We all have a story. He reminds them that this life will have hardship and that our bodies will fail, but God is still working for our good. If we can make the choice to view life that way, then we can make the following statements about our struggles and our trials: 1) This is sent from the Lord. We need you. Life is Difficult, But God is Good Hebrews 11:1-3, 8-16 Someone you know gets sick. They can remind you of the truth when youre struggling. One day we wake up to find out that were being sued by a former colleague. Or someone you trusted may start spreading lies about you. In order to separate the gold from the dross, the ore was placed in a furnace and heated until it melted. God can shape your view of your circumstances. If I truly believe that, then I can move to the second statement and begin to look for ways to grow spiritually. read more, Scripture: The word testing refers to the process by which gold ore was purified. Someone who performs with intense concentration and focus But when times feel difficult, it is even more important to trust God. But as xtians we have antidotes against hard Second, he tempts us to retaliate against others with anger and resentment. I wish it were not so, but it is true. 1. (part 6), - Series: Inspire! Strategies From Genesis (And Beyond) (Part 2) It seems to be the deep theological response to all calamity. Christian/Church Of Christ. Life can be going along smoothly for a season. Perseverance requires desperate dependence and dogged determination to hold on to our faith even when the world seems to disintegrate around us. He cares for your hurts. But thats the whole point. We live in a madcap world that work the whole night and sleep the whole day with no time for self or family. Look up and call out to Jesus - Psalm 23:4: Even though I walk through the darkest valleyyou are with me.. 4:15-16). So He asked for help. Marriages break up. God is much more concerned with how you respond than with the trial itself. Matthew 22: 15 22 / Why Is The Sky Blue? Still, God answers the prayer. So when we could stand it no longer, we thought it best to be left by ourselves in Athens. Now, it is not because we disagree with anything that it says, its just that the book is so short that when you blink as you turn the pages in your Bible you miss it. 3:12). The list is endless because our trials are multi-colored and variegated (the phrase many kinds has this idea behind it). Genesis 16:1-10 There Is Nothing Too Hard For The Lord He pays attention. A touch from the shepherds staff and the presence of his rod is reassuring to the heart. Encouragement from Gods Word for Difficult Times Losing the Race Against Ebola. And sin has deeply infected the human bloodstream. James begins with an exhortation about how to respond when hard times come. Advent 2022, week 2: During this series, we are looking at how hope, peace, joy and love are at the heart of Christmas. Genesis 18:1-14 Verse 3. Will you say yes today? He believes that his gods are trying to tell him something about his powerful Thank God in the Midst of Trials and Even Persecution We draw back from difficulties, yet not one of us is exempt from some kind of trouble. Thats what perseverance looks like. We need to remember that trials are not entirely negative. That part is up to us. With that important understanding, we pass on to the third great truth regarding hard times. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything (v. 4). Jim and his four co-workers were speared to death by the Indians. Encouragement for Hard Times Or all three. So He shared this with them to give them comfort. One version says, Be very glad and another says, Consider yourselves fortunate. That didnt help at all, so I turned to the translation of J. It also frees you from the unrealistic scenarios that you run to in worry. read more, Scripture: Remember the shepherd and the shepherds tools. That sounds so odd that one wonders if he is serious. Help families pursue the relationships that matter most. You can also tell Him when its difficult for you to believe. Find Hope & Comfort During Hard Times: Inspire!, part 1, In a trial? Years ago my friend Jim Warren told me, Ray, when hard times come, be a student, not a victim. Thats good advice. Helping students know Jesus, grow in their faith and go to the world to tell others. Take a note card from the pew in front of you. These are difficult days in many parts of the world. When the global church comes together then powerful things can happen. Or perhaps weve just gone through a divorce and we feel rejected and alone. But you can control how you respondin faith or unbelief, in humility or arrogance, in forgiveness or in anger, in hope or in despair. Text: Philippians 1:12-18 This short message helps us look at how our choices