Skip to content Doing the Right Work: Questions to Ask During Difficulty Oct 27 · 29 min ...more
Doing the Right Work: Questions to Ask During Difficulty
October 27, 2025 · 29 min
John Mark gives an urgent call to action: whatever trials we face, we must "continue to do good," knowing that God never gives up on us.
Series "Men's Breakfast" with John Mark Caton October 27, 2025 · 29 min · "Men's Breakfast" with John Mark Caton
John Mark gives an urgent call to action: whatever trials we face, we must "continue to do good," knowing that God never gives up on us. ...more Show the full description Show less John Mark gives an urgent call to action: whatever trials we face, we must "continue to do good," knowing that God never gives up on us.
Series "Men's Breakfast" with John Mark Caton Support this leader Liking this video? Support this ministry.
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John Mark is the Senior Pastor of the thriving Cottonwood Creek Church in Allen, Texas, where he has served since 1995.
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Trials, Growth, and God's Wisdom 0:02 Welcome to Men's Breakfast with John Mark Keaton. Join us as John Mark shares his insights with other men in his ministry rooted in the timeless truths of the gospel. Today's message will encourage you to0:14 inspire, inform, and invest in the lives of others. This is Men's Breakfast with your host, John Mark Caton.0:22 Today, man, it's a blessing. Anytime I get an opportunity, just to hang out with over a hundred guys on a Tuesday morning at 6 o'clock, just over a few donuts, kolaches, and God's0:33 word. So fantastic to see you. A couple of weeks ago, we started a series entitled Doing the Right Work the Right Way. And, man, we looked at that week 1. If you missed it, you can hear it0:45 on the podcast. Week 1 was this, man, God's got stuff for us to do. We looked at James, a brother of Jesus, who started off unbelieving, but eventually became a0:57 believing follower, of his own brother, Jesus Christ, after the resurrection. And so, our hope is is that maybe there's some folks here listening, to the podcast later that you'll1:09 move just like James, the brother of Jesus did, from being unbelieving to believing, from not being a follower to being a follower. Why? Because God's got stuff for you to do. Man, you're part of1:21 God's family. James calls you a brother and if you're James's brother, that also means you're in Jesus's family as well. And then last week, we looked at, part 2 saying, I've got some growing up to do.1:33 Man, we all have some growing up to do. I have some growing up to do. That's what we talked about last week. Remember James said, consider it pure joy, brothers, when you face many trials or trials of many kind because1:45 the testing of your faith produces perseverance. And when perseverance has finished its work, we would become mature and complete, not lacking anything. What does that1:57 mean? Trials grow us up, and we looked last week at this idea that when trials come up, God comes down and we grow up. That's the thought. Anytime trials come up, God's gonna show up and2:09 we're gonna grow up, And that's the purpose of our problems that God allows us to go through day by day. And so this week, we're looking part 3 at this. I've got some stuff I still need to learn. I've2:21 got some stuff I still need to learn. Man, I don't know what that is in your life, and oftentimes I don't necessarily know what it is in my life, but there's some stuff I need to learn and I'm only2:33 going to learn those things when I go through hard times. If you look in the Old Testament, 1 of the kings said this, they were preparing for battle and he had gotten word, that the2:44 opponent, was, was talking about the fact that, that they were gonna win. And so here's what the king of Israel said. It says in 1 Kings chapter 20 verse 11, the king of Israel said,2:56 answered and said, tell him 1 who puts on his armor should not boast like 1 who takes it off. You said, what's he saying there, pastor? He's really sending word back to, his3:08 opponent. He says, listen, you're talking as if this battle is over and this battle is not over, so don't be bragging about it yet. And so as you think about your journey today, we don't wanna brag about3:20 battles we haven't won. However, we also don't wanna look at other people, who have gotten beaten up in the battle and pretend as though we could have done better, and that's what that king is saying. He was saying,3:32 listen, don't brag when you're putting the armor on like 1 who's taking it off. And, just as we approach, the next couple of weeks, NFL's about to start. I can't3:44 wait for it to be football season because that means I'm hoping it's gonna be a little cooler. But here's the reality. Right now in training camp and every press conference, there are3:55 32 teams that are talking like they've got a shot at the Super Bowl. They've got a shot at winning it all. But here's what we know. After week 1, 16 of those4:07 32 teams will be o and 1. Now you can be o and 1 and still go to the Super Bowl. Some teams have been o and 2 and still had really good seasons. But the reality of it is, man, if you4:18 continue to lose, you're not gonna be successful in life. And so here's what we understand. They're gonna go into that first game. They're gonna win it or lose it. The very next day, they're gonna be in the film room.4:30 They're gonna be studying stuff. What are they gonna