Lifelines for Tough Times

Mike Fabarez

Description

When tough times hit, we often find ourselves vulnerable--to doubt, fear, worry, even depression. We ask, "Does God care? Has He forgotten me?" So why does God allow suffering? Author Mike Fabarez--who is well acquainted with deep pain himself as the father of a special-needs child and as a pastor who has counseled many through life's hurts--looks to the truths of Scripture for answers. Along the way, he shares... how complete trust in God alone can restore your confidence and hope the power of focusing on God's eternal goals for you in life's temporary setbacks God's promises to love and protect you no matter what happens This book will not only help you understand why God allows suffering--it will provide you with the resources to stand strong, rest in God's care, and endure!

Sujets

• Philosophie et théologie

Informations

• Publié par: Harvest House Publishers, Inc.
• Date de parution: 01 juillet 2014
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9780736958172
• Langue: English

Extrait

Endorsements
Today, when Christians are broadsided by suffering, they are often counseled to avoid negative thoughts, buffer themselves with time off, exercise, and seek out supportive relationships. Sadly, the God of the Bible and His counsel is often left out of the treatment plan. That s why I love Mike Fabarez s new book Lifelines for Tough Times. He writes not only from decades of hard study, but from the heartache of personal experience-thus, his words carry weight. If you are looking for the right perspective when things go wrong-very wrong-then Lifelines is a must-read. I highly recommend this powerful and insightful book!
Joni Eareckson Tada
Founder, Joni and Friends International Disability Center
Why is there so much pain and suffering in the world? Why do God s people suffer so much, even while it seems the wicked prosper? How can we trust God through times of torment and pain-especially when it seems as if He is impervious to our prayers? And why does He sometimes delay answering?
The Bible gives answers to those questions and many others like them. Better yet, God Himself has made rock-solid promises that give us ground to stand on even when our questions can t be answered. Mike Fabarez carefully, thoroughly expounds the biblical principles and promises that offer help in those times of oppressive darkness. If you are seeking ways to encourage friends in turmoil, and especially if you are in the throes of some trial in your own life, you will find this book a wonderful and welcome resource.
John MacArthur
Pastor-Teacher, Grace Community Church, Sun Valley, CA President, Master s College and Seminary
Pastor Mike speaks with such clarity and helpful insights on the subject of suffering and pain. Why am I suffering? Does God really care? Is He really in control? How should I live in the midst of my pain? The biblical wisdom and concrete examples in Lifelines for Tough Times will bring encouragement and hope to those who are having to navigate their own season of suffering.
Josh McDowell
Christian Apologist; Founder, Josh McDowell Ministry
Pastor Mike Fabarez s new book is rich in biblical insights on the problem of pain and suffering in the Christian life. Writing with the sensitivity of a pastor, Fabarez shows us how to attain an empowering spiritual perspective to help us rise above life s tough times. I heartily recommend his book and pray that it finds a wide audience.
Ron Rhodes
Author, President of Reasoning from the Scriptures Ministries
Mike Fabarez writes with a perfect balance of heart, soul, and mind. He understands the hurts and hopes of the human experience, while providing real biblical solutions to our deepest needs and most profound struggles. Don t miss this powerful, helpful, and insightful book. God will use it to stir your soul and change your life.
Dr. Ed Hindson
Assistant Chancellor, Liberty University, Lynchburg, VA
It has been said that life is ten percent what you make it, and ninety percent how you take it. If that is true then how one handles suffering will determine to a great extent the quality of one s life and legacy. Lifelines for Tough Times by my friend Mike Fabarez is a book that will help you do just that. Written by someone who knows his Bible and the subject of suffering firsthand, this book teaches you how not to waste your sorrows. The blessing of this book is that it is God-centered in its focus, biblical in its content, real in its approach, and eminently practical in its use. Buy it, read it, and learn how to remain whole in a broken world.
Philip De Courcy
Senior Pastor, Kindred Community Church, Anaheim, CA Teacher on daily radio broadcast Know the Truth
People have struggles. This book has answers. Not easy, pat answers, but answers that have been forged from years of time in God s Word and its application to trials Mike and his family have faced. Lifelines for Tough Times comes from the heart of a pastor and strikes a beautiful balance between biblical content and pastoral comfort. In these pages you will find biblical truth for your head and thoughtful application for your heart. Nothing is more important in times of trial than keeping the faith. In this book you have the opportunity to sit at the feet of someone who s been there and done it by God s grace.
Mark Hitchcock
