Endurance: Recognizing God's Sustaining Miracles in Trials
Summary
### Summary
Today, we explored the profound concept of endurance and how God sustains us through challenging times. We began by acknowledging that while we often desire sudden, miraculous changes in our circumstances, not all miracles are instantaneous. Sometimes, God’s work is subtle, providing us with the strength and grace to endure rather than delivering us from our trials immediately. This endurance itself is a miracle, as God holds back the forces of darkness and keeps us from becoming discouraged or bitter.
We reflected on various biblical examples, such as Moses parting the Red Sea and the Israelites' 40-year journey in the desert, where God’s sustaining power was evident. Their clothes did not wear out, and their feet did not swell, demonstrating God’s continuous provision even in harsh conditions. Similarly, in our lives, we may not always recognize the miracles happening around us because we are focused on the difficulties.
I shared personal experiences from my time in the military, where I initially questioned God’s plan but later realized that He was working behind the scenes. Being stationed in challenging environments led to unexpected opportunities for ministry and personal growth. These experiences taught me that God’s sustaining grace is often at work in ways we do not immediately understand.
We concluded by encouraging everyone to adopt a new perspective on their struggles. Instead of complaining about unanswered prayers, we should thank God for sustaining us and giving us the strength to keep moving forward. This shift in perspective can help us recognize the miracles of endurance in our lives.
### Key Takeaways
1. God’s Sustaining Power: Even when we don’t see immediate answers to our prayers, God is actively sustaining us. He holds back the forces of darkness and keeps us from becoming discouraged or bitter. This unseen protection is a miracle in itself. [04:37]
2. Endurance as a Miracle: Not all miracles are instantaneous. Sometimes, the miracle is in the endurance God provides. He gives us the strength to outlast our critics and face our challenges, which is no less miraculous than sudden deliverance. [07:30]
3. Recognizing Hidden Miracles: Often, we are in the middle of a miracle but fail to recognize it because we are focused on our difficulties. Reflecting on past challenges can help us see how God was sustaining us all along. [11:52]
4. God’s Provision in the Desert: The Israelites’ 40-year journey in the desert is a powerful example of God’s sustaining grace. Despite harsh conditions, their clothes did not wear out, and their feet did not swell, showing that God provides even in the most challenging times. [10:20]
5. Personal Testimonies of Endurance: Personal experiences, like my time in the military, illustrate how God’s plans often unfold in unexpected ways. These experiences teach us to trust in God’s sustaining power and recognize the hidden miracles in our lives. [17:26]
### YouTube Chapters
[0:00] - Welcome
[01:29] - Introduction and Opening Prayer
[03:14] - Sudden Miracles vs. Sustaining Miracles
[04:37] - God’s Sustaining Power
[06:03] - Reflecting on COVID and Endurance
[07:30] - The Miracle of Endurance
[08:55] - A New Perspective on Struggles
[10:20] - God’s Provision in the Desert
[11:52] - Recognizing Hidden Miracles
[13:08] - The Israelites’ Journey
[14:37] - Personal Testimony: Military Experience
[16:00] - Trusting God’s Plan
[17:26] - Starting a Bible Study in the Military
[19:51] - God’s Unexpected Plans
[21:05] - Challenges in the Philippines
[22:27] - Forming the God Squad
[23:49] - Ministry Impact
[25:11] - Long-term Effects of Endurance
[26:53] - Helping Families in Need
[29:17] - Realizing God’s Plan
[29:52] - Encouragement to Recognize Miracles
[30:41] - Walking Through the Valley
[31:20] - Invitation to Salvation
[31:55] - Prayer of Repentance
[33:07] - Closing Prayer
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide
#### Bible Reading
1. 1 John 4:4 (NIV) - "You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world."
2. 2 Corinthians 12:8-9 (NIV) - "Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But he said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.' Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me."
3. Nehemiah 9:21 (NIV) - "For forty years you sustained them in the wilderness; they lacked nothing, their clothes did not wear out nor did their feet become swollen."
#### Observation Questions
1. What does 1 John 4:4 say about the power of God within us compared to the power of the world?
2. According to 2 Corinthians 12:8-9, how did Paul respond to his "thorn in the flesh" and what was God's answer to him?
3. In Nehemiah 9:21, what specific ways did God sustain the Israelites during their 40 years in the wilderness? How does this relate to the concept of endurance discussed in the sermon? [10:20]
#### Interpretation Questions
1. How does the idea that "the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world" (1 John 4:4) provide comfort during challenging times?
