CRISIS SITUATIONS

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Key Verse

  • I sought the LORD, and He heard me, And delivered me from all my fears. Psalm 34:4 NKJV
  • In my distress I cried to the LORD, And He heard me.  Psalm 120:1 NKJV

How people handled crisis situations

1. David

  • Then Achish answered and said to David, “I know that you are as good in my sight as an angel of God; nevertheless the princes of the Philistines have said, ‘He shall not go up with us to the battle.’ Now therefore, rise early in the morning with your master’s servants who have come with you. And as soon as you are up early in the morning and have light, depart.”… So David and his men came to the city, and there it was, burned with fire; and their wives, their sons, and their daughters had been taken captive. Then David and the people who were with him lifted up their voices and wept, until they had no more power to weep. And David’s two wives, Ahinoam the Jezreelitess, and Abigail the widow of Nabal the Carmelite, had been taken captive. Now David was greatly distressed, for the people spoke of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and his daughters. But David strengthened1 himself in the Lord his God1 Samuel 29:9-1030:3-6 NKJV

Other versions

Problems

  1. Lost his job
  2. Lost accommodation
  3. Lost his family
  4. Own men against him
Solution
Strengthened/encouraged himself in the Lord his God.

2. Esther

  • Mordecai told him everything that had happened to him, including the exact amount of money Haman had promised to pay into the royal treasury for the destruction of the Jews. … “All the king’s officials and the people of the royal provinces know that for any man or woman who approaches the king in the inner court without being summoned the king has but one law: that he be put to death. The only exception to this is for the king to extend the gold scepter to him and spare his life. But thirty days have passed since I was called to go to the king.” … Then Esther told them to reply to Mordecai: “Go, gather all the Jews who are present in Shushan, and fast for me; neither eat nor drink for three days, night or day. My maids and I will fast likewise. And so I will go to the king, which is against the law; and if I perish, I perish! Esther 4:7&11 NIV 1984 & Esther 4:15-16 NKJV
Other versions
 
  • Then Esther told them to reply to Mordecai, “Go, gather all the Jews that are present in Susa, and observe a fast for me; do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my maids also will fast in the same way. Then I will go in to [see] the king [without being summoned], which is against the law; and if I perish, I perish.” Esther 4:15-16 AMP
Potential Problems
  1. Destruction of Jews
  2. Her being put to death for approaching the King unsummoned

Solution
Resorted to fasting and asked others to fast for her as well.
Read: FASTING

3. Others

  • Daniel: Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went into his house, and his windows being open in his chamber toward Jerusalem, he got down upon his knees three times a day and prayed and gave thanks before his God, as he had done previously. Then these men came thronging [by agreement] and found Daniel praying and making supplication before his God. Daniel 6:10-11 AMPC
  • Hezekiah: In those days Hezekiah was sick and near death. And Isaiah the prophet, the son of Amoz, went to him and said to him, “Thus says the Lord: ‘Set your house in order, for you shall die, and not live.’ ” Then he turned his face toward the wall, and prayed to the Lord, saying, “Remember now, O Lord, I pray, how I have walked before You in truth and with a loyal heart, and have done what was good in Your sight.” And Hezekiah wept bitterly. 2 Kings 20:1-2 NKJV
  • Shunammite woman: When she came to the mountain to the man of God, she clung to his feet. Gehazi came to thrust her away, but the man of God said, Let her alone, for her soul is bitter and vexed within her, and the Lord has hid it from me and has not told me. 2 Kings 4:27 AMPC
  • The mother of the child said, “As the Lord lives and as your soul lives, I will not leave you.” So Elisha arose and followed her. 2 Kings 4:30 AMP
  • Hannah: And [Hannah] was in distress of soul, praying to the Lord and weeping bitterly. She vowed, saying, O Lord of hosts, if You will indeed look on the affliction of Your handmaid and [earnestly] remember, and not forget Your handmaid but will give me a son, I will give him to the Lord all his life; no razor shall touch his head… But Hannah answered, No, my lord, I am a woman of a sorrowful spirit. I have drunk neither wine nor strong drink, but I was pouring out my soul before the Lord. 1 Samuel 1:10-11&15 AMPC
Other versions
 
  • “No, my lord,” Hannah replied. “I am a woman with a broken heart. I haven’t had any wine or beer; I’ve been pouring out my heart before the LORD1 Samuel 1:15 HCSB

They sought help from GOD not man nor did they rely on their own prowess i.e. Esther did not use her power as the Queen against Haman.
Read: ESTHER
Read: Pray with tenacity

