Don’t Lose Heart

Psalm 27:13–14 NKJV

I would have lost heart, unless I had believed That I would see the goodness of the Lord In the land of the living. Wait on the Lord; Be of good courage, And He shall strengthen your heart; Wait, I say, on the Lord!

DON’T LOSE HEART

MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS....

MY GRAND-MOMMA USED TO TELL ME…

“GOD MAY NOT COME WHEN YOU WANT HIM, BUT HE’S ALWAYS ON TIME.”

PSALM 27:13–14 CAPTURES THIS DEEPLY-ROOTED FAITH. DAVID CONFESSES THAT HE WOULD HAVE LOST HEART—UNLESS HE BELIEVED.

THIS SERMON IS FOR ANYONE WEARY FROM WAITING, TIRED FROM TRIALS, AND STRAINING TO SEE GOD'S HAND IN HARD SEASONS.

DAVID’S WORDS ARE A REMINDER THAT WE CAN STILL BELIEVE IN THE GOODNESS OF THE LORD—EVEN IN THE STRUGGLE.

AS WE LOOK AT OUR TEXT DAVID HERE IS PRAYING THAT GOD WOULD GRANT HIM PROTECTION AND HE IS ASKING THE LORD NOT TO FORSAKE HIM BECAUSE HE IS AT A POINT IN HIS LIFE WHERE HE IS IN GREAT NEED.

LIKE MANY OF US DAVID KNOWS HOW TO PRAY....HE KNOWS HOW TO SEEK GOD’S FACE AND THAT'S WHAT DAVID WAS DOING....

HOWEVER IT SEEMED AS IF DAVID HIMSELF WAS FORSAKEN AND SURELY IN THIS MOMENT OF HIS LIFE WHEN IT SEEMS THAT GOD IS REFUSING TO HELP HIM.... IT SEEMS AS GOD IS HIDING HIMSELF IN A DAY WHEN DAVID IS IN TROUBLE.

AND LIKE MANY OF US WHEN WE ARE IN TROUBLE WE WANT THE LORD TO COME SPEEDILY AND IN A HURRY TO SEE ABOUT US.

LIKE MANY TIMES BEFORE DAVID KNEW THAT HE COULD LOOK TO THE HILLS FROM WHENCE COMETH HIS HELP BECAUSE HE KNEW THAT IT WAS THE LORD WHO HAD BEEN HIS HELPER.

DAVID WAS STRENGTHENED BY THE KNOWLEDGE THAT THE LORD WOULD NOT FORSAKE HIM, EVEN WHEN HIS FATHER AND MOTHER WALKED OUT AND LEFT HIM HE HAD A REMEMBERED AND SAID GOD YOU TOOK ME IN.

SOMETIMES WE NEED TO FIND AND BRING TO THE SURFACE AGAIN THAT INNER CONFIDENCE THAT WE ONCE HAD BEFORE WE LOST HEART.....OR FELT FAINT......

SOME OF YOU HERE THIS MORNING MAY FEEL LIKE YOUR NOT GOING TO MAKE IT AS A MATTER OF FACT YOU HAVE LOST YOUR CONFIDENCE IN GOD AND YOU DON’T KNOW IF YOUR GOING TO LIVE TO SEE THE GOODNESS OF THE LORD IN THE LAND OF THE LIVING.

ALL YOU NEED TO DO IS REMEMBER AND THINK ABOUT THE GOODNESS OF GOD AND JUST HOW GOOD HE’S BEEN TO YOU DOWN IN YOUR SANCTIFIED SOULS AND I GUARANTEE YOU THAT YOU WILL GET YOUR CONFIDENCE BACK.

NO MATTER WHAT HITS YOU, GOD IS NO LESS IN CHARGE; HIS PLAN IS NO LESS ON TARGET. THINGS MAY BE OUT OF YOUR CONTROL , BUT THEY'RE NEVER OUT OF HIS CONTROL. IF YOU TRUST HIM, HE WILL GIVE YOU THE EQUIPMENT YOU NEED FOR THE BATTLE YOU'RE FACING, BECAUSE GOD'S PLAN WILL NOT LEAD YOU WHERE HIS GRACE CANNOT KEEP YOU.

