Faith Through Trials: Finding Strength in God

Why do we expect that coming to God means the end of all our problems? Nowhere else in life do we assume that a change means no more issues—whether it’s a new job, a new business, or a new season, challenges are always present. Yet, when it comes to our walk with God, we often expect smooth sailing. The truth is, life brings trials to everyone, but what sets us apart is how we go through them. Success isn’t the absence of struggle, but the faith to endure and overcome with God.

Looking at sports, even the greatest athletes miss more than they succeed. The best shooters, quarterbacks, and hitters all fail frequently, but they keep going. In the same way, our faith isn’t about never facing hardship, but about trusting God through it. Jesus Himself told us in John 16:33 that in this world we will have tribulation, but in Him, we can have peace because He has overcome the world. The word “tribulation” carries the image of weight pressing down, like a bench press, and Jesus is our spotter—He’s with us, helping us lift what we cannot bear alone.

Jesus faced every kind of trial—loss, betrayal, temptation—and overcame them all. Because of this, we can have peace that doesn’t make sense to the world, courage to face whatever comes, and the confidence that we are more than conquerors through Him. Our strength isn’t our own; it comes from Christ who is with us and in us. The Holy Spirit, promised and delivered by Jesus, is our Helper forever, teaching us, guiding us, and empowering us to endure.

God’s presence is not just a comfort; it’s a guarantee that we are never alone, even in our darkest moments. Like David facing Goliath, we remember how God has delivered us before and trust that He will do it again. Whether we’re in a season of peace or facing a mountain, our call is to keep moving forward, to keep “shooting,” knowing that Jesus has already made a way. Our faith is not in our own ability, but in the One who has overcome, who is with us, and who makes us more than conquerors.

Key Takeaways

• 1. Faith does not exempt us from life’s challenges; it equips us to face them. The expectation that following God means a trouble-free life is a misunderstanding. Instead, faith is the assurance that God is with us in every trial, shaping us through the process and giving us the strength to endure and grow. [04:06]
• 2. Jesus’ victory over every kind of trial means we can have true peace, even in chaos. The peace He offers is not the absence of problems, but a supernatural calm that anchors us when everything else is shaking. This peace is rooted in His presence and His finished work, not in our circumstances. [09:14]
• 3. Courage in adversity comes from knowing Jesus has already overcome what we face. We are called to be of good cheer, not because we are strong, but because He is. Our confidence is not self-generated; it is the result of trusting in the One who has gone before us and conquered every obstacle. [11:12]
• 4. The Holy Spirit is our forever Helper, promised and delivered by Jesus, empowering us daily. His presence is not temporary or conditional; He is with us always, teaching, guiding, and strengthening us to walk through whatever comes. This is a living, ongoing relationship that transforms how we experience every season of life. [16:21]
• 5. Remembering God’s past faithfulness fuels our faith for today’s battles. Like David recalling God’s deliverance from the lion and the bear, we are called to look back and see how God has brought us through before. This remembrance gives us the courage to face new giants, knowing that the God who was faithful yesterday will be faithful again. [20:45]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [00:55] - Why Do We Expect No More Issues?
• [01:54] - Lessons from Sports: Failure and Perseverance
• [03:11] - Defining “Go Through” and Life’s Challenges
• [04:06] - Walking with God Through Trials
• [04:55] - Jesus’ Promise: Tribulation and Peace
• [05:47] - The Bench Press of Life and Jesus as Our Spotter
• [06:23] - Faith to Go Through, Not Around
• [07:03] - Jesus Has Already Overcome
• [09:14] - Peace in the Storm: The Example of Jesus
• [11:12] - Courage and Good Cheer in Christ
• [13:45] - More Than Conquerors Through Christ
• [16:21] - The Holy Spirit: Our Forever Helper
• [18:55] - God’s Presence in Every Season
• [20:45] - Remembering God’s Faithfulness
• [22:30] - Responding in Worship and Trust

1. In John 16:33, what two things does Jesus say we will have “in Him” and “in the world”?
2. According to the sermon, what does the word “tribulation” mean, and what image did the pastor use to explain it? [05:47]
3. In Romans 8:37, what does Paul say we are “through Him who loved us”?
4. What promise does Jesus make about the Holy Spirit in John 14:16-17?

1. Why do you think Jesus tells His followers to expect tribulation, rather than promising a trouble-free life? [04:55]
2. The pastor compared Jesus to a “spotter” in weightlifting. What does this analogy teach us about how we face life’s pressures with God? [05:47]
3. How does remembering God’s past faithfulness, like David did before facing Goliath, help us face new challenges? [20:45]
4. What does it mean that the Holy Spirit is our “forever Helper,” and how might that change the way we approach difficult seasons? [16:21]

1. The sermon pointed out that nowhere else in life do we expect a change to mean no more problems, yet we often expect this with God. Have you ever felt disappointed when following God didn’t remove your struggles? How did you respond? [00:55]
2. Think about a current or recent challenge in your life. In what ways have you tried to “go around” it instead of “going through” it with faith? What would it look like to trust God in the middle of it? [06:23]
3. The pastor said that Jesus gives us peace “that doesn’t make sense to the world.” Can you share a time when you experienced this kind of peace? What helped you hold onto it? [09:14]
4. The message talked about courage coming from knowing Jesus has already overcome what we face. Is there an area in your life where you need to “be of good cheer” and trust that Jesus is with you? What’s holding you back? [11:12]
5. The Holy Spirit is described as our Helper who is always with us. How can you become more aware of the Holy Spirit’s presence and help in your daily life? Are there specific habits or prayers that help you remember this? [16:21]
6. The pastor encouraged us to remember God’s past faithfulness, like David did. Take a moment to recall a time when God brought you through something hard. How can you use that memory to encourage yourself or someone else facing a challenge now? [20:45]
7. The sermon used sports examples to show that even the best “miss” more than they succeed, but they keep going. Is there an area where you’ve been tempted to give up because of repeated failures? What would it look like to “keep shooting” in faith? [01:54]