1. The Way It Is: There is no Growth without Struggle John 16:33 – “These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: But be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.”

2. The Way It Is: There is no Growth without Struggle I.What is my struggle? Galatians 5:17 – “For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: And these are contrary the one to the other: So that ye cannot do the things that ye would.”

3. The Way It Is: There is no Growth without Struggle I.What is my struggle? There is our struggle – The flesh vs. The Spirit We are engaged in spiritual warfare!  The flesh and the Spirit are fundamentally opposite  The conflict between the flesh and the Spirit is continual and inevitable  This conflict produces different desires in the believer

4. The Way It Is: There is no Growth without Struggle I.What is my struggle? This struggle is manifested in different ways:  With the same mouth we curse God and bless God  With the same heart we hate people and love people  With the same hands we steal and serve  With the same mouth we lie to our friends, we proclaim Christ

5. The Way It Is: There is no Growth without Struggle II.Why Am I Struggling? Romans 8:28 – “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.”

6. The Way It Is: There is no Growth without Struggle II.Why Am I Struggling? What is God trying to do when He allows me to struggle?  Purify our hearts  Test our faith  Humble us  Prepare us to minister to others

7. The Way It Is: There is no Growth without Struggle III.How am I to respond in my struggles? 1.Remind yourself of the promises of God. 2.Search for opportunities to be thankful to God 3.Refuse to give in to bitterness to God or others 4.Choose to believe God 5.Make up your mind to go on with life

8. The Way It Is: There is no Growth without Struggle III.How am I to respond in my struggles? 5.Make up your mind to go on with life Philippians 3:13 – “Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before. ”

9. The Way It Is: There is no Growth without Struggle III.How am I to respond in my struggles? 5.Make up your mind to go on with life Law of spiritual progress: “I can’t go back, I can’t stay here, I must go forward!”

10. The Way It Is: There is no Growth without Struggle Pray: Seek God’s face and Listen for His voice Stay: Wait, be patient, Don’t rush God, and Refuse to run away II Peter 3:18 – “But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.”