#1 – Handling Life's Hurts

HOW TO HANDLE LIFE’S HURTS

‘For I am poor and needy, and my heart is wounded within me. I fade away
Like an evening shadow; I am shaken off like a locust.’ Psalm 109:22-23 (NIV)

‘In this world you will have trouble.’ John 16:33 (NIV)

‘Man born of woman is of few days and full of trouble.’ Job 14:1 (NIV/

‘Consider it a sheer gift, friends, when tests and challenges come at you from
all sides. James 1:2 (Message)

‘No temptation has seized you except what is common to man.’
I Corinthians 10:13 (NIV)

Physically
Emotionally
Relationally

I. WE IGNORE IT

‘I was silent and still, not even saying anything good, my anguish increased. My
Heart grew hot within me, and as I meditated, the fire burned.’
Psalm 39:2-3 (NIV)

‘In your anger do not sin. Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry,
And do not give the devil a foothold.’ Ephesians 4:26-27 (NIV)

II. WE RUN FROM IT

‘As they pile on the guilt, stockpile angry slander. My insides are turned inside
Out; specters of death have me down. I shake with fear, I shudder from head to
foot. “Who will give me wings,” I ask – “wings like a dove?” Get me out of
here on dove wings; I want some peace and quiet. I want a walk in the country,
I want a cabin in the woods. I’m desperate for a change from rage and stormy
weather.’ Psalm 55:2-8 (Message)

‘Consider it a sheer gift, friends, when tests and challenges come at you from
all sides You know that under pressure, your faith-life is forced into the open
and shows it’s true colors. So don’t try to get out of anything prematurely. Let it do its work so you become mature and well-developed, not deficient in any way. James 1:2-4 (Message)

III. WE HIDE IT

‘When I kept silent, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long.
For day and night your hand was heavy upon me; my strength was sapped as
In the heat of summer.’ Psalm 32:3-4 (NIV)

‘Make this your common practice: Confess your sins to each other and pray for
each other so that you can live together whole and healed.’
James 5:16 (Message)

‘Go ahead and be angry. You do well to be angry – but don’t use your anger as
a fuel for revenge. And don’t stay angry. Don’t go to bed angry. Don’t give
the Devil that kind of foothold in your life.’ Ephesians 5:26-27 (Message)

IV. WE WORRY ABOUT IT

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‘Hear me and answer me. My thoughts trouble me and I am distraught’
Psalm 55:2 (NIV)

‘I am so troubled I cannot speak’ Psalm 77:4 (KJV)

‘Refrain from anger and turn from wrath; do not fret – it leads only to evil.’
Psalm 37:8 (NIV)
New Century – ‘don’t be upset, it only leads to trouble.’

V. WE RESENT IT

‘When my heart was grieved and my spirit embittered, I was senseless and
Ignorant; I was a brute beast before you.’ Psalm 73:21-22 (NIV)

VI. WE GIVE UP

‘Help, god – the bottom has fallen out of my life! Master, hear my cry for help!
Listen hard! Open your ears! Listen to my cry for mercy.’
Psalm 130:1-2 (Message)

SO WHAT DO YOU DO?
‘I cry out loudly to God, loudly I plead with God for mercy. I spill out all my
complaints before Him, and spell out my troubles in detail: As I sink in despair,
my spirit ebbing away, you know how I’m feeling, know the danger I’m in, the
traps hidden in my path..’ Psalm 142:1-3 (Message)