Sermon Tone Analysis

Introduction

I came across an article titled “It Is Well With My Soul”, and it reads as followed;

“One of the best-loved hymns of the faith, “It Is Well with My Soul,” was written by Horatio Spafford.

Mr. Spafford, a wealthy businessman in Chicago, lost much of his real estate holdings in the Great Chicago Fire.

After the fire, he sent his wife and four daughters on a ship to Europe, intending to join them later, for a time of rest as well as to assist Moody and Sankey with a revival in Great Britain.

But the voyage was struck by disaster, and Spafford received a cable from his wife with the painful message, “Saved alone.”

Spafford quickly made arrangements to join his wife.

When they reached the spot where his daughters had drowned, Spafford marked that sad event with words of hope: “When peace like a river attendeth my way; when sorrows like sea billows roll; whatever my lot, Thou hast taught me to say, ‘It is well, it is well with my soul.’”

These powerful words written in the midst of such pain are a reminder to us today that, even though we may be enduring great suffering and hardship, it is not the end of God’s plan for us.

Sometimes God’s children get discouraged because it appears that life is going better for those who are doing wrong.

Yet the end result of both paths is already settled.

Those who fear God will be able to say, “It is well.”

Those who oppose God will quickly find that the end of their path is death and destruction.

Keeping the end result in mind helps us keep doing right.”

It will be six months on the 28th, of this month, when my wife and I lost our daughter, Leah Grace, to a rare medical condition after she was born.

The dreams and anticipation of raising our daughter were quickly crushed.

Our joy turned into sorrow; our excitement turned into pain; Our answers turned into questions.

All of us in this room have suffered pain at some point in our life.

Whether it is the pain of losing a job, the pain of a broken friendship, or watching someone you love take their final breathes.

Maybe, in the midst of your pain and suffering you are wondering, “How can I get through this?” My hope and prayer this morning is that the Word of God will reveal to us all this morning that the best way to walk through the valley of shadow of death is to praise the Lord in the midst of your pain.

Turn with me to Psalm 42 as we read the Word of God.

(Prayer)

Expression of Pain

David was considered a man after God’s own heart (1st Samuel 13:14 and Acts 13:22).

In this particular Psalm, with the help of the sons of Korah, we see David desperately seeking the heart of the Lord by sharing his heart.

David doesn’t hide his emotions.

He is in pain.

Look at verses 1 and 2.

Too often I believe we as Christians do a terrible job of sharing our pain.

We have some how bought into this idea that when we come through these doors we need to pretend that everything is okay.

The most frequent lie we tend to say is “I’m good” or if we want to come off being super spiritual we say “I’m blessed and highly favored” when deep down inside we are hurting.

David opens up by saying “Hey!

I’m in pain!

Agonizing pain!” Maybe that’s you this morning.

Deep down you are hurting and you are wondering where to find relief.

David makes it clear that his relief only comes from the Lord.

Look at verse 2 again.

When we are in pain, we want relief.

Relief- removal or lightening of something oppressive, painful, or distressing

Depending on our source, the relief we seek can either hurt us or help us.

Many people with addictions (drug addiction, eating addictions, sexual addictions, etc.) cling to those addictions because it relieves the pain of their lives, temporarily.

(Example: Conversation with Young Man in the M-Team Room)

True relief for our pain comes from the Lord Jesus Christ.

Oppression From The People and The Enemy

In the midst of David’s pain, we see that there are people adding on to his pain.

Look at verse 3 and 9-10

David has been in a spiral of grief and sorrow that he says the only thing he has eaten is his tears.

He feels alone and forgotten, and to make matters worse, there are some who are adding to his misery.

In the midst of our own pain, we can feel these emotions.

Many times, people, and the enemy of lies, Satan, can make it worse.

(Personal Example: Just Have Another One, God Doesn’t Trust you, You Are Alone, Blame God.)

How To Respond in the Midst of Pain

1.) Remember the Lord

Psalm 42:6 (NLT)

Now I am deeply discouraged,

but I will remember you—

even from distant Mount Hermon, the source of the Jordan,

from the land of Mount Mizar.

2.) Praise the Lord

(Personal Song): Come to the River

Come to the water, all who are thirsty

Come and drink

Come to the table, all who are hungry

Come and feast

Oh my soul, thirsts for you

You Alone!

(Personal Song): Wait on the Lord

They that wait on the Lord

Shall renew their strength

They shall mount up, up on wings

Like an eagle, and they soar

They shall walk, and not get weary

They shall run, and not faint

That's what happens when you wait

Happens when you wait

3.) Hope in the Lord

Hope- An expectation of the fulfillment of something desired or promised.

(Prepare our hearts for worship and communion)

(Communion)

Final Reading and Prayer