Category Archives: Challenges & Difficulty

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July 2, 2013

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Challenges & Difficulty, Thanks & Praise

A SACRIFICE OF PRAISE

Therefore, let us offer through Jesus a continual sacrifice of praise to God, proclaiming our allegiance to his name. [Hebrews 13:15 (NLT)]

It’s easy to support the local team when they’re on a winning streak. When they’re in a slump, however, the fans often change their loyalty and speak disparagingly about the owners, coach, manager and players. It’s easy to believe in and praise Jesus when everything is going smoothly in our lives. The real challenge is to remain faithful in the face of hardships and trouble. Jesus wants committed full-time followers, not fickle fans.

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June 28, 2013

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Challenges & Difficulty, Trusting God

WINNING ISN’T ANYTHING

Good people might fall again and again, but they always get up. It is the wicked who are defeated by their troubles. [Proverbs 25:16 (ERV)]

Thank you, Heavenly Father, for the encouragement and strength you give us when we get disheartened. Thank you for our failures and what we learn from experiencing them. Help us to remember that you measure success in an entirely different way than we. What we may consider losing is often what you consider a lesson well taught!

Winning isn’t anything. You can live an entire lifetime and never win, so it can’t be that important. But losing is as much a part of life as breathing. … Losing, and learning to go on and live again, is the only kind of winning that truly matters. [John R. Powers from “The Junk-Drawer Corner-Store Front-Porch Blues”]

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June 18, 2013

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Challenges & Difficulty, Joy, Trusting God

THE REAL CHALLENGE

Even if the fig tree does not bloom and the vines have no grapes, even if the olive tree fails to produce and the fields yield not food, even if the sheep pen is empty and the stalls have no cattle – even then, I will be happy with the Lord. I will truly find joy in God, who saves me. [Habakkuk 3:17-18 (GW)]

It isn’t difficult to have faith in times of happiness and abundance; the real challenge is to find faith and joy in the Lord in times of misfortune or need. Although our circumstances can change at a moment’s notice, we need to remember that God never changes. The same loving God sends both blessings and trials and He is directing events according to His purpose, not ours. We can be confident that He will do what is right and that He will give us the strength to meet our challenges.

Father in Heaven, keep us from letting events determine our faith. Instead of concentrating on our troubles, show us how to focus on you so that we will always have joy in the Lord.

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June 10, 2013

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Challenges & Difficulty, Faith & Hope, God's Promises

THE PATH WE TAKE

2013-6--10You will hear a voice behind you saying, “This is the way. Follow it, whether it turns to the right or to the left.” [Isaiah 30:21 (GW)]

God sets a path before us, yet sometimes we’re discouraged before we even get started. All we see is the rough road, the steep climb, or the boulders blocking the trail. We need to trust the Lord and accept the route he gives us: just walk the road, climb uphill when necessary and work our way around the obstacles.

Dear Lord, let me hear your voice guiding me on my life journey. Give me the faith to take the route you’ve set, the endurance to make my way over the rugged parts, the strength to climb the difficult slopes, and the intelligence to find my way around any obstacles in my path. Please God, may I also have the vision to see the wildflowers and hidden blessings you’ve strewn along the way.

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June 7, 2013

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Challenges & Difficulty, Salvation: A New You

CHARACTER BUILDING

We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they can help us develop endurance. And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation. And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love. [Romans 5:3-5 (NLT)]

Lord, forgive me, but could we have a little less character building today? I know you love me and that in every trial there is a lesson to be learned, but sometimes it all seems a little overwhelming. Remind me that life without a few hardships, complications, and struggles would be rather boring. Give me a thankful heart for every difficulty and challenge; may your Holy Spirit fill my heart with confidence and strength.

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June 6, 2013

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Challenges & Difficulty

LIKE A STABLE, LIFE CAN GET MESSY

Without oxen a stable stays clean, but you need a strong ox for a large harvest. [Proverbs 14:4 (NLT)]

Lord, sometimes life is messy and demanding; it gets pretty chaotic and challenging. You never promised us that it would be easy or that we wouldn’t have to work hard. Help us find joy not only in the blessings of our lives, but also in the labor and mess that go along with having those blessings.

Just remember, every flower that ever bloomed had to go through a whole lot of dirt to get there! [Barbara Johnson]