This was the saddest day of my life. My only moment to share my life story was taken from me. Why did he have to destroy our church! Why! Why! Why! Well, maybe it was for good reason. I was never big on speaking in front of people. Actually, I hated speaking in front of people. I enjoyed the mirrors and toy figurines. They never spoke back. I suppose rejection was what I was afraid of.
Instead of talking to family members and kids in the neighborhood. I spent my time talking to a small mirror in my room. I loved this mirror. The mirror never hurt me. The mirror always listened to me. I trusted the mirror with my life. That's why I gained the courage to read my life story to it. I wanted to share all the details of my suicidal thoughts and attempts. I wanted to tell the mirror why I loved it and how it meant so much to me. I really wanted the mirror to be with me for the rest of my life.
I stood up in my best presentation position. I turned to my favorite page in my sermon notes. I was ready. My mirror was ready. I took a deep breath and began to preach this sermon to my mirror.
"NO HELP WAS COMING”
Scripture Reading: Psalms 3:1-3
[1] LORD, how are they increased that trouble me! many are they that rise up against me.
[2] Many there be which say of my soul, There is no help for him in God. Selah.
[3] But thou, O LORD, art a shield for me; my glory, and the lifter up of mine head.
Good morning, "Happy Sabbath" (greeting in denominations that attend church on Saturday Sabbath) Church. I would like to start by saying it truly is an honor and a privilege to stand here to speak before you all today. Being given another opportunity to speak is always special. Sometimes we can take for granted the sermons we listen to on a weekly basis. I have to admit I was that way a long time... until it was my turn to stand up here and present the message. And I’ve learned from previous experiences as well as this one that preparing a sermon is not easy. That’s why the individual who does preach on a regular basis deserves a lot of respect. That’s also why I was very hesitant to even agree to preach this sermon.
I would also like to admit to the church that life has not been easy for me. The last few months (really the last few years) but especially the last few months of my life have been a huge up and down struggle. Over the last few years I’ve lost many relationships with once close individuals; some due to death, some to animosity, some to others foolishness, and others because of me. Now, because of some of these experiences, and many others I can’t, won’t and shouldn’t tell you about; I suffered from extreme depression. At one point this depression was so bad I emotionally stopped caring about people.
I stopped wanting to live life. I was one bad day away from severe depression. I was two bad days from a mental breakdown. And three from suicide. Speaking of it, I’ve contemplated the thought of suicide more times than I can count in the last two years. I attempted suicide on more than one occasion. I came close many times. I will never go into any details about those close encounters. However, one thing I have to say before I go any further “is that life is a very delicate thing.” Be very careful how far you let things boil or freeze inside of you. Everyone has a breaking point. And If any of you feel that you’re getting close to that breaking point just ask somebody for help.
Now the church, I know that this does not sound like the beginning of a very upbeat and happy sermon. I promise you my goal was and is not to come here to you make you feel sorry for me or guilt trip you into believing whatever I have to tell you. I’m not even here to vent about my frustrations with life or my personal experiences. I just needed to set the stage. You see, the most amazing thing about all of this is that during this same time period I felt all of these horrible emotions; the Lord was consistently blessing me.
While having the opportunity in 2017 to attend much larger colleges and universities the Lord put me exactly where I needed to be. I was able to attend Community College in this small city outside of Los Angeles. I graduated in May without paying a single dollar for tuition, a single dime for books, never got in a fight, never was in the wrong place at the wrong time, never drank alcohol, never smoked a cigarette, never went to a party, never did drugs, and never got a girl pregnant. Somebody better say amen.
The Lord blessed me to graduate top of my class with a 3.954GPA. I received awards and accolades. Joined Honors Societies…graduated with many individuals knowing my name from recruiters to Instructors, to the Chief of Police, from one of the Vice Presidents and even the President of the entire school and had a job lined up for me before I even graduated. And somehow regardless of all those blessings and many more only the Lord could give me. With one bad day, I could resort back to depression and sadness.
I wanted to share this with you all because the truth is, there are many individuals in this world who feel like this right now. They can see the blessings the Lord has provided them with. And yet, the devil has a way of destroying these people so that even after the Lord blesses them, they feel empty. Disconnected from Christ. Disconnected from they’re emotions. Disconnected from society. Disconnected from the Church.
It is usually at this moment that thoughts start to creek inside their minds. Very dangerous thoughts. Thoughts that suggest that they are all alone. Thoughts that suggest they have to carry the burden by themselves. Thoughts that make them feel as if they’re in a prison they can never escape. And, in my opinion, one of the most dangerous thoughts that can arise from these feelings is the thought that “No Help Is Coming”. That thought truly is one of the most dangerous thoughts you can think because if you truly believe “No Help Is Coming” than Romans 8:28 that tells me “All things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are called according to his purpose” isn’t true…
And if this verse isn’t true what keeps you from giving up. What do you have to look forward too? I thought about this dangerous thought long and hard. After much prayer and meditation. After coming to terms with myself and my personal experiences I think there is only one thing I can preach on today. And that is the thought “No Help Is Coming”
So, for the next few minutes, after we have a word of prayer, we’re going to compare two individuals and their journeys in life to see how one young man decided to trust God and another young man felt as if “No Help Was Coming”. Hopefully, we all learn something from this message, take it home, and use it in our everyday lives. Let us pra...
It was at this moment that Andrew was quickly stopped in his tracks. A large semi-truck drove on the road perpendicular to his house. That large and evil truck struck a rock that flew directly into Andrew's room. As if determined from an external force. Andrew's favorite mirror broke and shattered from the impact of the rock just when he was about to pray. Andrew shook to his core, sat down on his bed, and said these words.
I loved that mirror. It never hurt me. Now it is gone. I suppose the mirror won't be with me for the rest of my life after all. Well, I'll just have to buy another mirror. The cashier is going to question why I've bought a mirror every day for the last two years. Luckily, my cover as a mirror salesman works out okay.
Anyway, I guess it's time I iron my clothes for work tomorrow. Apparently the Architects I work under are going to share new design techniques with me.
Andrew began to iron his work clothes for tomorrow. His mind was still sad about his mirror. Before he went to bed he was heard repeating these words before entering into the world of his dreams.
The mirror rejected me. Yes, the mirror that sits on my dresser in front of my bed. It broke before I finished.
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