Trusting God's Goodness Through Life's Peaks and Valleys
Summary
### Summary
Good morning, everyone. Today, we celebrated the contributions of our interns, Claire and Issa, and prayed for their future endeavors. Issa will be returning to Colombia to minister on a hospital boat, while Claire will continue her studies online and remain with us. We also reflected on the importance of gratitude and the long, steady journey of faith, emphasizing that our walk with Jesus is not about hype but about consistent growth.
We continued our series on Psalm 23, focusing on the theme of "Peaks and Valleys." I shared a personal story about a challenging camping trip to illustrate how valleys in life can be difficult and long, but they are part of our journey. The key message was that God's goodness and mercy follow us, even when we don't immediately see it. We explored the life of Joseph from Genesis, who experienced betrayal, slavery, and imprisonment but remained faithful, knowing that God was with him.
Joseph's story is a powerful example of how God's goodness and mercy are always at work, even in the most challenging circumstances. Despite being sold into slavery by his brothers, falsely accused by Potiphar's wife, and imprisoned, Joseph trusted in God's presence and plan. His faithfulness led to his eventual rise to a position of power in Egypt, where he was able to save many lives, including those of his brothers who had wronged him.
We also discussed how Joseph's life foreshadows the life of Jesus, who was betrayed, falsely accused, and crucified but rose again to offer salvation to the world. This parallel reminds us that God's plan is always at work, even when we can't see it. We are called to wait patiently, confidently, vulnerably, intimately, and expectantly, trusting that God's goodness and mercy are following us all the days of our lives.
### Key Takeaways
1. God's Presence in the Valleys: Even in the darkest valleys of life, God's goodness and mercy are with us. Joseph's life illustrates that despite betrayal, slavery, and imprisonment, God's presence never left him. This teaches us to trust in God's plan, even when we can't see the immediate outcome. [49:22]
2. Faithfulness in Adversity: Joseph's unwavering faith in God, despite his circumstances, led to his eventual rise to power and the salvation of many. This encourages us to remain faithful and trust that God is working behind the scenes, turning our misery into miracles of mercy. [51:23]
3. Forgiveness and Restoration: Joseph's ability to forgive his brothers and see God's hand in his suffering is a powerful lesson in forgiveness. It shows that when we trust in God's plan, we can find the strength to forgive and restore relationships, even with those who have wronged us deeply. [01:20:09]
4. Waiting on God: We are called to wait patiently, confidently, vulnerably, intimately, and expectantly for God's goodness to manifest in our lives. This waiting is not passive but involves actively seeking God's presence and trusting in His timing. [01:26:18]
5. Overflowing with God's Presence: When we fill ourselves with God's presence, we can respond to life's pressures with peace, joy, and love. Joseph's life shows that even in the worst circumstances, he was able to minister to others out of the overflow of God's presence in his life. [01:31:17]
### YouTube Chapters
1. [0:00] - Welcome
2. [37:20] - Internship Farewell and Prayer
3. [41:17] - Gratitude and Consistent Faith
4. [42:46] - Introduction to Peaks and Valleys Series
5. [44:13] - Personal Camping Story
6. [47:52] - God's Goodness in Psalm 23
7. [49:22] - God's Presence in the Valleys
8. [51:23] - Joseph's Story Begins
9. [52:20] - Sheep and Rest in Psalm 23
10. [58:54] - Joseph's Dreams and Betrayal
11. [01:05:06] - Joseph in Potiphar's House
12. [01:11:24] - Joseph in Prison
13. [01:18:01] - Joseph's Rise to Power
14. [01:20:09] - Joseph Forgives His Brothers
15. [01:26:18] - Waiting on God
16. [01:31:17] - Overflowing with God's Presence
17. [01:35:27] - Closing Prayer and Offering
18. [01:43:18] - Reflective Song on Psalm 23
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide
#### Bible Reading
1. Psalm 23:6 - "Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever."
2. Genesis 39:2 - "The Lord was with Joseph, and he became a successful man, and he was in the house of his Egyptian master."
