God's Ever-Present Assurance in Our Trials

Today is a day of rejoicing, for we serve a God who has always been present, faithful, and unchanging. From the opening moments of worship, we lifted high the name of Jesus, remembering that He came from heaven to earth to show us the way, paid our debt on the cross, and rose again so that we might have eternal life. Our hearts overflow with gratitude for the salvation He freely gives, not because we deserved it, but because of His boundless love and mercy.

As we reflect on the promise Jesus made in Matthew 28:20—“I am with you always, even to the end of the age”—we are reminded that God’s presence is the greatest assurance we have as His children. Life brings seasons of fire, wilderness, and even the den of lions, but through every trial, God is not distant. He is right there with us. The stories of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in the fiery furnace, and Daniel in the lion’s den, are not just ancient tales; they are living testimonies that God does not always keep us out of the fire, but He always gets in the fire with us. The flames and the lions may threaten, but they cannot consume or destroy us because the Son of God stands with us.

There are moments in life when we feel abandoned, when the weight of our struggles seems too much to bear, and we wonder if God has left us. Yet, just as in the story of the footprints in the sand, it is in those lowest moments that God carries us. He invites us to cast our cares upon Him, to rest in His strength, and to trust that His promises are true. Even when we cannot see or feel Him, He is working, holding us, and reminding us that we are never alone.

God’s promise of presence is not just for individuals, but for us as a community. As we walk together, serve together, and sometimes even struggle together, we do so with the assurance that God is in our midst. He is the same yesterday, today, and forever. As we remember the sacrifice of Jesus through communion, we celebrate that He chose to stay on the cross, to endure suffering, and to shed His blood so that we might be redeemed and made whole. Let us continue to lift His name, to bind ourselves together in love, and to trust that He will always be there—no matter what comes our way.

Key Takeaways

• 1. God’s Presence Is Our Greatest Assurance No matter who may leave us or what may fail us, God’s presence is the one constant in our lives. From Genesis to Revelation, His promise to never leave nor forsake us is woven throughout Scripture. Even when friends, family, or our own strength fail, we can rest in the certainty that God remains with us, perpetually and unconditionally. [18:35]
• 2. God Joins Us in the Fire, Not Just Delivers Us From It The story of the three Hebrew boys in the fiery furnace teaches that God does not always prevent us from facing trials, but He always enters into them with us. The fire may be heated seven times hotter, but His presence ensures that we are not consumed. Our trials become places of encounter, where God’s nearness is revealed most powerfully. [21:05]
• 3. God Turns Dens of Danger Into Testimonies of Deliverance Daniel’s experience in the lion’s den shows that God’s presence has the power to silence what was meant to destroy us. The situations that should have taken us out become testimonies of God’s deliverance and faithfulness. Even when surrounded by threats, God stands guard and transforms our danger into a story of His saving power. [23:37]
• 4. God Carries Us When We Cannot Carry Ourselves In our lowest and most difficult moments, when we see only one set of footprints, it is then that God carries us. He invites us to cast our burdens on Him, promising rest and relief from the weight we bear. His strength is made perfect in our weakness, and He is faithful to sustain us when we have no strength left. [27:53]
• 5. God’s Promise Is for Us Together, Not Just Alone Jesus’ assurance of His presence was given to a community, not just individuals. As we walk together in faith, serve together, and even struggle together, we experience the fullness of His promise. Life is better together, and God’s faithfulness is revealed as we bind ourselves to one another in love and unity. [33:53]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [02:34] - Opening Prayer and Praise
• [04:23] - Worship: Lifting the Name of Jesus
• [07:47] - Declaration: Jesus Saves
• [13:16] - Thanksgiving for Salvation
• [16:42] - Scripture Reading: Matthew 28:20
• [17:59] - He Has Always Been There
• [19:54] - The Fiery Furnace: God in the Fire
• [22:14] - Daniel in the Lion’s Den
• [24:52] - Jesus’ Promise: Never Alone
• [26:41] - Footprints in the Sand: God Carries Us
• [29:06] - God’s Consistency Through Every Season
• [31:16] - God’s Faithfulness and Strength
• [32:34] - Isaiah 43: God’s Promise in the Waters and Fire
• [33:53] - God’s Promise to His People Together
• [37:40] - Communion: Remembering Christ’s Sacrifice
• [41:28] - Closing Prayer and Blessing
• [42:53] - Announcements and Dismissal

Bible Reading

Matthew 28:20 (ESV) — > “teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

Daniel 3:24-25 (ESV) — > Then King Nebuchadnezzar was astonished and rose up in haste. He declared to his counselors, “Did we not cast three men bound into the fire?” They answered and said to the king, “True, O king.” He answered and said, “But I see four men unbound, walking in the midst of the fire, and they are not hurt; and the appearance of the fourth is like a son of the gods.”

Isaiah 43:1-2 (ESV) — > But now thus says the Lord, he who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel: “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you.”

Observation Questions

1. In Matthew 28:20, what specific promise does Jesus make to His followers?
2. According to Daniel 3:24-25, what did King Nebuchadnezzar see when he looked into the fiery furnace?
3. In Isaiah 43:1-2, what does God say about His presence during times of trouble?
4. The sermon mentioned that God’s presence is the one constant in our lives, even when friends or family fail us. What examples did the pastor give to show this? [[18:35]]

Interpretation Questions

1. Why do you think Jesus chose to end His earthly ministry with the promise, “I am with you always, to the end of the age”? How might this have encouraged the disciples? [[24:52]]
2. The sermon said God doesn’t always keep us out of the fire, but He always gets in the fire with us. What does this mean for how we view our own trials? [[21:05]]
3. In the story of Daniel in the lion’s den, what does God’s deliverance teach us about facing situations that seem impossible or dangerous? [[23:37]]
4. The pastor shared the “footprints in the sand” story. What does this story reveal about God’s character and how He responds to us in our lowest moments? [[27:53]]

Application Questions

1. The sermon said, “God’s presence is our greatest assurance.” When have you personally felt abandoned or alone, and how did you experience (or struggle to experience) God’s presence in that season? [[18:35]]
2. Think about a recent “fire” or “lion’s den” in your life—a trial, hardship, or fear. How did you see God with you in that situation, or how do you wish you had? [[21:05]] [[23:37]]
3. The pastor said, “God carries us when we cannot carry ourselves.” Is there a burden you are carrying right now that you need to let God carry? What would it look like to give that over to Him this week? [[27:53]]
4. Jesus’ promise of His presence was given to a community, not just individuals. How can we as a small group or church better support each other and remind each other of God’s faithfulness, especially during hard times? [[33:53]]
5. The sermon reminded us that Jesus chose to stay on the cross and endure suffering for us. How does remembering Christ’s sacrifice change the way you face your own suffering or challenges? [[37:40]]
6. The pastor said, “Life is better together.” Is there someone in our group or church who might be feeling alone or going through a hard time? What is one practical thing you can do this week to encourage or walk alongside them? [[33:53]]
7. Looking back over your life, can you identify a time when you only saw “one set of footprints” and later realized God was carrying you? How does that memory shape your trust in Him today? [[27:53]]