Questions, questions, questions! Pretty simple. She then adds this P.S. A victim would rather complain than find a solution. read more, Scripture: When trials come (and they come to all of us eventually), there is something we cant know and something we can know. Write out your question. Faith allows us to find our way through struggle the Psalm 34:19, Acts 14:22, Denomination: 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. Incidentsyes. Someone who performs with intense concentration and focus Community reminds you that you are never alone, even in hard times. 2) This is necessary for my spiritual growth. When times are good, it can feel easier. He pays attention. Little by little we lose the joy we once had. Trusting God is not about ignoring your feelings or reality. What happened to her can happen to any of us if we respond wrongly to hard times. We have an anchor for our lives in the Lord. Sermon In fact, there are many times when it looks like just the opposite. It is one thing to know the truth. Hard times can confuse us and make us ask the wrong questions or expect wrong Answers to questions on donations, financial policies, Crus annual report and more. HOW TO PROFIT FROM YOUR PROBLEMS God is Omnipresent, which means that He is everywhere Titus 3:3-8, GOD hates LAZINESS. WebWe need to not moan in a trial but to learn the lessons of that trial. So dont judge your circumstances by your feelings. Learn how and where to find Gods presence in the midst of difficult, lonely circumstances. God is much more concerned with how you respond than with the trial itself. Church Of God. We are a In various ways we will all struggle every day as we make our earthly pilgrimage. On our journey from earth to glory, we will face many difficult situations. But during a period of loneliness, she fell in with a bad crowd and began to dabble in sin. Strategies From Genesis (And Beyond) (Part 2) The words joy or rejoice are to be found in all four chapters of the book. You may not see a way out of the situation you find yourself walking in today; but know this, you are not alone. What was her testimony? For the children of God, all things do indeed work together for good. I will share common types of difficult behavior in a few minutes, but I want to lay a proper foundation first. When hard times come, its easy to blame God for our problems. Blessed by the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and JAMES 1: 2- 11 To the very end, they died with their faith intact. Life can be going along smoothly for a season. In times of doubt, remember His promises. Some people may regard this as a negative, but to me it is a positive. Wesleyan, Dealing With Difficult People Remember Gods Love Dont be deceived, my beloved brothers (v. 16). 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. Because we live in a fallen world, nothing works the way its supposed to. 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. This passage shows us three things we need to remember if we are going to pass the test with flying colors. Independent/Bible. 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. I want to begin this message by giving you some common contemporary types of difficult people you may encounter. These are difficult days in many parts of the world. But it is sometimes hard to believe it when life takes unexpected turns. read more, Scripture: Faith in Gods Purposethat he is conforming us to the image of Jesus Christ. Psalm 23: Put your faith in Christ and be strengthened; and your faith will grow. 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. Galatians 6:4-10, Denomination: One day you are announcing a new book; a few days later you are fighting for your life. Confession helps you to humble yourself and allows you to grow in trust. 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. Because most of the time you dont have a choice about the bad things that happen to you. The Bibles Answer to difficult people. Dealing With Difficult People Genesis 16:1-10 Jesus reduced the ten commandments down to just two. We are love God with all of our heart, and our neighbor as ourselves. It isnt so hard to love a God who is good, and values us so highly. 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. Do your daily decisions reflect Godly living? Explore resources to help you live out your life and relationships in a way that honors God. One day we wake up to find out that were being sued by a former colleague. 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.. read more, Scripture: You can watch the news on any given day and hear of the hard times of those around our country. read more, Scripture: Learn the prescription for joy and success. You show up to practice every day, giving it your all, but you lose every game. read more, Scripture: 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. 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 leading of the Spirit can ease struggles by guiding you to acts of obedience. You never know what you believe until hard times come. Assembly Of God, Sunday Night: The Hard Way SERIES: Inspire! Have tremendous expectations and believe in them. Look for Things to Be Grateful For. This weeks message teaches us how to live for Christ in a fallen world. Faithfully continue to seek the Lord, but wait on His timing. It is unchanging and completely trustworthy. Spend regular time with God. God is much more reliable than even your most trustworthy friend. It reminds us again that we grow stronger as we lean on each other. The tools of the shepherd are the rod and staff. In this case, the great Apostle himself drew strength from the courage of these new believers. If you know that God is in control, you can be satisfied at a very deep level even while you weep over what is happening around you and to you. 