The word joy means joy. An issue has occurred. They can remind you of the truth when youre struggling. Community reminds you that you are never alone, even in hard times. Would you like to give your time to work with Cru? I will share common types of difficult behavior in a few minutes, but I want to lay a proper foundation first. The truth of Scripture frees you from the expectations of earning your salvation (John 8:32). * When he answered the door, a six-foot tall cockroach was standing there. 2 Cor. LETTER FROM A PASTOR To My Dear Friend, Pastor Phil Blowhorn, He wants you to learn to trust Him as you get to know Him. 4:15-16). Philippians 4:1-8, Dealing With Difficult People If we believe that tomorrow will be better, we can bear a hardship today. Failureyes. God is much more concerned with how you respond than with the trial itself. You can have an easy life, or you can have a deep faith. read more, Scripture: You need to find Him and His words, and by faith rest in Him. It is really hard to see past them to other good things going on. There are no accidents with God, only incidents that are appointed by him for our good and his glory. Romans 16:12.Greet the beloved Persis, who has worked hard in the Lord. James 1:2-4. Years later Elisabeth married Addison Leitch, former president of Pittsburgh Theological Seminary. Find out how much God loves you and wants to help you right now. Genesis 35:15-20, Denomination: Good News for Dealing with Difficult People. Philippians 1:3-7: Want more joy in your life? This message reveals what we can do to remain rooted in Christ and why its so important. Copyright 2003-2023 | Outreach, Inc., All rights reserved. We rejoiced. We are a troubled people living on a troubled planet. A student has no time to complain because he is busy making the best of his situation. Lossyes. 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. Though it is the earliest of all the New Testament books (written around AD 38-44), it reads like a letter for the 21st-century. How, then, should we respond to these hard times that suddenly come to us? You should not let your circumstances shape your relationship with God. Pretty simple. To rain the manna and quails is not too hard. Nothing is too hard: Thanks for your interest! Faith in Gods Purposethat he is conforming us to the image of Jesus Christ. read more, Scripture: 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. Incidentsyes. I love the enthusiasm of the younger generation for the Word of God. Thanks Be blessed? The Spirit will also lead you in obedience. One of the major themes in the book of Philippians is joy. A student understands that God allows hard times in order to help him grow. She and her husband Jim joined a group of missionaries reaching out to the Auca Indians of Ecuador. 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. The Holy Spirit will guide, comfort and help. Advent 2022, week 5: During this series, we are looking at how hope, peace, joy and love are at the heart of Christmas. We all have a story. Most of the time we will carry those unfilled blanks with us all the way to heaven. INTRODUCTION Romans 16:12. Colossians 2:6-8: Do you know how to avoid deception stay connected securely to Christ? But during a period of loneliness, she fell in with a bad crowd and began to dabble in sin. But we can choose how we respond. Does anyone doubt it? Look to Jesus and you will find the strength you need. 1. Which do you choose? How does a Christian respond when hard times come? Paul knew that was a possibility, which is why he was so worried about these young Thessalonian believers. Now, in the difficult times of their life, Paul gives advice for believers in difficult times. 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. Unfortunately our troubles are never optional. Evangelical/Non-Denominational. It is by faith. Advent 2022, week 3: Do you feel robbed of joy? First, trials are the common lot of every Christian. No matter how things might appear immpossible to ue, there is nothing too hard for the Lord. Listen to the sounds around you. Under pressure we begin to give in to bad habits, wrong attitudes, and then we begin the long slide in the wrong direction. - 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. They can change at any moment, even in an instant. THE SCHOOL OF HARD "NOTS" No matter how hard we try to figure things out, there will always be many mysteries in life. Sermons for Difficult Times, New Beginnings Encourage your members to keep looking forward; to not get so discouraged with the state of the world, but to see that there is still hope for the future. Sermons for difficult times that center around these realities are often effective. Today well learn about the remarkable offer of peace: Who is it for? No! Haggai 2:1-15: Want to be closer to God? 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. Four years ago my Father-in-Law, Dr. W. C. Dobbs, pastor and professor, passed away. A sermon examining the fact that God is all powerful. * The A touch from the shepherds staff and the presence of his rod is reassuring to the heart. Are you nuts? Hard times are difficult times of life, a time that you hate to experience, not palatable with the flesh. The Holy Spirit will lead you to what you should do. 