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Get the answers to frequently asked questions on Christian beliefs and practices. Words of Comfort and Encouragement in Difficult Times - Jim A touch from the shepherds staff and the presence of his rod is reassuring to the heart. Learn the prescription for joy and success. 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. There is one other kind of faith that will help us in hard times. 8 Inspiring Messages For The Christian Trying To Stay Strong In Faith. Acts 20:22-31. Would you like to give your time to work with Cru? Luke 21:5-36, Denomination: A victim begs God to remove the problems of life so that he might be happy. Gen 35: 15 -20 When he has tried me, I will come forth as gold (Job 23:10). These are valid questions, and God wants to help you navigate them. You are quite likely to be filled with a whole bag of negative emotions. This weeks message teaches us how to live for Christ in a fallen world. There are two ways of life. (part 6), - Series: Inspire! read more, Scripture: How do you trust that God is good in these circumstances? Perseverance says, I will not give up no matter what happens or how bad life may be. So many believers struggle because they try to handle their problems alone. In prison, after beatings, Paul and Silas had sung praises. The Psalmist David gives us some good instructions on how to handle hard times when they come. That He loves you and has good in store for you. 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. Remember who He has always been. When I was a high school kid, one of the sports I competed in was Track and Field. God will help us get through all difficulties as we depend fully on Him. Get the latest service information, weekly sermon, and other updates. Scripture: James 1:2-12: In a trial or hardship? 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. Questions, questions, questions! 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.. But when times feel difficult, it is even more important to trust God. No! Faith in Gods Promisethat he will never leave us or forsake us. Here are Acts 9:32-43, Denomination: I conclude, then, that counting it all joy is a conscious choice we make when hard times come. He is always working in your life and in the world. Under pressure we begin to give in to bad habits, wrong attitudes, and then we begin the long slide in the wrong direction. 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). It's anything that people serve, love, desire, trust, fear, and worship that isn't God. Standing Firm in Difficult Days (Philippians 4 Words of Encouragement For Hard Times Nothing will be left out; nothing will be left behind. Now, in the difficult times of their life, Paul gives advice for believers in difficult times. Count it all joy? But Timothy has just now come to us from you and has brought good news about your faith and love. Look for Things to Be Grateful For. Hard times are difficult times of life, a time that you hate to experience, not palatable with the flesh. Verse 3. In You, O Lord, I put my trust; let me never be put to shameDeliver me, O my God, out of the Various Scriptures When a friend wrote to say that his daughter was leaving to serve in the Armed Forces in Afghanistan, he asked special prayer because she would be in harms way. I prayed for his daughter and am happy to report that she made it back safely. He is always faithful. A student understands that God allows hard times in order to help him grow. What kind of faith does he have in mind? Hope is important because it can make the present moment less difficult to bear. A student understands that God allows hard times in order to help him grow. But during a period of loneliness, she fell in with a bad crowd and began to dabble in sin. That is the shared faith of Gods people. That means there is no such thing as chance or fate or luck. 2 Cor. I am so thankful that I am a child of the Father, redeemed by the Son, and sealed in the Spirit. 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. Romans 16:12.Greet the beloved Persis, who has worked hard in the Lord. If we need any of the nine-fold fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23), it will be produced in us. A Let hope lift your spirits. If you struggle with why God allows difficulty, read the article Why Does God Allow Suffering?. God is never neglecting your life. John 20:11-18: Are you in a hopeless situation? Look to Jesus and you will find the strength you need. This message reminds us that were never alone offers advice for what to focus on and how to confront Satan. The enemy must flee and death is swallowed up in victory. There are ups and downs along the way. A victim would rather complain than find a solution. A little here and a little there and eventually she began to experiment with drugs. The things you felt secure in all of a sudden feel shaky and uncertain. Find Hope & Comfort During Hard Times: Inspire!, part 1 It is unchanging and completely trustworthy. The word of God and the Holy Spirit brings reassurance and peace to your soul. Then she walked out of my office. Nothing is too hard: Hebrews 11: Where do we find strong faith? Introduction. Even in tragic circumstances, there will be light and grace. Often we focus intently on the details of our difficulties as if the difficulty itself were the most important thing in the world. When you are feeling down or depressed, look up and call out to Jesus. 