A time it appears you don't know what you are doing. What happened to her can happen to any of us if we respond wrongly to hard times. The Passage: Job Did Not Sin with His Lips (2:9-10) As we enter this book 30 verses in, it's critical that we review what's happened up to this point. Or your husband may decide he doesnt want to be married anymore. A victim believes his hard times have come because God is trying to punish him. 1. Handbook for Hard Times | Keep Believing Ministries How does the devil tempt us in hard times? According to Mark 9, a man brought his son to Jesus for healing from being possessed by a demon. WebWe need to continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel (Colossians 1:23). What kind of faith does he have in mind? Encouragement in Difficult Times | Joyce Meyer - YouTube We often see the full flowering of this process in the life of an older saint of God. You lose your job. Text: Galatians 6.4-10 Hard Times Reflecting Jesus together for the good of the city. The Final Judgment Matthew 25: 31-46 25:40 Philippians is a manual on living in joy. God is never neglecting your life. How does a Christian respond when hard times come? This is not news to you, but Im Find Hope & Comfort During Hard Times: Inspire!, part 1, In a trial? What about joy? But as xtians we have antidotes against har, Surviving Hard times He pays attention. read more, Scripture: Life is not predictable. Must you become a better person so that God will accept you? Helping students know Jesus, grow in their faith and go to the world to tell others. 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. Think of one of the hardest times in your life; what question would you like answered? Hard times make us seek answers. The dross rose to the surface and was skimmed off, leaving only pure gold. But my belief in the love of God is not by inference or instinct. Hope and Encouragement. It is by faith. When your trials are over, you will come forth as gold. Luke 2:1-7, Denomination: Faith or fear. Nothing ever just happens and nothing is caused by someone or something outside of Gods control. read more, Scripture: But Timothy has just now come to us from you and has brought good news about your faith and love. But thats not what the Bible means. They dont know, they arent sure, maybe theyve read the Bible, maybe they havent, but theyre watching how we respond to mistreatment, malicious accusations, sickness, the loss of a job, the end of our marriage, a career setback, or a financial collapse. 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. Do you need to devote yourself to unselfish religious deeds? A Dont fight the battle alone. God cares about them both. Haggai 2:1-15: Want to be closer to God? 13. When trials come (and they come to all of us eventually), there is something we cant know and something we can know. To trust is to believe in the reliability, truth, ability or strength of something. read more, Scripture: He cares for your hurts. Advent 2022, week 5: During this series, we are looking at how hope, peace, joy and love are at the heart of Christmas. 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. No matter how hard we try to figure things out, there will always be many mysteries in life. Standing Firm in Difficult Days (Philippians 4 Life is difficult, but God is good. An issue has occurred. Nothing will be left out; nothing will be left behind. Matthew 22: 15 22 / Why Is The Sky Blue? Perseverance says, I will not give up no matter what happens or how bad life may be. Be Thankful in All Things No, in the midst of the storm, I do not have to worry about my salvation, and for that I praise you, God. JAMES 1: 2- 11 There is a process involved in our trials that leads to a product. A Christmas sermon describing how Christ can be born into the most difficult of circumstances. Without warning there is a sudden jolt, the car swerves to the right and comes to a halt. Learn how to build and strengthen your spiritual heart, and be blessed in the process. Most often they come through and with and alongside our trials. In your waking up. Wait on Him to act on your behalf. One of the major themes in the book of Philippians is joy. Many people reading this message are going through hard times right now. Someone you know gets sick. Marriages break up. read more, Scripture: For the believer, the rod is like the word of God and the staff is the Holy Spirit. A doctor may say, Im sorry. I am glad to share it because it is truly encouraging. 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. 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). Many of them are unbelievers who wonder if Christ is real. Pretty simple. Daniel Speaks to Us Today Series The situation can look so dark that not even a sliver of light can be seen to light your way. Or all three. read more, Scripture: Psalm 71 for When You Feel Like Everyone Is Against You. Ecclesiastes 1:9, Denomination: SERIES: Inspire! When the global church comes together then powerful things can happen. Proverbs 6:6-11, Proverbs 10:4-5, Proverbs 13:4, Denomination: We need to gain all that God has for us. Genesis 21:8-21, The book of Jude has for us a message about perseverance in the faith, CALL TO PERSEVERE: NATURAL INSTINCTS 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. I want to begin this message by giving you some common contemporary types of difficult people you may encounter. When you cannot see a resolution? United Methodist. There is no gold without the fiery furnace. 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. Its meant to help you grow in faith and prepare your heart to focus on the real reason for the season: Jesus! Psalm 23:4: Feel Alone? God does not intend to destroy us by the trials he allows to come our way. 