Today my message is “God Transforms Tragedies into Triumphs!”
We all suffer tragedies, setbacks, or illness at some time. Do those tragedies overcome us and destroy us? Or do we overcome them and grow and be stronger and wiser? How can we make sure we survive? Today, we will look at the answers.
Today, there is great thankfulness for the rescue of the 12 boys, and their coach, from the unbelievable nightmare of 18 days in a black, cold cave. There will be lots of struggles for all of them to overcome and we pray for their future.
The triumph from this tragedy is the rescue of the 13, the incredible unity of many nations’ rescue teams and the united prayers of millions of people!
“What circumstances could have rendered the Word of God sweeter and the presence of God so real, and the help of God so precious?” asked Hudson Taylor about a difficult period in his life. 1
Joseph, (Genesis 37-50) if he had not been put into a pit and sold, he would not have become Pharaoh’s right-hand man to supply food when his family was starving.
Psalm 54:4,7 NIV King David’s view on this topic.
4 Surely God is my help; the Lord is the one who sustains me.
7 For He has delivered me from all my troubles, and my eyes have looked in triumph on my foe
Isaiah was a prophet for over 40 years in Jerusalem. Prophets could give predictions of the future but most of their messages were about the present. Their task was to call the nation back to God’s way and to faith in God alone.2
Isaiah 61:1-3 NIV
1 The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me,
because the Lord has anointed me
to preach good news to the poor.
He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,
to proclaim freedom for the captives
and release from darkness for the prisoners, [Hebrew-Septuagint – the blind]2 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor
(The law of Moses stipulated a Year of Jubilee every fifty years, when servants were set free, debts were suspended, and the land reverted to the families who originally owned it. – Leviticus 25:10)
and the day of vengeance (salvation) of our God,
to comfort all who mourn,3 and provide for those who grieve in Zion—
to bestow on them a crown of beauty
instead of ashes,
the oil of gladness
instead of mourning,
and a garment of praise
instead of a spirit of despair.
They will be called oaks of righteousness,
a planting of the Lord for the display of his splendor.
Lawrence O. Richards, in his book “The Bible Readers Companion” titles this passage, “Now Messiah speaks, declaring again His commission to avenge and comfort God’s people. He states that this passage is the key verses – “The Good News has been preached; the day of vengeance is coming.” 3
Jesus quotes this passage in Nazareth at the Synagogue on the Sabbath
Luke 4:16-21 NIV
16 He went to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, and on the Sabbath day he went into the synagogue, as was his custom. And He stood up to read,
17 The scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed to him. Unrolling it, he found the place where it is written:
18 “The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me
to preach good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners
and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed19 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.
20 Then he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant and sat down. The eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fastened on him,
21 and He began by saying to them, “Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.”
In Robert J. Morgan’s “Nelson’s Book of Stories”, we find this acronym:
The ABC’s of spiritual growth: Adversity Builds Character 4
** African proverb – Smooth Seas do not make skillful sailors 5
The Chinese Christian Christiana Tsai suffered from a debilitating disease much of her life. In her book, Queen of the Dark Chamber, we find these words: “Once a great scholar in China said, ‘A sage seeks opportunities in difficulties, and a fool finds difficulties in opportunities…’ We are born to overcome difficulties through the power of the Holy Spirit.” 6
John Maxwell, in his book, Your Attitude: Key to Success, gives us this Acronym for “problems.”
Predictors – They will mold our future.
Reminders – We are not self-sufficient. We need God and others to help us.
Opportunities – They pull us out of our rut and cause us to think creatively.
Blessings – They open up doors that we usually do not go through.
Lessons – Each new challenge will be our teacher.
Everywhere – No place or person is excluded from them.
Messages – They warn us about potential disaster.
Solvable – No problem is without a solution. 7
2 Corinthians 1:3-4 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 we that can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God.
Romans 8:28 NIV
28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.
Please take today’s thoughts and ponder them. God wants to turn all your tragedies into triumphs!
Let’s pray!
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