What Will Your Story Be?

I am not sure if it was chance or if she purposely scheduled it this way, but today was my turn to preach. 

September 11, 2018

I knew the schedule months ago, and I thought I knew where I planned to take it. I got the idea after reading Eat Cake, Be Brave by Melissa Radke – how we know what we believe, but we do not know who and whose we are – but God, in His infinite wisdom, had other plans.

While suffering from my own depression, I watched the Louie Giglio sermon video called Hope – When Life Hurts Most. I thought this was it. I planned to simply “borrow” some of his ideas and wrap it up with a “9/11” bow – and integrate Radke’s idea of turning a negative into a positive. This was not God’s plan, either – at least, not completely.

As I sat down to prepare the sermon, I got online to research the good that came from September 11, 2001. Before I found stories of good, I heard stories of loss – terrible, gut wrenching loss – love. I sobbed. Tears wet my face and neck and collar of my shirt. I knew their stories needed to be told. I knew our stories needed to be told. I knew HIS story needed to be told.

As God often does when I put my hands on the keys – He took over. The sermon wrote itself.

Yesterday, I did not feel the normal need to read and re-read my notes, to make sure I had my outline worked out in my head. I knew it was there – and that I would not forget.

This morning, I did not have the same sort of nerves as normal. I did not feel the need to isolate myself prior to the sermon and psych myself for getting up in front of people – all eyes on me. I knew HE had this. I knew all I needed to do was open my mouth, and He would take care of the rest.

If I preach during the summer when my dad’s gone, I usually try to video it for him because I know it means a lot to him to be able to see me when he can’t be there. He’s my biggest fan. I usually invite my mom to come, then we’d go to lunch after. This time, though, it was personal. It was intimate. It was solemn. It was solely about God and those in attendance. I prayed for them before today. I usually always do that, but I prayed more fervently this morning. Someone needed the solemn hope of this message.

I cried as I retold the stories – not as many tears as when I first heard them, but still, I cried. What is most remarkable to me is how God moved in that little room. The stories they shared with me – and with one another. The stories of hope – the words of encouragement. The broken hearts shared with me, and with each other afterwards.

God has done so much lately, moving in the life of my church, and people around me. I am in awe of how He moves. There is no better word to describe it than awe.

Afterwards, I was emotionally drained. I feel like I could sleep for days. As tired as I am, I can’t help but laugh at myself when I realize how dramatic I got at times – weeping without shame or embarrassment, pounding my fist against the pulpit, raising my voice, repeating important key phrases – just plain animated – so out of character for me – because that was not me. I was passionate to share the One I love most with others so they can know Him the way I do.

I have never posted my sermon notes anywhere for anyone to see. But, there is something about this day – 9/11 – something about how today came about. These are not my words. They are not even my thoughts. I was simply blessed to be the vehicle through which they were put down on paper and delivered to God’s hurting sons and daughters.

This will not be posted on Facebook like my normal blog posts. So, if you happen upon this little blog of mine, I hope you know just how much God loves you – in spite of any suffering you may be experiencing – and my prayer for you is that you will see Him and feel Him holding you and loving you through the pain, and I pray your suffering will be short-lived, but that in it, and in HIM, you will be victorious.

Sermon notes:

Begin with a moment of silence.

Read scripture with no explanation.

John 16:33

³³ “I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

Romans 8:18 New International Version (NIV)

¹⁸ I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.

Romans 8:35 New International Version (NIV)

³⁵ Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?

2 Corinthians 1:3-4 New International Version (NIV)

³ Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, ⁴ who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.

Without explanation, transition to stories of victims of 9/11

1)      He was a ticket agent – he checked in the victims AND the hijackers on the morning of September 11, 2001. The next day, a co-worker handed him a list of all the people on the plane – the people he checked in. No one would look him in the eye. For years, he carried the guilt – felt personally responsible for every death. He could not go to a support group because every time someone said “My _________ got killed on September 11”, he heard “You killed my ______ on September 11.”

2)      A retired fire fighter had two sons. One grew up to be a firefighter like him, and the other grew up to be a police detective. Both died on September 11. One son was 34 years old. The other was 36 years old. His firefighter son’s badge number was 3436. He says he is able to sleep at night because the last thing he said to both of his sons was “I love you.”

