"UPHILL BATTLES"
How does this sound for a day in a life?
Found out we made a huge mistake on our taxes this year; very costly.
My husband just found out that someone he and I had recommended for a job at his company has been stealing big time from the company. It’s put the company in jeopardy.
Just got a call from my best friend; her husband got the job but …. “I haven’t felt the baby move all day today. We think I may miscarry.”
Dad’s getting out of the hospital tomorrow. But he’ll have to go into the nursing home – probably Alzheimer’s unit.
My little girl came home from school today with her first “A” in math. She’s ecstatic. Her brother is jealous.
Got an email from Uncle Dale; his cancer is in remission.
Here’s the question of the week. “Is life simply a perpetual uphill battle? And if so, where do I find the strength to keep going?” I recently found a list of things that people describe as the hardest uphill battles they have to deal with. For example, some say that “loving my enemy” is what I find their most difficult uphill battle. Someone else said it’s raising children. Then there’s cancer or some other serious disease. Divorce, one man said. Another, the death of a child or someone very close, my husband, my wife, my X, competing with self, abuse, injustice, obeying God, dealing with difficult people, personal failure, the murder of a friend, financial setbacks. No doubt, the list goes on.
So, is it true that life really is just a series of continual uphill battles? I’d like you to go with me to the Bible for some answers. Please open your Bible with me to II Samuel chapter nineteen. There’s a man in the Bible who had a lot of problems. Now, if you know your Bible, you will likely think that I’m referring to Job. But, instead, consider with me King David for just a moment.
David had seven brothers who looked down on him.
He, as a teenager, faced and defeated Goliath. He then had to face an even more formidable foe, King Saul, who spent no less than the next twelve years of David’s life pursuing him to the death. During those twelve years, David was literally hounded by King Saul and the Israeli army; chased from hillside to hillside and cave to cave. He appears to never have had a day of rest from Saul’s bitter resentment towards him.
Then, as king of Israel David faced huge obstacles in his life. The greatest of these was the deaths of his three sons; the son of Bathsheba, his firstborn son Amnon, and then his third-born son Absalom.
Now, having said all that, you might conclude that “life is not fair.” But as you read through the words of King David in the Psalms, you find that, although he had some bad days, he didn’t spend his days feeling as though “life was unfair.” Instead, he learned to obey the LORD through the things he had to suffer.
Look with me at verse one. II Samuel 19:1 “And it was told Joab, Behold, the king weepeth and mourneth for Absalom. (2) And the victory [the victory over Prince Absalom and his loyal soldiers] that day was turned into mourning unto all the people: for the people heard say that day how the king was grieved for his son. Go on to page two
Found out we made a huge mistake on our taxes this year; very costly.
My husband just found out that someone he and I had recommended for a job at his company has been stealing big time from the company. It’s put the company in jeopardy.
Just got a call from my best friend; her husband got the job but …. “I haven’t felt the baby move all day today. We think I may miscarry.”
Dad’s getting out of the hospital tomorrow. But he’ll have to go into the nursing home – probably Alzheimer’s unit.
My little girl came home from school today with her first “A” in math. She’s ecstatic. Her brother is jealous.
Got an email from Uncle Dale; his cancer is in remission.
Here’s the question of the week. “Is life simply a perpetual uphill battle? And if so, where do I find the strength to keep going?” I recently found a list of things that people describe as the hardest uphill battles they have to deal with. For example, some say that “loving my enemy” is what I find their most difficult uphill battle. Someone else said it’s raising children. Then there’s cancer or some other serious disease. Divorce, one man said. Another, the death of a child or someone very close, my husband, my wife, my X, competing with self, abuse, injustice, obeying God, dealing with difficult people, personal failure, the murder of a friend, financial setbacks. No doubt, the list goes on.
So, is it true that life really is just a series of continual uphill battles? I’d like you to go with me to the Bible for some answers. Please open your Bible with me to II Samuel chapter nineteen. There’s a man in the Bible who had a lot of problems. Now, if you know your Bible, you will likely think that I’m referring to Job. But, instead, consider with me King David for just a moment.
David had seven brothers who looked down on him.
He, as a teenager, faced and defeated Goliath. He then had to face an even more formidable foe, King Saul, who spent no less than the next twelve years of David’s life pursuing him to the death. During those twelve years, David was literally hounded by King Saul and the Israeli army; chased from hillside to hillside and cave to cave. He appears to never have had a day of rest from Saul’s bitter resentment towards him.
Then, as king of Israel David faced huge obstacles in his life. The greatest of these was the deaths of his three sons; the son of Bathsheba, his firstborn son Amnon, and then his third-born son Absalom.
Now, having said all that, you might conclude that “life is not fair.” But as you read through the words of King David in the Psalms, you find that, although he had some bad days, he didn’t spend his days feeling as though “life was unfair.” Instead, he learned to obey the LORD through the things he had to suffer.
Look with me at verse one. II Samuel 19:1 “And it was told Joab, Behold, the king weepeth and mourneth for Absalom. (2) And the victory [the victory over Prince Absalom and his loyal soldiers] that day was turned into mourning unto all the people: for the people heard say that day how the king was grieved for his son. Go on to page two