Finding Strength in God During Life's Challenges
Summary
### Summary
In today's message, we explored the theme of finding strength to continue on, especially during times of emotional and spiritual fatigue. We acknowledged that many of us feel worn out and overwhelmed by the challenges of life, but we can find resilience and endurance through God's Word. We looked at the examples of Jesus and Paul, who both faced immense opposition and hardship but continued their missions with determination and faith. Jesus, despite threats from political and religious leaders, remained steadfast in His purpose. Similarly, Paul, despite being hard-pressed and persecuted, did not give up but found strength in God.
We discussed practical steps to gain strength from God. First, we need to be honest with God about our feelings, unloading our burdens onto Him. This act of transparency helps us to release the weight we carry. Second, we should ask God for strength daily, recognizing Him as the ultimate source of wisdom and power. Third, we need to maintain an attitude of gratitude, even in difficult circumstances, as this helps refuel our emotional and spiritual tanks. Fourth, we should focus on Jesus, keeping our eyes on Him rather than our past or present troubles. This focus helps us to see beyond our immediate struggles to the eternal joy that awaits us.
We also touched on the importance of worship and community in sustaining our spiritual and emotional well-being. Worshiping God together helps us to drink in His strength and encourages us to keep going. Finally, we were reminded that our temporary troubles are producing an eternal glory that far outweighs them. By staying in God's Word and keeping our eyes on Jesus, we can find the strength to continue on, no matter what challenges we face.
### Key Takeaways
1. Be Honest with God: It's crucial to tell God exactly how we feel, whether it's frustration, exhaustion, or discouragement. Unloading our burdens onto Him allows us to release the weight we carry. God already knows our hearts, but expressing our feelings to Him helps us to feel understood and supported. [05:22]
2. Ask God for Strength: Recognize that God is the ultimate source of strength and wisdom. By asking Him for strength daily, we align ourselves with His power and wisdom, which can sustain us through any challenge. This daily dependence on God helps us to navigate life's difficulties with a sense of peace and assurance. [13:12]
3. Maintain an Attitude of Gratitude: Even in difficult circumstances, cultivating gratitude can refuel our emotional and spiritual tanks. Scientific studies have shown that gratitude is one of the healthiest emotions we can have. By focusing on what we are thankful for, we can find strength and encouragement to keep going. [17:47]
4. Focus on Jesus: Keeping our eyes on Jesus rather than our past or present troubles helps us to see beyond our immediate struggles to the eternal joy that awaits us. This focus enables us to endure hardships with a sense of purpose and hope, knowing that our temporary troubles are producing an eternal glory. [25:04]
5. Worship and Community: Worshiping God together and being part of a community helps us to drink in His strength and encourages us to keep going. Worship refocuses our hearts and minds on God's greatness, providing us with the spiritual and emotional energy we need to continue on. [23:22]
### YouTube Chapters
[0:00] - Welcome
[00:59] - Feeling Worn Out
[02:28] - Examples of Determination: Jesus and Paul
[05:22] - Be Honest with God
[06:53] - Unloading Our Burdens
[08:16] - God Understands Us
[09:50] - Complaining as Prayer
[11:25] - Crying Out to God
[13:12] - Ask God for Strength
[14:47] - Emotional Fatigue and Insomnia
[16:11] - Attitude of Gratitude
[17:47] - Daily Gratitude List
[19:40] - Example of Job
[21:04] - Worshiping in Hard Times
[23:22] - Drinking in God's Strength
[25:04] - Focus on Jesus
[27:20] - Temporary Troubles, Eternal Glory
[28:40] - Prayer for Strength
[30:50] - Closing Prayer
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide
#### Bible Reading
1. Luke 13:32-33: "He replied, 'Go tell that fox, ‘I will keep on driving out demons and healing people today and tomorrow, and on the third day I will reach my goal.’ In any case, I must press on today and tomorrow and the next day—for surely no prophet can die outside Jerusalem.'"
