Navigating Doubt: Trusting God's Promises Amid Struggles
Summary
### Summary
Today, we explored the profound tension between our beliefs about God and our lived experiences, particularly when they seem to contradict each other. We delved into Psalm 73, where Asaph, a worship leader, poet, and psalmist, grapples with this very issue. Asaph believed in God's goodness, love, and faithfulness, yet he observed that those who did not follow God seemed to prosper while he, striving to live righteously, faced hardships. This led him to question whether his faith and efforts were in vain.
Asaph's journey through Psalm 73 reveals that there are no simple steps to resolve this tension, but there are principles that can anchor us. First, he acknowledges the reality of his struggle, admitting that his feet almost slipped because of his envy and frustration. However, his perspective begins to change when he enters God's sanctuary. In the presence of God and His people, Asaph gains a broader understanding of the ultimate destiny of the wicked and the faithful. He realizes that his timeline was too short and that God's justice and goodness might not always be immediate but are assured in the long run.
Asaph also learns that God does not abandon those who doubt. Even when he felt embittered and foolish, God remained with him, holding his hand. This realization brings a shift in focus for Asaph. Instead of fixating on the prosperity of the wicked, he begins to focus on God's guidance, counsel, and eternal promises. This change in focus fuels a renewed sense of trust and contentment in God's presence.
In conclusion, the tension between belief and experience is a common struggle, but by anchoring ourselves in God's house, recognizing the limitations of our timelines, understanding that God does not abandon doubters, and shifting our focus to God's eternal promises, we can navigate these challenging seasons with faith and hope.
### Key Takeaways
1. God's House Provides Stability: Anchoring ourselves in a community of faith provides strength and support during times of doubt and struggle. Being surrounded by others who share our beliefs helps us hold on to our faith when we feel like giving up. This communal support is crucial for maintaining our spiritual stability. [12:08]
2. Our Timelines Are Too Short: We often expect immediate justice and answers to our prayers, but God's timeline is eternal. Asaph realized that the prosperity of the wicked is temporary and that God's ultimate justice will prevail. Trusting in God's long-term plan helps us endure present difficulties with hope. [19:05]
3. God Doesn't Abandon Doubters: Even when we are filled with doubt and frustration, God remains faithful. Asaph's experience shows that God holds our hand and stays with us, even when we feel like giving up. This assurance of God's unwavering presence can anchor us during our most challenging times. [23:28]
4. Focus Fuels Feelings: What we focus on often shapes our emotions and perceptions. Asaph's shift from envying the wicked to focusing on God's guidance and eternal promises transformed his outlook. By intentionally focusing on God's goodness and faithfulness, we can cultivate a sense of peace and contentment. [26:17]
5. Remember God's Faithfulness in the Dark: It's easy to believe in God's goodness when life is smooth, but true faith is tested in difficult times. Remembering God's past faithfulness and the promises He has made can help us navigate through seasons of doubt and darkness. This practice strengthens our faith and keeps us anchored in God's truth. [32:51]
### YouTube Chapters
[0:00] - Welcome
[01:14] - Introduction to the Tension
[02:32] - The Combination Lock Analogy
[03:53] - Asaph's Struggle
[05:18] - The Prosperity of the Wicked
[06:30] - The Question of Worth
[07:56] - The Reality of Suffering
[09:20] - The Slipping Faith
[10:42] - Expressing Doubt and Finding Perspective
[12:08] - Principle 1: God's House Provides Stability
[13:32] - The Importance of Community
[14:49] - Holding on to Faith Together
[16:12] - The Global Church
[17:38] - Encouragement Through Fellowship
[19:05] - Principle 2: Our Timelines Are Too Short
[20:25] - God's Sovereignty and Justice
[22:00] - Seeing Clearly in Eternity
[23:28] - Principle 3: God Doesn't Abandon Doubters
[25:05] - God's Faithfulness in Our Doubt
[26:17] - Principle 4: Focus Fuels Feelings
[27:47] - The Power of Focus
[29:05] - Changing Perspective
[30:35] - God's Presence as Our Good
[32:08] - The Promise of Jesus
[32:51] - Remembering God's Faithfulness
[33:22] - Faith in Difficult Times
[34:33] - Choosing to Bless the Lord
[35:02] - Prayer and Conclusion
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide
#### Bible Reading
- Psalm 73: This Psalm is the central text for the sermon, where Asaph grapples with the tension between his beliefs about God and his lived experiences.
