What we believe about the gospel and our call to serve every nation. Spend time exploring aspects of His trustworthiness in verses of Scripture. Baptist. No one is exempt, no one gets a trouble-free ride to heaven. Romans 5:3-4 spells out how this process works: We also rejoice in our afflictions,because we know that affliction produces endurance, endurance produces proven character,and proven character produces hope. We all want hope, but we dont want affliction. Look to Jesus and you will find the strength you need. Be blessed? But you can control how you respondin faith or unbelief, in humility or arrogance, in forgiveness or in anger, in hope or in despair. James 1:1-4: Did you know that trials have a purpose? Incidentsyes. Many of them are unbelievers who wonder if Christ is real. In a sunny day. (He told his conversion story in the bestseller Seeking Allah, Finding Jesus.) Our trials often come with very little warning. An issue has occurred. 10 words of encouragement during hard times Ive learned that you can keep going long after you think you cant Not all positive change feels positive in the beginning. We sent Timothy, who is our brother and Gods fellow worker in spreading the gospel of Christ, to strengthen and encourage you in your faith, so that no one would be unsettled by these trials (vv. THE SCHOOL OF HARD "NOTS" Read about individuals who have been transformed by faith. Heres why, along with some analysis digging into nine commonly presented contradictions. He believes that his gods are trying to tell him something about his powerful Maybe its about starting over and creating something new. Now that you know what it means to trust God, how exactly can you do that in your everyday life? Lewis, a renowned Christian author If we need love, we will have it. Our perspective makes all the difference. The Holy Spirit will lead you to what you should do. Thats what James is talking about. He cares for your hurts. They havent lived long enough. Our leaders disappoint us. Your privacy is important to us; well keep your email to ourselves. In Him, you can have comfort and peace, and encouragement. read more, Scripture: read more, Scripture: But it is sometimes hard to believe it when life takes unexpected turns. But thats the whole point. No matter who we are or where we live, trouble is just a phone call away. You will view them differently because you believe that God intends through them to give you a great benefit that could not come any other way. Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning. Go to How Do I Hear Gods Voice? to learn more about how to follow the Spirits leading. Joy or bitterness. If we need faith, we will have it. When Jesus was telling His followers that He was going to be killed, He knew that they would be worried. He whispers in our ear that God has forgotten us, that he doesnt care, and that he isnt 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. You also act on obedience (doing what God says in His Word) and trust that He will ultimately take care of the rest. 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. I love the enthusiasm of the younger generation for the Word of God. Hope or despair. The word face has the idea of falling or stumbling over a problem. God cares about them both. Job 5:7 reminds us that man is born for trouble as surely as the sparks fly upward. I see no way to deny that statement. Hes talking about a supernatural reaction made possible by the Holy Spirit who enables us to see and to respond from Gods point of view. 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. In the book of Isaiah, God responds to the Israelites who thought that God had turned away from them. If we want a natural response, we can talk about anger or despair or complaining or getting even or running away. This message will help you learn how to have peace and get practical instructions of who you are and how to live, plus 4 steps to peace and blessing. Psalm 1: Want a blessed life of meaning and fulfillment? Years ago my friend Jim Warren told me, Ray, when hard times come, be a student, not a victim. Thats good advice. But as xtians we have antidotes against hard Keeping your eyes on Jesus is the best way to be encouraged. But as xtians we have antidotes against har. He is faithful. I missed the Childrens It is really hard to see past them to other good things going on. Let hope lift your spirits. The experiences of my life are not such that I could infer from them that God is good, gracious and merciful necessarily. Sermons about Hard Times - SermonCentral.com You need to find Him and His words, and by faith rest in Him. No, in the midst of the storm, I do not have to worry about my salvation, and for that I praise you, God. Encouragement in Difficult Times | Everyday Answers - Joyce Meyer Dealing With Difficult People The Coffin and the Christmas Tree And for the most part, we cant choose our trials nor can we avoid most of them. If my experience can help someone else, feel free to use this information. read more, Scripture: As I survey the New Testament teaching regarding trials, two truths stand out. God wants to encourage us during hard times. Internship opportunities with Cru's ministries. Knowing that God is for you will strengthen your trust in Him during times of hardship and the unknown. Difficult times may feel like they last forever, but they are temporary. Learn how to hold onto joy no matter the situation youre in with this weeks encouraging message. The Holy Spirit is your constant helper, pointing you to Jesus. We live in a madcap world that work the whole night and sleep the whole day with no time for self or family. Learn the prescription for joy and success. Or all three. spiritual health, strength, faith, difficult situations, courage, mature christian, obedience, trials, - Series: Lesson's From Revelation's Seven Churches, integrity, holy spirit, victory, encouragement, hope, fear, stress, promises, spiritual health, strength, faith, difficult situations, courage, mature christian, obedience, trials, - Series: Lesson's From Revelation's Seven Churches, integrity, holy spirit, good & evil, How to Avoid Spiritual Distractions Consider Your Ways, part 1, Cling To Jesus Always, Even in Times of Trouble, A Song of