Encouraging Words from God’s Word Message 8

Encouraging Words from God’s Word

Message 8

Getting through Life’s Disappointments

Me:

If I had it to do over

a. Postmaster Lenny

i. If I could go back 20 years, what would you do different

ii. He asked this question to because I really don’t like my job.

iii. I said nothing because I have a job that will pay my bills

iv. I have a church that I love

v. After I thought about it some more, I wish I had planted a church 20 years ago

vi. I dreamed of pastoring fulltime and big church

vii. But that didn’t happen

b. You know the saying…

i. Love the job you do, and you’ll never work a day in your life again.

ii. But then I read this

iii. Odds are, you are not alone when it comes to disliking your day job. But that's okay, and sometimes all it takes if for you to turn that animosity into simply being content. By changing my mindset towards the situation, I became happier in the long run, which is both healthier and more productive than anything else.

iv. I think that’s where I’m at with the post office

We:

Broken dreams

a. It’s easy to give up

i. All of us know what it means to have our dreams shattered.

ii. We understand the disappointment when our plans have changed

iii. Sometimes disappointment so crushes people that they are emotionally handicapped for life.

iv. However, there are people who rise above the broken dreams and live in victory.

v. Each of us must learn how to handle the disappointments of life.

vi. I want to introduce you to a man who faced lifelong disappointment and yet triumphed over it all.

God:

Jeremiah

The Weeping Prophet

i. If ever a man experienced disappointments and personal tragedy, it was Jeremiah.

ii. He was called to serve God at a difficult time in history.

iii. He was given a difficult message to proclaim.

1. God told him to warn the nation that judgment was coming, and they had better repent.

iv. Jeremiah served the Lord faithfully for over forty years.

v. He never compromised in his message or his faithfulness to God and Israel

vi. His family turned against him

vii. The entire nation turned against him.

viii. His message was ignored and Israel went into captivity

1. The temple was destroyed

ix. If ever a man had a broken heart, it was Jeremiah.

x. Book of Lamentations – Is Jeremiah weeping

xi. Jeremiah could have died a bitter and broken man, but he did not.

I could turn bitter over my job

The Strength of the Lord

i. Jeremiah 10:19 (NLT) — 19 My wound is severe, and my grief is great. My sickness is incurable, but I must bear it.

Jeremiah 10:19 NLT

My wound is severe, and my grief is great. My sickness is incurable, but I must bear it.

ii. “BUT I MUST BEAR IT.”

iii. Let’s learn from the prophet Jeremiah how to face and conquer the disappointments of life.

You:

Getting through Life’s Disappointments

Expect disappointments

i. Life is not always sunny and clear

ii. Some people have the idea that faithful Christians escape disappointments,

iii. But this is not true.

iv. Jeremiah did not try to fool himself into thinking everything was fine.

“My wound is severe”

vi. That’s not unicorns and rainbows

Our disappointments are in the hands of God.

i. You can what Jeremiah said…

ii. Why Lord are you not answering prayer

iii. Why Lord are the people not responding to your message

iv. Was it really worth it all staying there and ministering to such hard-hearted people?

v. You fill in the plank Is it really worth ___________________

vi. God was there whether or not Jeremiah saw Him or felt His presence.

vii. Someone said “Disappointments are His appointments.”

viii. If we fight circumstances and become bitter, then God cannot accomplish in us and through us all that He has in mind.

ix. If we yield and trust Him to do what is best, then all things will work together for good.

We:

Yielding to God’s will

Depression and Disappointment

i. They are cousins

Self-protection, Self-Pity, Self-Punishment

iii. Instead of that do this

b. The third truth is this:

Yield to God’s will and let Him heal your broken heart and fulfill His desires.

ii. What God desires is what you want to desire

iii. “God is most glorified in you when you are most satisfied in him.”