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). But accidents? After 2000 years, his words still ring true today. read more, Scripture: read more, Scripture: That means there is no such thing as chance or fate or luck. A) I read about a man that was sitting at home one evening when the doorbell rang! 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. In various ways we will all struggle every day as we make our earthly pilgrimage. Years ago my friend Jim Warren told me, Ray, when hard times come, be a student, not a victim. Thats good advice. If you trust someone, you feel comfortable being honest with them about anything. 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. Sometimes we will see it; often we will simply have to take it by faith. No need to worry because the Lord is with you. CT: Gods way is often the Hard Way. Until then, your faith is speculative because it is untested. God wants to encourage us during hard times. Still, God answers the prayer. Introduction: Hard times are real for everyone regardless of who we are or where we are. If we need any of the nine-fold fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23), it will be produced in us. Your friends and family are enjoyable. Join her on Mondays at 8:30 AM and 8:30 PM EST. Everybody in life is bound to pass thru hard time. A victim would rather complain than find a solution. Jesus is never tolerant of sin, but always willing to forgive it. A friend or family member betrays you. Perhaps were sick and feel as if well never get better again. He is making a way for you. If you and I have been in the world very long, we've learned there are Learn how to find comfort and strength even if things seem overwhelming or you feel unsure of whats coming next. Neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.. In times of doubt, remember His promises. This is the sort of faith that Paul has in mind in Romans 5. You can ask Him to help you believe what He says is true. By Greg Johnson Some people may regard this as a negative, but to me it is a positive. Thanks Then I challenged her to become a woman of truth because the truth will set her free. #1 Sermon: John 10:1-10 Inspirational; Small Group Studies; Church Media. You show up to practice every day, giving it your all, but you lose every game. Faith in Gods Purposethat he is conforming us to the image of Jesus Christ. - 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. Heres a practical hint. The Strong Power in Every Woman Copyright 2003-2023 | Outreach, Inc., All rights reserved. Title: Having Joy in the hard things How do you trust Him when you do not understand what is happening? This message will help you learn how to have peace and get practical instructions of who you are and how to live, plus 4 steps to peace and blessing. Unfortunately our troubles are never optional. One day I joined him on Moody Radio for Primetime America, the program he hosted each weekday afternoon. In You, O Lord, I put my trust; let me never be put to shameDeliver me, O my God, out of the He is always working in your life and in the world. Satan tempts us to fall away during our trials. But during a period of loneliness, she fell in with a bad crowd and began to dabble in sin. God does not explain himself to us. That is why we are beginning a study of the book of James. You can read the morning paper and Sin has stained every part of the physical universe. The great danger is that we will try to short-circuit the process by running away from our problems. God intends to put our faith to the test. 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. Gen 35: 15 -20 And get 5 action steps for enduring But when times feel difficult, it is even more important to trust God. That part is up to us. During these troubling times let us turn to the promises of God, read and study them, ponder upon them and apply their wisdom to our lives. Allow God to remind you who He is and what He promises, and then be honest with Him. Difficult situations are not new to any generation. read more, Scripture: There is one other kind of faith that will help us in hard times. 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. A student understands that God allows hard times in order to help him grow. Darkness must flee. Becky Dvorak is the host of the dynamic teaching program, Empowered for Healing and Miracles, featured globally on the Its Supernatural! The Holy Spirit is your constant helper, pointing you to Jesus. In prison, after beatings, Paul and Silas had sung praises. If we believe that tomorrow will be better, we can bear a hardship today. Now, in the difficult times of their life, Paul gives advice for believers in difficult times. God created the world to display His glory. INTRODUCTION It is not pretending that everything is OK when it isnt. read more, Scripture: Nothing is Too Difficult for God Answers to questions on donations, financial policies, Crus annual report and more. Keeping your eyes on Jesus is the best way to be encouraged. This message teaches us what joy is, how can we find it, and what can get in the way. Web5 Best Sermon Themes for Difficult Times 1. Write out your question. Your job is satisfying. God is not distant. We all have a story. To be sure, there are many gray-haired fools (and there are many wise and godly young people), but Solomon means that if you have walked with the Lord, you will be filled with wisdom in your old age. Opt out at any time. When Jesus was telling His followers that He was going to be killed, He knew that they would be worried. 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? We have been looking this month at the book of Philippians. 