Trusting God: Finding Peace, Wisdom, and Joy
Summary
This past week was a special time as we wrapped up Vacation Bible School, a week filled with laughter, games, and, most importantly, foundational truths about trusting God. The theme verse, Psalm 56:3, “When I am afraid, I put my trust in you,” guided us as we explored five stories from Scripture, each revealing a unique aspect of what it means to trust God in every circumstance.
We began with Jacob, who, despite his mistakes and the brokenness in his family, discovered that God goes with us wherever we are. Even when we feel unworthy or uncertain, God’s presence is not conditional on our perfection. Next, we looked at Ruth, who chose to stay with Naomi in a time of loss and uncertainty. Ruth’s story reminds us that God leads the way, often down unexpected paths, and calls us to trust Him even when the road ahead is unclear.
We then considered the young Jesus in the temple, a story that highlights the importance of seeking God’s wisdom. Like Mary and Joseph, we often find ourselves searching for answers, and God invites us to ask, listen, and receive wisdom—sometimes through others, sometimes directly from Him. The story of Jesus calming the storm with His disciples showed us that God is the source of true peace. In the chaos and fear of life’s storms, Jesus stands and speaks, “Be still,” offering a peace that the world cannot give.
Finally, we saw Philip’s encounter with the Ethiopian eunuch, a powerful example of how God brings joy when we listen to His Spirit and share the good news of Jesus. Philip’s obedience led to a life transformed and a heart rejoicing. These stories, though simple enough for children, hold deep truths for all of us: God goes with us, leads us, gives wisdom, brings peace, and fills us with joy as we trust and follow Him.
Key Takeaways
- God’s Presence Is Unconditional
Jacob’s journey shows that God does not abandon us because of our failures or fears. Even when we feel undeserving, God chooses to go with us, offering His presence as a constant companion. Trusting God means believing He is with us in every season, not just when we have it all together. [04:08]
- Trusting God Means Following Unexpected Paths
Ruth’s decision to stay with Naomi was not the logical or easy choice, but it was the path God used to lead her into His greater story. Trust often requires us to step into the unknown, believing that God’s direction may look different from our own plans. Faith is found in obedience, even when the way forward is unclear. [06:21]
- Wisdom Comes Through Seeking and Community
The story of young Jesus in the temple reminds us that wisdom is not automatic; it is sought after in God’s presence and often found in community. We are invited to pray for wisdom, to listen for God’s voice, and to be open to counsel from others who walk with Him. God delights in guiding those who earnestly seek Him. [10:06]
- Peace Is Found in God, Not Circumstances
When the disciples faced the storm, their expertise and strength were not enough to calm their fears. Jesus’ command, “Be still,” reveals that true peace is not the absence of trouble but the presence of Christ in the midst of it. We are called to anchor our hearts in God’s peace, which surpasses understanding. [13:24]
- Joy Springs from Obedience and Sharing Christ
Philip’s willingness to listen to the Spirit and share Jesus with the Ethiopian eunuch brought about transformation and joy. Joy is not merely a feeling but a fruit of walking in step with God’s leading and participating in His work. When we trust God enough to act, we become conduits of His joy to others and experience it ourselves. [20:10]
Youtube Chapters
[00:00] - Welcome
[01:01] - VBS Reflections and Memories
[02:04] - Adapting VBS for All Ages
[03:20] - Day 1: Jacob and Esau—God Goes With Us
[04:56] - Trusting God’s Presence
[05:57] - Day 2: Ruth—God Leads the Way
[07:03] - Following God in Uncertainty
[07:43] - Day 3: Young Jesus—God Shares Wisdom
[09:05] - Seeking Wisdom in Community
[10:54] - Day 4: Jesus Calms the Storm—God Gives Peace
[12:33] - Finding Peace in Chaos
[14:20] - Day 5: Philip and the Ethiopian—God Sparks Joy
[16:33] - Listening to the Holy Spirit
[18:11] - Sharing the Good News
[20:57] - Trusting God in All Circumstances
[22:09] - The Joy of Life in Christ
[24:00] - Closing Prayer
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide: Trusting God in Every Circumstance
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### Bible Reading
1. Psalm 56:3 (ESV)
> When I am afraid, I put my trust in you.
