"I will refresh the weary and satisfy the faint." - Jeremiah 31:25

Some days we struggle. Some days we feel like we can't carry on. Some days we feel like giving up and giving in. Some days we just need to cry out in prayer, "God, have mercy."

Do you consider suffering a privilege? If not, you should. The Bible teaches us that we should consider it joy (James 1).

"We also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; character, hope." - Romans 5:3-4

"All these people were still living by faith when they died." - Hebrews 11:13

It is okay for us to have heroes...but we should not worship those who earn hero status, save Christ. Jesus is the only role model we should have that deserves our full worship, but we can learn from the examples of others.

Healthy boundaries are essential to our walk with Christ. We must learn to set needed and appropriate boundaries in order to find the rest and healing we desire, or we might end up out of balance.

"Yet the news about [Jesus] spread all the more, so that crowds of people came to hear Him and to be healed of their sicknesses. But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed." - Luke 5:15-16

Many of us, as adults, have lost the ability to play. Play is important. It is not immaturity, it is embracing the childlike faith we are to have. 

"They celebrate your abundant goodness and joyfully sing of your righteousness." - Psalm 145:7

Sunday Sermon based in Genesis 15. Pastor Phillip takes a look at the anxiety of Abram and how it can be a guide for us in our anxious situations as well. 

God has Plan A in the bag. The issue is that we must "wait on the Lord" and we do not like the delay. The promise is rewarding, and far outweighs any worldly reward we can find, so the wait is for the best; we just have to stop making plans B, C, and D along the way. 

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding." - Proverbs 3:5

We have a tool for training that is the greatest tool in anyone's toolbox: The Bible. We need to find time daily to read, study, and talk with our Creator about what we have read...otherwise, we are not training for His Kingdom.

"All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work." - 2 Timothy 3:16-17

Heaven is our goal...and when we lose focus on heaven we begin to focus on the negative things in life. Heavenly focus gives us something to look forward to, it brings us peace and comfort in knowing that this life is not our end.

"I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us." - Romans 8:18

This world provides us many opportunities to turn things upside-down and cause fear within us. We fear, because we do not trust. 

"Since ancient times no one has heard, no ear has perceived, no eye has seen any God besides you, who acts on behalf of those who wait for Him." - Isaiah 64:4

"In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength, but you would have none of it." - Isaiah 30:15

We can follow the example of the Children of Israel if we are looking for what NOT to do when we are going through the wilderness. God has promised us provision, but provision comes with the promised land. Do NOT give up in the wilderness before you ever reach the land of promise.