Historic First Lutheran Church of Pasadena

In the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, Amen.

As we make our beginning this morning, would you please join me in completing the second half of a very common phrase? I’ll say the first half of the phrase and you join me in completing the second half:

“When the going gets tough ... the tough get going.”

We’ve probably all said that phrase. We probably all believe that phrase. It is indeed a catchy little phrase that encourages us to keep going even when the going gets tough. As attractive and catchy as is that phrase and as often as we all have said it, that phrase honestly isn’t very theological. It isn’t really something that is backed up by the Bible. In fact, it’s downright bad theology. Here’s what I mean.

How about when , as parents, your first born son in cold blood savagely murders your second son [Genesis 4]? Now that’s tough! You’re a whole mess of emotions, from grief and sorrow to anger and disgust. Now that’s tough! How are you going to get going in that situation?

How about when your younger brother intentionally deceives your father so that he receives your inheritance and you are left penniless [Genesis 27]? Now that’s tough! You’re filled with hatred and resentment, yet you realize your brother is still your own flesh and blood and blood is thicker than any money. Now that’s tough! How are you going to get going in that situation?

How about when your adopted grandfather swears out a warrant for your arrest, for your conviction and for your execution, even trying to kill you himself, because you committed involuntary manslaughter [Exodus 2]? Now that’s tough! You know and respect this man, yet he won’t listen to reason and is determined to see you dead. Now that’s tough! How are you going to get going in that situation?

How about when you have an adulterous relationship with a married woman and she becomes pregnant and in order to cover that indiscretion, you arrange to have her husband murdered, then you take her as your wife [2 Samuel 11]? When the baby is born, it dies as punishment for your sin and deception [2 Samuel 12]. Now that’s tough! You’re filled with grief and with guilt. Now that’s tough! How are you going to get going in that situation?

And finally, how about when you’re out with friends for a leisurely three hour pleasure cruise of a local lake when an unrelenting squall swoops in upon you from nowhere [Mark 4]. Now that’s tough! In your boat just happens to be sleeping the Lord of all creation, the One Whom you have witnessed heal the sick and raise the dead. You know you should be calm. You know that the Lord must be in control, yet you panic. You wake up the Lord and He calms the winds and waves with three simple words – “Quiet! Be Still!” You’re relieved yet ashamed, especially when Jesus scolds you. Now that’s tough! How are you going to get going in that situation?

“When the going gets tough ... the tough get going.” That’s what we tell ourselves.

But what about when the going gets so tough, there is no possibility of getting going? You see that’s where that phrase becomes bad theology because it leaves people hopeless and powerless in those really, really tough times. In those really, really tough times, you know you should get going because you know you’re tough and others tell you you’re tough, but what about when you simply can’t, when everything seems to have disintegrated so miserably and so completely that you seriously doubt you will ever again see sunshine in life? You doubt life will ever again be good. You doubt you will ever again smile or laugh. What then?

This morning, I’d like to offer you a theologically correct phrase for you to place into the vocabulary of your mind: “When the going gets tough ... the tough run to God!” Do you like that? “When the going gets tough ... the tough run to God!”

If you like that theologically correct phrase, please don’t give me the credit. I may have paraphrased that phrase, but credit for that phrase is due St. Paul, who once wrote: “But [Jesus] said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you for My power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses so that Christ’s power may rest on me ... for when I am weak, then I am strong” [2 Corinthians 12:9-10].

What did St. Paul mean? He meant what I said that “when the going gets tough ... the tough run to God!”

When Adam and Eve found the blood of a murdered son on the hands of their other son, they ran to God. He was the only One Who could help!

When Esau lost his birthright to his brother Jacob, he ran to God. He was the only One Who could help!

When Moses was being hunted by Pharaoh, he ran to God. He was the only One Who could help!

When King David was mourning the loss of his seven-day-old son and dealing with the heavy guilt of his actions, he ran to God. He was the only One Who could help!

And when the disciples found themselves dealing with fear and with doubt, they ran to God. He was the only One Who could help!

You might right now be saying, “So what?” Well, today’s sermon is like a Larry H. Parker television commercial. Attorney Parker advertises his ability to help people by showing examples of others he has helped. And I am assuring you that the God Who has proven Himself to be the Helper and the Savior of people throughout time is the One to Whom you should run when the going gets tough.

I do know what some of you are facing in life right now and some of those things are very heavy burdens. Some of those things are really, really tough. There’s no other way to put it. I have seen some of you try to get yourselves going, to try to prove to yourself and to others just how tough you really are. Some of you have fooled me. Some of you have fooled others. But deep down inside you know the truth and you still feel the hurt. And that truth and that hurt is known not only by you but by your God!

I know it’s not popular to suggest, but it’s O.K. to be weak. It’s O.K. to admit defeat. It’s O.K. to cry out in frustration and hopelessness. That, after all, is exactly what Jesus did. His anguished cry from the Cross was “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?” [Mark 15:34] Just moments later, in the toughest battle any of us will ever have to face, He would prove that in His weakness He had found strength by running to God: “Father, into Your Hands I commit My spirit” [Luke 23:46]. What Jesus meant was, “Father, I don’t understand, but I know You’re in control.” With that, Jesus bowed His head and died. But that wasn’t the end. Three days later, only by the power of the Eternal God, Jesus was raised to life. He experienced the full, unadulterated power and strength of God surging through His body as life returned as He walked out of that grave and proved once and for all that when the going gets tough, the tough run to God, Who will not fail or disappoint.

Pray with me: “Precious Lord, take my hand. Lead me on. Help me stand. I am tired. I am weak. I am worn. Through the storm, through the night, lead me on to the Light. Take my hand, Precious Lord. Lead me Home.”

In the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, Amen.

Pastor Christopher Schaar
Historic First Lutheran Church of Pasadena