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. Living in Hard Times | Keep Believing Ministries You can talk about heaven all you want, but youll discover whether or not you believe in it when you stand by the casket of someone you love. Your privacy is important to us; well keep your email to ourselves. Words of Encouragement For Hard Times Peace or worry. First, trials are the common lot of every Christian. They want to know if what we say we believe is really enough for us in the hard times. Striving to see Christ-followers on every team, in every sport and in every nation. Gods Help for Hard Times We are love God with all of our heart, and our neighbor as ourselves. So when we could stand it no longer, we thought it best to be left by ourselves in Athens. read more, Scripture: I believe that hard times are coming to Christians who live in the West. Daivd shows us how to deal with difficult people as we see how he deals with Saul. You may have heard of people coming through the school of hard Knocks, but as I look through the word of God, I find some NOTs that are hard for some people to swallow. If we need love, we will have it. You can tell God how you feel and in what areas of your life you are struggling to trust Him. 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. In order to separate the gold from the dross, the ore was placed in a furnace and heated until it melted. 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. Be honest. He asked Jesus to heal him if you can. Jesus asked the man if he did not believe that Jesus could heal, and this was his reply. And sin has deeply infected the human bloodstream. Daniel 2:1-23 But we can choose how we respond. How do you trust that God is good in these circumstances? The word joy means joy. The Holy Spirit will lead you to what you should do. This week were learning about how love is at the heart of Christmas. Philippians 1:12-18, Denomination: Our leaders disappoint us. Psalm 23: Youre important to God. If we need faith, we will have it. Get seven steps to put these into practice. Christian/Church Of Christ. My friend has decided to count it all joy in the midst of his cancer. Sign up to join over 20,000 subscribers receiving our weekly sermon email. If we need hope, we will have it. We need to know how to survive as the culture turns against us. read more, Scripture: As he said, I would have preferred to find out whats behind Door # 2. We all feel that way when trouble come our way. Community reminds you that you are never alone, even in hard times. In the book of Isaiah, God responds to the Israelites who thought that God had turned away from them. read more, Scripture: Christian Church. Gods Encouragement in Tough Times Dealing With Difficult People He also wants you to come to Him simply to spend time with Him. Faithfully continue to seek the Lord, but wait on His timing. 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.. When trials have finished their work in us, we will not lack anything the Lord wants us to have. Sign up to join over 20,000 subscribers receiving our weekly sermon email. We are all in harms way. They havent lived long enough. If we want a natural response, we can talk about anger or despair or complaining or getting even or running away. Christ is the answer for life's difficult questions. In a fallen world, there can be no other way. Leading from values so others will walk passionately with God to grow and bear fruit. Who is the Holy Spirit and What Does He Do. Lets BE DELIGENT. James offers what appears to be a strange piece of advice: Consider it pure joy or Count it all joy (KJV). He is always faithful. Many people in Scripture even reference other parts of Scripture to encourage themselves and those around them. Meet with other believers and set your eyes on things that are bigger than your circumstances. He is in all of it. When things feel difficult, He doesnt ask you to keep those feelings to yourself. 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. He never leaves. Joy to many people speaks of a pep rally or a champagne party or a New Years Eve bash. I dont know what the future holds for Nabeel, but as I pray for his healing, I also pray that his faith might remain strong. Failureyes. Remember the shepherd and the shepherds tools. In fact, this is the opposite of chance or circumstance. No doubt our main problem comes because we misunderstand the word joy. In contemporary parlance, the word is virtually a synonym for happiness. Genesis 18:14, Dont allow any hard time to break you, to cause you to quit, give up and lose hope. Luke 8:4-15: Are you settling for less than Gods abundant plan for you? And hard times can come as a result of our own sin, natural catastrophe, economic INTRODUCTION These are difficult days in many parts of the world. Reaching students and faculty in middle and high school. So rejoice and be glad and take comfort; you have no reason to fear. When he has tried me, I will come forth as gold (Job 23:10). 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. Colossians 2:6-8: Do you know how to avoid deception stay connected securely to Christ? Are you open to what the Lord wants to do in your life? He is bigger than any of your circumstances. James begins by reminding us that sooner or later (probably sooner) we will all face trials of various sorts. I sure hope attendance at your church was better than my church. As Remember Gods Love Dont be deceived, my beloved brothers (v. 16). We cant always know why things happen the way they do. When we read this epistle, we get a glimpse of Christianity in its earliest form. You can cling to its truth when life throws you a curveball. 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
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encouraging sermons for difficult times 2023