He can handle it. Winner of the Golden Scroll Children's Book of the Year, the Enduring Light Silver Medal and the Maxwell Award, she is a member of the Christian Author's Network and the Advanced Writers and Speakers Association. We had to sell our home due to the church not making it financially and move to a different state so my husband could take a job at an established church within our denomination. 1. I know that sounds odd, but consider the story. Have deep water faith in the shallow end. And when we choose to ignore situations that look impossible, we are also choosing to ignore the work of God. When The Situation Seems Impossible. Practice joy in your circumstances, even when they seem bleak. Help me to keep my eyes on You. God honors those that have a faith so reckless they are willing to pound on God’s door if necessary to get an answer. Be patient with the uncertainty. When we go through tough times, the most important thing for us to do is to keep our faith in God. I remember how hard I tried, again and again, to make changes in my life, build a thriving business doing work I loved, "find myself," create real depth and connection, and just be happy, secure, and in love with life. About Alex Blackwell When you feel the weight of grief whether it be over the death of a loved one, a hard financial situation, a bad relationship, a work hardship, or anything else, I pray you will lean toward God! When Life Seems Impossible (Video) Notes. You may even want to resist faith because you don’t trust how long it will stay with you. Imagine we are having a coffee shop conversation. Get involved with the people and causes that touch your heart the most. When our faith not only feels distant but dead. The oldest brother grumbles and wants nothing to do with his brother. It’s like looking upside down in a hall of darkened mirrors. How To Keep Faith When Life Seems Impossible Daniel Dowling April 17, 2016 — 9:59 AM Karol Wojtyla (Pope John Paul II) said, “We cannot live without love. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.” At this moment, you may be facing what seems like an impossible situation. The prodigal son comes to his senses and with a heart of humility and repentance comes to His father, knowing he doesn’t deserve his father’s love and forgiveness. Faith is the tangible knowing that God is bigger than the problem, and that He is willing and able to help. Name it, call out for it, or weep for it. We need love more than we need the air we breathe. All of us go through difficult times. When you are at the end of your rope and can no longer see or feel what hope looks like, the enemy of your soul pounces on your confidence, shreds […], Today’s Sunday Inspiration: The way for your relationship to grow and experience a love bigger than you and your partner could ever imagine is by doing something small – everyday. Keep doing the things that make you strong. Use this time to build your faith around the certainty there is a purpose created just for you. Faith ‘calls those things which be not as though they were’. Kick off each morning with … I want that… I want to pray more, trust more, and expect more. I am in a complicated situation at the moment and I am struggling to keep trusting God, I want things to work out for me and it seems impossible at first everything was working perfectly then now it seems like it’s all falling apart and I just don’t understand. After five and a half years of church planting, our time had come to an end. In Luke 11, there is a parable about a person that goes knocking on a friend’s door in the middle of the night for some bread. In the process, we lost everything. Allow yourself to grieve for what you have lost. Depression gets you stuck inside your head. 7 Ways to Keep the Faith When the Worst in Life Hits, The Hope for 2020 That Only Christ and Christmas Can Bring, California - Do Not Sell My Personal Information. Not sure where or how to start serving? Practicing faith takes action. “It’s the little things that keep us together. When you are feeling in a low funk, try these strategies to raise your vibes: Consider all the amazing things you’ve done in your life. Here are four inspiring stories about finding faith and joy during trials—everything from job loss and unemployment to parenting issues and life-threatening illnesses. Trust that He will accomplish His perfect will in your life. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.”. Ask your pastor where you might be able to use your gifts in service to both your local church body and the Lord. Alex Blackwell is a father, husband and writer. Turning the key to the glass door, we opened it to survey the now vacant church building that lay before us. Yet, God knows where those steps are going to lead, but you must trust Him with your life’s direction. Keep the faith in your grieving. For me, when I am feeling bad, I try to self-medicate with eating, shopping or gossiping, yet, scripture is clear: Do everything without complaining and arguing,so that no one can criticize you. What you’ll find is your feet will touch and the water will not be over your head. 6. Don’t give in to the temporary pleasure of complaining to someone so you can feel better about your situation. Your loss of faith may last for a few days or even a few weeks, but you will not be abandoned. “Faith is taking the first step even when you don’t see the whole staircase.” – Martin Luther King, Jr. Focusing on your faith every day is essential to keeping it resilient and ready to go. These small acts create a love bigger than the most difficult challenge. 