3. Genesis 50:20 - "As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today."
#### Observation Questions
1. What does Psalm 23:6 promise about God's presence in our lives?
2. How did Joseph's faithfulness in adversity lead to his rise in power according to Genesis 39:2? [51:23]
3. What was Joseph's perspective on his brothers' betrayal as stated in Genesis 50:20? [01:20:09]
4. How does the sermon describe the journey of faith as a "long, steady journey" rather than a moment of hype? [42:03]
#### Interpretation Questions
1. How does Joseph's story illustrate the concept of God's goodness and mercy following us, even in difficult times? [49:22]
2. In what ways did Joseph's ability to forgive his brothers reflect his trust in God's plan? [01:20:09]
3. How does the sermon connect Joseph's life to the life of Jesus, and what does this parallel teach us about God's plan? [01:24:36]
4. What does it mean to wait on God "patiently, confidently, vulnerably, intimately, and expectantly," and how did Joseph exemplify this? [01:26:18]
#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on a time when you felt like you were in a "valley" in your life. How did you experience or struggle to see God's goodness and mercy during that time? [49:22]
2. Joseph remained faithful to God despite his circumstances. How can you cultivate a similar faithfulness in your current situation, especially if you are facing adversity? [51:23]
3. Forgiveness can be challenging, especially when deeply wronged. Is there someone in your life you need to forgive? How can Joseph's example help you take steps toward forgiveness? [01:20:09]
4. Waiting on God can be difficult. What are some practical ways you can actively seek God's presence and trust in His timing in your life right now? [01:26:18]
5. Joseph ministered to others out of the overflow of God's presence in his life. How can you ensure that you are filling yourself with God's presence so that you can respond to life's pressures with peace, joy, and love? [01:31:17]
6. The sermon emphasized the importance of gratitude and consistent faith. How can you practice gratitude daily, and what steps can you take to grow consistently in your faith? [42:03]
7. Think about a specific area in your life where you need to trust God's plan more fully. What is one action you can take this week to demonstrate that trust? [01:24:36]
Devotional
Day 1: God's Presence in the Valleys
Even in the darkest valleys of life, God's goodness and mercy are with us. Joseph's life illustrates that despite betrayal, slavery, and imprisonment, God's presence never left him. This teaches us to trust in God's plan, even when we can't see the immediate outcome. [49:22]
Genesis 39:21-23 (ESV): "But the Lord was with Joseph and showed him steadfast love and gave him favor in the sight of the keeper of the prison. And the keeper of the prison put Joseph in charge of all the prisoners who were in the prison. Whatever was done there, he was the one who did it. The keeper of the prison paid no attention to anything that was in Joseph's charge, because the Lord was with him. And whatever he did, the Lord made it succeed."
Reflection: Think of a recent challenging situation in your life. How can you recognize God's presence and goodness in that situation, even if the outcome is not yet clear?
Day 2: Faithfulness in Adversity
Joseph's unwavering faith in God, despite his circumstances, led to his eventual rise to power and the salvation of many. This encourages us to remain faithful and trust that God is working behind the scenes, turning our misery into miracles of mercy. [51:23]
James 1:2-4 (ESV): "Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing."
Reflection: Identify an area in your life where you are facing adversity. How can you practice faithfulness and trust that God is working behind the scenes for your good?
Day 3: Forgiveness and Restoration
Joseph's ability to forgive his brothers and see God's hand in his suffering is a powerful lesson in forgiveness. It shows that when we trust in God's plan, we can find the strength to forgive and restore relationships, even with those who have wronged us deeply. [01:20:09]
Ephesians 4:31-32 (ESV): "Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you."
Reflection: Think of someone in your life you need to forgive. Can you ask God to help you begin to extend His love and forgiveness to them today?
Day 4: Waiting on God
We are called to wait patiently, confidently, vulnerably, intimately, and expectantly for God's goodness to manifest in our lives. This waiting is not passive but involves actively seeking God's presence and trusting in His timing. [01:26:18]
Psalm 27:14 (ESV): "Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord!"