13. Were I to take away the pain, I might move too soon and block Gods work in your life. It is the in-between times when faith grows, and God brings life to the dead. Second, your particular trial doesnt matter as much as how you respond to it. The tools of the shepherd are the rod and staff. Some things we learn from books, others we learn in the School of Hard Knocks. read more, Scripture: 14. WE have heard of the diva athletes and entertainers who are almost impossible to deal with. JAMES 1: 2- 11 If you have not established that, it is never too late to start. Sermon If youre having a hard time keeping your head above water, tell someone else. We need to gain all that God has for us. Im glad to invest in them because the future belongs to the young. The shepherd is always looking to protect his sheep. PSALM 62:1-12 INSTRUCTIONS ON HOW TO HANDLE HARD TIMES It may seem so at the time, but its not really true. How to Handle Hard Times Instead learn the principles that will make you harder than your hard time. By not running away from the trials that come your way. Gods mercy is limitless. 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). Perhaps were sick and feel as if well never get better again. He is with you in difficulty. What can we do to keep our faith strong? The dross rose to the surface and was skimmed off, leaving only pure gold. All of us face those questions because we all go through deep trials eventually. How we seek to journey together with everyone towards a relationship with Jesus. Those early Christians were Jewish, scattered, poor, and struggling. Lewis, a renowned Christian author They may in fact be a sign that we are in the will of God. In trust, you do not look for security in other things; you look to God to hold you securely in difficult circumstances. Hard times, times of trials and tribulations, seem to be as constant as the sunrise. 5 Encouraging Psalms For Hope through Hard Times We are a troubled people living on a troubled planet. What does it do? We cant always know why things happen the way they do. 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. Exodus 16:13-14 He is in all of it. When Jesus was telling His followers that He was going to be killed, He knew that they would be worried. No matter who we are or where we live, trouble is just a phone call away. So He shared this with them to give them comfort. Difficult times may feel like they last forever, but they are temporary. The Holy Spirit lives in anyone who trusts in Jesus. Genesis 21:8-21, The book of Jude has for us a message about perseverance in the faith, CALL TO PERSEVERE: NATURAL INSTINCTS Trials will come but they are never to hurt you; rather they are to build you up. Our leaders disappoint us. Introduction Learn how and where to find Gods presence in the midst of difficult, lonely circumstances. Someone you know gets sick. In many parts of the world it is dangerous even to be a ( 1:4,18, 25,26 Network on ISN. 12. 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. You know quite well that we were destined for them (v. 3b). Not a problem in the world, not a care or a concern. Read His Word. Jesus is never tolerant of sin, but always willing to forgive it. WebPsalm 4:1 Answer me when I call to you, O my righteous God. Take a note card from the pew in front of you. We should rejoice. There are no accidents with God, only incidents that are appointed by him for our good and his glory. read more, Scripture: As we go through life, we can look back and see many blanks that we wish God would fill in for us. Matthew 5:1-12: Did you know there are divine blessings available to you? Eugene Peterson (The Message) translates part of verse 4 this way: Dont try to get out of anything prematurely! Thats good advice; its not always easy to follow. For the believer, the rod is like the word of God and the staff is the Holy Spirit. * The cockroach immediately punched him between the eyes and scampered off. First, he tempts us to doubt Gods goodness. For now we really live, since you are standing firm in the Lord. Here is the final truth about hard times you need to know. In your waking up. You should not let your circumstances shape your relationship with God. Youre able to confess to God when your feelings and beliefs are not lining up with His Truth. In fact, there are many times when it looks like just the opposite. Sign up to join over 20,000 subscribers receiving our weekly sermon email. Luke 2:1-7, Denomination: Little by little we lose the joy we once had. "Equipping and encouraging people to keep believing in Jesus", Copyright 2020 Keep Believing Ministries. 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. As I have pondered the matter, and considered my own difficulties with this concept, the thought occurs that counting it all joy when troubles come is not a natural response. There is nothing that our God cannot do. You wont do this perfectly, but God is kind and patient with you while you learn to trust Him. Please try again or contact website administrator. Learn how to build and strengthen your spiritual heart, and be blessed in the process. They can remind you of the truth when youre struggling. Still, God answers the prayer. And get 5 action steps for enduring trials, tests, and persecution. Sometimes 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. If He seems to be silent, remember His promise that He is always hearing your prayers and responding. I want to begin this message by giving you some common contemporary types of difficult people you may encounter. 