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How To Handle Tough Times Part 1There is no shortage of tough times in our lives these days. Unfortunately, tough times are just part of living on Earth. Thankfully, God has a lot of instruction for us on handling tough times, and we can tap into that and receive the much needed help and perspective we need. Jesus straight up said there would be tough times, but he also provided much needed peace and hope. Check out John 16:33:

John 16:33: 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.”

Jesus says that even in the tough times of tribulation, we can have perfect peace in Him. When He says He has overcome the world, Jesus is telling us that in shedding His blood as a sacrifice for us, He overcame the world’s ownership over us. That means those who choose to believe in and follow Jesus receive His help that is powerful enough to overcome even the worst of situations in this world. Things may physically happen to us and those we love, but we are spiritually owned and protected by Jesus and nothing of this world can separate us from His love. Now all we have to do is tap into this power of peace and strength in the tough times. It’s easier said than done at times, I know. We all experience different levels of tough times in various seasons of our lives, and I don’t pretend to understand or be able to comprehend how difficult your tough times are. My goal is to bring you the encouragement and perspective offered in the Bible and try to help you tap into God’s peace and joy, even through your tough times. I encourage you to get your Bible out and read the verses along with me. And it all starts with our perspective. First let’s address some questions to begin to build the right perspective.

Why do Bad Things Happen to Good PeopleThe reality is that bad things happen to ALL people. It is a fallen world. The question should rather be why do good things happen to imperfect messer uppers like us? We know that Satan runs the world, as Jesus tells us in John 14:30 before he dies on the cross for us imperfect people who don’t deserve it. He bought us back from Satan the ruler of this world with the currency of the spiritual world, his own blood.

John 14:30 – 30 I will no longer talk much with you, for the ruler of this world is coming, and he has nothing in Me.

When Jesus rose from the dead and everyone saw him walking around, it was undeniable verification that Satan and evil truly didn’t have anything on Jesus and that God will win in the end. As much as he wanted to, Satan couldn’t keep Jesus down. And because we belong to God, Satan has nothing on us either. But Jesus didn’t leave us hanging in the meantime… he sent the holy spirit to be with us after He left. This puts a different perspective on bad things happening, as it is a reality of the world we live in, but we’re not alone! Let this passage sink in deep, explaining that the Lord sent the holy spirit to help us deal with the dark world we live in:

John 14:23-30 – 23 Jesus answered and said to him, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him. 24 He who does not love Me does not keep My words; and the word which you hear is not Mine but the Father’s who sent Me.

25 “These things I have spoken to you while being present with you. 26 But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you. 27 Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. 28 You have heard Me say to you, ‘I am going away and coming back to you.’ If you loved Me, you would rejoice because I said, ‘I am going to the Father,’ for My Father is greater than I.

29 “And now I have told you before it comes, that when it does come to pass, you may believe. 30 I will no longer talk much with you, for the ruler of this world is coming, and he has nothing in Me. 31 But that the world may know that I love the Father, and as the Father gave Me commandment, so I do. Arise, let us go from here.

Paul explains in Romans 8:18-25 how we, with an eternal perspective, can look forward to going from suffering in this world to glory when Christ redeems us and we’re no longer subject to the evil of the world.

Romans 8:18-25 – 18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. 19 For the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of God. 20 For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it in hope; 21 because the creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. 22 For we know that the whole creation groans and labors with birth pangs together until now. 23 Not only that, but we also who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for the adoption, the redemption of our body. 24 For we were saved in this hope, but hope that is seen is not hope; for why does one still hope for what he sees? 25 But if we hope for what we do not see, we eagerly wait for it with perseverance.

Obtaining this perspective becomes easier as you see God working in your life more and more. I encourage you to give God a try. Trust Him with some areas of your life and take some leaps where if He doesn’t show up, it won’t work. After you get a few of those under your belt, obtaining this perspective will become easier. And even better, you’ll want to trust more areas of your life to God! Start with a small one, like tithing, realizing everything you have comes from God, so you have gratitude for it all. Then, because it all came from God and you’re thankful, you can’t wait to bring blessing on someone with what God gave you by tithing. Then, watch the blessings pour over you.

