Tag Archives: trouble

Trouble Ahead in 2013?

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A new year is here! That means fresh starts and new beginnings. Unfortunately when the calendar turned over into 2013, our troubles and difficulties did not fall away with 2012.

God is My Refuge by Kathy HowardBut God is bigger than any trial or pain in our lives. He longs to be our refuge, our place of comfort and safety. My new devotional book, God Is My Refuge, provides the direction we need to discover, understand, and apply the “ever-present help” only God can give.

January 8th marks the official release date of God Is My Refuge! A bunch of amazing Christian women have graciously volunteered to participate in a blog tour to help me spread the word!

Below is a list of the dates, their names, and their blogs. I would love for you to stop by and see what’s going on at their place!

I want to give away a copy of God Is My Refuge to one of you. Leave a comment on this post about how God has been your place of refuge in the past and I will enter your name. I will draw the winner on February 1st!

One last thing… you can help spread the word too. If you know that God is indeed our refuge, tell others. Here are a few ways you can:

  • Spread the word on Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest, and other social media.
  • Write a review on Amazon, ChristianBook.com, and other online stores.
  • Tell your church and women’s ministry leaders.
  • Ask for it at your local Christian bookstore.
  • Share this sample day’s devotional!

How has God been your place of refuge during past times of trouble? Tell us about it for a chance to win a copy of “God Is My Refuge!”

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A Skeptic and a Prayer Warrior

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A hit and run accident in a Paris taxi confirmed the prayer warrior and revealed the skeptic. Sadly, I was the skeptic.

Last month I spent two weeks in Moldova teaching a class at the Moldova Bible Seminary. (Watch for more about this experience.) My friend Lisa traveled with me. On our way home we had the fun blessing of spending two days and three nights in Paris to do some sightseeing.

After landing at Charles de Gaulle Airport and picking up our bags at the carousel, we bought our museum passes and bus tickets at the tourism desk. The nice lady there warned us to make sure we used only official Paris taxis and pointed us toward the taxi stand.

Our taxi driver – who did speak a little English – loaded our bags and we got settled into the back seat for the ride into the city. About 20 minutes later, as we cruised down the four-lane highway, we felt a jolt and heard that ugly metal on metal sound. Lisa began to pray fully trusting God would protect and provide.

With rush-hour traffic continuing to pour past us, we stopped and our driver rolled his window down to talk to the offending driver. They decided to get the cars off to the shoulder and talk again. We limped across four lanes of traffic only to discover the other driver had simply gone on his merry way.

Our driver got out to access the damage. Back right quarter panel – smashed. Right rear tire – busted. He returned to the driver’s seat and announced he had to get off the highway and change the tire. He would call us another taxi. I began to pray, worried that this little drama could be an elaborate ruse to rob two naïve American tourists.

We thumped off the closest exit and pulled over to the side. The driver opened the trunk and deposited our luggage on the sidewalk. Seriously less than a minute later, we spot another taxi coming at us down the street and Lisa waves it over. “How convenient,” I think. “Wow, God sure answered our prayers quickly,” Lisa declared.

We show the new driver the address of our hotel and he loads our luggage. With every turn on an unknown Paris street I’m praying “Lord, protect us.” Lisa is praying, “Lord thank you for providing this second taxi.”

Later Lisa and I compared notes on the event. She told me what she had been thinking and I told her what I had been thinking. I felt a bit spiritually weak for not trusting God more. Why couldn’t I simply believe and obey Philippians 4:6?

Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Philippians 4:6, NLT

I learned a good lesson that day. I really do need to trust God more. However, God’s faithfulness is also not a license to act foolishly. When Jesus sent out the twelve disciples out on their first mission trip He warned them:

“Look, I am sending you out as sheep among wolves. So be as shrewd as snakes and harmless as doves.”  Matthew 10:16, NLT

God is faithful and can be trusted. It’s also a dangerous world. I’m sure there are people in Paris who do rob American tourists. So here’s what I believe to be a biblical conclusion to the matter: Pray about everything and trust God like my friend Lisa, but keep my eyes open and don’t act foolishly.

Are you a prayer warrior or a prayer skeptic? I would love to hear about a time when God proved Himself faithful to you.