Senior Pastor, Faith Bible Church, Edmond, OK Associate Professor of Bible Exposition, Dallas Theological Seminary
We all face seasons of great difficulty-with sometimes overwhelming and almost crushing trials. For some, these last longer than a season. What matters is how we respond to what we face. How can we experience God s presence, help, and encouragement as we walk through a long, dark valley? How can we be faithful to God? How can we simply hold on? Pastor Mike Fabarez gives us biblically rooted perspective on facing tough times. This is not merely theoretical. Mike has lived this and shares candidly from his own life experience. What he says will resonate with your soul and will help keep you centered in God s loving arms and purposes as you face life s issues.
Clinton E. Arnold
Dean and Professor of New Testament, Talbot School of Theology (Biola University)
Mike s book is sorely needed today as people inside and outside of the church are struggling to make sense of the suffering that seemingly slams into our lives unannounced. Mike unravels some of the mystery by taking a bigger step back from our immediate pain and helping us to see what the real purpose in life is. And Mike is not writing from the safety and comfort of his theological ivory tower. He shares his own journey of pain and confusion through the birth of his severely handicapped daughter that forced him and his wife to wrestle through the questions of pain and God s sovereignty. The book lovingly and biblically lays the foundation for making sense out of suffering while avoiding superficial clich s that only rub salt in the wound. His explanation of what it means that the Spirit groans with us in prayer in Romans 8:26 is worth the price of the book. This book gives real comfort, as it connects us to a real God and His purposes.
Brad Bigney
Senior Pastor, Grace Fellowship Church, Florence, KY
Mike Fabarez is one of my favorite Bible teachers. When it comes to tough times, Mike writes as an expert and fellow traveler. If you ve ever wondered, Where is God, and what is He up to? Lifelines for Tough Times is the book for you.
Hal Seed
Author; Founding Pastor, New Song Community Church, Oceanside, CA
There is only one thing that can be said about a book dealing with this subject-it is timely.
All of us have tough times and need to be able to handle them God s way. So the message is always timely. But there is a greater problem for our country-and Christians in particular-at present: the growing opposition to the faith, and the likelihood of persecution spreading throughout our land. Who knows how this will pan out? But it is not too soon for believers to begin thinking about the possibilities and how they will face them.
In both personal difficulties and in those which might come to the church in general, we must be prepared. This book is designed to help-and it will.
Jay Adams
Author; Founder, Christian Counseling and Educational Foundation
HARVEST HOUSE PUBLISHERS
EUGENE, OREGON
Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are from The ESV Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version ), copyright 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Verses marked NKJV are taken from the New King James Version . Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Verses marked GNT are taken from the Good News Translation-Second Edition 1992 by American Bible Society. Used by permission.
Verses marked NCV are taken from the New Century Version . Copyright 2005 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Verses marked KJV are from the King James Version of the Bible.
Italics in Scripture quotations indicate author s emphasis.
Cover photo Nejron Photo / Shutterstock
Cover design by Aesthetic Soup, Shakopee, Minnesota
LIFELINES FOR TOUGH TIMES
Copyright 2014 by Mike Fabarez
Published by Harvest House Publishers
Eugene, Oregon 97402
www.harvesthousepublishers.com
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Fabarez, Michael, 1964-
Lifelines for tough times / Mike Fabarez.
pages cm
ISBN 978-0-7369-5816-5 (pbk.)
ISBN 978-0-7369-5817-2 (eBook)
1. Suffering-Religious aspects-Christianity. I. Title.
BV4909.F33 2014
248.8'6-dc23
2013045581
All rights reserved. No part of this electronic publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means-electronic, mechanical, digital, photocopy, recording, or any other-without the prior written permission of the publisher. The authorized purchaser has been granted a nontransferable, nonexclusive, and noncommercial right to access and view this electronic publication, and purchaser agrees to do so only in accordance with the terms of use under which it was purchased or transmitted. Participation in or encouragement of piracy of copyrighted materials in violation of author s and publisher s rights is strictly prohibited.
C ONTENTS
Endorsements
Finding Genuine Help in Life s Pain
1. Things Will Go Wrong
2. The Pain You Can Change
3. Shifting Your Focus Amid the Hurt
4. Rethinking Fairness
5. Why Being Heavenly Minded Does a World of Good
6. The Patience that Comes from Hope
7. Learning to Pray Through the Pain
8. Looking for the Good When Things Go Bad
9. Faith in the Goodness of God
10. Reasons for Confidence No Matter What
11. God s Unchanging Love in a Turbulent World
12. Indispensable Resources for Life s Trials
Appendix: Biblical Lifelines
The Power of God s Wo