There Is Joy in Your Troubling Times and Battles

Personal Sunday Sermon Notes and Insights

Bro. Gregory Williams

from July 27, 2025

Sermon delivered by Bro. Markel Limbacker

I hope the notes that I have taken and the personal insight on the message blesses you and enhances your study of the source material.

Bro. Markel opened with the following passage of scripture:

Psalms 34:19

"Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the LORD delivereth him out of them all."

GOD got you.

Bro. Markel encourages us to "Change your way of thinking- especially in the midst of hardship and trouble. You're going through the storm, not staying in it."

He addresses some key points and strategies to help us overcome trials and tribulations with a joyful heart of gratitude and thanksgiving.

1.) Cultivate Gratitude

Shift focus from problems to God's goodness and His gifts. Be thankful, full off gratitude, even when you don't feel like it. Especially when you don't feel like it. This fosters joy.

Nehemiah 8:10

"Then he said unto them, Go your way, eat the fat, and drink the sweet, and send portions unto them for whom nothing is prepared: for this day is holy unto our Lord: neither be ye sorry; for the joy of the LORD is your strength."

2.) Seek Joy Through Prayer

Acknowledge to God your struggles and ask Him to give you joy. He knows what you're going through.

Personal Insight:

From my own unique individual experience, while listening to the sermon I remembered in my own life how much God loves connection. He just wants you to communicate to Him. He wants an intimate relationship with you. Although He knows exactly what you are feeling, He desires that we express our feelings and open up to Him about how we feel. He just wants to talk to you and hear from you. God loves personal interaction, on an intimate, genuine, real level.

3.) Find Joy in God's Presence

Always remember that God is always present even during the times of trouble.

Psalm 46:1

"To the chief Musician for the sons of Korah, A Song upon Alamoth. God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble."

Bro. Markel reminded us that sometimes, trouble is a test.

Personal Insight:

Often in my life I have found myself neck deep in trouble of my own making. Of course the enemy enters in with his whisperings and accusations, boldy bombarding us with railings of our faults and failures. Guilt sets in next, and I often made the mistake of saying to myself, because of the scripture saying "We reap what we sow," I relegated myself to giving up in self pity and surrender, believing I was being punished for my shortfalls and therefore I had no hope of redemption, and I didn't deserve redemption. This is exactly what the enemy wanted, so that I would wallow in the dust, dirt and mire, saddened by my circumstances. But in these instances of self inflicted trouble, even then God is the Head over all things, He is the Beginning and the End, the Alpha and Omega. He is our beginning and our end.

"And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose."

-Romans 8:28

Knowing that all things work together for the good, we can also remind ourselves that even when we make mistakes, God knows what we will do before we do it, and He is more than willing to use our missteps to bring us closer to Him through moral and character development. The fiery trials are necessary. They refine us, they mold and shape us, they purify us.

"For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you. And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart."

-Jeremiah 29:11-13

In times of trouble and trial, we can run to God, call out to Him, and He will guide us through it, and deliver us. He won't ever leave our side, we just have to trust Him.

4.) Cultivate Positive Mindset

Stop thinking negative, stop focusing on the negative consequences, focus on the positive outcomes.

Romans 12:2

"And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God."

The enemy knows your weaknesses. They constanty watch and monitor you. We give the enemy access through our negative mindsets.

Personal Insight:

With that, He can launch a full blown assault on our mind, disturb our peace, send us into a fit of anxiety and deep into the darkest recesses of depression where we can't feel God's joy. We can only focus on our own sorrow, sadness, calamity and dejection.

5.) Find Community and Connection

We aren't supposed to go through this walk of life alone, we need each other.

Fellowship is crucial. If a grazing beast in the field is alone and isolated, they are an easy target for a predator as they lack the protection and security that community brings,

6.) Focus on God's Promises and Truths

God can not lie. Focus on the truth in the encouragement provided by the Word of GOD.

John 14:6

"Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me."

John 17:17

"Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth."

Set yourself apart from anything that isn't God.

God will place you where you need to be, the shift is necessary.

7.) Find Joy in Helping Others

It shifts your focus from your own problems to the needs of others. This brings a sense of purpose and joy. Having a relationship with Jesus Christ is thet greatest joy. Be tried in the fire, and purified, so that we can become more life Him, bearing forth fruits of the Spirit and Love.