Mystery Virus Causes Paralysis. When times are good, it can feel easier. This message digs deep into the character of each Beatitude. No accidents! The tools of the shepherd are the rod and staff. Second, your particular trial doesnt matter as much as how you respond to it. When life gets too difficult to bear, your inner strength can help you fight your toughest battles. It is understandable as this is a hugely unknown situation for all of us. Look for Things to Be Grateful For. God's Love Scripture Verses in the Bible | Cru. Have some fun taking various quizzes and assessments to learn about yourself and others. James offers what appears to be a strange piece of advice: Consider it pure joy or Count it all joy (KJV). Who is the Holy Spirit and What Does He Do. Psalm 71 for When You Feel Like Everyone Is Against You. Read about individuals who have been transformed by faith. Will you say yes today? Perseverance says, I will not give up no matter what happens or how bad life may be. B. 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. It is unchanging and completely trustworthy. These days I spend a lot of my time teaching young people. Note to reader: I have hot-links to various subjects in this sermon. Christ is the answer for life's difficult questions. Many of them are unbelievers who wonder if Christ is real. No one is exempt, no one gets a trouble-free ride to heaven. If we need love, we will have it. He believes that his gods are trying to tell him something about his powerful That is the shared faith of Gods people. God wants to encourage us during hard times. Title: Having Joy in the hard things Learn to develop your skills, desire and ability to join others on their spiritual journeys and take them closer to Jesus. You may feel alone. He cares about you, and you can trust Him with those things. There is no gold without the fiery furnace. Thats what James is talking about. It may seem so at the time, but its not really true. Those early Christians were Jewish, scattered, poor, and struggling. The rod is used to protect and drive the enemy away. Colossians 3:12-17: Got peace? God is never neglecting your life. Nothing is Too Difficult for God Job 5:7 reminds us that man is born for trouble as surely as the sparks fly upward.. Third, he tempts us to give in to despair and discouragement. God is completely trustworthy, but He does not ask you to trust Him blindly. Thats what perseverance looks like. Seeing things Gods way doesnt cancel your trials and it doesnt turn them into non-trials, but it does transform your evaluation of those trials. We know that he wrote very early because the book is addressed to the twelve tribes scattered abroad (1:1), meaning the very earliest Jewish believers who had been scattered because of the persecution of the church in Jerusalem (see Acts 8:1-3). In various ways we will all struggle every day as we make our earthly pilgrimage. Hard Times Look to Jesus and you will find the strength you need. Serve those around you. There is nothing that our God cannot do. First, it is good to acknowledge that His character is good and trustworthy. Or someone you trusted may start spreading lies about you. In the moments when everything appears to be falling apart, it can be hard to see how the Good Father is at work, but know His mercy is consistent. Not Herod, not the guards, not the people of the church, not even Peter himself. John 17:20-26: Are you dealing with a dispute, conflict, or falling-out? We live in dangerous times. We rejoiced. HOW TO PROFIT FROM YOUR PROBLEMS In todays message, learn where abundance comes from and how to cultivate it in your heart. Peace or worry. read more, Scripture: Explore answers to life's biggest questions. Trials will come but they are never to hurt you; rather they are to build you up. Incidentsyes. Not a problem in the world, not a care or a concern. Everything that happens to us is either caused by God or allowed by God. Are you ready for a close, personal relationship with the shepherd? I would submit to you that the answer is no! The Bird Dog- Four legged bird dogs point to where the hunter should shoot. Are you open to what the Lord wants to do in your life? Handbook for Hard Times | Keep Believing Ministries This is the sort of faith that Paul has in mind in Romans 5. WE have seen some athletes who have figuratively blown up locker If we need hope, we will have it. Strategies From Genesis Philippians 1:3-7: Want more joy in your life? Gods Encouragement in Tough Times 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. It is hardest to trust God during times of conflict, uncertainty, and 2. They can change at any moment, even in an instant. Luke 2:1-7, Denomination: If you trust someone, you feel comfortable being honest with them about anything. As I thought about the matter, I concluded that even if I had the power (which I dont), I wouldnt take the pain away or make the hard times disappear. In the book of Isaiah, God responds to the Israelites who thought that God had turned away from them. Thanks for your interest! Joy or bitterness. A few days ago we interviewed Nabeel Qureshi on American Family Radio about his new book No God But One: Allah or Jesus?. 