Embracing the Unknown: Trusting God Through Change
Summary
In today's message, we delved into the theme of navigating the unknown with God, focusing on how our past experiences can inform our future. We began by reflecting on the past year, using the framework of the "examine" to assess our lives honestly. This process involves recognizing both our triumphs and failures, and understanding how they shape our present and future. The key is to discern God's guidance as we step into a new season filled with change and uncertainty.
We explored the importance of embracing the unknown with hope and trust, acknowledging that while we cannot control the future, we can surrender to God's will. This involves paying attention to the inner promptings of the Holy Spirit, seeking guidance from scripture, and leaning on trusted spiritual friends. By doing so, we can discern where God is moving in our lives and align ourselves with His purposes.
The message also highlighted the significance of community in our spiritual journey. We are encouraged to be authentic and vulnerable with one another, supporting each other as we navigate life's challenges. This communal aspect is vital as we seek to cultivate a deeper relationship with God and live more intentionally.
As we move forward, we are invited to use the "examine" practice not just as an end-of-year reflection, but as a lifelong tool for living more consciously in God's presence. By doing so, we can experience the love, hope, and grace of Christ more deeply, and become a community that acknowledges God in every aspect of our lives.
Key Takeaways:
1. Reflecting on the Past to Inform the Future: Our past experiences, both joyful and challenging, can guide us in discerning God's direction for our future. By honestly assessing our lives, we can identify areas for growth and change, allowing us to step into the unknown with hope and trust. [37:10]
2. Embracing the Unknown with God: As we face uncertainty, it's crucial to surrender our anxieties to God and trust in His unfolding plan. This involves paying attention to the inner promptings of the Holy Spirit and seeking guidance from scripture and trusted spiritual friends. [46:36]
3. The Power of Community: Authenticity and vulnerability within a supportive community are essential for spiritual growth. By sharing our journeys with others, we can encourage and uplift one another, creating a space where God's love is experienced and shared. [01:01:50]
4. Living Intentionally with the Examine Practice: The "examine" is a powerful tool for cultivating a deeper relationship with God. By regularly reflecting on our lives, we can become more aware of God's presence and live more intentionally, aligning our actions with His will. [59:29]
5. Finding Consolation and Addressing Desolation: Identifying moments of consolation and desolation in our lives helps us understand where God is at work and where healing is needed. By bringing these areas to God in prayer and seeking support from others, we can experience His peace and joy. [50:15]
Youtube Chapters:
[00:00] - Welcome
[37:10] - Navigating the Unknown with God
[38:53] - Reflecting on the Past Year
[40:07] - Discerning God's Guidance
[42:17] - Personal Testimony of Overwhelm
[44:04] - Struggles and Losses
[46:36] - Embracing Change with Courage
[48:33] - Experiencing God's Presence
[50:15] - Consolation and Desolation
[51:10] - Story of Eric Liddell
[52:10] - Finding Joy in God's Pleasure
[53:10] - Addressing Desolation
[55:36] - One Word for the Year
[56:43] - The Meaning of Metanoia
[59:29] - The Examine as a Lifelong Practice
[01:01:50] - The Importance of Community
[01:04:13] - Closing Prayer and Invitation
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide
Bible Reading:
1. Proverbs 3:5-6 - "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways, submit to him, and he will make your paths straight."
2. Psalm 1:1-2 - "Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers, but delights in the law of the Lord and meditates on it day and night."
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Observation Questions:
1. What are some of the key areas of life that the sermon suggests we should examine to understand God's guidance for our future? [37:10]
2. How does the sermon describe the role of community in our spiritual journey? [01:01:50]
3. What is the significance of the "examine" practice as mentioned in the sermon, and how is it suggested to be used? [59:29]
4. According to the sermon, what are the two contrasting experiences of consolation and desolation, and how do they help us discern God's presence? [50:15]
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Interpretation Questions:
1. How does the sermon suggest that reflecting on past experiences can help us discern God's direction for our future? [40:07]
2. In what ways does the sermon encourage us to embrace the unknown with hope and trust in God? [46:36]
3. How does the sermon describe the process of identifying moments of consolation and desolation, and why is this important for spiritual growth? [50:15]
4. What does the sermon imply about the importance of being authentic and vulnerable within a community? [01:01:50]
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Application Questions:
1. Reflect on a past experience that has significantly shaped your life. How can you use this reflection to guide your future decisions and actions? [40:07]
2. What are some specific ways you can surrender your anxieties about the future to God and trust in His plan? [46:36]
3. Identify a trusted spiritual friend or mentor. How can you seek their guidance in discerning God's will for your life? [46:36]
4. Think of a recent moment of consolation in your life. How did it help you recognize God's presence, and how can you seek more of these moments? [50:15]
5. Consider a time when you felt desolation. How can you bring this area to God in prayer and seek healing and support from your community? [50:15]
6. How can you incorporate the "examine" practice into your daily or weekly routine to cultivate a deeper relationship with God? [59:29]
7. What steps can you take to be more authentic and vulnerable within your community, and how can this contribute to your spiritual growth? [01:01:50]
Devotional
I'm ready to provide the 5-day devotional based on the steps outlined. Here it is:
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Day 1: Reflecting on the Past to Guide the Future
Reflecting on our past experiences, both joyful and challenging, can provide valuable insights into God's direction for our future. By honestly assessing our lives, we can identify areas for growth and change, allowing us to step into the unknown with hope and trust. This process involves using the "examine" practice to discern God's guidance as we move forward. By acknowledging our triumphs and failures, we can better understand how they shape our present and future, and align ourselves with God's purposes. [37:10]
"Remember not the former things, nor consider the things of old. Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert." (Isaiah 43:18-19, ESV)
Reflection: Think of a past experience that has significantly shaped you. How can you use the lessons learned from that experience to guide your decisions and actions in the coming weeks?
