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When We Feel Helpless - Radio Classic - Dr. Charles Stanley

In Touch Ministries・49 minutes read

Helplessness requires reliance on God's guidance and principles, as demonstrated by Jehoshaphat's response to dire circumstances, emphasizing the need to shift from fear to faith and maintain focus on God for divine intervention and encouragement. Trusting in God, confessing helplessness, and obeying His guidance can lead to miraculous outcomes in challenging situations, deepening faith and transforming lives.

Insights

  • Helplessness in challenging situations necessitates reliance on God's guidance and intervention, shifting focus from personal manipulation to seeking divine assistance through prayer and trust in His sovereignty and past faithfulness.
  • Encouragement from God, often manifested through messages of support and strength, empowers believers to face difficulties with obedience and trust, leading to miraculous interventions and successful outcomes when aligning actions with God's principles and waiting on His timing.

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Recent questions

  • How can one overcome feelings of helplessness?

    By turning to God's Word for guidance and principles, individuals can find strength and hope in times of helplessness. Seeking the Lord in prayer, recalling His past deliverances, and affirming faith in His ability to intervene can transform feelings of powerlessness into hope and trust. By focusing on God's sovereignty and past faithfulness, believers can shift from fear to faith, acknowledging their helplessness and relying on God's strength to act when human efforts fail.

  • What did Jehoshaphat do when faced with a dire situation?

    When faced with a dire situation of three armies uniting to attack his people, Jehoshaphat responded by seeking the Lord and proclaiming a fast for all of Judah. He turned to God in prayer, acknowledging his helplessness and God's sovereignty over the circumstances. By focusing on God's past deliverances and declaring trust in His ability to intervene, Jehoshaphat set an example for believers facing similar challenges.

  • Why is it important to have a praying friend in times of helplessness?

    Having a praying friend in times of helplessness is crucial as they can intercede on your behalf, lifting up urgent needs and seeking God's intervention. This support system provides encouragement, strength, and a reminder of God's faithfulness through the prayers and intercessions of a trusted companion. By sharing burdens and seeking God together, believers can find comfort and hope in the midst of challenging circumstances.

  • How can believers shift from fear to faith in helpless situations?

    Believers can shift from fear to faith in helpless situations by consciously turning to the Lord and recalling His past works and faithfulness. By affirming faith in God based on personal experiences and declaring trust in His ability to intervene, individuals can transform feelings of powerlessness into hope and confidence. Focusing on God's sovereignty and past deliverances instead of obstacles increases faith and diminishes fear, leading to a shift from fear to faith.

  • What role does encouragement play in overcoming helplessness?

    Encouragement plays a vital role in overcoming helplessness by opening believers' eyes to God's presence and ears to His voice in tough times. God's message of encouragement includes promises of help, strength, and support, rooted in His unwavering love for His people. By obeying and trusting in God's guidance, even when it seems unreasonable, individuals can experience His intervention and fulfillment of promises. Expecting God to act miraculously and waiting on Him with obedience and trust can lead to more than expected or deserved outcomes, as God acts on behalf of those who wait for Him.

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Summary

00:00

"Finding Strength in Helplessness Through Faith"

  • Feeling helpless is a point where personal manipulation is no longer possible, and reliance on God becomes necessary.
  • Helplessness can arise in various life aspects like finances or family, leading to uncertainty and a lack of solutions.
  • In times of helplessness, turning to God's Word for guidance and principles is crucial.
  • Jehoshaphat, a good king of Israel, faced a dire situation with three armies uniting to attack his people.
  • Jehoshaphat's response to this helpless situation involved seeking the Lord and proclaiming a fast for all of Judah.
  • Fear is a natural response to sudden, unforeseeable circumstances, but turning to God ignites faith and hope.
  • Having a praying friend to turn to in times of helplessness is a powerful asset, as they can intercede on your behalf.
  • Recalling God's past deliverances in a personal diary can provide encouragement and faith in present and future challenges.
  • Keeping a record of God's actions in your life helps you become more sensitive to His daily workings and blessings.
  • Jehoshaphat's prayer in the face of helplessness emphasized God's sovereignty and past faithfulness, serving as a model for believers facing similar situations.

15:08

"From Fear to Faith: Trusting God's Power"

  • Focusing on obstacles increases fear and diminishes faith, but turning to the Lord and recalling His past works boosts faith.
  • In helpless situations, seek the Lord in prayer and remember His faithfulness in the past.
  • Affirm faith in God by confessing and declaring trust in His ability to intervene.
  • Fear can paralyze, but believers have the power to shift from fear to faith through a conscious decision.
  • Affirming faith in God based on past experiences can transform feelings of helplessness into hope.
  • Confessing helplessness to God is crucial, as denying it may lead to self-reliance and manipulation of circumstances.
  • Crying out to God is a spontaneous response to urgent needs, acknowledging one's helplessness and God's sovereignty.
  • Admitting helplessness to God signifies reliance on Him to act when all human efforts fail.
  • God encourages and strengthens believers in times of helplessness when they fix their eyes on Him.
  • Despite feeling powerless and clueless, keeping focus on God instead of dwelling on doubts or fears is key to receiving divine help.

30:06

"Encouragement in Trusting God Through Hardships"

  • Focus on maintaining a key focus on God during difficulties and hardships
  • Encouragement is found in trusting God's ability to guide and help in tough times
  • The Spirit of the Lord came upon Jahaziel, delivering a message of encouragement to Jehoshaphat
  • Jehoshaphat is reassured that the battle is not his but God's
  • Encouragement involves opening eyes to God's presence and ears to His voice in tough times
  • God's message of encouragement includes promises of help, strength, and support
  • God's encouragement is rooted in His unwavering presence and love for His people
  • God's encouragement is often misunderstood by the world and even some Christians
  • Encouragement leads to action, requiring obedience and trust in God's guidance
  • Obedience and trust in God's plan, even when it seems unreasonable, leads to His intervention and fulfillment of promises

45:29

"Trusting God's guidance leads to miracles"

  • In difficult situations, it's essential to consider if God allowed it for a purpose, as some battles are not ours but God's to handle.
  • Expect God to intervene miraculously in circumstances when trusting in Him and following His guidance, as seen in the story of Jehoshaphat.
  • By waiting on God and responding in ways that honor Him, one can receive more than expected or deserved, as God acts on behalf of those who wait for Him.
  • Following the principles of walking rightly with God, as Jehoshaphat did, consistently leads to successful outcomes in challenging situations.
  • Trusting in God's principles, found in the Bible, and applying them faithfully can lead to miraculous results, transforming lives and deepening faith in God's provision and guidance.
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