2. 2 Corinthians 4:8-9: "We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed."
3. 1 Peter 5:7: "Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you."
#### Observation Questions
1. What was Jesus' response to the threats from political and religious leaders in Luke 13:32-33?
2. According to 2 Corinthians 4:8-9, how did Paul describe his experiences of hardship and his response to them?
3. What does 1 Peter 5:7 instruct us to do with our anxieties and why? [05:22]
4. In the sermon, what are the practical steps mentioned to gain strength from God? [02:28]
#### Interpretation Questions
1. How does Jesus' determination in Luke 13:32-33 serve as an example for us when facing opposition or challenges?
2. What can we learn from Paul's attitude in 2 Corinthians 4:8-9 about handling life's difficulties?
3. Why is it important to be honest with God about our feelings, as suggested in the sermon? [05:22]
4. How does maintaining an attitude of gratitude, even in difficult circumstances, help us refuel our emotional and spiritual tanks? [17:47]
#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on a time when you felt overwhelmed by life's challenges. How did you handle it, and how might you apply the steps from the sermon to find strength in God? [02:28]
2. Jesus remained steadfast in His mission despite opposition. What are some current challenges you face, and how can you stay focused on your purpose like Jesus did? [02:28]
3. Paul found strength in God despite being hard-pressed and persecuted. How can you draw strength from God in your current situation? [03:54]
4. Being honest with God about our feelings is crucial. What burdens are you currently carrying that you need to unload onto God? [05:22]
5. How can you cultivate a daily habit of asking God for strength, and what specific times of the day might you dedicate to this practice? [13:12]
6. Gratitude can refuel our emotional and spiritual tanks. What are three things you are grateful for today, and how can you make gratitude a daily practice? [17:47]
7. Worship and community are essential for sustaining our well-being. How can you engage more deeply in worship and community to draw strength from God? [23:22]
Devotional
Day 1: Unloading Our Burdens to God
Description: Being honest with God about our feelings is crucial for our spiritual and emotional well-being. When we unload our burdens onto Him, we release the weight we carry and allow ourselves to feel understood and supported. God already knows our hearts, but expressing our feelings to Him helps us to connect with Him on a deeper level. This act of transparency can be a form of prayer, where we lay down our frustrations, exhaustion, and discouragement at His feet. By doing so, we open ourselves up to His comfort and guidance. [05:22]
Psalm 62:8 (ESV): "Trust in him at all times, O people; pour out your heart before him; God is a refuge for us."
Reflection: What specific burdens are you carrying today that you need to unload onto God? Take a moment to pour out your heart to Him in prayer, expressing your true feelings.
Day 2: Daily Dependence on God's Strength
Description: Recognizing that God is the ultimate source of strength and wisdom is essential for navigating life's challenges. By asking Him for strength daily, we align ourselves with His power and wisdom, which can sustain us through any difficulty. This daily dependence on God helps us to face our struggles with a sense of peace and assurance, knowing that we are not alone. It is a reminder that our strength is not sufficient, but God's strength is made perfect in our weakness. [13:12]
Isaiah 40:29-31 (ESV): "He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might he increases strength. Even youths shall faint and be weary, and young men shall fall exhausted; but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint."
Reflection: In what areas of your life do you need to ask God for strength today? How can you make it a daily habit to seek His power and wisdom?
Day 3: Cultivating Gratitude in Hard Times
Description: Maintaining an attitude of gratitude, even in difficult circumstances, can refuel our emotional and spiritual tanks. Scientific studies have shown that gratitude is one of the healthiest emotions we can have. By focusing on what we are thankful for, we can find strength and encouragement to keep going. Gratitude shifts our perspective from what we lack to what we have, helping us to see God's blessings in our lives. This practice can transform our outlook and provide us with the resilience needed to face challenges. [17:47]
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 (ESV): "Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you."
