When You’re Between A Rock And A Hard Place – PRESS Through
Pastor Carolyn J. Blue
Isaiah 43: 1-4
- But now thus saith the Lord that created thee, O Jacob, and he that formed thee, O Israel, Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine.
- When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee
- For I am the Lord thy God, the Holy One of Israel, thy Saviour: I gave Egypt for thy ransom, Ethiopia and Seba for thee.
- Since thou wast precious in my sight, thou hast been honourable, and I have loved thee: therefore will I give men for thee, and people for thy life.
Is there anyone here tonight that’s ever been between a rock and a hard place?
Being in between a rock and a hard place can be very uncomfortable!!!
When you’re between a rock and a hard place, you have to make a tough decision!
According to Cambridge dictionary: to be between a rock, and a hard place means: to be in a very difficult situation and to have to make a hard decision.
When’s the last time you found yourself caught between a rock and a hard place?
Did you find yourself having to make a decision whether to do this or to do that, knowing that either choice you made was going to leave you in a difficult predicament!
I too found myself this week, caught between a rock and a hard place, and though the end result appeared to be and even felt like a difficult situation, I was reminded that, though the result was painful, God is ever present!
Have you had to make a tough decision even though you knew whichever decision you made, it wasn’t gonna turn out so well?
I know I can’t be the only one here tonight that’s ever been in this situation.
I went to help my pastor or try to protect him from what looked like a very dangerous situation, and though I was able to shield him from getting hurt, I went to turn to walk away, and as I turned, I missed my step and lost my balance.
When I lost my balance, I immediately knew that I was going to fall, and I knew there was nothing that I could do to stop me from falling, but I also knew that I needed to pray!
I started praying to the Lord, please Jesus, don’t let me break my hip! Lord, I’m 60 and I don’t need to break my hip!
So I began to prepare my mind for the fall, and out of natural instinct, I braced my fall with my dominant hand, which is my left hand.
Long story short, after the fall, I was in excruciating pain, and I knew I was in trouble. But how many of you know that when you’re between a rock and a hard place you gotta be able to press through!
As I was falling, some of the people thought that I was joking or playing around, because I frequently cut up and have a good time, because I believe that laughter works like medicine. It makes the heart Merry!
However, I wasn’t playing this time. I was hurt, but I had to make a decision. I was between a rock and a hard place, and though the pain was severe, I chose to press through and stay to the end of the service, and see what God had for me!
By the end of our service, I realized why I needed to press through and see what God was up to!
Even in pain, I was able to minister to someone else what I needed, which was healing. Someone else was struggling with severe back pain and needed a blessing, and that’s what I needed. When you are in need of something from God, help someone else and watch God!!! Some of you will catch that tomorrow!
What I’m saying is that I was able to pray for someone else who was also in excruciating pain, I put how I was feeling on the back burner, to help someone else get their breakthrough!
When’s the last time you were caught between a rock and a hard place and you took your mind off of what you were going through in order to help someone else get to the other side of their through!
And in our lesson today, God has a message for us!
God says in verse one that He’s the one who made you in the first place,
“Don’t be afraid, I’ve redeemed you.
God says that I’ve called your name. You’re mine.
That’s good news!
What does it mean that He redeemed us?
The word redeem means “to buy out.” Redemption (apolutrósis) refers supremely to the work of Christ on our behalf, whereby he purchases us, he ransoms us, at the price of his own life, securing our deliverance from the bondage and condemnation of sin
We have been bought with a price!!!
He says, When you’re in over your head, I’ll be there with you. There’s nothing too hard for God!!!
Verse 2 says when you’re in rough waters, you will not go down.
You may have to tilt your head to keep from going under but my God, the good news is that you will NOT go down!!!
The Bible goes on to say that when you’re between a rock and a hard place, it won’t be a dead end—
We find out why in verse three!!!
Why? Because I am God, your personal God, The Holy of Israel, your Savior.
I paid a huge price for you:
all of Egypt, with rich Cush and Seba thrown in!
He says, That’s how much you mean to me!
That’s how much I love you!
I’d sell off the whole world to get you back, trade the creation just for you.
Therefore, we see tonight that when you’re between a rock and a hard place, giving up isn’t an option.
Press through because He’s already told us that even if the rock and the hard place is difficult, you will make it through!!
Press through because He paid the ransom for us over 2000 years!
Press through because He knows your name, and you are His.
Press through because it doesn’t matter how tough the rock is or hard the place is that you are in tonight, He loves you beyond your situation!!!
Press through because when the enemy comes in like a flood God will lift a standard!!!
When you’re between a rock and a hard place – press through!!!
P ray
R emember
E lohim
S hift
S ituation