be studying? Man, what they did right, what they did wrong, where they could do better, man, what they need to improve upon. Why? Because they realize4:42 they have stuff that they need to learn. And so we need to realize the same thing. Man, when God allows trials and difficulties and hardships to come our way, he does it so we4:54 will learn stuff, so we could be better for the next battle that is ahead. Here's what we also know, after week 1, 16 teams will be o and 1. There're gonna be some really good teams5:06 that are o and 1, and we'll see that in the weeks to follow. There are gonna be some really bad teams that are probably gonna be 1 and o. And so that's why it's so, so much of a challenge for us as we5:18 look around at other people. There are times that there are some godly people and some good Christian and some good Christian men that will go through a battle and they'll lose. They'll be o and 1. Man, don't prejudge5:30 them because God still has a plan for their life. So let's look at James chapter 1, verse 5. If we're thinking today on the idea that God's got some stuff for me to5:42 learn, let's just remind ourselves, here's the process. As we look at James chapter 1, the first few verses, James said there is a growing process or a maturing process5:54 that we go through, and he said it starts with testing times. He says when we are tested, our testing produces durability. The word James used was perseverance.6:06 He says, man, when we go through these tests, God allows us sometimes to take tests over and over and over again. And he says, when we go through these testing times, you're afraid. It develops durability.6:18 James's word was perseverance. That means we can hang in there. And then once the testing has produced a durability, then our durability produces maturity. That's6:30 growing up. We've got some growing up to do. Where do you see that? Back in verse 4, James said, perseverance must finish its work, that's the durability, so that you may be6:42 mature and complete. That's maturity. So testing produces durability. Durability produces maturity. And this is what we're gonna look at today. We've got some stuff to6:54 learn. Our maturity will produce wisdom. You say, pastor, how how does that happen? Well, let's ask James. James, how do we develop wisdom? Here's what he says in verse 5.7:06 He says, if any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God who gives generously to all of us without finding fault. Man, just7:18 think about that. Man, if you're in a space or a place that you are going through testing seasons and you've been durable, durable, and you've grown up a little bit, but you're like, god, what do I7:29 do? Do I turn to my left or right? Do I make this decision or that decision? Man, James says, here's what you do. Here's how you learn what god's will is. You ask him. He says, if any of you lacks7:41 wisdom, you should ask God. And let me just encourage you with this, guys. Man, when we ask God, this is in a sense of prayer. A lot of times, men in7:53 particular think, well, prayer is that moment that, you know, or that season or or or that hour that I'm on my knees beside my bed just still and praying8:05 and crying out to God. Man, the apostle Paul was honest. He says, we need to pray without ceasing. That means you pray all day long. God, what do you want me to do? How do you want me to respond? Do you want me to turn8:16 to left or right? Man, we need to be praying over and over and over again. God, give me some wisdom. Give me the right thing to say. Give me the right thing to do in every place, in every space. And here's the good news.8:28 God's not stingy with his wisdom. Did you see what James said? He says, God gives his wisdom generously. That's thought number 1.8:40 To all of us, that's number 2. Without finding fault, that's number 3. What does that word generously mean? It means lavishly That if you truly want God's8:52 wisdom, he will give it to you. On a certain situation, God will give you wisdom. But let's be honest. A lot of times as God as guys, what do we want? We want God to fix the problem. We don't want him to wise us9:03 up. God says, I'll give you wisdom if you ask me, but then the only way it's real wisdom is if you take the knowledge I give you and you apply it to a situation, a relationship, your finances, or something9:15 else. And so as you're journeying through your life today, if you need wisdom, ask God. He will give it to you. But then the second thing, I love what James says there, who gives9:27 wisdom generously to all of us. That means the youngest guy in the room, the oldest guy in the room. The youngest guy listening to podcast, the oldest guy listening to podcast. It doesn't matter who9:39 you are. God is willing to give wisdom to all of us. And listen to this last phrase, the third idea, without finding fault. You know what it means? It doesn't matter what your9:50 past look like. If you've grown up in church and you've done anything and everything, God has asked you to do and you've been faithful all of your life, I want you to know, God10:02 will give you wisdom. Beyond that, it also means this. If you've never been in church before in your life or it's your first time in a men's bible study in your life and you've you've got a10:14 past that would shock all of us, here's the beauty of it. God doesn't find fault. He wants you to simply call out to him, cry out to him and say, God, I want your wisdom. I wanna gain10:26 some