2. Luke 2:41-52 (ESV)
(The story of young Jesus in the temple)
3. Mark 4:35-41 (ESV)
(Jesus calms the storm)
4. Acts 8:26-40 (ESV)
(Philip and the Ethiopian eunuch)
---
### Observation Questions
1. In Psalm 56:3, what does the psalmist say he does when he is afraid?
2. According to the story in Luke 2:41-52, what was Jesus doing in the temple, and how did his parents react when they found him? [08:27]
3. In Mark 4:35-41, how did the disciples respond to the storm, and what did Jesus do to bring peace? [13:24]
4. In Acts 8:26-40, what instructions did Philip receive from God, and how did he respond? [16:33]
---
### Interpretation Questions
1. The sermon says that God’s presence is not conditional on our perfection, as seen in Jacob’s story. Why is this important for people who feel unworthy or have made mistakes? [04:08]
2. Ruth chose to stay with Naomi even when it didn’t make sense. What does this teach about trusting God when the future is uncertain? [06:21]
3. The story of young Jesus in the temple highlights seeking wisdom. How does the sermon connect the search for wisdom with being part of a community? [10:06]
4. When Jesus calmed the storm, the disciples were still afraid even though they were with him. What does this say about the difference between having Jesus present and actually trusting him for peace? [13:24]
---
### Application Questions
1. The sermon says God goes with us even when we feel undeserving. Is there a situation in your life right now where you feel unworthy of God’s presence? How can you remind yourself that God is with you anyway? [04:08]
2. Ruth followed God’s path even when it was unexpected. Can you think of a time when God led you in a direction you didn’t plan? How did you respond, and what did you learn? [06:21]
3. The story of young Jesus shows the importance of seeking wisdom. Who in your life do you turn to for godly wisdom? Is there a decision you need to pray about or discuss with someone this week? [10:06]
4. When life feels chaotic, like the disciples in the storm, what are some practical ways you can anchor your heart in God’s peace instead of your circumstances? [13:24]
5. Philip listened to the Holy Spirit and shared Jesus with someone who was searching. Is there someone in your life who might be open to hearing about Jesus? What is one step you can take to share your faith or encourage them this week? [16:33]
6. The sermon says joy comes from obedience and sharing Christ. When was the last time you felt real joy from following God’s leading? What did you do, and how did it affect you or others? [20:10]
7. The key verse says, “When I am afraid, I put my trust in you.” What is one fear you are facing right now, and how can you practice trusting God with it this week? [21:37]
---
Devotional
Day 1: Trust God to Go With You Through Life’s Ups and Downs
No matter what we face—mistakes, uncertainty, or even the consequences of our own actions—God promises to go with us. Like Jacob, who deceived his brother Esau and fled into the unknown, we may find ourselves in situations where we feel alone or unworthy. Yet, God does not abandon us or shame us; instead, He travels with us through every high and low. When we place our trust in Him, even when we can’t feel His presence, we can be confident that He is by our side, guiding and sustaining us through every season. [04:08]
Psalm 56:3 (NLT)
But when I am afraid, I will put my trust in you.
Reflection: Think of a time when you felt alone or uncertain because of a mistake or difficult situation. How can you invite God to walk with you through that circumstance today, trusting that He will not abandon you?
Day 2: Trust God to Lead the Way
In moments of uncertainty, when the path ahead is unclear or filled with unexpected turns, God calls us to trust Him to lead us. Ruth’s story is a powerful example: she chose to stay with Naomi, leaving behind her old life and stepping into the unknown out of faithfulness and trust. Sometimes, following God means taking a left turn when we expected to go right, or staying when it would be easier to leave. When we allow God to direct our steps, even when it’s difficult, He leads us to places of purpose and blessing we could never have found on our own. [06:21]
Ruth 1:16-17 (ESV)
But Ruth said, “Do not urge me to leave you or to return from following you. For where you go I will go, and where you lodge I will lodge. Your people shall be my people, and your God my God. Where you die I will die, and there will I be buried. May the Lord do so to me and more also if anything but death parts me from you.”
Reflection: Is there a decision or situation in your life where you sense God asking you to trust Him, even if it means stepping into the unknown? What would it look like to let Him lead you today?