matter each day because they add up to the direction were headed. You will know beyond a doubt, Jesus is present in your situation and that you are not alone no matter how dark the valley or how lonely you may feel. 1 Kings 19:3-18, Psalm 22: Are you burdened by feeling alone? Confession helps you to humble yourself and allows you to grow in trust. How we seek to journey together with everyone towards a relationship with Jesus. Mercy or revenge. The tools of the shepherd are the rod and staff. In your waking up. The Greek word for unsettled actually means to wag the tail. It has the idea of being shaken by circumstances so that you fall away from the right path in life. Heres why, along with some analysis digging into nine commonly presented contradictions. In todays message, learn where abundance comes from and how to cultivate it in your heart. You cant have both. It may even bring you to the end of your strength. I am talking today of working hard for the Lord! If we want a natural response, we can talk about anger or despair or complaining or getting even or running away. read more, Scripture: A student asks, How much of this did I bring on myself?, A victim looks at everyone else and cries out, Life isnt fair. A student looks at life and says, What happened to me could have happened to anyone.. You can watch the news on any given day and hear of the hard times of those around our country. ), because given the fact that we will be eating shortly, then have our meeting, I dont want to keep us any later than necessary. Colossians 1:1-8: What choices are you making this year? He does not always give you the big picture, but He will show you the next step. Years later Elisabeth married Addison Leitch, former president of Pittsburgh Theological Seminary. You can have an easy life, or you can have a deep faith. Trials will come but they are never to hurt you; rather they are to build you up. He always sees them and is always working for their good. Luke 21:5-36, Denomination: From canceling worship services and holding our Sunday gatherings online, to not You work hard, but you don't make progress. Satan tempts us to fall away during our trials. The Bird Dog- Four legged bird dogs point to where the hunter should shoot. In prison, after beatings, Paul and Silas had sung praises. Many of us know the story of Elisabeth Elliot. The car hit a massive pothole and suddenly the happy journey is over. Try our selection of worship songs and sing along! Our friends watch to see how we will respond to tragedy. Acts 9:32-43. Proverbs 20:29 puts it this way: The glory of young men is their strength, gray hair the splendor of the old, and Proverbs 16:31 adds this insight, Gray hair is a crown of glory; it is gained by living a godly life (NLT). But God never intended that you should walk through the lonely valley by yourself. The Holy Spirit will lead you to what you should do. In fact, when we were with you, we kept telling you that we would be persecuted. No matter how things might appear immpossible to ue, there is nothing too hard for the Lord. When I was a high school kid, one of the sports I competed in was Track and Field. - Resurrecting Hope, part 2, Easter Brings Resurrection Hope - Resurrecting Hope, part 1, Consider Your Ways to Experience the Presence of God Life Is a Journey, part 43, God Is Your Shepherd, Comforter, Defender Life Is a Journey, part 36, God Is Your Shepherd, Leader, Protector Life Is a Journey, part 35, Be Ready Like Elisha & Find Your Calling Life Is a Journey, part 34. "Equipping and encouraging people to keep believing in Jesus", Copyright 2020 Keep Believing Ministries. We are all in harms way. 1 Corinthians 10:13, Romans 8:28, Denomination: From the shadows they watch us as we suffer to see if what we have is real or not. Fellow believers can remind you of Gods character through encouragement and accountability. HOW TO PROFIT FROM YOUR PROBLEMS You can read the morning paper and Babies are born with defects that cannot be corrected. She wants to be free but the pain of coming off heroin is so great that she cannot face it. He will help you wait with endurance. 