Thriving Through Adversity: Trusting God's Faithfulness

Devotional

Day 1: Overcoming Adversity Through Faith

God does not call us to avoid adversity, but to face it with faith, trusting that He will bring us through stronger than before. When we encounter obstacles, rather than praying for their removal, we should ask God for the strength and wisdom to overcome them, knowing that every challenge is an opportunity for growth and victory. Like Caleb, who saw the giants in the land but declared, "We are well able to overcome it," we too must see our problems through the lens of God's power, not our own limitations. The Lord delights in those who trust Him and step forward in faith, believing that He is greater than any mountain before us. [55:05]

Numbers 13:30 (ESV)
But Caleb quieted the people before Moses and said, “Let us go up at once and occupy it, for we are well able to overcome it.”

Reflection: What is one specific obstacle you are facing right now that you have been asking God to remove? How can you shift your prayer today to ask for the faith and strength to overcome it instead?

Day 2: Do Not Fret—Trust and Do Good

It is easy to become anxious, angry, or envious when we see evil or injustice around us, but God calls us to a different response. Instead of getting worked up over what others are doing, we are to trust in the Lord and do good, knowing that He is faithful and will take care of His people. Our energy is better spent making a positive difference and feeding on God's faithfulness than wasting time in worry or complaint. When we focus on doing what is right, God promises to provide for us and satisfy our needs, regardless of the chaos in the world. [45:33]

Psalm 37:1-3 (ESV)
Fret not yourself because of evildoers; be not envious of wrongdoers! For they will soon fade like the grass and wither like the green herb. Trust in the Lord, and do good; dwell in the land and befriend faithfulness.

Reflection: When you find yourself getting worked up about the news or someone else’s actions, what is one good thing you can do today to shift your focus back to trusting God and doing good?

Day 3: Delighting in the Lord Changes Your Desires

There is a powerful contrast between living in worry and living in delight. When we choose to delight ourselves in the Lord, He transforms our desires and fills our hearts with joy, replacing fear and frustration with faith and expectation. As we get excited about what God is doing and focus on His goodness, our prayers and dreams become aligned with His will, and He gives us the desires of our hearts. This delight is not passive; it is an active, joyful anticipation of God’s faithfulness in every area of our lives. [53:08]

Psalm 37:4 (ESV)
Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.

Reflection: What is one area of your life where you can intentionally choose to delight in the Lord today, and how might that change your desires or prayers?

Day 4: Commit Your Way and Let God Order Your Steps

When we commit our way to the Lord and trust Him fully, He promises to bring His plans to pass and to order our steps. This means staying faithful to the path God has set before us, even when we don’t see immediate results or when distractions and frustrations arise. God delights in those who walk in His ways, and even if we stumble, He upholds us with His hand. Our commitment to God’s way leads to a life of purpose, blessing, and generational impact, as He provides for us and our children. [01:08:36]

Psalm 37:5, 23-25 (ESV)
Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him, and he will act. ... The steps of a man are established by the Lord, when he delights in his way; though he fall, he shall not be cast headlong, for the Lord upholds his hand. I have been young, and now am old, yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken or his children begging for bread.

Reflection: What is one area where you need to recommit your way to the Lord and trust Him to order your steps, even if you don’t see the outcome yet?

Day 5: Change Your Language—Speak Faith, Not Complaint

The words we speak shape our perspective and our future. Instead of complaining about problems or focusing on what others are doing wrong, we are called to speak the language of faith—declaring God’s goodness, thanking Him for His provision, and claiming victory over adversity. When we shift our conversation from negativity to praise, we align ourselves with God’s promises and open the door for His blessings to flow in our lives and in our community. Let your words today be filled with faith, gratitude, and expectation for what God is doing and will do. [01:16:08]

Ephesians 4:29 (ESV)
Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.

Reflection: What is one negative or complaining phrase you often say about your situation or others? How can you replace it today with a declaration of faith or gratitude?