Reflection: What is one area of your life where you find yourself holding back from surrendering to Jesus? What would surrendering this area to Him actually look like in terms of daily habits?
Day 5: Overflowing with God's Presence
When we fill ourselves with God's presence, we can respond to life's pressures with peace, joy, and love. Joseph's life shows that even in the worst circumstances, he was able to minister to others out of the overflow of God's presence in his life. [01:31:17]
John 15:5 (ESV): "I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing."
Reflection: How can you intentionally fill yourself with God's presence today? What practices or habits can you incorporate into your daily routine to ensure you are abiding in Him?
Quotes
1. "Christianity and this walk with Jesus is this, it's the long road. It's the long game, right? It's one of those things that we don't get to just get all hyped up for like two minutes and then figure out life. This is like the steady, consistent process of growing in our relationship with Jesus." [42:03] (22 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "Here's our focus that God is always good, right? But the reach of God's goodness is sometimes longer than we think, like the leash of his goodness, how, how far away, his goodness is sometimes is further than we actually realize in the last verse of Psalm 23, David declares surely goodness and mercy will follow me all the days of my life, which means our shepherd is always behind us." [48:21] (35 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "Oftentimes we're accustomed, accustomed to talking about following Jesus, right? That we are Christ followers that we need to follow hard after Jesus. And, and sometimes we neglect to focus on the fact that Jesus is actually following us as well. And what I mean by that is that he comes behind us and he weaves these blessings and beauty out of our sorrow and out of our suffering." [48:49] (26 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "For someone walking closely with Jesus, it's not just that their soul is full, but that it actually overflows. That even in the times of pain and emptiness, they can minister to other people out of the overflow of the presence of God in their life." [57:27] (20 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "How would our perspective of life change if we actually believe that God is with us? Right? Like if God was with us today, would that change? If we believe that, would that change our perspective? Because here's Joseph. He's in prison and yet his spirit is still soaring. He's still going after it because he believes that God is with him. And wherever he is, even in the presence of his enemy. He feasts at the table. He feasts at the table of God's presence." [01:12:22] (33 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
6. "The point of Joseph's life is not like, hey, if you can just hang on through the valley long enough. One day before you die, you are going to be made the prime minister of Egypt. Right? The story isn't that if you just hold on long enough in the valleys that God's going to do this in your life. See, Joseph's story is really this beautiful foreshadowing or this picture of the life of Jesus." [01:23:12] (31 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
7. "Joseph shows us what it looks like to exercise the faith of Psalm 23. In this time of waiting, I'm not a very patient person. I was reminded of this yesterday as I was driving through the Sam's Club parking lot. My wife and Isa, who's been interning with us, reminded me that pastors should have more patience. And it's always fun when people in your car remind you of that." [01:25:36] (30 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
8. "Sometimes, like Joseph, we don't see the resolution until far into the future. For Joseph, it took decades between when Joseph was betrayed until he was actually redeemed where he saw it all work out for the good. Decades of, God, this doesn't seem fair. This doesn't seem right. God, what are you doing? sometimes we have to stick around to the very end to see what the goodness and mercy, to see that goodness and mercy has really been following us all the days of our lives." [01:26:18] (37 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
9. "You may not get to see the culmination of God's goodness and mercy in your lifetime. That is true. But Joseph got to see glimpses of it. They waited expectantly. So did Job, by the way. As did David. A lot of believers get to see glimpses of God's good plan on earth. But in Psalms 27, 13, it says, I believe that I shall look upon the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living." [01:34:05] (29 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
10. "We are right to expect that and ask for it. Friends, that's my prayer for us. Let me pray for you. My prayer is that no matter the conditions of the valley, no matter how difficult you find this place that you are in, no matter how steep that climb is to get out of that place, we continue to climb with Him, following after us all the days of our life with His goodness and mercy. But let's press into His presence even more." [01:35:27] (34 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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