2 Cor. It reads like a sermon or perhaps even more like a pep talk from a football coach. Sign up to join over 20,000 subscribers receiving our weekly sermon email. Take the next step in your faith journey with resources on prayer, devotionals and other tools for personal and spiritual growth. This message helps us understand how and why we should live worthy of the Lord; plus, learn how to push back spiritual darkness and what brings endurance and strength. Presbyterian/Reformed. Your goals, finances, health and outlook seem bright. What a difference it makes to be a student and not a victim: A victim says, Why did this happen to me? A student says, What can I learn from this?, A victim blames other people for his problems. Daniel 2:1-23 My parting words were the words of Jesus, Go and sin no more. She smiled and thanked me and said she needed to go and get some heroin or she wouldnt make it through the day. Four years ago my Father-in-Law, Dr. W. C. Dobbs, pastor and professor, passed away. Hard Times And to do it well have to take the long view of life, to understand that what we see is not the final chapter of the story. A few days ago we interviewed Nabeel Qureshi on American Family Radio about his new book No God But One: Allah or Jesus?. Waiting on the Lord reminds you that you are not in control. These are difficult days in which we live. Faith in Gods Promisethat he will never leave us or forsake us. Consider the following God is with you, wherever you wander. As Because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance (v. 3). (From the Bible Knowledge Commentary). Free Sermons and Sermon Outlines for Preaching : The Finish Line - Running The Race Of Life, In Times Like These (A Message Of Encouragement), If The Preacher Is Dead, The Sermon Will Be Dead, Chasing The Dream, Preaching Greatness, And Knowing Your Audience. Bringing hope and resources to military families worldwide. (He told his conversion story in the bestseller Seeking Allah, Finding Jesus.) When a friend wrote to say that his daughter was leaving to serve in the Armed Forces in Afghanistan, he asked special prayer because she would be in harms way. I prayed for his daughter and am happy to report that she made it back safely. Genesis 37:39-46, Denomination: Walking closely with the Spirit will not only give you direction but will remind you that you are not alone. This weeks message teaches us how to live for Christ in a fallen world. He hears your requests and answers them. We don't have to be miserable, frustrated and unhappy in difficult places. He is always working in your life and in the world. John 9:1-39: Are you limiting God, or living with your spiritual eyes wide open? God is Omniscient, which means that He is all knowing. Its not just welcome them as friends, which would be hard enough, but welcome them as friends! which to me sounds positively giddy, like Im welcoming long-lost friends to my home. Surviving Hard times Gen 35: 15 -20 Hard times are difficult God has ordained that your trials are part of his plan to make you like Jesus. Learn to develop your skills, desire and ability to join others on their spiritual journeys and take them closer to Jesus. Contributed by Jeffery Anselmi on Apr 29, 2010. based Choose to embrace the hope that is offered to you in Jesus. The book of Jude is one of those that we skip over most of the time. Partnering with urban churches to meet physical and spiritual needs. Let the light of the Gospel shine in your heart. Psalm 23:4: Feel Alone? Maybe its about starting over and creating something new. Methodist. Trust in God with Sermons in Difficult Times It is hardest to trust God during times of conflict, uncertainty, and anxiety. And especially, in times of sickness, plague, even death. This is the question on many peoples minds: If God does indeed love us so much, why does he still allow hardships and suffering? Matthew 25:31-46. But thank God, we are not like those who have no hope! Do your daily decisions reflect Godly living? Joy or bitterness. Difficult circumstances feel all-consuming But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared, Not by works of First, trials are the common lot of every Christian. Let hope lift your spirits. Evangelical Free. When things feel difficult, He doesnt ask you to keep those feelings to yourself. You probably wont feel joyful or grateful or full of trust. Daniel Speaks to Us Today Series Someone has counted over 50 commands in these five chapters. We have been looking this month at the book of Philippians. During these troubling times let us turn to the promises of God, read and study them, ponder upon them and apply their wisdom to our lives. If you struggle with why God allows difficulty, read the article Why Does God Allow Suffering?. If we believe that tomorrow will be better, we can bear a hardship today. I am so thankful that I am a child of the Father, redeemed by the Son, and sealed in the Spirit. But thats how life is sometimes. Encouragement in Difficult Times | Joyce Meyer - YouTube God is trustworthy even when you dont see your prayers answered or problems solved right away. When we obey line upon line and precept upon precept, we will People kill each other. Difficult situations are not new to any generation. Know that you are not alone even though things may seem dark and overwhelming right now, and you may feel unsure of whats coming next. Hard Times

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