Does Going Through Tough Times Prove God Isn’t All Powerful and Good? There is a common misconception out there that if God loves us, then he wouldn’t let anything bad happen to us. The actual truth is that it’s a fallen world and bad things are going to happen, even to good people. Based on the verse above, John 16:33, Jesus says outright that we will have hard times, but that through Him we can have peace. Knowing that bad times will come, we can choose one of two ways to look at it: either the tough times are all for nothing or the tough times are for a purpose for the Lord. The reality is, God advances His kingdom, especially through our tough times. How much more meaningful is a message to someone coming from a person struggling and still choosing to have faith because they’re confident God is real?

1 Peter 4:12-13 – 12 Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you; 13 but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ’s sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy.

At the end of the day, we menial humans can’t possibly expect to understand God’s plan. But at least we can be sure our suffering is for a purpose! And look at the promise…when His glory is revealed, we will be glad with exceeding joy. God is not shy about shining his glory, so get ready for some seriously overwhelming gladness and joy.

Keep in mind, God’s plan is not meant to be understood by us:

Romans 11:33-36 – 33 Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and His ways past finding out!
34 “For who has known the mind of the Lord?
Or who has become His counselor?”
35 “Or who has first given to Him
And it shall be repaid to him?”
36 For of Him and through Him and to Him are all things, to whom be glory forever. Amen.

Although we can’t begin to understand God’s perspective, we can get a small glimpse. Let’s look at an example, sort of like a parable. Parables give us perspective we would have a hard time seeing otherwise.

You have 2 kids. One is a 5 year old girl. She’s sweet, but you caught her sneaking into the pantry to steal M&Ms multiple times even after you asked her not to. The other is a middle school aged boy. Kids at school are mean to him, bullying him for something he can’t help and he struggles with some anxiety. You caught him drinking with friends a couple weeks ago and he also got into a fight recently at school, causing you to have to miss 2 days of work when he was expelled. You have to pick one to receive eternal damnation in Hell. Which one do you pick? Would any parent not drop on their knees and cry out to God saying she didn’t understand, she’s just 5 and still learning! And He’s just trying to cope with painful emotions and rejection in becoming a young adult! He’s not trying to be bad, he just doesn’t understand! No…. I refuse, I can’t pick, so just take me! Take me instead! Well, that’s how God feels about His children. That’s what Jesus did for us. It’s just hard to understand His perspective when we’re in our own world of struggle.

Why do bad people prosper?

There is no earthly explanation for this. It could only be something God can understand, and Jesus explains it in Matthew 5:44-45.

Matthew 5:43-48 – 43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, 45 that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. 46 For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? 47 And if you greet your brethren only, what do you do more than others? Do not even the tax collectors do so? 48 Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.

Ultimately, people who obtain power, money, and prestige at the expense of other people will indeed have to answer for their actions one day. And people who do the things you may be tempted to do and seemingly have no consequences will one day account for their action. We don’t need to understand God’s plan, but just know that their wickedness will not get them anywhere good in the end. They are actively choosing to turn away from God and the word in the Bible.

1 Corinthians 6:9-11 – 9 Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, 10 nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God. 11 And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God.

So, as hard as it is to watch people get away with things with no consequences while you are struggling to do the right thing every day, don’t get frustrated. They will not get to enjoy the things that really matter. A little temporary pain and frustration is nothing compared to them being told by Jesus “I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!”

Matthew 7:21-23 – 21 “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. 22 Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ 23 And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’

When tough times happen to us at the hands of others, just know that in the end, God will make everything right. I know we may be tempted sometimes to take revenge into our own hands when something bad happens, but revenge is for God. Although it looks like someone may be getting away with some evil or corrupt deed, you can rest assured God will bring his justice and make it right one day. It may not happen right away though, so we must be patient.

Romans 12:19 – Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord.

Practical Steps to Thrive in Tough Times* Seek an Eternal Perspective

The first thing we need to do is seek the correct perspective: we are just temporary residents of an imperfect world and our eternal home will be with the Lord in Heaven.

Jesus is preparing a place for us in our Father’s house

John 14:1-3 – 1 “Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. 2 In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.

We are children of God

1 John 3:2-3 – 2 Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. 3 And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.

We who believe in Jesus overcome the world

1 John 5:4-5 – 4 For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. 5 Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?

