Dealing with Difficulty

Discouragement - a loss of confidence or enthusiasm;

Depression - a feeling of emotional dejection and withdrawal accompanied by sadness and lack of desire.

Despair - To lose or be without hope.

Mountain Top - Valley in the blink of an eye

Depleated - To be physically, emotionally, or spiritually empty and unable to go on.

Disappointment- sadness or displeasure caused by the non fulfillment of ones desires.

What do all these words have in common?

These are all emotions that we must learn to navigate in this life.

All these emotions can bleed into one another and feed off of each others

Life is filled with Difficulty & to think otherwise is foolish.

One of the biggest misconceptions of Christianity is that once you are saved all your problems will magically dissapear.

God is not looking to take all our problems away but is looking for us to look to him during these seasons of difficulty.

John 16:33 NKJV

These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”

john

Following Jesus does not exempt us from painful life experiences.

How Do I respond to adversity and hardship in my life?

Today we are going to look at a few moments in the Life of David.

Collapse under the pressure of the trial.

Make myself numb from the adversity I’m experiencing.

If any

Draw Close to God during the Difficulty.

Today I want to look at the Life of David & Encourage us how we can learn to draw near to God no matter what we are facing.

I dont know what comes to your mind when you think about the life of David.

Many times we tend to think about his life in a highlight real.

Definitely a man of High Highs & of Low lows

David Gives us a blueprint on how to deal with difficulty.

Slaying of Goliath

13 Years in which David was Annointed & Appointed

Unconventional Sermon - We will be covering alot of text.

difficult moments reveal our Beliefs about

Down & Discouraged

Circumstance surrounding this Psalm - David and Goliath - Saul & His Jealousy - David on the Run

Contemplate the Life of David?

Psalm 59 NKJV

To the Chief Musician. Set to “Do Not Destroy.” a Michtam of David When Saul Sent Men, and They Watched the House in Order to Kill Him. 1 Deliver me from my enemies, O my God; Defend me from those who rise up against me. 2 Deliver me from the workers of iniquity, And save me from bloodthirsty men. 3 For look, they lie in wait for my life; The mighty gather against me, Not for my transgression nor for my sin, O Lord. 4 They run and prepare themselves through no fault of mine. Awake to help me, and behold! 5 You therefore, O Lord God of hosts, the God of Israel, Awake to punish all the nations; Do not be merciful to any wicked transgressors. Selah 6 At evening they return, They growl like a dog, And go all around the city. 7 Indeed, they belch with their mouth; Swords are in their lips; For they say, “Who hears?” 8 But You, O Lord, shall laugh at them; You shall have all the nations in derision. 9 I will wait for You, O You his Strength; For God is my defense. 10 My God of mercy shall come to meet me; God shall let me see my desire on my enemies. 11 Do not slay them, lest my people forget; Scatter them by Your power, And bring them down, O Lord our shield. 12 For the sin of their mouth and the words of their lips, Let them even be taken in their pride, And for the cursing and lying which they speak. 13 Consume them in wrath, consume them, That they may not be; And let them know that God rules in Jacob To the ends of the earth. Selah 14 And at evening they return, They growl like a dog, And go all around the city. 15 They wander up and down for food, And howl if they are not satisfied. 16 But I will sing of Your power; Yes, I will sing aloud of Your mercy in the morning; For You have been my defense And refuge in the day of my trouble. 17 To You, O my Strength, I will sing praises; For God is my defense, My God of mercy.

Psalm 59:1–4 NKJV

1 Deliver me from my enemies, O my God; Defend me from those who rise up against me. 2 Deliver me from the workers of iniquity, And save me from bloodthirsty men. 3 For look, they lie in wait for my life; The mighty gather against me, Not for my transgression nor for my sin, O Lord. 4 They run and prepare themselves through no fault of mine. Awake to help me, and behold!

Vs 5-15 Reveal Davids Prayer and a picture of what he was experiencing.

Psalm 59:16–17 NKJV

16 But I will sing of Your power; Yes, I will sing aloud of Your mercy in the morning; For You have been my defense And refuge in the day of my trouble. 17 To You, O my Strength, I will sing praises; For God is my defense, My God of mercy.