2. What does Paul’s experience with his "thorn in the flesh" teach us about God's grace and power in our weaknesses? [07:30]
3. Reflecting on the Israelites' journey in the desert, how can we recognize God's sustaining power in our own lives, even when we face prolonged difficulties? [11:52]
#### Application Questions
1. Think about a current challenge you are facing. How can you shift your perspective to see God's sustaining power at work in this situation? [08:55]
2. Have you ever experienced a time when you felt sustained by God, even if the situation did not change immediately? Share this experience with the group. [04:37]
3. How can you cultivate a habit of recognizing and thanking God for the "hidden miracles" in your daily life? [11:52]
4. In what ways can you support others in your community who are going through difficult times, helping them to see God's sustaining grace? [06:03]
5. Reflect on a time when you felt like giving up. How did you find the strength to endure, and what role did your faith play in that process? [07:30]
6. How can you apply the lesson of endurance from the Israelites' 40-year journey to a long-term goal or challenge you are currently facing? [10:20]
7. Identify one area in your life where you need to trust in God's plan more fully. What steps can you take this week to surrender that area to Him? [17:26]
Devotional
### Day 1: God’s Sustaining Power
Even when we don’t see immediate answers to our prayers, God is actively sustaining us. He holds back the forces of darkness and keeps us from becoming discouraged or bitter. This unseen protection is a miracle in itself. Often, we are so focused on the immediate resolution of our problems that we fail to recognize the subtle ways in which God is working. His sustaining power is evident in the way He provides us with the strength to endure, even when we feel like giving up.
Consider the Israelites during their 40-year journey in the desert. Despite the harsh conditions, their clothes did not wear out, and their feet did not swell. This continuous provision was a testament to God’s sustaining grace. Similarly, in our lives, we may not always see the immediate answers to our prayers, but God is always at work, holding us up and keeping us from falling into despair. Reflect on the ways God has sustained you in your own life, even when you didn’t realize it at the time. [04:37]
Bible Passage:
Deuteronomy 8:4 (ESV) - "Your clothing did not wear out on you and your foot did not swell these forty years."
Reflection:
Think of a time when you felt like giving up but found the strength to keep going. How do you think God was sustaining you during that period?
### Day 2: Endurance as a Miracle
Not all miracles are instantaneous. Sometimes, the miracle is in the endurance God provides. He gives us the strength to outlast our critics and face our challenges, which is no less miraculous than sudden deliverance. This endurance is a testament to God’s power and grace, enabling us to persevere through trials and tribulations.
Reflect on the story of Moses parting the Red Sea. While the parting itself was a sudden miracle, the endurance required to lead the Israelites through the desert for 40 years was equally miraculous. God provided for them continuously, showing that His miracles are not always about immediate deliverance but also about sustaining us through prolonged challenges. In your own life, consider how God has given you the strength to endure difficult situations and recognize this endurance as a miracle. [07:30]
Bible Passage:
Isaiah 40:31 (ESV) - "But they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint."
Reflection:
Identify a current challenge you are facing. How can you see God’s hand in giving you the strength to endure this situation?
### Day 3: Recognizing Hidden Miracles
Often, we are in the middle of a miracle but fail to recognize it because we are focused on our difficulties. Reflecting on past challenges can help us see how God was sustaining us all along. It’s easy to overlook the subtle ways in which God is at work when we are preoccupied with our struggles.
Consider the Israelites again. They were so focused on their hardships that they often failed to see the continuous miracles happening around them. Their clothes did not wear out, and their feet did not swell, yet they frequently complained and doubted God’s provision. In our own lives, we can be similarly blind to the hidden miracles around us. Take time to reflect on past challenges and recognize the ways God was sustaining you, even when you didn’t realize it at the time. [11:52]
Bible Passage:
Psalm 77:14 (ESV) - "You are the God who works wonders; you have made known your might among the peoples."
Reflection:
Think back to a difficult period in your life. What hidden miracles can you now see that you might have missed at the time?
### Day 4: God’s Provision in the Desert
The Israelites’ 40-year journey in the desert is a powerful example of God’s sustaining grace. Despite harsh conditions, their clothes did not wear out, and their feet did not swell, showing that God provides even in the most challenging times. This story reminds us that God’s provision is not always about abundance but about meeting our needs in ways we might not expect.
In our own lives, we may find ourselves in “desert” seasons where resources are scarce, and the journey seems long and arduous. During these times, it’s important to remember that God is still providing for us, even if it’s not in the ways we anticipated. Reflect on the ways God has met your needs during difficult times and trust that He will continue to provide for you. [10:20]
Bible Passage:
Nehemiah 9:21 (ESV) - "Forty years you sustained them in the wilderness, and they lacked nothing. Their clothes did not wear out and their feet did not swell."
Reflection:
Consider a time when you felt you were in a “desert” season. How did God provide for you during that time, even if it wasn’t in the way you expected?
### Day 5: Personal Testimonies of Endurance
Personal experiences, like my time in the military, illustrate how God’s plans often unfold in unexpected ways. These experiences teach us to trust in God’s sustaining power and recognize the hidden miracles in our lives. When we look back on our lives, we can often see how God was at work, even in the most challenging circumstances.
Reflect on your own life and consider the unexpected ways God has worked through your experiences. Whether it’s through difficult jobs, challenging relationships, or other trials, God’s sustaining power is always at work. Trust that He has a plan for you and that He is using your experiences to shape you and grow your faith. [17:26]
Bible Passage:
2 Corinthians 12:9 (ESV) - "But he said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.' Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me."
