Trusting God's Promises Amidst Life's Challenges

Oct 05, 2025

Devotional

Day 1: Trusting the Promise Over the Process

In life, we are often encouraged to “trust the process,” but the story of Abram reveals a deeper truth: God calls us to trust His promise first and foremost, even when the process is long, confusing, or filled with setbacks. Abram’s journey was marked by years of waiting, unexpected obstacles, and moments of deep frustration, yet God’s promise remained the foundation of his hope. When our own efforts and plans seem to fall short, we are invited to lift our eyes from the process and focus on the unchanging promises of God, knowing that His faithfulness is not dependent on our performance but on His character. [05:57]

Genesis 12:1-3 (ESV)
Now the Lord said to Abram, “Go from your country and your kindred and your father’s house to the land that I will show you. And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”

Reflection:
What is one area of your life where you have been relying on your own plans or processes instead of trusting in God’s promise? How can you shift your focus to His faithfulness today?

Day 2: Returning to God’s Word in Uncertainty

When Abram faced fear, fatigue, and frustration, he continually returned to the word of the Lord for reassurance and direction. God’s promises were not just a one-time event but a continual source of hope and guidance throughout Abram’s journey. In seasons of waiting or disappointment, we too are called to return to Scripture, reminding ourselves of what God has spoken and anchoring our hearts in His truth. The living Word of God is our foundation when circumstances are uncertain and our emotions are unsettled. [30:41]

Genesis 15:1 (ESV)
After these things the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision: “Fear not, Abram, I am your shield; your reward shall be very great.”

Reflection:
What specific promise from God’s Word do you need to return to and meditate on this week? Write it down and keep it before you as a reminder of His faithfulness.

Day 3: Honest Conversations with God

Abram’s relationship with God was marked by honest, even bold, questions. Instead of hiding his doubts or frustrations, he brought them directly to God, asking, “What can you give me?” and “How can I know?” God welcomed Abram’s honesty and responded with reassurance and tangible signs. We are invited to bring our real questions, disappointments, and fears to God, knowing that He desires authentic relationship over polite distance. Honest prayer is not a lack of faith, but a step toward deeper trust and intimacy with our Heavenly Father. [13:20]

Genesis 15:2-3 (ESV)
But Abram said, “O Lord God, what will you give me, for I continue childless, and the heir of my house is Eliezer of Damascus?” And Abram said, “Behold, you have given me no offspring, and a member of my household will be my heir.”

Reflection:
What is one honest question or frustration you need to bring before God today? Take time to pray and speak openly with Him, trusting that He welcomes your honesty.

Day 4: Remembering God’s Promises Through Symbols

God gave Abram a powerful symbol—the stars in the sky—to remind him of the promise even when fulfillment seemed impossible. Throughout Scripture, God uses symbols to communicate His faithfulness in ways that go beyond words, whether it’s the stars, the cross, or the bread and cup of communion. These reminders help lift our eyes from our circumstances to God’s greater reality. Ask God to show you a symbol or reminder of His promise in your life, and let it encourage your faith when you are weary or discouraged. [16:28]

Genesis 15:5-6 (ESV)
And he brought him outside and said, “Look toward heaven, and number the stars, if you are able to number them.” Then he said to him, “So shall your offspring be.” And he believed the Lord, and he counted it to him as righteousness.

Reflection:
What is a symbol in your daily life—a sight, object, or experience—that God could use to remind you of His promises? How can you intentionally notice and reflect on it this week?

Day 5: Resting in God’s Faithfulness, Not Your Own

In the covenant ceremony, God alone passed through the pieces, declaring that He would fulfill both His promise and Abram’s part, even when Abram was asleep and unable to contribute. This profound act points to the cross, where Jesus fulfilled the covenant on our behalf. We are called to rest assured, knowing that God is faithful to do what He has promised, even when we are weak, tired, or unable to see the way forward. Our hope is anchored not in our striving, but in God’s relentless commitment to His word and His people. [26:46]

Genesis 15:17-18 (ESV)
When the sun had gone down and it was dark, behold, a smoking fire pot and a flaming torch passed between these pieces. On that day the Lord made a covenant with Abram, saying, “To your offspring I give this land, from the river of Egypt to the great river, the river Euphrates.”

Reflection:
Where do you need to let go of self-reliance and rest in God’s faithfulness today? What would it look like to trust that He is working, even when you cannot see or do anything?

