WHEN TROUBLED HEARTS REMEMBER GOD
We trust today’s message encouraged and guided you in your journey of following Jesus. These notes are meant to help you remember and reflect on the message, help you go deeper into study on the subject, or be used for a sermon group discussion.
Sermon Title: WHEN TROUBLED HEARTS REMEMBER GOD
Scripture References: 1 PETER 1:3-9; Romans 5:1-5, 12:12; James 1:2-4; John 16:33; Psalm 13, 77, 107; and Isaiah 49:14-16
Summary:
Yes, Jesus came to save, to restore and heal what sin has damaged. In Jesus, there is newness of life, wholeness, renewed purpose, hope, joy, peace, and so on. There’s a foretaste of Eden if you will. However, we still live in a fallen and broken world. The blessing of knowing Christ while living in this broken world is we can face hurt, trials, and tribulations with resilient faith, hope, joy, and peace.
In multiple scriptures, when the apostles write letters to believers celebrating the assurance and hope of salvation in Christ, they quickly include the expectation of trials or tribulations.
Notes:
1 Peter 1:3-9
Trials test our faith to prove that we don’t have circumstantial or conditional faith but unconditional faith in the Lord. No matter what you go through you continue to trust in and love the Lord, even if you haven’t seen Him face to face. This is Faith, Hope, and Love. Peter reminds us, the reward of this enduring faith is the salvation of our souls.
Romans 5:1-5
Trials develop endurance in faith, maturity, and Christ-like character. Trials strengthen our hope and focus on physical and future salvation. Our patient waiting under affliction or tribulation will not end in dissapoint for we will be saved when Christ returns.
James 1:2-4
Paul and James almost mirror each other on the same subject.
John 16:33
”I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.”
The instruction isn’t to run from trials but to expect and go through them with Christ and one another.
Key Scripture: Psalm 77
The troubled heart remembers God’s power and faithfulness. Psalm 77 tells of the overwhelmed heart that feels like God isn't there but then Asaph comforts himself by remembering and recalling God’s mighty works in the past. We need to remind our souls and our whole being that God is there and working.
Key Scripture: Psalm 107
In four different circumstances, they cried out to God for help and he delivered them.
God frequently brings his children to a place where their own efforts and abilities fail…so they might learn to depend on Him and humbly calling on Him, trusting His deliverance will work best.
Key verse: Psalm 107:43 Those who are wise will take all this to heart; they will see in our history the faithful love of the Lord.
When you’re hurting or going through trials and tribulations… Don't forget God’s faithfulness!
I have observed and experienced this personally, that when we go through painful seasons, or trials or fall into a pit of despair we forget God. Trials and tribulations almost invoke a memory loss of truth and God.
Ways we forget God: We forget His faithfulness in the past. We forget His presence in the present. We forget His promises in the future. Primarily, we become forgetful of God’s perfect record of faithfulness. His perfect presence and power to handle our situation. And God’s perfect track record of keeping promises.
When our trial is overwhelming we even make claims such as God isn’t there and if He is, He must not care or God has forgotten us. This is found in scripture too:
Psalm 13 NLT
The people in Jerusalem felt this way when the weight of their judgment became overwhelming…but the Lord had a powerful answer. Isaiah 49:14-16 Yet Jerusalem says, “The Lord has deserted us; the Lord has forgotten us.” 15 “Never! Can a mother forget her nursing child? Can she feel no love for the child she has borne? But even if that were possible, I would not forget you! 16 See, I have written your name on the palms of my hands.
God does not forget you, don’t forget Him.
One of the dangers of forgetting God is you'll try to get better on your own and try to use substances or even people to make you feel better. Go to God, who shines a light on your brokenness so it can be confronted, corrected, healed, and then you'll function more like you were intended to in the garden. Don’t run from God or run to someone or something else. It’s human nature to feel uncomfortable there but God wants to meet you in your hurt, in your pain, in your trauma, and your in conflict. It is in those moments with God that you will encounter another dimension of His love and power that you won’t find any other way. On the other side is a new understanding of God and stronger, maturing faith in Him.
How do we not forget God in the middle of our hurt?
By keeping God’s Word in our minds and hearts. The Bible is a record of God’s perfect faithfulness. This is a strong reason to keep reading through the entire Bible because our hearts need frequent reminders. When our trials and feelings begin to create lies or falsehoods, the Bible reminds us of the truth of God’s presence, power, and faithfulness in all seasons of life.
