Overcoming Hope for Overwhelming Challenges! | Part 5 – How-To’s for Handling Unexpected Problems and Pains!

1 Peter 4:12 (NLT)

 Dear friends, don’t be surprised at the fiery trials you are going through, as if something strange were happening to you.

When experiencing problems and pains:

Don’t be alarmed by them – be for them!

1 Peter 4:1 (NLT)

So then, since Christ suffered physical pain, you must arm yourselves with the same attitude he had, (an “attitude” is a pattern of thinking formed over time that forms us over time) … be ready to suffer, too.

Genesis 1:31 (MGS)

God looked over everything he had made; it was so good, so very good!

The first and most common cause of suffering is

Romans 5:12 (NLT)

When Adam sinned, sin entered the world. Adam’s sin brought death, so death spread to everyone, for everyone sinned.

Deuteronomy 30:19-20 (MSG)

(Moses says) – “I call Heaven and Earth to witness today: I place before you Life and Death, Blessing and Curse. Choose life so that you and your children will live. And love God, your God, listening obediently to him, firmly embracing him. Oh yes, he is life itself, a long life settled on the soil that God, your God, promised to give your ancestors, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.

Romans 8:20-21 (NLT)

All creation was subjected to God’s curse (because of Adam and Eve’s choices). But with eager hope, ²¹ … creation looks forward to the day when it will join God’s children in glorious freedom from death and decay.

A second major cause of suffering is

John 10:10 (LB)

The thief’s purpose is to steal, and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give life in all its fullness.

1 Peter 5:8,9 (NIV)

Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.⁹ Resist him, standing firm in the faith, 

James 4:7 (CEV)

Resist the devil, and he will run from you!

1 John 4:4 (NCV)

God’s Spirit, who is in you, is greater than the devil, who is in the world.

A third cause for suffering is being on

John 16:33 (NET)

“In the world you will have trouble and suffering, but take courage — I have conquered the world.”

When experiencing problems and pains:

Don’t be troubled by them – be by them!

God synergizes our problems and pains to us!

Proverbs 20:30 (GNV)

Sometimes it takes a painful experience to make us change our ways.

“God whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks to us in our conscience, but shouts in our pain: it is his megaphone to rouse a deaf world (and believers).” (C.S. Lewis)

God synergizes our problems and pains to us!

Hebrews 12:8,10 (MSG)

This trouble you’re in isn’t punishment; it’s training, the normal experience of children . . . God is doing what is best for us, training us to live God’s holy best.

1 Timothy 4:7,8 (NLT)

Train yourself to be godly. ⁸ Physical training is good, but training for godliness is much better, promising benefits in this life and in the life to come.

“We must all suffer from one of two pains: the pain of discipline or the pain of regret. The difference is discipline weighs ounces while regret weighs tons.” (Jim Rohn)

God synergizes our problems and pains to us!

1 Peter 1:7 (NLT)

These trials will show that your faith is genuine. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold—though your faith is far more precious than mere gold. So when your faith remains strong through many trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world.

God synergizes our problems and pains to us!

2 Corinthians 1:3,4 (LB)

What a wonderful God we have—he is the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the source of every mercy, and the one who so wonderfully comforts and strengthens us in our hardships and trials. And why does he do this? So that when others are troubled, needing our sympathy and encouragement, we can pass on to them this same help and comfort God has given us. 

When experiencing problems and pains:

Don’t be joyless because of them – be in them!

1 Peter 4:12 (NIRV)

Dear friends, don’t be surprised by the terrible things happening to you. The trouble you are having has come to test you. So don’t feel as if something strange were happening to you. ¹³ Instead, be joyful that you are taking part in Christ’s sufferings. Then you will have even more joy when Christ returns in glory.

When experiencing problems and pains:

Don’t be surprised by them – be for them!

Don’t be troubled by them – be by them!

Don’t be joyless because of them – be in them!