Trusting God's Goodness: Knowing When to Let Go
Summary
### Summary
Good morning, saints. Today, we gathered to reflect on the unchanging goodness of God. Despite the challenges and imperfections in our lives, one constant remains: the Lord is good. We were reminded of the old saints who praised God not for material blessings but for His inherent goodness. This morning, we delved into Nahum chapter 3, focusing on the destruction of Nineveh and the restoration of Judah. The message was clear: when you've done all you could, it's time to draw a line and let go.
Nahum's prophecy to Nineveh serves as a powerful reminder that God’s justice is inevitable. Nineveh's arrogance and repeated offenses against God’s people led to its downfall. Similarly, we often find ourselves trying to fix people who are unwilling to change. We invest time, energy, and resources into relationships that drain us, forgetting that not everyone is our assignment. It's crucial to recognize when to draw the line and let God handle what we cannot.
We were encouraged to stop taking on others' problems and to set boundaries. This isn't about abandoning compassion but about understanding our limits and preserving our peace. Drawing the line means acknowledging that some people will not change despite our best efforts. It’s about realizing that our well-being is important and that we must live unashamedly happy and guilt-free.
In conclusion, we must remember that God can handle what we cannot. When we’ve done all we could, it’s time to draw the line, take our hands off the situation, and trust God to take over. Life is too precious to be exhausted by trying to fix everyone else. Let’s live in the freedom and peace that God intends for us.
### Key Takeaways
1. God's Unchanging Goodness: Despite life's challenges and imperfections, God's goodness remains constant. This truth should be the foundation of our praise and gratitude, not material blessings. Reflect on God's goodness in your life and let it be the source of your joy and strength. [18:09]
2. Recognize Your Limits: Not everyone is your assignment. Investing time and energy into people who are unwilling to change can drain you. Understand that you cannot fix everyone, and it's okay to step back and let God handle it. [38:29]
3. Set Boundaries: Drawing the line is essential for preserving your peace and well-being. It's not about abandoning compassion but about recognizing when enough is enough. Setting boundaries helps you maintain your mental and emotional health. [44:09]
4. Live Guilt-Free: When you draw the line, do so without guilt. Understand that your resources, time, and energy are valuable. Live unashamedly happy, knowing that you have done your part and that it's okay to let go. [52:42]
5. Trust God to Handle It: When you've done all you could, take your hands off the situation and trust God to take over. He can handle it better than you can. This act of faith will bring you peace and allow you to rest in God's sovereignty. [57:16]
### YouTube Chapters
[0:00] - Welcome
[18:09] - The Lord is Good
[18:55] - Testimony: Can't Nobody Do Me Like Jesus
[19:30] - The Old Way of Church
[20:33] - Has the Lord Been Good to You?
[21:10] - Why I Praise Him
[21:50] - Offering Time
[22:30] - Prayer for Offering
[27:20] - Nahum Chapter 3
[28:17] - The Destruction of Nineveh
[29:47] - God's Justice
[31:18] - Nineveh's Arrogance
[36:12] - When You've Done All You Could
[38:29] - You Can't Fix Everybody
[44:09] - Draw the Line
[52:42] - Live Guilt-Free
[57:16] - Trust God to Handle It
[01:01:18] - Prayer and Benediction
[01:03:35] - Final Blessing and Farewell
Study Guide
### Bible Reading
- Nahum 3:8-10 (NLT): "Are you better than the city of Thebes, situated on the Nile River, surrounded by water? She was protected by the river on all sides, walled in by water. Ethiopia and the land of Egypt gave unlimited assistance. The nations of Put and Libya were among her allies. Yet Thebes fell, and her people were led away as captives. Her babies were dashed to death against the stones of the streets. Soldiers threw dice to get Egyptian officers as servants. All their leaders were bound in chains."
