LORD IT'S HARD TO..

LORD, IT’S HARD TOO..

ISAIAH 40: 28-31

Intro:

In 1992, Derek Redmond of Great Britain wasn’t just a good sprinter; he was expected to be a gold medal winning sprinter.  UP unto that point, Redmond’s career hadn’t been quite what he would have wanted it to be.  He had won world championships, but he was forced out of the Olympic Games in 1988, because of an injury which he suffered one hour before his first race.  Derek came into the games highly confident.

Redmond ran beautifully during the prelims of the 400.  Everyone agreed that he would be the man to beat for a spot on the medal stand.  Finally the time had come, and Derek Redmond, running in lain 5, was looking good in the biggest race of his life.  As they made the turn and came down the backstretch, just 250 meters from the finish line, Redmond felt a pop in the back of his leg, and fell to the track.  Unknown to him at the time, Redmond had torn his hamstring, and would never run in another Olympic race again.  What happened next has become the stuff of legend.  Redmond stood back up as straight as possible, and began hopping and stumbling toward the finish. 

As you watch the footage, you can see the race officials trying to get Derek to stop, and let them help him from the track, but Redmond kept refusing.  The cameras shifted to the stands, and zoomed in on a man making his way through security.  The man was Jim Redmond, Derek’s father.  Mr. Redmond caught up to his son 75 meters from the line.  Derek said that he was getting ready to push his Dad away, because he thought he would try to stop him, but that wasn’t what Jim had in mind.  Instead, he put his arm around his son, and helped him to finish the race.  As the two men made their way around the track, the crowd of 65,000 stood and roared.  Truly that moment is one that captures the spirit of the Olympic Games.

As I read Derek Redmond’s story, it reminds me of what Paul Harvey once said when asked about the reason for his success.  “I succeed because when I fall I get back up.”  A statement such as this sounds good, but it is so hard to implement in life because the truth is that life is hard.      
Now, as Christians, you and I know that in our spiritual lives there are those times when we want to throw back our head, and cry, "Lord, that's hard!" This morning, I want to look at two of those moments which make us want to say, “Lord that’s hard!” I want you to see these difficulties, and then I want to show you how they can be overcome.

I LORD IT'S HARD TO FORGET MY PAST

1. Consider the past of some of the Apostles.
A. John 20: 27 Thomas who had once doubted Jesus!
B. Matthew 9: 9 Matthew who had been a tax collecting cheat!
C. Galatians 1: 13-14 Paul who had persecuted and killed!
D. Luke  22: 60-63 Even Peter, by whom the passage currently under examination was written, did the unthinkable and denied Jesus!
2. However, despite what they had done, we still find them serving the Lord!
A. Acts 1: 13 though he had once doubted the teachings of Jesus; Thomas was still to be found with the rest of the apostles in Jerusalem.
B. Acts 1: 13 Matthew, who had been a member of the oppressive Roman government, was also to be found in Jerusalem.
C. Galatians 2: 20 Paul, who had been a killer, put all that behind him and led thousands to Christ.
D. 2Peter 3: 18 Peter also understood the need to put the past in its place.
3. The question then becomes, how did they do it?
A. It comes down to a matter of focus.
B. 2Timothy 4: 8 they were not focused on there past mistakes, but rather they looked to their future rewards!
C. 1Peter 5: 4 though it might be hard, we must forget our past sins which have already been forgiven, and looked to the crown of glory!

II LORD IT'S HARD TO BELIEVE IN YOU AS I SHOULD

1. Again, throughout the scriptures, we find examples of those who experienced periods of disbelief.
A. Genesis 17: 17, 18: 12 rather than believe what the Lord told them he would soon do, they laughed instead.
B. Exodus 16: 2-3 the nation of Israel didn't believe in God's promises to them, so they longed to return to bondage.
C. Luke 24: 1 rather than believing what the Lord had taught them, none of the disciples came to the tomb to await his return.
2. In each of these cases, those involved didn’t believe God capable of performing the impossible.
A. Abraham thought it impossible for God to be able to provide a child.
B. Israel thought it impossible for God to be able to provide food.
C. The apostles thought it impossible for God to be able to raise his son.
3. The same problem exists for us today; the question is how to correct it?
A. Just as in the cases above, belief is possible, only when we consider all the blessings that God has already given to us.
B. Genesis 13: 14-18 God had already done the impossible and blessed Abraham beyond measure.
C. Exodus 12:51 God had already done the impossible and brought the children of Israel out of Egypt.
D. John 11: 44 God had already done the impossible and raised the dead.
E. Luke 1: 37 in the same way, God has already done the impossible in so many different ways in your life, and there is nothing that he can't do for the one who believes in him!