maturity. I wanna be the man that you want me to be. And so here's the next Saul. Then once we have wisdom that we've asked God for, it's that wisdom that brings stability. That's what James10:38 says. Look at verse 6. He says, but when he asked, talking about the man, we must ask while we believe and not doubting. Because why?10:50 He who doubts is like a wave of the sea blown and tossed by the wind. And he says that man should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. What is James11:02 saying there? That when we gain true wisdom, we gain wisdom with stability, that we make up our mind. Man, I am gonna fully follow God.11:14 James uses the word believe. You know what that word believe means? It's the idea of faith in action. That God, whatever you tell me to do, I'm gonna trust you,11:26 and I'm gonna put energy and effort and action into doing anything you ask me to do, God. And And I'm not gonna doubt you. I'm gonna believe you. If the waves get high, I'm still gonna trust you,11:38 god. If, the wind blows hard, I'm still gonna trust you, god. If, the mountain tops seems too high for me to scale, I'm going to trust you, God, and do what11:49 you've called me to do. That's a wisdom that is stable. And James says, man, that's the kind of wisdom that we want as men. I love what Paul said in Romans chapter 5 verse 1. Here's12:01 kind of a biblical example. He says, therefore, since we have been justified by faith, that's that word believe, that's the noun version of that word believe. He says, we have peace with God through our Lord12:13 Jesus Christ. So once I trust in Christ, I have peace with God regardless of my past, it doesn't matter my faults. James has already told us that. It doesn't matter what my struggles are, what12:25 my addictions are, what my sins are. Man, I have peace with God. And let me tell you what, man, that ought to fire us all up, that we understand whether I'm at peace with the12:37 world or peace with my boss or or peace with anybody else, I've got peace with God regardless of who I am or what I've done. Why? Because of what Jesus Christ has12:49 done for all of us on the cross. It says we have peace with God through Jesus Christ, then Romans 5 verse 2, through whom we now have gained access by faith into the13:00 grace in which we stand. Man, that is firm foundation that we stand in God's grace. That is a stability of our faith in13:12 God, and we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. Then look at verse 3. Not only so, we also rejoice in suffering. So here's Paul kind of telling us what James has13:24 already told us. God allows suffering trials to come our way, but they come with a purpose. God, God will never waste your problem. He13:36 always has a purpose in your problem. What's that purpose? Notice what Paul said in Romans 5, verse 3. He says, Not only so, we also rejoice in our sufferings. Why? Because of13:48 what it produces. Because we know that suffering produces perseverance, our perseverance produces character, and our character produces hope. And the hope that we have13:59 in God, Paul says, does not disappoint. You know, what he's really saying, I love this idea. This isn't new to me. I read this sometime or, 1 time back.14:11 It says, God will always turn your crucifixion into a resurrection. In other words, if you're going through some stuff right now, if you just feel like the world is crucifying you, maybe the the job is crucifying you,14:23 there are some relationships that are crucifying you, and I I love what Paul says and James says, and it's that idea that God is the 1, when you have faith in him, when you trust him, when you are14:35 mature in him, and when you seek his wisdom, God is the 1 who will turn your crucifixion into a resurrection. And so what an incredible thought that is. So what is the result as we,14:47 continue to journey through, the thoughts of James in James chapter 1? What is a result of that path? My trials bring durability, my durability brings14:59 maturity, and my maturity brings wisdom, and wisdom brings stability. What's the outcome of that? Well, drop down to James chapter 1 verse 12. He says, blessed is the15:11 1 who perseveres under trial. Why? Here's the result. Because when a man has stood the test, that man will receive the crown15:23 of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him. Man, that's an amazing result. My trials lead to durability. My durability leads to maturity. My maturity leads to15:35 wisdom. My wisdom leads to stability. And what does my stability lead to? The blessings of God. When I persevere under trial, having stood the test, I15:47 will receive the crown of life. Man, what could we possibly want more than that? So now as we swing back around and and kinda conclude our15:59 thought today, let me give you 4 questions, that'll help you, bring some wisdom or bring some light, to the trials that you're going through today. I don't know what your16:11 trials are. You don't have to share them. We're gonna allow you to spend some time at the table. But let me give you 4 questions that you wanna ask about every difficulty, every trial, every hardship you16:23 go through. Here's question number 1. Did I cause it? Ask yourself that question. When you're going through a difficulty, did I bring in on myself? Did I16:34 cause this problem? This is kind of the the self question. Man, is this problem showing up in my life because I caused it? Remember what the apostle Paul16:46 said in Galatians chapter 