Don’t Give Up When Times Get Tough

 [Don’t Give Up When Times Get Tough](6COdIXY_N:m:1:2618166767:77BB1F01568E71C80E719C3886F473D9:r) Current Teaching Series [How God Meets Your Deepest Needs](6COdIXY_N:m:1:2618166767:77BB1F01568E71C80E719C3886F473D9:r) [Listen to Today's Broadcast](6COdIXY_N:m:1:2618166767:77BB1F01568E71C80E719C3886F473D9:r) [Don’t Give Up When Times Get Tough](6COdIXY_N:m:1:2618166767:77BB1F01568E71C80E719C3886F473D9:r) By Rick Warren — September 10, 2019 [Facebook](6COdIXY_N:m:1:2618166767:77BB1F01568E71C80E719C3886F473D9:r) [Twitter](6COdIXY_N:m:1:2618166767:77BB1F01568E71C80E719C3886F473D9:r) [Pinterest](6COdIXY_N:m:1:2618166767:77BB1F01568E71C80E719C3886F473D9:r) [Email](6COdIXY_N:m:1:2618166767:77BB1F01568E71C80E719C3886F473D9:r) [Devotional image from Rick Warren](6COdIXY_N:m:1:2618166767:77BB1F01568E71C80E719C3886F473D9:r) “That is why we never give up. Though our bodies are dying, our spirits are being renewed every day. For our present troubles are quite small and won’t last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever! So we don’t look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever” (2 Corinthians 4:16-18 NLT). Why do bad things happen to good people? Why do we have to suffer? Why is life so difficult sometimes? As difficult as it is to understand, God can use your pain for his purpose. Don’t be surprised if he is using tough times in your life to test your faithfulness. Faithful people keep on keeping on when other people choose to give up. Faithful people are diligent and determined. They are persistent. They change their perspective and focus on God’s promises in his Word. In 2 Corinthians 4, Paul says you need to get the right perspective when you’re going through a problem. If you want to persist, don’t look at the temporary problem. Look at the long-term reward. Don’t look at the temporary pain; look at the long-term gain. Don’t look at it with the short-term view, “What’s happening to me right now?” Instead, look at the character that you are building because you haven’t given up. You’re hanging in there. God is more interested in what you are becoming than what you accomplish. If you are facing difficult times right now, I challenge you to write this verse on a 3x5 card and memorize it: “So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up” (Galatians 6:9 NLT). I pray it will encourage you to keep going. God is working in you and for you, at just the right time and in just the right ways. You will be rewarded for your faithfulness! [PLAY today’s audio teaching from Pastor Rick >>](6COdIXY_N:m:1:2618166767:77BB1F01568E71C80E719C3886F473D9:r) Talk About It - What is the long-term gain for those who are faithful to God and his Word? - Are you encouraged knowing that God is still working in your suffering? Why or why not? - What are some other promises from the Bible that can help you persist in tough times? [Facebook](6COdIXY_N:m:1:2618166767:77BB1F01568E71C80E719C3886F473D9:r) [Twitter](6COdIXY_N:m:1:2618166767:77BB1F01568E71C80E719C3886F473D9:r) [Pinterest](6COdIXY_N:m:1:2618166767:77BB1F01568E71C80E719C3886F473D9:r) [Email](6COdIXY_N:m:1:2618166767:77BB1F01568E71C80E719C3886F473D9:r) 6COdIXY_N:m:1:2618166767:77BB1F01568E71C80E719C3886F473D9:r [Get Verses of Hope Scripture Box when you give a gift to support Daily Hope](6COdIXY_N:m:1:2618166767:77BB1F01568E71C80E719C3886F473D9:r) Remind yourself of God’s grace and mercy every day of your life by memorizing Scripture with a fun, customizable tool! Get the Verses of Hope Scripture Box as thanks for your donation today. This vegan-leather box includes 40 Bible verse cards about hope and prayer plus 64 blank cards that you can use to write down additional Scriptures. These cards will help you . . . • Make wise decisions • Stay strong under stress • Be a bolder witness to unbelievers [LEARN MORE](6COdIXY_N:m:1:2618166767:77BB1F01568E71C80E719C3886F473D9:r) 6COdIXY_N:m:1:2618166767:77BB1F01568E71C80E719C3886F473D9:r [Complete Audio Series (Purchase)](6COdIXY_N:m:1:2618166767:77BB1F01568E71C80E719C3886F473D9:r) Includes 7 full-length teaching CDs from Pastor Rick's series How God Meets Your Deepest Needs. [LEARN MORE](6COdIXY_N:m:1:2618166767:77BB1F01568E71C80E719C3886F473D9:r) 6COdIXY_N:m:1:2618166767:77BB1F01568E71C80E719C3886F473D9:r [Series Summary](6COdIXY_N:m:1:2618166767:77BB1F01568E71C80E719C3886F473D9:r) Message 1: Where to Find the Hope You Need Message 2: How God Heals Your Hidden Wounds Message 3: How to Live a Joy Filled Life Message 4: The Path to Personal Peace Message 5: Learning to Trust God Message 6: When the Odds Are Against You Message 7: What Kind of a Father is God? [PLAY TODAY'S BROADCAST](6COdIXY_N:m:1:2618166767:77BB1F01568E71C80E719C3886F473D9:r) Pastor Rick Warren [Facebook](6COdIXY_N:m:1:2618166767:77BB1F01568E71C80E719C3886F473D9:r)[Twitter](6COdIXY_N:m:1:2618166767:77BB1F01568E71C80E719C3886F473D9:r) [Instagram](6COdIXY_N:m:1:2618166767:77BB1F01568E71C80E719C3886F473D9:r) [Linkedin](6COdIXY_N:m:1:2618166767:77BB1F01568E71C80E719C3886F473D9:r) Enjoy today's Devotional? [Listen instantly to the full radio message at Daily Hope Radio.](6COdIXY_N:m:1:2618166767:77BB1F01568E71C80E719C3886F473D9:r) Did someone forward this devotional to you? [Subscribe to Pastor Rick Warren's Daily Devotional.](6COdIXY_N:m:1:2618166767:77BB1F01568E71C80E719C3886F473D9:r) This devotional is based on the current Daily Hope radio series at [pastorrick.com](6COdIXY_N:m:1:2618166767:77BB1F01568E71C80E719C3886F473D9:r). Rick Warren is the founding pastor of [Saddleback Church](6COdIXY_N:m:1:2618166767:77BB1F01568E71C80E719C3886F473D9:r), one of America’s largest and most influential churches. Pastor Rick is the author of the New York Times bestseller [The Purpose Driven Life](6COdIXY_N:m:1:2618166767:77BB1F01568E71C80E719C3886F473D9:r). His book [The Purpose Driven Church](6COdIXY_N:m:1:2618166767:77BB1F01568E71C80E719C3886F473D9:r) was named one of the 100 Christian books that changed the century. Pastor Rick created [The PEACE Plan](6COdIXY_N:m:1:2618166767:77BB1F01568E71C80E719C3886F473D9:r) to address the five global giants — spiritual emptiness, self-serving leadership, poverty, disease, and illiteracy — through the power of ordinary people in the local church. His Daily Hope broadcast and daily devotionals are offered around the world. You can listen to the broadcast or sign up for the free devotionals at [PastorRick.com](6COdIXY_N:m:1:2618166767:77BB1F01568E71C80E719C3886F473D9:r). This devotional © 2019 by Rick Warren. All rights reserved. Used by permission. You may unsubscribe at any time by clicking the "Unsubscribe" link below. This message was intended for: {EMAIL} You were added to the system December 23, 2016. For more information [click here](. [Unsubscribe](