We are either taken captive by anger or we increase our trust in Jesus. 

Paul got better not bitter!  (2 Cor. 4:8-9)

Joseph got better not bitter!  (Gen. 50:19-32; Rom. 8:28) 

As we grow older, if we are growing spiritually, we are growing in hope.  If we do not continue to grow spiritually, we grow in bitterness.  (Dr. Jerry White, Navigators)

Getting bitter or better.  (Rom. 5:3-5) 

Next Step:   

Warning:  Life’s hard.  Resilience required.  (Job 14:1; Mt. 7:34; John 16:33) 

Children of the Heavenly Father

Life’s tough.  Get a helmet!

Put on the helmet of salvation.   (Paul – Eph. 6:17; Rom. 12:2)

Have you put on the helmet of salvation?

We all die.  Resurrection resilience is required!  (Rom. 6:23) 

Resilience Prayer: 

Jesus, thank you for being honest with me that life is challenging.  I trust you to bring me through the hard stuff.  I cannot overcome, but you already have.  Thank you.   Amen. 

God has it so easy!

God’s story is full of challenges!

Creation and the “Fall”.  (Genesis 1-3)

The cycle in the Bible book of Judges. 

In the Bible God always bounces back from people’s ongoing rebellion. 

Jesus is the ultimate proof of God’s resilience!  (Isa. 9:2; John 1:5; Col. 1 13-14) 

Jesus resilience with Peter.  (Mk. 14:66-72; Jn. 21:1-17)

Next Steps:

Not “I can bounce back from anything!” but “Jesus enables me to bounce back from anything!”

“I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything.  I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little.  For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.”   (Paul – Phil. 4:12-13)

Self-resilience always become an egg that cracks.  Christ-resilience empowers us to bounce back.  (2 Cor. 1:8-10) 

Resurrection resilience!  (Eph. 1:19) 

Prayer: 

Risen Lord Jesus, today I stop relying on myself.  Today I begin relying on you and your resurrection strength.  Amen.

The Lord leads his people.  The Lord’s people follow the Lord’s leading!  (Exodus 40:34-38) 

The Lord is not hiding.  You must seek his leading.

When the Lord leads are you willing to follow?

Follow me and be my disciple.  (Jesus to Matthew – Mt. 9:9)

We are most concerned about what we should do.  The Lord is most concerned about who we are becoming.  (Gal. 5:22-23) 

Idolatry isn’t an issue; it is the issue.

What we are most disappointed with often reveals where we have put our hope.

The Bible says where your treasure is, that’s where your heart is also.  

Most Christians would agree that our culture is becoming more godless.

Paul says he presses on to reach the end of the race. (Phil. 3:14) 

When a gift becomes more important than the giver … … … that’s idolatry.

A family reunion!  (Ex. 18:1-23)

Wise advice given.  (Ex. 18:13-23)

Teach and delegate!  (Ex. 18:19-23)

Wise advice received.  (Ex. 18:24-27: James 1:5)

Interview:  Oscar Palencia, Land of Hope – Chad and Jodi Larson, Leah’s Kids (Guatemala)

Next Step:

Exodus 17:1-7
The Israelites had two huge obstacles to following God:
________________ & _________________.
In their hardest days, instead of reaching out to God, they choose to _______ God on ______________.
The Lord led the Israelites to a place ____________________ _______________.
God knows exactly where _________________, where ________________, even when sometimes it is a place we ____________________.
In the midst of raw conversations, there’s a danger that our ______________ to God can turn into ___________________ against him.
“_____________” or “______________” = Putting God on trial.  
The rock wasn’t just a rock, it was ____________! (1 Cor.10:4)
We have to be careful not to let our disappointments with God lead to our _________ being _______________ against him. (Heb.3:8)

The false oasis of Marah.  (Ex. 15:22-23)

Complaining and a rescue!  (Ex. 15:24-25; Ps. 34:4) 

The Lord’s standard test.  (Ex. 15:25-26)

The true oasis of Elim.  (Ex. 15:227)

We don’t follow Jesus to avoid bitter times in life.  We follow Jesus because He can turn the bitterness we encounter into what is sweet! 

Next Steps: