Embracing Optimism: Trusting God Through Struggles

Devotional

Day 1: Praise God for Progress

Description: Even if your situation isn't perfect, learn to praise God for the progress you've made. It's essential to recognize that while you may not be where you want to be, you're also not where you used to be. This mindset helps you focus on God's ongoing work in your life. By acknowledging the small victories and steps forward, you cultivate a heart of gratitude and a positive outlook, which can be transformative in your spiritual journey. Remember, praising God for progress is about celebrating the journey, not just the destination. [34:40]

Psalm 40:2-3 (ESV): "He drew me up from the pit of destruction, out of the miry bog, and set my feet upon a rock, making my steps secure. He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God. Many will see and fear, and put their trust in the Lord."

Reflection: Think of a recent challenge where you made some progress, even if it was small. How can you praise God for that progress today?

Day 2: Proper Response to Trouble

Description: In times of distress, our first response should be to call upon the Lord. David teaches us that true praise is proactive, not reactive. It's about praising God for what He is about to do, not just for what He has already done. This proactive praise invites God's presence into our situation. By calling upon the Lord, we are not merely reacting to our circumstances but actively seeking His intervention and guidance. This approach transforms our mindset and opens the door for divine assistance and comfort. [39:44]

Psalm 18:6 (ESV): "In my distress I called upon the Lord; to my God I cried for help. From his temple he heard my voice, and my cry to him reached his ears."

Reflection: When faced with a difficult situation, what is your usual first response? How can you make calling upon the Lord your immediate reaction?

Day 3: Trust Based on Experience

Description: Trusting God should come from a place of experience, not just emotion. David's trust in God was rooted in a history of God's faithfulness. This kind of trust is built over time and through various trials, reinforcing the belief that God will come through again. By reflecting on past experiences where God has been faithful, we can strengthen our trust in Him for future challenges. This experiential trust is more resilient and grounded, providing a solid foundation for our faith. [44:21]

Psalm 77:11-12 (ESV): "I will remember the deeds of the Lord; yes, I will remember your wonders of old. I will ponder all your work, and meditate on your mighty deeds."

Reflection: Recall a specific instance where God has been faithful in your life. How does this memory help you trust Him with your current challenges?

Day 4: Understanding God's Dual Nature

Description: Understanding the dual nature of God as both the Almighty (Adonai) and the covenant-keeping LORD (Yahweh) enriches our faith. This duality assures us that God is both powerful and faithful, capable of meeting our needs and keeping His promises. Recognizing these aspects of God's character helps us to trust Him more fully, knowing that He is both able and willing to act on our behalf. This understanding deepens our relationship with God and enhances our confidence in His provision and care. [45:04]

Isaiah 54:5 (ESV): "For your Maker is your husband, the Lord of hosts is his name; and the Holy One of Israel is your Redeemer, the God of the whole earth he is called."

Reflection: How does understanding God's dual nature as both powerful and faithful impact your trust in Him? Can you identify a promise of God that you need to hold onto today?

Day 5: The Reward of Transfer

Description: God has the power to transfer us from our current struggles to a place of victory. This transfer often exceeds our expectations, moving us from a place of distress to a place of abundance and joy. Trust in God's ability to do exceedingly and abundantly more than we can ask or think. By believing in His power to transform our circumstances, we open ourselves to experiencing His miraculous interventions and blessings. This trust in God's transformative power can bring hope and encouragement, even in the midst of trials. [53:41]

Ephesians 3:20-21 (ESV): "Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen."

Reflection: What is one area of your life where you need God's transformative power? How can you actively trust Him to transfer you from struggle to victory in this area?

Sermon Summary

### Summary

In today's sermon, we explored the theme of "Things Are Looking Up," inspired by the story of a coach who, despite a challenging season, maintained an optimistic outlook. This sentiment is echoed in the Psalms, particularly in the Egyptian Hallel psalm from the book of Ezra, which opens and closes with the reminder that "God's mercy endures forever." This psalm teaches us to praise God not just for the victories but also for the progress, even when we are still in the midst of our struggles.

We delved into the importance of having the proper response to trouble. David, in his distress, called upon the Lord, teaching us that our praise should be proactive, not reactive. This means praising God not just for what He has done but for what He is about to do. David's call to God was not just an emotional outburst but a summons, a deliberate act of bringing God's presence into his situation. This dual meaning of "call" also implies preaching or proclaiming God's goodness even in the midst of adversity.

We also discussed the reason to trust God, emphasizing that our trust should be based on experience, not just emotion. David trusted God because he had a history with Him, a resume of God's faithfulness in past troubles. This trust is rooted in the understanding of God as both the Almighty (Adonai) and the covenant-keeping LORD (Yahweh).

Finally, we touched on the concept of God rewarding us with a "transfer," moving us from one state to another, often exceeding our expectations. Just as David was moved from a small place to a large place, God knows how to transfer us from our current struggles to a place of victory and abundance. This transfer is a testament to God's ability to do exceedingly and abundantly more than we can ask or think.

###

Key Takeaways

1. keeping LORD (Yahweh) enriches our faith. This duality assures us that God is both powerful and faithful, capable of meeting our needs and keeping His promises. [45:04]
5. The Reward of Transfer: God has the power to transfer us from our current struggles to a place of victory. This transfer often exceeds our expectations, moving us from a place of distress to a place of abundance and joy. Trust in God's ability to do exceedingly and abundantly more than we can ask or think.

### [45:04]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[34:40] - Things Are Looking Up
[35:49] - Trusting God in Trouble
[37:05] - God's Enduring Mercy
[38:34] - Breathing and Planning
[39:44] - Proper Response to Trouble
[40:56] - Proactive Praise
[41:59] - The Dual Meaning of "Call"
[43:06] - Preaching in Adversity
[44:21] - Trust Based on Experience
[45:04] - Understanding God's Dual Nature
[46:20] - The Story of BJ
[48:24] - The Etiquette of Calling God
[50:06] - God's Response Options
[51:25] - Rewarded with a Transfer
[53:41] - Exceeding Expectations
[55:12] - Closing Blessing

Bible Study Guide

Observation Questions

What does Psalm 118:1 remind us about God's character and His mercy? How does this set the tone for the rest of the psalm?
In Psalm 118:5, what was David's response to being in distress, and what was the result of his action? [39:44]
How does the psalmist describe God's enduring mercy in both the opening and closing verses of Psalm 118? [37:05]
What does the term "transfer" mean in the context of the sermon, and how does it relate to David's experience in Psalm 118:5? [53:41]

Interpretation Questions

How does understanding God's dual nature as both the Almighty (Adonai) and the covenant-keeping LORD (Yahweh) deepen our trust in Him? [45:04]
Why is it important to have a proactive response to trouble, as demonstrated by David in Psalm 118:5? How does this proactive praise affect our relationship with God? [40:56]
What does it mean to trust God based on experience rather than emotion, and how can past experiences of God's faithfulness strengthen our current faith? [44:21]
How does the concept of God rewarding us with a "transfer" challenge our expectations of how God works in our lives? [53:41]

Application Questions

Reflect on a recent situation where you were in distress. How did you respond, and how might you incorporate proactive praise in similar future situations? [39:44]
Think about a time when you experienced God's faithfulness. How can recalling this experience help you trust God in your current struggles? [44:21]
How can you practice recognizing and praising God for progress in your life, even if you haven't yet reached your desired outcome? [34:40]
In what ways can you remind yourself of God's dual nature (Almighty and covenant-keeping) during times of trouble? How does this understanding impact your faith? [45:04]
Have you ever experienced a "transfer" from a difficult situation to a place of abundance? How did this experience shape your view of God's ability to exceed expectations? [53:41]
Identify a specific area in your life where you need to trust God more. What steps can you take to build that trust based on your past experiences with Him? [44:21]
How can you actively call upon the Lord in your daily life, not just in times of distress but also in moments of tranquility? What practical steps can you take to make this a habit? [47:13]

Sermon Clips

1. "If I can learn how to praise God for progress, if I can learn how to praise God that although it's not what I want it to be, thank God it's not what it used to be. If you can look at your neighbor and tell your neighbor, things are looking up." [34:40] (19 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

2. "The reality is I'm sick. The reality is I'm broke. The reality is I'm broken. The reality is I don't have what it is that I need. The reality is I got what it takes, but ain't nobody taking what I got. That's the reality. That's the reality of the situation I'm in, but aren't you glad you don't live in your reality? It's about the hope of where I'm headed, and I just believe that despite what things look like, things are looking up." [35:49] (33 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

3. "If you've got breath in your lungs, can I tell you, things are looking up. If you've got a plan, even if it ain't unfolded yet, things are looking up. If you're down in the doldrums of life, and you're feeling like giving up tonight, let me encourage you, things are looking up. How do I know they're looking up? In verse number 5 of the A-Clause, it reads simply that I called from my distress. I called upon the Lord, and the Lord answered." [38:34] (38 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

4. "You must have the proper response to trouble. Note that David is dealing with trouble. But David does not wait to get out of distress. David says, from my distress, I learned how to call on God. Where are the saints at that can call on the Lord in the middle of the sickness? That can call the Lord in the middle of the storm? That can call on the Lord in the middle of the divorce?" [39:44] (31 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

5. "Here's why I like David, Minister Cockrell. What he teaches us is that your praise ought to be proactive. That you ain't waiting for the victory. That you're mature enough that you learn how to praise God for what's about to happen. I know I'm going through right now. praise that you see ain't for what's happening now. It's for what's about to happen. It's for the door he's about to open. for the way he's about to make." [40:56] (32 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

6. "David is not calling on the Lord because he's having an emotional catharsis. David is calling on the Lord because he knows that the Lord has a resume. For answering. Is there anybody house that can confess that the Lord and you got history? That when you were lost, found you. he mended you. When you were sick, he healed you." [44:21] (28 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

7. "But ain't you glad that whatever they're saying, when you call the Lord, that the Lord knows how to answer? The doctor dismissed you, but the Lord answered. The lawyer's last debut, but the Lord answered. Your friends forgot you, but the Lord answered. Ain't you glad tonight that when you call on God, He knows how to answer?" [49:21] (27 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

8. "When somebody calls you, you can reject the call. You can reflect the call. Or you can receive the call. Is there anybody here that's glad You the Lord fed you. You are broken, and the Lord lifted you. You are depressed, and the Lord lifted you. Is there anybody here that knows my God will answer your prayer, find you a neighbor, and tell your name, when nobody else" [50:47] (64 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

9. "What I love about God is the Lord knows how to transfer you, the Lord how to move you from one place to another place. The Lord knows how to take you from a dead-end job to being your own boss. The Lord knows how to take you from depression to lifting Him in praise. The Lord knows how to take you from the background to the forefront." [53:41] (35 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

10. "When God does it, He exceeds your expectations. David wasn't praying for the Lord to bring him out. David was praying for the Lord to get in there with you. Is there anybody here that tonight? going through divorce. Would you get in with me? I'm going through sickness. Would you get in with me? But the Lord was so good that He exceeded his expectations." [55:45] (39 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

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