Psalm 59:1–16 NKJV

1 Deliver me from my enemies, O my God; Defend me from those who rise up against me. 2 Deliver me from the workers of iniquity, And save me from bloodthirsty men. 3 For look, they lie in wait for my life; The mighty gather against me, Not for my transgression nor for my sin, O Lord. 4 They run and prepare themselves through no fault of mine. Awake to help me, and behold! 5 You therefore, O Lord God of hosts, the God of Israel, Awake to punish all the nations; Do not be merciful to any wicked transgressors. Selah 6 At evening they return, They growl like a dog, And go all around the city. 7 Indeed, they belch with their mouth; Swords are in their lips; For they say, “Who hears?” 8 But You, O Lord, shall laugh at them; You shall have all the nations in derision. 9 I will wait for You, O You his Strength; For God is my defense. 10 My God of mercy shall come to meet me; God shall let me see my desire on my enemies. 11 Do not slay them, lest my people forget; Scatter them by Your power, And bring them down, O Lord our shield. 12 For the sin of their mouth and the words of their lips, Let them even be taken in their pride, And for the cursing and lying which they speak. 13 Consume them in wrath, consume them, That they may not be; And let them know that God rules in Jacob To the ends of the earth. Selah 14 And at evening they return, They growl like a dog, And go all around the city. 15 They wander up and down for food, And howl if they are not satisfied. 16 But I will sing of Your power; Yes, I will sing aloud of Your mercy in the morning; For You have been my defense And refuge in the day of my trouble.

Discouragement - a loss of confidence or enthusiasm;

What comes to your mind when you think about David’s life?

Even when things are not going the way you think they should go there is still a choice to make...

Anxious & Afraid

While a fugitive on the run… Despair took a toll on David.

Saul Trying to Kill Him

He Flees to Philistines to find refuge, Ironically he fled to the city of Gath. But even there David is not welcome

Fear, Anxiety, Despair eventually take a toll on a believer.

1 thing after another you can grow disheartened and just seek to find peace anywhere.

Maybe you can relate to allowing your mind to have clouded judgement when being consumed with fear.

Psalm 56 NKJV

To the Chief Musician. Set to “The Silent Dove in Distant Lands.” a Michtam of David When the Philistines Captured Him in Gath. 1 Be merciful to me, O God, for man would swallow me up; Fighting all day he oppresses me. 2 My enemies would hound me all day, For there are many who fight against me, O Most High. 3 Whenever I am afraid, I will trust in You. 4 In God (I will praise His word), In God I have put my trust; I will not fear. What can flesh do to me? 5 All day they twist my words; All their thoughts are against me for evil. 6 They gather together, They hide, they mark my steps, When they lie in wait for my life. 7 Shall they escape by iniquity? In anger cast down the peoples, O God! 8 You number my wanderings; Put my tears into Your bottle; Are they not in Your book? 9 When I cry out to You, Then my enemies will turn back; This I know, because God is for me. 10 In God (I will praise His word), In the Lord (I will praise His word), 11 In God I have put my trust; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me? 12 Vows made to You are binding upon me, O God; I will render praises to You, 13 For You have delivered my soul from death. Have You not kept my feet from falling, That I may walk before God In the light of the living?

psalm 34

psalm 34

Psalm 34:1–4 NKJV

1 I will bless the Lord at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth. 2 My soul shall make its boast in the Lord; The humble shall hear of it and be glad. 3 Oh, magnify the Lord with me, And let us exalt His name together. 4 I sought the Lord, and He heard me, And delivered me from all my fears.

Psalm 34:7–9 NKJV

7 The angel of the Lord encamps all around those who fear Him, And delivers them. 8 Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good; Blessed is the man who trusts in Him! 9 Oh, fear the Lord, you His saints! There is no want to those who fear Him.

psalm 34.

psalm 34

Psalm 34:15–19 NKJV

15 The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, And His ears are open to their cry. 16 The face of the Lord is against those who do evil, To cut off the remembrance of them from the earth. 17 The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears, And delivers them out of all their troubles. 18 The Lord is near to those who have a broken heart, And saves such as have a contrite spirit. 19 Many are the afflictions of the righteous, But the Lord delivers him out of them all.

psalm 34.15-19

The New King James Version Psalm 34

1 I will bless the LORD at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth.

2 My soul shall make its boast in the LORD;

The humble shall hear of it and be glad.

3 Oh, magnify the LORD with me,

And let us exalt His name together.

4 I sought the LORD, and He heard me,

And delivered me from all my fears.

5 They looked to Him and were radiant,

And their faces were not ashamed.

6 This poor man cried out, and the LORD heard him,

And saved him out of all his troubles.

7 The angel of the LORD encamps all around those who fear Him,

And delivers them.

8 Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good;

Blessed is the man who trusts in Him!

9 Oh, fear the LORD, you His saints!

There is no want to those who fear Him.

10 The young lions lack and suffer hunger;

But those who seek the LORD shall not lack any good thing.

11 Come, you children, listen to me;

I will teach you the fear of the LORD.

12 Who is the man who desires life,

And loves many days, that he may see good?

13 Keep your tongue from evil,

And your lips from speaking deceit.

14 Depart from evil and do good;

Seek peace and pursue it.