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. Kindness or malice. Sign up to join over 20,000 subscribers receiving our weekly sermon email. The following Tuesday he announced that he has been diagnosed with advanced stomach cancer and the prognosis is grim. We are a Because ethnicity is part of the good of creation, we seek to honor and celebrate the ethnic identity of those with whom we serve as well as those we seek to reach. It was not to be. Genesis 18:14 poses an important question "Is there anything too hard for the Lord?" I will hold on because I promised and because I believe the Lord has something in store for me. That sort of gritty stubbornness produces genuine spiritual maturity. Genesis 21:8-21, The book of Jude has for us a message about perseverance in the faith, CALL TO PERSEVERE: NATURAL INSTINCTS I love the enthusiasm of the younger generation for the Word of God. Philippians 1:12-18, Denomination: Romans 16:12. The Holy Spirit is your constant helper, pointing you to Jesus. (John 14:26, NIV). And get 5 action steps for enduring To be sure, there are many gray-haired fools (and there are many wise and godly young people), but Solomon means that if you have walked with the Lord, you will be filled with wisdom in your old age. Life is like that for all of us. What happened to her can happen to any of us if we respond wrongly to hard times. A student has no time to complain because he is busy making the best of his situation. I was afraid that in some way the tempter might have tempted you and our efforts might have been useless (v. 5). Baptist. Hard Times Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, That part is up to us. Contributed by Jeffery Anselmi on Apr 29, 2010. based Get the answers to frequently asked questions on Christian beliefs and practices. These simple practices will help you see God outside of difficult things, which will establish trust in your heart that He will move in your circumstances. Let the light of the Gospel shine in your heart. Immortal, Invisible, God Only Wise To all, life Thou givest, to both great and small, In all life Thou livest, the true life of all; We blossom and flourish as leaves on the tree, And wither and perishbut naught changeth Thee. (Walter C. Smith, 1867) 2. - 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. Think of one of the hardest times in your life; what question would you like answered? Which do you choose? If you dont need this sermon today, put it in your back pocket because you will definitely need it tomorrow! But thats not what the Bible means. Trusting in Him means believing what He says about Himself, about the world and about you is true. Consider these words by Roy Zuck: For the child of God, there are no accidents, only incidents. That may be the best one-sentence summary of Romans 8:28 Ive ever seen. # WHO is a Diligent person? Colossians 1:9-14: Are you living worthy of the Lord? The truth of Scripture frees you from the expectations of earning your salvation (John 8:32). When those you love are in great pain or when you face senseless tragedy or when friends turn against you or when life tumbles in around you, your feelings wont be an accurate guide. From the shadows they watch us as we suffer to see if what we have is real or not. But thats how life is sometimes. God calls you to give thanks. All of us face those questions because we all go through deep trials eventually. Paul knew that was a possibility, which is why he was so worried about these young Thessalonian believers. One of the great assets we had was in the 100 yard dash, we had the kid that was the fastest kid in the whole league. When we read this epistle, we get a glimpse of Christianity in its earliest form. Or you may be fired without warning. We need to know how to survive as the culture turns against us. Baptist. Are you nuts? As he said, I would have preferred to find out whats behind Door # 2. We all feel that way when trouble come our way. Hard You can have hope because anything is possible. I received a note from someone who found her way back to God after a long time in the wilderness: I felt I should tell you a little bit of a story in hopes it might help someone else. The Holy Spirit lives in anyone who trusts in Jesus. From canceling worship services and holding our Sunday gatherings online, to not This message reminds us that were never alone offers advice for what to focus on and how to confront Satan. Spend time in prayer acknowledging who He is. You can agree with Him that all He says is true. Just straight talk from Jesus brother about what works and what doesnt work in the Christian life. By not running away from the trials that come your way. Difficult circumstances feel all-consuming at times. 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. For the last few years, he has served as a speaker with Ravi Zacharias International Ministries. Faith in Gods Presencethat he is with us in the darkest moments of life. WebPsalm 4:1 Answer me when I call to you, O my righteous God. What will life look like in a month, in six months, in a year. And those who are following ever so close to him. When things feel difficult, He doesnt ask you to keep those feelings to yourself. As I survey the New Testament teaching regarding trials, two truths stand out. We need to gain all that God has for us. These are difficult days in which we live. "Equipping and encouraging people to keep believing in Jesus", Copyright 2020 Keep Believing Ministries. It is one thing to know the truth. Daniel 2:1-23, Denomination: So I decided to check out some other translations. If we want a natural response, we can talk about anger or despair or complaining or getting even or running away. Do you love him? God wants you to go to Him with your circumstances. Knowing that God is for you will strengthen your trust in Him during times of hardship and the unknown. Be blessed? Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds (v. 1). Methodist. Keeping your eyes on Jesus is the best way to be encouraged. Often we focus intently on the details of our difficulties as if the difficulty itself were the most important thing in the world. The Bible says that God cannot lie. Of them it was said, They died singing., It is the quality of Meriam Ibrahim who when pressured by the Muslim prosecutor in Sudan to renounce her Christian faith, knowing that her life was on the line, said, I am a Christian and I will remain a Christian.. Thank goodness! In order to separate the gold from the dross, the ore was placed in a furnace and heated until it melted. You know quite well that we were destined for them (v. 3b). In your waking up. But my belief in the love of God is not by inference or instinct. kindness..I had a time to relax, but I did not get a chance to In many parts of the world it is dangerous even to be a Thats a picture of what God is up to in our fiery trials. We all have to undergo some furnace time sooner or later. Luke 18:26-27, Genesis 18:9-14. Here are a few recent headlines: Woman beheaded in Oklahoma. Use your hobbies and interests to find the best place for you to serve. Under pressure we begin to give in to bad habits, wrong attitudes, and then we begin the long slide in the wrong direction. Let no one condemn her, but instead let us consider our own lives and realize how vulnerable we are to Satans attacks. If you're looking for the best Christian jobs and careers, check out Cru's ministry job openings for full- and part-time missionaries and professionals. Another message on the awesome power of God! Haggai 1:1-15: Distracted? The car hit a massive pothole and suddenly the happy journey is over. God can shape your view of your circumstances. Strategies From Genesis (And Beyond) (Part 2) Paul reminded his friend that partnership is important and helps us have a greater understanding of God and His plan. Stop in your tracks and allow your eyes to adjust to the darkness. WebLikewise, in order for us to be strong in difficult times, we must stand firm in Gods power and through his word. What was her testimony? God is with you, wherever you wander. And we will rejoice if we believe what God has said. Encouragement You also act on obedience (doing what God says in His Word) and trust that He will ultimately take care of the rest. We don't have to be miserable, frustrated and unhappy in difficult places. How to Handle Hard Times John 9:1-39: Are you limiting God, or living with your spiritual eyes wide open? He shared this with a fellow believer as encouragement. Many of us know the story of Elisabeth Elliot. So, what do you do then? So He asked for help. Paul had set the example of joyfulness in difficult times. read more, Scripture: Things break. Gods mercy is limitless. Jesus loves you back to wholeness. She was raised as a Christian and at one time had a strong faith in Jesus Christ. I confess to be being bothered by this so I decided to check it out in the Greek. On our journey from earth to glory, we will face many difficult situations. Establishing a consistent time with the Lord when things feel good will help you to continue to go to Him when things feel rough. Matthew 22: 15 22 / Why Is The Sky Blue? He wants to help you grow your faith. 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. There are two ways of life. These are difficult days in many parts of the world. CT: Gods way is often the Hard Way. SERIES: Inspire! to our ministers who preached and taught in my absence. He will help you wait with endurance. They would feel scared about being left alone. Trusting God is not about ignoring your feelings or reality. 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. When you find yourself in a valley or some dark place, such as a sickness or feeling depressed, a spiritual attack or a loss of some kind, its not the place you find yourself in that is important so much as the one who is with you. Sermon 52-week preaching calendar to help you plan your sermons, Customizable sermon manuscripts for verse-by-verse preaching, Preach with creativity and impact throughout the year, Help your church understand God's plan in pain, Call your people to experience a higher freedom, Proclaim the gospel to the ends of the earth. Church Of God. Most often they come through and with and alongside our trials. Must you become a better person so that God will accept you? Hebrews 11: Where do we find strong faith? Your job is satisfying. Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning. All things do not work for the good for all people. Life is Difficult, But God is Good Hebrews 11:1-3, 8-16 #1 Sermon: John 10:1-10 Inspirational; Small Group Studies; Church Media. Life is difficult, but God is good. My friend has decided to count it all joy in the midst of his cancer. This week were learning about how love is at the heart of Christmas. 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. We all need to live each day fully for Him. But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. (From the Bible Knowledge Commentary). Love or hatred. A victim believes his hard times have come because God is trying to punish him. He asked Jesus to heal him if you can. Jesus asked the man if he did not believe that Jesus could heal, and this was his reply. When we obey line upon line and precept upon precept, we will He hears your requests and answers them. read more, Scripture: The word of God is used to defend. Then I challenged her to become a woman of truth because the truth will set her free. Thats what Paul feared for the Thessalonians. He is not disappointed or frustrated by your struggles, doubts or pain. Some things we learn from books, others we learn in the School of Hard Knocks. 1. 