Embracing Weakness: Finding Strength in God's Presence

Devotional

Day 1: Faith Is Trust Without Condition, Not “If-Then” Bargaining

True faith means surrendering our desires and trusting God’s goodness, even when we don’t get the answers we want or understand His timing. We often approach God with “if-then” prayers—“God, if you do this, then I’ll trust you”—but Jesus calls us to a deeper trust, one that is rooted not in what He might do for us in the future, but in what He has already done through the cross and resurrection. Faith is not a transaction; it is a relationship of surrender, believing that God’s better is truly better, even when we can’t see it. [33:30]

Matthew 27:41-43 (ESV)
So also the chief priests, with the scribes and elders, mocked him, saying, “He saved others; he cannot save himself. He is the King of Israel; let him come down now from the cross, and we will believe in him. He trusts in God; let God deliver him now, if he desires him. For he said, ‘I am the Son of God.’”

Reflection: Where in your life are you tempted to make your trust in God conditional on Him answering a specific prayer? What would it look like to surrender that area to Him today, trusting His goodness regardless of the outcome?

Day 2: Jesus Sees and Responds to Desperate, Dependent Faith

Jesus welcomes those who come to Him in desperation and dependence, regardless of how incomplete or imperfect their theology may be. Jairus, a religious leader, and the bleeding woman, an outcast, both sought Jesus in their brokenness. They didn’t have all the right words or perfect understanding, but they came to Him, acknowledging their need. Jesus responded not because of their flawless faith, but because they sought Him—the right object of faith. He meets us in our gaps, our pain, and our need, inviting us to come as we are. [49:59]

Matthew 9:18-19, 23-25 (ESV)
While he was saying these things to them, behold, a ruler came in and knelt before him, saying, “My daughter has just died, but come and lay your hand on her, and she will live.” And Jesus rose and followed him, with his disciples...
And when Jesus came to the ruler’s house and saw the flute players and the crowd making a commotion, he said, “Go away, for the girl is not dead but sleeping.” And they laughed at him. But when the crowd had been put outside, he went in and took her by the hand, and the girl arose.

Reflection: Is there a place in your life where you feel desperate or insufficient? How can you bring that need honestly to Jesus today, trusting that He sees you and welcomes your dependence?

Day 3: God’s Compassion Meets Us in Our Waiting and Suffering

God’s compassion is not limited by our circumstances or the length of our suffering. The woman who suffered for twelve years was not forgotten by God; in her pain and isolation, Jesus saw her, called her “daughter,” and restored her. Our waiting is not wasted—God is present in the gap between our current reality and our hopes. He offers us Himself, even when the answer is “wait” or “not yet.” In the midst of long prayers and deep hurts, Jesus meets us with compassion, reminding us that we are seen, loved, and never alone. [58:59]

Matthew 9:20-22 (ESV)
And behold, a woman who had suffered from a discharge of blood for twelve years came up behind him and touched the fringe of his garment, for she said to herself, “If I only touch his garment, I will be made well.” Jesus turned, and seeing her he said, “Take heart, daughter; your faith has made you well.” And instantly the woman was made well.

Reflection: Think of a prayer you’ve been waiting on for a long time. How might God be inviting you to experience His presence and compassion in the waiting, even before the answer comes?

Day 4: Surrendering Outcomes—God’s “Yes,” “No,” and “Wait” Are All for Our Good

God always answers prayer, but not always in the way or timing we expect. Sometimes He says “yes,” sometimes “no,” and often “wait.” Each answer is shaped by His perfect wisdom, compassion, and sovereignty. True surrender means laying our desires before God and trusting that His answer—whatever it is—is for our good and His glory. We are invited to pray open-handed, releasing control and receiving whatever He gives, knowing that He is more than able and always good. [01:09:34]

Romans 8:28 (ESV)
And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.

Reflection: What is one specific prayer or desire you need to place in God’s hands today, trusting Him with the outcome—even if it’s not what you would choose?