• Tap into God’s Peace

It is critical that we learn to tap into the peace Jesus promised us when we are going through tribulation, because it prepares us for the next important step, to be used for God’s glory. The tough times are when God can bring about the most glory and do the most amazing things in our lives. Although we can’t see the spiritual realm, God is more active than you think in your life. When we’re going through hard times, it is much more difficult to see God’s action and involvement in our lives. God loves us and wants us to have His perfect peace no matter what’s going on with our circumstances in this imperfect, fallen world. To put it simply, God wants us to have joy no matter the circumstances.

Seeking God’s peace and joy is a daily discipline, but that is the one thing He provides every time without question. God always provides peace without limitation when we ask. All we have to do is ask and keep our focus on God. In addition to the peace Jesus promises in John 16:33, let’s look at what the Bible says about peace.

Isaiah 26:3 – You will keep him in perfect peace,
Whose mind is stayed on You,
Because he trusts in You.

Philippians 4:6-7 – 6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; 7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

• Give it to God. I mean give it to God all the way and completely relinquish it, understanding you can’t do it alone and you need help. Jesus’ yoke is light. Carry his yoke instead of your heavy burdensome yoke.

Matthew 11:28-30 – 28 Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”

• First seek the kingdom of God and He’ll give us what we need. Set your heart to follow Jesus and the rest will come. It’s all about where our heart is. Choose to focus on the Lord instead of the things that are making you feel hopeless, fearful, or other negative emotions.

Matthew 6:33 – 33 But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.

• We need to let God renew our minds to place our thoughts and perspectives in the right place. The Lord will renew your mind and help you focus on what’s important. Does this mean you’ll never struggle or sin again? No, but it means you’re making progress moving in the right direction with your heart in the right place, which is what’s important. We have no hope of being strong enough to endure the struggles of this world without being broken like a twig or being good enough on our own without the Lord’s help. It may be tempting to turn to doing things the world’s way in tough times desperate for relief, but we must stick with God’s way where we will receive long term relief from our tough times. The world’s way might give us momentary relief, but once that is over, things are often even worse because of the consequences that come with doing things the world’s way.

Romans 12:2 – 2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

Ephesians 4:23-24 – 23 and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, 24 and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness.

• First deal with any issues in your past, in particular emotional issues, and seek God’s daily bread of healing and keeping healed emotionally and physically. Past unaddressed issues allow for problems to come back and potentially even become worse than they were before. In Luke 11:24-26, Jesus explains that unaddressed past issues can continue to cause you to be worse off as you take steps to seeking peace and healing. This absolutely includes exercising the daily discipline of forgiving people who have hurt you or your loved ones in the past. Most people don’t realize the purpose and heart of God in forgiving isn’t just the benefit for the person being forgiven, but for the forgiver to truly let go of the thing that has been eating them alive inside and experience the freedom God provides in practicing forgiveness as a daily discipline. Being free from that internal angst that builds up inside us is what will get us unstuck and able to move forward.

Luke 11:24-26 24 “When an unclean spirit goes out of a man, he goes through dry places, seeking rest; and finding none, he says, ‘I will return to my house from which I came.’ 25 And when he comes, he finds it swept and put in order. 26 Then he goes and takes with him seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter and dwell there; and the last state of that man is worse than the first.”

• After you have done the previous things, make your requests to God in the name of Jesus. Do His will and bear good fruit so that whatever you ask the Father in Jesus’ name, He may give you. But, also understand that there are times God does not give us what we want for a reason. This is not meant to be understood. Usually, it’s because we have a purpose to fulfill in that moment of suffering.

John 16:23-24 – 23 “And in that day you will ask Me nothing. Most assuredly, I say to you, whatever you ask the Father in My name He will give you. 24 Until now you have asked nothing in My name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full.

John 15:16 – 16 You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you.

• You must quiet the noise in your head to hear the holy spirit – this is hard to do in tough times. Pray that God will bring his presence and take away all the fear, anxiety, negative emotions, and pain that may be blocking you from hearing the holy spirit. Then be still and quiet and wait for God’s presence. Combine the verses below and it is a pretty clear picture of what we need to do: Find a quiet place where you can calm your mind, quiet all your anxiety, worry, and negative emotions making noise in your head, and be ready to hear the holy spirit. Studying the Bible a little every day will help you better detect what God is trying to reveal to you, especially when you’re struggling to find your way.

Matthew 6:6 – 6 But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.Psalm 46:10 – Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!Psalm 119:105 – Your word is a lamp to my feet And a light to my path.