Reflection:
Think about a challenging experience you’ve had. How did God use that experience to grow your faith and shape you into who you are today?
Quotes
### Quotes for Outreach
1. "How many know God does suddenlies in our life? He does. And you look forward to those and expect those. I mean, we see about how Jesus, when he touched the blind man, instantly, the guy's eyes were open. Jesus prays over the five loaves of bread and the two fish, and it multiplies. What does it do? It feeds 5,000 people. What an amazing miracle. And Moses, he held up his staff in the air, and the Bible says that the Red Sea suddenly parted. Everything changed immediately in that moment, and Pharaoh's army was destroyed." [03:14](Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "But here's the thing. What we don't realize is that God actually is doing something in those moments. And that's what I want to talk to you about. What is he doing? He's sustaining you. He's not letting the opposition take you out. How many of you know that if we didn't have—and I'll get into this in a moment—the protection that God protects over us, the enemy would come in immediately and take us out?" [04:37](Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "So really, instead of complaining, God, why ain't you answering my prayers? You know, nothing really as good is happening in my life. I want to challenge us all today, myself included, to have a new perspective. To have heaven's perspective about your situation. Can I get an amen? So, you know, maybe it's a prayer of like, Lord, thank you for sustaining me. Thank you for giving me the grace and the strength, and the favor to keep moving forward." [08:55](Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "In the Old Testament, the story about the Israelite, the Israelite, the Israelite, the Israelite, the Israelite, the Israelite, the Israelite, and they've been in the desert for 40 years. And what was really actually a two-week journey ended up taking 40 years. Four decades. Imagine that. In the desert. Here's the thing. We know there's no grocery stores. There was no malls. No Walmart delivery or DoorDash. No Amazon Prime. There was none of that. There was, there was even no In-N-Out burgers. Yet the scripture says this, and I love this. This is something amazing what happened." [10:20](Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "The children of Israel, in the midst of all that difficulty, all that harsh climate, they were in the middle of a miracle. They didn't recognize it, though. All they could see was the bad things, the difficult things, the trying things. But here's the thing. Really, God was sustaining them. He was sustaining them in the midst of it. He was protecting them. He was not allowing the enemies, their enemies, to defeat them." [14:37](Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
### Quotes for Members
1. "But here's the thing. What we don't realize is that God actually is doing something in those moments. And that's what I want to talk to you about. What is he doing? He's sustaining you. He's not letting the opposition take you out. How many of you know that if we didn't have—and I'll get into this in a moment—the protection that God protects over us, the enemy would come in immediately and take us out? I want you to think about that as we move on here in this message. What is the Lord doing? He's actually holding back the forces of darkness, and he's actually helping us, keeping us from not being discouraged and bitter and giving up." [04:37](Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "I want to challenge us all today, myself included, to have a new perspective. To have heaven's perspective about your situation. Can I get an amen? So, you know, maybe it's a prayer of like, Lord, thank you for sustaining me. Thank you for giving me the grace and the strength, and the favor to keep moving forward. You know, favor is amazing. Joseph had favor in his life. Favor is like water on the back of a duck. How many, no matter how much you try to get that duck wet, water just goes right off of it. And there's some people, you know, you go through some things that should have taken you out, but you're still there. That's the favor of God. And it's real. I said, it's real. The favor of God." [08:55](Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "The children of Israel, in the midst of all that difficulty, all that harsh climate, they were in the middle of a miracle. They didn't recognize it, though. All they could see was the bad things, the difficult things, the trying things. But here's the thing. Really, God was sustaining them. He was sustaining them in the midst of it. He was protecting them. He was not allowing the enemies, their enemies, to defeat them. And so, once again, not all, not every miracle is an instantaneous miracle. And so, the question I have for us this morning here is this. Are you in the middle of a miracle, but you really don't realize it?" [14:37](Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "What am I trying to say? I didn't realize it. But God placed me in the middle of a potential miracle, but I didn't know it. I was too focused on what's before me, what's not happening, the negativity. Can I speak to you here this morning? Some of you, you're just, you focus on this situation is not ideal. I don't like it. This is horrible. I'm not saying something is abusive or harmful. We're not talking about that. But we're talking about maybe just difficult things. In life, God may be wanting you to step out and do something in that moment." [29:52](Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "So some of you, you know, you feel like I'm not in the promised land yet. My situation hasn't turned around. My child hasn't turned around. My business has not taken off. Hey, listen, I'm still taking the medical treatment. I don't feel like God's delivered me from it. But in this moment, he may be taking you through it. Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, though I walk through. You're coming through it. You're coming through it. He's sustaining you right now. There's a miracle taking place. You can't always see it. Yes, it's uncomfortable. Yes, there's opposition. Many times it feels like God has forgotten you, but he has not. I will assure you of that. God is the one that is sustaining you and holding you." [30:41](Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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