Day 3: Trust God to Share Wisdom
When we don’t know what to do next, God invites us to seek His wisdom. Like young Jesus in the temple, who amazed the teachers with His understanding, we are called to pursue God’s wisdom through prayer, Scripture, and the counsel of fellow believers. Sometimes, wisdom comes directly from God; other times, it comes through the community He places around us. As we pray and listen, God provides the insight we need to make choices that honor Him and bless others. [09:05]
Luke 2:41-52 (ESV)
Now his parents went to Jerusalem every year at the Feast of the Passover. And when he was twelve years old, they went up according to custom. And when the feast was ended, as they were returning, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem. His parents did not know it, but supposing him to be in the group they went a day’s journey, but then they began to search for him among their relatives and acquaintances, and when they did not find him, they returned to Jerusalem, searching for him. After three days they found him in the temple, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. And all who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers. And when his parents saw him, they were astonished. And his mother said to him, “Son, why have you treated us so? Behold, your father and I have been searching for you in great distress.” And he said to them, “Why were you looking for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?” And they did not understand the saying that he spoke to them. And he went down with them and came to Nazareth and was submissive to them. And his mother treasured up all these things in her heart. And Jesus increased in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and man.
Reflection: What is one area of your life where you need God’s wisdom right now? Who can you ask to pray with you and help you discern God’s direction?
Day 4: Trust God to Give Peace in the Storm
Life’s storms can be overwhelming, leaving us feeling powerless and afraid. The disciples, experienced fishermen, were terrified when a violent storm threatened to sink their boat, but Jesus stood up and spoke peace into the chaos. In the same way, God offers us peace that surpasses understanding, even when circumstances are out of our control. When we turn to Him in prayer and trust, He calms our fears and reminds us that true peace is found not in the absence of trouble, but in His presence with us. [13:24]
Mark 4:35-41 (ESV)
On that day, when evening had come, he said to them, “Let us go across to the other side.” And leaving the crowd, they took him with them in the boat, just as he was. And other boats were with him. And a great windstorm arose, and the waves were breaking into the boat, so that the boat was already filling. But he was in the stern, asleep on the cushion. And they woke him and said to him, “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?” And he awoke and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, “Peace! Be still!” And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. He said to them, “Why are you so afraid? Have you still no faith?” And they were filled with great fear and said to one another, “Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?”
Reflection: What storm or source of anxiety are you facing right now? How can you invite Jesus to speak peace into that situation today?
Day 5: Trust God to Spark Joy as You Share Jesus
When we listen to God’s leading and share the good news of Jesus, we experience a deep and lasting joy. Philip’s encounter with the Ethiopian eunuch shows how God orchestrates divine appointments, using our obedience to bring others to faith and to fill our own hearts with joy. The eunuch went on his way rejoicing after his baptism, and Philip continued to share the gospel wherever he went. Joy is not just a fleeting feeling, but a gift from God that comes as we follow Him and help others discover the hope found in Jesus. [20:57]
Acts 8:26-39 (ESV)
Now an angel of the Lord said to Philip, “Rise and go toward the south to the road that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.” This is a desert place. And he rose and went. And there was an Ethiopian, a eunuch, a court official of Candace, queen of the Ethiopians, who was in charge of all her treasure. He had come to Jerusalem to worship and was returning, seated in his chariot, and he was reading the prophet Isaiah. And the Spirit said to Philip, “Go over and join this chariot.” So Philip ran to him and heard him reading Isaiah the prophet and asked, “Do you understand what you are reading?” And he said, “How can I, unless someone guides me?” And he invited Philip to come up and sit with him. Now the passage of the Scripture that he was reading was this: “Like a sheep he was led to the slaughter and like a lamb before its shearer is silent, so he opens not his mouth. In his humiliation justice was denied him. Who can describe his generation? For his life is taken away from the earth.” And the eunuch said to Philip, “About whom, I ask you, does the prophet say this, about himself or about someone else?” Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning with this Scripture he told him the good news about Jesus. And as they were going along the road they came to some water, and the eunuch said, “See, here is water! What prevents me from being baptized?” And he commanded the chariot to stop, and they both went down into the water, Philip and the eunuch, and he baptized him. And when they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord carried Philip away, and the eunuch saw him no more, and went on his way rejoicing.
Reflection: Who is someone in your life that God might be prompting you to encourage or share your faith with? How can you take a step of obedience today and experience the joy that comes from following God’s leading?
Quotes
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