6, verse 7? He says, Do not be deceived. God is not mocked. A man reaps what he sows. Guys, we gotta be16:58 real honest. A lot of times, the hardships that we go through, they're our fault. We we cause them.17:10 Man, am I in debt beyond belief because I way way overspent? I bought too big too nice a car, too big a house. I've I've done this or I've done that.17:22 I've just outlived my income. The reality of it is, is your debt problem or your financial problem your fault? Man, is there a health problem17:34 that is your fault? Did I cause it? You ever said something about someone else and all of a sudden they show up, and and they repeat your words back to you? And, well, we can be mad all we want17:46 at that person who told them this or told them that. But the reality of it is we said it. We kinda we kinda caused the problem. And so here's the first thought. If we're really gonna17:58 grow in wisdom and maturity as we grow up and learn some things about ourself, I have to ask myself the question, did I cause this problem? Are there several18:09 problems that I cause for myself over and over again? Are there are there things that happen in my life that happen over and over again because of decisions I make or actions I18:21 take? Don't ever forget that thought. Paul said in Galatians 6 7, a man reaps what he sows. Man, guys,18:33 if you're going through the same problem over and over again and it's because of mistakes that you're making, I wanna encourage you. Man, just identify that and stop it.18:45 Say, I don't wanna do it anymore. Now, here is the reality. There also could be a a different answer to that question. No. I didn't cause it. Man, I just live in a world filled with sin and18:57 hurt and heartache. And, you know, Peter addresses that. He says, if you suffer, don't suffer as a murderer or a thief or a criminal of any kind or even as a meddler. What is he saying? He19:09 he says, if you suffer, man, don't suffer, as 1 who is a murderer or a thief or a criminal. The reality of it is when they get caught, they suffer because of what? Because of what they19:21 did. However, he says as a Christian, there are times that we roll through life. And just because, we we are good and godly and we go to church every day, we19:32 still may find ourselves in problems. So so the answer to question number 1, did it cause did I cause it? It might be yes. I caused it or it might be no. Here's question number 2. If I'm gonna19:44 grow up, if I got some things to learn when you're facing trials of any kind. Question number 2, am I thankful in this trial for what I do have?19:56 This is an attitude question. The first 1 was a self question. Here's an attitude question. Listen, when you go through hurts, when you go through difficulties, when you go through hardships, are you still20:08 thankful for the good things that are in your life? I love what Paul said in first Thessalonians chapter 5 verse 18. He says, give thanks in all circumstances. Here's the truth.20:20 Whatever trial you're facing, whatever hardship you're going through, whatever difficulty you're going through, there probably is a truth and a reality there are whole lot of other things in20:32 your life that are good things. Are you still thankful for those things? Are you still grateful for those things? Man, a lot of times when we go through hardships, when we go through trials,20:44 we just stop being grateful. We stop being thankful for all the good things in our lives. Instead, we we focus in, like like a microscope. We look at that20:56 trial. We look at that problem, and we can't enjoy anything else in our lives, any of the the other good things in our lives because of that 1 trial we're going through. So ask21:08 yourself question number 2 in the midst of a trial. It's the attitude question. Am I thankful for all the other good things in my life? Do does my21:20 spouse know how much I love her? I might be going through a difficulty. Do my kids know how much I love them? Man, do people around me realize that I can compartmentalize this trial and say, man, I hate this.21:31 This is hard. This is difficult. This is this is terrible, but there is a reality. 99 percent of the rest of the things in my life are fantastic. 95 percent, 98 percent. 5021:43 percent of everything else in my life is fantastic. Therefore, I'm gonna be thankful for those good things that God has brought in my life. So question number 1 that'll help you face your trials and grow in maturity21:55 and wisdom is, did I cause it? The answer might be yes. The answer might be no. Question number 2, in the midst of a trial, as you grow and learn and become more more mature,22:07 am I thankful for what I do have? In other words, do you live in such a way that you can compartmentalize your problem, your trial, in such a way that I can22:19 let my trial be my trial or my problem be my problem, and at the same time, still be grateful and thankful for all the good things in my life? Can I be grateful for22:31 my marriage, or can I be grateful for my kid? Can I be grateful for God and thankful for God and thankful for my church and all of those good things? And here's question number 3, to help you learn something22:42 and grow in maturity when you're facing a trial. Do I still have a cheerful heart? See, being thankful means I'm thankful for things. I'm grateful for things in my22:54 life. This is an internal heart problem, man. The the reality of it is, if you're going through something hard