Day 5: Weeping and Waiting as Worship—God Is With Us in the Gap

Our tears and our waiting are not signs of weak faith, but can be acts of worship when we bring them to God. Jesus meets us in our grief, our longing, and our unanswered questions. He invites us to trust Him in the gap between where we are and where we long to be, knowing that He is working for our good and His glory. Weeping, waiting, and even laughter in the face of uncertainty can be expressions of surrender and hope, because we know that God is with us, for us, and wastes nothing in our story. [01:11:50]

Psalm 34:18 (ESV)
The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.

Reflection: Where are you currently “in the gap”—between your present reality and your hopes? How can you turn your weeping or waiting into worship by inviting God’s presence into that space today?

Sermon Summary

In a world that teaches us to hide our insufficiencies and project strength, the truth is that every one of us walks through life desperate and dependent—whether we admit it or not. The invitation is not to mask our weakness, but to boast in it, because it is precisely in our weakness that God’s strength is revealed. When we come to God in prayer, we are not engaging in a last resort, but in the very work itself—prayer is the work. Our prayer life reveals what we truly believe about God and ourselves. Too often, we approach God with “if-then” prayers: “God, if you do this, then I’ll trust you.” But faith is not conditional; it is trust without strings attached, rooted not in what God might do, but in what He has already done.

Matthew 9 gives us two stories that illustrate this desperate dependence: Jairus, a religious leader whose daughter has died, and a woman who has suffered for twelve years. Both come to Jesus with incomplete theology and imperfect faith, but they come to the right person. Jairus kneels before Jesus, seeking help at the end of himself. The woman, an outcast, reaches out in anonymity, hoping for healing. Jesus responds to both—not because their faith is flawless, but because it is directed toward Him. He meets them in their pain, their waiting, and their longing, offering not just a miracle, but Himself.

The miracles in these stories are not formulas to be repeated, but reminders that God is both capable and compassionate. Sometimes He says yes, sometimes no, and sometimes wait. The greatest gift is not the answer to our prayers, but the presence of God with us in the gap between our current reality and our deepest desires. We are invited to surrender, to open our hands, and to trust that God’s better is truly better—even when we don’t understand.

Weeping, waiting, and even laughter in the face of pain can be acts of worship, expressions of trust that God is good and that He wastes nothing. Whether we are religious insiders or outsiders, Jesus meets us in our desperate dependence and calls us to Himself. The call is to seek Him first, to surrender our “if-then” conditions, and to receive the gift of His presence, knowing that He is with us, for us, and more than able.