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 When you are struggling, share those concerns with another follower of Jesus whom you trust someone you know is pursuing a relationship with God regularly and who knows Gods Word. The phrase you know refers not to head knowledge (what we sometimes call book learning) but to heart knowledge, the kind gained by years of experience. He cares for your hurts. Here are seven practical ways to trust God in your everyday life: Scripture, or the Bible, is Gods Word. Thomas Constable has a very helpful word at this point: When trouble comes, Christians often react by doubting that they are where God wants them to be; they often think that they have done something wrong and that God must be displeased with them. All things do not work for the good for all people. I. The first statement reflects a high view of Gods sovereignty. Norman Vincent Peale Evangelical Free. 1 Samuel 24:1-24. In your waking up. Hell lead, protect, and guide you. Here is how we live with joy in the hard things. of Patricia Christy. The leading of the Spirit can ease struggles by guiding you to acts of obedience. Volunteer abroad this year on a short term global missions trip offered by one of the best, most-reliable Christian missions organizations in the world. Copyright 2003-2023 | Outreach, Inc., All rights reserved. Someone you know gets sick. And sin has deeply infected the human bloodstream. Third, he tempts us to give in to despair and discouragement. Here Paul plainly says that we can overcome our trials by faith. Live in another country building relationships and ministries with eternal impact. He never leaves. Bringing hope and resources to military families worldwide. You can watch the news on any given day and hear of the hard times of those around our country. That He loves you and has good in store for you. If youre having a hard time keeping your head above water, tell someone else. The Lord your shepherd is always with you. Title: Having Joy in the hard things But as xtians we have antidotes against har, Surviving Hard times What we believe about the gospel and our call to serve every nation. Our sermon ideas about Coronavirus will help you preach a powerful message. Paul is saying, I can face my trials because I see how well you are facing yours.. Thank goodness! Pentecostal, Hard times are difficult times of life, a time that you hate to experience, not palatable with the flesh. However, when we begin to love others as we love ourselves Fellow believers can remind you of Gods character through encouragement and accountability. read more, Scripture: Fear not, Christian friend. Verses 7-8 reveal another way in which our trials are productive: Therefore, brothers, in all our distress and persecution we were encouraged about you because of your faith. Even some mature Christians react this way, as evidenced by Pauls words of reassurance to Timothy many years later. Its meant to help you grow in faith and prepare your heart to focus on the real reason for the season: Jesus! This week were learning about how love is at the heart of Christmas. Will you say yes today? read more, Scripture: Text: Philippians 1:12-18 The word face has the idea of falling or stumbling over a problem. He hears your requests and answers them. Every hard trial is another step on the stairway that leads from earth to heaven. 1. Exodus 16:13-14 Matthew 5:1-12: Did you know there are divine blessings available to you? In Hard Times, God plots for your Victory : Biblical response to COVID 19 Often we focus intently on the details of our difficulties as if the difficulty itself were the most important thing in the world. Thats what James is talking about. He has told us that you always have pleasant memories of us and that you long to see us, just as we also long to see you (v. 6). 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. They can pray for and support you. read more, Scripture: It isnt so hard to love a God who is good, and values us so highly. This helps you accept that God is bigger than you could ever understand. Questions, questions, questions! Showing God in action in and through His people. Allow your other senses to heighten. But the result is the pure gold of Christlike character. Giving thanks fights the lie that everything is horrible. As Faith in Gods Promisethat he will never leave us or forsake us. We live in dangerous times. The following Tuesday he announced that he has been diagnosed with advanced stomach cancer and the prognosis is grim. Meet with other believers and set your eyes on things that are bigger than your circumstances. From this passage I want to share with you five truths about hard times. Youve been added to our email list. We are a to our ministers who preached and taught in my absence. A staff can bring comfort, assurance, confidence and support. Spend time in prayer acknowledging who He is. You work hard, but you don't make progress. Gods uses our trials to produce perseverance. The Greek word is sometimes translated as endurance or steadfastness or patience. In the book of Revelation, this word describes the faith of those brave saints who would not take the Mark of the Beast (Revelation 14:12). To trust is to believe in the reliability, truth, ability or strength of something. Why? We need to remember that trials are not entirely negative. Read about individuals who have been transformed by faith. How does the devil tempt us in hard times? Be strong and courageous? She was raised as a Christian and at one time had a strong faith in Jesus Christ. Introduction: What was her testimony? 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. John 11:1-45: Ever wondered, God, where are you? This message helps us understand that the power of God is revealed in difficult situations. God wants to encourage us during hard times. You may feel alone. 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. God is not distant. Life can be going along smoothly for a season. To the very end, they died with their faith intact. 14. Trust grows as you look for Gods presence in what feels dark and heavy. View our top Cru resources in more than 20 languages. 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. Or your husband may decide he doesnt want to be married anymore. And we will rejoice if we believe what God has said. In times of doubt, remember His promises. Everything that happens to us is either caused by God or allowed by God. Babies are born with defects that cannot be corrected. Second, your particular trial doesnt matter as much as how you respond to it. Because God loves you, you can show your trust in Him by talking about all your feelings and circumstances with Him the good and hard through prayer. What happened to her can happen to any of us if we respond wrongly to hard times. 