You can read the morning paper and Find Hope & Comfort During Hard Times: Inspire!, part 1 When your trials are over, you will come forth as gold. Stop in your tracks and allow your eyes to adjust to the darkness. It isnt natural to find joy in hardship. You probably wont feel joyful or grateful or full of trust. It is the in-between times when faith grows, and God brings life to the dead. Words of Encouragement For Hard Times These are difficult days in many parts of the world. That part is up to us. It may seem so at the time, but its not really true. Hebrews 11:1-16, Denomination: There is no gold without the fiery furnace. Forgiveness or anger. Some people go through life as professional victims, always talking about how they have been mistreated. 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. A victim says Why did this happen to me? while a student asks, What can I learn from this?. Evangelical Free. I can think of three obvious answers to that question. Because I see things from a human perspective, I might actually hurt you instead of help you even though my motives would be good. Perhaps were sick and feel as if well never get better again. We cant always know why things happen the way they do. Evangelical/Non-Denominational. Our text shows how Paul reassured them. He cares for your hurts. 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 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. Waiting on the Lord reminds you that you are not in control. Is it important? Here Paul plainly says that we can overcome our trials by faith. 1 Samuel 17:40-54: Need to experience victory? Many people in Scripture even reference other parts of Scripture to encourage themselves and those around them. Strategies From Genesis (And Beyond) (Part 2) For the children of God, all things do indeed work together for good. Nothing can separate you from Gods forgiving, healing love. Thank you! God does not intend to destroy us by the trials he allows to come our way. Be Thankful in All Things read more, Scripture: Incidentsyes. And we will rejoice if we believe what God has said. Darkness must flee. In many parts of the world it is dangerous even to be a Trusting in Him means believing what He says about Himself, about the world and about you is true. Living in Hard Times | Keep Believing Ministries Psalm 1: Want a blessed life of meaning and fulfillment? Have tremendous expectations and believe in them. In the last few days, Ive heard about prodigal children, aging parents, worries about the future, divorce, breast cancer, an infant with a serious medical condition, children far from God, Christians dealing with doubt, others with fear, and still others dealing with lingering bitterness. It reminds you that He is trustworthy whatever your circumstances. Or perhaps weve just gone through a divorce and we feel rejected and alone. (Cited by James Montgomery Boice in his Romans series.). * The They may in fact be a sign that we are in the will of God. As God is present and is making Himself known. God wants to encourage us during hard times. As inhabitants of a fallen world, we oftentimes face heartache, intimidation, and seemingly insurmountable obstacles. But as children of God, saved and secure in Jesus, we are never beyond the reach of the Lords encouragement. The staff is used to correct, restrain, and pull to safety. And it turned out that way, as you well know (v. 4). A friend or family member betrays you. Lossyes. Jesus reduced the ten commandments down to just two. What does it do? No need to worry because the Lord is with you. Help families pursue the relationships that matter most. SLIDE #1 Every hard trial is another step on the stairway that leads from earth to heaven. But we can choose how we respond. Im glad to invest in them because the future belongs to the young. You can get to know God through personal time with Him and through His Word. 1 Kings 19:3-18, Psalm 22: Are you burdened by feeling alone? Life is difficult, but God is good. They can change at any moment, even in an instant. All these things lead to the ultimate act of desperation where we give up our faith in God altogether. Hope and Encouragement. How to Trust God, Even in Difficult Times | Cru - Cru.org 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). Knowing that God is for you will strengthen your trust in Him during times of hardship and the unknown. WebFree Access to Sermons on Revelation End Times, Church Sermons, Illustrations on Revelation End Times, and Preaching Slides on Revelation End Times. 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? That place is His Word. "Equipping and encouraging people to keep believing in Jesus", Copyright 2020 Keep Believing Ministries. He also gives you other believers to walk with. Instead learn the principles that will make you harder than your hard time. Faith in Gods Powerthat he can deliver us from every temptation. Hard times are difficult times of life, a time that you hate to experience, not palatable with the flesh. Daniel 2:1-23 You show up to practice every day, giving it your all, but you lose every game. Wait on Him to act on your behalf. Psalm 23: God, Jehova-Rohithe Lord is my shepherd, knows where you are, and he will answer you. 