2 Corinthians 4:8-9 ESV

We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed;

In our lives we can easily feel as though we are stuck. Stuck in the middle of… We can find ourselves in what feels like the in-between. Because the in-between is always hard and feels like a great big “NOT YET”, we often get stuck

Title: Restarting Your Story

In our REBOOT series we’ve talked about: 

The ongoing need for spiritual REBOOTS, how they are activated. 

The importance of regular updates that bring us back into alignment with The LORD. 

TODAY: Restarting your story when you feel like you have stalled somewhere in the middle.

In the computing world there is something that is colloquially known as “the spinning wheel of death.” That moment when you are right in the middle of a project and you click on something and that little spinning wheel starts spinning and never stops.  Or the loading screen that never stops loading.

In 2020, you are no doubt feeling as if things are on pause. Perhaps you have felt “things will be better after the election” or “If Covid-19 will just go away our lives can return to normal.” “If Only…”

We often become stuck in our stories as if God has forgotten about us.

God is not a part-time novelist that will get back to writing when he gets some free time. 

How easily we get sidetracked from the work that God is doing.

Jesus said “ In this life you will have trouble…” (John 16:33 NIV)

For the majority of us we occupy the space of trouble land! 

“Jesus said I would have trouble!” OF ALL THE THINGS JESUS SAID,

THIS IS THE ONE PROMISE YOU REMEMBER AND LIVE BY?

John 16:33 (NIV) In this world you will have trouble. But 

Take heart! I have overcome the world.

There are countless stories in the Bible where people must have felt stuck somewhere in the middle of their stories.

• Joseph: Dreamed of greatness, sold into slavery eventually imprisoned.

• Moses: Raised in the palace, condemned, wandering in the desert.

• Daniel: carried away by an invading enemy.

• Job: Wealthy and content, loses EVERYTHING.

• David: Giant killer and hero, running from a tyrant king.

In every case they became stuck and felt like their stories were over

or , at least they were forgotten. 

Psalm 13:1 (ESV) 

How long, O Lord? Will you forget me forever? 

DOUBT AND FEAR ARE THE ENEMIES OF YOUR STORY

Doubt and fear are never the key ingredients to success.

Doubt and fear make you do really dumb and unproductive things.

• David ran from King Saul and hid out with the Philistines

• Moses tried to convince God that He made a mistake choosing him.

It is time that we restart our stories!

WE MUST FAN INTO FLAMES THE GIFT OF GOD INSIDE OF US

(Reference to 2 Timothy 1:4)

Our stories can become stuck because we let the fire die down. FAN THAT FLAME!

RESTORATION/RENEWAL ALWAYS BEGINS WITH REPENTANCE

Jesus coined the phrase “born-again.” There is no better reboot. A clean slate, a new creation.

You are not stuck in your story. You can restart your story now!

2 Corinthians 4:7-11 (MSG)

If you only look at us, you might well miss the brightness. We carry this precious Message around in the unadorned clay pots of our ordinary lives. That’s to prevent anyone from confusing God’s incomparable power with us. As it is, there’s not much chance of that. You know for yourselves that we’re not much to look at. We’ve been surrounded and battered by troubles, but we’re not demoralized; we’re not sure what to do, but we know that God knows what to do; we’ve been spiritually terrorized, but God hasn’t left our side; we’ve been thrown down, but we haven’t broken. What they did to Jesus, they do to us—trial and torture, mockery and murder; what Jesus did among them, he does in us—he lives! Our lives are at constant risk for Jesus’ sake, which makes Jesus’ life all the more evident in us.

Our ordinary lives are the vessels for God’s Extraordinary work through us!