Trusting God's Faithfulness Amid Life's Challenges
Summary
In this sermon, I was reminded that we can only see the bits and pieces in front of us right now, but God is saying to us that He is faithful and we can have faith in Him because He has made promises and a covenant with us. I was encouraged to live realizing God is God and we can trust Him, rather than feeling like God owes us an explanation. This path of needing God to explain Himself leads to bitterness and frustration, while the alternative is a path to joy. I was also reminded that God will always lead us to experience His great joy because joy always comes in the morning. God is always faithful, no matter the darkness we may be experiencing in our lives right now.
In the second part of the sermon, I was reminded that God doesn't stop at forgiving us when we choose the shortcuts and the hamster wheel way of life, He offers us protection when life gets really messy and hard. I was encouraged to trust and wait on God with everything that I have, even when nothing makes sense. I was also reminded that God's perspective is not our perspective, and we need to be reminded about the faithless God that we serve. I was encouraged to explore Heavenly places to gain a true view of who God is and how we ought to respond to this faithful God.
Key takeaways:
- We can trust in God's faithfulness and His promises, even when we can't see the whole picture. #!!57:30!!#
- God offers us protection when life gets messy and hard, and His spirit is always guiding and directing us. #!!52:39!!#
- Faith is at its deepest when we choose to trust and wait on God with everything we have, even when it doesn't make sense. #!!55:04!!#
- We should focus on exploring Heavenly places to gain a true view of who God is, rather than getting caught up in the realities of this world. #!!45:26!!#
- God's faithfulness is not like the world's view of faithfulness. He keeps His promises regardless of any condition that we keep our side of the arrangement. #!!46:53!!#
Study Guide
Bible Reading:
1. Deuteronomy 7:9 - "Know therefore that the Lord your God is God, the faithful God who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments, to a thousand generations." #!!38:56!!#
2. 2 Timothy 2:13 - "If we are faithless, he remains faithful— for he cannot deny himself." #!!47:32!!#
3. 2 Corinthians 4:8 - "We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair." #!!56:38!!#
Observation Questions:
1. What does Deuteronomy 7:9 tell us about the nature of God and His relationship with His people?
2. In 2 Timothy 2:13, what does it mean when it says "he remains faithful— for he cannot deny himself"?
3. How does 2 Corinthians 4:8 reflect the struggles we face in life and our response to them?
Interpretation Questions:
1. How does the faithfulness of God, as described in Deuteronomy 7:9, influence our faith in Him?
2. What does 2 Timothy 2:13 teach us about God's faithfulness in times when our faith is weak?
3. How can we apply the message of 2 Corinthians 4:8 in our lives when we face trials and tribulations?
Application Questions:
1. Can you recall a time when you felt God's faithfulness in your life, especially during a difficult period?
2. How can you demonstrate your trust in God's faithfulness in a practical way this week?
3. Can you think of a situation where you felt "hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair"? How did your faith in God help you through this situation?
4. What is one way you can remind yourself of God's faithfulness when you are feeling overwhelmed or uncertain?
5. How can you encourage someone else this week who may be struggling to trust in God's faithfulness?
Devotional
Day 1: God's Faithfulness in Provision
God is Jehovah Jireh, our provider. He has everything and has provided for us. As we bring our gifts, offerings, and lives to Him, we commit ourselves to His service. His provision is not just material but also spiritual, equipping us for the service of mankind. ([36:34])
Deuteronomy 8:18 - "But remember the LORD your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth, and so confirms his covenant, which he swore to your ancestors, as it is today."
Reflection: How have you experienced God's provision in your life this week?
Day 2: Holding onto Faith in Trials
Faith is at its deepest when we choose to trust and wait on God with everything we have, even when nothing makes sense. God shows Himself faithful even when we doubt, struggle, and question. ([55:04])
2 Corinthians 4:8-9 - "We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed."
Reflection: What situation in your life right now requires you to hold onto faith even when it doesn't make sense?
Day 3: Trusting God's Perspective
God's perspective is not our perspective. We can only see the bits and pieces in front of us right now, but God sees the whole picture. We can trust Him because He is faithful and has made a covenant with us. ([57:30])
Isaiah 55:8-9 - "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways," declares the LORD. "As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts."
Reflection: How can you shift your perspective to align more with God's in your current circumstances?
Day 4: God's Faithfulness in His Promises
God keeps His promises. He is not like the world that treats commitments like contracts. He treats His commitments like a covenant, promising to fulfill His promises to us regardless of our actions. ([46:53])
2 Timothy 2:13 - "If we are faithless, He remains faithful, for He cannot deny Himself."
Reflection: What promise from God are you holding onto today?
Day 5: Exploring Heavenly Places
Real world faith begins not with sorting out the issues in our lives, but when we begin exploring Heavenly places to gain a true view of who God is and how we ought to respond to this faithful God. ([45:26])
Colossians 3:1-2 - "Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things."
Reflection: How can you shift your focus from earthly issues to exploring Heavenly places today?
Quotes
1. "God doesn't stop at forgiving us when we choose the shortcuts and the hamster wheel way of life. He offers us a protection when life gets really messy and hard. We put our hope in the Lord, he is our help and our shield. In him, our hearts rejoice for we trust in his holy name." 52:39
2. "There is no way that we can ever outrun God's love. We can never be lost and away with because God will always come and find us. God is faithful and he will always lead us on the path of joy and he will never forget his promise that he has made to us because he is a God who keeps his promises." 54:13
3. "Faith is at its deepest when we choose to trust God and wait on God with everything that we have even when nothing makes sense. It's easy to have faith when everything makes sense, when everything in your life is falling into place and matching your timeline. But God shows himself faithful even when we doubt and when we struggle." 55:04
4. "We can live life feeling like God owes us an explanation or we can live realizing God is God and we can trust him. If we feel like God owes us an explanation, this path of needing God to explain himself, it leads to bitterness and frustration and pain and anger and heartache. The alternative is a path to Joy." 57:30
5. "God says he's never going to check out on us even when we choose to trust other things in our lives where we try and trust our own ability, our own skills, our own jobs, our own bank accounts. God still remains faithful through it all. He will never disown us even though we trust our little gods that we create. Our faithful God will carry out his promises to love us, to forgive us, never leave us and never give up on us." 49:01
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