15 Mar From Here (How to turn your Setback into a Comeback) part 16
We have been sharing with you our key scripture from I Thessalonians 5:16, “Rejoice evermore.” In this short but powerful verse, we discovered the Greek word translated “evermore” literally means “from this point on”. In everyday language, it means “from here”. Then we began to share with you “13 Facets to Live a Constructive Life”:
- Part from Pity (Phil. 2:14).
- Never let your tragedy become your identity (Mark 5:26).
- You can’t unscramble eggs (Eph. 5:16).
- What we know is always more important than how we feel (Eph. 6:13-14).
- Never let go of what you doknow because of what you don’t know (Matt. 11:5-6).
- Never compound bad decisions with more bad decisions (Rom. 6:19).
This week we continue with…
7. Life is not about “What ifs” but “What now” (II Sam. 12:18-24).
Here the Bible says, “And it came to pass on the seventh day, that the child died. And the servants of David feared to tell him that the child was dead: for they said, Behold, while the child was yet alive, we spake unto him, and he would not hearken unto our voice: how will he then vex himself, if we tell him that the child is dead? But when David saw that his servants whispered, David perceived that the child was dead: therefore David said unto his servants, Is the child dead? And they said, He is dead. Then David arose from the earth, and washed, and anointed himself, and changed his apparel, and came into the house of the Lord, and worshipped: then he came to his own house; and when he required, they set break before him, and he did eat. Then said his servants unto him, What thing is this that thou hast done? Thou didst fast and weep for the child, while it was alive; but when the child was dead, thou dist rise and eat bread. And he said, While the child was yet alive, I fasted and wept: for I said, Who can tell whether God will be gracious to me, that the child may live? But now he is dead, wherefore should I fast? Can I bring him back again? I shall go to him, but he shall not return to me. And David comforted Bathsheba his wife, and went in unto her, and lay with her: and she bare a son, and he called his name Solomon: and the Lord loved him.”
David went through the awful tragedy of his child dying. Notice what David did in verse 20, “Then David arose from the earth and washed, and anointed himself and changed his apparel, and came into the house of God and worshipped…” David knew if he was going to live a constructive life he couldn’t revolve his life around “what ifs” but “what now?” He knew he had to live his life…from here!
We have a precious family in our church and a number of years ago their oldest son died tragically. They were at another church at the time and they were truly devastated. They came to Joy Church because they knew they needed some joy in their lives. Their youngest son was walking through some very serious questions surrounding his brother’s death and as a result, had become suicidal.
I watched that family come and hear things like what I am teaching you here and shortly began to heal. I watched smiles returning to their faces. I watched the younger boy get his questions answered and purpose return to his life. Here it is now a few years later and they have a ministry to parents whose children have died and they bring hope and healing to those who have gone through similar tragic situations. The teenager is now a young man in his twenties living for Jesus and fulfilling the plan of God for his life!
As hard as it was for them, they like David, had to determine life is not about “what ifs”, it’s about “what now”. You must live a constructive life…FROM HERE!
Join us next week as we continue in our series…