Sermon
What To Do When You Feel Like Giving Up (Part 1)
June 16-17, 2001
Pastor Donald Sheley

Let's take our Bibles and turn to Psalm 73. It's page 396 in your red pew Bible, if you'd like to turn there. We're spending the summer in the Psalms, and if you're a guest with us today we're delighted that you've come. Our first Psalm was Psalm 15. It was the characteristics of a righteous man. It was a very, very helpful a very, very practical Psalm. And last Sunday we started on Psalm 73, and I suggested to you that if you would ask me the question, what is your favorite portion of Scripture? I'd have to tell you it would be Psalm 73, although I love the Bible intensely every page of it. But why is Psalm 73 so meaningful to you Pastor? It's because it describes the valleys through which I have passed and the searchings through which my soul has traversed, and the conclusions to which my faith has reached. It's a Psalm the talks about a man in search to understand the ways of God as they relate to Him or her, and the frustrations, and the doubts, and the moments of despair in that search to know God.

Let me read the Psalm first and then what moments we have left I'll talk about it. Truly God is good, to Israel, to such as are pure in heart. But as for me, my feet had almost stumbled; and my steps had almost slipped. Now let me just started it. What you find in western logic, we usually think of it in terms of linear logic, we start with a point: Point 1, point 2, and point 3, and point 4, and here's my conclusion--linear. Hebrew logic is different. I think we'd almost call it circular logic, because what you'll find and you'll find in many of the Psalms it starts with the conclusion and then he'll go through the process of reasoning to his conclusion. But the reason why he gives us the conclusion first, is because he wants us never to forget even through the valley the truth that he started with and that he ended with. So here's his point: he said I'm going to tell you my story. I went through a very difficult time. My feet, my spiritual feet, had almost stumbled and I was slipping. I had come to a point where I was almost ready to throw in the towel and say, God, You can have it. I'm done. He said I'm going to tell you about that journey. But don't ever forget--God is good all the time--and even through my darkest valleys and my hottest tears doesn't change the eternal fact; God is always good. And no matter what you're going through today, no matter how deep the problem, and no matter how much you're stretching your faith to hang on to God, the truth is this--God is good.

I've told you and I'll tell you again just quickly there are times when the valley is so deep you almost have to say I'm a hypocrite saying this God, but I know You're good because in your heart you're full of questions and doubting. I've told you that in the early years of my ministry I was fired in front of hundreds and hundreds of people in a congregation. They told me when I had finished my sermon to leave the premise and not return. That was 45 years ago. For weeks I walked all night the streets of San Francisco, saying, God You're not good. Why did You put me through this? Why did You allow me to be shamed in front of 1500 people? I hadn't been by that address in 30 years. The other day, Vernita had a tooth appointment down town and after seeing the fine doctor I said, honey, let's go by a certain address. And I pulled up some history. When I drove by and then drove off I said, God, You were good to fire me. I'm glad I'm not there, and I'm glad I am where I am. When saying is, like the Psalmist, it's hard to say He's good when you're crying and screaming inside and you hurt.

But the Psalmist says I want you to remember, I start with the conclusion and I'm going to tell you the journey I went through, but I came back and it's always true--God is good all the time. Now let's read the Psalm. Now you've got the idea. He said, For I was envious of the boastful, and when I saw the prosperity of the wicked. For there are no pangs in their death, but their strength is firm. They are not in trouble as other men, nor are they plagued like other men. Therefore pride serves as their necklace; violence covers them like a garment. Their eyes bulge with abundance; they have more than heart could wish. They scoff and speak wickedly concerning oppression; they speak loftily. They set their mouth against the heavens, and their tongue walks through the earth. Therefore his people return here, and waters of a full cup are drained by them. And they say, "How does God know? And is there knowledge in the Most High?" Behold, these are the ungodly, who are always at ease; they increase in riches. Surely I have cleansed my heart in vain, and washed my hands in innocence. All day long I have been plagued, and every morning God takes me to the woodshed-oh, mine says chastened every morning. (Congregation chuckles)

If I had said, "I will speak thus," behold I would have been untrue to the generation of Your children. When I thought how to understand this, it was too painful for me-Until...until...until I went into the sanctuary of God; then I understood. Isn't that amazing? I understood their end. Surely You set them in slippery places; you cast them down to destruction. Oh, how they are brought to desolation, as in a moment! They are utterly consumed with terrors. As a dream, when one awakes, So Lord, when You awake, you shall despise their image. Thus my heart was grieved, and I was vexed in my mind. I was so foolish and ignorant; I was like a beast before You. Nevertheless I am continually with You; You hold me by my right hand. You will guide me with Your counsel, and afterwards You will receive me to glory. Whom have I in heaven but You? And there is none upon earth that I desire besides You. My flesh and my heart fail; but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. For indeed, those who are far from You shall perish; You shall destroy all these who desert You for harlotry. But it is good for me to draw near to God; for I have put my trust in the Lord God, that I may declare all of Your works."