Key Takeaways

1. Desperate Dependence Is the Starting Point True spiritual growth begins when we recognize our desperate need and dependence on God. Rather than hiding our insufficiencies, we are invited to bring them openly before God, trusting that His strength is made perfect in our weakness. This posture of humility is not a sign of failure, but the very place where God meets us most powerfully. [33:30]
2. Faith Is Trust Without Conditions “If-then” prayers reveal a heart that wants to bargain with God, but genuine faith is unconditional trust. We are called to trust God not because of what He might do in the future, but because of what He has already accomplished—especially through the cross and resurrection. Faith surrenders outcomes and rests in the character and faithfulness of God. [39:33]
3. God Responds to Imperfect Faith Jairus and the bleeding woman both approached Jesus with incomplete theology and imperfect understanding, yet Jesus honored their faith because it was directed toward Him. God does not require perfect doctrine or flawless prayers; He desires that we seek Him honestly, bringing our doubts, fears, and hopes to Him. [49:59]
4. The Greatest Gift Is God’s Presence, Not Just His Answers While we often pray for changed circumstances, God’s greatest gift is Himself—His presence with us in the gap between our reality and our desires. In seasons of waiting, pain, or unanswered prayer, God offers us intimacy, comfort, and transformation that we could not receive any other way. Our weeping and waiting become acts of worship when we invite God into them. [58:59]
5. Surrender Transforms Our Story and Others’ Open-handed surrender—laying down our “if-then” demands and trusting God with the outcome—frees us to experience His peace and joy, even in suffering. Our stories of faith in the midst of pain become testimonies that can lead others to Christ, as God redeems even our deepest hurts for His glory and the good of others. [69:34]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[02:10] - Desperate Dependence: More Than a Slogan
[06:45] - The Reality of Weakness and God’s Strength
[11:30] - Inventory of Our Prayer Life
[16:20] - The Problem with “If-Then” Prayers
[22:00] - Trust Rooted in God’s Past Faithfulness
[27:15] - The Greatest Injustice and the Cross
[33:30] - Faith Without Conditions
[39:33] - Jesus’ Authority and Compassion in Matthew
[44:38] - The King in Action: Miracles and Meaning
[47:57] - Jairus’ Desperate Plea
[51:17] - Jesus Responds to Our Brokenness
[55:53] - The Bleeding Woman: Faith in the Right Person
[58:59] - God’s Presence in the Gap
[61:20] - Life Over Death: The Raising of Jairus’ Daughter
[68:15] - Surrendering Our Will in Prayer
[71:07] - Weeping, Waiting, and Worship
[73:36] - God Meets Us in the 12-Year Gap
[82:41] - Remembering God’s Faithfulness
[84:26] - Leaving Our Burdens and Receiving His Presence
[85:08] - Laughing as We Leave: Trusting God in the Gaps

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading

Matthew 9:18-26 (ESV) — > While he was saying these things to them, behold, a ruler came in and knelt before him, saying, “My daughter has just died, but come and lay your hand on her, and she will live.” And Jesus rose and followed him, with his disciples. And behold, a woman who had suffered from a discharge of blood for twelve years came up behind him and touched the fringe of his garment, for she said to herself, “If I only touch his garment, I will be made well.” Jesus turned, and seeing her he said, “Take heart, daughter; your faith has made you well.” And instantly the woman was made well. And when Jesus came to the ruler’s house and saw the flute players and the crowd making a commotion, he said, “Go away, for the girl is not dead but sleeping.” And they laughed at him. But when the crowd had been put outside, he went in and took her by the hand, and the girl arose. And the report of this went through all that district.

Observation Questions

What do Jairus and the bleeding woman have in common in the way they approach Jesus?
How does Jesus respond to both Jairus and the woman, even though their faith and understanding are imperfect?
According to the sermon, what is the significance of Jesus calling the woman “daughter”? [58:59]
What is the crowd’s reaction when Jesus says the girl is “not dead but sleeping,” and what does this reveal about their expectations? [01:01:20]

Interpretation Questions

The sermon says that both Jairus and the woman come to Jesus with “incomplete theology and imperfect faith.” Why does Jesus still honor their requests? What does this teach us about the kind of faith God desires? [49:59]
The pastor mentions that “prayer is the work” and not just a last resort. How does this perspective challenge the way people typically approach prayer? [11:30]
The sermon talks about “if-then” prayers (e.g., “God, if you do this, then I’ll trust you”). Why are these prayers described as “rubbish theology,” and what is the alternative Jesus invites us into? [33:30]
The greatest gift, according to the sermon, is not the miracle or the answer to prayer, but God’s presence in the “gap” between our reality and our desires. How does this change the way we view waiting, pain, or unanswered prayer? [58:59]