### Observation Questions
1. What was the fate of the city of Thebes as described in Nahum 3:8-10?
2. According to the sermon, what was the main reason for Nineveh's destruction? [29:47]
3. How does the pastor describe the old saints' way of praising God? [19:30]
4. What does the pastor suggest is a common mistake people make when trying to help others? [38:29]
### Interpretation Questions
1. Why does Nahum compare Nineveh to Thebes in Nahum 3:8-10? What is the significance of this comparison?
2. How does the pastor interpret the message of Nahum regarding setting boundaries in our lives? [44:09]
3. What does the pastor mean when he says, "Not everyone is your assignment"? How does this relate to the concept of setting boundaries? [38:29]
4. How does the pastor suggest we should handle feelings of guilt when we draw boundaries? [52:42]
### Application Questions
1. Reflect on a time when you tried to help someone who was unwilling to change. How did it affect your well-being? What could you have done differently? [38:29]
2. The pastor emphasizes the importance of setting boundaries to preserve our peace. Identify one relationship in your life where you need to set clearer boundaries. What steps will you take to do this? [44:09]
3. The sermon encourages living guilt-free after drawing the line. How can you remind yourself that it’s okay to prioritize your well-being without feeling guilty? [52:42]
4. Think about a situation where you need to "take your hands off" and trust God to handle it. What practical steps can you take to let go and trust God more fully? [57:16]
5. The pastor mentioned the importance of recognizing that some people are not our assignment. How can you discern who is and isn’t your assignment in your life? [38:29]
6. How can you incorporate the practice of praising God for His inherent goodness, rather than material blessings, into your daily life? [19:30]
7. The pastor shared a personal story about his therapist advising him to set boundaries. How can seeking external support, like therapy, help you in setting and maintaining boundaries? [47:03]
Devotional
Day 1: God's Unchanging Goodness
Despite life's challenges and imperfections, God's goodness remains constant. This truth should be the foundation of our praise and gratitude, not material blessings. Reflect on God's goodness in your life and let it be the source of your joy and strength. [18:09]
In a world where circumstances are ever-changing, one thing remains steadfast: the goodness of God. This unchanging nature of God is a cornerstone of our faith, providing a solid foundation upon which we can build our lives. When we focus on God's inherent goodness, we find a source of joy and strength that transcends our material circumstances. This perspective shifts our focus from what we lack to the abundance of God's love and grace in our lives.
Reflecting on God's goodness helps us to cultivate a heart of gratitude. It reminds us that our praise should not be contingent on our material blessings but on the unchanging character of God. This understanding can transform our outlook on life, enabling us to face challenges with a sense of peace and assurance that God is always good, no matter what we are going through.
Psalm 100:5 (ESV): "For the Lord is good; his steadfast love endures forever, and his faithfulness to all generations."
Reflection: Think of a recent challenge you faced. How did you see God's goodness in that situation, and how can you let that be the source of your joy and strength today?
Day 2: Recognize Your Limits
Not everyone is your assignment. Investing time and energy into people who are unwilling to change can drain you. Understand that you cannot fix everyone, and it's okay to step back and let God handle it. [38:29]
In our desire to help others, we often take on more than we can handle, investing time and energy into people who may not be ready or willing to change. This can lead to emotional and physical exhaustion, leaving us drained and ineffective. It's important to recognize that not everyone is our assignment. We must discern where God is calling us to invest our efforts and where we need to step back and let Him take over.
Understanding our limits is not a sign of weakness but of wisdom. It allows us to focus our resources on areas where we can make a meaningful impact while trusting God to handle the rest. This discernment helps us to maintain our well-being and ensures that we are not overwhelmed by the burdens of others.
Galatians 6:9 (ESV): "And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up."
Reflection: Identify a relationship or situation where you feel drained. How can you step back and trust God to handle it, while still showing love and compassion?
Day 3: Set Boundaries
Drawing the line is essential for preserving your peace and well-being. It's not about abandoning compassion but about recognizing when enough is enough. Setting boundaries helps you maintain your mental and emotional health. [44:09]
Setting boundaries is a crucial aspect of maintaining our mental and emotional health. It involves recognizing when enough is enough and taking steps to protect our well-being. This doesn't mean abandoning compassion or turning our backs on those in need. Instead, it means understanding our limits and ensuring that we are not sacrificing our peace and well-being in the process.
Boundaries help us to create a healthy balance in our relationships and responsibilities. They allow us to give from a place of abundance rather than depletion. By setting boundaries, we can ensure that we are able to serve others effectively without compromising our own health and happiness.
Proverbs 4:23 (ESV): "Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life."
Reflection: Think of an area in your life where you need to set boundaries. What steps can you take today to protect your peace and well-being while still showing compassion?
Day 4: Live Guilt-Free
When you draw the line, do so without guilt. Understand that your resources, time, and energy are valuable. Live unashamedly happy, knowing that you have done your part and that it's okay to let go. [52:42]
Living guilt-free involves recognizing the value of our resources, time, and energy. When we draw the line and set boundaries, it's important to do so without feeling guilty. We must understand that our well-being is important and that it's okay to let go of situations or relationships that drain us. This allows us to live unashamedly happy, knowing that we have done our part and that it's okay to step back.
