Pastor Aaron Cordeiro
July 31, 2011 - W1131

On March 3, 2011 Japan experienced an earthquake and tsunami that devastated the entire nation greatly. Pastor Talo Sataraka and his wife and their congregation ministered to the Japanese people after the largest magnitude earthquake hit them. We are privileged to have him this weekend to speak to us about his testimony and what we have to do during a situation like this.

The magnitude of the earthquake in Japan was the highest in its history. It shook the whole nation of Japan violently. It left the whole nation badly devastated. No power. No clean water and thousands of homes were destroyed. Many people were killed. So much people were losing hope.

Some of you might be going through some earthquake like situations. For example, your finances might be shaky since the downturn of the economy. Your health, your family your relationships might be doing poorly. Like the experience we had with the earthquake in Japan, you didn’t know it was coming and are not prepared for it. Now, you say “When will all these stop?” Some of you have lost hope. You don’t see the light at the end of the tunnel! We have to know that our circumstances will always change but our God doesn’t change. We need to trust in God. We need to ask ourselves, “What kind of better person we will become?” through these experiences.

After losing eight members of her family to the earthquake, a woman came to us to get some food. She asked for quite a bit food. She told us that she was feeding other people that no one else would feed. She was determined to help others in need. She looked beyond her own discomfort and was determined to rise above her tragedy. What she did was something from which to learn. At a time like as such, we need to learn the skills to navigate through earthquake-like moments. Our challenging situations will not last because the Bible says, "For His anger lasts only a moment, but His favor lasts a lifetime! Weeping may last through the night, but joy comes with the morning." (Psalm 30:5 NLT)

Weeping might seem that it will last for a long time. In the long haul, it won’t last because God promises that there will be joy in the morning. There will be a turn around in your life. There will be cause for celebration. Our sorrows will not last.

We need to…

1. Choose joy over your DISAPPOINTMENT

Let us look at the book of Habakkuk and about some lessons we need to learn. Habakkuk said a prayer to God. His prayers started hopeful but became desperate and then finally complaining. Some of us are that way. I remember that one day I received the news that my Dad was very ill. In the beginning, my prayers were hopeful and then desperate like Habakkuk. Then I learned my father had died and so my prayers became complaints to God. My brother and sister also died even though I prayed so hard. After all these things happened to me, I found myself changed like Habakkuk. But we should remember that "Even though the fig trees have no blossoms, and there are no grapes on the vine; even though the olive crop fails, and the fields lie empty and barren; even though the flocks die in the fields, and the cattle barns are empty, yet I will rejoice in the Lord! I will be joyful in the God of my salvation." (Habakkuk 3:17-18 NLT)

We are hopeful when things are going well. But do we stay positive when things get tough? Our circumstances might not change but we should. We should praise and worship God anyway. Our expectations should be on God - not on life’s uncertainties. Most of the time our expectations are selfishly motivated. When they are not met, we blame God. But our God will turn our lives around. When we start changing our characters, we start saying to ourselves that no matter what our circumstances are, we will still worship God. Even if I do not see good results I still choose the joy of the Lord. Even if I pray and things continue to get worse and worse, I will still hang on to joy.

Our greatest challenge is to let God handle the situation. If we put our trust in things and people – they will disappoint.

2. Choose to PLACE YOUR CONFIDENCE in God.

Let us read the two Bible verses…

"The Sovereign Lord is my strength! He will make me as surefooted as a deer and bring me safely over the mountains." (Habakkuk 3:19 NLT)

"Do not throw away this confident trust in the Lord, no matter what happens. Remember the great reward it brings you!" (Hebrews 10:35 NLT)  Confident trust often leaves us in hard times. When we lose our confidence in God we stop hearing Him and stop relying on Him.

I once had a brand new van with GPS but I was too stubborn to listen to the GPS voice. I kept disobeying the GPS and soon found myself stuck in a narrow dead end. So I was forced to back out. But in doing so I scratched my beautiful van! It is like that when we ignore god’s voice – we soon become scratched and damaged. In disappointment our internal GPS fails to focus on Him. But we should never do that! He is the only one we should trust. He sustains us in everything. In conclusion, remember that we need to place our confidence in the Lord - not on our circumstances because our bad situations will not last and the joy of the Lord comes in the morning.

Discussion Suggestions:

1. What sustains you in time of “earthquake-like” situations?

2. Share any experiences of how God has given you joy in the morning after your suffering or trials this week.

3. What kind of person should you become in the next earthquake like experience you will have?

4. Who do you trust when you are in this kind of situation?

5. Why should we choose joy over disappointment?