• Realize that your ability to make sound decisions could be significantly compromised in tough times. It is good to find a trusted Bible believing faith filled follower of Jesus to help you with decision making in tough times. It is wise to seek counsel in normal times, so how much more important it is to seek wise counsel in tough times when we’re compromised?

Proverbs 12:15 – The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, But he who heeds counsel is wise.

Trying times involve spiritual warfare. You must seek wise counsel to win the battle.

Proverbs 20:18 – Plans are established by counsel; By wise counsel wage war.

• God will restore you in all ways

1 Peter 5:10 – 10 But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you.

Romans 8:23 – 23 Not only that, but we also who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for the adoption, the redemption of our body.

• Put on the whole armor of God and prepare for the battle of tough times

Since it is guaranteed tough times are coming, we need to prepare for battle.

Ephesians 6:10-18 – 10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the [b]wiles of the devil. 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

14 Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; 16 above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. 17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; 18 praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints—

The more you study the Bible, the more you know the heart of God, and the closer your relationship with God gets, the better you’ll be at donning the whole armor of God in the tough times. And the more you learn in the Bible, the more wisdom you’ll gain that could even prevent some of the tough times.

Biblical Encouragement and Track Record For Tough Times* It’s okay to be afraid, the heroes in the Bible were also afraid. Being afraid does not make you less of a believer. It is how you respond to the fear that matters. This is where you have an opportunity to focus on God instead of the fear. Even God’s greatest men of faith were physically terrified at what confronted them. Imagine David facing Goliath, or John the Baptist suffering in prison. Breaking down in our weak physical and mental bodies does not mean that we are lacking in faith. It just means our flesh is weak, just like the Bible said it is. Just remember God understands our flesh is weak. Then get determined to focus on God’s kingdom, because that is how you unlock everything God can do for you and through you. Here are some examples of God’s heroes in the Bible going through scary times.

Habakkuk was physically trembling and terrified when God revealed to him the coming judgement on Israel

Habakkuk 3:16 – When I heard, my body trembled; My lips quivered at the voice; Rottenness entered my bones; And I trembled in myself, That I might rest in the day of trouble. When he comes up to the people, He will invade them with his troops.

The story of David and Goliath: 1 Samuel 17

Verses 40-44 – The Giant Goliath taunts David because David is just a small kid

40 Then he took his staff in his hand; and he chose for himself five smooth stones from the brook, and put them in a shepherd’s bag, in a pouch which he had, and his sling was in his hand. And he drew near to the Philistine. 41 So the Philistine came, and began drawing near to David, and the man who bore the shield went before him. 42 And when the Philistine looked about and saw David, he disdained him; for he was only a youth, ruddy and good-looking. 43 So the Philistine said to David, “Am I a dog, that you come to me with sticks?” And the Philistine cursed David by his gods. 44 And the Philistine said to David, “Come to me, and I will give your flesh to the birds of the air and the beasts of the field!”

Verses 45-49 – David’s response and actions in the power of God

45 Then David said to the Philistine, “You come to me with a sword, with a spear, and with a javelin. But I come to you in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. 46 This day the Lord will deliver you into my hand, and I will strike you and take your head from you. And this day I will give the carcasses of the camp of the Philistines to the birds of the air and the wild beasts of the earth, that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel. 47 Then all this assembly shall know that the Lord does not save with sword and spear; for the battle is the Lord’s, and He will give you into our hands.”
48 So it was, when the Philistine arose and came and drew near to meet David, that David hurried and ran toward the army to meet the Philistine. 49 Then David put his hand in his bag and took out a stone; and he slung it and struck the Philistine in his forehead, so that the stone sank into his forehead, and he fell on his face to the earth.

• God crafted some of the most impactful events in history through people’s tough times – you can choose to serve the Lord in your tough times, which guarantees your suffering is not for nothing. It is a win-win scenario to choose to live for God, you have nothing to lose. Even if we are wrong you lived a joy filled life for God and had peace through the tough times. If we are right, then you get all those benefits plus you get to live forever in Heaven with God in eternal paradise. I’m just going to name a few example stories that I would most definitely take time to read when you’re able.

1 Peter 1:3-7 – 3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, 5 who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

6 In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, 7 that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ,Romans 8:28 – And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.