Sermon Summary

The journey of Abraham is a powerful reminder that faith is not about trusting a process, but about trusting the promise of God and engaging in the process He sets before us. Abraham’s story in Genesis 15 unfolds after years of waiting, disappointment, and struggle. Despite God’s initial promise of land and descendants, Abraham finds himself with neither, only new enemies and ongoing challenges. Yet, God meets Abraham in his fatigue and fear, not with rebuke, but with reassurance: “I am your shield, your very great reward.” God’s promises are not empty words; He binds Himself to Abraham in a covenant, symbolized by a dramatic ceremony where God alone passes through the sacrificial pieces, declaring that He will fulfill both sides of the agreement—even at the cost of His own blood.

Abraham’s honest questions—“What can you give me?” and “How can I know?”—are not dismissed by God. Instead, God responds with both words and experiences, lifting Abraham’s eyes to the stars as a symbol of His faithfulness and abundance. This encounter teaches that God’s promises are not dependent on our flawless performance or relentless striving. Even when Abraham is asleep, God continues to work, showing that the fulfillment of the promise rests on God’s faithfulness, not Abraham’s effort.

For us, the call is to return to God’s Word, to be honest with Him about our doubts and frustrations, to look for symbols that remind us of His faithfulness, to respond actively in obedience, and to rest assured in His reliability. The cross of Christ is the ultimate fulfillment of God’s covenant promise, where God Himself pays the price for our failures. In seasons of fatigue, fear, or frustration, we are invited to lift our eyes from our circumstances to the unshakeable promises of God, knowing that He is both the author and the finisher of our faith.

Key Takeaways

1. Trust the Promise, Not Just the Process While the world encourages us to “trust the process,” the life of Abraham reveals a deeper truth: our hope is anchored not in our own ability to work a plan, but in the unbreakable promises of God. The process is important, but it is the promise that gives it meaning and endurance. When our efforts seem fruitless, we are called to lift our eyes to the One who initiated the journey and who guarantees its fulfillment. [05:57]
2. God Welcomes Honest Questions Abraham’s boldness in questioning God—“What can you give me?” and “How can I know?”—shows that faith is not the absence of doubt, but the willingness to bring our deepest concerns to God. God does not rebuke Abraham for his honesty; instead, He responds with reassurance and tangible signs. Our relationship with God deepens when we bring our real selves, including our frustrations and fears, into conversation with Him. [13:20]
3. Symbols Anchor Our Faith in God’s Faithfulness God uses symbols—like the stars in the sky and the sacrificial ceremony—to communicate His promises in ways that go beyond words. These symbols serve as reminders in seasons of waiting and discouragement, anchoring our faith in God’s character and past faithfulness. We are invited to seek and cherish such reminders, allowing them to lift our perspective from our lack to God’s abundance. [16:28]
4. God’s Faithfulness Is Not Dependent on Our Performance In the covenant ceremony, God alone passes through the pieces, declaring that He will fulfill both His part and Abraham’s. Even when Abraham is asleep, God continues to work. This profound truth points to the gospel: God’s promises are kept not because of our perfection, but because of His relentless faithfulness—even at the cost of His own blood. [26:46]
5. Active Obedience and Restful Assurance Abraham’s journey is marked by both active responses to God’s word and moments of complete rest, even sleep, while God works. We are called to respond in obedience when God speaks, but also to rest assured that God is working even when we are not. True maturity is found in the balance of faithful action and deep trust in God’s sufficiency.

** [37:23]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:27] - Introduction and Series Overview
[01:12] - Opening Prayer
[02:17] - The Philosophy of “Trust the Process”
[05:13] - The Limits of Self-Reliance
[05:57] - Trusting the Promise vs. Trusting the Process
[07:18] - God’s Promise to Abram
[08:55] - Abram’s Trials and Setbacks
[10:20] - God’s Reassurance: “I Am Your Shield”
[12:08] - Abram’s Honest Questions
[14:38] - God Lifts Abram’s Eyes to the Stars
[18:50] - The Covenant Ceremony Explained
[23:25] - God’s Detailed Assurance and Prophecy
[25:16] - God Alone Seals the Covenant
[27:14] - God Fulfills His Promises Through Generations
[29:43] - Principles for Trusting the Promise
[30:03] - Returning to the Word
[31:26] - Getting Honest with God
[32:56] - The Power of Symbols
[35:32] - Active Response to God’s Word
[36:38] - Resting Assured in God’s Faithfulness
[38:07] - Prayer and Blessing