THAT BRINGS ME TO MY FIRST POINT THIS MORNING SAINTS....AND THAT’S FOR YOU TO REMEMBER

HE IS IN CONTROL

DAVID SAYS, 'I WOULD HAVE LOST HEART, UNLESS I HAD BELIEVED…' IN THOSE WORDS, WE FIND THE TENSION BETWEEN DESPAIR AND BELIEF. WHEN SYSTEMS FAIL AND LIFE DISAPPOINTS, FAITH IN GOD’S CONTROL KEEPS US ANCHORED. GOD IS NOT SURPRISED BY YOUR STRUGGLE. HE IS PRESENT IN IT. FAITH IN HIS SOVEREIGNTY DOESN’T ERASE OUR PAIN, BUT IT GROUNDS OUR PERSPECTIVE. JUST LIKE OUR ANCESTORS TRUSTED GOD THROUGH SLAVERY, INJUSTICE, AND HARDSHIP, WE CAN HOLD ON KNOWING GOD STILL REIGNS.

EVEN AT A CROSS ROAD…. WE MUST REMIND OURSELVES OF THE GOODNESS OF THE LORD.

EVEN AS THINGS GO WRONG, WE REMIND OURSELVES THAT GOD IS GOOD ALL THE TIME AND ALL THE TIME, GOD IS GOOD.

AS CHRISTIANS, WE ARE TO REMAIN FAITHFUL THAT OUR GOD IS ABLE TO DELIVER US FROM WHATEVER TEMPTATIONS AND FRUSTRATIONS WE FACE.

AS WE WAIT IN FAITH, THOSE WHO HAVE WEATHERED MANY STORMS REMIND US, "THIS TOO SHALL PASS.”

THIS TEXT REFLECTS ON DAVID'S EXPLANATION OF HOW HE EMOTIONALLY SURVIVED DIFFICULT TIMES BY LEANING ON HIS FAITH IN GOD.

THERE ARE 150 PSALMS, MOST OF WHICH WERE WRITTEN BY DAVID, MOSES AND AN ASSORTMENT OF WORSHIP LEADERS, UNDER THE INSPIRATION OF GOD.

THE PSALMS DEAL WITH EVERY EMOTION KNOWN TO MAN, BUT TO DEAL WITH THOSE EMOTIONS IN RELATIONSHIP TO GOD.

THEY SHOW US BELIEVERS WHO BARE THEIR SOULS BEFORE GOD AS THEY EXPERIENCE ANGER, LOVE, FEAR, ANXIETY, DOUBT, SHAME, WORRY, AND A PLETHORA OF OTHER EMOTIONS.

THIS PSALM ADDRESSES THE SPIRITUAL SOUL WHEN IT HAS REACHED A POINT OF UNEASINESS.

IT RAISES AND ANSWERS THE QUESTION, WHEN DO WE TRUST GOD, COMPLETELY AND WHOLLY TO THE POINT THAT WE ARE AT PEACE REGARDLESS OF THE SITUATION.

THE 27TH PSALM REMINDS US THAT THE BEST SUPPORT IN DIFFICULT TIMES IS GODLY CONFIDENCE BECAUSE FAITH IN GOD IS THE BEST MEDICINE FOR ALL SEASONS.

OUR FAITH IS GROUNDED IN ONE TRUTH, THAT "ALL THINGS WORK TO THE GOOD OF THOSE WHO ARE THE CALLED." NO MATTER WHAT HAPPENS, WHETHER STORMS OR WIND, SUNSHINE OR RAIN, GOOD TIMES OR PESTILENCE, GOD HAS BOTH OUR BODIES AND SOULS IN HIS HANDS.

IN DIFFICULT TIMES DAVID WRITES THAT HE WOULD HAVE LOST HEART.....OR YOUR VERSION MAY SAY HE WOULD HAVE FAINTED ......IF HIS FAITH HAD NOT ALLOWED HIM TO LOOK THROUGH THE THREATS OF DANGER HE EXPERIENCED TO SEE THE GOODNESS OF THE LORD.

HE SAW THE TRAGEDY AROUND HIM, BUT FAITH ALLOWED HIM ALSO TO SEE THE GOODNESS OF THE LORD. HE SAW THE DARK LOSSES AROUND HIM, BUT HE ALSO SAW HOW GOD'S LIGHT SHINED BRIGHTLY IN DARK PLACES.

HE DECIDED TO WAIT PATIENTLY ON THE LORD AS HE REMEMBERED THE GOODNESS AND GREATNESS OF GOD.

WHENEVER DIFFICULTIES INCREASE THE FAITHFUL GIVE WITNESS AND I BELIEVE THAT.....

LIFE APPLICATION

- REFLECT ON A TIME YOU NEARLY GAVE UP BUT HELD ON TO YOUR BELIEF IN GOD’S GOODNESS. WHAT SUSTAINED YOU?

