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Life As It Was Meant To Be Part 9: Dealing with Life’s Difficulties Louie Marsh, 8-8-2021   4 slides as intro.   1) BE THANKFUL to God   “3We ought always to give thanks to God for you, brothers…(2 Thessalonians 1:3a, ESV)   2) VIEW TROUBLE as an opportunity to:   … because your faith is growing abundantly, and the love of every one of you for one another is increasing.” (2 Thessalonians 1:3b, ESV)   STRENGTHEN my faith   “22strengthening the souls of the disciples, encouraging them to continue in the faith, and saying that through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God.” (Acts 14:22, ESV)   putting muscle and sinew in the lives of the disciples, urging them to stick with what they had begun to believe and not quit, making it clear to them that it wouldn't be easy: "Anyone signing up for the kingdom of God has to go through plenty of hard times." Acts 14:22 (Mes)   DEEPEN my love   “8Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins.” (1 Peter 4:8, ESV)   3) RECEIVE God’s comfort.   “7It is also right for God to give all of us relief from our suffering. He will do this when the Lord Jesus is revealed, ⌊coming⌋ from heaven with his mighty angels in a blazing fire.” (2 Thessalonians 1:7, GW)   “7We have confidence in you. We know that as you share our sufferings, you also share our comfort.” (2 Corinthians 1:7, GW)   4) STAY FOCUSED on God’s Purpose for you!   “11To this end we always pray for you, that our God may make you worthy of his calling and may fulfill every resolve for good and every work of faith by his power,” (2 Thessalonians 1:11, ESV)   “26So I do not run aimlessly; I do not box as one beating the air.” (1 Corinthians 9:26, ESV)   5) GLORIFY God in my troubles.   “12so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.” (2 Thessalonians 1:12, ESV)   “4But when Jesus heard it he said, “This illness does not lead to death. It is for the glory of God, so that the Son of God may be glorified through it.”” (John 11:4, ESV)   6) TRUST GOD to bring justice at the right time.   “6since indeed God considers it just to repay with affliction those who afflict you,… “9They will suffer the punishment of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might, 10when he comes on that day to be glorified in his saints, and to be marveled at among all who have believed, because our testimony to you was believed.” (2 Thessalonians 1:6, 9–10, ESV)   Don’t ask Why? – ask WHAT?