Bible Study Guide

Small Group Bible Study Guide: Trusting the Promise (Genesis 15 & Abraham’s Journey)

Bible Reading

Genesis 15:1–21 (ESV)
After these things the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision: “Fear not, Abram, I am your shield; your reward shall be very great.” But Abram said, “O Lord God, what will you give me, for I continue childless, and the heir of my house is Eliezer of Damascus?” And Abram said, “Behold, you have given me no offspring, and a member of my household will be my heir.” And behold, the word of the Lord came to him: “This man shall not be your heir; your very own son shall be your heir.” And he brought him outside and said, “Look toward heaven, and number the stars, if you are able to number them.” Then he said to him, “So shall your offspring be.” And he believed the Lord, and he counted it to him as righteousness... [Read the full chapter together.]

Observation Questions

What specific promises does God make to Abram in Genesis 15?
How does Abram respond to God’s promises, both in words and actions?
What is the significance of the covenant ceremony where only God passes through the pieces? ([25:16])
According to the sermon, what are some of the challenges and setbacks Abram faced between God’s initial promise and Genesis 15? ([08:55])

Interpretation Questions

Why do you think God responds to Abram’s honest questions with reassurance and symbols, rather than rebuke? ([13:20])
What does it reveal about God’s character that He alone passes through the sacrificial pieces, taking responsibility for both sides of the covenant? ([26:46])
How does the story of Abram show the difference between “trusting the process” and “trusting the promise”? ([05:57])
In what ways does God’s faithfulness in this story point forward to the cross of Christ? ([28:43])

Application Questions

The sermon said, “Sometimes when we find ourselves in the midst of a process, we need to lift our eyes to the promise.” What is a situation in your life right now where you feel stuck in the process? How can you remind yourself of God’s promises in that area? ([06:54])
Abram was honest with God about his doubts and frustrations. Is there an area where you need to be more honest with God? What would it look like to bring your real questions to Him this week? ([13:20])
God gave Abram symbols (like the stars) to anchor his faith. Are there any symbols, reminders, or practices that help you remember God’s faithfulness? If not, what could you use or create as a reminder? ([16:28])
The sermon emphasized that God’s faithfulness is not dependent on our performance. Do you ever feel like God’s promises depend on how well you are doing spiritually? How does this story challenge or encourage you? ([26:46])
Abram responded to God’s word with both action and rest. Is there an area where you sense God calling you to take a step of obedience? Is there also an area where you need to rest and trust that God is working even when you are not? ([37:23])
The cross is described as the ultimate fulfillment of God’s covenant promise. How does remembering the cross help you trust God’s promises in your daily life? ([28:43])
The sermon encouraged returning to God’s Word in seasons of fatigue, fear, or frustration. What is one practical way you can return to God’s Word this week when you feel discouraged? ([30:03])

Closing Prayer Suggestion:
Invite the group to pray for one another—specifically for faith to trust God’s promises, courage to be honest with Him, and the ability to rest in His faithfulness.

Sermon Clips

“There's a popular saying, a philosophy, a mantra, Trust the process. You find it in places of business and athletics. It can show up in performance coaching all the way to personal fitness. And it is this mantra that we trust the process. And it's a belief in a commitment to a plan, system or a journey, even when the results are not immediately visible or challenges arise. Knowing that consistent effort and learning will eventually lead to the desired outcome. It allows for agency and agility. It involves focusing on the present steps and lessons rather than the end goal. Building resilience and having faith in oneself and the system to overcome difficulties and achieve long term success. Trust the process.”

“But one of the things that I believe is that trust the process is missing something. Just actually missing a couple things. Because trust the process begins with self reliance, my effort and my ability to work a plan. The other thing that trust the process is missing is there's no promise at the other end. And trust the process oftentimes becomes very frustrating. Very. It invokes a fear in us. It invokes a fatigue in us. And I believe that that's because we've kind of missed something.”

“And we have this mantra in front of us. Trust the process. But there's a subtle change as we begin to look at the life of Abram. Abram didn't trust the process. Abram trust the promise, and he engaged in the process. Now, I'm not trying to just use preacher speak and switch words around there, but there's really a subtle but profound difference. Because in our life of faith, our life of God, when we look at the life of Abraham, we See a man who is on a journey of faith that begins with God's initiative and is established by God's promises. And from that place, he engages in this lifelong process filled with highs and lows, victories, defeats, successes and failures as the promise comes to fruition. So sometimes when we find ourselves in the midst of a process, we need to lift our eyes to the promise.”

