Faith in Every Season: Embracing God's Presence

In the journey of faith, it’s easy to believe that God is only present in our mountaintop moments—when life is good, victories are won, and everything seems to fall into place. But the truth is, God is just as present in our valleys, in the moments of struggle, failure, and confusion. Faith isn’t meant to be compartmentalized or seasonal; it’s meant to be woven into every aspect of our lives, just like an invasive vine that overtakes everything it touches. This kind of faith doesn’t require us to be loud or radical in personality, but rather to allow our trust in God to permeate our work, relationships, and daily routines.

Looking at the life of Samson, we see a man born with purpose, set apart by God, and yet marked by both triumph and tragedy. Samson’s story is not just about his strength or his failures, but about how God’s purpose persisted through every season of his life. Even when Samson made mistakes—when he was reluctant to listen to wise counsel, to be vulnerable, or to be truthful—God’s calling on his life remained. The cyclical patterns of struggle in Samson’s life serve as a mirror for our own, reminding us that we too revisit old issues when we isolate ourselves and refuse to let others speak into our lives.

Yet, Samson’s story also teaches us the wisdom of letting go. He used what God provided for the moment—a fresh jawbone to defeat his enemies—and then released it, refusing to cling to what was only meant for a season. Holding on to past victories or seasons can stunt our growth and keep us from stepping into what God has next. Seasons change, and faith means trusting God in both the letting go and the moving forward.

Most importantly, Samson’s greatest act came after his greatest failure. Even when he was at his lowest, blinded and imprisoned, God’s grace allowed new life to grow—his hair began to grow again, symbolizing restoration and hope. God never forgot Samson, and He never forgets us. Our mistakes do not disqualify us from God’s purpose. He is the God of both our hills and our valleys, and His love and calling remain steadfast through every season. The invitation is to trust Him, surrender to Him, and allow our faith to be active, invasive, and woven into every part of our lives, knowing that He will use us—mess and all—for His glory.

Key Takeaways

• 1. Faith is meant to be invasive, not just active. It should permeate every area of our lives, not just the moments that feel spiritual or significant. True faith is woven into our work, relationships, and daily routines, shaping how we see and interact with the world around us. This kind of faith is not about personality or outward zeal, but about a deep, consistent trust in God that influences everything we do. [02:23]
• 2. God’s purpose for us persists through both triumph and tragedy. Like Samson, we are born with purpose, and God’s calling on our lives is not revoked by our failures or shortcomings. Even when we find ourselves in cycles of struggle or revisit old issues, God’s sovereignty and love remain, inviting us to keep moving forward in faith. [10:12]
• 3. Isolation and reluctance to be vulnerable can perpetuate cycles of struggle. Samson’s downfall began not with Delilah, but with his unwillingness to listen to wise counsel and to share his struggles. When we refuse to let others speak into our lives or to be honest about our battles, we set ourselves up to repeat the same mistakes. Vulnerability and accountability are essential for breaking destructive patterns. [15:53]
• 4. Wisdom is knowing when to let go of what was only meant for a season. Samson’s victory with the jawbone teaches us not to cling to past successes, relationships, or traditions that have served their purpose. Holding on too long can stunt our growth and keep us from embracing what God wants to do next. Faith means trusting God in the transitions and being willing to release what is no longer needed. [22:45]
• 5. God’s grace brings restoration even after our greatest failures. Samson’s hair began to grow again after his lowest moment, symbolizing that life and purpose can emerge from our messiest places. God never forgets us, and our mistakes do not disqualify us from His love or calling. He is present in both our mountaintops and valleys, inviting us to trust Him and allow our faith to be woven through every season. [27:20]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [00:29] - Faith Like a Mustard Seed: Active and Invasive
• [01:44] - What Invasive Faith Really Looks Like
• [03:05] - The Tension of Celebration and Catastrophe
• [05:39] - Samson: Born with Purpose
• [08:07] - God’s Sovereignty and Human Agency
• [10:12] - You Are Called to Your World
• [12:08] - The Roots of Samson’s Tragedy
• [15:16] - The Cycle of Reluctance and Isolation
• [19:06] - Samson’s Mountaintop Moment
• [20:53] - Letting Go of What Was Meant for a Season
• [24:41] - The Danger of Clinging to the Past
• [26:04] - Problems Turned to Purpose
• [27:20] - Restoration After Failure
• [31:48] - God in the Valley: Psalm 23
• [33:44] - Closing and Community Connection

