Trusting God with Our Impossible Walls

This morning, we gathered as a community, mindful of those traveling and those joining us online, grateful for the ways God keeps us connected. We reflected on the practical realities facing our church family, especially in times of loss. The rising costs and emotional weight of funerals can overwhelm us, and it’s important to approach these moments with wisdom and clarity. We must not let grief or outside pressures lead us into decisions that burden us further. As a church, we are committed to supporting one another, but we must also be honest about our limitations and the need for responsible stewardship.

Turning to the Word, we looked at Joshua 6 and the story of Jericho. The Israelites faced an impossible wall—fortified, intimidating, and guarded by experienced soldiers. They had no military experience, no weapons, and no way forward by human means. Yet, God’s promise stood: “I have delivered Jericho into your hands.” The lesson is clear—there are battles in life that are simply above us, beyond our ability to fix or control. In those moments, we must put the situation in God’s hands, trusting that He is able to do what we cannot.

We considered the importance of obedience and faith. God gave Israel specific instructions: march around the wall, be silent, and then shout in praise before the wall even fell. This was not about military strategy, but about learning to trust God’s process. Sometimes, God wants us to see the full size of our problem so that when deliverance comes, we know it was only by His hand. We must show up, face our challenges, and resist the urge to speak defeat or negativity. Our words matter—life and death are in the power of the tongue.

Finally, we are called to praise God even before the breakthrough. True faith is not just celebrating after the wall falls, but blessing God while the wall is still standing. When we put our battles in God’s hands and respond with faith, obedience, and praise, we invite His power into our impossible situations. Whatever wall you face today, remember: it’s above you now—put it in God’s hands, trust His timing, and praise Him in advance.

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Key Takeaways

• 1. Wise Stewardship in Times of Grief: In moments of loss, emotions can cloud our judgment, leading to decisions that may burden us financially or otherwise. It’s crucial to approach these times with clear eyes, understanding both the practical and spiritual implications. The church is here to support, but we must also be responsible and honest about what we can do, ensuring that our choices honor both our loved ones and our own well-being. [22:38]
• 2. Recognizing When It’s Above You: There are situations in life that are simply beyond our control—walls too high, battles too fierce, problems too complex. The wisdom is in recognizing when to stop striving in our own strength and to place the matter fully in God’s hands. Trusting God with what is “above us” is not weakness, but the deepest kind of faith. [45:46]
• 3. Obedience Precedes Breakthrough: God often asks us to follow instructions that may not make sense to us—like marching around a wall in silence. Obedience, even when the outcome is unclear, positions us for God’s intervention. Sometimes, God wants us to fully grasp the size of our obstacle so that when He moves, we know it was only by His power, not our own. [54:41]
• 4. The Power of Showing Up and Speaking Life: Faith is not passive; it requires us to show up in the face of our challenges, even when we feel outmatched. At the same time, we must guard our words, refusing to speak defeat or negativity over our situation. Our presence and our words are acts of faith that align us with God’s promise and open the door for His victory. [60:02]
• 5. Praising God Before the Wall Falls: True faith is demonstrated not just in celebrating after the victory, but in praising God while the wall is still standing. When we bless God in advance, we declare our trust in His character and His promises, regardless of what we see. This kind of praise shakes the foundations of our obstacles and invites God’s power to move on our behalf. [71:22]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [19:41] - Announcements and Community Updates
• [21:29] - Reflections on Funerals and Church Support
• [22:38] - The Business of Death and Wise Stewardship
• [25:16] - Changing Funeral Practices and Church Policy
• [26:51] - Financial Realities and Making Wise Decisions
• [32:34] - Offering and Praise
• [41:46] - Introduction to Joshua 6 and Jericho
• [44:06] - “It’s Above Me Now” – The Viral Story
• [45:46] - Putting It in God’s Hands
• [47:21] - The Israelites’ Impossible Situation
• [49:38] - God Levels the Playing Field
• [52:17] - God’s Instructions: March, Don’t Fight
• [53:09] - Why God Makes Us Face the Wall
• [54:41] - Clarity About Our Limitations
• [56:18] - When the Problem Gets Worse
• [60:02] - Show Up in Faith
• [63:13] - The Discipline of Silence
• [67:18] - The Call to Praise Before the Breakthrough
• [71:22] - Trusting God with the Wall

1. What specific instructions did God give the Israelites for taking the city of Jericho? (Joshua 6:1-5)
2. According to the sermon, why did God have the Israelites walk around the wall multiple times instead of attacking it directly? [54:41]
3. What was the Israelites’ response before the wall actually fell, and what did God ask them to do at that moment? (Joshua 6:20; [01:07:18])
4. In the sermon, what practical challenges did the church face regarding funerals and supporting grieving families? [22:38]

1. Why might God want the Israelites to see the full size and strength of the wall before He brought it down? What does this reveal about how God works in our lives? [54:41]
2. The sermon talks about “putting it in God’s hands” when something is “above you.” What does it look like to truly let go of control in a difficult situation? [45:46]
3. The pastor emphasized the importance of obedience even when God’s instructions don’t make sense. Why is obedience so closely tied to faith in this story? [53:09]
4. The sermon mentioned the power of our words and the discipline of silence. How can negative speech impact our faith and the outcome of our challenges? [01:04:37]

1. The pastor warned about making emotional decisions during times of grief, especially regarding funeral expenses. Have you ever made a big decision while grieving or under pressure? What would it look like to approach those moments with “clear eyes” and wise stewardship? [22:38]
2. Is there a “wall” in your life right now that feels impossible to overcome? What would it mean for you to say, “It’s above me now,” and put it in God’s hands? [45:46]
3. God asked the Israelites to show up and walk around the wall, even though it looked hopeless. Is there a situation where you need to keep “showing up” in faith, even if you don’t see results yet? What would that look like for you this week? [01:00:02]
4. The sermon talked about the discipline of silence and not speaking defeat over your situation. Are there areas where you tend to speak negatively or doubt God’s ability? What is one way you can change your words to speak life and faith instead? [01:04:37]
5. The Israelites praised God before the wall fell. Can you think of a time when you praised God before seeing the answer? How did that affect your faith? Is there something you need to praise God for in advance right now? [01:11:22]
6. The church is committed to supporting one another, but also has limitations. How can you be both supportive to others in need and honest about your own boundaries and resources? [26:51]
7. The pastor said, “If I’m going to pray, why worry?” What is one worry you can commit to pray about and then intentionally let go of this week? [01:11:22]