Reflection: What are three things you are grateful for today, even in the midst of your current challenges? How can you incorporate a daily gratitude practice into your routine?
Day 4: Keeping Our Eyes on Jesus
Description: Focusing on Jesus rather than our past or present troubles helps us to see beyond our immediate struggles to the eternal joy that awaits us. This focus enables us to endure hardships with a sense of purpose and hope, knowing that our temporary troubles are producing an eternal glory. By keeping our eyes on Jesus, we are reminded of His love, sacrifice, and the ultimate victory He has won for us. This perspective can provide us with the strength and motivation to persevere through difficult times. [25:04]
Hebrews 12:1-2 (ESV): "Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God."
Reflection: What specific troubles are you facing today that you need to shift your focus from? How can you intentionally keep your eyes on Jesus and His promises?
Day 5: The Power of Worship and Community
Description: Worshiping God together and being part of a community helps us to drink in His strength and encourages us to keep going. Worship refocuses our hearts and minds on God's greatness, providing us with the spiritual and emotional energy we need to continue on. Being in community with other believers offers support, accountability, and encouragement. It reminds us that we are not alone in our journey and that we can draw strength from one another as we collectively seek God's presence. [23:22]
Colossians 3:16 (ESV): "Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God."
Reflection: How can you make worship and community a regular part of your life? What steps can you take to engage more deeply with your church community this week?
Quotes
### Quotes for Outreach
1. "And so we want to look today, I want to look at God's word and at finding strength to continue on when we feel worn out. And I'm not talking about the times where we need to just get some sleep at night. Talking about emotionally, spiritual, spiritually fatigue." [01:30] (20 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "So the first thing is to tell God what you're feeling. You know, so many times I think we call somebody up on the phone and we tell everybody else what we're going through. Don't we? I see some heads shaking. I do sometimes, you know, and so it's to tell God what you're feeling." [05:22] (20 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "One of the greatest things, gifts for me is when someone listens. I don't know about you, when somebody listens and they truly understand, that's more important to me. That's more loving to me than anything, really. Even, you know, you can buy someone a car. You can, whatever, whatever, whatever. If you listen and you truly understand, you're going to be that's love." [08:16] (23 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "And so when we talk to God, drop your big boulders, drop all the little rocks that you're carrying that add up to a big boulder, drop them. And tell God, God, honestly, what you're feeling. You know, he already knows what we feel, but sometimes I think it helps to write things down." [06:53] (60 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "Psalm 69, 32 says, Those who worship God will be encouraged. So when we worship, focus on Him. The greatness of God becomes larger in our eyes. Whatever we're focused on becomes huge." [24:17] (15 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
### Quotes for Members
1. "And so how do we get that strength to keep going when we feel tired and worn out and we just don't think we could continue on? So I want to look at some more scriptures throughout this. When we don't feel like we have an emotional energy, we don't feel like we have an emotional energy. We don't feel like we have an emotional energy to keep going." [04:30] (15 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "And so the next thing to focus on is to having enough strength to keep going on is to gratefully thank God. That's a hard one, to gratefully thank God, all that's good, despite the bad situations that are going on. First, that's the first thing. Thessalonians 5.18 says, give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus." [16:11] (24 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "And so giving thanks, even in difficult situations. One of the people that I think of when I think about giving thanks and an example of gratitude is the life of Job, if you think about that. He was the wealthiest man in that generation. He was very successful, and then one day, he lost everything. And he didn't know why." [18:53] (30 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "And so if we want to be like Jesus, we can't look at the past and the pain of those things. We have to look past the cross to the joy of heaven. And so I want to ask you, I want to ask you a question. What do you think about, what do you think about most?" [26:33] (24 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "So we can get our spirits renewed every day. We can have the strength to continue on. And one of the main ways we do that is to be in the Word of God, reading His Word. That's the way that we can, you know, it says, Man does not live on bread alone, right? But on every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God. And that's in our Bibles." [28:02] (23 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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