15 The eyes of the LORD are on the righteous,

And His ears are open to their cry.

16 The face of the LORD is against those who do evil,

To cut off the remembrance of them from the earth.

17 The righteous cry out, and the LORD hears,

And delivers them out of all their troubles.

18 The LORD is near to those who have a broken heart,

And saves such as have a contrite spirit.

19 Many are the afflictions of the righteous,

But the LORD delivers him out of them all.

20 He guards all his bones;

Not one of them is broken.

21 Evil shall slay the wicked,

And those who hate the righteous shall be condemned.

22 The LORD redeems the soul of His servants,

And none of those who trust in Him shall be condemned.

The New King James Version Psalm 34

1 I will bless the LORD at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth.

2 My soul shall make its boast in the LORD;

The humble shall hear of it and be glad.

3 Oh, magnify the LORD with me,

And let us exalt His name together.

4 I sought the LORD, and He heard me,

And delivered me from all my fears.

The New King James Version Psalm 34

7 The angel of the LORD encamps all around those who fear Him,

And delivers them.

8 Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good;

Blessed is the man who trusts in Him!

9 Oh, fear the LORD, you His saints!

There is no want to those who fear Him.

The New King James Version Psalm 34

15 The eyes of the LORD are on the righteous,

And His ears are open to their cry.

16 The face of the LORD is against those who do evil,

To cut off the remembrance of them from the earth.

17 The righteous cry out, and the LORD hears,

And delivers them out of all their troubles.

18 The LORD is near to those who have a broken heart,

And saves such as have a contrite spirit.

19 Many are the afflictions of the righteous,

But the LORD delivers him out of them all.

It doesnt matter what you are facing, or how hard you have fell. There is a deliberate choice to praise God and look to Him for strength.

Devastated & Depressed

I have heard it said, there is no pain like family pain.

David endured much but maybe none greater than the family pain of dealing with his son Abner.

Depression - a feeling of emotional dejection and withdrawal accompanied by sadness and lack of desire.

David would probably not win father of the year & due to his shortcomings as a father he was left to reap the consequences of his passisivtiy with his son.

Depleted -

It was during the Revolt of Abner that David was forced to flee that was penned.

psalm 3

psalm 3

Despair - To lose or be without hope.

Psalm 3:1–8 NKJV

1 Lord, how they have increased who trouble me! Many are they who rise up against me. 2 Many are they who say of me, “There is no help for him in God.” Selah 3 But You, O Lord, are a shield for me, My glory and the One who lifts up my head. 4 I cried to the Lord with my voice, And He heard me from His holy hill. Selah 5 I lay down and slept; I awoke, for the Lord sustained me. 6 I will not be afraid of ten thousands of people Who have set themselves against me all around. 7 Arise, O Lord; Save me, O my God! For You have struck all my enemies on the cheekbone; You have broken the teeth of the ungodly. 8 Salvation belongs to the Lord. Your blessing is upon Your people. Selah

psalm 3.1-8

מִזְמוֹר

Depleated - To be physically, emotionally, or spiritually empty and unable to go on.

The New King James Version Psalm 3

A Psalm of David When He Fled from Absalom His Son.

1 LORD, how they have increased who trouble me!

Many are they who rise up against me.

2 Many are they who say of me,

“There is no help for him in God.”

Selah

3 But You, O LORD, are a shield for me,

My glory and the One who lifts up my head.

4 I cried to the LORD with my voice,

And He heard me from His holy hill.

Selah

5 I lay down and slept;

I awoke, for the LORD sustained me.

6 I will not be afraid of ten thousands of people

Who have set themselves against me all around.

7 Arise, O LORD;

Save me, O my God!

For You have struck all my enemies on the cheekbone;

You have broken the teeth of the ungodly.

8 Salvation belongs to the LORD.

Your blessing is upon Your people.

Disappointment- sadness or displeasure caused by the non fulfillment of ones desires.

Weary & Depleated

1 LORD, how they have increased who trouble me!

Picture this - Your Kingdom in chaos, Your son trying to kill you, On the run again

Psalm 63:1–11 NKJV

1 O God, You are my God; Early will I seek You; My soul thirsts for You; My flesh longs for You In a dry and thirsty land Where there is no water. 2 So I have looked for You in the sanctuary, To see Your power and Your glory. 3 Because Your lovingkindness is better than life, My lips shall praise You. 4 Thus I will bless You while I live; I will lift up my hands in Your name. 5 My soul shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatness, And my mouth shall praise You with joyful lips. 6 When I remember You on my bed, I meditate on You in the night watches. 7 Because You have been my help, Therefore in the shadow of Your wings I will rejoice. 8 My soul follows close behind You; Your right hand upholds me. 9 But those who seek my life, to destroy it, Shall go into the lower parts of the earth. 10 They shall fall by the sword; They shall be a portion for jackals. 11 But the king shall rejoice in God; Everyone who swears by Him shall glory; But the mouth of those who speak lies shall be stopped.

psalm 63

These are all emotions that we must learn to navigate in this life.

