Finding Hope and Purpose Through Life's Hardships

Devotional

Day 1: The Way of Blessing: Delighting in God's Word

True blessing is found not in an easy life, but in following God’s Word and allowing Him to direct your path. The one who delights in the law of the Lord and meditates on it day and night is like a tree planted by streams of water—steadfast, fruitful, and enduring through hardship. Even when suffering comes, the blessed person remains rooted, drawing strength and purpose from God’s truth rather than the fleeting comforts of the world. This is the path of blessing: to follow God, to let His Word shape your desires, and to trust that He knows the way of the righteous. [41:49]

Psalm 1 (KJV):
Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper. The ungodly are not so: but are like the chaff which the wind driveth away. Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous. For the Lord knoweth the way of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall perish.

Reflection: What is one specific way you can meditate on God’s Word today, allowing it to shape your response to a current hardship?

Day 2: Enduring Suffering by Following Christ’s Example

Enduring hardship is not a sign of God’s absence, but an opportunity to follow Christ’s example—sharpening your focus on what truly matters and living for God’s will rather than your own desires. Suffering helps strip away distractions and reveals what is truly important, prompting you to ask, “God, how can I serve you in this moment?” By arming yourself with the mindset of Christ, you can endure trials with purpose, knowing that your present difficulties are not wasted but are used by God to refine your character and deepen your dependence on Him. [49:55]

1 Peter 4:1-2 (ESV):
Since therefore Christ suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves with the same way of thinking, for whoever has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, so as to live for the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for human passions but for the will of God.

Reflection: In what area of your life do you need to shift your focus from your own desires to God’s will, especially in the midst of hardship?

Day 3: Considering the End: Our Living Hope

When the world seems to prosper while you struggle, it is easy to become discouraged or envious. But true perspective comes when you “consider their end”—remembering that those without Christ lack the living hope that you possess. The riches and ease of this world are fleeting, but God has promised eternal blessings to those who trust in Him. By lifting your eyes beyond present troubles and focusing on the hope set before you, you can endure with joy, knowing that your future is secure in Christ and that your present suffering is not the end of your story. [01:05:17]

Psalm 73:16-17, 24-26 (ESV):
But when I thought how to understand this, it seemed to me a wearisome task, until I went into the sanctuary of God; then I discerned their end. … You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will receive me to glory. Whom have I in heaven but you? And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides you. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.

Reflection: When you are tempted to envy the apparent ease of others, how can you remind yourself of the living hope you have in Christ?

Day 4: Serving Others with God’s Gifts

God calls each believer to serve others, using the unique gifts and abilities He has given—not for personal recognition, but to make a difference in someone else’s life and to steward His grace well. Whether through speaking, serving, or acts of hospitality, your service becomes a true gift when it is empowered by God and brings encouragement, help, or hope to another. The focus is not on the greatness of your talent, but on the impact your service has for God’s kingdom and the glory it brings to Him. [01:18:44]

1 Peter 4:10-11 (ESV):
As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace: whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies—in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.

Reflection: What is one practical way you can use your gifts to serve someone else this week, relying on God’s strength rather than your own?

Day 5: Glorifying God in All Things

The ultimate purpose of enduring, serving, and loving is that God would be glorified in every aspect of your life. Whether in hardship or in blessing, your actions, attitudes, and words can point others to the greatness of God. Living with this focus means seeking to please Him above all, letting your life become a doxology—a song of praise that magnifies His name. As you endure suffering, serve others, and hold fast to your living hope, remember that your highest calling is to bring glory to God through Jesus Christ, both now and forever. [01:21:11]

1 Corinthians 10:31 (ESV):
So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.

Reflection: How can you intentionally seek to glorify God in a specific area of your life today, especially in the midst of your current circumstances?

Sermon Summary

Life is filled with hardships, and while these challenges are significant, they are not the end of the story. There is a greater hope ahead—a living hope found in Jesus Christ. The call is to follow Christ’s example in suffering, to endure with purpose, and to serve others selflessly. True blessing is not found in an easy, trouble-free life, but in walking faithfully with God, allowing His Word and Spirit to guide each step. Hardship is not a sign of God’s absence, but often the very means by which our focus is sharpened, our priorities are realigned, and our lives are redirected toward what truly matters.

Looking back, it’s clear that living for our own passions and impulses leads only to emptiness and destruction. The world may entice us to seek fulfillment on our own terms, but this path is ultimately hollow. Instead, we are called to remember the futility of that old way of life and to embrace a new way—living for the will of God. This means making choices that honor Him, even when they set us apart from the world and invite misunderstanding or even ridicule.

In the present, the challenge is to live with a sharpened focus, prioritizing God’s will above personal comfort or fleeting pleasure. Suffering, though painful, can strip away distractions and help us see what is truly important. It is in these moments that we are reminded to live not for ourselves, but for God, using our time, resources, and relationships to serve Him and others.

