The Struggle is Real
Notes
Transcript
A few years ago, a slang phrase started to appear in memes and vines and quickly became really popular in American culture. It’s a phrase that I like to use because it fits so many situation. If you haven’t used it yourself, you’ve at least heard someone tell you this: “the struggle is real.” This doesn’t have an official dictionary definition, bu we all understand the basic idea. It describes an unfortunate or tragic situation, and it’s usually ironically or sarcastically to add humor or drama because the situation really isn’t all that terrible.
While we use this phrase jokingly, I’m sure we all know people for whom a struggle was literally real. There are countless stories of people who endure horrible situations and struggle with unthinkable difficulties and challenges. It’s enough that these people just survive their situations. But some manage not just to survive but to thrive and to become stronger and successful because of their struggles.
You may not recognize the name Leonardo Del Vecchio, but you know his products- RayBans and Oakleys. Did you know Leonardo grew up in an orphanage with his four siblings because their mother couldn’t afford to care from them after their father died? When he was older, Leonardo worked in a factory that made molds for auto parts and eyeglasses, but the conditions were so bad that he lost part of his finger due to an accident on the job. He didn’t let that stop him though; when he was 23, he opened his own glasses frame shop, which expanded over the years to 6 thousand retail stores, including the Sunglass Hut and LensCrafters chains.
The actor Sylvester Stallone is another famous story of struggle. When his mother was in labor with him, the doctors had to remove baby Sly forcibly with forceps, but they slipped and damaged nerves in his face, which is why he talks the way he does. A product of divorce and a bad home environment, Sylvester was bullied by other kids and expelled from several schools for bad behavior. Later, when he was trying to make it big as an actor, Stallone wrote a screenplay for a movie called “Rocky” after being inspired by one of Muhammad Ali’s boxing matches. He repeatedly submitted his script to agents and film executives but was rejected every time and told it just wan’t good enough. One person offered to buy the script from him if he’d consent to not being the star of the movie, but Stallone refused. Times were tough and Stallone was so broke that he even had to sell his beloved dog to get $25 to survive. Finally, after some negotiation, he agreed to sell his script at a much lower price as long as he could still play the lead role, and the movie turned out to be a huge hit. In 1976, Rocky won the Oscar for Best Picture, and Stallone went on to star in five sequels and become a sought-after action star. (He earned enough money to buy his dog back.)
One of the trademark characteristics of a dark horse is that he or she endures times of struggle. And while Hezekiah wasn’t an orphan and didn’t have to sell his dog to get money for food, the struggle was real for him, too. Second Kings 19 is all about a letter that arrived at just the wrong moment in Hezekiah’s life. His nation was under attack form Sennacherib and his people were being intimidated by Rabshakeh. To top it off, we’ll see later that about this time, his health was also filing. Tings were just not going Hezekiah’s way. But through it all he remand strong.
How is that possible? How did Hezekiah have the strength he needed to not only to survive this challenging time but to thrive through it? See four things Hezekiah did that we should emulate if we are to learn how to be strong in times of struggle.
Respond With The Right Spirit
Respond With The Right Spirit
When I was younger I had a bad habit of back talk to my parents and would argue over anything. I just loved to try to prove I was right in every thing we did. Why? because I had a spirit that thought I knew everything. I didn’t always respond with the right way.
Maybe you’ve heard the saying “like is 10% what happens to you and 90% how you respond to it.” We left off in 2 Kings 18 with Rabshakeh taunting the people of Judah and telling them they were about to lose the coming war over Jerusalem. In chapter 19, news of this trash talk reaches Hezekiah, and we can learn some valuable lessons by the way he responded.
And it came to pass, when king Hezekiah heard it, that he rent his clothes, and covered himself with sackcloth, and went into the house of the Lord.
And he sent Eliakim, which was over the household, and Shebna the scribe, and the elders of the priests, covered with sackcloth, to Isaiah the prophet the son of Amoz.
And they said unto him, Thus saith Hezekiah, This day is a day of trouble, and of rebuke, and blasphemy: for the children are come to the birth, and there is not strength to bring forth.
It may be the Lord thy God will hear all the words of Rab-shakeh, whom the king of Assyria his master hath sent to reproach the living God; and will reprove the words which the Lord thy God hath heard: wherefore lift up thy prayer for the remnant that are left.
His Heart
His Heart
Verse 1 of out text says that when Hezekiah heard what was going on, he “rent his clothes, and covered himself with sackcloth.” This guy tore up his clothes, not in anger like the hulk, but in grief. To hear that Sennacherib was not only going to attack him but that he was also blaspheming God? that really bothered Hezekiah. That tells you a lot about his heart. Hezekiah had a heart that loved God, and he was burdened when God’s name was treated disrespectfully.
How do you react when you see or hear about sin around you- or when you sin yourself? Is your heart burdened? Or do you barely even notice? It’s possible to get to a point in life where you’re so desensitized to the prompting of the Holy Spirit that your heart is hardened, and you stop feeling convicted of sin. You just don’t care anymore. This is what Paul called a “seared conscience.”
Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron;
and it’s a dangerous place for any believer to be. The good news is, the damage can be undone by turning back to God.
Create in me a clean heart, O God; And renew a right spirit within me.
His Humility
His Humility
Have you ever gotten rubbed the wrong way by the tag of a shirt? It can be very irritating- super uncomfortable and scratchy. Why would clothing manufacturers place the tag in that exact spot so it can constantly bother your neck?
Well, imagine that itchy feeling you get from a shirt tag, except it’s all over your body- that’s what it was like to wear sackcloth. So when the Bible says Hezekiah ripped his clothes and put on sackcloth instead, you know this was not something he did because none of his other clothes were clean. In Bible times, putting on sackcloth would often represent humility. It was humbling to wear because it made you look silly, and it was super uncomfortable. But it was also a symbol of repentance. By wearing it, Hezekiah was signifying that he realized it was his mistake that had led his nation to this point, and he was sorry. He was admitting his wrongdoing before God.
Are you someone who readily admits and repents when you’ve done wrong? Or do you stubbornly hold on to the pride and resist correction?
But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.
His Hope
His Hope
Hezekiah knew the only way through this trial was with the help of God, so he sent to find the prophet Isaiah.His message for Isaiah was this: “Here’s the situation. Please go to God with this. Maybe He will handle it.” Hezekiah was hopeful that God wouldn’t stand for His name being blasphemed and would step in to take care of the problem. He refused to stay discouraged because he knew God was able to help.
By the way, just as Hezekiah believed God would judge Sennacherib for what he’d been saying, you should also know and believe you will give an account to God- we all will- for every word you speak.
But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.
God holds us accountable for every lie, every curse word, every rumor,every little bit of gossip, every mean word or insult. Everything.