Absolutely don’t miss that God was faithful every single time, an excellent track record that leaves no doubt based on historical data that He will be faithful for us as believers.

Noah built the ark in a time when wickedness overtook the world. You know people called him crazy at the time for building a giant boat and saying a flood would soon destroy everyone on earth. See Genesis 6-8 for the full story.

Abraham and Sarah unable to have children during normal childbearing years, but then God gave them Isaac when they were old – in God’s timing. Abraham even got impatient and tried to take matters into his own hands, bearing a son with Hagar, a servant. See Genesis 16-21.

Joseph’s brothers sold him into slavery and God made amazing glory of that situation, with Joseph earning the favor of Pharoah and becoming a ruler in Egypt. See Genesis 37-47

David’s tough times built him to be the hero for God he was when he became king. Saul was constantly trying to kill David before he became king because he was jealous. See 1 Samuel 18-27.
Esther, the queen in her time, was being persecuted as a Jew along with all the Jews in the kingdom by the king due to a decree that a Jew hater named Haman tricked the king into signing. She stood up to protect the people from a nonsensical Jew persecuting law she knew wasn’t right, and it took courage only God could have given her to overcome her fears and confront both the king and the Jew hater, Haman. See Esther.

Job suffered badly for a season, but continued to be faithful. God restored and blessed Job even more than he was before and he lived a full life. Check out the book of Job.

The ultimate example is Jesus suffering and dying for our sins, even more impactful because He didn’t sin. He lived all 33 of his years sin free in this fallen, evil world, even to his torturous death on the cross for doing nothing wrong. See Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. Now, we imperfect messer uppers, who would have never had a chance to stand before God otherwise, can be saved from our sins and get to be with God in heaven forever just by choosing to believe in Jesus, that he died so we could be washed clean of our sins.

• Letting God work in our lives doesn’t mean we stop putting in our effort

Romans 5:3-5 – 3 And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; 4 and perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5 Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.

2 Peter 1:5-7 – 5 But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, 6 to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, 7 to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love.Colossians 3:23-25 – 23 And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, 24 knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ. 25 But he who does wrong will be repaid for what he has done, and there is no partiality.

Having the correct Biblical perspective and knowing that we don’t have to figure it all out alone – that we need Jesus to help us through the tough times – will get is on the right path. Our tough times are not all for nothing, but instead will be used for the glory of God. Be encouraged, in the end God will make everything right and there will be no more pain and suffering.

Revelation 21:4 – 4 And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.”

The post How to Handle Tough Times appeared first on Bible Clarified.

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Now that we’ve gone over the entire end times timeline according to the Bible, we’re going to take a look at where we are on the timeline based on what is happening in the world. You may be surprised at where we are, as the mainstream media and churches are not talking about it. Many believers are uninformed about this and it’s critical that we inform believers. If Biblical prophecy was starting to come together and starting to be fulfilled before our very eyes, wouldn’t you want to at least understand that it’s happening?! Otherwise, we’ll wake up one day to the reality that a new global beast system has been put into place in accordance with prophecy and wishing we had seen it coming, but being possibly destroyed, hurt, or fooled for our lack of knowledge. We still have an opportunity to stand for what is good according to the Bible now, but how will we know to stand against something we are completely unaware of?

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The post The End Times Part 5 – Where We Are On The Timeline appeared first on Bible Clarified.

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We’re wrapping up the End Times Timeline! If you’ve missed parts 1-3, you’ll definitely want to go back and watch those to get a complete picture of the end times timeline based on scripture. Many people and churches don’t want to talk about end times prophecy and where the world is now. By avoiding this topic, they are not informing believers of what is really going on in the world. This is a huge problem because now we have a bunch of unprepared, uninformed believers!! It is a much debated topic, but when you simply focus on what scripture actually says, much of the debate is dissolved. In the next video, we’ll also take a look at what’s currently going on in the world and see how it relates to end times prophecy in the Bible to help us figure out where we are at on the timeline.

Join our Facebook Group “Bible Clarified” for great discussion on this and all Bible topics! We need your help sharing this message on all social media so we can inform as many people as possible. Don’t forget to sign up for email updates on BibleClarified.com so you can stay up to date on what’s going on in the world and how it relates to the Bible. There is a lot going on! If you would like to support our ministry, we gratefully accept donations and they will be used to continue to grow this much needed Bible based ministry. As always, thank you for watching and for your support!

