Trusting God Through Life's Mountains and Transformations

Summary

Life is full of moments when we feel like we’re facing mountains—obstacles that seem insurmountable, whether in our families, finances, or personal struggles. In these moments, it’s vital to remember the faithfulness of Jesus, the One who makes a way even when there seems to be no way. Today, we celebrated the achievements and transitions within our church family, reminding ourselves to pause and give thanks for God’s goodness in every season.

We are in a journey of transformation, a “before and after” that begins when we encounter Jesus. He doesn’t leave us as we are; instead, He invites us into a continual process of growth and renewal. This transformation is not something we can accomplish on our own—it is only possible through surrender to God and the grace He freely gives. Even when we are certain we are following God’s will, we may still encounter roadblocks, disappointments, or suffering. The story of Paul and Silas in Acts 16 illustrates this truth. They discerned God’s will together, responded in obedience, and yet found themselves beaten and imprisoned. Despite their circumstances, they chose to worship, trusting that God was still at work.

Discerning God’s will is not meant to be a tightrope walk, where one misstep leads to disaster. God is a God of grace, able to work all things for good for those who love Him. Sometimes, as we seek His direction, we experience a sense of peace or, conversely, a hesitancy that signals us to pause. These inner promptings, when bathed in prayer and community, help guide our steps. Even when the way forward leads to unexpected hardship, God’s faithfulness remains. Paul and Silas’ worship in prison led not only to their own deliverance but also to the salvation of the jailer and his household—a powerful reminder that our obedience and perseverance can have ripple effects far beyond ourselves.

As we face our own decisions and challenges, we are called to bring them to God, to praise Him in the midst of uncertainty, and to trust that He is working all things for our good. If it’s not good yet, God is not done. He is with us, guiding, sustaining, and transforming us, and through us, impacting the lives of others.

Key Takeaways

- God’s faithfulness is not dependent on our circumstances. Even when we face what feels like insurmountable obstacles, God remains the One who makes a way. Our trust in Him is not based on the absence of trouble, but on the assurance of His unchanging character and presence in every season. [34:37]

- Transformation in Christ is a continual journey, not a one-time event. Jesus invites us to grow, to be renewed, and to surrender areas of our lives that need His touch. This process requires humility and a willingness to let go of self-sufficiency, embracing the grace that enables true change. [37:25]

- Discerning God’s will is a communal and prayerful process, not a solitary or anxious endeavor. God does not expect us to walk a tightrope of perfection; rather, He provides guidance through His Spirit, the peace or hesitancy we sense, and the wisdom of others. Trusting in His grace allows us to move forward without fear of missing His best. [40:10]

- Obedience to God does not guarantee a smooth path. Like Paul and Silas, we may encounter suffering or setbacks even when we are certain we are following God’s direction. In these moments, our response of worship and trust becomes a powerful testimony, both to ourselves and to those around us, of God’s sustaining power. [50:46]

- God’s purposes often extend beyond our immediate understanding. The trials we endure and the faith we display can lead to transformation not only in our own lives but also in the lives of others. When we persevere and remain faithful, God uses our journey to bring hope, salvation, and renewal to those we encounter. [57:08]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[34:37] - Trusting God in Difficult Moments
[35:42] - Celebrating Achievements and Transitions
[37:25] - Embracing the Journey of Transformation
[38:53] - When Obedience Meets Roadblocks
[40:10] - Discerning God’s Will Together
[43:00] - The Prayer of Indifference
[45:30] - Peace, Hesitancy, and God’s Guidance
[47:50] - Paul and Silas: From Vision to Prison
[50:46] - Worship in the Midst of Suffering
[53:30] - The Power of Praise and Surrender
[55:10] - God’s Faithfulness Through Trials
[57:08] - Transformation Beyond Ourselves
[58:51] - Praying for Guidance and Peace
[01:00:14] - Benediction and Blessing
[01:16:52] - Closing and Farewell

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

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### Bible Reading

- Acts 16:6–34 (Paul and Silas’ journey, imprisonment, and the salvation of the jailer and his household)
- Romans 8:28 (“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”)
- James 1:2–4 (“Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.”)