- ENCOURAGE SOMEONE THIS WEEK WHO IS CLOSE TO LOSING HEART—REMIND THEM THAT GOD IS STILL IN CONTROL.

WE CAN LEAN HEAVILY ON THE POWER OF GOD:

“BE OF GOOD COURAGE, AND HE SHALL STRENGTHEN YOUR HEART.” DAVID DOESN’T SUGGEST WE MUSTER STRENGTH ON OUR OWN—HE POINTS US TO A GOD WHO INFUSES US WITH POWER.

GOD’S STRENGTH HOLDS US UP WHEN WE HAVE NOTHING LEFT TO GIVE. YOU DON’T HAVE TO CARRY THE WEIGHT ALONE—GOD IS THE STRENGTH OF YOUR HEART.

OFTEN, IN EMERGENCIES, WE LEARN HOW MUCH WE ARE DEPENDENT ON THE POWER OF GOD.

IN THESE DIFFICULT TIMES. YET, THE FAITHFUL, LIKE THE SENIOR SAINTS WOULD TAKE THE NECESSARY PRECAUTIONS, AND WAITING IN CONFIDENCE THAT GOD WILL DO HIS THING, AS HE ALWAYS DOES.

THE FAITHFUL ARE NOT FOOLISH. WE DO WHAT SHOULD BE DONE, BECAUSE WE KNOW THE RESTORATIVE POWER OF GOD. HE WILL WORK IT OUT.

WE HAVE SEEN HIM WORK IN THE BIBLE, AND WE HAVE SEEN HIM WORK IN OUR LIFE EXPERIENCES. WE LIVE IN AWE OF HIS POWER AND LEAN HEAVILY UPON HIM FOR OUR DELIVERANCE. THAT'S WHY THE SONGWRITER WROTE, "LEANING, LEANING. SAFE AND SECURE FROM ALL ALARMS. LEANING, LEANING, ON THE EVERLASTING ARMS.”

NO MATTER WHAT THE SITUATION, GOD IS ALWAYS GOOD: BELIEVERS ARE TRUE AND FAITHFUL REGARDLESS OF THE CHALLENGES WE FACE. WE REMAIN STRONG BECAUSE WE KNOW THE ESSENTIAL GOODNESS OF THE LORD. WHETHER WE EXPERIENCE ANXIETY, LOSS, OR EVEN DEATH, OUR AFFIRMATION OF FAITH REMAINS, "IN THEE OH LORD, DO I PUT MY TRUST."

WHEN WE STRUGGLE TO UNDERSTAND TROUBLE, SOME ARE TEMPTED TO QUESTION WHAT SEEMS TO BE THE INACTIVITY OF GOD.

THEY ASK, "WHY IS SUCH PAIN AND MISERY ALLOWED?" GOD NEVER PROMISED US IMMUNITY FROM THE STORMS OF LIFE. HE NEVER PROMISED US THAT THERE WOULD ALWAYS BE SUNSHINE. HOWEVER, HE DID PROMISE THAT HE WOULD BE WITH US AND NEVER LEAVE US ALONE.

THAT'S A DUAL PROMISE THAT PROVIDES A PLACE IN HIS CARE ON EITHER SIDE OF JORDAN. THE FAITHFUL MUST NOT SINK SO LOW THAT WE BEGIN TO SPEAK AS THE DOUBTERS SPEAK AND QUESTION GOD'S AUTHORITY.

WE NEVER ASKED GOD WHY HE CHOSE TO BLESS US? WE RECEIVED HIS FAVOR; WE DIDN'T GIVE IT BACK.

NOW THAT WE FACE TROUBLE AND FRUSTRATION, WE SHOULD NOT TROUBLE HIS JUDGMENT, JUST HANG ON TO YOUR TICKET; YOU HAVE A FRONT-ROW SEAT IN GLORY, NO MATTER HOW HE DECIDES.

WE ARE SOLDIERS IN THE ARMY OF THE LORD. SOMETIMES, THERE IS SMOKE, FIRE, AND TRAGEDY ON THE BATTLEFIELD.

SOMETIMES COMRADES FALL, BUT WE MUST SING WITH THE RESOLVE OF OUR FORE-PARENTS, "I'M ON THE BATTLEFIELD FOR MY LORD.

AND I PROMISED HIM THAT I WOULD SERVE HIM TILL I DIE, I'M ON THE BATTLEFIELD FOR MY LORD."

