We go through hard times for three reasons
- We live in a broken world and bad things just happen and it has nothing to do with you or anything you’ve done.
- Sometimes we make horrible choices that end with horrible consequences. “Do stupid things, get stupid prizes.”
- God is trying to get your attention because you’re in sin
If you’re in a tough spot right now, walk through these questions.
- Is your heart clean and your conscience clear?
- Are you experiencing the consequences of bad choices?
- Is there a pattern of unrepentant sin in your heart that this is highlighting in your life?
[Joel 1:1-3]
“The Lord gave this message to Joel son of Pethuel. Hear this, you leaders of the people. Listen, all who live in the land. In all your history, has anything like this happened before? Tell your children about it in the years to come, and let your children tell their children. Pass the story down from generation to generation.”
- TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR BROKENNESS AROUND YOU
Some of you are facing VERY difficult circumstances
- It’s knocked you down and you’re just sitting on your butt
- You’ve been sucker punched you’re about to give up the fight
2. DETERMINE TO FAST AND CRY OUT TO GOD ABOUT THIS BROKENNESS
[Joel 1:14]
“Announce a time of fasting; call the people together for a solemn meeting. Bring the leaders and all the people of the land into the Temple of the Lord your God, and cry out to him there.”