1. Then she walked out of my office. The dross rose to the surface and was skimmed off, leaving only pure gold. He is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow and therefore is worthy of your trust. Learn about Cru's global leadership team. Still, God answers the prayer. Hard times, times of trials and tribulations, seem to be as constant as the sunrise. We live in a madcap world that work the whole night and sleep the whole day with no time for self or family. 1. JAMES 1: 2- 11 Consider the following Introduction: Hard times are real for everyone regardless of who we are or where we are. Whenever I tell others about my rough road back to Christ from non-Christian relationships, the one question I am always asked is, What would have helped make my road back a little easier? My answer is, during my time of spiritual loneliness, if I had had a sister in Christ seek me out and tell me, Ive been there, I love you, and I can help you find your way back to Jesus, perhaps I could have been spared a lot more pain than having to discover the answers on my own. So many believers struggle because they try to handle their problems alone. In the book of Romans, one of the early followers of Jesus, Paul, writes to believers about the present life. Proverbs 6:6-11, Proverbs 10:4-5, Proverbs 13:4, Denomination: The book of Jude is one of those that we skip over most of the time. I missed the Childrens Or your husband may decide he doesnt want to be married anymore. Dark times eventually pass, and when they do, you can be grateful for the valuable lessons you've learned. Have tremendous expectations and believe in them. He also wants you to come to Him simply to spend time with Him. read more, Scripture: And hard times can come as a result of our own sin, natural catastrophe, economic Standing Firm in Difficult Days (Philippians 4 We have an anchor for our lives in the Lord. Note two key words in the last phrase. To seek the Lord properly, review and affirm Gods attributes. The phrase we were destined comes from a verb that means to put or to place. Its a very strong way of saying these hard times were placed here by God. They didnt happen by accident. As You probably wont feel joyful or grateful or full of trust. Pope Francis: World War III Is Already Here.. Dont trust your feelings! Rest assured, God is on your side and you have nothing to fear. After several promising attempts at first contact, a team of five missionaries flew to a jungle landing strip, hoping to establish friendly relations. The Strong Power in Every Woman Perseverance requires desperate dependence and dogged determination to hold on to our faith even when the world seems to disintegrate around us. WebIn stormy seasons like this, it can be hard to maintain hope. I will visit on the right time, Then you will have a blessing which cannot be destroyed Write out your question. Your goals, finances, health and outlook seem bright. I want to begin this message by giving you some common contemporary types of difficult people you may encounter. You show up to practice every day, giving it your all, but you lose every game. The word testing refers to the process by which gold ore was purified. Paul is saying, I can face my trials because I see how well you are facing yours.. Faith in Gods Purposethat he is conforming us to the image of Jesus Christ. Winning in Difficult Situations Galatians 6:4-10, Denomination: Sometimes what you need to do is wait. This message is for you! ( 1:4,18, 25,26 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. Your feelings and circumstances matter and are very much worth paying attention to. read more, Scripture: * The The Lord your shepherd is always with you. When hard times come, be a student, not a victim. Over 20 years have passed since that day, and I still regard that simple sentence as one of the most profound things I have ever heard. The Final Judgment Matthew 25: 31-46 25:40 He is faithful. That He always keeps His promises. CORONAVIRUS. Job spoke of this experience when he declared of the Lord, He knows the way that I take; when he has tested me, I will come forth as gold (Job 23:10). If we believe that tomorrow will be better, we can bear a hardship today. Many of you know from experience the unrelenting pressure from circumstances that keeps you awake at night and saps your strength during the day. I will share common types of difficult behavior in a few minutes, but I want to lay a proper foundation first. This week we learn how Gods expression of love is witnessed in the birth of Jesus. Truthfully, its probably a choice well have to make again and again and again. His name was Andy. Faithfully continue to seek the Lord, but wait on His timing. What we believe about the gospel and our call to serve every nation. Jesus reduced the ten commandments down to just two. 1. We are all in harms way. But if you shift your focus to God, then you can find joy even in the worst moments of life. 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. No matter who we are or where we live, trouble is just a phone call away. When you are feeling down or depressed, look up and call out to Jesus. Living in Hard Times | Keep Believing Ministries Take the next step in your faith journey with resources on prayer, devotionals and other tools for personal and spiritual growth. Even some mature Christians react this way, as evidenced by Pauls words of reassurance to Timothy many years later. There Is Nothing Too Hard For The Lord This message reveals what we can do to remain rooted in Christ and why its so important. A student has learned through the problems of life that God alone is the source of all true happiness. Internship opportunities with Cru's ministries. The word joy means joy. God cares about them both. Maybe its not always about trying to fix whats broken.