The Shepherd's Fellowship

09/06/2026

Sermon Video Podcast

When Life Gets Hard — Why Does God Allow It?

Life can be difficult. We all face seasons of disappointment, loss, uncertainty, stress, and struggles we never expected. But why does life get hard? Where is God when we hurt, and what can we learn from Him in the middle of difficult circumstances?

Join us for a special message as we look at what the Bible says about why life gets hard and how God wants us to respond when it does.

You don’t have to walk through hard times alone. Come discover hope, encouragement, and biblical truth for those difficult seasons of life.

tsflife.com

https://youtu.be/4YsCeSw3Fcc

When Life Gets Hard — Why Does God Allow It?Life can be difficult...

09/04/2026

Hello Marion Ohio and surrounding communities we are teaming up with Elizabeth's House of Grace to distribute hundreds of meals tomorrow from our studio!!!

If you need fed or have neighbors and/or family members that need fed - come on out!!!!

Everyday meals are going to waste while there are families in need. Come pick up food to bless your belly’s or others in need.🙏

Just pull up and we will load your vehicles up with meals!!!❤️🙌

09/04/2026

If you are new to the church or just checking things out, join Pastor Tom for an time of donuts and conversation. We'd love to get to know you better as well as answers any of you questions, talk about the gospel, and help you take next steps.

Outside of schedule changes, we have this the first Sunday of each month and would love to have you stop in.

tsflife.com

09/04/2026

tsflife.com

09/04/2026

Day 5: Worship Before the Victory

Devotional

Jehoshaphat's story does not end with a perfect life. Even after one of the most remarkable victories in Scripture, he drifted again. He made another compromise near the end of his life, and it fell apart just like the first one. His story is honest in a way that is both sobering and deeply encouraging. Because the point was never that Jehoshaphat got everything right. The point is that he kept coming back. He kept leaning into God. And in his greatest moment of faith, he chose to worship before he saw the outcome. He sent singers ahead of the army, praising God for a victory that had not yet happened. That is what faith looks like when it is fully alive. You can do the same thing. In the middle of your hardest season, before the situation changes, before the answer comes, you can worship. Not because everything feels fine, but because God's character does not change based on your circumstances. What He has promised, He will complete. What He has started, He will finish. The goal is not a perfect record. The goal is to keep leaning toward God, one choice at a time, all the way to the end. You will stumble. God already knows that. But every time you turn back, every time you choose to worship before you see the victory, you are finishing strong in the ways that matter most.

Bible Verse
"And when he had taken counsel with the people, he appointed those who were to sing to the Lord and praise Him in holy attire, as they went before the army, and say, 'Give thanks to the Lord, for His steadfast love endures forever.'" - 2 Chronicles 20:21 (English Standard Version (ESV))

Reflection Question
Is there a situation in your life right now where God is inviting you to worship Him before you see the outcome, trusting His character more than your circumstances?

Quote
"When you're in the worst of your battles, you know, the worst of your storms, and you read a promise of God saying, I have this, this, then you can worship even before it happens."

Prayer
Father, teach me to worship You before the victory, not just after it. Help me to trust Your steadfast love even when I cannot yet see what You are doing. Amen.

tsflife.com

09/03/2026

📣 NEW CLASS: BOUNDARIES 📣

(Open to all in the surrounding community)

Have you ever struggled with saying “no,” setting healthy limits, or knowing where your responsibilities end and someone else’s begin?

Join us for a practical and encouraging class based on Dr. Henry Cloud’s Boundaries. Together, we’ll explore what the Bible teaches about healthy relationships, wise limits, responsibility, and learning to love others without losing ourselves in the process.

📖 BOUNDARIES: Learning Healthy, God-Honoring Limits
❤️ Grow in your relationships
🙏 Strengthen your walk with God
🗣️ Learn how to say “yes” and “no” in healthy ways
🌱 Discover freedom from unhealthy patterns

Whether you struggle with people-pleasing, difficult relationships, overcommitment, or simply want to grow in wisdom, this class is for you!

The course is $10 to cover the participant guide and can be paid at the group. If you have a financial need, you can apply for a scholarship by contact Pastor Tom Hypes.

This group is for anyone in the community and we appreciate our partnership with Aspire Ministries in Marion, Ohio.

For more information, go to tsflife.com

You must pre-register for this event at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/boundaries-course-at-tsf-tickets-1997618595995?aff=oddtdtcreator

09/03/2026

When God fights your battles, He doesn't just win—He abundantly provides. Jehoshaphat's army didn't even have to fight, yet they spent THREE DAYS collecting the spoils of victory. Sometimes God's message to us is: 'Stop worrying about losing everything and get ready to receive what I'm about to bless you with.' Trust His provision.

09/03/2026

Day 4: Stand Firm and Watch

Devotional

God's answer to Jehoshaphat's desperate prayer was not a battle plan. It was an instruction to stand still. Do not be afraid. Do not be overwhelmed by the size of what is coming. Hold your position. The battle belongs to God. That is a hard word to receive when everything in you wants to act, fix, or control the outcome. Standing firm does not feel like doing something. But in God's economy, positioning yourself in alignment with Him is everything. It is not passivity. It is trust made visible. Jehoshaphat took that word seriously. He sent singers ahead of the army, worshiping God before a single enemy had fallen. It was an act of faith that made no military sense. And yet, as they sang, the enemy armies turned on each other. By the time Jehoshaphat's people arrived, the battle was already over. God did not ask Jehoshaphat to understand the strategy. He asked him to trust the One who had the strategy. The same is true for you. Whatever battle you are facing right now, God is not asking you to figure it all out. He is asking you to stay close to Him, to hold your position in faith, and to trust that He is already working in ways you cannot yet see. Stand firm. The salvation of the Lord is worth waiting for.

Bible Verse
"Do not be afraid and do not be dismayed at this great horde, for the battle is not yours but God's." - 2 Chronicles 20:15 (English Standard Version (ESV))

Reflection Question
Where in your life are you straining to control an outcome that God may be asking you to simply trust Him with?

Quote
"Do not be afraid and do not be dismayed at this great horde, for the battle is not yours, but it's God's."

Prayer
Lord, help me to stand firm when everything in me wants to take over. Remind me today that the battle belongs to You, and give me the faith to hold my position in peace. Amen.

tsflife.com