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### Observation Questions

1. In Acts 16, what steps did Paul and his companions take to discern God’s will before traveling to Macedonia? ([40:10])
2. What happened to Paul and Silas after they obeyed God’s direction, and how did they respond to their circumstances? ([50:46])
3. According to Romans 8:28, what does God promise to those who love Him?
4. What transformation do we see in the lives of Lydia, the slave girl, and the jailer in Acts 16? ([47:50])

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### Interpretation Questions

1. Why do you think God sometimes allows us to face roadblocks or suffering even when we are following His will? ([38:53])
2. How does the story of Paul and Silas challenge the idea that obedience to God always leads to an easy or comfortable life? ([50:46])
3. What role does worship and praise play in the midst of suffering, according to the example of Paul and Silas? ([50:46])
4. In what ways can discerning God’s will be a communal process rather than something we do alone? ([40:10])

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### Application Questions

1. Think about a “mountain” or obstacle you are currently facing. How can you remind yourself of God’s faithfulness in this situation? ([34:37])
2. The sermon talked about transformation being a continual journey. Is there an area of your life where you sense God inviting you to grow or surrender something? What would it look like to take a step in that direction this week? ([37:25])
3. When you have a big decision to make, do you tend to seek God’s will alone or with others? Who could you invite into your process of discernment next time? ([40:10])
4. Have you ever experienced a sense of peace or hesitancy when making a decision? How did you respond, and what was the outcome? ([43:00])
5. Paul and Silas chose to worship in prison. What is one practical way you can choose praise or gratitude in the middle of a difficult circumstance this week? ([50:46])
6. The sermon said, “If it’s not good yet, God is not done.” Is there a situation in your life where you need to trust that God is still working? How can you hold onto hope in that area? ([57:08])
7. The faith and obedience of Paul and Silas led to the transformation of others. Who in your life might be impacted by your perseverance and trust in God? How can you be intentional about encouraging or sharing your faith with them? ([57:08])

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Devotional

Day 1: God Calls Us to a Journey of Transformation
God does not leave us as we are when we come to Him; instead, He invites us into a continual journey of transformation, working in our hearts and lives to bring about true change. This journey is not about our own strength or ability, but about surrendering ourselves to God and allowing His grace to renew us daily. As we walk with Jesus, we are called to grow, to work through the things in our lives that need healing, and to trust that He is making us new. Transformation is not a one-time event but a lifelong process of becoming more like Christ as we surrender to His will. [37:25]

Romans 12:2 (ESV)
Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

Reflection: What is one area of your life where you sense God inviting you to deeper transformation? How can you surrender this area to Him today?


Day 2: Discerning God’s Will Together
Discerning God’s will is not meant to be a solitary or anxiety-filled process; rather, God invites us to seek His direction in community, trusting that He will guide us with peace or hesitancy as we pray and listen together. Paul and his companions discerned God’s call to Macedonia by seeking God’s guidance as a group, concluding together what God was asking them to do. This reminds us that God’s will is not a tightrope we must walk alone, but a path we can discern with others, trusting that God is gracious and able to work all things for good. [40:10]

Acts 16:6-10 (ESV)
And they went through the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been forbidden by the Holy Spirit to speak the word in Asia. And when they had come up to Mysia, they attempted to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus did not allow them. So, passing by Mysia, they went down to Troas. And a vision appeared to Paul in the night: a man of Macedonia was standing there, urging him and saying, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.” And when Paul had seen the vision, immediately we sought to go on into Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them.

Reflection: Who are the trusted people in your life you can invite to pray and discern God’s direction with you this week?


Day 3: Worship in the Midst of Trials
When we face roadblocks or suffering even while following God’s will, our response can be to worship and trust in God’s faithfulness, knowing He has not failed us yet. Paul and Silas, after being beaten and imprisoned for obeying God, chose to worship and praise Him in the darkest of circumstances. Their worship not only brought freedom for themselves but also opened the door for others to encounter God’s grace. In our own trials, choosing to praise God can shift our perspective and remind us that He is with us, working even when we cannot see the outcome. [50:46]

Acts 16:25-26 (ESV)
About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them, and suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken. And immediately all the doors were opened, and everyone’s bonds were unfastened.

Reflection: In a current challenge or frustration, how can you intentionally choose to worship God and trust His faithfulness today?


Day 4: God Works All Things for Good
Even when circumstances are difficult or confusing, God is at work behind the scenes, weaving all things together for the good of those who love Him and are called according to His purpose. We may not always understand why we face certain trials or setbacks, but we can hold onto the promise that God is faithful and will not abandon us. If it’s not good yet, God is not done yet—He is still working, and we can trust Him to bring about His good purposes in our lives. [57:08]

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

Reflection: Where in your life do you need to be reminded that God is still working for your good, even if you can’t see it yet?


Day 5: Transformation Leads to Impact
The transformation God brings in our lives is not just for us, but for those around us; as we follow Jesus and respond to His call, others are drawn to Him and experience His saving grace. Paul and Silas’s faithfulness and worship in prison led not only to their own freedom but to the salvation of the jailer and his entire household. Our obedience and trust in God, even in difficult times, can have a ripple effect, bringing hope and transformation to our families, friends, and communities. [58:51]

Matthew 5:16 (ESV)
In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.

Reflection: Who in your life might be impacted by your faith and trust in God this week, and how can you intentionally share His love with them?