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). If we believe that tomorrow will be better, we can bear a hardship today. Spend time exploring aspects of His trustworthiness in verses of Scripture. Many people reading this message are going through hard times right now. Are your priorities right? Why? God is Omniscient, which means that He is all knowing. You also act on obedience (doing what God says in His Word) and trust that He will ultimately take care of the rest. If my experience can help someone else, feel free to use this information. James isnt talking about a natural reaction. You can ask Him to help you believe what He says is true. If we need love, we will have it. In Hard Times, God plots for your Victory : Biblical response to COVID 19 Dealing With Difficult People Series. Serve those around you. "Equipping and encouraging people to keep believing in Jesus", Copyright 2020 Keep Believing Ministries. No one, not a single person in this story expects Peter to be released. A time it appears you don't know what you are doing. God has ordained that your trials are part of his plan to make you like Jesus. Helping students know Jesus, grow in their faith and go to the world to tell others. Luke 2:1-7, Denomination: Hard times are difficult times of life, a time that you hate to experience, not palatable with the flesh. to our ministers who preached and taught in my absence. Hard times eventually wear us down. The word trial comes from a Greek word that has the idea of being under the thumb because of pressure from above. God is not distant. Joy or bitterness. Second, your particular trial doesnt matter as much as how you respond to it. 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. We live in a madcap world that work the whole night and sleep the whole day with no time for self or family. 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. A victim says Why did this happen to me? while a student asks, What can I learn from this?. 1 Samuel 17:1-11: Feel defeated, afraid, or unable to move? We believe so much in the sovereignty of God that when hard times come, we know that God is at work for our good and his glory. You can trust Him to sustain you, provide for you and be with you even in the midst of your hardship. Even some mature Christians react this way, as evidenced by Pauls words of reassurance to Timothy many years later. In a few months Ill teach Ezra in South Korea and then Galatians in New York. First, he tempts us to doubt Gods goodness. We need to gain all that God has for us. Living in Hard Times | Keep Believing Ministries 2,000 flights canceled: Airlines still recovering from Chicago fire. But accidents? We all need to live each day fully for Him. 2 Cor. JUDE 17-21 Whatever youre facing, victory is just ahead. Will you say yes today? If you dont run to the Word to remind you of truth in difficult times, it is easier for you to be led into lies about your life and who God is. We need to remember that trials are not entirely negative. And further in the distance, others watch what we go through. Faith in Gods Presencethat he is with us in the darkest moments of life. No matter how hard we try to figure things out, there will always be many mysteries in life. When no one seems to care about you, self-love can make you stronger. Our friends watch to see how we will respond to tragedy. read more, Scripture: #1 Sermon: John 10:1-10 Inspirational; Small Group Studies; Church Media. I can think of three obvious answers to that question. You know quite well that we were destined for them (v. 3b). Unfortunately our troubles are never optional. Maybe its not always about trying to fix whats broken. Day 5 of 40 days of fasting! This message tells us how to avoid distractions. I wish it were not so, but it is true. Proverbs 6:6-11, Proverbs 10:4-5, Proverbs 13:4, Denomination: All of us shall encounter loss, sorrow, disappointment, and disillusionment, 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. - Resurrecting Hope, part 3, Are You Living Like You Love God? So in these difficult days, God tells us here in Philippians, stand firm. Stand firm in the Lord, my beloved. He starts off this passage with the word Therefore. Philippians is a manual on living in joy. Meet with other believers and set your eyes on things that are bigger than your circumstances. October 20, 2020 Judges 7:8-15 As inhabitants of a fallen world, we oftentimes face heartache, intimidation, and Sometimes we will see it; often we will simply have to take it by faith. Paul had set the example of joyfulness in difficult times. (From the Bible Knowledge Commentary). Ecclesiastes 1:9, Denomination: Disappointmentyes. Introduction: Hard times are real for everyone regardless of who we are or where we are. Our friends turn into enemies. Those early Christians were Jewish, scattered, poor, and struggling. Let the light of the Gospel shine in your heart. But thats not what the Bible means. Introduction: Nothing will be left out; nothing will be left behind. We are love God with all of our heart, and our neighbor as ourselves. Internship opportunities with Cru's ministries. 1. Gods Help for Hard Times Find out how much God loves you and wants to help you right now. I believe that hard times are coming to Christians who live in the West. Waiting on the Lord reminds you that you are not in control. If youre struggling, this short message from the heart is for you. 