WALLS OR WINDOWS?

INTRODUCTION:

A. Joy in the midst of suffering (Jas. 1:2; Ph. 4:4)

B. Hardships and difficulties in this life (Jn. 16:33)

C. Rainy days (Eccl. 9:11)

D. Purpose in pain – Two ways to look at trials:

I. WE CAN LOOK AT A TRIAL AS A WALL.

A. What do we mean when we say we have “hit the wall”?

B. What causes trials to become walls?

1. Giving in to negative feelings (Hb. 12:15; Eph. 4:31).

2. Allowing negative feelings to find expression in words (Eph. 4:29; Ph. 2:14-15; 1 Cor. 10:10; Job 1:22; 2:10)

3. Panicking because of anxiety (Ph. 4:6; Hb. 10:39)

II. WE CAN LOOK AT A TRIAL AS A WINDOW.

A. How does a window differ from a wall?

B. We open the window by faith (2 Cor. 5:7; 1 Cor. 10:13; Rm. 8:28; Hb. 4:16; 1 Pet. 1:6-7; Rm. 10:17).

C. While faith allows us to see the opportunity, endurance gives us the strength to use it to our advantage (Hb. 12:1-2; Jas. 1:2-3).

D. Faith AND endurance opens the window (Hb. 6:11-12; Jas. 1:12; 2 Cor. 4:7).

E. Will you win the prize?

CONCLUSION:

A. Joy in the midst of sorrow (Jas. 1:2; Ph. 4:4; 1 Pet. 1:8)

B. Are you building walls or opening windows?