of difficultiesof difficulties

And we rejoice in the hopeof the glory of God.

Not only so, but we also rejoice in oursufferings,because we

know that suffering

produces

perseverance;

perseverance, character;

and character, hope.

And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy

Spirit, whom he has given us.

- Romans 5:2-5

The Healing Path of DifficultiesRomans 5:1-11

1Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord

Jesus Christ, 2through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now

stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. 3Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering

produces perseverance; 4perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom

he has given us.

The Healing Path of DifficultiesRomans 5:1-11

6You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. 7Very rarely

will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die.

8But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

9Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s

wrath through him! 10For if, when we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life! 11Not only is this so, but we also rejoice in God

through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.

The Healing Path of DifficultiesRomans 5:3-5

3Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces

perseverance; 4perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our

hearts by the Holy Spirit,whom he has given us.

Difficulties without purpose leads to…

Difficulties without purpose leads to…

Deep Despair

Difficulties with purpose leads to…

Difficulties with purpose leads to…

Triumphant Hope!

Great places to turn to in tough times:

1 Peter 5

2 Timothy

2 Corinthians 4-5, 11

Psalms 23, 62, 77, 88

Job 1-2, 38-42

Hebrews 12

Romans 5-8

A look into Peter’s heart for those going through the healing path of

difficulties

1 Peter 5:1-41. A challenge to all in spiritual care

1 Peter 5:1-41. A challenge to all in spiritual care

1To the elders among you, I appeal as a fellow elder, a witness of Christ’s sufferings and one who also will share in the glory to be revealed: 2Be shepherds of God’s flock

that is under your care, serving as overseers—not because you must, but because you are willing, as God

wants you to be; not greedy for money, but eager to serve; 3not lording it over those entrusted to you, but

being examples to the flock. 4And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that

will never fade away.

1 Peter 5:5-62. Humility before the Mighty hand of God

5Young men, in the same way be submissive to those who are older. All of you, clothe yourselves with humility

towards one another, because, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” 6Humble yourselves,

therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time.

On the whole, I do not find Christians, outside of the catacombs, sufficiently sensible of conditions. Does anyone have the foggiest idea what sort of power we so blithely invoke? Or, as I suspect, does no one believe a word of it? The churches are children playing on thefloor with their chemistry sets,

making up a batch of TNT to kill a Sunday morning. It is madness to wear ladies hats and straw hats and velvet hats to church; we should all be wearing crash helmets. Ushers should issue life preservers and signal flares; they should lash us to our pews. For the sleeping god may wake someday and take offence, or the waking god may draw us out to where we can never return.

~ Annie Dillard, Teaching a Stone to Talk, p. 40.

1 Peter 5:73. Humility through “casting”

7Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.

What does “casting” look like?

What does “casting” look like?Psalm 77

For the director of music. For Jeduthun. Of Asaph. A psalm.

1I cried out to God for help; I cried out to God to hear me. 2When I was in distress, I sought the Lord; at night I

stretched out untiring hands and my soul refused to be comforted. 3I remembered you, O God, and I groaned; I

mused, and my spirit grew faint. Selah 4You kept my eyes from closing; I was too troubled to speak. 5I thought

about the former days, the years of long ago; 6I remembered my songs in the night. My heart mused and my spirit enquired: 7“Will the Lord reject for ever? Will he

never show his favor again? 8Has his unfailing love vanished for ever? Has his promise failed for all time?

9Has God forgotten to be merciful? Has he in anger withheld his compassion?” Selah

What does “casting” look like?Psalm 77

For the director of music. For Jeduthun. Of Asaph. A psalm.

10Then I thought, “To this I will appeal: the years of the right hand of the Most High.” 11I will remember the deeds

of the LORD; yes, I will remember your miracles of long ago. 12I will meditate on all your works and consider all your mighty deeds. 13Your ways, O God, are holy. What

god is so great as our God? 14You are the God who performs miracles; you display your power among the peoples. 15With your mighty arm you redeemed your people, the descendants of Jacob and Joseph. Selah

What does “casting” look like?Psalm 77

For the director of music. For Jeduthun. Of Asaph. A psalm.

15With your mighty arm you redeemed your people, the descendants of Jacob and Joseph. Selah 16The waters saw

you, O God, the waters saw you and writhed; the very depths were convulsed. 17The clouds poured down water,

the skies resounded with thunder; your arrows flashed back and forth. 18Your thunder was heard in the

whirlwind, your lightning lit up the world; the earth trembled and quaked. 19Your path led through the sea,

your way through the mighty waters, though your footprints were not seen. 20You led your people like a

flock by the hand of Moses and Aaron.

1 Peter 5:8-104. Resistance is NOT futile!!

8Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. 9Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings. 10And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you

have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. 11To him be the

power for ever and ever. Amen.

What does it look like to “resist the devil” and be “strong, firm and steadfast”?

What does it look like to “resist the devil” and be “strong, firm and steadfast”?

Hebrews 3:7-197So, as the Holy Spirit says: “Today, if you hear his voice,

8do not harden your hearts as you did in the rebellion, during the time of testing in the desert, 9where your

fathers tested and tried me and for forty years saw what I did. 10That is why I was angry with that generation, and I said, ‘Their hearts are always going astray, and they have not known my ways.’ 11So I declared on oath in my anger,

‘They shall never enter my rest.’” 12See to it, brothers, that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns

away from the living God.

What does it look like to “resist the devil” and be “strong, firm and steadfast”?

Hebrews 3:7-1913But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called

Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness. 14We have come to share in Christ if we

hold firmly till the end the confidence we had at first. 15As has just been said: “Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as you did in the rebellion.” 16Who were they who heard and rebelled? Were they not all

those Moses led out of Egypt? 17And with whom was he angry for forty years? Was it not with those who sinned, whose bodies fell in the desert? 18And to whom did God swear that they would never enter his rest if not to those who disobeyed? 19So we see that they were not able to

enter, because of their unbelief.

The Healing Path - part 1

•God’s path of difficulties leads ultimately NOT to

despair, but hope!

of difficultiesof difficulties

The Healing Path - part 1

•God’s path of difficulties leads ultimately NOT to

despair, but hope!

•Overseers have a special place in helping the body with

careof difficultiesof difficulties

The Healing Path - part 1

•God’s path of difficulties leads ultimately NOT to

despair, but hope!

•Overseers have a special place in helping the body with

care

•A HUGE vision of God leads to a healing humility

of difficultiesof difficulties

The Healing Path - part 1

•God’s path of difficulties leads ultimately NOT to

despair, but hope!

•Overseers have a special place in helping the body with

care

•A HUGE vision of God leads to a healing humility

•Work on your casting skills

of difficultiesof difficulties

The Healing Path - part 1

•God’s path of difficulties leads ultimately NOT to

despair, but hope!

•Overseers have a special place in helping the body with

care

•A HUGE vision of God leads to a healing humility

•Work on your casting skills

•Resistance is NOT futile

of difficultiesof difficulties