Single-Mindedness: How to Have a Blessed Life, How to Live with The Peace of God in Your Heart (continued) Live in Christ, part 6, How to Live with The Peace of God in Your Heart Live in Christ, part 5, How to Live Rooted in The Lord Live in Christ, part 3, How to Live Worthy of The Lord Live in Christ, part 2, Cultivating Your Heart: Finding Abundance Living an Abundant Life, part 1, With You in The Battle: Victory Brings Glory to God 5 Smooth Stones, part 4, How to Live in Christ in a Fallen World - Live in Christ, part 1, Jesus Is at The Heart of Christmas The Heart of Christmas, part 5, Love Is at The Heart of Christmas The Heart of Christmas, part 4, True Joy Is at The Heart of Christmas The Heart of Christmas, part 3, Peace Is at The Heart of Christmas The Heart of Christmas, part 2, Hope Begins with Christmas The Heart of Christmas, part 1, What voice are you focused on? Faith in Gods Wordthat it is true no matter what happens to us. We grow old and die. Your feelings and circumstances matter and are very much worth paying attention to. In this message, we learn that while trials and temptations are not sin, they can lead to sin if we dont stand firm in faith. read more, Scripture: In todays message, learn where abundance comes from and how to cultivate it in your heart. They dont know, they arent sure, maybe theyve read the Bible, maybe they havent, but theyre watching how we respond to mistreatment, malicious accusations, sickness, the loss of a job, the end of our marriage, a career setback, or a financial collapse. Many years ago I learned an important truth from my friend Jim Warren. He hears your requests and answers them. But accidents? read more, Scripture: He is not disappointed or frustrated by your struggles, doubts or pain. As God is present amid the bad times as well as the good. If you dont run to the Word to remind you of truth in difficult times, it is easier for you to be led into lies about your life and who God is. Jim and his four co-workers were speared to death by the Indians. 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. Explore answers to life's biggest questions. In the face of those difficulties, God shares His will for you and how you should respond to them. Acts 20:22-31. Or perhaps weve just gone through a divorce and we feel rejected and alone. 1 Kings 19:3-18, Psalm 22: Are you burdened by feeling alone? Sign up to join over 20,000 subscribers receiving our weekly sermon email. (John 14:26, NIV). Leading from values so others will walk passionately with God to grow and bear fruit. Do your daily decisions reflect Godly living? Wesleyan, Dealing With Difficult People To the very end, they died with their faith intact. In a fallen world, there can be no other way. Heartacheyes. There are ups and downs along the way. So He asked for help. It is one thing to know the truth. Losing the Race Against Ebola. There is a fourth truth we need to remember when hard times come. Romans 16:12. To rain the manna and quails is not too hard. You can watch the news on any given day and hear of the hard times of those around our country. Still, God answers the prayer. He will help you wait with endurance. God, on the other hand, does not change. I am talking today of working hard for the Lord! He cares about you, and you can trust Him with those things. This is one of his favorite tools when the hard times involve problems with friends and family members. You are quite likely to be filled with a whole bag of negative emotions. This is cut-to-the-chase, heres-the-bottom-line talk from a man who knew his readers needed encouragement to stand strong in hard times. 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. # WHO is a Diligent person? Children get hooked on drugs or alcohol or sex. In a few months Ill teach Ezra in South Korea and then Galatians in New York. Many people reading this message are going through hard times right now. Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds (v. 1). Forgiveness or anger. You can agree with Him that all He says is true. If you want hope to flood your heart, it starts with affliction that leads to endurance that produces proven character that results in the Holy Spirit filling us with hope. Difficultyyes. You can also tell Him when its difficult for you to believe. Does anyone doubt it? COVID-19 has caused a great deal of concern, anxiety, fear, and worry throughout our world. As I am making notes to share with you, I received a call from a dear friend and it was a call of rejoicing even as someone we both know is walking through a valley. A victim says Why did this happen to me? while a student asks, What can I learn from this?. Advent 2022, week 4: During this series, we are looking at how hope, peace, joy and love are at the heart of Christmas. She was raised as a Christian and at one time had a strong faith in Jesus Christ. But perpetual victimhood dooms you to a life of self-centered misery because you learn nothing from your trials. Hard times are real for everyone regardless of who we are or where we are. Life is not predictable. Just as practically no one will tell you to go away if you ask them how you can pray for them, there is a tremendous openness to discussions with others of matters of life and faith when you have just told them you have cancer. Thats a revolutionary thought to some people. He will bring direction to you. Church Of God. This message teaches us what to do when we find ourselves in difficult situations. read more, Scripture: Dont trust your feelings! Uplifting HOW TO PROFIT FROM YOUR PROBLEMS This message digs deep into the character of each Beatitude. Find rest in Jehovah-Rohi: There's power in the name! Jesus reduced the ten commandments down to just two. Hard Times A) I read about a man that was sitting at home one evening when the doorbell rang! Community reminds you that you are never alone, even in hard times. All of us face those questions because we all go through deep trials eventually. This isnt like Paul in Romans with his intricate theological arguments. 