Open Our Eyes Lord

Abundant Life Episode 43

In this episode Saso and Ben discuss the how Christians must place their hope in God in times of discouragement and life’s trials.

OPENED – Unclosed; unbarred; unsealed; uncovered; revealed; disclosed; made plain; freed from obstruction. – Websters 1828

Key Verses

2 Kings 6:15-17

Elisha’s servant was troubled with the armies that had encompassed them about, but Elisha was not fearful as he was able to see the presence and protection of God. “Fear not: for they that be with us are more than they that be with them.”

Romans 4:19-21

The promise he was referring to is the promise given to Abraham that through Him all of the families of the earth would be blessed. God in a sense had opened his eyes to the promise He had given him where he could visualize and see the great nation that would come from him. The opening of our eyes is the faith we must have in God to see the great things He has promised us and the great hope we have in Him.

Sometimes these emotions come with the trials of life.

What are the giants in your life? What do you fear? What makes you feel hopeless? What makes you anxious?

Sickness, disease, cancer, terminal illness
Personal offense, someone said/did something to hurt you
Personal loss, home lost in fire or natural disaster
Loss of loved one
Divorce or marital problems
Elections & Economy
Rumors of wars
Midlife crisis
You’ve committed that same sin again that has you ensnared or a sinful habit that you can’t kick
Difficult boss at work, or difficult co-workers

The scriptures not only speak truth and give you hope, but the scriptures are so relatable. The book of Psalms is always a comfort to me whether you are on the mountain of life or in the valley because there is something you can always relate with.

Psalm 38 is a lament when you lay your troubles at the feet of Jesus realizing your sin has brought on the trouble and you are discouraged.

Psalm 38:17.

Psalm 42, is a lament when you are oppressed and persecuted and discouraged.

Psalm 42:11

Psalm 73 is a Psalm of wisdom written by Asaph sharing his thoughts of discouragement as he observed the prosperity of the wicked.

Psalm 73:2

Here are more examples in scripture that you can relate to when you are discouraged or feeling hopeless.

Elijah was in the midst of a drought and God commanded him to go and ask a widow to feed him. The widow basically had nothing left, except a little bit of flour and she was basically preparing for her and her son to die of hunger. She must have been fearful and discouraged. In fact this is what she said: 1 Kings 17:12

Goliath the philistine was taunting the Israelites because he was a mighty warrior, a confident giant. Although we know how the story ends, the fact of the matter is that the soldiers were scared and discouraged.

1 Samuel 17:11

Elijah had just experience a great victory when God consumed his alter and then he slayed 450 prophets of Baal. But after the great victory he ran for his life after Jezebell threatened his life.

1 Kings 19:4

Can you imagine how fearful and discouraged the Israelites were as they were trapped between Red Sea and Egyptian army expecting to be executed?

Exodus 14:10

How about Joseph and Mary fleeing to Egypt to avoid Herod’s vicious execution of young boys in attempt to kill Jesus. Imagine the fear and discouragement? Can you imagine what Mary would have thought?

Fear not

Haggai 2:4-5  – Yet now be strong, O Zerubbabel, saith the Lord; and be strong, O Joshua, son of Josedech, the high priest; and be strong, all ye people of the land, saith the Lord, and work (building of the temple): for I am with you, saith the Lord of hosts: According to the word that I covenanted with you when ye came out of Egypt, so my spirit remaineth among you: fear ye not.

2 Timothy 1:7
Isaiah 41:10
Isaiah 41:13

Trials of life

1 Corinthians

Paul had gone through the ringer to the point where he faced de…