Check out our other Bible Studies:

https://www.bibleclarified.com/the-end-times/

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The post End Times Part 4 – Antichrist and Evil Finally Get Justice appeared first on Bible Clarified.

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We’re continuing with part 3 of The End Times Bible study. We discuss the events that happen when Jesus comes…trust me you won’t miss Him! In this series, we’re looking at the whole end times timeline according to Biblical prophecy. Many people and churches don’t want to talk about end times prophecy and where the world is now, it is a much debated topic. By avoiding this topic, they are not informing believers of what is really going on in the world. This is a huge problem because now we have a bunch of unprepared, uninformed believers!! We’ll also take a look at what’s currently going on in the world and you’ll see how it relates to end times prophecy in the Bible.

Join our Facebook Group “Bible Clarified” for great discussion on this and all Bible topics! We need your help sharing this message on all social media so we inform as many people as possible. Don’t forget to sign up for email updates on BibleClarified.com so you can stay up to date on the latest happenings and how they relate to the Bible. There is a lot going on! If you would like to support our ministry, we gratefully accept donations and they will be used to continue to grow this much needed Bible based ministry. As always, thank you for watching and for your support!

Check out our other Bible Studies:

The End Times

https://bibleclarified.com/blog/

Check out the latest news as it relates to the Bible:

https://www.bibleclarified.com/news/

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This is the most important Bible study of all…how to receive the gift of salvation. We hope that you will be inspired to help us share this message everywhere. These simple message has the potential to make the biggest difference in your life and in the lives of those around you. I wish someone had laid it all out there clearly like this for me. We’re going to go over the steps to receive salvation according to the Bible, common misconceptions about salvation, a little bit of important history to build context, the amazing benefits to choosing to believe in and follow Jesus, and a little background on the heart of God. Then we’ll end with some very simple next steps you can take at your own pace. Once you see all of this information come together in this short Bible study, you’ll better see the true loving heart of God and hopefully want to learn more.

Steps to Receive SalvationMany people make this a complex endeavor, but it is actually so very simple. Here are all the steps:

1. Believe in Jesus. That’s it. Give him your heart and the rest will come.

John 3:16-17 – 16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. 17 For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.

That’s right, just one simple step.

Common Misconceptions About Following JesusYou don’t have to have it all figured out and you don’t have to be concerned that you’re not good enough to accomplish following Him or that you’re too far down a path. Paul was a man that persecuted Jesus… you can’t get any further from God than that! But he later turned and followed Jesus and led many others to do the same. Paul is a great example that we can’t be too far down a bad path to turn and be received by Jesus when we choose to believe. Let’s look at what Paul says:

1 Timothy 1:15-16 – 15 This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief. 16 However, for this reason I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might show all longsuffering, as a pattern to those who are going to believe on Him for everlasting life.

In addition, following Jesus is not a miserable and restricted life like you may have been led to believe. Actually you’ll never feel more free and happy with the joy and contentment He provides when you follow. And moving forward, you’ll be free from the consequences of doing things the world’s way that you have now turned away from.

How Salvation WorksHere’s how it works in a nutshell. Jesus came and lived on earth and died at the hands of corrupt people. But then a couple days later, when everyone thought all hope was lost and Jesus may not be the real deal… Jesus rose from the dead. When everyone saw Jesus walking around after His death, of which there are multiple independent eye-witness accounts, there was no longer any doubt that Jesus was in fact the messiah prophesy had spoken of, literally God in a bod, who had come to save us. That was the ultimate irrefutable confirmation. In effect, Jesus died as a sacrifice for our imperfect and sinful nature and then rose from the dead confirming He is indeed the Son of God as He had said. Because of that, we imperfect messer-uppers have an opportunity we don’t deserve – that if we believe in Jesus and what He did for us, then we are washed clean of our sins and have the opportunity to receive salvation and eternal life with Him in heaven we would not have otherwise. The reality is, nobody can possibly be good enough without this gift to stand before God without the stain of sins and receive salvation on their own… We can’t fabricate our own righteousness. It’s a fallen world and we simply need Jesus.

Romans 10:9 – 9 that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.

Romans 3:23-24 – 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus,

John 14:6 – 6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.

God Will Start Working In Your LifeThere’s a very simple sequence of events that naturally happens when you choose to follow the one step above.