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. read more, Scripture: Will you say yes today? So dont judge your circumstances by your feelings. B. Phillips, hoping for some light (if not a way of escape). Copyright 2003-2023 | Outreach, Inc., All rights reserved. Without warning there is a sudden jolt, the car swerves to the right and comes to a halt. Because his death happened right before Christmas it was the first time that I had ever missed any events of my churchs Christmas season. Sermon: Persevere in Obedience - Jeremiah 37, 38; Scriptures: Jeremiah 20:1-13. Life is like that for all of us. Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, Exodus 16:13-14 Your friends and family are enjoyable. We had a great track team and usually won our track meets by a large margin. A victim would rather complain than find a solution. I have firm faith that my soul is saved by the grace and mercy of the Triune God, and not by any accomplishment or merit of my own. Genesis 18:14, Dont allow any hard time to break you, to cause you to quit, give up and lose hope. This message explores Psalm 1 and gives us actionable advice to multiply happiness and avoid taking the wrong path that leads to misery. I dont know what the future holds for Nabeel, but as I pray for his healing, I also pray that his faith might remain strong. kindness..I had a time to relax, but I did not get a chance to Jesus is the answer! Dark times eventually pass, and when they do, you can be grateful for the valuable lessons you've learned. Helping students know Jesus, grow in their faith and go to the world to tell others. 1. If we need hope, we will have it. And hard times can come as a result of our own sin, natural catastrophe, economic Gods Help for Hard Times God has ordained that your trials are part of his plan to make you like Jesus. He is present in your situation. I can think of three obvious answers to that question. Trust in God with Sermons in Difficult Times. How to Handle Hard Times Faith in Gods Characterthat he is good and makes no mistake. He wants you to learn to trust Him as you get to know Him. Use your hobbies and interests to find the best place for you to serve. Jesus loves you back to wholeness. Christian/Church Of Christ. Gen 35: 15 -20 Are your priorities right? Then she walked out of my office. Scripture: (Cited by James Montgomery Boice in his Romans series.). And we will rejoice if we believe what God has said. They can change at any moment, even in an instant. Which do you choose? Encouragement (From the Bible Knowledge Commentary). Walking closely with the Spirit will not only give you direction but will remind you that you are not alone. 1-3a). My friend has decided to count it all joy in the midst of his cancer. * The Because we live in a fallen world, nothing works the way its supposed to. Becky Dvorak is the host of the dynamic teaching program, Empowered for Healing and Miracles, featured globally on the Its Supernatural! The word of God and the Holy Spirit brings reassurance and peace to your soul. In Daniel chapter two, King Nebuchadnezzar has a dream that is very troubling to him. Everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted (2 Tim. He uses hard times to put our faith to the test. Thus the first step in seeking the Lord during your hard times is to examine your heart and confess your sins, relying on His grace through the shed blood of Jesus Christ. Acts 12:1-19. You do not have to share struggles with everyone, but find those people who will encourage you and share the truth with you not just tell you what you want to hear. read more, Scripture: Titus 3:3-8, GOD hates LAZINESS. To have one husband murdered and another one disintegrate body, soul and spirit through cancer, is not what you would call a proof of the love of God. What do you do when your world caves in? 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. A student understands that God allows hard times in order to help him grow. This message explores keys to a victorious life and how God is with you in the battle. Faithfully continue to seek the Lord, but wait on His timing. Many people in Scripture even reference other parts of Scripture to encourage themselves and those around them. James was evidently the half-brother of Jesus, meaning that he was the biological son of Joseph and Mary. How do you trust Him when you do not understand what is happening? No theory here. Second, your particular trial doesnt matter as much as how you respond to it. Located minutes from downtown Pleasanton, in the San Francisco Bay Area, East Bay. read more, Scripture: Introduction: Peace or worry. In 1 Thessalonians 3:1-8 Paul writes to some new believers who suddenly found themselves in great difficulty. Thanks to all of you for your prayers while my wife and I were away in Jamaica. He does not always give you the big picture, but He will show you the next step. When you are feeling down or depressed, look up and call out to Jesus. WebLikewise, in order for us to be strong in difficult times, we must stand firm in Gods power and through his word. read more, Scripture: Intro: People, by nature, are inquisitive. Or someone you trusted may start spreading lies about you. TOPIC: STANDING STRONG IN DIFFICULT TIMES (Ephesians In many parts of the world it is dangerous even to be a For more resources on trusting God, check out: The Bible has no contradictions. Because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance (v. 3). It is hardest to trust God during times of conflict, uncertainty, and 2. No doubt our main problem comes because we misunderstand the word joy. In contemporary parlance, the word is virtually a synonym for happiness. To us, joy means the absence of all pain. WE have heard of the diva athletes and entertainers who are almost impossible to deal with. No help there. To seek the Lord properly, review and affirm Gods attributes. You need only to look. Faith allows us to find our way through struggle the WebAnd Adam and Eve would deal with toil and difficulty in their daily work. Handbook for Hard Times | Keep Believing Ministries We need you. Spend regular time with God. James 1:2-12: In a trial or hardship? Strategies From Genesis "Equipping and encouraging people to keep believing in Jesus", Copyright 2020 Keep Believing Ministries. Note two key words in the last phrase. James offers what appears to be a strange piece of advice: Consider it pure joy or Count it all joy (KJV).
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