Bible Reading

Judges 13:1-5 (ESV) — > And the people of Israel again did what was evil in the sight of the Lord, so the Lord gave them into the hand of the Philistines for forty years. There was a certain man of Zorah, of the tribe of the Danites, whose name was Manoah. And his wife was barren and had no children. And the angel of the Lord appeared to the woman and said to her, “Behold, you are barren and have not borne children, but you shall conceive and bear a son. Therefore be careful and drink no wine or strong drink, and eat nothing unclean, for behold, you shall conceive and bear a son. No razor shall come upon his head, for the child shall be a Nazirite to God from the womb, and he shall begin to save Israel from the hand of the Philistines.”

Judges 15:14-17 (ESV) — > When he came to Lehi, the Philistines came shouting to meet him. Then the Spirit of the Lord rushed upon him, and the ropes that were on his arms became as flax that has caught fire, and his bonds melted off his hands. And he found a fresh jawbone of a donkey and put out his hand and took it, and with it he struck 1,000 men. And Samson said, “With the jawbone of a donkey, heaps upon heaps, with the jawbone of a donkey have I struck down a thousand men.” As soon as he had finished speaking, he threw away the jawbone out of his hand, and that place was called Ramath-lehi.

Judges 16:20-22 (ESV) — > And she said, “The Philistines are upon you, Samson!” And he awoke from his sleep and said, “I will go out as at other times and shake myself free.” But he did not know that the Lord had left him. And the Philistines seized him and gouged out his eyes and brought him down to Gaza and bound him with bronze shackles. And he ground at the mill in the prison. But the hair of his head began to grow again after it had been shaved.

Observation Questions

1. What specific instructions did the angel give Samson’s mother before his birth, and what was Samson’s purpose according to Judges 13:1-5?
2. In Judges 15, what did Samson use to defeat the Philistines, and what did he do with it afterward? Why is this detail important? ([20:53])
3. After Samson’s greatest failure, what sign of restoration do we see in Judges 16:22? How does the sermon describe the meaning of this moment? ([27:20])
4. According to the sermon, what patterns of behavior led to Samson’s repeated struggles? ([15:53])

Interpretation Questions

1. The sermon says that faith is meant to be “invasive” and woven into every part of our lives, not just the spiritual moments. What does it look like for faith to be “invasive” in someone’s daily routine or workplace? ([02:23])
2. How does Samson’s story show that God’s purpose can persist through both triumph and tragedy? What does this suggest about how God views our failures? ([10:12])
3. The sermon points out that Samson’s downfall began with his reluctance to listen and be vulnerable. Why do you think isolation and lack of vulnerability can lead to repeated mistakes or cycles of struggle? ([15:53])
4. What does the act of Samson letting go of the jawbone teach us about holding onto things from past seasons? How can this apply to our own lives? ([22:45])

Application Questions

1. The sermon challenges us to let our faith be “woven” into every area of life, not just church or spiritual moments. What is one area of your life (work, family, friendships, etc.) where your faith is not as present as you’d like it to be? What’s one step you could take this week to invite God into that area? ([02:23])
2. Samson’s story shows that God’s calling and love remain even after failure. Is there a past mistake or failure that still makes you feel disqualified or distant from God? How does Samson’s restoration encourage you to move forward? ([27:20])
3. The sermon talks about the danger of isolation and the importance of letting others speak into our lives. Who is someone you trust to give you wise counsel or hold you accountable? If you don’t have someone, what’s a practical way you could seek out that kind of relationship? ([15:53])
4. Samson let go of the jawbone after his victory, refusing to cling to what was only meant for a season. Is there something in your life—a relationship, habit, tradition, or even a past success—that you sense God is asking you to let go of? What’s holding you back from releasing it? ([22:45])
5. The sermon says that God is present in both our mountaintops and valleys. When you’re in a “valley” season, what helps you remember that God is still with you? Is there a specific practice or reminder you can use when life gets hard? ([31:48])
6. Vulnerability and accountability are described as essential for breaking destructive patterns. What’s one struggle or challenge you could be more honest about with someone this week? ([15:53])
7. The sermon invites us to trust God in both letting go and moving forward. What is one area where you need to trust God more with the next step, even if it feels uncertain? ([22:45])