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: Wait, trust and remember that God loves you. Live in another country building relationships and ministries with eternal impact. Gen 35: 15 -20 Luke 21:5-36, Denomination: However, when we begin to love others as we love ourselves This message reminds us that were never alone offers advice for what to focus on and how to confront Satan. I was afraid that in some way the tempter might have tempted you and our efforts might have been useless (v. 5). Try our selection of worship songs and sing along! Acts 12:1-19. This message is a reminder that God is always working in your life. It seems to be the deep theological response to all calamity. James 1:2-11, Nothing is too Hard for YHWH, at the right time he answers our prayers, Promise Genesis 18:14 - is there anything too hard for the Lord? You are quite likely to be filled with a whole bag of negative emotions. On our journey from earth to glory, we will face many difficult situations. Look up and call out to Jesus. The book of Eccl.1: 9 says, The thing that hath been, it is that which shall be; and that which is done is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun. The hard time that you are experiencing now, or that you will ever God can shape your view of your circumstances. God intends to put our faith to the test. That He always keeps His promises. Will you say yes today? 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. Spend time in prayer acknowledging who He is. But as xtians we have antidotes against har, Surviving Hard times Truthfully, its probably a choice well have to make again and again and again. Our perspective makes all the difference. We never suffer alone. No accidents! Good News for Dealing with Difficult People. Here is part of what my friend wrote as he looked back on the upheaval: Now that I am on the other side of those two years, I can see quite clearly what the Lord has had in mind, and I rejoice in it and praise him for the time in the cruciblehow it has sharpened me, further deepened my faith in him and love for him, and multiplied my opportunities to serve him. Introduction This message teaches us what joy is, how can we find it, and what can get in the way. of Patricia Christy. Therefore, we should not complain when hard times come. People kill each other. Trust grows as you look for Gods presence in what feels dark and heavy. You can ask Him to help you believe what He says is true. God knows you need somewhere to go when you feel unsure. A little here and a little there and eventually she began to experiment with drugs. One day you are announcing a new book; a few days later you are fighting for your life. Lift up your head in hard times and look for the Son of Man. The message shares despite all the problems of life or that life is difficult that God remains good. He reminds them that this life will have hardship and that our bodies will fail, but God is still working for our good. He reminds them that He does not sleep or take a break. What kind of faith does he have in mind? Trusting God is living a life of belief in and obedience to God even when its difficult. Heres a working definition: Joy is deep satisfaction that comes from knowing that God is in control even when my circumstances seem to be out of control. Hope is important because it can make the present moment less difficult to bear. 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. Thich Nhat Hanh Have great hopes and dare to go all out for them. What will life look like in a month, in six months, in a year. Do you have any idea what Ive just been through? It does sound rather idealistic, if not downright impossible. Difficult situations are not new to any generation. James offers what appears to be a strange piece of advice: Consider it pure joy or Count it all joy (KJV). Without warning there is a sudden jolt, the car swerves to the right and comes to a halt. Choose to embrace the hope that is offered to you in Jesus. 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. We need you. The words joy or rejoice are to be found in all four chapters of the book. Sometimes we will see it; often we will simply have to take it by faith. Thanks for your interest! What about joy? John 21:1-19: You are valuable to God. Not Herod, not the guards, not the people of the church, not even Peter himself. Sign up to join over 20,000 subscribers receiving our weekly sermon email. 1 Kings 19:19-21: What is God calling you to do? There are ups and downs along the way. Picture someone driving down the highway in a convertible. Heres what we need to know about the book. 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. In the book of Romans, one of the early followers of Jesus, Paul, writes to believers about the present life. There are no accidents with God, only incidents that are appointed by him for our good and his glory. That said, if Im looking for wisdom, I wont start with them. We grow old and die. Trusting God is more than a feeling; its a choice to have faith in what He says even when your feelings or circumstances would have you believe something different. Hard Times Get more articles, podcasts and videos to help you keep growing in your Christian faith. 