Sermon Summary

Today, the focus is on overcoming adversity and learning to thrive in the midst of challenges, rather than being consumed by worry or frustration over the state of the world or the actions of others. The gifts of the Spirit are present and available, and God’s authority is in the room, ready to empower us. Drawing from Psalm 37 and the story of Caleb in Numbers 13, the call is to stop fretting over evildoers and the injustices that seem to prevail. Instead, the invitation is to trust in the Lord, do good, and feed on His faithfulness, knowing that God’s provision and care are not dependent on the chaos around us.

It’s easy to get caught up in the negativity and agitation that saturate our culture—politics, social unrest, and the constant barrage of bad news. But Scripture instructs us not to let these things kindle anger or anxiety within us. The world’s problems come and go, but God’s faithfulness endures. Rather than wasting energy on what we cannot control, we are called to do good, delight ourselves in the Lord, and trust that He will give us the desires of our hearts. This delight is not passive; it’s an active, joyful engagement with God that transforms our desires and aligns them with His will.

Adversity is not something to be avoided or prayed away. Like lifting weights, it is the resistance that builds our spiritual strength. God does not intend for us to be weak or to have every obstacle removed from our path. Instead, He wants us to become overcomers—people who face challenges head-on, trusting that He will bring us through and make us stronger in the process. This principle applies to every area of life, from parenting and personal growth to our walk with God. Discipline, correction, and facing difficulties are all part of God’s process to mature us and prepare us for greater things.

Ultimately, the choice is ours: we can focus on the problems and the people who seem to prosper through wrongdoing, or we can focus on God’s goodness, His promises, and the path He has set before us. When we delight in Him, commit our way to Him, and trust Him, He orders our steps and brings His purposes to pass. The adversity we face is not meant to destroy us but to develop us into spiritual warriors who possess the promises of God. Let’s change our language from complaint to praise, from fear to faith, and move forward to claim the victory that is already ours in Christ.

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Key Takeaways

1. Stop Fretting Over Evildoers and Injustice The world is full of agitation, injustice, and people who seem to prosper while doing wrong. Yet, Scripture commands us not to let these things stir us up or make us anxious. Our energy is better spent trusting God and doing good, knowing that the apparent success of the wicked is temporary and God’s justice will prevail. Fretting only harms us and distracts us from God’s faithfulness. [45:33]
2. Delight in the Lord and Let Him Transform Your Desires There is a profound difference between living in worry and living in delight. When we choose to delight ourselves in the Lord, our desires begin to align with His, and He gives us the very things our hearts truly need. This delight is an active joy in God’s presence and purposes, which shifts our prayers from fear-based requests to faith-filled expectations. [53:08]
3. Adversity Is God’s Tool for Spiritual Growth Just as muscles are built by pushing against resistance, our spiritual strength is developed through facing and overcoming adversity. God does not intend for us to avoid every problem but to become overcomers who grow stronger through each challenge. Praying for God to remove every obstacle is less effective than asking Him for the strength and wisdom to overcome them. [55:05]
4. Commit Your Way to the Lord and Stay the Course It’s not enough to tell God what we want and then return to worry or doubt. True faith involves committing our path to Him, trusting that He will bring His promises to pass, and refusing to be distracted by setbacks or the apparent success of others. God orders the steps of those who trust Him, and He delights in their journey, even when it includes stumbles and falls. [68:36]
5. Change Your Language from Complaint to Praise The words we speak reflect the focus of our hearts. When we shift from complaining about problems to praising God for His faithfulness and provision, we create an atmosphere of faith that attracts God’s blessing. This change in language not only transforms our own outlook but also influences those around us, moving us from circles of gossip and negativity to communities of faith and encouragement. [76:08]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[36:02] - Gifts of the Spirit Are Present
[38:25] - Announcements and Upcoming Events
[45:33] - Stop Fretting Over Evildoers
[47:36] - Trust in the Lord and Do Good
[49:22] - The World’s Agitation and God’s Faithfulness
[51:13] - Responding to Adversity with Faith
[53:08] - Delighting in the Lord
[54:20] - Spiritual Growth Through Resistance
[56:01] - The Value of Discipline and Correction
[58:20] - Overcoming Adversity in Life
[61:31] - Protecting the Next Generation
[68:36] - Commit Your Way to the Lord
[76:08] - Change Your Language, Change Your Life
[84:30] - Possessing the Promised Land
[88:59] - Faith for Breakthrough and Victory
[100:29] - Closing Prayer and Declaration of Victory

