encouraging sermons for difficult times

One day I joined him on Moody Radio for Primetime America, the program he hosted each weekday afternoon. WebThank God for those who touch your life. This is the sort of faith that Paul has in mind in Romans 5. He is in all of it. Will you say yes today? Hard times, times of trials and tribulations, seem to be as constant as the sunrise. Strategies From Genesis As She wants to be free but the pain of coming off heroin is so great that she cannot face it. They were being persecuted for their faith in Jesus. He always sees them and is always working for their good. Write out your question. The great danger is that we will try to short-circuit the process by running away from our problems. Place: BLCC - 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. Most often they come through and with and alongside our trials. This message reveals what we can do to remain rooted in Christ and why its so important. read more, Scripture: If you dont need this sermon today, put it in your back pocket because you will definitely need it tomorrow! It is really hard to see past them to other good things going on. Be Thankful in All Things Introduction A staff can bring comfort, assurance, confidence and support. This helps you accept that God is bigger than you could ever understand. So many believers struggle because they try to handle their problems alone. I wish it were not so, but it is true. In prison, after beatings, Paul and Silas had sung praises. 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). The Holy Spirit will guide, comfort and help. 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. Have tremendous expectations and believe in them. You are not facing these difficult times alone. read more, Scripture: We had us a bunch of sick folk, and them added to all the WebEncouragement in Difficult Times. There is a process involved in our trials that leads to a product. Another message on the awesome power of God! Have you ever had a person in your life that was difficult to impossible to deal with? If we need faith, we will have it. No doubt our main problem comes because we misunderstand the word joy. In contemporary parlance, the word is virtually a synonym for happiness. Advent 2022, week 3: Do you feel robbed of joy? Difficult situations are not new. Introduction: Hard times are real for everyone regardless of who we are or where we are. Difficult situations are not new to any generation. 1 Corinthians 10:13, Romans 8:28, Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ. We all need to live each day fully for Him. 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. Church Of God. This isnt like Paul in Romans with his intricate theological arguments. Who is the Holy Spirit and What Does He Do. 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. It isnt natural to find joy in hardship. 2) This is necessary for my spiritual growth. Various Scriptures All these things lead to the ultimate act of desperation where we give up our faith in God altogether. No need to worry because the Lord is with you. They would feel scared about being left alone. In my office we quoted Bible verses together. In this case, the great Apostle himself drew strength from the courage of these new believers. We prayed, and I know it was a divine appointment. He will help you wait with endurance. And it turned out that way, as you well know (v. 4). What does it do? I was able to share that no matter how things may look, we can know that God is looking out for His children. If we need any of the nine-fold fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23), it will be produced in us. We don't have to be miserable, frustrated and unhappy in difficult places. Learn how Jesus life, death, and resurrection can help you have unity and love with others. Hard * The cockroach immediately punched him between the eyes and scampered off. A touch from the shepherds staff and the presence of his rod is reassuring to the heart. Explore answers to life's biggest questions. A woman sat in my office and told me a very sad story. How do you trust that God is good in these circumstances? That is why we are beginning a study of the book of James. But you can control how you respondin faith or unbelief, in humility or arrogance, in forgiveness or in anger, in hope or in despair. What do you do when your world caves in? How we seek to journey together with everyone towards a relationship with Jesus. He is bigger than any of your circumstances. The things you felt secure in all of a sudden feel shaky and uncertain. In Him, you can have comfort and peace, and encouragement. Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, The dross rose to the surface and was skimmed off, leaving only pure gold. Some people go through life as professional victims, always talking about how they have been mistreated. Perhaps were sick and feel as if well never get better again. Then she walked out of my office. God is Omniscient, which means that He is all knowing. A few days ago we interviewed Nabeel Qureshi on American Family Radio about his new book No God But One: Allah or Jesus?. The Lord your shepherd is always with you. A victim believes his hard times have come because God is trying to punish him. He is present in your situation. One day you are announcing a new book; a few days later you are fighting for your life. While we were preparing for the broadcast, he told me, Ray, I heard something today that really helped me. read more, Scripture: But thats not what the Bible means. A victim feels so sorry for himself that he has no time for others. read more, Scripture: Genesis 18:14, Dont allow any hard time to break you, to cause you to quit, give up and lose hope. Romans 16:12.Greet the beloved Persis, who has worked hard in the Lord. to our ministers who preached and taught in my absence. Thanks to all of you for your prayers while my wife and I were away in Jamaica. Job 5:7 reminds us that man is born for trouble as surely as the sparks fly upward.. The enemy must flee and death is swallowed up in victory. God does not explain himself to us. I am so thankful that I am a child of the Father, redeemed by the Son, and sealed in the Spirit. Pretty simple. It is by faith. Text: Romans 8 : 28 When you cannot see a resolution? Under pressure we begin to give in to bad habits, wrong attitudes, and then we begin the long slide in the wrong direction. How do you get that wisdom? Gods Encouragement in Tough Times When we read this epistle, we get a glimpse of Christianity in its earliest form. 