102914: But a Crushed Spirit Who Can Bear?

Message: But a Crushed Spirit Who Can Bear?

I.                    Introduction

a.       This year we want to help you get more rooted in Christ and grow closer together.  One way we are doing that is through these messages, as we look at a question from the Bible. 

b.      I had just moved to Goldendale, leaving what few friends I had behind.  This was our third move in a year and a half.  We moved to a house on box canyon rd. so I had no contact with anyone but my family and a few people at the church my parents were forcing me to go to.  I was 14.  I hated my life.  I hated how I looked, I hated how I felt, I hated that there was no one for me, I hated that God didn’t feel real to me, I hated myself.  I sat in our bathroom and looked over to a cabinet, thinking through the various products in it I knew there was more than enough to put an end to all the pain.  I sat for 10 minutes and finally left for my bedroom.  This continued for several months.  It was the darkest period of my life.  I had become completely enveloped in pain, depression, and didn’t know if I would ever make it out.

II.                 Body.

a.       Read Proverbs 18:14 – “A man’s spirit sustains him in sickness, but a crushed spirit who can bear?”

                                                             a.      My soul was crushed and I couldn’t take it anymore.

                                                            b.      There are many that fall into that category and it ends in death for many.  In fact a suicide is committed in the US every 12.6 minutes, around 41,000 a year.  Among teenagers it is the second most common reason for you dying.  For every successful suicide attempt there are 12 other attempts to harm or kill that take place.  The biggest factor for someone committing suicide: Depression…they have been crushed in their spirit and can no longer take it.

                                                             c.      What kinds of things crush us?

                                                                                i.      The choices I make

a.       At times a person ruins their own life.  They make decisions to get involved in things that are causing them pain. 

b.      Examples: Failing out of school, taking drugs/drinking, etc…

                                                                              ii.      The choices others make

a.       At times others crush us with their actions

b.      Examples: Abuse, rape, divorce, bullying, etc…

                                                                            iii.      The choices nature makes

a.       At times things happen that are no one’s fault

b.      Examples: Death, Loss of job, etc…

                                                            d.      Does anyone want to share a personal story about being crushed?

b.      Baseball

                                                             a.      Baseballs are created to take a certain amount of abuse, they can be hit by a bat over and over again and still maintain their shape and structure.  But eventually that beating takes a toll.  The seams come lose, tears develop, and eventually the whole outside cover falls off.  Once this happens it is only a matter of time until the whole ball is completely unraveled and destroyed.  And there really is very little chance of getting the ball usable again.

                                                            b.      Humans were created with the ability to take a certain amount of hurt.  They can stand strong and be resilient even under terrible pressure.  But over time that beating takes a toll.  At first we can hold it together but then the pain gets to the point that it starts getting deeper and deeper until we are starting to fall apart, eventually becoming unraveled and destroyed. 

                                                             c.      Is there hope of being made better once the pain has gone to the core of us?

c.       My Story Completed

                                                             a.      After months of contemplating suicide I was forced by my parents to go to a Christian summer camp in Canada.  I yelled and screamed and threw a fit to try and force my parents to not make me go.  I wanted nothing to do with God or other people, I just wanted to be done.  I went and at that camp I was met by God.  He was waiting for me.  He reminded me that in him there is hope, that my life had purpose, that I was loved, and that he could give me strength to endure the pain.  He was seeking me out the whole time.  I had been unraveled and was on the verge of being destroyed but he set to work repairing my brokenness as I allowed him into my pain.

                                                            b.      Revelation 21:5 finds God speaking to humanity and he says, “I am making everything new!”  At times you may feel like everything is unraveled and there is no hope.  But God can make everything new!  He can heal, he can bring hope, he can give you strength, he can help by making you new, repairing your brokenness as you allow him into your pain.

                                                             c.      You are not beyond repair!  You can make it if you allow God to carry you and heal you.

III.               Application

a.       Maybe tonight you have been depressed, hurting, and possibly hurting yourself or thinking of committing suicide.  It is not the answer.  Inflicting harm or killing yourself will not remove the pain, only God can.  And he has been seeking you out, he is ready to meet with you right now.

b.      Maybe you want that, maybe you need that, tonight allow him to help you.  Pray with me.  I encourage you to speak to me or another leader tonight.  You don’t have to do this alone, God is here and so are we. 

c.       Pass out #, I’d rather you call at 3am and share your pain, then get a call the next day that you have ended your life.