3)      Her husband worked on the 105^th floor of the south tower. He called his wife after the plane hit below him. They talked as he searched for a way out. They talked about their lives together and repeated how much they loved one another. They both knew he was going to die. She was on the phone with him when the tower fell. She heard the cracking sound of the building.

Why does God allow bad things to happen to good people? That’s the age-old question.

I can explain how evil is the result of sin.

I could encourage you to read the Book of Job.

We can go back to the beginning and we can pick apart the theological nuances of the scriptures I read just a minute ago.

But for those victims of 9/11, the ones left behind to try to make sense of it all, nothing makes sense. Nothing I say, no matter how theologically sound, will make it make sense for them.

For you – for me. When we are in the midst of terrible tragedy, none of it makes sense. Nothing anyone can tell us can make it better.

We are all going to suffer in this world. That I can promise you. The victims of 9/11 know that is a fact. I’m sure everyone here today knows that is a fact.

Suffering is going to come, and all our plans are going to be snuffed out in an instant.

Then what’s the point?

Jesus is the point.

We all have a story. It’s what we do with our story that matters. We have two choices. We can either allow our suffering to enslave us or we can make suffering our slave.

We speak the loudest to the world when we suffer.

Genesis 50:20 New International Version (NIV)

²⁰ You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.

The terrorist meant to destroy us. They made us suffer, yes, but they did not destroy us.

1)      The Feal (spelled f-e-a-l) Foundation- named after John Feal. He was injured during 9/11. While at the hospital, he witnessed how much suffering was going on around him. He realized he had a lot left to give so he set up this foundation to give medical support to first responders and emergency personnel.

2)      The Peter C. Alderman Foundation – The parents of Peter, who lost his life on 9/11, set up this foundation in his honor to heal the emotional wounds of victims of terrorist attacks and acts of mass destruction.

3)      New York Says Thank You Foundation – Founder Jeff Parness was inspired by the outpouring of support immediately following 9/11. Every September, victims of past disasters help current victims rebuild their lives.

I can go on and on with stories about how victims of 9/11, victims of other mass tragedies, and victims of bullying, prejudice, sickness, death have decided to enslave their suffering.

Jesus conquered death once and for all. Satan may throw everything he has at you, but we were made for a higher purpose. Grace wins every time.

We cannot prevent suffering, but we can be ready for it.

How?

1)      We have to know God. We have to know Jesus Christ. We come to know Him by consistently, daily, spending time with God in prayer, in reading the Bible, in spending time with other believers. We must nurture this relationship above all else.

2)      We have to train ourselves to continually, consistently look up – not in.

Cross Then - Look to the cross. Imagine you there – you walked with Jesus. You talked with Jesus. You learned from Jesus. You believed He was the promised Savior. All of a sudden, you see Him up there on the cross. He’s been beaten, spat upon, mocked, shamed, a crown of thorns pushed down upon his head. He hangs there, defeated, dying. All your hopes and dreams are dying right along with it. You cannot understand. All seems lost, hopeless. You are afraid. You followed him, which means the authorities are coming after you next. Suffering has enslaved you.

Cross Now - Fast forward 2,000 years. Look at that cross now. What was once an object of ridicule, shame, fear, hopelessness is now a symbol of rejoicing, love, goodness, and hope. When we look upon the cross today, we know death has been defeated.

Why? - How do we know this? Because Jesus’ disciples made the choice to enslave their suffering. They pressed on and looked up.

9/11 Then - Those of us old enough to remember 9/11 will never forget. The images, the stories. They will be enough to break our hearts for the rest of our lives.

9/11 Now - Fast forward 17 years later, for anyone 17 years old and younger, it is nothing more than an historical fact, a memorial to visit.

What? - In another 100 years, when no one is alive to retell their experiences, it will be like the Civil War is to us. When people look back, they will know our story. What will our story be?

What is your story now? I invite you now to share your story – share how you took what Satan meant for harm and used it for God’s glory.

Listen to one or two stories – depending on time.

If you are in the middle of suffering and can’t imagine how you could possibly enslave it. If you are still stuck, enslaved to something that happened to you a long time ago. If your story is not one you are proud of for whatever reason, now is the time to begin the process of healing – and yes – it is a process. It starts right now, at the foot of the cross. It starts by asking Jesus Christ to come into your life – to change your life – to use your life and your suffering for His glory.

Matthew 11:28-30

²⁸“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. ²⁹ Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. ³⁰ For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”