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. Trust grows as you look for Gods presence in what feels dark and heavy. And get 5 action steps for enduring 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. We have a great God who loves us more than we know. 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. Our leaders disappoint us. Psalm 1:1-6: Are you going the wrong way? Wesleyan, Dealing With Difficult People There are no accidents with God, only incidents that are appointed by him for our good and his glory. A common struggle in difficult times is feelings of helplessness and worry about an unknown future. You show up to practice every day, giving it your all, but you lose every game. In fact, there are many times when it looks like just the opposite. To trust is to believe in the reliability, truth, ability or strength of something. Lets BE DELIGENT. 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. WebAnd Adam and Eve would deal with toil and difficulty in their daily work. This passage shows us three things we need to remember if we are going to pass the test with flying colors. Read His Word. Day 5 of 40 days of fasting! # WHO is a Diligent person? If you struggle with why God allows difficulty, read the article Why Does God Allow Suffering?. Learn the basics of what Christians believe. You can have hope because anything is possible. Someone who performs with intense concentration and focus 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. Little by little we lose the joy we once had. Thats a picture of what God is up to in our fiery trials. We all have to undergo some furnace time sooner or later. He reminds them that this life will have hardship and that our bodies will fail, but God is still working for our good. It seems that this is the deep theological response to all calamity. Thank you! Jim and his four co-workers were speared to death by the Indians. God wants to encourage us during hard times. But those good times often get overshadowed by other more complicated things going on. And to do it well have to take the long view of life, to understand that what we see is not the final chapter of the story. She and her husband Jim joined a group of missionaries reaching out to the Auca Indians of Ecuador. My Life is not predictable. People kill each other. The Holy Spirit will lead you to what you should do. Words of Comfort and Encouragement in Difficult Times - Jim Listen to the sounds around you. Acts 20:22-31. The word trial comes from a Greek word that has the idea of being under the thumb because of pressure from above. Philippians 4:1-8, Dealing With Difficult People 10 words of encouragement during hard times Ive learned that you can keep going long after you think you cant Not all positive change feels positive in the beginning. Serve those around you. God is bigger than your circumstances. Someone has counted over 50 commands in these five chapters. Look to Jesus and you will find the strength you need. Do you need to devote yourself to unselfish religious deeds? Evangelical Free. If you want hope to flood your heart, it starts with affliction that leads to endurance that produces proven character that results in the Holy Spirit filling us with hope. Many of us want to trust God. The following Tuesday he announced that he has been diagnosed with advanced stomach cancer and the prognosis is grim. 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. For the believer, the rod is like the word of God and the staff is the Holy Spirit. I can think of three obvious answers to that question. 2,000 flights canceled: Airlines still recovering from Chicago fire. The Bible is Gods unfailing, unchanging Word. How to Trust God, Even in Difficult Times | Cru - Cru.org The rod is used to protect and drive the enemy away. 14. Text: Philippians 1:12-18 Remember who He has always been. By Greg Johnson And we will rejoice if we believe what God has said. Because we live in a fallen world, nothing works the way its supposed to. You can cling to its truth when life throws you a curveball. Learn how to hold onto joy no matter the situation youre in with this weeks encouraging message. * When he answered the door, a six-foot tall cockroach was standing there. Christ is the answer for life's difficult questions. Ecclesiastes 1:9, Denomination: Find resources for personal or group Bible study. Establishing a consistent time with the Lord when things feel good will help you to continue to go to Him when things feel rough. HOW TO PROFIT FROM YOUR PROBLEMS read more, Scripture: 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). A victim begs God to remove the problems of life so that he might be happy. A student understands that God allows hard times in order to help him grow. When the global church comes together then powerful things can happen. C.S. Paul had set the example of joyfulness in difficult times. United Methodist. Or all three. We have been looking this month at the book of Philippians. Four years ago my Father-in-Law, Dr. W. C. Dobbs, pastor and professor, passed away. A Mighty Fortress Is Our God God is much more concerned with how you respond than with the trial itself. Our friends watch to see how we will respond to tragedy. 