We’ve all had the feeling that we just wish there were a way to get completely away from everything that is happening around us, thus the reason for the commercial jingle as a title for today’s show. We want to hide when things get too tough. We want to run when we’re feeling like we’re trapped, painted into a corner. Well, that’s what today’s sermon is all about. Depression is a big thing, and it causes many different things to happen to us. We get the lost puppy syndrome. Sometimes we get that, nobody wants me syndrome. Other times it’s, too wild for me dudes, gotta disappear. Now, where do you think God is through all this? He’s right where you’d least expect him to be. He’s the footprints in your sand, carrying you, because you cannot stand alone. We are never alone. God helps by doing many things. One is by giving us more to think about, or something entirely new. Our first verse shows us this idea.

Now, don’t you want to be transformed as your thoughts are renewed? It’s like freeing our minds and giving us the sun, the moon, and the stars to reach. God can do this for each of us, in a spiritual manner. He can give our hearts a bit more cushioning. Take, for example, in the times of loss, when you lose someone you love. God takes the pain away by making the loss the last thing you think about, and giving you the ability to bring up the most precious memories we have with those who have been lost. Like singing silly songs, favorite vacations, or even doing the happy dance.

Nahum 1 verse 7: "The Lord is good, a strong hold in the day of trouble and He remembers those that trust in Him"

When I was a little girl and I would get in trouble I’d run and hide in my closet, hugging the one toy I literally carried until childhood was all but a memory. When I was older, I still had that toy; it was a faded pink rabbit with blue satin for the inside of its ears. I’d had it since I was just born. The toy was my very first present, given to me on the day of my birth. I can’t tell you all the reasons for the comfort I felt at just having that toy there. Many of us have something from our childhood that we hold onto for as long as humanly possible. Now, my rabbit didn’t make it through my twentieth year of life, but I do have one that remains with me to this day and time, I’ve had her for thirty-one years. She was given to me on March 15^th, 1977. It was my seventh birthday. She is a Madame Alexander Snow White Bride doll and she was a gift from my grandmother. I still bring that doll out, more often now than I have in years, because the gift giver, my paternal grandmother, took her walk to heaven last year. So you see, those precious gifts of memories help each of us survive those terribly hard days.
~ Song ~ My Rock, My Sword, My Shield ~ Randy Travis ~
Isaiah 41 verse 10: "Fear not for I am with you, don't be dismayed for I am your God, I will help you and make you strong and uphold you with my victorious Right Hand"

Many times we want to sit in a corner, wrap our arms around our knees and just rock ourselves. We feel like there’s no one in the world who understands us. God wants us to know, as He shows in this verse in Isaiah that He is always there. When you look at the poem Footprints, you see that same thing. That’s why the next verse means so very much.

Hebrews 13 verse 5: "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you."

And just to refresh our memories, here is the original poem, Footprints by Margaret Fishback Powers.
FOOTPRINTS

Now, as you absorb that piece, the next verse is one we often hear during memorial services. And yet, it too holds its measure of comfort, as this poem did for its author, who was at a crossroads in her life, not knowing where to go from there. Many of us are going to come to that same crossroads by whatever means, and we get our own view of where we go from here.

Many times I know you’ve heard, that nothing is given to us that we cannot handle. I’ve heard many times from family, friends, church members, I can’t take this anymore. I want to die; it’s just too hard for me. Calgon, take me away, as the old jingle goes. Rev. Teresa told us a story a short time ago about a man that was quite prophetic in telling her how to get rid of her chaos. She wanted to handle everything by herself. We all get this way, and we often forget that God is there waiting to carry us in times of trouble, like the poem Footprints tells us. Smack the devil of a problem off your shoulder, and remember, cut those shoestrings while you’re at it, leave it there in God’s hands. He’ll take care of the worry and the pain and the sorrow. You’ll take care of the root reason behind it with a clear head, and steady emotions. That’s what we need to be, steady as a rock. Rebirth is one way we can wash away our sins. This is what Jesus tells us through the Gospel of John and in the first book of Peter.

Dear Lord we thank You for being here with us today. We pray that you watch over Juanita and Teresa and their families as they go through the tough times they are facing. We pray that you watch over Rev. Teresa as she continues in her travels halfway across the country. We pray that you watch over those of us who are ill and those of us who are struggling to do the right things, Lord. We thank you Lord for being there and carrying our heavy loads even when we don’t realize you would be doing so. We thank you for protecting our troops who fight in dangerous places. We thank you for helping the hearts of the families they’ve left behind. We thank you for so many things, Lord, and we ask these things in the name of our Savior Jesus Christ, Amen and so it shall be.