Pastor Brendan Kelly - Optimism In A Crisis

Morning Service, February 14 2010

INTRODUCTION

We have all heard of gold-medalist Steven Bradbury’swin in the 2002 Winter Olympics; one where he literally was the last man standing and the only man over the line. The win was significant for Steven, as well as Australia, as it was the first gold medal an Australian had ever won at a Winter Olympics.

What few know is the life Steven had led leading up to becoming a household name. He was a man who knew crisis after two critical injuries, one where his leg was sliced open by a competitor’s skate in a collision, and another where his neck was broken after colliding with the barricade during another race.  Yet Steven rose past the crisis and remained optimistic. Though it could be said that Steven’s win for Australia was pure 'luck', there was a lot more to it than that. What made him a champion was the fact that he worked out a way to remain optimistic in the crisis only to recover and win gold.

Just as it is with Steven Bradbury, we often see people win without seeing the obstacles of yesterday.

A CRISIS

It is important we understand that there will be crises in our lives. A crisis can be defined as a decisive, defining moment.

To remain optimistic about tomorrow is to be confidently able to cope and manage with the crisis of today.

2 My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. 4 But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. James 1:2-4

  • Before the 'perfect work' there is a test (crisis).
  • Christian or not, we have crises in our lives; these should be seen as defining moments.
  • Crises cause us to do a self-appraisal of our faith (something we wouldn't be motivated to do on the 'mountain top').
  • Before a crisis will define what a person will become, it will first demonstrate what we really are.
  • Crises allow God to take us somewhere where He can work in us. 

 FINDING WHAT WHAT YOU BELIEVE

ABRAHAM
Genesis 22

  • In Genesis 22 we read of Abraham's crisis. He finally had a son, Isaac, a promise from God, when God asked Abraham to sacrifice Isaac. Abraham proceeded with the intent to obey God.

And Abraham said, “My son, God will provide for Himself the lamb for a burnt offering.” So the two of them went together. Genesis 22:8

  • In the midst of a crisis, faith says 'God will provide'. Abraham knew that God was in control and knew what He was doing.
  • What comes out of you in the midst of a crisis? Are you able to remember God has it all in control?

DAVID
1 Samuel 30

  • In the above passage we read of how David was in battle. When the fight was finally over, he returned home to Ziglag and found his town had been attacked, the women and children taken.

4 Then David and the people who were with him lifted up their voices and wept, until they had no more power to weep. 5 And David’s two wives, Ahinoam the Jezreelitess, and Abigail the widow of Nabal the Carmelite, had been taken captive. 6 Now David was greatly distressed, for the people spoke of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and his daughters. But David strengthened himself in the LORD his God. 7 Then David said to Abiathar the priest, Ahimelech’s son, “Please bring the ephod here to me.” And Abiathar brought the ephod to David. 8 So David inquired of the LORD, saying, “Shall I pursue this troop? Shall I overtake them?” And He answered him, “Pursue, for you shall surely overtake them and without fail recover all.”  1 Samuel 30:4-8

  • In the crisis, David was so distraught his weeping rendered him powerless. Crisis can do that to you.
  • David’s response in the crisis was to strengthen himself in the Lord. The key was that he knew how to strengthen himself. So often we rely on others to strengthen us in times of crisis, and although there are times others can be a huge support, it is important to learn how to seek strength from God for yourself.
  • Another response David had was to ask, 'what should I do?' Many times we simply say 'God fix it', but David had the wisdom to ask God for direction and knew that there was something in this crisis for him to step up and do.
  • If this hadn't been how David responded in this crisis, he would never have been proven fit to become king.

JOB

JESUS

  • Jesus would have seen the cross as a defining moment.
  • It is hard to get our head around the fact that Jesus was both God and man, neither being compromised.
  • We read in the story of the cross, in Matthew 27, that the real crisis for Jesus was when he uttered the words 'why have you forsaken me?'

44 Now it was[a] about the sixth hour, and there was darkness over all the earth until the ninth hour. 45 Then the sun was darkened, and the veil of the temple was torn in two. 46 And when Jesus had cried out with a loud voice, He said, “Father, ‘into Your hands I commit My spirit.’” Having said this, He breathed His last. John 23:44-46

  • What came out of Jesus in His final hour? Complete dedication and a knowledge that 'I am in Your Hands'.
  • In the midst of our crisis, we are in His Hands.
  • Jesus became the King of kings, and had proven Himself worthy of the title.

 

CONCLUSION

The crises the men in the Bible experienced demonstrates they were able to remain optimistic about their future because they had learnt how to cope and manage with the crisis of their 'today'; they knew their safe place was in God.

In the midst of our crises—our defining moments—we need to learn to ask ourselves 'how will I meet God here?'

He may just take away the crisis as He did for Abraham, or maybe He will guide you through it as He did Jesus. In either circumstance, it is all about knowing God is with you and your life is in His Hands and that we are always safe in His Hands.

If there was just one thing that we could learn from Steven Bradbury it’s this: if we just stay standing and withstand the crises of our lives, we will eventually win the race of our lives.

13 No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it. 1 Corinthians 10:13

We are not doing life alone. Even though at times we may feel all alone, as Job and Jesus did, we know that God is always with us to help us bear whatever testing we may face. Be encouraged! There are defining moments in our lives. Let’s embrace those moments and, through them, allow God to do what He needs to do through us.

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