#### Observation Questions
1. What specific struggles does Asaph mention in Psalm 73 regarding the prosperity of the wicked? ([03:53])
2. How does Asaph describe his emotional state before entering God's sanctuary? ([09:20])
3. What change occurs in Asaph's perspective after he enters God's sanctuary? ([12:08])
4. According to the sermon, what are the four principles that can anchor us during times of doubt and struggle? ([10:42])
#### Interpretation Questions
1. Why does Asaph initially feel that his efforts to live righteously are in vain? How does this reflect common struggles in faith? ([07:56])
2. How does the concept of God's timeline being different from ours help Asaph understand the ultimate destiny of the wicked and the faithful? ([19:05])
3. In what ways does the sermon suggest that God remains with us even when we doubt or feel embittered? ([23:28])
4. How does shifting focus from the prosperity of the wicked to God's guidance and eternal promises change Asaph's feelings and outlook? ([26:17])
#### Application Questions
1. Community Support: How can you anchor yourself in a community of faith to provide stability during times of doubt? Share a time when being part of a faith community helped you through a difficult period. ([12:08])
2. Trusting God's Timeline: Reflect on a situation where you expected immediate answers or justice. How can you remind yourself to trust in God's long-term plan during such times? ([19:05])
3. Dealing with Doubt: Have you ever felt abandoned by God during a challenging time? How does knowing that God doesn't abandon doubters change your perspective on those experiences? ([23:28])
4. Focus and Feelings: Identify an area in your life where you have been focusing on negative aspects. How can you shift your focus to God's guidance and promises to transform your outlook? ([26:17])
5. Remembering God's Faithfulness: Think of a past experience where you saw God's faithfulness. How can recalling this experience help you navigate current or future struggles? ([32:51])
6. Expressing Doubt: How comfortable are you with expressing your doubts and struggles within your faith community? What steps can you take to be more open and honest about your faith journey? ([10:42])
7. Practical Steps: What specific actions can you take this week to remind yourself of God's goodness and faithfulness, especially during challenging times? ([33:22])
This guide is designed to help your small group delve deeper into the themes of the sermon, encouraging both personal reflection and communal support.
Devotional
Day 1: Stability in God's House
In times of doubt and struggle, being anchored in a community of faith provides strength and support. When we are surrounded by others who share our beliefs, it helps us hold on to our faith even when we feel like giving up. This communal support is crucial for maintaining our spiritual stability. Asaph, in Psalm 73, found his perspective changing when he entered God's sanctuary. It was in the presence of God and His people that he gained a broader understanding of his struggles and the ultimate destiny of the wicked and the faithful. This principle reminds us that we are not alone in our journey and that the community of believers can be a source of encouragement and strength. [12:08]
Psalm 122:1-2 (ESV): "I was glad when they said to me, 'Let us go to the house of the Lord!' Our feet have been standing within your gates, O Jerusalem!"
Reflection: Think of a time when being part of a faith community helped you through a difficult period. How can you engage more deeply with your community to find support and offer it to others?
Day 2: Trusting God's Eternal Timeline
We often expect immediate justice and answers to our prayers, but God's timeline is eternal. Asaph realized that the prosperity of the wicked is temporary and that God's ultimate justice will prevail. Trusting in God's long-term plan helps us endure present difficulties with hope. This principle teaches us to have patience and faith in God's sovereignty, even when we do not see immediate results. It encourages us to look beyond our short-term struggles and trust in God's eternal justice and goodness. [19:05]
2 Peter 3:8-9 (ESV): "But do not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance."
Reflection: Reflect on a situation where you are waiting for God's intervention. How can you remind yourself of God's eternal timeline and trust in His long-term plan?
Day 3: God's Faithfulness to Doubters
Even when we are filled with doubt and frustration, God remains faithful. Asaph's experience shows that God holds our hand and stays with us, even when we feel like giving up. This assurance of God's unwavering presence can anchor us during our most challenging times. It is comforting to know that God does not abandon us in our moments of doubt but instead walks with us, providing guidance and support. This principle encourages us to be honest about our struggles and to trust in God's faithfulness, even when our faith wavers. [23:28]
Isaiah 41:10 (ESV): "Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand."
Reflection: Think about a time when you doubted God's presence in your life. How did you eventually see His faithfulness? How can you remind yourself of His unwavering presence today?