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading

Psalm 37:1-7 (ESV) — > Fret not yourself because of evildoers; be not envious of wrongdoers!
> For they will soon fade like the grass and wither like the green herb.
> Trust in the Lord, and do good; dwell in the land and befriend faithfulness.
> Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.
> Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him, and he will act.
> He will bring forth your righteousness as the light, and your justice as the noonday.
> Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him; fret not yourself over the one who prospers in his way, over the man who carries out evil devices!

Numbers 13:30 (ESV) — > But Caleb quieted the people before Moses and said, “Let us go up at once and occupy it, for we are well able to overcome it.”

Observation Questions

In Psalm 37, what are the specific instructions given to believers when they see evildoers prospering?
According to Numbers 13:30, what was Caleb’s response to the negative report from the other spies?
The sermon describes the meaning of “fret” in Psalm 37 as “to become hot, angry, get excited or kindle, start a fire.” What are some examples the pastor gave of how people get “fired up” over the world’s problems? [45:33]
What does the passage say will happen to those who do evil, compared to those who trust in the Lord?

Interpretation Questions

Why do you think the Psalmist tells us not to fret or be envious of those who do wrong, even when it seems like they are succeeding?
The sermon compares adversity to lifting weights, saying that resistance builds strength. How does this analogy help us understand God’s purpose for allowing challenges in our lives? [54:20]
What does it mean to “delight yourself in the Lord,” and how does this differ from simply trying to avoid problems or worrying about them? [53:08]
The pastor said, “Don’t tell God what you want and then tomorrow go back to worrying about it.” What does true commitment to God’s way look like in everyday life? [01:08:36]

Application Questions

The sermon challenges us to stop getting worked up over the news, politics, or the actions of others. What is one area where you find yourself “fretting” or getting agitated? What would it look like to redirect that energy into trusting God and doing good? [49:22]
When you face adversity, do you tend to pray for God to remove the problem, or for strength to overcome it? Share a recent challenge and how you responded. How might you approach it differently in light of this teaching? [55:05]
The pastor talked about changing our language from complaint to praise. What is one complaint you’ve been repeating lately? How could you turn that into a statement of faith or gratitude this week? [01:16:08]
“Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart.” What does it look like for you to actively delight in God? Are there practical ways you can increase your joy in Him this week? [53:08]
The sermon emphasized that adversity is not meant to destroy us, but to develop us. Can you think of a time when a difficult situation actually made you stronger or brought you closer to God? How did your perspective change as a result? [54:20]
The pastor mentioned the importance of discipline and correction, especially in parenting. If you are a parent (or have influence over young people), how do you balance protecting them with allowing them to face challenges and learn resilience? [58:20]
Caleb said, “Let us go up at once and possess it, for we are well able to overcome it.” Is there a “promised land” or goal in your life that you’ve been hesitant to pursue because of obstacles? What step of faith could you take this week to move forward? [01:24:30]

Sermon Clips

``You don't build muscle looking at weights. I like to look at those weights. I felt better looking at how much weight was on the bar until I laid down on the bench and started picking it up. You feel real good about yourself saying, wow, look at them weights. But when you're pushing, it doesn't feel good. And right now, some of you are facing adversity and obstacles and you're wishing that those obstacles would get out of the way. But God didn't design you to avoid problems. He designed you to overcome them. And you need to quit praying for God to remove the problem and you need to start praying for God to bring you through it and give you victory over it because you don't get stronger avoiding it. You get stronger facing it. [00:54:21] (63 seconds) #OvercomeByFacingChallenges

When you're filled with fear your prayers and your desires are limited to what you see through the eyes of fear worry and frustration but when you have faith and joy in the holy ghost you got a different prayer requests everything you pray for has a lot more value and purpose to it versus what you pray for when you're walking in fret fear and worry and frustration and so when you delight yourself in the lord there's a place where god begins to give you everything you desire do you hear me he'll give you everything you desire hallelujah you're not going to get it worrying about the problem you're going to get it delighting yourself in the lord [01:04:24] (42 seconds) #FaithTransformsPrayer