5. So many quote the following verse, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me,” (Philippians 4:13) without understanding the context. If you do, God may bless you in ways you can only imagine and definitely don’t deserve. God is there, even when it doesn’t feel like it. Your faith is never taken from you – you may just resist it from time-to-time. As I moved them further away from the shallow end and into deeper waters, their confidence, and faith, began to fade. Be the Prodigal Son. Although it seems impossible right now, there is a way to cling to God even when He is silent. The more people knocking on God’s door, the better. Those little things will make […], “The truth is you don’t know what is going to happen tomorrow. Watch how you rebound and fill in the gaps. 8. When no matter what we do, we find it impossible to connect with God in a meaningful, tangible way. Regardless of what you’re facing, remember your earlier miracles and know you’re entirely capable of working through it.For humans, the seemingly impossible is, in fact, possible. It’s on these darker days when your faith is needed most. Consider the obvious answers: Does God know your needs? No matter how bleak things look, God is working out your situation for his glory. Remember that He can do the impossible. Come to the Lord not with expectation, but with humility and patience. He will see you through! I don’t know what you are going through, but I do know it is not impossible to keep your faith intact. He is the Creator; He can cause loving feelings and attitudes to be created out of nothing. There is something very human about the need to pursue and conquer impossible things. Trusting God Strategy #1: Lean Not On My Own Understanding. 5 Surprising Ways the Story of Abraham Points us to Christ, 50 Songs to Experience God's Presence in a Pandemic, 30 Morning Prayers to Use Daily & Start Each Day with God, 4 Steps You Need to Take to Being Emotionally Strong, 10 Ways Satan Wants You to Respond to the Coronavirus, 4 Compassionate Ways to Be Kind to Yourself. Consider those with which you regularly attend church or someone you know, who is also a Christian, that may have gone through trials and tribulations as well. I give all that I am to You. I just came across this post and I can relate with it fully. When you stand on the sidelines and expect your faith to arrive without any deliberate intent on your part, then you run the risk of missing the chance to jump into life. And then there are some days when the clouds begin to fill in and block the light. This sermon does not have any notes. Even though I’m confident in the truth of God’s Word and who I am in Christ, the effects of this battle are taking a toll on my mind, body, and spirit. When you feel your faith … Photo Courtesy: Mehrdad Haghighi/Unsplash. Acknowledging the problem is the first step in obtaining faith. You may want to write a novel, paint beautiful masterpieces or act in a play. At best, you’ll get an answer. So in this week’s study, we take a closer look at this key to unshaken faith and it is my prayer it unlocks a boldness in you to stand for God you never knew you had. Help me experience Your love and presence in a tangible way. He will hold you and keep you. Faith requires you to think, feel and believe. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. Exodus 14:1-2, 13-15. Our Impossible … Let it act not as an accessory but as a constant reminder of Mary’s “yes” to God even when it was tough. Keep a rosary in your pocket. We remain incomprehensible to ourselves if we do not experience and participate intimately in love." Because, you see, sometimes, life is going to feel impossible. Relate the loaves to the lake. Without it, our lives cease to make sense. At worst, you’ll use the time in which you are waiting to productively ask God for what you want. When my students entered the pool they looked a little apprehensive, but they went ahead and took the first step anyway because they knew their feet would touch in the shallow end. Although it is tough, God has equipped us (and those around us) to handle your situation. So today let’s get it out there. During these times, I need someone to tell me the truth. I clung onto my relationship (albeit distant) with God with everything I had because it was the only thing I had. You can be a lot like a new swimmer, too. Don’t meander off the path, but place one foot in front of the other. 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