- In yesterday’s sermon, we explored how pain often pushes us to escape, and how the “escape” routes we choose—whether productivity, entertainment, or nostalgia—can end up trapping us instead of freeing us.
- Where do you turn when life hurts?
Are your escapes actually giving you rest—or draining you further?“Better what the eyes see than wandering desire. This too is futile and a pursuit of the wind.” – Ecclesiastes 6:9
- Pain and futility reveal our desire to escape, but the Teacher in Ecclesiastes doesn’t leave us there. Instead, he walks us through the funeral home of reality and points us toward wisdom. In Ecclesiastes 7, we find that death can be a better teacher than birth, and honest reflection often brings more growth than cheap laughter. The irony is this: when we stop running, stop numbing, and truly see our limits, we begin to experience real joy.
- Do you see death as a teacher?
What is it revealing to you about what matters most?
What limitations do you need to stop denying and start accepting?“In the day of prosperity be joyful, but in the day of adversity consider: God has made the one as well as the other.” – Ecclesiastes 7:14
- Ultimately, all our limitations point us to our greatest one: we cannot save ourselves. That’s not the end of the story—it’s the beginning of grace. Jesus, unlimited in power, entered our limits. He endured death to rescue us from it. He is the only true refuge, the only real escape that leads to life.
- Can you admit your need for a Savior today?
Will you bring your weariness and need to Jesus—and will you help someone else do the same?“God is our refuge and strength, a helper who is always found in times of trouble.” – Psalm 46:1
For Prayer: Pray for the fathers of our church and community to be honorable and loving as they lead their families.