[Isaiah 40:25-31]
INTRODUCTION
Those who wait on the Lord will find new strength. They will fly high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint. Isaiah 40:31
It is a common knowledge that no one escapes hard times? Some of those times are sometimes life-and-death situations. Others are just frustrations or setbacks. But without exception, they all cause agonizing pain. They make us feel like our world is caving in. And at times like these there is nothing we need more than an eye-popping look at who God is. Think about this wonderful description in Isaiah 40:
God is all-powerful. He created the entire universe. Therefore, nothing is too big or too difficult for him. Nothing is too tiny for his attention.
God is entirely loving. Since God created all the stars and calls each burning ball of gas by name, how do you think God feels about you, his child created in his image? (Matthew 6:26). God loves you more than you can even imagine.
God gives strength to the weak. You might feel bogged down and beat up by difficult circumstances in your life. But you can put your trust in the Lord and not give up. He sees your needs and will give you strength to keep going.
DISCUSSION: What stormy situation have you faced in your life lately? Has God promised to give you strength to go through it?
In this study, we shall consider some of the situations, a widow or widower must make up his/her mind to soar above, else, it will be very difficult to live a peaceful and joyful life. These situations include:
a. Lack or famine
b. Crisis in respect of shelter/accommodation
c. Debt and subsisting negative agreement or tradition
d. Loneliness
e. Health related situations
LACK OR FAMINE
Lack or famine period has been identified as one of the critical conditions facing widows generally.
A widow (except one who is rich) is constantly faced with lack. The situation becomes unbearable during the period of famine. I Kings 17:8-16
a. Mention some of the things you planned to do this year, how many of them have you done? What are the reasons?
b. Describe the condition of this widow during the period of famine vs. 12
c. What was their (herself and her son) motive vs.12
d. If you were this widow, would you have obeyed the words of Elijah?
e. If she had refused Elijah’s request, what would have happened to her?
f. Mention two things that helped this widow to soar above her situations
g. Some things differentiated this widow from the family of Elimelech/Naomi.
In Ruth
h. Discuss the steps taken by this family and the consequences of such step. Vs 1-2
i. The family could not soar above its situation instead it lost three key members of the family. Vs 3-5
j. Our Lord Jesus genealogy was traced through Ruth, a widow as a result of a definite step taken by Naomi after the initial failure-Naomi went back to Bethlehem. What does this teach us?Vs 6-7
CRISIS IN RESPECT OF SHELTER /ACCOMMODATION
From our over 15 years’ experience working among widows,we discovered that shelter/accommodation is one of major problems faced by them in this side of our world. The problems associated with this include:-
a. Our society perception of widow
b. Inability to pay rent
c. Problem from husband’s family in respect of property
d. Lack of regular source of income.
David’s example-Even David the King who was not a widower was faced with this crisis during the revolt of Absalom. We shall learn a few lessons from the way he handled the situation as he put it down in Psalm 56.
David wrote this Psalm during the early stages of Absalom’s conspiracy. He tells us that in times of trial we can take one of three approaches. One is that we can flee (vv. 1-8). David talks about his emotions. He was in a difficult situation and wanted to fly away. But these troubles were part of God’s discipline for him.
Second, we can fight (vv. 9-15). Absalom’s conspiracy had gone so far that David could not overcome his enemies. He could only try to save his own life. He saw a sinful city and his friends turn against him, but God was able to overcome them. Absalom and his followers were rebels who had to be disciplined.
Third, we can fly above our trials (v. 16-23).The wind that blows down everything lifts up the eagle. We get that kind of power when we wait on the Lord in prayer and worship. David looked at his feelings and foes, but then he focused on his faith in the Lord.
STEPS THAT ASSISTED DAVID
David triumphed because he sought God: I will call (v. 16); I will cast (v.22); and I will trust (v. 23). God gives us burdens, and we are to give them back to Him. Don’t ask for wings like a dove to fly away. Instead, let God give you wings like an eagle so you can soar above the storm.
Trials force you to respond. You can flee, fight or fly above them. Are you facing a trial today? God has a purpose in your trial and wants you to learn how to fly above it. Cast your burden upon Him and trust Him for the strength to fly above your difficulty.
DEBT AND SUBSISTING NEGATIVE AGREEMENT OR TRADITION
Debt is another major ailment in widowhood. Today, virtually all families are involved in one debt or the other not to talk of a widow. Consider II Kings 4:1-situation
a. The debt was owed while her husband was alive. And there was an agreement which made her two sons surety for the debt.
b. At the demise of her husband, the creditors came to take away her two sons. Mention the steps she took.
c. What were the outcome of the steps that made him soar above her situations?
(i)
(ii)
(iii)
(iv)
d. What can you learn from this?
LONELINESS Psalm 102:1-7
Loneliness is perhaps the most difficult situation facing widows today. For some people, one of the most important things they may have to face and overcome as appropriate is loneliness.
- From your practical experience, discuss what you think loneliness entails in these areas-(a) spiritual (b) personal and (c) companionship
- Tell us some of the situations in which you had experienced loneliness and how you were able to overcome same.
- Discuss how to handle the following critical areas of loneliness
a. Emotional
b. Decision making
c. Surmounting issues and development /projects
iv. Identify four things that assisted Asaph to overcome his loneliness. Psalm 73.
HEALTH RELATED SITUATIONS
a. Discuss the state of your health and how you have been able to handle same.
b. A widow that is a widow indeed trusts in God. While seeking for medication you can trust in God’s unfailing word.Exo 15:26, Matt 8:17,I Pet 2:23-25
SUMMARY
Mention some of the things that can continuously assist you to soar above your circumstances.
(i)
(ii)
(iii)
May the good Lord help you to always soar above your situations. You must look for (find) new strength from God, fly, run and walk as your situations may determine.