Doing Your Best When Life is the Worst | Levi Lusko | Sermon Notes — Hello Pastor

Sermon Notes

Doing Your Best When Life is the Worst

Fresh Life Church • Jul 20, 2026 • 34 min

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Take this message with you through a journey of Scripture, reflection, and prayer.

Summary

Pastor Levi Lusko examines David's response to King Saul's jealousy and hostility, offering practical wisdom on how to navigate unfair treatment without losing our composure or spiritual integrity. When life is at its worst, believers are called to maintain excellence, avoid retaliating, protect their hearts against cynicism, and establish healthy boundaries. Ultimately, our service and calling are lived out before God alone, empowering us to keep doing good regardless of how others respond.

Themes

Handling HostilityMindset and PerspectiveForgiveness and Non-RetaliationExcellence in SecretWise Boundaries

Pastor's Points

1.

Don't be surprised

2.

Don't become spiteful

3.

Don't become sour

4.

Don't be stupid

5.

Don't stop

Key Points

1.
Don't be surprised when following God's call brings hostility, as people who have given up on their dreams often resent seeing others live out theirs.
2.
Don't become spiteful or seek revenge when attacked; duck when spears are thrown at you, but never pull them out of the wall to fire them back.
3.
Don't become sour or cynical, as allowing past trauma to template future relationships prevents you from experiencing genuine love.
4.
Don't be stupid in your love; forgiveness and kindness do not mean remaining in harmful situations without healthy boundaries.
5.
Don't stop doing what God blessed in the first place, refusing to let criticism or opposition shrink your calling or halt your work.
6.
How you choose to view your circumstances determines the outcome of your life and the health of your spirit.
7.
Faithfulness and excellence in secret develop the craft and character that God uses to open public doors in the future.

Sermon Moments

“You cannot outlive how you see things.”

“When you change the music around you, you can change the mood going on inside of you.”

“Excellence makes space for a person's gift. It's what you do alone by yourself in the gym that one day fills up stadiums and arenas.”

“David had spears thrown at him and he never threw them back. Why? Because to kill Saul would be to become like Saul.”

“Duck when spears are thrown at you, but don't ever pull them out of the wall and fire them back.”

“It's a mistake to grow jaded and cynical... to love is to be vulnerable.”

“You can love someone and forgive someone, but there can still be clear boundaries that need to be drawn.”

“In the final analysis, it is between you and God. It was never between you and them anyway.”

This Week

Choose gratitude in your current circumstances by focusing on God's blessings rather than complaining about what you lack.

Hone your skills and practice faithfulness in private, trusting God to open doors in His timing.

Resist the urge to retaliate or speak ill of those who mistreat you, choosing to offer a blessing instead.

Refuse to let past relational hurts make you cynical or closed off to new friendships and community.

Establish wise and healthy boundaries if you are in a toxic situation, while continuing to walk in forgiveness.

Stay focused on your primary calling and refuse to let critics or distractions pull you away from God's work.

Perform your work and daily duties to please the Lord rather than seeking human approval or recognition.

Remember This

When facing mistreatment or hostility, continue doing your best for God without allowing bitterness to sour your heart or distraction to stop your calling.

A Challenge for You

Give the world the best you have anyway, because in the final analysis, it is between you and God—it was never between you and them anyway.

These are personal sermon notes shared to help you remember the message — not a replacement for Scripture, your church, or your pastors.