Off-Balanced or Anchored
Life in Transition Part 2 • Sermon • Submitted
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· 29 viewsWe’re all headed somewhere. Arriving at our new destinations requires change. For most of us, change creates stress. Just like when we travel on a boat, plane, or in a car, traveling through life can give us motion sickness. We’re knocked off balance. The ground beneath our feet doesn’t feel solid. So how do you prepare for what’s next when the anxiety of transition has you fighting motion sickness?
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Introduction:
We are in this series called “Life in Transition” and we are asking ourselves if we can prepare for what’s next in life? marriage, first baby, second baby, new job, new school, empty nest, retirement, etc.
Last week we talked about:
Transitions cause stress because it requires change whether we look forward to it or not
Transitions cause stress because it requires change whether we look forward to it or not
Just because you know what’s coming doesn’t necessarily mean you are prepared for it
Just because you know what’s coming doesn’t necessarily mean you are prepared for it
Can we prepare for transitions in life known or unknown? yes, by being a doer of the Word
Can we prepare for transitions in life known or unknown? yes, by being a doer of the Word
-we prepare by being a doer of God’s Word (not just a listener) now so we will also be a doer of God’s Word in the next season in life
-we also know there is a blessing for being a doer of God’s Word as James told us last week that whatever we do will be blessed!
Body:
To go on a trip we pack things to make it easier even if we don’t know what to expect the whole time.
We pack toiletries, clothes, book to read, music to listen to, computer, etc. There are some of us who also need to take medicine for motion sickness when we travel.
Motion sickness = instability
focus on something ahead of you and hold on to something to keep you balanced
Our souls experience instability when we go through transitions in life and in order to help us navigate through those situations (expected and unexpected), we need something to anchor ourself to.
An anchor is used:
-to keep from drifting
-to weather the storm
-it can hold things in place because of its weight
We need to have an anchor we can hold onto and one that can hold onto us through expected (marriage, baby, empty nest, etc.) and unexpected (loss/change in job, loss of loved one, loss of health, etc)
If we turn to the book of Hebrews chapter 6, I want to give a little background on this letter. This letter is written to Jewish people who have become followers of Christ and are experiencing a transition in their faith and lifestyle.
16 Now when people take an oath, they call on someone greater than themselves to hold them to it. And without any question that oath is binding.
16 Now when people take an oath, they call on someone greater than themselves to hold them to it. And without any question that oath is binding.
17 God also bound himself with an oath, so that those who received the promise could be perfectly sure that he would never change his mind.
18 So God has given both his promise and his oath. These two things are unchangeable because it is impossible for God to lie. Therefore, we who have fled to him for refuge can have great confidence as we hold to the hope that lies before us.
19 This hope is a strong and trustworthy anchor for our souls. It leads us through the curtain into God’s inner sanctuary.
When we were kids (and maybe we still do as adults) we would swear on stuff, things, or people in order to prove that what we were saying was true.
17 God also bound himself with an oath, so that those who received the promise could be perfectly sure that he would never change his mind.
17 God also bound himself with an oath, so that those who received the promise could be perfectly sure that he would never change his mind.
18 So God has given both his promise and his oath. These two things are unchangeable because it is impossible for God to lie. Therefore, we who have fled to him for refuge can have great confidence as we hold to the hope that lies before us.
18 So God has given both his promise and his oath. These two things are unchangeable because it is impossible for God to lie. Therefore, we who have fled to him for refuge can have great confidence as we hold to the hope that lies before us.
God made a promise and backed it up with His actions.
His promise = to be the God of His people
His promise = to be the God of His people
His oath = to send them a Savior
His oath = to send them a Savior
His actions = sent Jesus Christ to die on the cross and rose Him again on the third day
His actions = sent Jesus Christ to die on the cross and rose Him again on the third day
In the middle of a transition, it is so easy for us to think God has abandoned us and we are all alone. But when we are tempted to not believe God is in control, we can build upon what God has done for us in the past and Him being true to His Word.
19 This hope is a strong and trustworthy anchor for our souls. It leads us through the curtain into God’s inner sanctuary.
The anchor we need is this hope in God.
The anchor we need is this hope in God.
What do we put our hope in? wealth? health? a relationship? a person/pastor?
We need an anchor to be strong enough to anchor us throughout our lives; not just through transitions.
To keep us from being caught off-balanced or drifting aimlessly in life, we need to anchor our lives to God. Why?
I. For His presence
I. For His presence
He will never leave us/ we will never be alone no matter what life throws at us
II. For His protection
II. For His protection
We need to trust in God and know that He will bring good from whatever we go through
Illustration:
NFL Draft
-guy expected to be picked in the top five but begins to fall
-reporters and he is wondering what’s going on and why hasn’t he been drafted yet; has the teams forgotten him?
-he doesn’t see the big picture:
-everyone who gets drafted will make a lot of money
-the higher you go (earlier you get picked) the worse the team you will be on
God hasn’t forgotten you when you go through transitions and don’t understand. He is protecting you and putting you in the situation He wants for you; not what we think we should be in.
III. For His promise
III. For His promise
God didn’t promise us wealth or no problems or good health.
God promises to be with us, to protect us and to work things out for our best!
With God, the worst is not the last thing.
Conclusion:
Where is my life anchored?
What is keeping you from anchoring your life to God?
Play “Even If” by MercyMe lyric video
19 This hope is a strong and trustworthy anchor for our souls. It leads us through the curtain into God’s inner sanctuary.