“I believe that if Abram was trusting the process, he would have looked for a new one by that time. His life coach would say, you know, I think we need to pivot here. I think we need to recalibrate this situation. I need. I think we need to commit to a new methodology, because it just keeps getting worse for you. But what we see is that Abram isn't trusting a process. He's trusting a promise.”

“As I've read over this over and over again this week, there's some things that just really stand out. I love that the God of the universe that is outside of time and space enters into Abram's time and space and speaks to his present circumstances. Be afraid. And he also speaks to the future reality. I'm your shield, and I'm your reward. It's as if the Lord is saying to Abram, I know it's been a chapter since we last talked, but I haven't forgotten you. It's as if he's saying, don't worry about what has and has not happened yet. I'm with you. I got you. And I got this.”

“Moving from trusting the process, and he's moving to this place to say, lord, it's tough sometimes to trust the promise. Can I get a witness on that? I am grateful to Abram, Abraham, who is the archetype of faith, that he was honest to God to say. I got questions about this process because it's difficult.”

“In the midst of the difficulty and the fear and the frustration and the fatigue of a delayed promise, the Lord says to Abram, come here, let me show you something. And he takes him outside and he lifts Abram's head to the stars. And Abram looks at the stars. And the Lord says, I double dare you to count them, because you can't. And in that moment, Abram's eyes are lifted from his lack of an heir to the abundance of what God can do. And he gets to experience that. The stars in the sky. And this is to be a reminder to Abram every single night when he looks at the stars, to go. As if the stars, when they're twinkling, is a wink from God. To go, remember what I said. It's gonna happen.”

“This question is profound. How can I know? Everything that he has been doing is based on faith and trust. And he says to the Lord, in a moment of honest surrender, how can I know? How can I know that this is really going to happen? It's been a long time. I believe for some of us in this place, that's the question. In our soul, we are trying our best to trust the promises. We have engaged in the process. But we get to this point where we say, lord, how can I know that it's gonna happen?”

“Because in that culture, when kings or people were gonna have an agreement or a treaty, they would have a covenant or a sacrificial ceremony to declare their promises to one another. And they would take these animals, and this is a little goryographic, they would cut them in half, and they would take half of it on one side, and they would leave a path and put the other half. And they would line these up, and then the two different parties would be on opposite ends of each other, and they would walk through the sacrifice. And as they walked through, this was a symbol and a symbolic act binding them to one another. To say, may it be to me like these. If I break my promise with you.”

“So what God is doing this When Abram says, how will I know What God is saying, let me show you. May I be like these if I break my promise to you? This is the most binding of agreements in that culture, was cosmic, was spiritual, was legal.”

“But what is beautiful, God keeps going with the ceremony. It says a thick and dreadful darkness came over him. Then the Lord said to him, know for certain that for 400 years your descender descendants will be strangers in the country, not their own, and they will be enslaved and mistreated there. But I will punish the nation. They serve as slaves, and afterwards they will come out with great possessions. You, however, will go to your ancestors in peace and be buried at a good old age. The fourth generation of your descendants will come back here for the sins of the Amorites has not reached its full measure. Now God decides to give details. Go to a land. I'll show you. You're going to have heirs as far as the sand of the seashore and the stars. And now he's specific in giving these dates and times. He says, this is going to be yours and for your family. But there's going to be trouble ahead. But trust I'm going to be in the midst of it. And he brings assurance to Abram.”

“God is still working. When Abraham's asleep, he's not doing anything to engage in the process other than be tired and rest. And the Lord keeps working.”

“When the sun had set and darkness had fallen, a smoking fire pot with a blazing torch appeared and passed between the pieces. On that day, the Lord made a covenant with Abram and said to your descendants, I will give this land from the Wadi of Egypt to the great river, the Euphrates, the land to the Canaanites, the Kezites, the Catamanites, the Hizzites, the Perizzites, the Raphaelites, the Ameritites, the Canaanites, the Garishites, the Jebusites. In the ceremony, what would happen is the two parties were to walk together through, but Abram falls asleep. And then in the darkness, a fire pot with a flame goes through alone. This is the same symbol that God would lead the people of Israel through the promised to the promised land, through the desert. God alone goes through the sacrifice. And you know what he's saying in that? I'm gonna keep my end of the bargain. And if I don't, it's gonna cost me my blood. And I'm gonna keep your end of the bargain. And if I don't, it's gonna cost me my blood. He promises, I'm gonna fulfill both sides. That's how good I am.”