Day 2: Surrendering to God in Uncertainty
As we face uncertainty, it's crucial to surrender our anxieties to God and trust in His unfolding plan. This involves paying attention to the inner promptings of the Holy Spirit and seeking guidance from scripture and trusted spiritual friends. By embracing the unknown with hope and trust, we can navigate life's changes with courage and faith, knowing that God is with us every step of the way. [46:36]
"Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths." (Proverbs 3:5-6, ESV)
Reflection: Identify an area of your life where you feel uncertain or anxious. How can you actively surrender this to God today, and what steps can you take to trust in His plan?
Day 3: The Power of Authentic Community
Authenticity and vulnerability within a supportive community are essential for spiritual growth. By sharing our journeys with others, we can encourage and uplift one another, creating a space where God's love is experienced and shared. This communal aspect is vital as we seek to cultivate a deeper relationship with God and live more intentionally. [01:01:50]
"And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near." (Hebrews 10:24-25, ESV)
Reflection: Think of someone in your community who might need encouragement or support. How can you reach out to them this week to offer your presence and support?
Day 4: Living Intentionally with the Examine Practice
The "examine" is a powerful tool for cultivating a deeper relationship with God. By regularly reflecting on our lives, we can become more aware of God's presence and live more intentionally, aligning our actions with His will. This practice helps us to discern where God is moving in our lives and how we can align ourselves with His purposes. [59:29]
"Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!" (Psalm 139:23-24, ESV)
Reflection: Set aside time today to practice the "examine." Reflect on your day, asking God to reveal areas where you can grow closer to Him and align your actions with His will.
Day 5: Finding Consolation and Addressing Desolation
Identifying moments of consolation and desolation in our lives helps us understand where God is at work and where healing is needed. By bringing these areas to God in prayer and seeking support from others, we can experience His peace and joy. This practice allows us to discern God's presence in our lives and align ourselves with His purposes. [50:15]
"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God." (2 Corinthians 1:3-4, ESV)
Reflection: Reflect on a recent moment of consolation or desolation. How can you bring this experience to God in prayer, and what steps can you take to seek healing or offer comfort to others?
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Quotes
"I'm going to start off in this second part of our series on the compass, right? It's the soul's compass, navigating the unknown with God. And it feels like every day we'll be, you know, we obviously walk in. A space that is known, things that we know what to do. But then there is a huge element of the unknown, right? There are things that we just don't know. We have no control over. We have no idea what is happening. But we know that God is in control." [00:37:10] (36 seconds)
"And so today's part, we're going to focus on a little bit about the future. We'll explore how to discern God's guidance for this year. Hopefully you will embrace the unknown with hope and trust because we are going to enter into a season that is going to be a lot of change. There's a lot of things that are going to happen. And so I want to prepare you for that. And I want to prepare you in such a way that you are trusting God. In all of this. All right. And so part two is called the exam and stepping into the unknown with God." [00:40:23] (40 seconds)
"And so we are going to step into the unknown with god right and so i want you to understand that as we enter into this year into these coming years whether it's in your personal life whether it's corporately as a church is to understand that as we come into this that we need to come in with this with the courage that comes from God 'il for us and we need to be able to Christ and embrace this unknown." [00:44:36] (25 seconds)
"It's not about controlling the future, but about surrendering to God's will and trusting in this unfolding of who God is in our lives. And so part of what we're going to do last week and this week and this month really, is actually trying to discern God's voice through the inner promptings, through scripture, and in the guidance of trusted spiritual friends around us." [00:46:44] (30 seconds)
"And question eight is this, in the past 12 months, where have I experienced the greatest sense of consolation? Now, there are two words in this, consolation and desolation. It's used by the desert. Fathers, those who lived in hundreds and hundreds of years ago to actually really just run away from society and just to be with God because they felt the world around them was so corrupt. And so they use this word consolation and desolation. Consolation being things that bring joy and peace and contentment, shalom and beauty." [00:49:01] (37 seconds)
"And so, what we're trying to do is, what we're trying to do here is not to cover it up and say, oh, no, I don't feel that. I don't want to know about that. I'm just trying to put it in the past, put it in the closet. Actually, what we're saying is, as God brings this into the light, it's a way for us to be able to deal with it in the strength of God. And so, we acknowledge those areas where we experience these feelings of despair." [00:53:35] (26 seconds)
"Metanoia is a Greek word. And which means we translate it as repentance, right? And repentance, we often think, oh, okay, we've got to turn away from our sins, which is true. Repentance is a changing, is literally a changing of your mind. But it's not just a changing of your mind. It's, you know, a big part of that is not only just turning away from your sin, but actually the bigger part of that is turning towards God. And so, this year for me is the word metanoia, repentance, to turn towards God." [00:57:29] (39 seconds)
"And I want, I would like you to use the, this examined practice, uh, as something that, that you can use lifelong, right? So not just use it as an end of year practice, but it's a way of living more consciously throughout the year that God is present in your lives, in your everyday lives. For example, um, uh, a couple of people there, uh, I've got some quotes up here. Make the examiner daily or weekly practice. It can be a S a simple and yet powerful tool for cultivating a deeper relationship with God and living more intentionally." [00:59:06] (42 seconds)
"Richard Rohr, Friar Richard Rohr, all right. Um, he, he says this, the examine is not about achieving perfection, but about deepening your awareness of God's presence in each moment. And so I want to encourage you to cultivate this sense of patience, because this. This is a S a long and a slow process, especially in a world where everything is instant. And allow this to be part of your spiritual journey to unfold at its own pace." [01:00:09] (38 seconds)