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Unshakeable Faith – Introduction

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Note: This is the introductory lesson for the online Bible study “Unshakeable Faith.” You are welcome to join in! Would also love for you to share the study on FB or Twitter.

This study is an a condensed version of the traditionally published Bible study, “Unshakeable Faith: 8 Traits for Rock Solid Living.”

Download a PDF version of the lesson or read it below. Be sure and check out the question for group interaction at the bottom of the blog!

Should Christians experience hard times?

Some well-known Christian leaders teach what is known as “prosperity Gospel.” This is the belief that God rewards obedience with wealth, health, and happiness. Scot McKnight, in an article on beliefnet.com defines it this way:

“The prosperity gospel (or the health and wealth gospel) teaches that God desires the material, spiritual, and physical prosperity of his people. To become prosperous, all one has to do is believe, receive, and act upon God’s promises.” (Read McKnight’s entire article here.)

Well, that’s all well and good until some faithful Christian encounters a trial or difficulty. What do we do with the prosperity gospel then?

  1. What have you been taught about the presence of trials in a Christian’s life?

 

Many Christian women I love and admire have faced or are facing significant trials like life-threatening illness, divorce, death of a child, and financial hardship. These kinds of situations would knock many people flat. But these women are standing firm on their faith in God. They’ve discovered that God works in the middle of it all for His glory.

Of course, the biggest problem with the teachings of the prosperity gospel is found in the teachings of the Bible.

2.      Read the following passages and record what the Bible does teach about trials in the lives of believers.

       a.      John 6:33 –

        b.      John 15:18-20 –

        c.       2 Timothy 3:12 –

        d.      James 1:2 –

        e.       1 Peter 1:6 –

  3.  Based on these Scriptures, what conclusions can you draw about trials in believers’ lives?

 

Scripture makes it clear that believers will face trials and difficulties. However, as we continue to faithfully follow God those trials are never wasted. He uses them to refine our faith, shape our character, work out His purposes, and bring glory to Himself. And yes, God does care about every aspect of our physical well-being. But He cares even more about our eternal well-being.

Are you ready for the inevitable trials of life? You can have a faith that will stand rock-solid through whatever comes your way. Over the next eight weeks we will discover how God grew Peter’s faith from shaky to unshakeable. Let’s take a brief look at this growth.

4.  Read Mark 14:27-31. How did Peter think he would respond when hard times came?

 

5.  Read Mark 14:50; 66-72. How did Peter actually respond when Jesus was arrested and tried?

 

 6.  Read Acts 4:13-20. Peter and John had been arrested for healing a crippled beggar in Jesus’ name. How did they respond to the command of the Jewish rulers?

 

7. What kind of change do you see in Peter?

 

Peter went on to endure beatings, persecution, and other imprisonments because of his faith in Jesus. History and church tradition also reveal that Peter was martyred for his faith in Rome during the reign of Emperor Nero. The brash, impetuous Peter, who once denied Jesus to a servant girl, willingly gave his life rather than ever deny Him again.

We will probably never be asked to deny Christ or die. But, every trial and difficulty of life will threaten to shake our faith. I’m excited to spend the next 8 weeks with you exploring the faith traits God instilled in Peter. Our goal for this study is to allow God to do in our lives what He did in Peter’s. Are you ready?

Let’s talk/Group discussion (feel free to share in the comment section): What trials and difficulties have you encountered that have threatened to shake your faith in Christ? Can you see how God was working in them?

 
For more information on the prosperity gospel, watch this video by John Piper .


Note about the study: We will be studying deep truths of God, but the study will not be extremely time intensive. My goal is for you to be able to complete the reading and questions each week in about 15 minutes. So, even if you are participating in another study you can join in! Also, although no other material is required, the Bible study Unshakeable Faith: 8 Traits for Rock-Solid Living, would be great companion material. Get it now from Amazon.

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You are invited to build a Rock-Solid faith

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When was the last time you faced a difficult circumstance or trial? Did your faith in God stand rock-solid through it all or did it feel a little shaky?