STAND STRONG SOLDIERS AND KEEP THE FAITH. THE SONGWRITER WAS RIGHT WHEN HE SAID,

TEMPTED AND TRIED WE'RE OFT MADE TO WONDER

WHY IT SHOULD BE THUS, ALL THE DAY LONG

WHILE THERE ARE OTHERS, LIVING ABOUT US

NEVER MOLESTED THOUGH IN THE WRONG.

FARTHER ALONG WE'LL KNOW ALL ABOUT IT

FARTHER ALONG WE'LL UNDERSTAND WHY

CHEER UP MY BROTHER LIVE IN THE SUNSHINE

WE'LL UNDERSTAND IT ALL BY AND BY.

GOD IS GREATLY TO BE PRAISED:

DAVID REPEATS, “WAIT, I SAY, ON THE LORD.” REPETITION IN SCRIPTURE IS A CALL TO ATTENTION. PRAISE WHILE YOU WAIT. WORSHIP WHILE YOU WONDER. THE BLACK CHURCH HAS LONG UNDERSTOOD THAT PRAISE IS NOT JUST EMOTIONAL—IT’S THEOLOGICAL RESISTANCE. SINGING IN SUFFERING, SHOUTING IN SORROW, DANCING IN DELAY—ALL OF IT DECLARES THAT GOD IS STILL WORTHY. DAVID DOESN’T WAIT TO SEE THE BLESSING TO START PRAISING. HE PRAISES BECAUSE HE BELIEVES IT’S COMING.

EVEN IN TROUBLESOME TIMES, WE SHOULD PRAISE GOD. DAVID WENT FURTHER; IN PSALM 96:4, HE SAID: "FOR THE LORD IS GREAT, AND GREATLY TO BE PRAISED: HE IS TO BE FEARED ABOVE ALL GODS." THAT REFERS TO THE INTENSITY OF OUR PRAISE. TO PRAISE GOD GREATLY MEANS OUR PRAISE IS MORE INTENSE THAN OUR CIRCUMSTANCE. IF WE ENCOUNTER JOY, THEN OUR PRAISE OF GOD, WHO IS THE SOURCE OF JOY, IS LOUDER THAN OUR WORDS OF EXCITEMENT AMONG OUR FRIENDS. IF WE GET A NEW HOUSE, CAR, OR JEWELRY, WE ARE EXCITED, BUT OUR PRAISE OF GOD FOR SUPPLYING THESE ITEMS IS GREATER.

CONVERSELY, IF WE FACE DANGER, SICKNESS, LOSS, OR PERSECUTION, OUR PRAISE OF GOD SHOULD DROWN OUT OUR FEARS, DOUBTS, AND APPREHENSIONS.

DEATH, DESTRUCTION, PLAGUE, AND PESTILENCE ARE NOT OF GOD BUT ARE OFTEN ALLOWED BY GOD.

WHY IT IS THIS WAY IS A MYSTERY TO US, ALL WE KNOW THAT THERE ARE TIMES WHEN GOD ALLOWS THE WICKED TO PROSPER FOR A TIME, BUT THEY ARE SOON CUT DOWN.

IT SEEMS THAT THIS HAPPENS WHENEVER THE WORLD STRAYS TOO FAR FROM THE GODLY. WHEN THIS HAPPENS, WORSHIP SLACKENS, OUR PERSONAL DEVOTION DISAPPEARS, AND OUR LOYALTY TO GOD IS NOT STEADFAST. SOMETIMES IT HAPPENS WHEN THE WORLD BEGINS TO FEEL THAT IT CAN EXIST WITHOUT GOD. EVEN THOSE WHO BELIEVE START TO BELIEVE THAT ALL OF THEIR WORSHIP AND STUDY IS WASTEFUL.

THE CHURCH SHOULD PRAISE GOD INTENSELY BECAUSE HAS BLESSED US INTENSELY. YET, SOME IN THE CHURCH CAN'T SEE THE NEED FOR SO MUCH WORSHIP AND BELIEVE WE ARE WASTING OUR TIME "GREATLY PRAISING" GOD.

WHEN YOU WORSHIP THE LORD, YOU MAY NOT REMEMBER EVERY SERMON TITLE OR BE ABLE TO RECITE EVERY VERSE. BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, YOU KNOW THEY MEAN "GOD LOVES YOU.”

WHEN YOU ARE DOWN TO NOTHING.... GOD IS UP TO SOMETHING!

WHEN THERE IS TROUBLE ALL AROUND, GOD IS STILL ON THE THRONE, AND HE WILL NEVER LEAVE US ALONE.

