Trusting God Amid Life's Interruptions and Uncertainties

 

Summary

In our journey through life, we often find ourselves caught between the desire to control our circumstances and the need to surrender to God's will. This tension was vividly illustrated during a recent trip where unexpected weather disruptions led to canceled flights and altered plans. It was a reminder that while planning is essential, we must also recognize our limitations and embrace the unpredictability of life. The key is to discern when to exercise agency and when to accept what we cannot change, trusting that God is in control.

Every story has a protagonist with an object of desire, and our lives are no different. We constantly pursue various desires, some noble and others less so. The challenge lies in aligning our desires with God's will, as Jesus exemplified. Jesus's ultimate desire was to do the will of the Father, a pursuit that governed every moment of his life. This desire was rooted in love—love for God, for creation, and for people. As we navigate life's interruptions, we are called to view them as opportunities to align our desires with God's will.

George McDonald's life story offers a profound lesson in this regard. Despite facing setbacks in his pastoral career, he found his true calling in writing, impacting countless lives through his works. His story reminds us that interruptions can lead to unexpected vocations and deeper fulfillment when we trust in God's plan.

Today, as we face our own interruptions and anxieties, we are invited to trust in the living God. The cares that fill our minds, whether they are reasonable or not, can distract us from the present moment and the opportunity to do God's will. By trusting God in each moment, we open ourselves to receive what He values, even if it differs from our own desires. In the end, the greatest invitation is to trust God and seek Him in every interruption, knowing that He is the author of our story.

Key Takeaways:

1. Embrace the Unpredictability of Life: Life's disruptions remind us of our limitations and the need to surrender control to God. Planning is wise, but we must also accept that we are not in control of everything. Trusting God in the midst of uncertainty allows us to find peace and purpose. [01:59]

2. Align Desires with God's Will: Our lives are driven by desires, but not all are worthy of pursuit. Jesus's ultimate desire was to do the Father's will, rooted in love. We are called to examine our desires and align them with God's will, finding fulfillment in His purpose. [06:47]

3. Find God in Interruptions: Life's interruptions can be opportunities to encounter God and align with His will. Jesus embraced interruptions as part of His ministry, teaching us to see them as moments to trust and seek God's presence. [07:12]

4. Trust in the Living God: The anxieties that fill our minds can distract us from the present moment. Trusting God in each moment allows us to receive what He values, even if it differs from our desires. This trust is the greatest invitation we have. [10:26]

5. Discover Vocation Through Setbacks: George McDonald's story illustrates how setbacks can lead to unexpected vocations. By trusting in God's plan, we can find deeper fulfillment and impact through the paths He opens for us. [09:06]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:38] - Pursuing Meaning and Purpose
- [01:05] - Travel Disruptions and Letting Go
- [01:59] - Passivity vs. Surrender
- [02:41] - The Hero's Journey and Desires
- [03:53] - The Folly of Forgetting Our Finite Nature
- [05:05] - Jesus and Life's Interruptions
- [06:47] - Jesus's Ultimate Desire
- [07:12] - Viewing Interruptions as Opportunities
- [08:18] - George McDonald's Story
- [09:06] - Discovering Vocation Through Setbacks
- [10:26] - Trusting in the Living God
- [11:57] - The Invitation to Trust
- [12:11] - Finding God in Interruptions

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
1. James 4:13-15 - "Now listen, you who say, 'Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.' Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. Instead, you ought to say, 'If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that.'"
2. John 4:34 - "My food," said Jesus, "is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work."

Observation Questions:
1. What does James 4:13-15 suggest about our ability to control future events? How does this relate to the sermon’s message about life’s unpredictability? [03:53]
2. In John 4:34, what does Jesus identify as His ultimate desire? How does this reflect the sermon’s emphasis on aligning our desires with God’s will? [06:47]
3. How did the pastor’s experience with travel disruptions illustrate the tension between control and surrender? [01:05]
4. What role did interruptions play in Jesus’s ministry according to the sermon? [05:05]

Interpretation Questions:
1. How might the concept of being a "mist" in James 4:14 influence a person’s approach to planning and control? [03:53]
2. Why is it significant that Jesus’s ultimate desire was to do the Father’s will, and how does this serve as a model for believers? [06:47]
3. How can life’s interruptions be seen as opportunities to encounter God, as suggested in the sermon? [07:12]
4. What does George McDonald’s story teach about finding one’s vocation through setbacks and interruptions? [09:06]

Application Questions:
1. Reflect on a recent situation where your plans were disrupted. How did you respond, and what might it look like to trust God more in such moments? [01:05]
2. Identify a desire in your life that may not align with God’s will. What steps can you take to realign your desires with His purpose? [06:47]
3. Consider a current anxiety or care that distracts you from the present moment. How can you practice trusting God with this concern? [10:26]
4. Think of a time when an interruption led to an unexpected opportunity. How can you be more open to seeing God’s hand in life’s interruptions? [07:12]
5. How can you apply the lesson from George McDonald’s life about discovering vocation through setbacks in your own life? [09:06]
6. What practical steps can you take to embrace the unpredictability of life and surrender control to God? [01:59]
7. How can you cultivate a desire to do God’s will in your daily life, similar to Jesus’s example? [06:47]

Devotional

Day 1: Embracing Life's Unpredictability
In our journey through life, we often encounter disruptions that remind us of our limitations and the need to surrender control to God. While planning is wise, it is crucial to accept that we are not in control of everything. Trusting God amidst uncertainty allows us to find peace and purpose. This perspective encourages us to discern when to exercise agency and when to accept what we cannot change, trusting that God is in control. By embracing life's unpredictability, we open ourselves to the peace that comes from surrendering to God's will. [01:59]

"For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope." (Jeremiah 29:11, ESV)

Reflection: What is one area of your life where you struggle to let go of control? How can you practice surrendering this area to God today?