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. This isnt like Paul in Romans with his intricate theological arguments. He reminds them that He does not sleep or take a break. Baptist. He worried that under pressure these new Christians would crumble and give up on God. WebEncouragement in Difficult Times. We need you. But my belief in the love of God is not by inference or instinct. They may in fact be a sign that we are in the will of God. SLIDE #1 Satan tempts us to fall away during our trials. The Lord is walking with you every step of the way. Thanks for your interest! 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. B. 8 Inspiring Messages For The Christian Trying To Stay Strong In Faith. The car hit a massive pothole and suddenly the happy journey is over. 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. The words joy or rejoice are to be found in all four chapters of the book. With that important understanding, we pass on to the third great truth regarding hard times. You can cling to its truth when life throws you a curveball. We cant always know why things happen the way they do. Perhaps were sick and feel as if well never get better again. You need a strong foundation of Scripture to stand on, especially when you feel uncertain. But given the instability of our world, a question comes to mind: Where can you go where you arent in harms way? HOW TO PROFIT FROM YOUR PROBLEMS I believe that hard times are coming to Christians who live in the West. He also gives you other believers to walk with. It is the in-between times when faith grows, and God brings life to the dead. There are ups and downs along the way. When times are good, it can feel easier. Nothing is Too Difficult for God Trusting in Him means believing what He says about Himself, about the world and about you is true. Heres a practical hint. But Timothy has just now come to us from you and has brought good news about your faith and love. But it is true whether we believe it or not. WebAnd Adam and Eve would deal with toil and difficulty in their daily work. Those things that seem so painful now will one day be clearly seen as benefits to our spiritual growth. read more, Scripture: A victim begs God to remove the problems of life so that he might be happy. Psalm 23: Youre important to God. In a fallen world, there can be no other way. He also wants you to come to Him simply to spend time with Him. Hard times are nothing new. Thats the true Christian position. Free Sermons and Sermon Outlines for Preaching : Instructions On How To Handle Difficult Times, If The Preacher Is Dead, The Sermon Will Be Dead, Chasing The Dream, Preaching Greatness, And Knowing Your Audience. Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds (v. 1). Trials will come but they are never to hurt you; rather they are to build you up. I will visit on the right time, Then you will have a blessing which cannot be destroyed Lewis, a renowned Christian author Faith in Gods Presencethat he is with us in the darkest moments of life. A victim believes his hard times have come because God is trying to punish him. The Bible is Gods unfailing, unchanging Word. Probably never heard of Patricia Christy, but she is a woman who found out the hard way that you cant run away from the problems of life. To say that is to say nothing more than the words of Romans 8:28. We need to know how to survive as the culture turns against us. Winning in Difficult Situations That said, if Im looking for wisdom, I wont start with them. Hard times, times of trials and tribulations, seem to be as constant as the sunrise. I sure hope attendance at your church was better than my church. Trust or unbelief. These were tough consequences, for sure. No accidents! Maybe its about starting over and creating something new. We grow old and die. United Methodist. A) I read about a man that was sitting at home one evening when the doorbell rang! Her addiction led her to terrible extremes in order to finance her drug habit. 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. In many parts of the world it is dangerous even to be a CT: Gods way is often the Hard Way. She wants to be free but the pain of coming off heroin is so great that she cannot face it. I am so thankful that I am a child of the Father, redeemed by the Son, and sealed in the Spirit. 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. This message explores keys to a victorious life and how God is with you in the battle. He cares about you, and you can trust Him with those things. And some of us will spend an extended time in the furnace of affliction. 3:12). We are all in harms way. A situation may look dark and the shadows of all the problems you are walking through might appear impossible to you at the moment. Acts 12:1-19. What kind of faith does he have in mind? Im glad to invest in them because the future belongs to the young. Strategies From Genesis (And Beyond) (Part 2) God does not explain himself to us. WebSermons: TRUSTING GOD IN DIFFICULT TIMES. He knows the way that I take. Dealing With Difficult People What kinds of questions do hard times make you ask? And hard times can come as a result of our own sin, natural catastrophe, economic Are your priorities right? Faith or fear. Our friends turn into enemies. Psalm 1: Want a blessed life of meaning and fulfillment? We have a great God who loves us more than we know. Difficult times may feel like they last forever, but they are temporary. This is how he handles verse 2: When all kinds of trials and temptations crowd into your lives, my brothers, dont resent them as intruders, but welcome them as friends! Even as I type these words, there is a rueful smile on my face. Spend time exploring aspects of His trustworthiness in verses of Scripture. As I survey the New Testament teaching regarding trials, two truths stand out.
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encouraging sermons for difficult times 2023