sermon "A Place To Go When Hurting" October 1, 2000

David Layman

Esther is a beautiful Jewish maiden living in Susa, a capitol in the ancient Persian empire, the 5th century BC. She was selected for the Persian kings court, and so impressed him, that he made her queen. The wicked prime minister Haman influenced the king to issue an edict authorizing the destruction of all the Jews in his empire. Esther was able to persuade King Ahasuerus to proclaim a second edict reversing the situation, saving the lives of her people. The evil Haman had built gallows to hang Esthers cousin, Mordecai. But instead, Esther brought to light Hamans evil, and he wound up dying on the gallows he had prepared for Mordecai.

Read Esther 7:1-10, James 5:13-16

Its OK to come to this sanctuary and pray "Lord, I need your help. Im tired. Im hurting. Im discouraged. It seems like everything is going against me." Our lives are each stories, tales that are being told. Sometimes, we gather in this place to thank God for His many blessings to us. Sometimes, we come here to plead for His presence and help! Its OK to say that we need God! As we gather in this place bringing with us our stories of trials and troubles, let us come to see our story in the light of the Biblical story!

Esther used the beauty she possessed to serve God. Esther responded to Mordecais haunting question, "WHO KNOWS BUT THAT YOU HAVE COME TO ROYAL POSITION FOR SUCH A TIME AS THIS?" by risking her life to save her people. God kept his word to Esther and her people, by preserving them from an evil end. As our lives are also a story to be told, "WHO KNOWS" but what the trials and troubles we find ourselves in the midst of, may not be used by God to bring His great purposes to bear!

Many of us have surely experienced times when it seemed that the odds were stacked against us, and our future looked dark. Psalm 124, written by David in the years before he achieved royal power, reflect a position of danger and vulnerability. Psalm 124 begins "IF IT HAD NOT BEEN THE LORD WHO WAS ON OUR SIDE, WHEN OUR ENEMIES ATTACKED US, THEN THEY WOULD HAVE SWALLOWED US UP ALIVE, ... THEN THE FLOOD WOULD HAVE SWEPT US AWAY.. .OUR HELP IS IN THE NAME OF THE LORD."

Have you ever felt vulnerable, in great need, with few visible signs that Gods power was surrounding and upholding you? Was it on a battlefield? On a dark street far from home? In a hospital bed? Have things ever gone against you at work? Do you ever find yourself feeling this way as a Christian, in a society and culture that seems less and less supportive of standards you believe, and seek to live by?

Perhaps, in some measure, we can sense the plight of Esther and David! Did Jesus ever feel this way? As we read in Isaiah 53, "HE WAS DESPISED AND REJECTED BY OTHERS; A MAN OF SUFFERING AND ACQUAINTED WITH INFIRMITY." When Jesus was arrested, his best friends, the disciples cut and ran. . . and denied they knew him. One even betrayed him. In reality, they all did. So if youre feeling down, friends, if others reject you and utter false things about you, if you feel overwhelmed at times, and dont know if you can hold on, remember: Jesus has been there before you. And he overcame.. .f or all of us!

James 5:13 records "ARE ANY AMONG YOU SUFFERING? THEY SHOULD PRAY." We

have a person to go to when hurting. We may go to Jesus in prayer. When we go to him, we find one who cares for us, and understands. We can seek His real presence in the sacrament of communion. Jesus has given His life for us, that we may find our life in Him!

David Layman