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.. He hears your requests and answers them. Gods unchanging character can give us a firm foundation when things feel unsteady and uncertain. Need a little pick-me-up? In todays message, learn where abundance comes from and how to cultivate it in your heart. Spend time in prayer acknowledging who He is. Presbyterian/Reformed. Handbook for Hard Times | Keep Believing Ministries 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. Faith in Gods Promisethat he will never leave us or forsake us. The tools of the shepherd are the rod and staff. This is one of his favorite tools when the hard times involve problems with friends and family members. A student understands that God allows hard times in order to help him grow. Many of you know from experience the unrelenting pressure from circumstances that keeps you awake at night and saps your strength during the day. You can tell God how you feel and in what areas of your life you are struggling to trust Him. (part 6), - Series: Inspire! 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. Will you choose to live Gods best for you, no matter the circumstances? Daniel 2:1-23, Denomination: http:/www.LovingGodFellowship.org WebIn stormy seasons like this, it can be hard to maintain hope. 4:15-16). Hard Times 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. 1 Trusting God When Youre Alone in the Gap (4.18.10) 2 Trusting God When the Brook Dries Up (5.9.10) 3 Trusting God Our friends turn into enemies. But as xtians we have antidotes against hard So I decided to check out some other translations. The book of Jude is one of those that we skip over most of the time. A situation may look dark and the shadows of all the problems you are walking through might appear impossible to you at the moment. Even in tragic circumstances, there will be light and grace. No one, not a single person in this story expects Peter to be released. This week we learn how Gods expression of love is witnessed in the birth of Jesus. It also frees you from the unrealistic scenarios that you run to in worry. He worried that under pressure these new Christians would crumble and give up on God. God created the world to display His glory. First, it is good to acknowledge that His character is good and trustworthy. Evaluate where youve placed your faith and get practical instruction for building a faith that can outlast any storm. The message shares despite all the problems of life or that life is difficult that God remains good. 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. Sometimes we will see it; often we will simply have to take it by faith. 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? God is much more reliable than even your most trustworthy friend. He is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow and therefore is worthy of your trust. 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. Copyright 2003-2023 | Outreach, Inc., All rights reserved. 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. Consider these words by Roy Zuck: For the child of God, there are no accidents, only incidents. That may be the best one-sentence summary of Romans 8:28 Ive ever seen. 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. Norman Vincent Peale Or your husband may decide he doesnt want to be married anymore. Perseverance says, I will not give up no matter what happens or how bad life may be. God intends to put our faith to the test. Genesis 16:1-10. The first statement reflects a high view of Gods sovereignty. Genesis 21:8-21, The book of Jude has for us a message about perseverance in the faith, CALL TO PERSEVERE: NATURAL INSTINCTS INTRODUCTION God is present and is making Himself known. Dont let your emotions rule your life; bring them to God so He can help you address them. If my experience can help someone else, feel free to use this information. Luke 8:4-15: Are you settling for less than Gods abundant plan for you? He believed, but it was a difficult thing to believe. Now, in the difficult times of their life, Paul gives advice for believers in difficult times. That place is His Word. Youre able to confess to God when your feelings and beliefs are not lining up with His Truth. Meet with other believers and set your eyes on things that are bigger than your circumstances. He reminds them that He does not sleep or take a break. 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. This week were learning about how love is at the heart of Christmas. Lift up your head in hard times and look for the Son of Man. Nothing is Too Difficult for God Genesis 18:1-15, Denomination: Our sermon ideas about Coronavirus will help you preach a powerful message. Mercy or revenge. 13. Still, God answers the prayer. You get it in the hard times. A victim believes his hard times have come because God is trying to punish him. Hope and Encouragement. No accidents! Haggai 2:1-15: Want to be closer to God? You work hard, but you don't make progress. He also gives you other believers to walk with. Our hard times are designed to bring us closer to the Lord. 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. Does anyone doubt it? 1 Kings 19:3-18, Psalm 22: Are you burdened by feeling alone? Introduction: There are no shortcuts to spiritual maturity. Live in another country building relationships and ministries with eternal impact. Sign up to join over 20,000 subscribers receiving our weekly sermon email. When you are feeling down or depressed, look up and call out to Jesus. James 1:2-4. Learn the prescription for joy and success.
Mobile Homes For Sale In Hughesville, Pa, How Tall Is Stable Ronaldo Girlfriend, John Kennerley Worth, Tdoc Inmate Release Date, Mario Singer Rhony 2021, Articles E