Relying on God: Hope and Strength in Struggles
Summary
In today's gathering, we explored the profound truth of relying on God amidst our struggles, as illustrated in 2 Corinthians. We began by acknowledging our shared humanity and the grace that binds us, recognizing our need for a Savior and the transformative power of Jesus Christ. As we delved into Paul's letter to the Corinthians, we discovered the context of his writing—a time when Paul faced severe trials and a smear campaign against his character and ministry. Despite these challenges, Paul found comfort in God, a comfort that he extends to us, reminding us that our suffering is not in vain but serves a greater purpose.
Paul's experiences in Asia were so intense that he despaired of life itself, feeling as though he had received a death sentence. Yet, through this, he learned a crucial lesson: to rely not on himself but on God. This reliance is a recurring theme throughout Scripture, as seen in Psalm 107, where those in distress cry out to the Lord and are delivered. This pattern of taking our eyes off God and facing peril is a reminder of our need to trust in His unfailing love and deliverance.
We are encouraged to shift our focus from worldly wisdom and self-reliance to God's grace. Our boasting should not be in our achievements or possessions but in Christ and His work in our lives. This reliance on God is not just a passive waiting but an active surrender, trusting that He will deliver us from our struggles, whether they are physical, emotional, or spiritual.
As we navigate life's challenges, we are reminded that God has delivered us before and will do so again. Our hope is not in the temporary relief of our circumstances but in the eternal promise of dwelling with the Lord. This certainty of hope empowers us to face our trials with confidence, knowing that God is with us and will guide us through.
Key Takeaways:
1. Relying on God in Suffering: In the midst of suffering, we often feel isolated and overwhelmed. Paul teaches us that these moments are opportunities to shift our reliance from ourselves to God, who is our ultimate source of strength and comfort. This reliance transforms our perspective, allowing us to endure with hope. [37:00]
2. The Pattern of Deliverance: Psalm 107 illustrates a pattern of distress, crying out to God, and deliverance. This cycle reminds us that God's unfailing love is constant, even when we stray. Our deliverance comes when we turn back to Him, acknowledging our dependence on His grace. [40:28]
3. Boasting in Christ: What we boast about reveals where we place our trust. Paul encourages us to boast in Christ and His resurrection, rather than in worldly achievements. This shift in focus aligns our identity with God's purposes and strengthens our reliance on His wisdom. [50:32]
4. Certainty of Hope: Our hope is not in the temporary resolution of our struggles but in the eternal promise of life with God. This certainty of hope empowers us to face trials with confidence, knowing that God has delivered us before and will do so again. [47:25]
5. Active Surrender: Relying on God requires active surrender, where we let go of our own desires and plans, trusting in His guidance. This surrender is a daily practice, inviting God to transform our circumstances for His glory and our growth. [54:24]
Youtube Chapters:
- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:45] - Opening Prayer
- [02:30] - Introduction to 2 Corinthians
- [05:15] - Paul's Struggles in Asia
- [08:00] - The Lesson of Reliance on God
- [12:45] - Personal Reflection on Pain
- [15:30] - The Power of Perspective
- [20:00] - Psalm 107: A Pattern of Deliverance
- [25:00] - Boasting in Christ
- [30:00] - Certainty of Hope
- [35:00] - Active Surrender
- [40:00] - Encouragement in Trials
- [45:00] - Closing Prayer
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide
Bible Reading:
- 2 Corinthians 1:8-10
- Psalm 107:1-9
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Observation Questions:
1. What specific challenges did Paul face in Asia that made him feel as though he had received a death sentence? [37:00]
2. How does Psalm 107 illustrate the pattern of distress, crying out to God, and deliverance? [40:28]
3. According to the sermon, what is the "nugget of truth" that Paul discovered in his suffering? [37:00]
4. What does Paul say about the role of prayer in the deliverance from struggles? [47:25]
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Interpretation Questions:
1. How does Paul's experience in Asia help us understand the importance of relying on God rather than ourselves? [37:00]
2. In what ways does Psalm 107 serve as a reminder of God's unfailing love and deliverance? [40:28]
3. How does the concept of "boasting in Christ" challenge our natural inclinations to boast in worldly achievements? [50:32]
4. What does the sermon suggest about the relationship between suffering and spiritual growth? [54:24]
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Application Questions:
1. Reflect on a time when you felt overwhelmed by a situation. How did you respond, and what might it look like to rely on God in similar situations in the future? [37:00]
2. Psalm 107 shows a pattern of crying out to God in distress. How can you incorporate this practice into your daily life, especially during challenging times? [40:28]
3. Consider what you currently boast about in your life. How can you shift your focus to boast more in Christ and His work in your life? [50:32]
4. The sermon emphasizes active surrender to God. What is one area of your life where you need to practice this surrender, and what steps can you take to do so? [54:24]
5. How can you remind yourself of God's past deliverances in your life to strengthen your hope and confidence in His future deliverance? [47:25]
6. Identify a specific struggle you are currently facing. How can you invite God into this situation and rely on His guidance and strength? [54:24]
7. How can you support others in your community who are going through trials, and what role does prayer play in this support? [47:25]
Devotional
Day 1: Relying on God Transforms Our Suffering
In times of suffering, it is easy to feel isolated and overwhelmed. However, these moments are opportunities to shift our reliance from ourselves to God, who is our ultimate source of strength and comfort. Paul, in his letter to the Corinthians, teaches that suffering is not in vain but serves a greater purpose. By relying on God, our perspective is transformed, allowing us to endure with hope. This reliance is not passive but an active surrender to God's will, trusting that He will deliver us from our struggles, whether they are physical, emotional, or spiritual. [37:00]
2 Corinthians 1:8-9 (ESV): "For we do not want you to be unaware, brothers, of the affliction we experienced in Asia. For we were so utterly burdened beyond our strength that we despaired of life itself. Indeed, we felt that we had received the sentence of death. But that was to make us rely not on ourselves but on God who raises the dead."
Reflection: Think of a current struggle you are facing. How can you actively shift your reliance from your own strength to God's strength today?
Day 2: Recognizing the Pattern of Deliverance
Psalm 107 illustrates a pattern of distress, crying out to God, and deliverance. This cycle serves as a reminder that God's unfailing love is constant, even when we stray. Our deliverance comes when we turn back to Him, acknowledging our dependence on His grace. This pattern is evident throughout Scripture, encouraging us to trust in God's deliverance and to cry out to Him in times of need. By recognizing this pattern, we can find comfort in knowing that God is always ready to deliver us when we call upon Him. [40:28]
Psalm 107:28-30 (ESV): "Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble, and he delivered them from their distress. He made the storm be still, and the waves of the sea were hushed. Then they were glad that the waters were quiet, and he brought them to their desired haven."
Reflection: Reflect on a time when you experienced God's deliverance. How can remembering this pattern of deliverance encourage you to trust Him in your current situation?
Day 3: Boasting in Christ, Not in Ourselves
What we boast about reveals where we place our trust. Paul encourages us to boast in Christ and His resurrection, rather than in worldly achievements. This shift in focus aligns our identity with God's purposes and strengthens our reliance on His wisdom. By boasting in Christ, we acknowledge that our worth and identity are found in Him, not in our accomplishments or possessions. This perspective frees us from the pressure to prove ourselves and allows us to rest in the sufficiency of Christ's work in our lives. [50:32]
Jeremiah 9:23-24 (ESV): "Thus says the Lord: 'Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom, let not the mighty man boast in his might, let not the rich man boast in his riches, but let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows me, that I am the Lord who practices steadfast love, justice, and righteousness in the earth. For in these things I delight, declares the Lord.'"
Reflection: Consider what you tend to boast about in your life. How can you shift your focus to boast in Christ and His work in you today?
Day 4: Embracing the Certainty of Hope
Our hope is not in the temporary resolution of our struggles but in the eternal promise of life with God. This certainty of hope empowers us to face trials with confidence, knowing that God has delivered us before and will do so again. By focusing on the eternal, we can endure present difficulties with a sense of peace and assurance. This hope is not wishful thinking but a confident expectation rooted in God's faithfulness and promises. [47:25]
Hebrews 6:19-20 (ESV): "We have this as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that enters into the inner place behind the curtain, where Jesus has gone as a forerunner on our behalf, having become a high priest forever after the order of Melchizedek."
Reflection: How can you anchor your hope in the eternal promises of God rather than in temporary circumstances today?
