How to get through life's difficulties

Everyone welcome to today's word of encouragement today is about staying faithful even in life's difficulties There's many difficult moments in life and at one point or another. You're gonna find yourself facing a very difficult situation It's easier to navigate these difficulties if we understand how we find ourselves in them life's difficulties usually come from three main things Number one problems that we bring on ourselves something we've all done number two difficulties that God causes something that probably all of us have been through and Number three difficulties that other people cause undoubtedly we've gone through these But I want to break these down. Let's start with number one problems that we bring on ourselves I'm gonna spend a little more time on this one than the other ones because this one is the one that we actually have control over One example in the Bible with Samson Samson was known by everyone in his region in the area where he lived He had it all but he also lost it all because of two main things in his character The one thing first of one thing that trip Samson of up was his love for women Samson wanted romantic encounters with women without any strings attached or commitments that got him into trouble Society says go ahead and have your fun You can walk away from it and move on But that's simply not true because there's always a reason behind the desire for these one-night stands And so those reasons are addressed that they're going to continue to lead to actions that will most likely find yourself regretting later Even if there's no physical consequences the emotional ones will trap you the second thing that got Samson into trouble was his impatience In patience will get to you in a lot of trouble the Bible says in Proverbs chapter 7 verse 8 finishing is better than starting patience is better than pride Many people who were impatient and made bad decisions Now find themselves in very difficult situations people who were impatient to get married people who were impatient to get a new job People who were impatient to move to the other side of town They didn't take the time to check things out with God and they moved right into the one of the most trying times of their life Listen, you have to rely on God and not on your circumstances It's always unwise to ignore that what God says and what the scripture teaches even if our circumstances tend to contradict it at the moment Things may look good right now But you might find yourself in a difficult and avoidable situation if you don't wait to hear what it is that God has to say Another reason for difficulties is the difficulties that God causes But listen, God doesn't just allow difficult things to happen to us He has a plan and everything he does God tests us to strengthen our faith One of the things that will help you get through the difficulties that God may test you with is One simple thing expect that you're gonna find yourself in some difficult situations and you will be placed there by God When you expect something to happen your response is measured when you expect that your allegiance and your faith is going to be tested And you're better able to respond look at your enemy chapter 8 verse 2 says It says remember how the Lord your God led you through the wilderness for these 40 years humbling you and testing you to prove your character And to find out whether or not you would obey his commands There were many people in the Bible who were tested Abraham was told to sacrifice his only son the son of the promise Job lost everything that he ever cared about Peter and Paul were beaten and prison and suffered for preaching the gospel Even Mary and Martha were tested by the death of their brother Lazarus who was later on resurrected God tests our difficult God tests or the difficulties he places us and can reveal a lot about us It can reveal what we love the most it reveals our priorities It reveals our true motives and our desires and the last one I want to wrap this up with is Difficulties that other people cause these are situations where we have little to no control It's when you find yourself in a situation that is no fault of your own These difficulties are especially hard to handle the Bible is also full of these in the Exodus story for example Everyone under 20 suffered for 40 years wandering in the desert until the unbelieving generation died Many times people face difficulties because of decisions leaders take that involves them and this could be church leaders city leaders state leaders Whatever the case may be the question is how do we stay calm and maintain our confidence and courage regardless of what's happening in us Or around us and there's three things the first one is you got to learn how to trust in God Proverbs chapter 3 verse 8 says trust in the Lord with all your heart do not depend on your own understanding Second thing that we should do in trying times in difficult situations is learn to ask God First John chapter 5 verse 14 and 15 says This is the confidence we have in approaching God that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us And if we know that he hears us whatever we ask we know that we will have what we ask of him And the third thing is learn how to wait on God Psalm 27 13 and 14 says Yet I am confident I will see the Lord's goodness while I am here in the land of the living Wait patiently for the Lord be brave and courageous. Yes, wait patiently for the Lord God bless you until next time