7 encouragements for people who are in difficult relationships

Seven.
God has proven to you that He is able to use mistreatment and injustice to accomplish your good and His glory.
He hasn’t just told you and shown you how to respond. He’s given you proof that He’s worthy of your trust.
This is not pie in the sky stuff.
Where you just have [...]

7 encouragements for people in difficult relationships

Six.
God has not left you on your own to figure out how to respond in the difficult situation your are facing.
You haven’t been dropped in the middle of a jungle with just a pat on the back and no map how to get out.
It may feel like that.
But you’ve got some [...]

7 encouragements for people in difficult relationships

Encouragement #2
Your situation is one God can and will use to bring Himself glory.
There are many different ways God can bring Himself glory through difficult relationships.
We see one of those ways in 1 Peter 2:12 where Peter writes,
“Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, [...]

7 encouragements for people in difficult relationships

Encouragement #1
While your situation may be difficult, it is not something new or unique.

In other words, you are not the first to face it.
When you find yourself in a difficult situation it is tempting to begin thinking that you are facing trials that others have not faced before.
You might say to yourself, [...]

1 Peter 1:3-5 part 4

A third reason for confidence has to do with what is happening in us as we follow Christ.
If you want to be confident, look backwards, forwards and inwards.
v. 5
Peter turns his eyes from the inheritance which of course is safe, it is in heaven to you, who might not feel quite as safe because you [...]

1 Peter 1:3-5 part 3

(3 reasons for worshiping God in the middle of suffering)
A second reason has to do with what is going to happen when Jesus comes back.
We can look back for confidence.
We can look forward for confidence.
Peter explains,
“Blessed be…”
v. 4
because he has caused us to be born again . . .
“to an inheritance [...]

1 Peter 1:3-5 part 2

 The first reason has to do with what happened when we
first turned to Christ.
When we became Christians.
Or you might say if you just take a look
backwards it will prove how committed God is to your future good.
Peter writes,
“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus
Christ who according to His great mercy has caused [...]

1 Peter 1:3-5 Introduction

It is not unusual to find people who are suffering struggling with feeling hopeless.  It is especially tempting when a person is suffering to develop a warped perspective on God.
To start feeling like because they are doing right and it is not working 
God must be against them
like God doesn’t want their good
like their circumstances prove [...]

1 Peter 1:1 and 2 part 3

It is one thing to know the right perspective, it is another to have the right perspective in the middle of trials. 
Take the nation of Israel.
I mean, just go back in your minds to the Exodus.
They cried out.
God heard their cries.
He delivers them in an absolutely miraculous way.
He speaks to them.
He personally guides [...]

1 Peter 1:17 Outline and Thought Questions

1 Peter 1:17ff
Theology Makes a Difference Part Three
         1.        What we believe should make a difference on the way we look to                        the  future.
 v.13                  “Be hopeful”
         2.         What we believe should make a difference on the way we live [...]