Difficultyyes. 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. Helping students know Jesus, grow in their faith and go to the world to tell others. We need to know how to survive as the culture turns against us. Your goals, finances, health and outlook seem bright. No, in the midst of the storm, I do not have to worry about my salvation, and for that I praise you, God. As he said, I would have preferred to find out whats behind Door # 2. We all feel that way when trouble come our way. The top is down, the music is blaring, and the driver is having a blast. Because most of the time you dont have a choice about the bad things that happen to you. He also gives you other believers to walk with. So many believers struggle because they try to handle their problems alone. I conclude, then, that counting it all joy is a conscious choice we make when hard times come. What will life look like in a month, in six months, in a year. Do you love him? The tools of the shepherd are the rod and staff. Peace or worry. He reminds them that He does not sleep or take a break. The greater the tragedy, the greater will be the mystery. Perseverance says, I will not give up no matter what happens or how bad life may be. Place: BLCC 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. Until then, your faith is speculative because it is untested. A victim feels so sorry for himself that he has no time for others. Rest assured, God is on your side and you have nothing to fear. 14. Paul was a follower of Jesus and a leader in the early church. Hard times, times of trials and tribulations, seem to be as constant as the sunrise. Sometimes what you need to do is wait. The message shares despite all the problems of life or that life is difficult that God remains good. To trust is to believe in the reliability, truth, ability or strength of something. read more, Scripture: That said, if Im looking for wisdom, I wont start with them. WebThank God for those who touch your life. Leading from values so others will walk passionately with God to grow and bear fruit. read more, Scripture: She was raised as a Christian and at one time had a strong faith in Jesus Christ. That sounds so odd that one wonders if he is serious. James 1:1-4: Did you know that trials have a purpose? You seek to live a godly life, but you suffer one health problem after another, while you know many who abuse their bodies with a life of dissipation and are never sick for a day. B. Phillips, hoping for some light (if not a way of escape). She then adds this P.S. 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. And hard times can come as a result of our own sin, natural catastrophe, economic Another message on the awesome power of God! It is understandable as this is a hugely unknown situation for all of us. Jesus is never tolerant of sin, but always willing to forgive it. Many of you know from experience the unrelenting pressure from circumstances that keeps you awake at night and saps your strength during the day. In a call from a friend. This message digs deep into the character of each Beatitude. 5 Smooth Stones, part 1, How To Get Through Trials and Tests James: Faith & Works, part 2, Stand Firm in Faith and Persevere, An Intro to James James: Faith & Works, part 1, You Are Not Alone: Sitting with Elijah Under the Broom Tree, Faith in 3D: Build a Strong Faith Thats Defined, Demonstrated, & Directed, The Importance of Unity in Christ - Resurrecting Hope, part 4, God, Where Are You? Do you need to devote yourself to unselfish religious deeds? Our sermon ideas about Coronavirus will help you preach a powerful message. 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. Spend regular time with God. He is always working in your life and in the world. How to Handle Hard Times In You, O Lord, I put my trust; let me never be put to shameDeliver me, O my God, out of the The word testing refers to the process by which gold ore was purified. 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. Here is how we live with joy in the hard things. Hard times are difficult times of life, a time that you hate to experience, not palatable with the flesh. Those early Christians were Jewish, scattered, poor, and struggling. When you do that, a powerful conclusion emerges: These great trials give me great hope that God means a great benefit to me. Thanks for your interest! C.S. Introduction One of the major themes in the book of Philippians is joy. How to Trust God, Even in Difficult Times | Cru - Cru.org Acts 9:32-43, Denomination: It reminds us again that we grow stronger as we lean on each other. Matthew 25:31-46. What we believe about the gospel and our call to serve every nation. Dont fight the battle alone. Hard Times In fact, this is the opposite of chance or circumstance. My A friend or family member betrays you. But as xtians we have antidotes against har. Because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance (v. 3). They havent lived long enough. Philippians 1:3-7: Want more joy in your life? Reaching students and faculty in middle and high school. 