Many are they who rise up against me.

The New King James Version Psalm 63

1 O God, You are my God;

Early will I seek You;

My soul thirsts for You;

My flesh longs for You

In a dry and thirsty land

Where there is no water.

2 So I have looked for You in the sanctuary,

To see Your power and Your glory.

3 Because Your lovingkindness is better than life,

My lips shall praise You.

4 Thus I will bless You while I live;

I will lift up my hands in Your name.

5 My soul shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatness,

And my mouth shall praise You with joyful lips.

6 When I remember You on my bed,

I meditate on You in the night watches.

7 Because You have been my help,

Therefore in the shadow of Your wings I will rejoice.

8 My soul follows close behind You;

Your right hand upholds me.

9 But those who seek my life, to destroy it,

Shall go into the lower parts of the earth.

10 They shall fall by the sword;

They shall be a portion for jackals.

11 But the king shall rejoice in God;

Everyone who swears by Him shall glory;

But the mouth of those who speak lies shall be stopped.

One of the biggest misconceptions of Christianity is that once you are saved all your problems will magically dissapear.

2 Many are they who say of me,

Get really practical - 1 thing that i wanted to show you is that no matter what you are facing you can.

psalm 54

The Blueprint For Battling Difficulty

Talk to God about it

“There is no help for him in God.”

Talk to yourself about God

Remember what God has done in the past

Choose to Worship

When you follow the Blueprint

1. God will meet you in your time of Need.

Psalm 34:18 NKJV

18 The Lord is near to those who have a broken heart, And saves such as have a contrite spirit.

Psalm 145:18 NKJV

18 The Lord is near to all who call upon Him, To all who call upon Him in truth.

Psalm 56:8 NKJV

8 You number my wanderings; Put my tears into Your bottle; Are they not in Your book?

psalm 56.8

2. Our Faith Will Increase

Psalm 23:4 NKJV

4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.

Psalm 27:13 NKJV

13 I would have lost heart, unless I had believed That I would see the goodness of the Lord In the land of the living.

Psalm 86:6–7 NKJV

6 Give ear, O Lord, to my prayer; And attend to the voice of my supplications. 7 In the day of my trouble I will call upon You, For You will answer me.

Psalm 142:7 NKJV

7 Bring my soul out of prison, That I may praise Your name; The righteous shall surround me, For You shall deal bountifully with me.”

Psalm 68:28 NKJV

28 Your God has commanded your strength; Strengthen, O God, what You have done for us.

The New King James Version Psalm 86

6 Give ear, O LORD, to my prayer;

And attend to the voice of my supplications.

7 In the day of my trouble I will call upon You,

For You will answer me.

3. We are Transformed

The New King James Version Psalm 86

11 Teach me Your way, O LORD;

I will walk in Your truth;

Unite my heart to fear Your name.

Psalm 25:1–5 NKJV

1 To You, O Lord, I lift up my soul. 2 O my God, I trust in You; Let me not be ashamed; Let not my enemies triumph over me. 3 Indeed, let no one who waits on You be ashamed; Let those be ashamed who deal treacherously without cause. 4 Show me Your ways, O Lord; Teach me Your paths. 5 Lead me in Your truth and teach me, For You are the God of my salvation; On You I wait all the day.

The New King James Version Psalm 25

1 To You, O LORD, I lift up my soul. 2 O my God, I trust in You;

Let me not be ashamed;

Let not my enemies triumph over me.

3 Indeed, let no one who waits on You be ashamed;

Let those be ashamed who deal treacherously without cause.

4 Show me Your ways, O LORD;

Teach me Your paths.

5 Lead me in Your truth and teach me,

For You are the God of my salvation;

On You I wait all the day.

4. Peace Floods Your Heart

Psalm 34:3 NKJV

3 Oh, magnify the Lord with me, And let us exalt His name together.

Psalm 4:8 NKJV

8 I will both lie down in peace, and sleep; For You alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety.

Psalm 30:11 NKJV

11 You have turned for me my mourning into dancing; You have put off my sackcloth and clothed me with gladness,

Psalm 39:7 NKJV

7 “And now, Lord, what do I wait for? My hope is in You.

Psalm 94:19 NKJV

19 In the multitude of my anxieties within me, Your comforts delight my soul.

Tie it all together - Where do you go in times of difficulty?

psal