Open Up and Share Your Struggles | John Giftah | Christian Sermon

0:01 Do you ever look around and think, Wow, the world is a crazy place and it just seems to get crazier and crazier. Ease your mind and take a break. This is Fuel for the Soul with John gifta We're a hub for inspirational Christian sermons, practical keys for Christian living, and Christian discussions and interviews. You'll be inspired to live the life that you were created for. Your host is a top ranking podcaster, best selling author, world record holder, aerospace engineer, life coach, evangelist and founder of John Gifta International.

0:41 Welcome to Fuel for the Soul with John Gifta. Oy in this world. One of the things that we've been speaking a lot about in recent times, there's been a lot of talk on mental health, a lot of people dealing with depression, anxiety, panic attacks, and so many different things that you can talk about PTSD and all of these things. And one of the things when you look at the core of these things, and not only these, but even when you look at people who are struggling with addictions and you know, maybe it could be addiction to alcohol or drugs, or pornography or anything.

1:26 Even recently, a lot of people have been talking about Matthew Perry, you know, the star actor of the Friends series, who was vocal about how he dealt with his addictions to drugs and alcohol and all of these things. And you know, and that really made the way for a lot of people, you know, seeking help and you know, being bold about what they're dealing with. And one of the things I want to talk about it today is that in the importance of being vocal and to share about your struggles with other people.

2:04 You know. No, I'm not asking you to go and trumpet to the whole world, and I'm not asking you to go to the wrong people. Please be careful. Uh, there are a lot of a lot of people who want to know what's going on in your life just so that they can go out and tell other people about what you're dealing But uh, praying that you will find people who want to know what's going on in your life so that they can encourage you, Pray for you, bring new and journey with you as you deal with those issues. Right and and and I believe that when you saw that heart, God will bring the right people.

2:40 God will help you and what will deal with you people who will not judge you, but people who will encourage, people who will motivate you, people who will call up and say, think of you, and I'm belinking about you. You. You know, I pray that will come across. You'll meet with the right people with whom you can confess and share what you're going through in the name of Jesus, because because the enemy wants us to be in isolation. You know, one of the first things that Elijah did when he was going into that depression in the Book of Kings, First King nineteen, see, he leaves, he leaves the servant the people, and he goes off on his own.

3:26 He only wants you to isolate yourself from the rest of the world, to think that you're the only one going through here. When he was having the conversation with God, he said, you know what, I'm the only one who's honoring you and still standing by you in the right path, and here everybody else is that. And God has to remind him and say you you're not the only one. There are so many others out there. You get what I'm saying. So it's important that you come down to the place you understand you're not the only one struggling with it.

3:57 But you need to be in a place where you seek God's help and be led by the Holy Spirit to look for people who have your best interests at heart. Were not here to be mean, you were not here to be like, Yes, I found loophole in you, so I could use it against you. Now, why I'm saying this is because I want to warn you guys, Okay, because even in my journey as a part in pre I'm not presumed to say that I've done everything right. I have gone through my own struggles. I've gone through my own questions, doubts.

4:35 I had moments and I had to stand on my own because I had no sense of direction except to trust. And this is what I think God wants me to do. And then I look back and say, maybe certain times I have messed up, certain times I didn't do the way I should have, or I should have trusted God more, and you know, all of those things because I didn't have anyone to you know, support, because I had our voices opposing what I'm doing, opposing the call of God over my life. Then then the voices that you're encouraging me.

5:05 And there were moments when I shared things with pastors. I'm talking about pastors who I thought would keep things confidential. Then later I came to know some of them use that against me to say, Hey, I know who he is. He's not fit to do ministry. You get what I'm saying. So you need to be very cautious about whom you're talking about your struggles. You can't just go to any complic can Harry. Don't just go because the counselor or a pastor pray about it, because you never know who's going to turn against you when all right, So here's the principle.

5:43 You know, I know a lot of people take this principle out of context. But when you look at James five or sixteen, it says, confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. Right now, Sometimes people take this into the sense of confess, like what happens in some denominational backgrounds where people go to a chamber and confess to a priest and all of those things. That's not biblical, right, It's not what it's talking about, but just a principle where it's it's not saying God convers to everybody in the world, right, it's confess to each other and pray for each other.

6:21 In the context of you see this scenario. It's not like going and jumping into the whole world. But somebody you can confide with, share what you're going through, since it's in the struggles that you're going through, the questions that you have. It could be a mental issue, it could be an emotional issue, it could be a spiritual issue, it could be anything that you're dealing with and in an addiction, share it with somebody because sometimes you see when you open about what you're going through, half the problem is resolved by the time you finish sharing your struggles with someone, just somebody listening to what you have to say.

7:01 Just renting it out helps a lot. I know people who call me just to WNT right. You know, sometimes renting in itself is going to have the problem. Right, And this is the principle about all the saying, confess it to each other, pray for each other. That you may be here today. I pray that you will find people in your life, in various walks of your life who want to pray for you. You know, with all my heart, in whatever capacity, I would love to pray for you. If you would just talk to me through social media or you know, whichever way.

7:41 I would love to pray for you. And I can tell you this. If you have anything you want to share, I'm telling you it's not going to go anywhere. I'm not going to screen share this and say, you know, so and so said there's nothing right. I'm just going to genuinely pray for you. And if there's something that lot puts in my heart and I can share, I would do that. You know that a lot of people in my life I encourage. I count that motivating. You know, I keep checking on them every now and then I say, you know, did you take this initiative?

8:10 Because it's not enough to just pray. You know, you need somebody who needs to give you the push. You know, if if somebody says, uh, you know, I'm not reading the Bible, you know, just an example. You know, every now and then needs to send a reminder, Hey did you read the Bible to me? You know what I mean? So some kind something like that. You know, if you need you can always reach out to me. But if not me, but I pray that you'll find somebody who will help you and deal with you and help you deal with those issues and you will eventually be healed and men, God bless you.

8:43 You've been listening to Fuel for the Soul with John Gifta, we hope you were blessed and inspired to live the life that God has for you. Make sure to subscribe to John Gifta YouTube channel for regular uploads of sermons, skits, interviews and more. Follow John Gifta on Instagram for regular inspirational posts, and don't forget to check out the best selling books written by John Gifta, Who Am I which will help you understand your identity and the latest number one best seller Unveil your Purpose, helping you discover your purpose and to start walking in it.

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