and said, "From going to and fro on the earth, and from walking back and forth on it." 8 Then the LORD said to Satan, "Have you considered My servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, one who fears God and shuns evil?" 9 So Satan answered the LORD and said, "Does Job fear God for nothing? 10 Have You not made a hedge around him, around his household, and around all that he has on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land. 11 But now, stretch out Your hand and touch all that he has, and he will surely curse You to Your face!" 12 And the LORD said to Satan, "Behold, all that he has is in your power; only do not lay a hand on his person." So Satan went out from the presence of the LORD.

13 Now there was a day when his sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine in their oldest brother's house; 14 and a messenger came to Job and said, "The oxen were plowing and the donkeys feeding beside them, 15 when the Sabeans raided them and took them away--indeed they have killed the servants with the edge of the sword; and I alone have escaped to tell you!" 16 While he was still speaking, another also came and said, "The fire of God fell from heaven and burned up the sheep and the servants, and consumed them; and I alone have escaped to tell you!" 17 While he was still speaking, another also came and said, "The Chaldeans formed three bands, raided the camels and took them away, yes, and killed the servants with the edge of the sword; and I alone have escaped to tell you!"
18 While he was still speaking, another also came and said, "Your sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine in their oldest brother's house, 19 and suddenly a great wind came from across the wilderness and struck the four corners of the house, and it fell on the young people, and they are dead; and I alone have escaped to tell you!"

Wait a minute! So, this guy is successful, he has everything he could ever want, PLUS he loves God and serves Him.

Then this! Tell me this didn’t hurt! He loses his home, his business, and his children all in one day, in the span of a few hours! Job just didn’t experience a tragedy he had total devastation!

How did Job respond to this; 20 Then Job arose, and rent his mantle, and shaved his head, and fell down upon the ground, and worshipped, 21 And said, Naked came I out of my mother's womb, and naked shall I return thither: the LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD. 22 In all this Job sinned not, nor charged God foolishly.

But how much more could Job take as if it couldn’t get any worse;
Chapter 2
Satan, appearing again before God, obtains further permission to test Job
1 Again there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan came also among them to present himself before the LORD. 2 And the LORD said unto Satan, From whence comest thou? And Satan answered the LORD, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it. 3 And the LORD said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil? and still he holdeth fast his integrity, although thou movedst me against him, to destroy him without cause. 4 And Satan answered the LORD, and said, Skin for skin, yea, all that a man hath will he give for his life. 5 But put forth thine hand now, and touch his bone and his flesh, and he will curse thee to thy face. 6 And the LORD said unto Satan, Behold, he is in thine hand; but save his life.
He smites Job with boils
7 So went Satan forth from the presence of the LORD, and smote Job with sore boils from the sole of his foot unto his crown. 8 And he took him a potsherd to scrape himself withal; and he sat down among the ashes. 9 Then said his wife unto him, Dost thou still retain thine integrity? curse God, and die. 10 But he said unto her, Thou speakest as one of the foolish women speaketh. What? Shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil? In all this did not Job sin with his lips.


In all of this, Job did not sin, he did not waiver with his relationship with God. In spite of his pain, his loss, his sickness, he continued to trust God.


Is that something we would have done?

Too many times when something goes wrong the first thing we do to God is recite all the things we have done for him;

God how could you;
I tithe
I go to church
I give to the ministry
I pray

God never promised anyone that we would have a rose colored life.

John 19:33 33 I've told you this so that my peace will be with you. In the world you'll have trouble. But cheer up! I have overcome the world.”

But Job trusted God, why

a. Because he knew God
b. Because his relationship had been tested before and survived
c. Because God was with him in past tragedies.
d. Because he knew the heart of God

Parallel to a marriage relationship

a. Your wife does something to really make you angry
b. Yet you don’t divorce your wife
c. Because you have a history together
d. Because in the past you have survived issues together
e. Because you know you spouses heart

This is why Job trusted in the Lord
This is what I told Dave to do. In spite of what he was going through, God was still the same God that has gotten him through past issues, God loves him, God will be there with him.

You do the same, trust in the Lord.

Lean not to your own understanding but in all your ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your path. (Proverbs 3.5-6 )

Regardless of how it looks today, God was with you, Yesterday, He is here with you today, and He will be with you tomorrow!

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Pastor Chris,

sermon1.m3u (41 Bytes, 60 downloads) Tragedy Sermon