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. That was on Thursday. Dont fight the battle alone. 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. God created the world to display His glory. Must you become a better person so that God will accept you? Look to Jesus and you will find the strength you need. LETTER FROM A PASTOR To My Dear Friend, Pastor Phil Blowhorn, James 1:2 reminds us to Count it all joy when you encounter various trials. Many of you know from experience the unrelenting pressure from circumstances that keeps you awake at night and saps your strength during the day. Bringing hope and resources to military families worldwide. A time it appears you don't know what you are doing. But if you shift your focus to God, then you can find joy even in the worst moments of life. When Jesus was telling His followers that He was going to be killed, He knew that they would be worried. A student has no time to complain because he is busy making the best of his situation. TOPIC: STANDING STRONG IN DIFFICULT TIMES (Ephesians Try our selection of worship songs and sing along! Look up and call out to Jesus. Haggai 1:1-15: Distracted? In many ways the little letter of James is the most practical book in the New Testament. Our sermon ideas about Coronavirus will help you preach a powerful message. Dealing With Difficult People Hope & Encouragement During Hard Times, Feel Alone? They were being persecuted for their faith in Jesus. Think of one of the hardest times in your life; what question would you like answered? Because his death happened right before Christmas it was the first time that I had ever missed any events of my churchs Christmas season. To trust is to believe in the reliability, truth, ability or strength of something. 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. There is a process involved in our trials that leads to a product. Usually they just happen without any rhyme or reason. You probably wont feel joyful or grateful or full of trust. This message teaches us what joy is, how can we find it, and what can get in the way. WebIn stormy seasons like this, it can be hard to maintain hope. The staff is used to correct, restrain, and pull to safety. But it is true whether we believe it or not. Faith or fear. SURVIVING DIFFICULT TIMES Perseverance says, I will not give up no matter what happens or how bad life may be. 1. Read His Word. Equipping families with practical approaches to parenting and marriage. Psalm 71 for When You Feel Like Everyone Is Against You. We all have a story. Learn about Cru's global leadership team. That He loves you and has good in store for you. I personally have much more confidence in someone who expects trouble and prepares for it than in someone who goes through life singing Everythings Coming Up Roses. The truth is, every rose has its thorns, and the sooner we understand that the happier we will be. Youre human. Recently I spent a week teaching the book of James at Word of Life Bible Institute in Hudson, Florida. When you do that, a powerful conclusion emerges: These great trials give me great hope that God means a great benefit to me. This message is a reminder that God is always working in your life. How does a Christian respond when hard times come? He always sees them and is always working for their good. 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. Psalm 1:1-6: Are you going the wrong way? So I decided to check out some other translations. Reaching students and faculty in middle and high school. read more, Scripture: Learn how to build and strengthen your spiritual heart, and be blessed in the process. If you and I have been in the world very long, we've learned there are God is never neglecting your life. Opt out at any time. Jude 1:17-21, Denomination: There is a fourth truth we need to remember when hard times come. Jesus loves you back to wholeness. Difficult circumstances feel all-consuming I was able to share that no matter how things may look, we can know that God is looking out for His children. Which do you choose? Now, in the difficult times of their life, Paul gives advice for believers in difficult times. You can have an easy life, or you can have a deep faith. Luke 21:5-36, Denomination: Thats what perseverance looks like. They can remind you of the truth when youre struggling. That sounds so odd that one wonders if he is serious. Failureyes. Hell lead, protect, and guide you. Trusting in Him means believing what He says about Himself, about the world and about you is true. 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. 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). 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. God is bigger than your circumstances. Find rest in Jehovah-Rohi: There's power in the name! Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds (v. 1). But my belief in the love of God is not by inference or instinct. James begins by reminding us that sooner or later (probably sooner) we will all face trials of various sorts. Jesus is the answer! Faith in Gods Characterthat he is good and makes no mistake. The word of God and the Holy Spirit brings reassurance and peace to your soul. * The cockroach immediately punched him between the eyes and scampered off. He uses hard times to put our faith to the test. But thats the whole point. 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). Encouragement THE POWER OF JESUS DRAWS ALL MEN UNTO HIMSELF, HE USES OUR HARD TIMES TO DRAW MEN UNTO HIMSELF. In this message, we learn that while trials and temptations are not sin, they can lead to sin if we dont stand firm in faith.