1. We believe in Jesus and give Him our heart. When you give Him your heart, you’re whole-heartedly committing to following Him. He will help you overcome the temptations of the world because you believe.

1 John 5:1-5 – 5 Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves Him who begot also loves him who is begotten of Him. 2 By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and keep His commandments. 3 For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome. 4 For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. 5 Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?

1. The Lord will begin to renew your mind as you start following Jesus and make it where you want to follow him and turn away from sin, or that bad things we’re tempted to do in this world.

Romans 12:2 – 2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

Ephesians 4:23-24 – 23 and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, 24 and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness.

1. We WILL still mess up. That’s okay because we are not perfect and it’s a broken world. But if we mess up and our heart is in the right place, we’ll be sorry and sad that we messed up, so we’ll ask Him to forgive us, and Jesus will forgive us. You see, it’s all about where your heart is. At the same time, you can’t just keep sinning thinking you’ll ask for forgiveness each time…your heart wouldn’t be in the right place doing that.

Galations 6:7-8 – 7 Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. 8 For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life.

The Benefits of Having FaithWhen we choose to take this simple step of believing in Jesus and therefore following Him and giving Him our heart, we receive amazing gifts we don’t deserve, with the best being that we get to spend eternity in Heaven with the Lord God Almighty and Jesus. Jesus is preparing an awesome place for us, but first we have to let Him lead us through this crazy life.

John 14:1-3 – 1 “Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. 2 In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.

Revelation 21:1 – Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. Also there was no more sea.

Revelation 21:4 – 4 And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.”

Another great benefit is that we have a clear instruction manual showing you how to walk the path of following Jesus – the Bible. And as you study the Bible, God will work in your life more and more.

Psalm 119:105 – Your word is a lamp to my feet And a light to my path.

We are also not alone in our struggling through this life, Jesus sent a helper also known as the holy spirit, to help us and lead us down the path of following Jesus. This is a huge benefit because the holy spirit helps you discern things more and more as you learn to abide in and follow Jesus.

John 14:26 – 26 But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you.

John 14:15-18 – 15 “If you love Me, keep My commandments. 16 And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever— 17 the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you. 18 I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you.

In following Jesus, you will get to enjoy a fulfilled life to a whole new level, even through tough times, knowing that it’s not all for nothing, you’re now living out a purpose for the Lord. At the end of your life, the thing that will most likely matter most to you is that you did something to leave a legacy, and that’s exactly what you’ll have the opportunity to do.

Romans 8:28 – And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.

As you follow Jesus, you might be giving up some things in this life, but God will bless you beyond what you can imagine both in this life and after. It’s important to realize that you won’t always fit in or be able to go with the flow of the world. We’re different, and we should be proud to be different. When we let go of the ways of the world and follow the ways of the Bible, we will definitely stand out. But that is a good thing! It won’t always be comfortable or easy, but God will bless us beyond measure when we trust Him and choose to follow.

Mark 10:29-31 – 29 So Jesus answered and said, “Assuredly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands, for My sake and the gospel’s, 30 who shall not receive a hundredfold now in this time—houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions—and in the age to come, eternal life. 31 But many who are first will be last, and the last first.”

How It All Works – Abide in JesusI love the unquestionable clarity that comes through this explanation of how it all works. You may have heard about the trinity…the father, the son, and the holy ghost. Jesus explains and gives us a very clear image of how it all works:

John 15:1-8 – “I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. 2 Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit. 3 You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you. 4 Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me.
5 “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. 6 If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned. 7 If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you. 8 By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples.

Let’s look at the definition of the word abide in this context:

Abide: to dwell, to stay, to remain

I can’t express how I wish someone had shown me this from the start. Jesus is saying that if we abide in him on the vine, then He is our direct connection with our Father in heaven. Jesus also abides in us as the Holy Spirit and helps us have the ability and strength to follow Him and bear “fruit” through our actions. We are absolutely not left hanging…no no, we have help straight from Jesus who dwells in us and helps us every step of the way. Now you have an understanding that many believers continue to struggle with – an understanding of how the Father, the son, and the holy spirit work. Many believers continue to be confused with this, but Jesus’ explanation clears that right up. So, now you’re ahead of the game with a solid foundation of understanding.

