Finding Contentment in Chaos

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TITLE: Finding Contentment

TEXT: Lamentations 3:1-23

TONE: Encouragement

TARGET: Believers

TASK: To encourage believers to be completely satisfied in Christ.

TEACH: Imagine standing amidst a chaotic storm, where thunder crashes, rain pours heavily, and winds howl relentlessly. Everything around you seems uncontrollable and overwhelming. In the midst of this chaos, there is a tree standing tall and steady. Its branches sway with the wind, but its roots dig deep into the ground, holding firm.

 

This tree becomes a powerful symbol of finding contentment in chaos. Despite the external circumstances, it remains rooted and grounded. This illustration reminds us that true contentment comes from within, a state of inner peace that is not easily shaken. Just as the tree finds stability by relying on its deep roots, we too can find contentment amidst chaos by nurturing our inner strength and resilience.

 

In our lives, chaos can manifest in various forms - be it work pressures, relationship struggles, or unexpected life challenges. Yet, we can learn to cultivate contentment by finding solace in the things that truly matter. Just like the tree sways with the wind, we must learn to adapt and flow with the ups and downs of life, accepting the reality of chaos without allowing it to consume us.

 

Finding contentment in chaos requires a shift in perspective. Rather than resisting or fighting against the chaos, we can choose to embrace it as an opportunity for growth and transformation. Like the tree, we can develop the ability to remain steady, resilient and at peace even amidst life's storms.

 

So, in moments of chaos, let us remember the lessons of the steadfast tree - to stand tall, to find strength in our roots, to adapt with grace, and most importantly, to cultivate contentment within ourselves.

 

TRUTH: The book of Lamentations was composed by Jeremiah in the time of Babylonian captivity. In this book the prophet sadly laments and bewails the grievous calamities and miseries that had fallen upon the Jews. Their state was ruined, their land was devastated and their cities destroyed and the holy things profaned.

 

He then complains of their sins as the procuring causes of all those calamities that God in his righteousness had inflicted upon them. He exhorts them also to patience under the mighty hand of God and stirs them up to repent and reform their ways.

 

I. The Powerful Obstacle: Reality of Suffering (3:1-20)

            a. Acknowledge the reality of suffering and lamentation in our own lives.

            b. Explore the emotions and struggles expressed by Jeremiah.

c. Help the congregation understand that everyone experiences seasons of hardship and sorrow.

d. "Dear friends, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that has come on you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice inasmuch as you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed." (1 Peter 4:12-13, NIV)

 

II. The Path Onward: Hope of Remembrance (3:21-24)

            a. Shift the focus to the hope found in remembering the Lord’s faithfulness.

            b. Discuss the importance of recalling God’s promises and past acts of deliverance.

 

1. "The Exodus: God's Deliverance" - Reflect on how God rescued the Israelites from slavery in Egypt, displaying His power, faithfulness, and commitment to His people.

2. "Joshua: God's Guidance and Victory" - Explore the conquest of Canaan and how God led Joshua and the Israelites to possess the Promised Land, emphasizing God's guidance, faithfulness, and provision.

3. "David: A Man After God's Own Heart" - Dive into David's life and his deep relationship with God, focusing on his psalms of praise, worship, and intimacy with the Lord.

4. "Elijah: God's Power and Provision" - Examine the ministry of the prophet Elijah and how God displayed His power and provision through miraculous events, even in times of drought and opposition.

5. "Job: Trusting God in Suffering" - Reflect on the perseverance and faith of Job, exploring the theme of suffering and God's sovereignty, reminding believers of His trustworthiness, even in the midst of trials.

6. "Isaiah: The Messianic Prophecies" - Study the prophecies of Isaiah concerning the promised Messiah and the hope and redemption He would bring, highlighting God's faithfulness in fulfilling His promises.

7. "Jeremiah: God's Call to Repentance" - Discuss God's call to repentance in the life and ministry of the prophet Jeremiah, emphasizing His grace, mercy, and desire to reconcile with His people.

8. "Daniel: Trusting God in Babylon" - Explore Daniel's life and his unwavering faith and commitment to God while living in exile in Babylon, showcasing God's protection, wisdom, and guidance even in foreign lands.

9. "Jonah: God's Compassion for the Lost" - Examine the story of Jonah, emphasizing God's pursuit of the lost and His desire for repentance and redemption, reminding believers of their responsibility to share God's love with others.

10. "Hosea: God's Unfailing Love and Restoration" - Reflect on the life of the prophet Hosea, who demonstrated God's faithful love and restoration through his relationship with his unfaithful wife, illustrating God's relentless pursuit of His people.

 

These examples from the Old Testament will encourage your congregation to trust, seek, and rely on God in their own lives, drawing on the faithfulness, power, guidance, and love displayed throughout the pages of the Bible.

 

1. Psalm 34:18 - "The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit." This verse assures us that God is close to those who are hurting and provides comfort and healing.

 

2. Romans 8:18 - "For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us." Here, the apostle Paul reminds us that our present sufferings cannot compare to the future glory that awaits those who trust in God.

 

3. 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 - "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God."

 

c. Encourage the congregation to find solace and strength in the steadfast love and mercies of the Lord.

 

III. The Peace Offered: Lord as our Portion (3:25)

            a. Explore the concept of the Lord being our portion.

b. Explain the ‘portion’ refers to our inheritance, our source of satisfaction and fulfillment.

1. The Lord is a present portion: In hand. He is our present help, our present relief, our present support, our present comfort a present portion for his people.

                        2. The Lord is an immense portion: God is the source of original greatness.

                        3. The Lord is an all-sufficient portion: He has everything and need of nothing.  

4. The Lord is an absolute necessary portion: The want of earthly portion may trouble you, but the want of heavenly will damn you.

5. The Lord is a glorious and blessed portion: He is the originator and author of all true happiness.  

6. The Lord is a universal portion: He is not parted, nor divided. He is not our portion in a limited sense. He is every believers portion.

7. The Lord is an eternally secure portion: He will never rob you or wrong you. He is a portion that none can touch.

                        8. The Lord is a soul satisfying portion:  (Thomas Brooks)

c. Discuss the significance of choosing God as our ultimate source of contentment, rather than earthly possessions or achievements.


 

IV. The Purpose Obtained: Cultivate Trust, Patience, and Gratitude (3:25-33, 55-66)

            a. Emphasize the importance of trust and patience in our relationship with God.

b. Discuss how waiting on the Lord and relying on His timing can bring about growth and spiritual maturity.

c. Encourage the congregation to surrender their desires and plants to God, trusting that His portion for them is perfect.

 

TAKE-AWAY:

 

1. Remember His Faithfulness.

2. Seek His Guidance.

3. Rest in His Presence.

 

TIE-UP: In the morning when I rise…………

Location: Edmond, OK, USA

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