Why Is Life So Hard?

<p>Mike Havran kicks off a new seven-week series through the book of James titled “Why Is Life So Hard?” Suffering is an unavoidable part of living in a broken world, and following Jesus doesn't mean we will escape trials, pain, or hardship. But God doesn't waste our suffering. He can use it to transform us, make us more like Jesus, and accomplish His purposes through it. Our faith must be more than simply knowing what is right or avoiding what is wrong—real faith produces action. Mike challenges us to live out what we know, trusting that while our suffering and scars are real, they don't define us—Jesus does.</p><p>James 1:2-4 "Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing."</p><p>"We'd love to connect with you today, send us a message or comment via <a href="https://www.facebook.com/EastsideChristian" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠</a> or <a href="https://www.instagram.com/eastsidechristianchurch/" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠</a>. You can also ask any questions you may have with our <a href="https://eastsidechristianchurch.breezechms.com/form/48a752" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Ask A Question Form⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠</a> or send us an <a href="http://info@myeastside.cc" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠email⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠</a>.</p><p>Join us for Eastside Live in person at 9:30am or 11am at 5874 Montclair Blvd, Milford, OH 45150 or tune into our livestream each week at 11AM on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/EastsideChristian" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠</a> or <a href="https://www.youtube.com/@EastsideChristianChurchCincy/streams" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠</a></p><p>We're thankful for the continued generosity of our church family and friends as we live out our mission. You can give today at: <a href="https://eastsidechristianchurch.breezechms.com/give/online" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Give to Eastside Christian Church⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠</a></p><p>Here are our connection links:</p><p>Website: <a href="https://eastsidechristian.com" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://eas