When Mother's Day is Hard 2 Corinthians 1:3-5

I. God comforts us in our troubles Vs 3-4a

-You can be assured that if you have not faced trouble yet, you will.

-affliction will grip your life..and perhaps it will be often.

-The face that God manifests his mercy in comfort gives testimony to His campassion for our situation.

-Not just for our falleness

-But also the afflictions that come our way because of the fallen world.

-BUT I WANT TO TELL YOU TODAY THAT WE HAVE A GOD OF ALL CORMFORT....

-HIS EAR IS NEVER CLOSED TO THE CRYS OF HIS PEOPLE

-HIS EYES NEVER BLIND TO THE HEARTACHES OF HIS CHILDREN

-HIS MERCY MAY NOT TAKE THE PAIN AWAY IN THIS WORLD, BUT IT WILL ALWAYS SUSTAIN YOU THROUGH IT.

ILLUSTRATION…A grazing field that shepherd take their sheep to...

-looks like just dry sand

-HOW IS THIS A GRAZING FIELD?

-where is the lush green vegatiation for the sheep to feed off of?

-Why would a shepherd lead his sheep here…where the land seems so barren.

-On top of that, it was littered with stones.

-how could they eat here?

-What I did not know that the breeze blowing in off the Mediterranean would bring with it the moisture of the sea.

-Cool moist air would hit the hot stones and there would be condensation built upon the stones and work its way down to the dry dirt.

-The moisture was just enough the cause tiny sprigs of vegetation to sprout up.

-The shepherd knew that it is in this place that provision is made for his sheep to always have enough.

Jesus is our shepherd.

-but here we are in this barren land with rocky ground.

-Land that looks hopeless

-And we think…how could we be comforted here?

-Would a Good Shepherd ever lead us through this barren land?

-BUT THEN COMES THE COOL BREEZE OF GOD’S MERCY

-AND THE CONDENSATION THAT BUILDS ON THE STONES OF OUR AFFLICTION.

-SPRIGS OF THE VEGATATION OF COMFORT SRPINGS FORTH.

-AND WE LOOK UP TO SEE THE GOOD SHEPHERD…THE GOD OF ALL COMFORT THERE…ALWAYS PROVIDING JUST ENOUGH…FOR HIS SHEEP

-strengthening our weak knees

-sustaining our sagging spirits

And always giving us ENOUGH to provide...

-UNTIL THE DAY HE TAKES US HOME.

2. We comfort others with the comfort God gave us Vs 4

Mother’s Day is hard for some…

-lost your child and are still grieving that loss…we grieve at your side

-faced a miscarriage or a string of miscarriages…we mourn with you

-adoption is cluttered by red-tape as you long to hold your baby…we pray patiently with you

-infertility…inappropriate comments about when you two are going to finally have a baby…they don't know your struggle or your pain…we hurt with you

-Your relationship with your children is fractured…distant…cold…we pray for reconciliation at your side

-experienced abuse from your mother…we empathize with you and pray for forgiveness in your heart

-Lost your mother and the pain surfaces…we await with you the day were death shall be no more.

-Maybe your children did not turn out like you had hoped…you did your best…raised them the best way you know how, but here they are…going their own way…

-Dear sister…your children must make their own decisions…forgive yourself

-Maybe your a step-mother

…do the best you can…love the best you can,

-but never seem to have the respect and love of your step-children

…we walk with you through those complexities.

-Maybe you were wrongly convinced that abortion was your only hope and you took matters into your own hands

…Mother’s Day serves as a reminder of your sin that you've repented of have been forgiven of…be encouraged…the Blood of Jesus covers a multitude of sins

…When we face affliction we often focus on ourselves.

-May i remind you this morning that our savior faced affliction.

-We should not be shocked that when we follow him, our path will lead to affliction as well.

-How could we ever think that we could take up the cross and follow him and not face a very real affliction.

-But can I encourage you in the midst of that pain?

-For every Christian than

-God can use it...

-The comfort he provides you, you can inturn provide others.

-DONT WASTE YOUR AFFLICTION CHRISTIAN. USE IT.

-to pick a brother or sister up from the mire.

-to pray with compassion

-identify with the others who are afflicted.

-be a loving soul

-a kind ear

-a godly counsel

SO THAT…with may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction with the comfort with which we ourselves are recieved from God.

3. JESUS REALLY IS OUR ONLY HOPE VS 5

…When we face affliction we often focus on ourselves.

-May i remind you this morning that our savior faced affliction.

-We should not be shocked that when we follow him, our path will lead to affliction as well.

-How could we ever think that we could take up the cross and follow him and not face a very real affliction.

-But can I encourage you in the midst of that pain?

-For every Christian that takes up his cross and follows Jesus, there will be a resurection

-That just as Christ lives after His affliction you will live too by that same POWER

While motherhood is to be commended and celebrated…it is important for use to remember.

PARENTHOOD IS NOT THE HIGHEST CALLING FOR MEN AND WOMEN….CHILDHOOD IS.

-That is that you would become sons of daughters of God

-Disciples of Christ making other disciples of Christ

Your family is not a Leave it to Beaver Family….this not Mayberry…This is life

-painful

-complicated

-messy

-painful

-and cluttered with Sin

-The

-Be encouraged today that as Long as there is a resurrected Lord, there is hope for whatever situation you face today.

NO THIS IS NOT MAYBERRY…BUT THE GOSPEL DOESN’T NEED A MAYBERRY TO BE POWERFUL AND TO PROVIDE HOPE!

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