Join me in an online Bible study that will help build your faith from shaky to unshakeable! Beginning right here on September 14th – one week from today – we will explore 8 key “faith traits” found in the life of Peter. We will see how God used Peter’s relationship with Jesus to transform his weak, fragile faith – that once denied Jesus – into a faith that stood firm even in the face of death.

During next week’s introduction we will dispel the incorrect teaching that Christians shouldn’t encounter difficulty. Then we will explore one unshakeable faith trait a week through November 9th.  Here are the 8 unshakeable faith characteristics we’ll study:

  1. He Picked Me! – Secure in the God Who Loves and Chooses
  2. It’s Who You Know – Confident in Your All-Powerful, All-Knowing, Sovereign
  3. Let Yourself Go – Submitted to the One Who Knows the Future and Has a Plan
  4. Don’t Forget to Lock up – Determined to Stay Alert and Guard Against Temptation
  5. A Mighty Wind – Lives by the Power of the Indwelling Holy Spirit
  6. Spring Cleaning – Pursues Holiness with Eyes Focused on the Father
  7. Let ‘er Rip – Prepared to Endure Persecution for the Sake of Christ
  8. Share the Love – Connected to a Local Church Body with Love and Service

Shaky times demand an unshakeable faith that stubbornly clings to God no matter the circumstances. That’s the kind of faith I long to have! How about you?

I would love to hear from you if you plan to join in. Just leave a comment. Maybe tells us where you’re from and why you want to have “rock-solid” faith. Or simply say “hi!”

 

Note about the study: We will be studying deep truths of God, but the study will not be extremely time intensive. My goal is for you to be able to complete the reading and questions each week in about 15 minutes. So, even if you are participating in another study you can join in! Also, although no other material is required, the Bible study Unshakeable Faith: 8 Traits for Rock-Solid Living, would be great companion material. Get it now from Amazon.

 

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Why, Oh Why? Part 2

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Last week I began a series of posts about why God allows Christians to face difficulties and trials. On Thursday we explored Scriptures that confirm, “Yes, Christians will have trouble!” (Read that post now.) This week and next we will discover from the Bible four specific ways God uses our trials.

How could grief, pain, and difficulty ever be good? How could the death of a loved one bring rejoicing?

I’m sure Jesus’ friends Mary and Martha asked similar questions at the death of their beloved brother Lazarus. The Apostle John records this heart-wrenching story in John chapter eleven. (If you have time, pause now and read John 11:1-44.) When Lazarus became sick, his sisters sent for Jesus. They knew He had the power to heal. But Jesus tarried and Lazarus died.

Four days after Lazarus’ death, Jesus arrived at the family’s home in Bethany. Then Jesus did something unheard of. He asked for the stone to be rolled away from the tomb! “Uh, Lord,” Martha said. “I’m not so sure that’s a good idea. It’s going to stink to high heaven. After all, the body has been in there four days.” (This is my paraphrase, by the way!)

Then Jesus said, “Did I not tell you that if you believed, you would see the glory of God” (John 11:40)? Still questioning, the gathered mourners acquiesced and moved the stone.

You know the rest of the story. Jesus commanded the dead man to get up and come out. And Lazarus did!

Jesus could have prevented Lazarus’ death but He purposefully stayed away (John 11:6). God had a greater goal in mind than the healing of a sick man would reach. “No, it is for God’s glory so that God’s Son may be glorified through it” (John 11:4). God used the death of Lazarus to point people to the power and authority of Jesus.

Obviously God does not often work in this specific way. But He always works to bring glory to Christ in the midst of His children’s pain, difficulty, and yes, even death.

My mother-in-law was killed instantly in a car accident in 2004. The pain and grief for our family was unexpected and intense. But I could tell you story after story how God used the death of this godly woman to point people to His Son. For instance, the woman who was first on the scene held hands and prayed with my father-in-law and the other driver while they waited for the authorities. A few weeks later, this woman – who was lost and struggling – showed up at my father-in-law’s church. She wanted to find out more about a God who showed up during tragedy.

I know that we can’t always see God’s purposes in heartache this clearly. But God has allowed me to see Him in action. And because God’s Word says it’s true in all circumstances, I believe it.

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose. Romans 8:28, NLT

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