Introduction:     All of us are either coping with life or we are collapsing under the weight of it. The outward mark of a real Christian is that when others break they continue to stand. It is not easy to cope with the pressures of life. Life today is so frantic that even believers are collapsing under the pressure, but God doesn’t want you to collapse, He wants you to cope! Notice three things that you are going to need if you are going to avoid the collapse and cope with this life.

I.          YOU NEED PRAYER (V. 1)

A.        The Privilege Of Prayer.

            B.         The Effectiveness Of Prayer

“Free course” = running a race. Loose it to run into every heart and every home. The only way Paul’s ministry would succeed was for the saints of God to pray and ask God to remove the obstacles. To cope with this life you’ll need someone to pray for you.

            C.        The Goal Of Prayer

“Glorified” = Pray that the will and purpose of God succeeds by this Word having free course and going forth to save the lost. The Word of God is glorified when people are saved! The only way to cope is to take whatever is causing you to collapse and take it to the throne room of God in prayer and say, “I have no will but thy will, I have no desire but your desire!” And leave it in the hands of Almighty God!

II.         YOU NEED PROTECTION (VV.2-4)

“Unreasonable” = out of place. “Wicked” = evil in every way.

            A.        We Live In A Fallen World.  (v.2)

Not all men have faith and without faith man is capable of anything!

            B.         We Have A Faithful God.  (vv.3-4)

“Confidence” = to evidence or authority, to rely, to be assured of (by inward certainty).

(2 Tim 1:12)  "… for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day."

III.       YOU NEED PATIENCE (V.5)

            A.        Involves Responding

Instead of reacting to life you respond to it. You can have patience and respond instead of react to life because God is in you. If you’ll just let God be in charge you can respond properly. God never overreacts, He is never surprised.

            B.         Involves Waiting

“Direct” = to make straight or to remove obstacles.

“Patient” = speaks of a steadfastness, of someone who responds to adversity in a constructive and creative way.

So we wait patiently knowing that God loves us and that never makes a mistake and that Jesus is coming soon!

Conclusion:       Why are some people collapsing and not coping? (Illus: How do you spend 70 years of life? If you are average and live 70 yrs. you will sleep 23 yrs. You will work 16 yrs. You will watch TV. 8 yrs. You will eat 6 yrs. You will travel 6 yrs. You will spend 4.5 yrs. on leisure, 4 yrs. in illness, 2 yrs. dressing, and .05 yrs. in religion. Do you know why you are missing life and collapsing under its weight? Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life…” If you are not saved by Jesus, if you are not focused on Jesus, if you’re not in love with Jesus, if you’re not directed by Jesus, if you’re not filled with Jesus, then you are going to collapse! But, if you are full of Jesus, He will enable you to cope and experience victory even in the face of defeat!