Awakening Love: Overcoming Apathy to Embrace God's Miracles

Life is a tapestry of stories, each one woven by the hand of God, who calls us His masterpiece. Through the ups and downs, the miraculous and the mundane, God is always at work, often in ways we don’t immediately recognize. Sometimes, it takes the breaking of what we thought would save us—a branch that snaps, a plan that fails—for us to see the true miracle He has prepared. Whether it’s walking away from a devastating car accident, recovering from a catastrophic heart attack, or being saved by a tiny weed on the edge of a cliff, God’s providence is both personal and profound. These moments are not just coincidences; they are invitations to trust that God is intimately involved in our lives.

Yet, the greatest threat to experiencing God’s love and sharing it with others is not hatred, but apathy. Love and hate are both passionate, but apathy is the absence of care, the coldness that keeps us from seeing and serving those around us. God, who is love, is never apathetic. He hates anything that separates us from Him, especially the indifference that allows us to treat others as strangers. We are called to reflect His heart, to resist the drift toward apathy, and to engage with the people He places in our path.

Apathy creeps in through demoralization, pride, and fear. When we lose hope, when we see ourselves as better than others, or when we feel inadequate to help, we withdraw and disconnect. But God calls us to more. He reminds us that the best is yet to come, that we are all made equal by Christ’s sacrifice, and that He delights in using ordinary people to change the world. Breaking free from apathy means believing in God’s power to work miracles, seeing every person as worthy of love, and trusting that God can use even our smallest acts of kindness.

To live this out, we must lead with curiosity, ask meaningful questions, and make time for encouragement. We are to be intentional, turning everyday interactions into opportunities for God to work, and to set aside regular moments to connect with others. Sometimes, being a lifeline for someone is as simple as a daily high five or a kind word. We don’t have to be extraordinary—just available. God uses “weeds” like us to hold others until they can grab onto Him. Our mission is to be present, to care, and to point people to the Savior who never lets go.

Key Takeaways

• 1. Miracles are often hidden in the ordinary, and sometimes it takes the failure of our own plans for us to recognize God’s hand at work. When the obvious solutions fall away, God’s provision becomes unmistakable, reminding us that He is both sovereign and intimately involved in our lives. Trust grows when we look back and see how He has carried us through what seemed impossible. [20:03]
• 2. The opposite of love is not hate, but apathy. While hate and love are both passionate, apathy is the absence of concern, which is antithetical to the nature of God. God’s heart breaks over indifference, especially when it causes us to ignore or avoid those He has placed in our lives. We are called to reflect His passionate care, never allowing apathy to take root in our hearts. [23:16]
• 3. Apathy takes hold through demoralization, pride, and fear. Demoralization convinces us that nothing can change, pride distances us from others through self-sufficiency, and fear tells us we are not enough to make a difference. Each of these is rooted in a lack of trust—either in God, in the equality Christ brings, or in God’s ability to use us. Recognizing these roots is the first step to breaking free and re-engaging with the world around us. [35:56]
• 4. Breaking apathy requires intentional action: believing the best is yet to come, embracing our equality in Christ, and trusting God to use us as ordinary world changers. This means stepping out in faith, even when we feel inadequate, and remembering that God delights in using the humble and the weak to accomplish His purposes. Our willingness to be available is more important than our ability to be impressive. [36:56]
• 5. Small acts of kindness can be lifelines for those around us, even when we don’t realize it. Sometimes, just being present and offering encouragement is enough to keep someone going until they can find hope in Christ themselves. We may never know the full impact of our availability, but God uses even the smallest gestures to draw people to Himself. Our calling is to be that “weed” someone can hold onto, trusting God to do the rest. [43:46]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [11:59] - Communicating Across Generations
• [12:36] - Stories of God’s Miraculous Intervention
• [13:37] - Surviving the Car Accident
• [14:29] - Healing from a Catastrophic Heart Attack
• [15:44] - The Cliff Story: A Childhood Miracle
• [19:14] - Recognizing God’s Hand in the Ordinary
• [20:28] - The Opposite of Love: Apathy
• [22:19] - God’s Love and Righteous Hatred
• [23:16] - The Grief of Strangers and Apathy
• [25:35] - How Apathy Creeps In
• [26:12] - Demoralization: Losing Hope
• [28:56] - Pride and Ego: Creating Distance
• [33:40] - Fear and Insecurity: Feeling Inadequate
• [35:56] - Breaking Free from Apathy
• [37:33] - Four Ways to Engage Others
• [41:05] - The Story of Jarrett: The Power of Small Kindness
• [43:46] - Being Available: Ordinary World Changers
• [45:19] - Rooted in Christ, Pointing Others to Him
• [46:20] - Closing Prayer

Bible Reading

Ephesians 2:10 (ESV) — > For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

1 John 4:8 (ESV) — > Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love.

Luke 18:9-14 (ESV) — > He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and treated others with contempt: “Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee, standing by himself, prayed thus: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I get.’ But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’ I tell you, this man went down to his house justified, rather than the other. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”

Observation Questions

1. According to Ephesians 2:10, what does it mean that we are God’s “workmanship” or “masterpiece”? How does this connect to the idea that God is weaving our stories? ([12:10])
2. In the sermon, what examples were given of God’s miraculous intervention in ordinary life? ([13:37])
3. What does 1 John 4:8 say about the relationship between love and knowing God? How does the sermon describe the opposite of love? ([21:29])
4. In the parable from Luke 18, what is the main difference between the Pharisee and the tax collector in their approach to God? ([31:06])

Interpretation Questions

1. The sermon says that sometimes God’s miracles are hidden in the ordinary, and we only recognize them when our own plans fail. Why might God allow our “branches” to break before showing us His provision? ([20:03])
2. The speaker claims that the greatest threat to experiencing and sharing God’s love is not hate, but apathy. Why is apathy so dangerous in the Christian life, according to both the sermon and 1 John 4:8? ([23:16])
3. The story of the Pharisee and the tax collector highlights pride and humility. How does pride create distance between us and others, and how does this relate to apathy? ([32:06])
4. The sermon lists demoralization, pride, and fear as roots of apathy. How do these attitudes keep us from engaging with others and trusting God to use us? ([35:56])

Application Questions

1. The sermon describes moments when God’s provision was only clear after something else failed (like the branch breaking or a plan falling apart). Can you think of a time in your life when God showed up in an unexpected way after your own plans failed? How did that experience affect your trust in Him? ([20:03])
2. The opposite of love is described as apathy, not hate. Who in your life have you unintentionally treated with apathy—maybe by ignoring, avoiding, or not caring? What is one step you could take this week to engage with that person? ([24:27])
3. The sermon talks about demoralization, pride, and fear as ways apathy creeps in. Which of these do you struggle with most, and how does it show up in your relationships or your willingness to serve others? ([35:56])
4. The speaker encourages leading with curiosity and asking meaningful questions instead of just “How’s it going?” What is one intentional question you could ask someone this week to show you care about their life? ([37:49])
5. The story of Jarrett shows how small acts of kindness can be a lifeline for someone. Is there someone in your life who might need a simple act of encouragement or presence from you? What could that look like this week? ([43:46])
6. The sermon says, “You don’t have to be special—just available.” What keeps you from being available to others? Is it busyness, fear, or something else? What is one practical change you could make to be more present for people God puts in your path? ([43:46])
7. The speaker challenges us to set aside regular moments to connect with others (like his Friday park visits). What is one time or place in your weekly routine where you could be more intentional about engaging with people for God’s purposes? ([39:33])