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). Live in another country building relationships and ministries with eternal impact. Sermon He will bring direction to you. When no one seems to care about you, self-love can make you stronger. Just straight talk from Jesus brother about what works and what doesnt work in the Christian life. 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 It reminds you that He is trustworthy whatever your circumstances. Count it all joy? WE have heard of the diva athletes and entertainers who are almost impossible to deal with. SURVIVING DIFFICULT TIMES When you are feeling down or depressed, look up and call out to Jesus. You never know what you believe until hard times come. This message teaches us what joy is, how can we find it, and what can get in the way. Psalm 1: Want a blessed life of meaning and fulfillment? Daniel 2:1-23 Trusting God is living a life of belief in and obedience to God even when its difficult. Here are This message teaches us what to do when we find ourselves in difficult situations. You wont do this perfectly, but God is kind and patient with you while you learn to trust Him. 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.. Faith in Gods Purposethat he is conforming us to the image of Jesus Christ. 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 Holy Spirit is your constant helper, pointing you to Jesus. The Bird Dog- Four legged bird dogs point to where the hunter should shoot. In order to separate the gold from the dross, the ore was placed in a furnace and heated until it melted. 1. Copyright 2003-2023 | Outreach, Inc., All rights reserved. CT: Gods way is often the Hard Way. Many of us know the story of Elisabeth Elliot. The two-legged Bird Dog likes Learn about Cru's global leadership team. And for the most part, we cant choose our trials nor can we avoid most of them. A victim would rather complain than find a solution. Gods Encouragement in Tough Times But thats the whole point. Mercy, pastoring aint always easy, now is it? God created the world to display His glory. That He loves you and has good in store for you. Colossians 3:17-25: Whats the key to true peace? You are never alone no matter how you may feel. Day 5 of 40 days of fasting! 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. Join her on Mondays at 8:30 AM and 8:30 PM EST. Allow the word of God to light your path and the Holy Spirit to be a very present help. A Christmas sermon describing how Christ can be born into the most difficult of circumstances. View our top Cru resources in more than 20 languages. Fear not, Christian friend. Our friends watch to see how we will respond to tragedy. Words of Encouragement For Hard Times Reflecting Jesus together for the good of the city. read more, Scripture: For the last few years, he has served as a speaker with Ravi Zacharias International Ministries. You can read the morning paper and To apprehend Gods sovereignty working in that love is we must say it the last and highest victory of the faith that overcomes the world. Evaluate where youve placed your faith and get practical instruction for building a faith that can outlast any storm. You can watch the news on any given day and hear of the hard times of those around our country. This isnt like Paul in Romans with his intricate theological arguments. TOPIC: STANDING STRONG IN DIFFICULT TIMES (Ephesians 1. WebLife can be scary, especially during hard times.Maybe you've lost your job, are battling a chronic illness or your marriage is falling apart. Striving to see Christ-followers on every team, in every sport and in every nation. At the moment my friend is currently in treatment for his cancer. But if you shift your focus to God, then you can find joy even in the worst moments of life. Most of the time we will carry those unfilled blanks with us all the way to heaven. James begins with an exhortation about how to respond when hard times come. read more, Scripture: read more, Scripture: No accidents! read more, Scripture: Some people may regard this as a negative, but to me it is a positive. Jesus guaranteed His followers that they would face hard times (John 16:33), but He promised that He would always be with them (Matthew 28:20). You may not see a way out of the situation you find yourself walking in today; but know this, you are not alone. No matter how things might appear immpossible to ue, there is nothing too hard for the Lord. Sometimes we will see it; often we will simply have to take it by faith. A Then I challenged her to become a woman of truth because the truth will set her free. SLIDE #1 In many ways the little letter of James is the most practical book in the New Testament. He will help you wait with endurance. He is present in your situation. 2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Get the latest service information, weekly sermon, and other updates. WebSermons: TRUSTING GOD IN DIFFICULT TIMES. Acts 12:1-19. Our text shows how Paul reassured them. Baptist. Contributed by Jeffery Anselmi on Apr 29, 2010. based Learn the basics of what Christians believe. Maybe its about starting over and creating something new. Becky Dvorak is the host of the dynamic teaching program, Empowered for Healing and Miracles, featured globally on the Its Supernatural! It is not pretending that everything is OK when it isnt. Genesis 21:8-21, The book of Jude has for us a message about perseverance in the faith, CALL TO PERSEVERE: NATURAL INSTINCTS Advent 2022, week 4: During this series, we are looking at how hope, peace, joy and love are at the heart of Christmas. Jim and his four co-workers were speared to death by the Indians. "Equipping and encouraging people to keep believing in Jesus", Copyright 2020 Keep Believing Ministries. 