Day 5: Practicing Active Surrender
Relying on God requires active surrender, where we let go of our own desires and plans, trusting in His guidance. This surrender is a daily practice, inviting God to transform our circumstances for His glory and our growth. By actively surrendering, we acknowledge that God's ways are higher than our ways and that His plans are for our ultimate good. This act of surrender is not a one-time decision but a continual choice to trust God with every aspect of our lives. [54:24]
Proverbs 3:5-6 (ESV): "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths."
Reflection: Identify one area of your life where you struggle to surrender to God. What steps can you take today to actively surrender this area to Him?
Quotes
"We're a church of grace, which means we acknowledge that we're sinners, that we're desperately in need of a Savior, and we praise God for sending His Son, Jesus. And so we come to praise and worship and to glorify Him. And as we open His Word this morning, the desire is that the Holy Spirit would penetrate our hearts in a way in which we would be transformed into His image, into His likeness, for His sake." [00:31:44] (22 seconds)
"And he's perturbed that his people in Corinth, the church, are not standing up on his behalf for both his character and for his ministry. And so he writes to the church to remind them of a comfort that comes by way of God. And no matter what suffering we endure, God is going to comfort us in the midst of that. And when we are comforted in the midst of suffering, that we will have and discover what endurance looks like." [00:33:22] (28 seconds)
"This morning, Paul reminds us of that truth nugget that changes all of our suffering. So we join the text today in verse 8 of chapter 1 of 2 Corinthians. It says, We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers and sisters, about the troubles we experienced in the province of Asia. We were under great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired of life itself. Indeed, we felt we had received the sentence of death." [00:34:57] (34 seconds)
"It has been no picnic for Paul, and the church in Corinth needs to know about it. When Paul and his people were in the province of Asia, it wasn't like they were sitting around, and people were putting grapes into their face, and they were like, Oh, this is wonderful. That wasn't what it was like. The truth is, it was so bad that they didn't want to live any longer. It would have been better and easier just to die than go through what they were enduring." [00:35:43] (30 seconds)
"Indeed we felt we'd received the sentence of death, but this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God. This is it. This is that nugget of truth. That in the midst of having our toes wrapped around the edge of the cliff wondering how I'm going to get through this, we've taken our eyes off of relying on God. We're looking at ourselves entirely. We're saying to ourselves, I don't know how I'm going to get through." [00:38:41] (33 seconds)
"Consider the struggles that you're in. They're real. And I'm deeply sorry that you're going through them. But there is a nugget of truth that we begin to see in the midst of this that Paul is beginning to reveal for us. Maybe this is happening that we might not rely on ourselves, but on God Almighty." [00:40:03] (20 seconds)
"This psalm is a great one for us to look at because it reminds us clearly of how this works. You see, God in his unfailing love reveals his goodness. And then what happens? In each case, we take our eyes off of what God desires. And what happens? Peril. The mighty waves come up. The distress happens. The struggle happens. We go out through the entire scripture and we see this over and over and over and over again." [00:43:10] (36 seconds)
"So remember, this happened that we might not rely on ourselves, but on God who raises the dead. He delivered us from such a deadly peril and he will deliver us again. On him we have set our hope that he will continue to deliver us as you help us by your prayers. Oh, how quickly we forget that our Lord raised Lazarus from the dead, that our Lord raised Jesus from the dead." [00:45:10] (31 seconds)
"Hope, the certainty, the assurance that God is going to raise us and one day we will dwell in the house of the Lord forever. So why does God allow us to go through such things? Thanks. We're going to do that. And the answer is not that profound to say, but when we're in the midst of it, it's difficult, so that we might not rely on ourselves, but instead rely on God." [00:46:13] (28 seconds)
"What is it that we boast in is really important, and here's why. Because what we boast on is who we rely on. Think about this concept. Paul says, this has happened to you so that you would rely on God and not yourself. That you would rely on God's grace and not worldly wisdom." [00:52:34] (26 seconds)
"How do you know who you rely on? There's an answer to this question. Very simply, what do you boast about? What you boast about is what you rely upon. That's what tells you and gives you your identity. That's what gives you, in the world, your place. That is what you boast about, how people will say, oh, that's so -and -so, because they have done this, or they have this, or they have the other." [00:53:42] (22 seconds)
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