At many times in life, we wish we could lift 50 times our body weight, for we have many burdens to bear.How to we handle these burdens?In my own struggles, I have found “Powerful Strength.”

This morning, I wish to share with you what I have learned through my struggles.

Strong Prayer

Prayer is the most powerful force known to man.Prayer is so powerful, for it is the force that moves the One who

moves the world! King Hezekiah was sick & God sent Isaiah to tell the king that he would

die. Hezekiah turned his face to the wall, wept, & prayed. Before Isaiah can even leave the palace, God tells him to go back & tell

Hezekiah that he shall recover & not die (2 Ki 20:1-11). “Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be

glorified in the Son. If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it” (Jn 14:13-14, ESV).

“Whatever we ask we receive from him, because we keep his commandments and do what pleases him” (1 Jn 3:22, ESV).

Some will say, “But, if God hasn’t healed you, how can you find power in prayer?”That question presupposes that prayer is nothing more than a

child’s wish list.Prayer is primarily the means by which we draw near to God.

“For me it is good to be near God; I have made the Lord GOD my refuge” (Ps 73:28, ESV).

“Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you” (Js 4:8, ESV).

Strong Purpose

Suffering has a purpose.God doesn’t cause suffering, but it serves important purposes.

“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” (2 Cor 1:3-4, ESV). Through our suffering, we are able to help others who are suffering. From what we learn through our struggles, we are able to help others as

they struggle in life.

Suffering helps us move closer to heaven.“We know that for those who love God all things work together

for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers” (Rom 8:28-29, ESV). Many cannot understand how God can turn evil into good. That’s because this passage is often taken out of context.

Paul doesn’t say that every cloud has a silver lining. The “for” of v 29 tells us why all things work together for good – that we

might be conformed to the image of his Son. In other words, through our struggles, we become more like our Master.

Suffering helps us move closer to heaven.“We know that for those who love God all things work together

for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers” (Rom 8:28-29, ESV).

Our Master himself grew through suffering. “Although he was a son, he learned obedience through what he suffered”

(Heb 5:8, ESV). If Jesus learned through his suffering, how can I believe I have nothing

to learn through suffering?

Suffering helps us move closer to heaven.“We know that for those who love God all things work together

for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers” (Rom 8:28-29, ESV).

“You rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ” (1 Pet 1:6-7, ESV). Trials are a testing of our faith. Acting in faith & acting on faith helps our faith to grow rock solid.

Strong People

God has given his people a wonderful family to help in times of trouble.“Through love serve one another” (Gal 5:13, ESV). “Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ” (Gal

6:2, ESV).“All of you, have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a

tender heart, and a humble mind” (1 Pet 3:8, ESV).“This commandment we have from him: whoever loves God must

also love his brother” (1 Jn 4:21, ESV).

My brethren have been a constant source of support.That’s not the reaction I’ve gotten elsewhere!

What great strength & love can be found among the people of God!

Strong Persistence

There are times in life that we must simply keep going.“I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God

in Christ Jesus” (Phil 3:14, ESV).“We do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our

inner self is being renewed day by day” (2 Cor 4:16, ESV).“Let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will

reap, if we do not give up” (Gal 6:9, ESV).

Strong Permanence

We can never forget that our troubles in life are temporary.We have a far better life awaiting us in the presence of God!

“We know that if the tent that is our earthly home is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. For in this tent we groan, longing to put on our heavenly dwelling, if indeed by putting it on we may not be found naked” (2 Cor 5:1-3, ESV).

“Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away” (Rev 21:3-4, ESV).

A better life is coming!A life that sickness & trouble can never invade!

There would be no need to “LiveSTRONG” were it not for our loving God.Prayer would have no power.Suffering could have no purpose.The church would not exist.There would be no point in persistence.There would be no future, permanent, better home.

Our hope firmly rests on God!“We do not want you to be ignorant, brothers, of the affliction we

experienced in Asia. For we were so utterly burdened beyond our strength that we despaired of life itself. Indeed, we felt that we had received the sentence of death. But that was to make us rely not on ourselves but on God who raises the dead. He delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us. On him we have set our hope that he will deliver us again” (2 Cor 1:8-10, ESV).

Our Captain controls the “ship” of life over even the most choppy seas. What have we to fear? Is he your Captain this morning?