Guilt can often hold us back from making necessary changes in our lives. It can keep us trapped in unhealthy patterns and prevent us from experiencing the freedom and peace that God intends for us. By letting go of guilt, we can embrace a life of joy and fulfillment, trusting that God will handle what we cannot.
Romans 8:1 (ESV): "There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus."
Reflection: Reflect on a situation where you feel guilty for setting boundaries. How can you release that guilt and embrace the freedom and peace that God intends for you?
Day 5: Trust God to Handle It
When you've done all you could, take your hands off the situation and trust God to take over. He can handle it better than you can. This act of faith will bring you peace and allow you to rest in God's sovereignty. [57:16]
Trusting God to handle situations beyond our control is an act of faith that brings peace and rest. When we have done all we can, it's important to take our hands off the situation and trust that God will take over. This requires us to relinquish control and place our trust in God's sovereignty, knowing that He can handle it better than we can.
This act of faith allows us to experience a sense of peace and assurance, knowing that God is in control. It frees us from the burden of trying to fix everything ourselves and enables us to rest in the knowledge that God is working on our behalf. Trusting God in this way is a powerful demonstration of our faith and reliance on Him.
Isaiah 26:3 (ESV): "You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you."
Reflection: Think of a situation where you have done all you can. How can you take your hands off and trust God to handle it, allowing yourself to rest in His sovereignty?
Quotes
### Quotes for outreach
1. "But one thing that is never going to change is the fact that God is good. Hallelujah. Come on, would y'all help me this morning? Would you just throw your head back and shout the Lord is good? Toils and snares. I'm awake. Witness that the Lord is good. Well, good morning. We greet you with Jesus' joy. The Lord is good. The Lord is better than good." [18:09] (40 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "You've got a reason to praise him. You've got a reason to give for the Lord is good. Amen. I'll probably say this somewhere in my sermon later. But I'll tell you why I praise him. I had to figure out why I praise him. Dr. Doug, do you know why I started praising God in the last three weeks? Because the Lord told me the battle didn't belong to me. He told me it still belonged to him." [21:10] (35 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "You can't fix everybody. Some folk just ain't gonna be fixed and I know ain't ain't grammatically correct I'm sorry but some folk just ain't gonna be fixed. You can pray for some people you can speak in tongue over some folk you can have some praise breaks over people and they still ain't gonna change." [38:29] (25 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "You ain't got to die for nobody. Somebody already did that. Y'all hear me? We got a God complex and at some point we need to draw that line. When you help somebody for 10 years and they still won't change how much money you done lost? How much energy you done lost? How much peace you forfeited and you'll never get back? It's time to draw a line." [45:52] (37 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "Take your hands off of them. Draw the line. And live unashamedly happy. Life is too short. And it's too precious. For you. To keep exhausting your resources. Into leaky pits. Leave it alone. Draw a line. Take your hands off of it. Do me a favor. Tell somebody right. Draw your line. Draw your line." [57:16] (36 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
### Quotes for members
1. "Nineveh's turned its back against God yet again. It's turned its back against God because they began to mess with God's people. God gets frustrated that Nineveh keeps messing with God's people and because Nineveh keeps messing with God's people, God has to destroy all of Nineveh. Nineveh, Nineveh, Nineveh one, it's all about God's going to restore Judah. God's going to destroy Nineveh." [30:27] (28 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "You can't fix everybody and there's some folks in this world that just ain't gonna change and these two countries were still friends with the capital of Egypt who was not going to change and watch this and the end of their story was not gonna change some of us enter into friendships already knowing that folks ain't gonna change." [40:25] (30 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "You can't fix everybody. Some folk just ain't gonna be fixed and I know ain't ain't grammatically correct I'm sorry but some folk just ain't gonna be fixed. You can pray for some people you can speak in tongue over some folk you can have some praise breaks over people and they still ain't gonna change and some of us are investing too much time and energy and resources in the folk that we know ain't gonna change." [38:29] (40 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "You ain't got to die for nobody. Somebody already did that. Y'all hear me? We got a God complex and at some point we need to draw that line. When you help somebody for 10 years and they still won't change how much money you done lost? How much energy you done lost? How much peace you forfeited and you'll never get back? It's time to draw a line." [45:52] (37 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "Take your hands off of them. Draw the line. And live unashamedly happy. Life is too short. And it's too precious. For you. To keep exhausting your resources. Into leaky pits. Leave it alone. Draw a line. Take your hands off of it. Do me a favor. Tell somebody right. Draw your line. Draw your line." [57:16] (36 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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