1. This message teaches us what joy is, how can we find it, and what can get in the way. Read about individuals who have been transformed by faith. He worried that under pressure these new Christians would crumble and give up on God. Look up and call out to Jesus. Youve got cancer. Or the voice may inform you that your daughter has just been arrested. Sermons about Hard Times - SermonCentral.com We rejoiced. I wish it were not so, but it is true. Assembly Of God, Sunday Night: The Hard Way Faith in Gods Presencethat he is with us in the darkest moments of life. SERIES: Inspire! You are not facing these difficult times alone. Your privacy is important to us; well keep your email to ourselves. The word joy means joy. A Mighty Fortress Is Our God It also frees you from the unrealistic scenarios that you run to in worry. You may have heard Psalm 23 many times, but I want to focus on one verse: Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me (Psalm 23:4, NIV). My message will be rather brief this morning (no cheering, please! 1-3a). Your job is satisfying. 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. Until then, your faith is speculative because it is untested. In a sunny day. Do you have any idea what Ive just been through? It does sound rather idealistic, if not downright impossible. Another message on the awesome power of God! 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. People kill each other. They come when they come, and we have to cope as best we can. Presbyterian/Reformed. He will bring direction to you. You dont get it in the good times. C.S. Psalm 23: Put your faith in Christ and be strengthened; and your faith will grow. The following Tuesday he announced that he has been diagnosed with advanced stomach cancer and the prognosis is grim. You are never alone no matter how you may feel. Dont fight the battle alone. Help others in their faith journey through discipleship and mentoring. She wants to be free but the pain of coming off heroin is so great that she cannot face it. Dealing With Difficult People Your feelings and circumstances matter and are very much worth paying attention to. First, it is good to acknowledge that His character is good and trustworthy. During our interview with him, he sounded very strong and confident in all his answers. Jude 1:17-21, Denomination: Life is Difficult, But God is Good Hebrews 11:1-3, 8-16 1. Hebrews 11:1-16, Denomination: 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. Most often they come through and with and alongside our trials. Strategies From Genesis (And Beyond) (Part 2) But as xtians we have antidotes against har. Waiting on the Lord reminds you that you are not in control. When the phone rings with bad news, when your son winds up in prison, when your best friend betrays you, when you lose your job, when your parents suddenly die, when life comes apart at the seams, then you discover what you truly and actually believe in the depth of your soul. Today well learn about the remarkable offer of peace: Who is it for? I confess to be being bothered by this so I decided to check it out in the Greek. Proverbs 6:6-11, Proverbs 10:4-5, Proverbs 13:4, Denomination: Genesis 16:1-10. The staff is used to correct, restrain, and pull to safety. Are you nuts? A student focuses on helping others so that he has no time to feel sorry for himself. INTRODUCTION Lets BE DELIGENT. That is why we are beginning a study of the book of James. The book of Jude is one of those that we skip over most of the time. In times of doubt, remember His promises. When I told my brothera medical doctorof my diagnosis, he was almost giddy with excitement, proclaiming, Great, God has given you a wonderful new platform to tell others about him! And he has been right, it is a great platform. Give me relief from my distress; be merciful to me and hear my prayer. 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. The situation can look so dark that not even a sliver of light can be seen to light your way. 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. This isnt like Paul in Romans with his intricate theological arguments. No, in the midst of the storm, I do not have to worry about my salvation, and for that I praise you, God. Everybody in life is bound to pass thru hard time. Will you choose to live Gods best for you, no matter the circumstances? This message digs deep into the character of each Beatitude. Someone who performs with intense concentration and focus Hard Times What does it take to begin a relationship with God? Help families pursue the relationships that matter most. 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). Learn about Cru's global leadership team. God is present amid the bad times as well as the good. Failureyes. This message teaches us what to do when we find ourselves in difficult situations. Do you need to devote yourself to unselfish religious deeds? William Barclay notes that in the early church the martyrs gained the respect of unbelievers because in the moment of death, they had this quality. God is able to do what he promised. Hard times can confuse us and make us ask the wrong questions or expect wrong I love the enthusiasm of the younger generation for the Word of God. Years later Elisabeth married Addison Leitch, former president of Pittsburgh Theological Seminary. God is much more reliable than even your most trustworthy friend. Title: Having Joy in the hard things He will help you wait with endurance. We had us a bunch of sick folk, and them added to all the Love or hatred. Go to How Do I Hear Gods Voice? to learn more about how to follow the Spirits leading. Babies are born with defects that cannot be corrected. Philippians 1:3-7: Want more joy in your life? Fear not, Christian friend. How many times have we heard the first part of this text quoted? God cares about them both. Interesting question. Note two key words in the last phrase. When hard times come, we can know that God is at work in our trials for our benefit and for his glory. Allow God to remind you who He is and what He promises, and then be honest with 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.. When hard times come, its easy to blame God for our problems. Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds (v. 1). Learn the prescription for joy and success. He always sees them and is always working for their good. 5 Best Sermon Themes for Difficult Times | DonorWerx 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. Joy grows best in the deep soil of the sovereignty of God. Or you may be fired without warning. Every word of this verse is crucial. God is completely trustworthy, but He does not ask you to trust Him blindly. In Him, you can have comfort and peace, and encouragement. read more, Scripture: Colossians 1:1-8: What choices are you making this year? Let me return for a moment to Nabeel Qureshi. Psalm 34:19, Acts 14:22, Denomination: read more, Scripture: Advent 2022, week 4: During this series, we are looking at how hope, peace, joy and love are at the heart of Christmas. Dealing With Difficult People Series. Matthew 22:15-22, Denomination: This message explores Psalm 1 and gives us actionable advice to multiply happiness and avoid taking the wrong path that leads to misery. 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. When things feel difficult, He doesnt ask you to keep those feelings to yourself. It isnt so hard to love a God who is good, and values us so highly. 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. If my experience can help someone else, feel free to use this information. Establishing a consistent time with the Lord when things feel good will help you to continue to go to Him when things feel rough. To say that is to say nothing more than the words of Romans 8:28. This message will help you learn how to have true peace and get practical instructions of who you are and how to live. But God never intended that you should walk through the lonely valley by yourself. Our friends watch to see how we will respond to tragedy. Because most of the time you dont have a choice about the bad things that happen to you. Text: Galatians 6.4-10 Day 5 of 40 days of fasting! 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. Community We need to remember that trials are not entirely negative. 1 Kings 19:19-21: What is God calling you to do? The great danger is that we will try to short-circuit the process by running away from our problems. 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. 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. Difficult circumstances feel all-consuming to our ministers who preached and taught in my absence. A student has no time to complain because he is busy making the best of his situation. He wants to help you grow your faith. My Creation is Gods gift to Himself, and creation is a gift that leads to celebration. Encouragement Evangelical/Non-Denominational. For the non-believer, the shepherd is looking for you and desires for the two of you to be reunited. He reminds them that this life will have hardship and that our bodies will fail, but God is still working for our good. Equipping families with practical approaches to parenting and marriage. No matter how things might appear immpossible to ue, there is nothing too hard for the Lord. Hope and Encouragement. Many of us know the story of Elisabeth Elliot. That said, if Im looking for wisdom, I wont start with them. Psalm 23:4: Feel Alone? The Final Judgment Matthew 25: 31-46 25:40 When your trials are over, you will come forth as gold. Do you love him? This message reveals what we can do to remain rooted in Christ and why its so important. Let no one condemn her, but instead let us consider our own lives and realize how vulnerable we are to Satans attacks. It reads like a sermon or perhaps even more like a pep talk from a football coach. Hard Rest assured, God is on your side and you have nothing to fear. And sin has deeply infected the human bloodstream. Mystery Virus Causes Paralysis. James tells us that God does good things for the Christian during the bad times of life. Hard times make us seek answers. Text: Romans 8 : 28 I missed the Childrens Everybody in life is bound to pass thru hard time. Someone who takes his/her work seriously and who does it well and rapidly He reminds them that He does not sleep or take a break. Often, this Psalm is read at a funeral and it is appropriate for that time; however I want us to consider that there are times that we need to be reminded of Gods presence when things look bleak. Life is not predictable. Try our selection of worship songs and sing along! But the result is the pure gold of Christlike character. But accidents? Because his death happened right before Christmas it was the first time that I had ever missed any events of my churchs Christmas season. He cares about you, and you can trust Him with those things. Difficult circumstances feel all-consuming at times. Idolatry is the worship of a false God. Incidentsyes. God knows you need somewhere to go when you feel unsure. Sign up to join over 20,000 subscribers receiving our weekly sermon email. 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.