Every good life is full of conflict and tension.
There are times when we ask.
"Can it get any worse?"
People bail when it gets hard. We disengage. We run away. We medicate.
There are times when we ask.
"Can it get any worse?"
People bail when it gets hard. We disengage. We run away. We medicate.
We really want a meaningful life that may be full of tension at some points.
If we wait expectantly on God, we'll see Him show up in the hard times of our lives.
If we wait expectantly on God, we'll see Him show up in the hard times of our lives.
Habakkuk 2:3 (NIRV)
3 The message I give you
waits for the time I have appointed.
It speaks about what is going to happen.
And all of it will come true.
It might take a while.
But wait for it.
You can be sure it will come.
It will happen when I want it to.
waits for the time I have appointed.
It speaks about what is going to happen.
And all of it will come true.
It might take a while.
But wait for it.
You can be sure it will come.
It will happen when I want it to.
Let's look at a letter written by Peter. His reader's lives were full of hardships. How do we live like Jesus in those hard times?
1 Peter 1:3-4 (NIRV)
3 Give praise to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
In his great mercy he has given us a new birth and a living hope.
This hope is living because Jesus Christ rose from the dead.
In his great mercy he has given us a new birth and a living hope.
This hope is living because Jesus Christ rose from the dead.
4 He has given us new birth so that we might share in what belongs to him.
This is a gift that can never be destroyed.
It can never spoil or even fade away.
It is kept in heaven for you.
This is a gift that can never be destroyed.
It can never spoil or even fade away.
It is kept in heaven for you.
In these times, hope means a desire for something to happen in the future.
Today's hope is an another word for wish.
Human hope is a wishful expectation based upon our own effort, intellect, or luck.
Today's hope is an another word for wish.
Human hope is a wishful expectation based upon our own effort, intellect, or luck.
Peter is talking about an confident expectation based upon who God is.
It's a hope for the hard parts of our lives. It is based upon His promises for us.
It's a hope for the hard parts of our lives. It is based upon His promises for us.
We are created to need hope.
Will we depend upon human hope or divine hope in the hard times?
Most of us swing back and forth between the two.
That's what the Bible refers to as double mindedness (James 1:2-8).
Will we depend upon human hope or divine hope in the hard times?
Most of us swing back and forth between the two.
That's what the Bible refers to as double mindedness (James 1:2-8).
When we forget who God is. We think about who we are.
When we forget his promises, we focus on our situation.
How do we remember to hope in God?
When we forget his promises, we focus on our situation.
How do we remember to hope in God?
1. Read the Bible.
Psalm 119:114 (NIRV)
114 You are my place of safety.
You are like a shield that keeps me safe.
You are like a shield that keeps me safe.
I have put my hope in your word.
The Bible tells us the truth about our crisis situation.
Saturate yourself with God's truth in the Bible.
Listen to an audio Bible.
Use sticky notes with Bible verses on them.
The harder the time that we're in.
The more that we need to read the Bible.
Saturate yourself with God's truth in the Bible.
Listen to an audio Bible.
Use sticky notes with Bible verses on them.
The harder the time that we're in.
The more that we need to read the Bible.
2. Remind your soul.
We're talking about self talk.
What are you telling yourself in the struggle?
Are you saying that you can't do it?
Are you going to quit?
What are you telling yourself in the struggle?
Are you saying that you can't do it?
Are you going to quit?
What if you told yourself I'm a fighter?
I can do this.
Something happens when you change your life script.
The script prompted by Satan can sabotage your life.
Satan is the father of lies.
I can do this.
Something happens when you change your life script.
The script prompted by Satan can sabotage your life.
Satan is the father of lies.
Psalm 43:5 (NIRV)
5 My spirit, why are you so sad?
Why are you so upset deep down inside me?
Put your hope in God.
Once again I will have reason to praise him.
He is my Savior and my God.
Why are you so upset deep down inside me?
Put your hope in God.
Once again I will have reason to praise him.
He is my Savior and my God.
The Psalmist is talking to himself about God. He is giving his soul a pep talk above.
3. Surround yourself with faith filled friends.
We need friends to remind us of the truth, and encourage us to read the Bible.
Friends who tell us not to bail.
Friends who tell us not to bail.
Proverbs 17:17 (NIRV)
17 A friend loves at all times.
They are there to help when trouble comes.
Do you need divine hope today? You're story is not over yet?
1 Peter 1:3 (NIRV)
3 Give praise to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
In his great mercy he has given us a new birth and a living hope.
This hope is living because Jesus Christ rose from the dead.
In his great mercy he has given us a new birth and a living hope.
This hope is living because Jesus Christ rose from the dead.
Be my Lord and Savior.
Only You can save me.
You're the only one who can.
Notes taken from Matt Wright, Willowcreek Church
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