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. Not Herod, not the guards, not the people of the church, not even Peter himself. Community reminds you that you are never alone, even in hard times. Surviving Hard times Gen 35: 15 -20 Hard times are difficult His name was Andy. Let the light of the Gospel shine in your heart. Thats a picture of what God is up to in our fiery trials. We all have to undergo some furnace time sooner or later. No! Those things that seem so painful now will one day be clearly seen as benefits to our spiritual growth. Faith in Gods Powerthat he can deliver us from every temptation. A student has no time to complain because he is busy making the best of his situation. This helps you accept that God is bigger than you could ever understand. Hope is important because it can make the present moment less difficult to bear. They would feel scared about being left alone. Trust or unbelief. But as xtians we have antidotes against hard Dealing With Difficult People When Jesus was telling His followers that He was going to be killed, He knew that they would be worried. Introduction. This message is for you! INTRODUCTION Write out your question. Thats what Paul feared for the Thessalonians. Meet with other believers and set your eyes on things that are bigger than your circumstances. 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. He is not disappointed or frustrated by your struggles, doubts or pain. How we seek to journey together with everyone towards a relationship with Jesus. read more, Scripture: United Methodist. To seek the Lord properly, review and affirm Gods attributes. He is making a way for you. 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. Wait on Him to act on your behalf. Why? The dross rose to the surface and was skimmed off, leaving only pure gold. This message is a reminder that God is always working in your life. I am so thankful that I am a child of the Father, redeemed by the Son, and sealed in the Spirit. You can ask Him to help you believe what He says is true. God knows you need somewhere to go when you feel unsure. So when we could stand it no longer, we thought it best to be left by ourselves in Athens. For more resources on trusting God, check out: The Bible has no contradictions. If I truly believe that, then I can move to the second statement and begin to look for ways to grow spiritually. Instead learn the principles that will make you harder than your hard time. 2,000 flights canceled: Airlines still recovering from Chicago fire. Look up and call out to Jesus - Psalm 23:4: Even though I walk through the darkest valleyyou are with me.. Troublesyes. Here are a few recent headlines: Woman beheaded in Oklahoma. The Coffin and the Christmas Tree No one is exempt, no one gets a trouble-free ride to heaven. Nothing is too hard: The word of God is used to defend. Even some mature Christians react this way, as evidenced by Pauls words of reassurance to Timothy many years later. God intends to put our faith to the test. Then you find out, for better or for worse. Is it important? We are a Colossians 1:9-14: Are you living worthy of the Lord? My friend has decided to count it all joy in the midst of his cancer. Mystery Virus Causes Paralysis. read more, Scripture: 8 Inspiring Messages For The Christian Trying To Stay Strong In Faith. Paul knew that was a possibility, which is why he was so worried about these young Thessalonian believers. God is never neglecting your life. And we will rejoice if we believe what God has said. The great danger is that we will try to short-circuit the process by running away from our problems. 5 Encouraging Psalms For Hope through Hard Times As Tony Evans has pointed out, everything that happens in the world is either caused by God or allowed by God, and there is no third category. In this case, the great Apostle himself drew strength from the courage of these new believers. We should rejoice. Encouragement in Difficult Times | Joyce Meyer - YouTube These days I spend a lot of my time teaching young people. The shepherd is always looking to protect his sheep. But when times feel difficult, it is even more important to trust God. 1 Corinthians 10:13, Romans 8:28, Denomination: Fellow believers can remind you of Gods character through encouragement and accountability. They come when they come, and we have to cope as best we can. Years later Elisabeth married Addison Leitch, former president of Pittsburgh Theological Seminary. The document with the active links can be found in PDF form at this web address: http://www.firstpresanchorage.org/Sermons.htm (The sermon is titled the same: "King Herods Early Release Program") The links are not active in this But those things alone are not reliable enough to base your life on. Hard Times You may feel alone. Serve those around you. Look for Things to Be Grateful For.