Don't tell God what you want and then tomorrow go back to worrying about it. He said, stay committed to the path that you're on. If you told God what you want, don't veer from it. Stay committed in your way to believing, trusting, and walking in God's plan and your delight in God and trust him. And guess what's going to happen? He's going to bring it to pass. [01:08:11] (24 seconds) #ChooseRightOverResentment

Cease from anger and forsake wrath. Do not fret. It only causes harm. You getting worked up about that situation is just hurting you. Delight yourself in the Lord. You're getting frustrated because this person's successful and they're breaking all the rules. Why don't you do what's right and watch God prosper you in the end? You quit worrying about what they're doing. You're going to be successful. You quit worrying about what they're doing. God is going to feed you in his faithfulness. [01:11:45] (36 seconds) #FocusOnGodsGoodness

Quit looking at what the world is doing, and start focusing on what God is doing in your life, because you're greater than that. Amen. The Lord, for the arms of the wicked shall be broken, but the Lord upholds the righteous. The Lord knows the days of the upright, and their inheritance shall be forever. They shall not be ashamed in the evil time, and in the days of famine. They shall be satisfied, but the wicked shall perish, and the enemies of the Lord shall, like the splendor of the meadows, shall vanish. Into smoke they shall vanish away. [01:14:51] (36 seconds) #DelightLeadsToChange

You got two options. Delight yourself in God, and let him lead your whole life, give you your desires, and order your steps. Or keep getting worked up about all the people around you that are doing what they want to do. People that are doing wrong, evildoers, workers of iniquity, getting stirred up about this. Can you change your conversation around the water cooler to look what the Lord has done? [01:15:55] (24 seconds) #GenerationalBlessingsThroughFaith

When you start focusing on the goodness of the Lord, all of a sudden, you're going to find yourself in a different circle of friends. Because people that want to gossip are going to hang out with people that want to gossip. So if you're hanging out with gossips, guess what? That's what you are. Amen. But when you get around people filled with faith, something has shifted in your language. Amen. You're a different person now. God's going to do it. God's going to work it out. Everything's going to be all right. Quit complaining about your problem. The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord, and God delights in his ways. When we delight in God, God starts delighting in us. [01:16:41] (36 seconds) #ProsperInFaithNotComplaints

What you're facing right now is not something that's going to destroy you. It's something that you are going to overcome through the power of the Holy Ghost. Hallelujah. Oh God, help me. God, help me right now. Amen. I'm telling you, some of you have faced, you've been facing adversity. You walked into this service facing adversity. You've been feeling like it's a wall. You're having a hard time worshiping, hard time praying. You're struggling through the week. I want you to know that this adversity is good for you. This fight is good for you. You've got to learn how to fight. You've got to quit trying to ask God to remove the fight. And you've got to start saying, God, give me what I need to make it through the fight. [01:19:56] (45 seconds) #CrucifyUnbeliefBelieve

If you're in the middle of a fight, then you're getting ready to see a victory. If you're facing adversity, then don't try to run from it. You need to be like Caleb. Amen. This caused Caleb to miss out on giants in it. Give me the mountain that kept me out of the promised land. Thank you. Somebody needs to crucify their flesh on an altar today and quit listening to the voice that's telling you you can't make it. You can't have what God has for you. You can't receive the promises of God. That spirit of unbelief has got to be crucified inside of you. You got to die to it and you got to believe we are well able. We are well able. Let's go up at once. Let's go up at once and let's possess the land. We are well able. If God said we can have it, then we can have it. [01:22:49] (58 seconds) #OvercomeToPossess

You need to picture that obstacle in front of you. And you need to see God bigger. Amen. You know what they did? They looked, Brother Bo, at the problem. And they saw themselves as grasshoppers. Amen. But Caleb looked at the problem. And he saw God. And he said, they're our meat. We're going to eat them. They're our bread. We're going to take them. Just let me at them. [01:26:40] (26 seconds) #SeeGodBiggerThanObstacles

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