Try keeping a record of all the times God has pulled you through and a record of all His benefits (Grace, Holy Spirit, forgiveness, provision, blessings, etc.)
Let me make a few practical appeals to you as well. When you’re hurting or going through trials and tribulations… Don't forget those around you.
You don’t have to go through this alone. You have incredibly loving people around you. God has placed people in your life to help if you’re willing to let them in and let them know how to help. Communicate upfront what you need and how you prefer their help. (See Pastor Jody's sermon from previous week on tips for helping others)
Don’t forget to enjoy those around you.
You’re not the only one hurting. Healing can come from helping others as well. We see this in our grief share group here. As we process our hurt we discover how much we’ve healed or what still needs healing.
Be mindful of your journeys' influence on those closest to you. I'm not trying to invalidate your hurt or struggle I’m just looking out for you and those in your life.
Be mindful and careful that your hurt or trial is not overflowing into hurting those around you. Maybe you've heard the phrase hurting people hurt people. This can happen. This happens on all levels. If I don't manage my stress or pressure in hard times I could take it out on my family and that's not fair. This struggle is often seen in families with addicts. So an excellent motivator to go to God to get help is that you don't want your battle to hurt or wear down those around you. To stay in that place without any attempt to heal or pursue help is not healthy for you or the people around you. Eventually, those gracious people around us have a right to place healthy boundaries until we genuinely go to God and counsel for help.
Again, our pain or trials will not be resolved by people. No person has the power to heal or fix trials, only God does. People are only vessels of God’s grace, comfort, counsel, and correction toward Jesus.
In both cases, that I’ve shared, there needs to be a reckoning, a defining moment with God, a crossroads experience if you will where we decide to confront our pain, endure the trial, pursue healing, and show grace to everyone around us by surrendering to God’s help for healing.
When you’re hurting or going through trials and tribulations… Don't forget to LIVE!
Do you know what's worse than dying? Not living when you're alive.
We can have tunnel vision and see life only through broken lenses. For example, we go out on a beautiful day and not even notice. We'll go through those moments but we don't have to stay there.
Life is too short to be stuck in a rut or hold on to things that you can't change.
Jesus came to give you life and life more abundantly. It’s time to LIVE my friends!
When you’re hurting or going through trials and tribulations… Don’t forget to surrender and believe!
This has been a major theme in my life. Many times the missing pieces between our trial and our deliverance are surrender and faith. We need to come to the end of ourselves, surrender, and trust in God for the rest. The power of God's grace in healing and deliverance is very powerful, but it's only effective when it is applied. Between grace and grace applied is surrender and faith.
Helen Steiner Rice:
Sometimes we come to life’s crossroads,
We view what we think is the end;
But God has a much wider vision
And He knows that it’s only a bend.
The road will go on and get smoother
And after we’ve stopped for a rest,
The path that lies hidden beyond us
Is often the path that is best.
So rest and relax and grow stronger
Let go, and let God share your load,
And have faith in a brighter tomorrow
You’ve just come to a bend in the road.
Romans 12:12
Rejoice in our confident hope. Be patient in trouble, and keep on praying.
CLOSE: I want you to notice something. I didn't teach some 3 step method of overcoming your trial or fixing your hurt. I simply taught us to remember the Lord and the people around us as we go through hurt and trials. Because we have to go through them and not around them. And while we do there is hope with God in the journey that will make us stronger on the other end.
Discussion:
What did God use in this sermon to speak to your heart or situation?
What part of the scripture stuck out to you and why?
What other notes did you highlight or write down that you would like to share?
Why is it important that we remember God?
Why is it important that we remember the people around us?
Why is it important that we remember to live?
Why is it important that we remember to surrender and trust God?
The most important decision you will ever make!
If you’re ready to trust in Jesus for salvation and eternal life we encourage you to process this decision with a strong believer and when you’re ready say a simple prayer like this from your heart: Dear God, I acknowledge and admit I have sinned. I see my need for Jesus Christ. I believe in Jesus as my Lord and Savior. I believe I am forgiven and cleansed of my sin by His death. I also believe I have eternal life because of His resurrection from the dead. I repent, I turn away from my old ways and I choose to live my life to worship you and follow Jesus, Amen!
We would love to know if you decided to accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior. Let us know here.
Pray Together
We hope you found this AFTER THE SERMON discussion helpful for your walk with Jesus. We pray you can find ways to apply it this week!