1-3a). In order to separate the gold from the dross, the ore was placed in a furnace and heated until it melted. Thanks for your love and your Difficult circumstances feel all-consuming Place: BLCC TITUS 3:3-8 For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another. When you are feeling down or depressed, look up and call out to Jesus. Advent 2022, week 1: During this series, we will look at how hope, peace, joy and love are at the heart of Christmas. He hears your requests and answers them. Dont trust your feelings! Genesis 37:39-46, Denomination: God, on the other hand, does not change. Gentleness or stubbornness. 13. Take the next step in your faith journey with resources on prayer, devotionals and other tools for personal and spiritual growth. WebWe need to not moan in a trial but to learn the lessons of that trial. read more, Scripture: Nothing is Too Difficult for God When you are harder than your hard time, you will send your hard time packing and running from, Hard times are real. There is an abundant life to be had, and there is spiritual victory, and there is joy in the Lord and the filling of the Spirit, but those things dont come in spite of our trials. Illus. Paul reminded his friend that partnership is important and helps us have a greater understanding of God and His plan. PSALM 62:1-12 INSTRUCTIONS ON HOW TO HANDLE HARD TIMES Pope Francis: World War III Is Already Here.. Will you choose to live Gods best for you, no matter the circumstances? Fellow believers can remind you of Gods character through encouragement and accountability. Look for Things to Be Grateful For. Get the latest service information, weekly sermon, and other updates. Wait on Him to do what you cannot do yourself. Your privacy is important to us; well keep your email to ourselves. The two-legged Bird Dog likes God wants you to go to Him with your circumstances. Or the boss decides that we arent the right fit, whatever that means. Sometimes In Hard Times, God plots for your Victory : Biblical response to COVID 19 Showing God in action in and through His people. Are your priorities right? How do we get it? But if you shift your focus to God, then you can find joy even in the worst moments of life. I believe that hard times are coming to Christians who live in the West. Hard times are nothing new. Her addiction led her to terrible extremes in order to finance her drug habit. You are not alone. This is the sort of faith that Paul has in mind in Romans 5. 3:12). Even some mature Christians react this way, as evidenced by Pauls words of reassurance to Timothy many years later. No one, not a single person in this story expects Peter to be released. We have a great God who loves us more than we know. When life gets too difficult to bear, your inner strength can help you fight your toughest battles. He cares about you, and you can trust Him with those things. Hymns to Sing in Troubled Times read more, Scripture: What can we do to keep our faith strong? If we want a natural response, we can talk about anger or despair or complaining or getting even or running away. 1. God is able to do what he promised. It is really hard to see past them to other good things going on. Write out your question. Help others in their faith journey through discipleship and mentoring. The Holy Spirit will lead you to what you should do. In trust, you do not look for security in other things; you look to God to hold you securely in difficult circumstances. Encouragement in Difficult Times | Joyce Meyer - YouTube Or you may be fired without warning. Jude 1:17-21, Denomination: Your friends and family are enjoyable. To trust is to believe in the reliability, truth, ability or strength of something. He will help you wait with endurance. As I survey the New Testament teaching regarding trials, two truths stand out. Date: 2/26/17 There Is Nothing Too Hard For The Lord This is not news to you, but Im 1 Samuel 17:1-11: Feel defeated, afraid, or unable to move? She was raised as a Christian and at one time had a strong faith in Jesus Christ. Your job is satisfying. This message explores important questions about your faith and commitment to God. I was able to share that no matter how things may look, we can know that God is looking out for His children. 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. Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, Third, he tempts us to give in to despair and discouragement. Marriages break up. He wants you to learn to trust Him as you get to know Him. Usually they just happen without any rhyme or reason. Assembly Of God, Sunday Night: The Hard Way Are you ready for a close, personal relationship with the shepherd? C.S. We have been looking this month at the book of Philippians. Many of us want to trust God. Baptist. read more, Scripture: Heartacheyes. While we were preparing for the broadcast, he told me, Ray, I heard something today that really helped me. Learn the prescription for joy and success. The Bible records ways God has responded in difficult times in the past. Years ago my friend Jim Warren told me, Ray, when hard times come, be a student, not a victim. Thats good advice. I have a friend who within the space of two years lost his job of 30 years, found a new job that required him to relocate, and then was diagnosed with cancer.

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