Everyone is subject to times of difficulty when despair and discouragement make us want to give up and quit. The Bible shows us several of these people.
- The Prophet Elijah became discouraged after he defeated 450 prophets of Baal and Jezebel threatened to kill him.
- Job’s wife was discouraged and fell into despair at Job’s physical condition and loss.
- Joseph surely despaired when no one would believe the dream that God gave him.
- Even after great victory, David was weary and longed for a drink of the water from the well in Bethlehem.
- Noah must have faced some discouragement when no one believed him as he continued building the ark.
Genesis 6:8 But Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD.
Noah’s story gives us a great illustration of how to refuse to be defeated in difficult seasons of life. In the midst of times of great need, we can have God’s grace and mercy to help. Noah lived in a most difficult time.
Genesis 6:5-7 NKJV Then the Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. And the Lord was sorry that He had made man on the earth, and He was grieved in His heart. So the Lord said, “I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth, both man and beast, creeping thing and birds of the air, for I am sorry that I have made them.”
It is difficult to even imagine something so devastating that it would destroy everyone from the face of the earth. There are consequences to evil.
Genesis 6:8 NKJV But Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord.
God’s grace can make a difference in your life.
We know what it is like to face every kind of struggle. Sometimes it feels like all of the world’s problems are coming against us. Have you felt drained deep down?
Sometimes we fell like we have done something amazing to just survive another day. There are too many problems. Mountains are too steep and the valleys are too low. Rivers are too wide. Family has too many problems and circumstances are too complex. In the midst of all of your struggles, trials, and difficulties God’s grace and mercy can give you strength to not be defeated.
What are we to do?
Noah is one of the best known characters in the Old Testament. Watch Noah as he faces the challenges of bad circumstances.
Noah refused to be defeated in the difficult circumstances in his life. He had no peers to encourage him. He was alone with His God. He had to learn to stand on his own. From his conquest, we can learn truths that will help us be invincible champions.
First, refuse to be defeated by standing on God’s Word.
Noah’s world was in a critical condition. The whole world was utterly corrupted by inward, continual, and habitual sin that was unchecked.
Noah was different from everyone else in the world. He was one light in a dark world. He was the only person who found grace in the eyes of the Lord.
In the midst of terrible conditions, Noah chose to listen to and obey God’s Word. Noah was true to God’s Word. He was not forced to do this. He chose to hear and obey God’s voice. He wanted what God wanted. It seemed unimportant to him that he was alone in his commitment. He was willing to enjoy the privileges and accept the responsibilities that went with his choice.
For 120 years, God’s Word was not important to anyone but Noah. During all of that time, Noah believed God.
You can trust God’s Word. Hebrews 4:12 says, “The Word of God is living and powerful…”
Second, refuse to be defeated by following God’s lead.
After Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord, he was given instructions on how to build and equip the ark.
Genesis 6:22 NIV Noah did everything just as God commanded him.
He was not defeated or destroyed because he followed God’s leadership. Noah was an invincible champion because he obeyed God.
It pays to trust and obey God’s Word! We can refuse to be defeated by relying on what God said and walking in obedience to the faith.
Think about the challenges that Noah faced every day. Imagine spending all his waking hours for nearly 120 years making an ark out of gopher wood. He faced with the tedious repetition of doing the same thing every day, and was opposed in everything he did.
Can you imagine being surrounded by people who ridicule and criticize your every action? When your task gets long and you get tired, do you ever want to quit?
Noah could have said: “Nobody likes me, everybody hates me.” “Nobody believes in what I’m doing.” “I would like to have a little appreciation around here.”
Nothing can bring as much joy as being exactly in the center of God’s plan for your life. Nothing can compare with it.
Scripture is clear about Noah’s attitude during those days. He was ready to do God’s will and work. Noah knew something that no one else knew. Noah was not going to be defeated or destroyed because he was following God’s lead.
Third, refuse to be defeated by keeping your eyes on God.
Many people have trouble trusting God. All they can see are their difficult circumstances. It is not that they see too much, but they see too little.
Noah had the capacity to look past the wicked and corrupt world and see God. He knew that God was working. He knew God was about to do something wonderful. He knew that he had heard from God. He was not going to give up on God. Noah refused to be defeated by keeping his eyes on God.
God is always working for our good.
In our darkest moments, God is at work. When you can’t see or hear His voice, God is still working. When your days are long and dark, God is still working. When your days are happy and filled with joy, God is still working.
Elisha’s servant had difficulty with this when the days were evil. The King of Syria was making war against Israel and everything was looking pretty bad. Have you ever felt like there were more against you than for you? Listen to what happened to Elisha’s servant.
2 Kings 6:15 NIV84 When the servant of the man of God got up and went out early the next morning, an army with horses and chariots had surrounded the city. “Oh, my lord, what shall we do?” the servant asked.
Have you ever wondered “what shall we do?” When all you see is the trouble and trial, it is easy to despair of life.
2 Kings 6:16 NIV84 “Don’t be afraid,” the prophet answered. “Those who are with us are more than those who are with them.”
What was Elisha thinking? Could he not see all of those horses, chariots and vast army of the enemy? Elisha saw more than his servant could see.
2 Kings 6:17 NIV84 And Elisha prayed, “O Lord, open his eyes so he may see.” Then the Lord opened the servant’s eyes, and he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.
Psalm 34:7 NKJV The angel of the Lord encamps all around those who fear Him, And delivers them.
You may not see it, but God is on your side. The angel of the Lord is camping all around those who fear Him. God is involved in your circumstances. God has not abandoned you in your time of need. He is right there in the middle of your circumstances.
For at least 120 years, Noah was convinced that with God on his side, he will not be defeated.
1 John 4:4 NKJV You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.
You need to see God in your circumstances. Put your trust in God. You can be an invincible champion if you will hold on in faith to God. You will not be defeated. He will make you more than a conqueror. He knows how to make you triumph.
Christ is the answer for all of your circumstances.
What is going on in your life? Are you threatened by your circumstances and situations? Has evil become too strong all around you? If you don’t know what to do, turn it over to Jesus. He knows how to bring you out.
Genesis 6:8 “Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord.”
That does not tell the whole story. God’s grace was sufficient to get Noah out of a terrible situation. Noah turned his life over to the God who was able to keep him. God provided safety in the ark that He told Noah to build. There was deliverance for Noah and his family. God prepared a future and a hope for Noah.
Noah was safe when God told Him to come into the Ark.
There is an ark of safety for you. There is a place of protection from the storm. There is deliverance from your circumstances.
Romans 8:31-32 NKJV What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?
When you turn your life over to the Lord, He will keep you. His grace is sufficient for you. He can bring you out.
You don’t to be defeated today.
God has the answer for your life, family and our nation. God can turn things around. He can change circumstances. He can change your health.
Are you ready for circumstances to change?
You need to be true to God’s Word. You need to hear what God has said and obey it. God will not lead you into defeat. Get your eyes off of your circumstances and look to God for help.
This is why we are going to pray. We believe God will intervene. We believe His grace is sufficient. We believe He is able to do it. God has enough grace and power for your situation.