Here's his problem; God I look around me and I don't understand You. You seem to bless the wicked and I have a rough life. I get up every morning to the same heartaches I went to bed with last night, and each day I try to live for You. I try to wash my hands in innocence. I try to live before You and yet those godless people out there they seem to be far more prosperous then I am, and they don't even seem to bother with the issues of life. They've got so much money they don't have to worry about feeding the kids. When they die, they seem to die in arrogance. They've got pride they wrap around their necks; display all of their goods in life. I have no goods in life. So God is being bad You still bless, and I try to be good and I'm having a rough time, I don't understand. You see he forgot what the old prophet said, God said, My ways are not your ways, and My thoughts are far different than your thoughts.

And here's our problem: We've got this finite mind that's been infected by sin. We cannot see beyond a few steps, even if that, when God sees from eternity to eternity. And so when we're dealing with the infinite with a finite mind, to grapple with 'How do you know God?' is a tremendous struggle. We turned to Job 23 last Sunday and Job said, God, Oh if I knew where I could find You. Why don't You come out from behind those clouds and stop playing hide and seek with me? I'd talk to You like a man, and I'd expect You to talk to be like a man, and we could understand each other! When I look to my right You're not there. I look to my left You're not there. One thing I know, You know where I am and You know my ways. When You've tried me, I'm going to come forth as pure gold. But he went through that struggle.

Now look at what happens, verse 15 I think it is, he said, if I talk this way I would do injury to others. Now here's what I want you never to forget, this is what I learned: when I'm going through spiritual struggles it's best I keep my mouth shut. I'll tell you why. Because I may spout off and say things about God that shouldn't be said to souls who are more fragile then I am, injure their faith, and their concept of God and hurt them. You know I made a promise to God when I went into the ministry, because many pastors have taken the problems of the church home to the kids, and that's why 80 percent of most pastors' kids are not the church today. I said, God, when I leave that front door I will never ever to my children speak in any way that would in any way lessen their appreciation of You and their respect for the people who sit in these pews. And even though I've agonized deeply at times, I shut my mouth at that door. I've raised three boys who love God supremely and love you supremely, and love the church. Because if I speak what I feel, oft times I hurt others when I'm wrestling deeply with my faith. Do you understand what I'm saying?

So here's what the psalmists says, keep your strugglings to yourself. It's between you and God on your knees, because who you may voice your doubtings to, you may injure them spiritually. Boy that's good practical advice, isn't it? Then he said, when I went to the house of God then I understood. There's something about coming into God's presence that brings everything into focus. And I go to my eye doctor and he puts me on this little machine that's got these little turn wheels. And he says, now pastor, does that clear up the left eye? Just a little bit more doctor. All right now, the other eye. Pastor, is that better? Is that clearer? Can you see it now? Ah, that's right doctor. You've got everything set perfect. What's happened: he's brought reality into focus, and he does that by clearing up my eyesight. But if I see life out of focus, the reality I perceive is a not the reality it's what I think it is seen through eyes out of focus. And I'll tell you what happens, life has a way during the week of twisting our faith just enough to throw it out of focus. And when faith is out of focus we really don't know the God we're trying to worship, because God's out of focus. And so the reality that I perceive of God is not clear, and life has its way of doing that. And when I'm going through these turbulent times, and that's what happened to this psalmist, his whole faith is out of focus because life has thrown itself.

But he said, I'll tell you what, when I went into the sanctuary God started focusing. I tell you there's something about worshiping God, there's something about sensing His presence, there's something about singing the great hymns of the church: With eternities values in view, Lord, with eternities values in view. And things begin to change and the old hymn says: turn your eyes upon Jesus, look full in His wonderful face, and the things of Earth will grow strangely dim in the light of His glory and grace. The old Psalmist says get to the sanctuary and see life through the eyes of God. I'll talk more about it next week. Okay?

My time is gone. Father, what a Psalm. It so describes us in our journey in life. We struggle to know You, dear God, but so frequently our faith is out of focus and our perceptions of You are not biblical. We make the wrong comparisons. We draw the wrong contrasts, and we end up with the wrong assumptions. We've learned that that's one of the beautiful things about coming to Your house, singing in Your presence, and on our knees trying to put life before You back into perspective. If there are those with us today who are going through a time of difficulty and the journey is stressful, and the struggle is intense and faith is almost ready it seems to abandon us, would You help us today and surround us with Your peace, and may we never forget You are good all the time dear God. Flowers will fade, the grass will wither, and the stars may fall, but You will never change--You're good. Help us not to forget that. In Jesus name, amen. God bless you.