How To Handle Crisis Situations

1. Cry out to GOD

2. Worship

  • Why are you in despair, O my soul? And why have you become disturbed within me? Hope in God, for I shall again praise Him For the saving acts of His PresencePsalm 42:5 NASB
  • I sought the LORD, and He heard me, And delivered me from all my fears. Psalm 34:4 NKJV
There are Saving Acts in God’s presence. Worship brings GOD’s Presence. 
Read: PRESENCE 
Read: WORSHIP

3. Hope in God's promises

  • Remember the word3 to Your servant, Upon which You have caused me to hopePsalm 119:49 NKJV

Other versions

  • Remember the word to Your servant, In which You have made me hope. Psalm 119:49 NASB

Hope in GOD’s promises; personal prophesies + promises in the Bible.

4. Trust GOD

  • I would have lost heart, unless I had believed That I would see the goodness of the LORD In the land of the living. Psalm 27:13 NKJV
  • Overhearing what was being said, Jesus said to the synagogue official, “Do not be afraid; only keep on believing [in Me and my power].” Mark 5:36 AMP
  • But Jesus, hearing this, answered him, “Do not be afraid any longer; only believe and trust [in Me and have faith in My ability to do this], and she will be made well.” Luke 8:50 AMP
  • My soul waits in silence for God alone; From Him comes my salvation. Psalm 62:1 NASB
  • My soul, wait in silence for God alone, For my hope is from Him. Psalms 62:5 NASB
  • Overhearing what was being said, Jesus said to the synagogue official, “Do not be afraid; only keep on believing [in Me and my power].” Mark 5:36 AMP

Other versions

  • I would have despaired unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the LORD In the land of the living. Psalm 27:13 NASB 1995
  • My soul, wait silently for God alone, For my expectation is from Him. Psalm 62:5 NKJV

Why go to God in crisis

  • Give us help against the enemy, For the help of man is worthless (ineffectual, without purpose). Psalm 60:11 AMP
  • Give us help against the adversary, For deliverance by man is in vain [a worthless hope]. Psalm 108:12 AMP
  • I lift up my eyes to the hills– where does my help come from? My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth. Psalm 121:1-2 NIV

Songs

Footnotes

  1. חזק [châzaq] \khaw-zak'\ A primitive root; to fasten upon; hence to {seize} be strong (figuratively {courageous} causatively {strengthen} cure6 {help} repair6 {fortify}) obstinate; to {bind} {restrain} conquer: - {aid} {amend} X {calker} {catch} {cleave} {confirm} be {constant} {constrain} {continue} be of good (take) courage ({-ous} {-ly}) encourage ({self}) be {established} {fasten} {force} {fortify} make {hard} {harden} {help} (lay) hold ({fast}) {lean} {maintain} play the {man} {mend} become (wax) {mighty} {prevail} be {recovered} {repair} {retain} {seize} be (wax) {sore} strengten ({self}) be {stout} be ({make} {shew} wax) strong ({-er}) be {sure} take ({hold}) be {urgent} behave self {valiantly} withstand.
  2. 6869 צרה [tsârâh] \tsaw-raw'\
    Feminine of 6862; tightness (that {is} figuratively trouble); transitively a female rival: - {adversary} {adversity} {affliction} {anguish} {distress} {tribulation} trouble
  3. 1697 דּבר [dâbâr] \daw-bawr'\
    From 1696; a word; by implication a matter (as spoken of) of thing; adverbially a cause: - {act} {advice} {affair} {answer} X any such ({thing}) + because {of} {book} {business} {care} {case} {cause} certain {rate} + {chronicles} {commandment} X commune ({-ication}) + concern {[-ing]} + {confer} {counsel} + {dearth} {decree} {deed} X {disease} {due} {duty} {effect} + {eloquent} {errand} [evil favoured-] {ness} + {glory} + {harm} {hurt} + {iniquity} + {judgment} {language} + {lying} {manner} {matter} {message} [no] {thing} {oracle} X {ought} X {parts} + {pertaining} + {please} {portion} + {power} {promise} {provision} {purpose} {question} {rate} {reason} {report} {request} X (as hast) {said} {sake} {saying} {sentence} + {sign} + {so} some {[uncleanness]} somewhat to {say} + {song} {speech} X {spoken} {talk} {task} + {that} X there {done} thing ({concerning}) {thought} + {thus} {tidings} what {[-soever]} + {wherewith} {which} {word} work.