Next Steps To Follow JesusSo you’re ready to believe in Jesus…now what? Here are a few simple first steps to get started.

1. Say a simple prayer to our Father in heaven in Jesus’ name like this: Father, I believe Jesus died for me to wash away my sins and I know I don’t deserve that as one who has messed up so many times. I give you my heart. I want to follow Jesus. I pray that you would come abide in me and help me follow and abide in Jesus. In Jesus’ name, amen. That’s it…so simple, and it’s done!
2. Tell someone! If possible find a mentor to help you get on a path to learning more every day! (I want to know so I can celebrate with you and help you find resources! Email me here: liz@bibleclarified.com)
3. Find a good church, Bible study, or group of believers to join
4. Start a daily discipline of giving the Lord a little time before you start your day, even just 10 minutes. Pray and study the Bible or a devotional every morning to start your day off right and with purpose. The Bible is an instruction manual teaching you the wisdom of how to follow Christ.
5. Watch God work in your life! And remember, there is no such thing as coincidence!

Our goal is to sufficiently convey the amazing gift that Jesus is offering to us as the irresistible win-win opportunity that it truly is. If you have questions, need resources, or want to tell us you’re ready to receive the gift of salvation, we want to hear!

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If you knew that someone was purposely limiting the information you receive on an important topic, would you question why they’re doing it and whether you should trust those who are limiting? Anyone would. It has become apparent that there has been an ongoing and concerted effort to limit information, especially on certain topics, that the public receives. Today we’re going to look at some data and evidence showing this is the case on social media. It has become clear and confirmed that if information does not fit the narrative of those in control, it is squashed. It is important to be informed of this so you know to question certain sources of information and also to question whether you allow those who are squashing important information to influence on you.

Don’t forget to sign up for updates on www.BibleClarified.com at the bottom of the page. Our goal is to get this information to as many people as possible to help them become informed. But, we need your help – please like and share on all social media platforms so we can inform as many people as possible. There is a lot going on in the world right now and now more than ever, it’s important to be informed and see the world through a Biblical lens. As always, thank you for watching and for your support!

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We are continuing our study of how to love like Jesus with the application part of the study. We’ll learn how to apply what we have learned in everyday life. It’s clear at this point the Bible teaches us that judging others is the opposite of loving like Jesus. There is no better way to make someone feel unloved than making them feel judged. We will look at practical steps that align with the Bible that will keep you on track to love others like Jesus.

We aim to get you reading the Bible so you can see the true word of God for yourself and experience God’s action in your life, as the God’s word is living and powerful. We want you to experience God’s true word, not what the world, or churches, or denominations of churches, or schools want the Bible to say. Don’t forget to like and subscribe so you can stay up to date on our Bible studies and the latest happenings in the world and how they relate to the Bible. There is a lot going on in the world right now and now more than ever, it’s important to see the world through a Biblical lens. If you would like to support our ministry, we gratefully accept donations and they will be used to continue to grow this much needed Bible based ministry and serve people in our local community on a deep level. As always, thank you for watching and for your support!

Part 1 of Love Like Jesus:
https://www.bibleclarified.com/how-to-love-like-jesus/#Howtohandlepoliticaldisagreements

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US Banking Institutions Launch 12 week Digital Dollar Test Nine US banking institutions are running a 12 week test of the digital dollar. Find out how this ties to the global agenda 2030 and how it will affect you personally. And most importantly, we’ll talk about how the digital dollar relates to what the Bible...

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It has become clear that our country is implementing the Great Reset agenda of the World Economic Forum. Part of the great reset is a social scoring system called ESG score, standing for economic, social, and governance score. Around October 10th -12th 2022, 4 things happened within just a few days that indicate the social...

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This is Part 2 of our video series on Applying Biblical Teaching for Detecting False Information. In our prior video we talked about some common tactics used for deceiving people and walked through a specific example: the concept that churches shouldn’t say something that could be offensive or political. Now we’re going to look at...

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There is an urgent need to hone our skills for discerning truth from deception, being there seems to be no shortage of false information out there these days. When you look into any given subject in the bible and look at all the verses pertaining to that subject throughout the old and new testaments, you can really get an idea of the heart of God on a given subject and drill down to clear answers. Then, false information becomes obvious.

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Overview about why we started Bible Clarified and how it is so important that we start reading the bible for ourselves.

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