“And so when he binds himself in this covenant of Abram to Abram, and Abram says, how should I know? God says, I'm gonna fulfill both of our roles because that's how good I am. And that's the type of promise keeper I am.”

“And because of the failures of these individuals, men and women, all the way to today, God sends Jesus his own Son himself, to die on the cross to shed his blood to fulfill our side of the agreement. The cross of Christ is pointing back to the covenantal sacrifice and ceremony that God had with Abram. And it's united. And in that we see that in the midst of our fear and our fatigue and our frustration in the process, that we can trust the promises of God because he is a God that does what he says regardless of the cost.”

“One of the things we see in Abram is that we return to the Word. We continuously return to the word. In Genesis 15:1, it says, the Word of the Lord came to Abram. In each of the chapters 12, 13, 14, and 15, we see that in the midst of all the difficulty in he returns to the Word of the Lord. And so that when we're in a place and we are. I'll repeat those again. When we're in a spot where we're fearful, we're fatigued, we're frustrated, we entrust the process and we trust the promise and engage the process, the first thing we do is we return to the Word, what did God promise? And we continuously go back to that to hold onto it.”

“The next Thing we see a lesson is that engaging the process, one of the things that we need to do and are allowed to do is we need to get honest to God. We get honest with God. Abram did this, and it changed his perspective on so many things. Abram wasn't just meant to ignore and endure the hardships. He was able. As he grew in maturity in himself and his relationship with God, he was able to get honest with God to say, excuse me, thank you for those words, but I've got a few questions for clarification. We're allowed to do that. It's all through the scriptures. And many times it's helpful for us not to do it with accusations to God, but to questions to God. Being able to say, lord, what can you give me? Being able to say to the Lord, how can I know? Being able to say to the Lord, what do I need to do? But there's a conversation and engagement that happens with the living God when we get honest with him, when it's not just singing nice songs because we're terrified. If I don't praise you and say nice things about you, you're gonna be mad at me. But being able to say, part of my worship and devotion to you is being honest where I'm at, so that you can shape what I see.”

“We're shaped by symbols. The psychologist Jack Kornfield said that symbols have substance. They provide an implicit communication. Even we are not fully paying attention. You know, we go into a lot of old churches, and you go into. They're very ornate with a lot of symbols. And there was a reason for that. It wasn't just like, hmm, how do we. We don't have a hobby. Lobby. So how do we decorate now? Better get some artists up in here. No, they were creating symbols. Because when we see a symbol, it creates an implicit communication. And so every time Abram saw the stars, it reminded him. Every time he felt the dust on his feet, it reminded him. God said every time that he would be in a hard spot, he would remember and be reminded of the covenant ceremony we need. These aren't idols that we worship, but these are symbols to remind us of God's promises. And there are so many through Scripture. The flowers. Jesus talks about the flowers, the birds, the night sky, the sands of the shore, the mountains. I look up to the mountains. Where does my help come from? We look at the sea, that his faithfulness is greater and deeper than the sea. And also we look to the cross and each one of these symbols remind us of the promises of God. And it has the implicit communication that goes past our understanding, and it can cause our faith to arise.”

“One of the things I encourage you to do is to look back. What has been your active response to the things the Lord has called you to? Has there been an active response of obedience or has there been just. I'll tuck that away and I'll stack that in my journal.”

“The last thing that we see as we trust the promise and engage the process is we rest assured there are times, and this is why I Find some holes in the trust the process philosophy because it is self reliant. But when we trust the promise, we have to be God reliant. And Abram shows us that God even moves when we're asleep. And there's a resting assured to say God's going to do all he says he's going to do. And I simply trust. He simply trusts. And he is more God reliant to say I trust that you're going to do your part and you're going to fill in the gaps when I fail on my part. And we rest assured to say, lord, may you bring it to fruition because I trust you're the God who does what you say you're going to do.”

“So my final words to you is I bless you in the name of Jesus with peace and confidence that you can trust the promises of God and that you have what it takes to engage in the process.”

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