Application Questions

The sermon says, “True spiritual growth begins when we recognize our desperate need and dependence on God.” What is one area of your life where you feel desperate or insufficient right now? How can you bring that honestly to God this week? [33:30]
Think about your own prayer life. Are there any “if-then” prayers you’ve been praying? What would it look like to surrender those conditions and trust God with open hands? [33:30]
The woman waited 12 years for healing, and Jairus had to wait in the pain of losing his daughter. Is there a “gap” in your life—a place of waiting or longing—where you need to invite God’s presence instead of just asking for a quick fix? [58:59]
The sermon says, “Weeping, waiting, and even laughter in the face of pain can be acts of worship.” How can you turn your current struggles or disappointments into acts of worship this week? [01:11:07]
The pastor shared about surrendering his son’s health to God, even when the outcome was uncertain. Is there something you need to surrender to God’s will, trusting that “God’s better is truly better—even when we don’t understand”? [01:09:34]
Both Jairus (a religious insider) and the bleeding woman (an outsider) were met by Jesus in their need. Do you tend to see yourself as an “insider” or “outsider” in your faith journey? How does Jesus’ response to both encourage you? [01:14:28]
The sermon ends with the idea of “laughing as we leave”—trusting God in the gaps with a sense of hope and expectation. What would it look like for you to leave your burdens with God and walk forward in faith this week? [01:25:08]

Sermon Clips

He proves himself better than what they want, what they actually need. He purchased our salvation. And so here is my prayer for us today as we look at Matthew chapter 9. As we look at Matthew 9, here's my summary. Matthew is writing this so that we would not just see, but that we would truly believe that Jesus is the Messiah, that we would receive him, that we would repent God from our heart. He is fully capable and fully compassionate, which is a big deal because this side of heaven, we don't always see it perfectly. [00:39:24] (27 seconds) #BelieveAndRepent

He has a power and a capability and an ability to control everything. Not only is he capable, but he's also compassionate. The details matter, which is a big deal because you know what we're consumed with often? The details. Jesus is like, I have more for you. It's more than just a miracle. It's actually being in relationship with the Messiah. [00:46:15] (19 seconds) #CompassionInControl

Jairus does not have the best theology. He just has his faith in the right person. He doesn't have all things. And that's important. We have so many people at our church. You're a baby Christian. You just started. Just like Matthew, in this text, you just got off a throne of your heart to follow him. And I love that. God is saying, right now is the time to activate your faith. And it starts with seeking me. [00:50:45] (19 seconds) #FaithOverTheology

God doesn't have to come to us or pursue us or become like us. But because he loves you, he'll go with you. Now this is huge. Jesus does not have to come not react to us, but he does respond to us. He already has a plan. He is perfectly sovereign. He is perfectly good, but he responds to us in our mess, in our gaps, in our brokenness. [00:52:00] (25 seconds) #JesusRespondsToUs

Part of what I want for you as your pastor is that you just hang out with Jesus. Because the more you hang out with Jesus, the more you're going to see his compassion, his care, and his capability. The more you're going to say, I can trust him in the future because I've seen what he's done in the past, and I see who he is, and he is a truth teller through and through, and he is good all the time, and all the time he is good. [00:53:06] (18 seconds) #TrustThroughRelationship

Don't ever forget that I am with you and that I am for you and that I care about what's most important for you. Because what does she want? Whenever we're in a gap, a gap is just a gap between our presence and our desired state. Whenever we're in a gap, prayer lives are typically, God, get me out of the gap, right? Jesus says, I have something more for you. I have myself. I want to give you myself in this process. [00:58:59] (20 seconds) #PresenceOverCircumstances

We are desperate, and we are dependent. Very religious man, ruler of the synagogue, a woman that's been removed from any sort of religiosity for at least 12 years. Jesus meets them both, both in their desperate, dependent reality, and He calls them to Himself. He shows up in the details. [01:22:24] (17 seconds) #SurrenderAllNoIfThen

It's fun to remember in the midst of the gap that God's doing something in your son's life when you don't know what it is. But his better is better. And so I would encourage you, do not leave today before you leave whatever you need to in his hands. It's why we pray open -handed. We pray in such a way that we say, God, I surrender all. There is no if -then theology. There is no God. If -then, because you have, we will. Because you have come. Because you have overcome. [01:23:37] (26 seconds) #LaughInTrialsTrustGod

Ask a question about this sermon

Chatbot

What does it mean to trust God in the waiting?

How does Jesus demonstrate compassion in broken situations?

What is the significance of faith beyond perfect theology?