Quotes

We've started this series a couple of weeks ago called Before and After, to focus on how God invites us to embrace a journey of transformation. He calls us to this. See, when we meet Jesus, he's not like saying like, I mean, I don't know about you, but I got stuff in my life I'd like to work through. Anyone else? Okay, so it's just me. I have stuff in my life I need to work out. So when we meet Jesus, we have these things, right? We have these things we need to work out. So when Jesus, we ask Jesus to be in our lives, when we declare he is to be our Lord and Savior, he comes in not to just keep us as we are, but he comes in to start a journey of transformation. [00:37:25] (00:00:49 seconds) Edit Clip

So Jesus calls us to this journey of transformation, to continually grow, to get better, to work through these things. And through scripture and testimony, we want to explore how true change happens when we surrender ourselves to God. When we surrender ourselves to God and we accept that he wants to give us a new life renewed by grace. [00:38:36] (00:00:26 seconds) Edit Clip

Have you ever found yourself where you're like, God, I'm doing your will. Like you prayed about something and you made the decision. You're like, this is what I felt was the right thing to do. But then shortly after, it's like you hit a speed bump or two or three or maybe a little bit of a brick wall. Or maybe it's just a bumpy road, whatever it is. And you're like, wait a minute, God. I thought I was doing your will. I thought I was obeying you. I was being obedient. Yet now I'm facing these frustrations. [00:39:02] (00:00:35 seconds) Edit Clip

So after paul silas and the group they went off to macedonia they went to go find a place of prayer it says there they met a group of women and they witnessed to them shared the gospel with them and one of them their her name was lydia and the scriptures on the screen let's read that because i think it gives context to how they got there and on the sabbath we went outside to the city gate to the river where we expected to find a place of prayer we sat down and began to speak to the women who had gathered there one of those listening was a woman from the city of fear tria lydia of a dealer in purple cloth she was a worshiper of god and the lord opened her heart to respond to paul's message when she and the members of her household were baptized she invited us to her home if you consider me a believer in the lord she said come and stay at my house and she persuaded us this is pretty amazing so paul and his whole crew they've kind of showed up in macedonia and they're like well we're going to go find a place to prayer we don't have any details whether they had a place to say but now they do it's all working out pretty good so far right god showed up in a visionnight said to go to macedonia they go there they've already got people that are listening and receptive and opening open to hearing the message of god you you say yes to god you're excited you're going forward you feel that sense of peace okay things are good. [00:47:09] (00:01:28 seconds) Edit Clip

But then something happens paul and silas get arrested they get beaten and they get put in prison this is a bit of a road bump road bump speed bump what next god i thought i was following your will i thought i was doing all the right things what's going on like i said i we know from hindsight that it all worked out but i can imagine in the midst of this chaos that wonder inside i know i've wondered at god where did i go wrong did i do something wrong i love how paul and silas approached this i'm sure it wasn't easy like i said a first century prison was no joke but they approached it with worship they approached it going god you haven't failed us yet. [00:50:15] (00:01:07 seconds) Edit Clip

So as you discern god's will as you pray you get that sense of peace or that hesitation and you make the decision to move forward but then you hit the road blocks the speed bumps or walls in the case of paul and silas sometimes a response is to turn and run or maybe god i went wrong or something like that but instead i think sometimes a response should be similar to paul and silas does this take some time to praise. [00:53:23] (00:00:37 seconds) Edit Clip

That is not the only roadblock that Paul faced or Silas or the other disciples. They faced them one after another after another, but they continued on. They continued to focus on God, to worship God, and see God move and do amazing things. [00:56:10] (00:00:18 seconds) Edit Clip

In fact, Paul later wrote to consider it joy when you face trials, because they will help you grow. Because God knows. God knows how it's going to turn out. So in the midst of frustration, in the midst of these roadblocks, speed bumps, whatever it is, know that God is faithful. Know that God will take you through. That God will help you. Because you see, if it's not good yet, I don't think God is done. God will work it out. [00:56:53] (00:00:43 seconds) Edit Clip

Just as we read in Romans 8, 28, that He works out all things for the good of those who trust Him. So in our lives, as we face these frustrations, these trials, whatever, maybe they're not to the same extent that Paul and Silas, I know there are believers all around the world that do face imprisonment, do face even worse. Maybe we don't face those same things. So the things that we face, though, we just bring them to God. We praise Him. We remember when we discerned His will about the way forward, and we stick to it. Because He is faithful, and He will carry us through. God has never let any of us down. [00:57:36] (00:00:49 seconds) Edit Clip

There was this call to transformation that was evident not only in Paul and Silas' life, but it moved from their lives to everyone else they came into contact with. Just pray that, God, when we make that decision, that we would remember that it is with a purpose. [00:59:48] (00:00:22 seconds) Edit Clip