right now, this is a question of humor. The first 1 was a was a self question. The second was an attitude23:06 question. The third 1 is a is a is a humor, question. Man, do I still have a cheerful heart? Proverbs chapter 17 verse23:18 22, Solomon, the wisest man who ever lived lived said this, a cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones. Let me just let23:30 me just read that to you again. A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones. You you know what Solomon is23:42 saying? He said, man, humor is an excellent shock absorber. Humor is a great shock absorber. Man, if I'm going down a bumpy road in life or I hit a dip23:54 in the road, man, humor is a fantastic shock absorber regardless of what you're going through. Paul put it this way. He said, rejoice always. Man, if you're on the mountaintop, rejoice.24:06 If you're in the valley, rejoice. If you're on your way up, rejoice. If you're on your way down, rejoice. If the wind's at your back, rejoice. If the wind's in your face, rejoice. Regardless of what's going on in your24:16 life, have a cheerful heart. And here's the key, That's a choice. Being thankful is a choice. Having a cheerful heart is a choice. Man,24:28 researchers have shown, over and over again that if you will simply put a smile on your face, it will enliven, your heart. If we will24:40 smile, it will send off endorphins and all of that good thing those good things that just will create a cheerful heart in our lives regardless of what we're going through. But if we frown all24:52 the time and we're bitter and we grumble and we groan, then the latter half of that proverb comes into play. A crushed spirit dries up the bones. So question number25:04 3 as you go through trials, guys, as we mature up and we got stuff to learn is this, do I still have a cheerful heart? And am I choosing to have a cheerful25:15 heart? And if I do, Solomon says, boys, that's good medicine. And here's question number 4 when you're going through trials. Am I willing to suck it up and keep going25:27 for God? Am I willing to suck it up and keep going for God? Man, we're we're a bunch of dudes in this room. We understand. Man, we don't wanna be quitters. We don't wanna fade25:39 away. We wanna be strong at the end. And let's be honest, there are times that we get exhausted, that we get beat up, we struggle a little bit. And so ask yourself this fourth question, and let this25:51 be a motivating question. Am I willing to suck it up and keep going for God? You say, well, why should I, pastor? Well, let me tell you why. Because god's gonna keep going for you.26:03 Jesus went all the way to the cross for you. He went all the way to the tomb for you. He is there waiting for you. Jesus is seated at the right hand of the throne of grace waiting for you guys.26:15 He's not gonna quit on you. He's not gonna give up on you. If you quit on him or wanna quit on him, if you get discouraged, if you go the wrong way, if you make a bad decision, if you stop being cheerful, if you stop26:27 being thankful, if you make some decisions and cause problems for yourself, you know what Jesus doesn't do? He doesn't quit. Holy Spirit doesn't quit on you. He has sealed26:39 you until the day of redemption. That ought to fire us up. That ought to make us a little happy to keep going for God. So here's question number 4. Am I willing to suck it up regardless of what I'm going26:51 through and keep going for God? You say, why? Because God went all the way for you. Jesus is going all the way for you, and the Holy Spirit is gonna hang on to you regardless. That's where27:03 we go back to first Peter chapter 4 verse 19 where Peter said, so then, those who suffer according to god's will, there are times god lets us go through stuff. He lets us go through27:14 stuff. We should then, he says, Peter says, commit ourselves to their faithful creator, but it doesn't stop there. First Peter chapter 4 verse27:26 19 says this, and continue to do good. So what does it mean to suck it up, keep going for god? It means if we go through suffering time, if we go through trials, if we go through27:38 hardships, we need to persevere. We need to be durable. We need to be mature. We need to be seek we need to seek wisdom. And then we trust ourselves to a faithful27:50 creator. What does it mean he's a faithful creator? It means god's not giving up on us, and I'm not gonna give up on god. Therefore, look at those last 4 words, continue to do28:02 good. So, guys, as we close today, those are 4 questions as you face your trials. Man, be honest. Write your trials down. Write down those 4 questions and write out your answer.28:14 Is this my fault? Maybe yes. Maybe no. Am I still grateful and thankful for what I do have? Maybe yes. Maybe no. Do I still have a cheerful heart?28:26 That's a choice. Is my heart cheerful? Maybe yes. Maybe no. But finally, and perhaps number 4 is the most important 1, am I willing to suck it up and keep going28:38 for God? So as you leave here today and, man, you journey off into the office or whatever it is, continue to do good. Don't give up on God28:49 because he's not given up on you. God bless.28:53 Thank you for tuning in to Men's Breakfast with John Mark Caton. For more information on John Mark's ministry and resources, please visit johnmarkcaton dot com. Until next time, remember, we're29:05 on this journey of life together.In this video 0:00 Trials, Growth, and God's Wisdom
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