Embracing Hardships for Greater Purpose and Healing

Devotional

Day 1: Embracing Hardships for Greater Purpose

God sometimes allows us to go through hardships to prepare us for a greater purpose. Obedience and suffering can lead to a deeper understanding of salvation. ([12:45](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z9xQczCTatk&t=750s)) These trials are not meant to break us, but to shape us, equipping us with the necessary tools to fulfill our divine purpose.

James 1:2-4 - "Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything."

Reflection: Reflect on a recent hardship you've faced. How can you see God using this experience to prepare you for a greater purpose?

Day 2: Healing at the Soul Level

Jesus wants to heal us at the soul level, even if we are physically away from our past. God can use our past experiences, even the painful ones, for our good and to help others. ([24:30](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z9xQczCTatk&t=1455s)) This healing is not just about forgetting or moving on, but about transforming our pain into a source of strength and wisdom.

Psalm 147:3 - "He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds."

Reflection: What past experiences might God be using to heal you at the soul level? How can you use your past to help others?

Day 3: Maintaining a Positive Attitude

Maintaining a good attitude in the face of unfairness is crucial. The devil cannot steal from those who maintain a positive attitude despite their circumstances. ([36:15](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z9xQczCTatk&t=2160s)) This is not about denying reality, but about choosing to see the good in every situation and trusting God's sovereignty.

Proverbs 17:22 - "A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones."

Reflection: What situation in your life currently feels unfair? How can you maintain a positive attitude in the midst of it?

Day 4: Trusting God's Plans

Trusting God and being content with His plans for our lives is important. Instead of praying for personal desires, we should pray for God to give us what we can handle and to not give us anything that would make us feel more important than we are or take us away from God. ([48:50](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z9xQczCTatk&t=2915s)) This is about surrendering our will to God's will, trusting that He knows what's best for us.

Proverbs 19:21 - "Many are the plans in a person's heart, but it is the Lord's purpose that prevails."

Reflection: What personal desires are you holding onto that might be hindering you from fully trusting God's plans for your life?

Day 5: Ignoring Worldly Opinions

We should not let other people's opinions and criticisms affect our lives. What truly matters is our reputation in heaven, not the opinions of the world. ([59:30](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z9xQczCTatk&t=3555s)) This is about focusing on God's opinion of us, rather than the fleeting and often misguided opinions of others.

Galatians 1:10 - "Am I now trying to win the approval of human beings, or of God? Or am I trying to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ."

Reflection: Whose opinion are you allowing to influence your life? How can you shift your focus to what God thinks of you?

Sermon Summary

The sermon begins with the pastor sharing a personal testimony about their difficult upbringing and how they found salvation at a young age. They recall a moment of doubt when they cheated in a game and feared losing their salvation. However, they later realized that receiving the spirit of Christ meant receiving a determination to overcome challenges. The pastor admits to praying for their father's death and their mother leaving in order to escape their situation, but acknowledges that God did not remove them from it. Instead, God took them through the difficult circumstances, teaching them valuable lessons and equipping them to help others in the future. The pastor emphasizes that sometimes God allows us to go through hardships to prepare us for a greater purpose and encourages the congregation to truly desire to be used by God, understanding that obedience and suffering can lead to a deeper understanding of salvation.

The pastor then emphasizes the value of experience over education. They share their personal journey, explaining that they left home at 18 and married the first person who came along due to feelings of unworthiness. However, they soon realized that the problems they were trying to escape were still present within their soul. The pastor highlights that Jesus wants to heal us at the soul level, even if we are physically away from our past. They acknowledge that they have experienced abuse but express that they cannot say they are sorry for it anymore because they believe God has used it for their good and to help others.

The pastor shares a personal experience of facing a difficult situation. Their time on a good station, which was bringing in much-needed income, was suddenly canceled due to a program change. This news was devastating to them, and they felt upset and unfair about it. However, during a church service, the pastor felt led by the Lord to give the station to Him as an offering. The pastor emphasizes the importance of maintaining a good attitude in the face of unfairness, stating that the devil cannot steal from those who do so.

The pastor emphasizes the importance of trusting God and being content with His plans for our lives. They share that instead of praying for personal desires, they now pray for God to give them what they can handle and to not give them anything that would make them feel more important than they are or take them away from God. The pastor references Hebrews 5:8-9, which speaks about Jesus learning obedience through suffering and becoming perfectly equipped to fulfill His calling. The pastor encourages the congregation not to rush into obtaining what they want or reaching their goals, but to take the time to learn and develop the necessary character to sustain their position once they achieve it.

In the final portion of the sermon, the pastor emphasizes the importance of not letting other people's opinions and criticisms affect one's life. The pastor acknowledges that there will always be haters and critics, but it doesn't matter because their opinions hold no weight. The pastor shares that while they may still be bothered if a close family member thinks negatively of them, they have learned to tune out the opinions of the world. The pastor encourages the congregation to not allow what others think about them to ruin their days, emphasizing that what truly matters is their reputation in heaven.

Key Takeaways

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Sermon Clips

1. "If we love God and trust Him, there is no painful unjust thing that can happen to us that God won't somehow work out for our good." [33:18]

2. "I don't pray anymore for God to give me what I want, I pray that God will give me what I can handle and I pray God please don't give me anything that's going to make me think I'm more important than what I am." [28:15]

3. "A lot of people have a gift that can take them somewhere but they don't have enough character to keep them there once they get there." [28:58]

4. "Don't be in such a hurry about getting what you want and going where you're going. Take time to learn the things you need to learn so when you get where you're going you'll be able to stay there and not just get somewhere and then lose that place." [29:39]

5. "Experience is much more valuable even than education... I went through a lot of things and left home as soon as I was 18. married the first guy that came along because I thought nobody would ever want me... but I took it with me, it was in my soul." [40:48]

6. "Some of you are still walking around with things from your past, it's in your soul... Jesus wants to heal us, he wants to get down in our souls and he wants to heal us." [40:48]

7. "I cannot say to you that I'm sorry that I was abused and that I wish it wouldn't have happened... because some way somehow I know that God has worked that out for my good and he has used it in my life to help Foster People." [41:23]

8. "You keep a good attitude and the devil cannot steal from you. Did you hear me? The devil cannot steal." [35:45]

9. "Don't let what somebody thinks about you ruin one more day of your life... it's our reputation in heaven that matters." [32:30]

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