GOD IS GREAT, AND HE IS GREATLY TO BE PRAISED!

TELL OF HIS GOODNESS

FINALLY, BROTHERS AND SISTERS, IN DIFFICULT TIMES, WE MUST NOT FOCUS ON THE TRAGEDY WITHOUT ALSO FOCUSING ON THE JOY OF GOD'S DELIVERANCE.

DAVID SAID, "I HAD FAINTED UNLESS I HAD BELIEVED TO SEE THE GOODNESS OF THE LORD."

HE REMINDED BELIEVERS THAT IF IT HAD NOT BEEN FOR THE LORD ON HIS SIDE, HE WOULD NEVER HAVE MADE IT.

LIKE DAVID, WE SEE THE TROUBLE AHEAD, BUT WE ALSO SEE THE GOODNESS OF THE LORD.

THE NEWS TELLS ME ABOUT THE DANGERS OF BANKS COLLAPSING AND THE DEBT CEILING CRISIS

YOU MAY TELL ME HOW THE BAD THE ECONOMY IS, BUT I SERVE A GOD WHOSE MERCY ARE NEVER END, I MUST TELL ABOUT THE GOODNESS OF THE LORD.

YOU MAY WORRY ABOUT BANKS AND GOVERNMENTS SHUTTING DOWN , BUT PSALM 121 SAYS, "HE THAT KEEPETH ISRAEL NEITHER SLUMBERS OR SLEEPS."

DON’T LOSE HEART! YOU MAY HAVE CRIED SOME NIGHTS. YOU MAY HAVE QUESTIONED YOUR STRENGTH. YOU MIGHT’VE FELT LIKE LETTING GO—BUT HOLD ON JUST A LITTLE WHILE LONGER.

BECAUSE THE SAME GOD WHO KEPT DAVID WILL KEEP YOU.

THE SAME GOD WHO DELIVERED YOUR ANCESTORS IS STILL WORKING TODAY.

YOU’VE COME TOO FAR TO QUIT NOW.

THE LORD IS YOUR STRENGTH.

THE LORD IS YOUR LIGHT.

AND IF YOU DON’T LOSE HEART, YOU SHALL SEE HIS GOODNESS IN THE LAND OF THE LIVING!

SO LIFT YOUR HEAD, LIFT YOUR HANDS, LIFT YOUR FAITH—AND WAIT, I SAY, ON THE LORD!

I MUST TELL OF THE GOODNESS OF THE LORD BECAUSE WHEN YOU ARE:

--SICK, HE WILL BE A DOCTOR IN YOUR SICKROOM!

--IN TROUBLE, HE WILL BE A LAWYER IN YOUR COURTROOM!

--LOST AND CONFUSED, HE WILL MAKE A WAY OUT OF NO WAY!

--HUNGRY AND THIRSTY, HE WILL FEED YOU WITH BREAD FROM ON HIGH. THAT'S WHY THE OLD WARRIORS CRIED OUT BREAD OF HEAVEN, BREAD OF HEAVEN, FEED ME TILL I WANT NO MORE!

I MUST TELL YOU WAIT ON THE LORD….HE WILL GET YOU THROUGH

IN THE MIDST OF SORROW, GOD IS GOOD, BECAUSE HE BRINGS US JOY!

IN THE MIDST OF CONFLICTS, GOD IS GOOD, BECAUSE HE BRINGS US COURAGE!

IN THE MIDST OF DANGER, GOD IS GOOD, BECAUSE HE BRINGS US SAFETY!

IN THE MIDST OF WEAKNESS, GOD IS GOOD, BECAUSE HE BRINGS US STRENGTH!

IN THE MIDST OF DEFEAT, GOD IS GOOD, BECAUSE HE BRINGS US THE VICTORY!

IN THE MIDST OF THE STORM, GOD IS GOOD, BECAUSE HE SPEAKS TO THE WIND AND WAVES AND THEY OBEY HIS WILL.

I MUST TELL YOU WAIT ON THE LORD….HE WILL GET YOU THROUGH

I MUST TELL THEM ABOUT JESUS!

I MUST TELL HOW HE LIVED ON THIS EARTH FOR 33 LONG YEARS!

I MUST TELL HOW HE BORE AN OLD RUGGED CROSS!

I MUST TELL HOW HE DIED OUT ON CALVARY!

BUT, EARLY SUNDAY MORNING, HE AROSE FROM THE GRAVE WITH ALL POWER IN HIS HANDS!

I MUST TELL YOU WAIT ON THE LORD….HE WILL GET YOU THROUGH