Day 4: The Power of Focus
What we focus on often shapes our emotions and perceptions. Asaph's shift from envying the wicked to focusing on God's guidance and eternal promises transformed his outlook. By intentionally focusing on God's goodness and faithfulness, we can cultivate a sense of peace and contentment. This principle teaches us the importance of directing our attention towards God's promises and His character, rather than being consumed by the apparent success of those who do not follow Him. It encourages us to develop a habit of focusing on God's truth to transform our emotions and perspectives. [26:17]
Colossians 3:2 (ESV): "Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth."
Reflection: Identify one area of your life where you have been focusing on negative or worldly things. How can you shift your focus to God's promises and goodness in that area?
Day 5: Remembering God's Faithfulness in the Dark
It's easy to believe in God's goodness when life is smooth, but true faith is tested in difficult times. Remembering God's past faithfulness and the promises He has made can help us navigate through seasons of doubt and darkness. This practice strengthens our faith and keeps us anchored in God's truth. By recalling how God has been faithful in the past, we can find hope and assurance that He will continue to be faithful in the future. This principle encourages us to build a habit of remembering and reflecting on God's faithfulness, especially during challenging times. [32:51]
Lamentations 3:21-23 (ESV): "But this I call to mind, and therefore I have hope: The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness."
Reflection: Think of a specific instance where God showed His faithfulness in your life. How can you use that memory to strengthen your faith during current or future challenges?
Quotes
### Quotes for Outreach
1. "Sometimes my experience with God, I think of it as kind of a combination lock. I think that if I turn the right combination, then God's going to turn the right combination, God is supposed to unlock some things. That if I come to church three out of the four weeks, if I give some money, if I sing the songs, if I do the right things, then God should be doing the right things for me." [02:32] (18 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "The temptation is when there's a gap, because that's what it ultimately is. There is a gap between what I believe and what I experience. And what you put inside of that gap really, really, really matters. When you in your life experience a gap between what you believe about God and your current reality, if you put in sentences, if you put in criticism, if you put in doubt, if you put in anger, those things are going to push you further away from God." [13:32] (25 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "Never doubt in the dark what God told you in the light. Because there was a time, there was a time in your life where you believed God was good. And you believed God was faithful. And you believed that God loved you. And you believed that God was for you. And it's not hard to believe that when your life is going great." [33:22] (16 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "I don't get to choose a lot of things. But what I can do on Sundays and on Wednesdays and on Thursdays and on Fridays and in the middle of the night, my soul, bless the Lord. And all that's within me, bless His holy name. My soul, bless the Lord. And do not forget all of His benefits. Don't doubt in the dark what God told you in the light." [35:02] (21 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
### Quotes for Members
1. "What do you do when what you believe is different than what you experience? Again, I believe God is good, but what I'm going through is not good. And I believe that God loves me, but my present reality says that God's forgotten about me. And I believe that God hears my prayers, but my present reality is he's not answering any of these prayers. What do you do with that tension?" [01:14] (21 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "Asaph was experiencing the tension of, I know that God is good, but I also know that I'm suffering. I believe, I went to Sunday school. I grew up in the temple. Asaph would have certainly had memorized the first five books of the Bible, which is what we call the Pentateuch, the law. He would have had that memorized, so he understood who God was. So there is a belief that he has, and then there's a reality that he's living, and those two things are not matching up." [09:20] (31 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "Our timelines are too short. Get yourself anchored into a house of God, so that you can learn the Word, so that you can be around other people, so that you can hold on strong. And then just recognizing that the timelines that we have are too short. And that's what Asaph is going to discover." [19:05] (23 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "God doesn't abandon doubters. Asaph had all these questions, had all this doubt, had all this anger, had all this, what's going on, God? I don't get it. I don't think you're being fair. I don't think you're being right. God didn't abandon him. God stayed with Asaph when Asaph was thinking about, maybe I should kind of lean away from God." [23:28] (18 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "My focus, the thing that I'm focused on, often fuels the feelings. Not all the time, but a lot of times. The thing that I'm so focused on, oftentimes kind of churns up some feelings. You've experienced this. This is not even like a religious thing. You ever wanted a new truck, and you wanted that four-door F-150, whatever it looks like, and then all of the sudden, every car you see is a four-door F-150." [26:17] (27 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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