Day 2: Aligning Desires with God's Will
Our lives are driven by various desires, but not all are worthy of pursuit. Jesus's ultimate desire was to do the Father's will, rooted in love. We are called to examine our desires and align them with God's will, finding fulfillment in His purpose. This alignment requires us to reflect on our motivations and seek to prioritize God's desires over our own. By doing so, we can experience a deeper sense of purpose and fulfillment in our lives. [06:47]

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

Reflection: What is one desire you have that may not align with God's will? How can you begin to align this desire with God's purpose for your life?


Day 3: Finding God in Interruptions
Life's interruptions can be opportunities to encounter God and align with His will. Jesus embraced interruptions as part of His ministry, teaching us to see them as moments to trust and seek God's presence. By viewing interruptions as opportunities, we can learn to trust God more deeply and seek His guidance in every situation. This perspective allows us to see interruptions not as obstacles but as divine appointments to grow in our faith and understanding of God's will. [07:12]

"And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose." (Romans 8:28, ESV)

Reflection: Think of a recent interruption in your life. How can you view it as an opportunity to encounter God and align with His will?


Day 4: Trusting in the Living God
The anxieties that fill our minds can distract us from the present moment. Trusting God in each moment allows us to receive what He values, even if it differs from our desires. This trust is the greatest invitation we have, as it enables us to experience God's peace and presence in our lives. By focusing on trusting God, we can overcome the distractions of anxiety and embrace the present moment with faith and confidence in His plan. [10:26]

"Cast all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you." (1 Peter 5:7, ESV)

Reflection: What is one anxiety that is distracting you from the present moment? How can you practice trusting God with this concern today?


Day 5: Discovering Vocation Through Setbacks
George McDonald's story illustrates how setbacks can lead to unexpected vocations. By trusting in God's plan, we can find deeper fulfillment and impact through the paths He opens for us. Setbacks are not the end but can be the beginning of a new journey that aligns with God's purpose for our lives. By embracing setbacks as opportunities for growth and discovery, we can find our true calling and make a meaningful impact in the world. [09:06]

"And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose." (Romans 8:28, ESV)

Reflection: Reflect on a recent setback in your life. How can you view it as an opportunity to discover a new vocation or calling that aligns with God's plan for you?

Quotes


I thought this would be a good chance to practice letting go of my need to control everything so I just sat calmly and read a book and uh other people were scaring around making arrangements and and then my flight got cancelled and on my particular Airline all the flights got canceled for several days. [00:01:29]

It was just kind of an interesting journey and an opportunity to be reminded that I am not in control of anything and that we all have to navigate this business of um what's passivity that's not God's will for my life and um then what's accepting things that I cannot control because sometimes I have to do that because I'm not God. [00:02:16]

For every one of us as you might remember in each story there is hero protagonist whatever you want to call this character and then there is an object of Desire this is the thing that I want that's the spine of the story and then the protagonist always runs into barriers conflicts within herself himself with other people with powers Beyond themselves. [00:02:39]

And of course sometimes I discover that I'm much too attached to a particular desire that's not really worthy of it I have to get out right now do I, why and then of course sometimes I'm not sufficiently attached to a a desire that is noble and good and worthy of devoting a life to and always I'm tempted by this illusion that um I can be in control. [00:03:15]

The problem is not making plans it's not a bad thing to make plans it's Folly when I forget that I'm finite and I'm not running the world and when I'm able to release that to God and embrace and appropriately surrender to his will in a way the retains agency that's a really good thing. [00:04:08]

Many many times his ministry seems to consist of being interrupted so a leper comes up to him or a Roman Centurion that uh needs a healing in his household or a sinful woman or a Rich Young Ruler or at the beginning of his ministry the spirit thrust him out Into the Wilderness for 40 days and all of these interruptions Jesus is perfectly willing to embrace. [00:05:09]

George McDonald great Scottish uh preacher and writer poses the question like this why did Jesus Come into the world and often people will answer with something like well he came to save the world and McDonald says no that's part of why he came but there was another great overarching reason that governed every moment of his life. [00:05:56]

To do that will is better than to do anything else because uh the heart of it is just simply love to bring love to The God Who made me and to this earth that he made and to the people around me now today there are going to be things that will interrupt your life there will be things that disrupt things that you're not planning on. [00:07:13]

The Care that is filling your mind at this moment or about waiting till you lay the book aside to consume you now just take a moment what is that care relationship problem financial difficulty concern about somebody in your family uh failure at work the care that's filling your mind at this moment that need which is no real need is a demon sucking at the spring of your life. [00:09:25]

The greatest thing that can ever be required of any man or woman and what is that to trust in the Living God when I'm meeting with a team when I'm preaching someplace when I'm having this meal when I'm having this conversation when I'm talking with you right now when I'm at the airport when my flight is cancelled when there's somebody sitting next to me who has a need. [00:10:24]

If he does not want you to have something you value it is to give you instead something he values and if I do not want what he has to give me if you are not willing that God should have his way with you then in the name of God be miserable until your misery drive you into the arms of the father. [00:11:19]

You have just this one day you have just this one story you have just this one grand invitation to do the will of your heavenly father to trust him in this moment look for him look for him in the interruptions there's a little tractor that just got started right next to me so I'm going to end now um but there'll be interruptions all through this day look for God in them. [00:11:48]

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Transcript
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