When You Experience The Spin Cycles Of Life

A boy entered a grocery store one morning and asked the grocer for a box of Tide detergent. The grocer was puzzled and asked why he wanted a box of Tide. The boy said that he was going to wash his cat. The grocer said, "Young man, you shouldn’t wash your cat with this kind of soap." However, the boy insisted that it would be okay.

A few days later, the boy returned, and grocer asked how his cat was. "Oh, he died," the boy said. The grocer said, "Well, son. I warned you not to wash your cat with Tide detergent."

The boy replied, "Oh, the soap didn’t hurt him a bit. It was the spin cycle that got him."

Isn’t it the "spin cycles" of life that often get us? And some times we experience some doozies! Been through any in your days? Going through one right now?

And the real question is this today: How do you handle them?

So what do you do when life suddenly puts you in one of those “spin cycles”?

Turn with me to Job 1 as we think about this question this morning…Job 1:13-22 …

Job 1:13–22 NASB95

Now on the day when his sons and his daughters were eating and drinking wine in their oldest brother’s house, a messenger came to Job and said, “The oxen were plowing and the donkeys feeding beside them, and the Sabeans attacked and took them. They also slew the servants with the edge of the sword, and I alone have escaped to tell you.” 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.” While he was still speaking, another also came and said, “The Chaldeans formed three bands and made a raid on the camels and took them and slew the servants with the edge of the sword, and I alone have escaped to tell you.” While he was still speaking, another also came and said, “Your sons and your daughters were eating and drinking wine in their oldest brother’s house, and behold, 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 died, and I alone have escaped to tell you.” Then Job arose and tore his robe and shaved his head, and he fell to the ground and worshiped. He said, “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, And naked I shall return there. The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away. Blessed be the name of the Lord.” Through all this Job did not sin nor did he blame God.

So when life throws in 1 of its spin cycles, what do you do? How do you handle it? I want to share with you 4 things this morning you need to do when the “spin cycles” of life come. First…

1. Stick with God.

- Stay connected to God – stay in communion with God.

- Tough times will either draw you closer to God or push you further away from God – it really depends on you!

- Either you will you understand your absolute (total) dependence on God or you will blame Him.

- Job did. He understood his absolute dependence on God. And he stuck with God!

- Did Job understand the “why’s” of what he was enduring? No! This is why we have 42 chapters! Job was trying to understand! But he was sticking with God even though he didn’t understand!

- Remember the advice his wife gave him? “Do you still hold you’re your integrity? Curse God and die!”

TS – Second…

2. Believe God.

- Believe that He does love you and cares about you – even when you don’t understand the “why’s” – can’t make sense out of what you’re going through.

- Believe that He isn’t just playing with you like a toy – enjoying watching you be engulfed by misery!

- Believe that He is your refuge and strength…a very present help in times of trouble (Psalm 46:1 ).

Psalm 46:1 NASB95

God is our refuge and strength, A very present help in trouble.

- Believe that He is walking with you even in the midst of the fire (Isaiah 41:10 ; 43:2 )

Isaiah 41:10 NASB95

‘Do not fear, for I am with you; Do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, surely I will help you, Surely I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.’

Isaiah 43:2 NASB95

“When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; And through the rivers, they will not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be scorched, Nor will the flame burn you.

- Believe that He is indeed your Shepherd who is walking with you and helping you to get through the deep, dark valley.

- Don’t doubt Him! And don’t doubt His Word! Hold on to it! Hold on to TRUTH!

- Job believed God. Job didn’t understand why life has suddenly gone hay wire…but he clearly believed that God did love him and care about him!

TS – Third,

3. Trust God.

- No, Job didn’t understand the “why” or “why’s” but he trusted God.

- He found the Lord to be his Shepherd…He found the Lord to be his comfort. He found the Lord to be the One who was holding him and walking with him. “And yeah though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil for Thy rod and Thy staff comfort me…”

- Job trusted God! His life was in God’s Hands! And he knew there were no greater hands to be in!

TS – Fourth,

4. Worship God.

- Notice what Job did in the depths of his heartache and despair…Job 1:20-22 …

Job 1:20–22 NASB95

Then Job arose and tore his robe and shaved his head, and he fell to the ground and worshiped. He said, “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, And naked I shall return there. The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away. Blessed be the name of the Lord.” Through all this Job did not sin nor did he blame God.

- He worshiped God!

- He understood that life and everything in life comes from Him!

- And even when life unravels -throws you into spin cycles, God is to be worshiped and not blamed!

Conclusion

The story is told about a preacher who went to visit an elderly woman from the church just hours before she passed away. As he leaned over her bed, she whispered something in his ear. The lady later passed away. And those who attended the funeral were surprised to discover that the woman, had in her casket, a spoon, grasped in her hands.

When the preacher stood to preach the funeral, he explained: “Shortly before our dear sister passed, she made a special request. She asked me to place a spoon in the casket with her. Then she asked me to explain. You see, when she was growing up, at the end of each evening meal, as the dishes were being cleared away, her mother always told the children to hang on to their spoons because something better was coming. Our sister wanted to be buried with her spoon because she wants you to remember, in the midst of your trials, in the midst of your struggles and pain that “Something better’s coming.”

Friend…when life throws the unexpected at you…

1) Stick with God.

2) Believe God.

3) Trust God.

4) Worship God.

And remember…something better is coming!