Looking to the future, every person will stand before God and give an account. For those in Christ, this is not a moment of condemnation, but of reward and fulfillment of our living hope. This reality compels us to share the gospel, not out of duty or pride, but out of a genuine desire for others to experience the same hope and life we have found.

As the end draws near, the call is to be people of prayer, to love one another earnestly, to show hospitality without grumbling, and to use whatever gifts God has given to serve others. In all things, the aim is to glorify God—enduring, serving, and living in such a way that His greatness is displayed through our lives. This is the path of blessing, the way of Christ, and the hope that sustains us through every trial.

Key Takeaways

1. Suffering Refines Our Focus and Priorities Hardship is not meaningless; it sharpens our attention on what truly matters. When suffering comes, the trivial fades and the eternal becomes clear. This refining process helps us shed distractions and live with a renewed sense of purpose, aligning our lives with God’s will rather than our own fleeting desires. [51:20]
2. The Old Way of Life Is Empty—Live for God’s Will Pursuing fulfillment through our own impulses and passions leads only to destruction and loss. The world’s promises of satisfaction are hollow, and the consequences of self-indulgence are evident all around us. True meaning and blessing are found in surrendering our desires and living for what pleases God, even when it means standing apart from the crowd. [56:41]
3. Endurance Is Rooted in a Living Hope The call to endure suffering is not a call to stoic resignation, but to hopeful perseverance. Our hope is not in present comfort, but in the future God has promised—a living hope that sustains us through trials. This hope enables us to lift our eyes beyond today’s pain and to continue faithfully, knowing that God’s deliverance and reward await. [45:36]
4. Service and Love Are the Outworking of Following Christ Following Jesus means adopting His posture of self-giving love and practical service. We are called to pray, to love deeply, to show hospitality, and to use our gifts for the good of others. These acts are not mere duties, but the natural overflow of a life transformed by grace and focused on God’s glory. [69:33]
5. Every Life Will Give an Account—Live and Witness with Eternity in View Each person will stand before God and give an account for their life. For believers, this is a moment of reward, not condemnation, but it is still a sobering reality. This truth should shape our daily choices and fuel our passion to share the gospel, desiring that others, too, would find the living hope that is in Christ.

** [62:11]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[03:16] - Opening Prayer and Blessing
[03:54] - Announcements and Kids’ Psalm 1 Recitation
[41:17] - The Way of the Blessed: Psalm 1 and Suffering
[42:18] - The Reality of Hardship for Believers
[45:36] - Enduring with a Living Hope
[47:11] - Sharpening Our Focus in Suffering
[49:22] - Arming Ourselves with Christ’s Mindset
[51:20] - Suffering Refines Our Priorities
[53:17] - The Emptiness of Living for Self
[56:41] - The Sin of Self-Fulfillment
[59:45] - Being Maligned for Righteousness
[62:11] - Giving an Account Before God
[67:15] - Serving Others as Christ Did
[69:33] - Love, Hospitality, and Using Our Gifts
[80:18] - All for God’s Glory
[81:37] - Endure, Serve, Glorify: The Christian Focus
[83:01] - Closing Prayer and Benediction
[89:03] - Final Announcements and Dismissal

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading

Primary Text: — 1 Peter 4:1–11 (ESV)
> Since therefore Christ suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves with the same way of thinking, for whoever has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, so as to live for the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for human passions but for the will of God. For the time that is past suffices for doing what the Gentiles want to do, living in sensuality, passions, drunkenness, orgies, drinking parties, and lawless idolatry. With respect to this they are surprised when you do not join them in the same flood of debauchery, and they malign you; but they will give account to him who is ready to judge the living and the dead. For this is why the gospel was preached even to those who are dead, that though judged in the flesh the way people are, they might live in the spirit the way God does.

> The end of all things is at hand; therefore be self-controlled and sober-minded for the sake of your prayers. Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins. Show hospitality to one another without grumbling. As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace: whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies—in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.

Additional Passages: —
- Psalm 1 (ESV)
- Psalm 73:16–17 (ESV)

Observation Questions

According to 1 Peter 4:1–2, what is the purpose of arming ourselves with the same mindset as Christ in suffering?
In the sermon, what examples were given of how suffering can sharpen our focus and change our priorities? [[50:53]]
What are some of the behaviors and attitudes that Peter says belong to the “old way of life” in verses 3–4?
What four practical instructions does Peter give in verses 7–11 for how believers should live as “the end of all things is at hand”?

