LifePoint Church in Greenville, SC

Giving Thanks When Life Is Hard

Date: November 26, 2023

Speaker:

Series: Giving Thanks When Life Is Hard

Book: , , ,

Key Verse: 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

Topics: , , , , , ,

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Ever find it challenging to muster gratitude when life throws you curveballs? The Bible tells us to give thanks in all circumstances, but the only way that’s possible is when we realize that thankfulness is a choice, not a mood or a feeling. This isn’t about denying hardships; it’s about embracing a perspective that transcends them. You can discover the power of cultivating a heart of gratitude, not just when life is smooth sailing, but especially when the storm clouds gather. Learn how giving thanks, even when it seems counterintuitive, can anchor your faith and redirect your focus from the struggles to the sovereignty of a loving God.

You may find this sermon on a similar topic helpful: “Broken But Blessed”

Mercy for the Accused

Date: July 26, 2026 | Speaker:

If we measure our goodness against the sins of others, it’s easy to pass judgment. But if we measure ourselves against the holiness of God, we’re not the judges we imagined ourselves to be. We’re the accused! When a sinful woman was brought to Jesus, He refused to condemn her, because her sentence would be paid in full on the cross. Since we’ve all been shown that same mercy, shouldn’t we be just as quick to extend it to others? Only the one without sin has the right to throw stones, and none of us qualify.

The Thirst Only Jesus Can Satisfy

Date: July 19, 2026 | Speaker:

When we’re physically thirsty, we know that a cool glass of water will quench that need. But when we’re spiritually dry, we often look in all the wrong places, trying one thing after another to quiet the longing inside us. Eventually, we realize that the things we pursue simply cannot fill the ache within. Then we hear Jesus speak these life-giving words: “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink.” Have you ever laid aside everything else and come honestly to the One who alone can satisfy your deepest yearning? Jesus offers more than temporary relief; He offers the living water of forgiveness, peace, and eternal life. Come to Him today, and let Him refresh your soul.

Faith Beyond the Mountaintop

Date: July 12, 2026 | Speaker:

We’ve all had mountaintop encounters with God where the world fades away and His presence is so real that we want to stay there forever. Those are moments of sheer glory, but if we’re not careful, we can spend our lives chasing the next spiritual peak instead of learning to trust and worship Him in the valley. The truth is, faithfulness isn’t formed on the mountaintop. It is forged in the ordinary routine of daily life. So keep your eyes fixed on Him, your ears attentive to His voice, and your feet committed to following Him through the highs and the lows.

Who Do You Say That I Am?

Date: July 5, 2026 | Speaker:

Everyone has an opinion about Jesus. Some dismiss Him as a myth. Others see Him as nothing more than a great teacher, a humanitarian, or a revolutionary. Still others place Him alongside figures like Gandhi, Confucius, or Socrates. But Jesus asks a far more personal question: “Who do you say that I am?” It is the most important question you will ever answer, because your response shapes not only how you live today, but where you will spend eternity. Have you confessed Him as your personal Savior and Lord, or are you still delaying life’s most important decision?

Living by Faith – Part 1

Date: June 28, 2026 | Speaker:

Scripture teaches that faith is the only means through which God’s grace is available to us. We even read how it’s impossible to please God without faith. Needless to say, faith is crucial, and God says his righteous people will live by faith. So, what does it mean to live by faith? Join us as we take a look at what Scripture says about faith and how living by faith might look for us today.

Starving in a Land of Plenty

Date: June 14, 2026 | Speaker:

How is it possible to live in the most well-fed nation in history and still be starving? Surrounded by abundance, we carry an emptiness nothing in this world can fill. So we chase after the next thing, convinced that just one more success, relationship, or experience will finally calm that gnawing ache, but it never does. The hunger in our souls is actually pointing us to the One who created us, and He invites us to come to Him and discover what we’ve been searching for all along. Only a real relationship with Jesus can satisfy. Everything else just leaves us wanting more.

The Miracle of Surrender

Date: June 7, 2026 | Speaker:

There are times when the need in front of us far exceeds our resources—the bill, the grief, the calling that seems miles beyond us—and we’re forced to admit that what we have is not enough. But those are the very moments we discover the tender heart of Jesus, who sees our hidden struggles. He invites us to bring Him whatever we have, no matter how inadequate it feels, and watch as He blesses it in ways we never could on our own. The question is not whether what we have is enough, but whether we’re willing to trust Him and place it in His hands. When we reach the end of our sufficiency, we discover that God’s provision has only begun.

Don’t Be Afraid — Just Believe

Date: May 31, 2026 | Speaker:

A prominent religious leader fights through the crowd and falls at Jesus’ feet, begging Him to come quickly and heal his dying daughter. But on the way, Jesus stops to help an outcast woman, and during that delay, the little girl dies. The father is shattered, but Jesus says, “Don’t be afraid; just believe.” And what seemed like a tragedy turned into an even greater miracle when Jesus raised his daughter from the dead! Do you feel like you’ve been waiting on God while everyone around you gets their answer? He’s calling you to trust Him and discover that His timing is always right.

When Obedience Leads Into the Storm

Date: May 24, 2026 | Speaker:

We often assume that if we obey God, life will go smoothly, but sometimes the fiercest storms come when we’re faithfully following Him. In those dark seasons, when fear, disappointment, and unanswered questions press in, we may even wonder if God cares at all. But what we need most is not always that our problems get solved overnight; it’s remembering that suffering helps us see God more clearly than comfort ever could. Trials will either make us bitter or make us better, and that choice is ultimately ours. The deeper question in suffering is not simply, “When will this end?” but, “Will I come through this more like Christ than I was before?”

A Heart Ready for God

Date: May 17, 2026 | Speaker:

We can spend years listening to truth while our hearts quietly harden, grow shallow, or get tangled in a thousand other things. Even if we show up and check all the boxes, spiritual numbness can still creep in. What we need, again and again, is a heart that’s open, receptive, ready for God’s Word to take root. He doesn’t force His way in. He sows and waits, faithful even in the dry seasons. But the condition of the soil? That’s our part. We must keep it prepared. So what about your heart today? Is it broken and ready, or is there hardness, shallowness, thorns that need to go?

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