Interpretation Questions

The sermon says that hardship is not a sign of God’s absence, but a means by which our focus is sharpened and our lives are redirected. Why might God allow suffering to play this role in a believer’s life? [[51:20]]
The “old way of life” is described as empty and destructive. Why do you think people are still drawn to it, even when they know it leads to emptiness? [[56:41]]
Peter says that every person will give an account before God. How should this reality shape the way Christians live and interact with others? [[01:02:11]]
The sermon highlights that service, love, and hospitality are not just duties but the natural overflow of a life transformed by grace. What does it look like for these actions to flow from genuine transformation rather than obligation? [[01:09:33]]

Application Questions

The sermon talked about how suffering can help us shed distractions and focus on what truly matters. Is there a current hardship in your life that is helping you see your priorities differently? How might God be using it to realign your focus? [[51:20]]
Looking back, are there ways you have tried to find fulfillment “on your own terms” that left you empty? What would it look like to surrender those areas to God’s will this week? [[56:41]]
The world may misunderstand or even ridicule choices made to honor God. Have you ever experienced this? How did you respond, and what would you do differently now? [[59:45]]
Peter calls us to be people of prayer, to love earnestly, and to show hospitality without grumbling. Which of these is most challenging for you right now, and what is one step you can take to grow in that area this month? [[01:09:33]]
The sermon emphasized using our gifts to serve others. What is one practical way you can use your time, resources, or abilities to serve someone in your church or community this week? [[01:16:47]]
The reality that everyone will give an account before God is sobering. Is there someone in your life who needs to hear about the hope you have in Christ? How can you share your story or the gospel with them in a loving way? [[01:02:11]]
The ultimate goal is to glorify God in all things. What is one area of your life where you want to be more intentional about seeking God’s glory rather than your own comfort or recognition? [[01:20:18]]

Sermon Clips

Here's the sin. When we try to be fulfilled on our own terms, Living life by our own impulse. That's what Eve did in the garden. Well, if I eat this, I'll be smarter and it'll make me feel better, and it'll be a good time. And, you know, it'll make me more complete because I'm living in accordance to my true inner self. And if we ever lived in a time that bought into that lie more than now, I'd be surprised, because people are just saying, be true to yourself. It doesn't matter that you lose your whole family and disregard the relationships you have. Be true to yourself. If you think you're this or that, then that's what you are. That's sin. Living life by your own impulse. [00:56:41] (49 seconds) #LivingHopeForAll

There's a thing that we believe. It's called individual soul liberty. And it's the idea that every person will stand before God and give an account of himself or herself before God. That one day you will stand before God and you will give an account. I'm not giving an account for you for how you were a husband, wife, mother, father, child, nephew, niece, worker, community member. You're going to give an account for yourself before God and we all will. Saved or unsaved. You're going to give an answer which is a far heavier burden than you saying, well, what does a pastor think? Who cares what the pastor thinks? What does God think? [01:01:35] (48 seconds) #PeopleOfPrayer

We have riches beyond our imagination. We have a living hope. Their end is eternal separation from God. And so what we do is we need to have our attention first, focused. We're enduring hardship, but we do that by behaving in this way that we give out the gospel. [01:05:20] (23 seconds) #GraciousEndurance

There is no other way, you guys. There's only one way. It's to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved. And we want to tell these people that are dead. That there is a hope that is ahead for them if they would turn to Jesus Christ. That's why we preach the gospel. [01:06:07] (20 seconds) #PracticeHospitality

We need to be people of prayer. So here's where I get to that. People of prayer, the end of all things is at hand. Therefore, be self controlled and sober minded. Why? For the sake of your prayers, Be people of prayer. Seriously committed to prayer. Praying the things that God wants to hear. Praying the things that are in line with his will, praying about the hardships of our life, praying, giving praise to God, worshiping him, praying scripture. There's a whole lot of ways that we can pray to God, but we need to be people of prayer because that shows our dependence on God and our close relationship with him. [01:08:47] (44 seconds) #GlorifyGodAlways

Above all, you need to love one another. This is how we serve each other. We love each other. Well, I love him. I just don't like him. I suppose that's possible. There's a few that I can think of in that category. No, but seriously, do you love humanity? Do you love human beings? I know people can drive each other nuts, but do you have a love for one another? This is a deep love. To do it earnestly, not insincerely, but to love them, by the way, to love them enough to endure suffering and to tell them about the salvation that they could have if they turned to God. We need to be people that are loving each other earnestly. [01:09:35] (44 seconds) #EndureServeGlorify

What it's saying here is that I'm going to be gracious about it. I'm going to be gracious about the wrongs against me, the pushback I've gotten because I'm a follower of Jesus Christ. I can overlook that for the cause of Christ so that I can, while enduring suffering, be a witness for him. I can make a difference in the world around me. I can endure the insults. I can endure the pushback. I can endure the harassment on the job and the politics and the school board meetings or whatever it is that I'm involved in. I can endure through that because gracious to the people around me. So this kind of love is able to be gracious. It covers a multitude of sins. We're overlooking it for a higher cause, a higher good. [01:10:48] (51 seconds)

A gift is not a gift unless it makes a difference in somebody else's life. That's when it's a gift that it did something for somebody by the power of God. You know, it's not that you were gifted to sing or gifted to be a mechanic and all that. Yeah, God gave those talents. But the gift is what happened when you fixed that person's car? Did you encourage them? Did they get saved because you were able to go out of your way. [01:17:28] (36 seconds)

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