Trusting God's Promises Through Life's Challenges

Psalm 105 reminds us to give thanks, to call on the Lord, and to make His deeds known among the people. We are called to sing praises, to tell of His wonderful acts, and to let our hearts be joyful as we seek His face and strength continually. The psalmist urges us to remember God’s wonders and His judgments—not as something negative, but as the truth that anchors us. God’s judgments are not confining; rather, they reveal His loving character and His desire for our best. He is a God who remembers His covenant forever, who is not bound by time, and who keeps His promises to a thousand generations.

Reflecting on the story of Joseph, we see how God’s promises can seem distant or even impossible in the midst of hardship. Joseph received dreams from God, but his journey took him through betrayal, slavery, and imprisonment. Yet, in every circumstance, Joseph remained true to who God created him to be. He used his gifts, served faithfully, and allowed the word of the Lord to refine him. Even when the fulfillment of God’s promise seemed delayed or contradicted by his circumstances, Joseph trusted God’s word. The refining process in the dark times prepared him for the place of influence and blessing God had for him.

God’s people, even in exile, were instructed to build, plant, and seek the peace of the city where they were placed. God’s promise in Jeremiah 29:11—“I know the thoughts I think toward you, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope”—was given to people in captivity. God’s word to them was to bloom where they were planted, to continue being who He made them to be, and to trust that He would bring them out in His time. The lesson is clear: in every season, especially in difficulty, we are to remember what God has spoken in the light and let His word refine us in the darkness.

God is not a distant, angry judge, but a loving Father who delights in His children. He is proud of us when we walk in our calling, even in hard times. Our calling is to trust Him, to use our gifts, and to create kingdom culture wherever we are. When we do, God will provide, promote, and fulfill His promises in ways we may not expect. He will never leave us or forsake us, and His joy will be our strength.

Key Takeaways

• 1. God’s Promises Are Timeless and Sure God is not limited by time; He sees the end from the beginning and keeps His promises across generations. Even when we feel forgotten or when circumstances seem to contradict His word, God’s covenant remains unbroken. Our inheritance in Christ is secure, and we are called to trust in His faithfulness, knowing He remembers every promise He has made. [06:45]
• 2. Refinement Comes Through Difficulty, Not in Spite of It Joseph’s journey shows that the word of the Lord refines us in the dark times. The very promises God gives are often tested by adversity, shaping our character and preparing us for greater responsibility. Rather than despising hardship, we are invited to let God’s word work in us, trusting that the refining process is essential for the fulfillment of His purposes. [22:10]
• 3. Be Who God Created You to Be, Wherever You Are Whether in a place of favor or in captivity, Joseph continued to operate in his gifts and character. God calls us to do the same: to serve, lead, and bless others regardless of our circumstances. Our faithfulness in the small and difficult places is often the very thing God uses to open doors and bring about His plans. [28:30]
• 4. Remember in the Darkness What You Learned in the Light It is easy to trust God when things are going well, but the true test comes in seasons of darkness and uncertainty. We must hold fast to the truths and promises God has spoken to us in brighter days, allowing them to anchor us when doubts and trials arise. This discipline of remembrance is what sustains us and keeps us moving forward in faith. [31:37]
• 5. Create Kingdom Culture Wherever You Are Planted Even in exile, God’s people were told to build, plant, and seek the peace of their city. We are called to bring the culture of God’s kingdom into every environment, influencing those around us with hope, peace, and integrity. Our presence and faithfulness can transform even the most difficult places, as we trust God to use us for His glory.
  
  ** [36:50]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [01:10] - Introduction and Psalm 105 Reading
• [03:30] - Giving Thanks and Boasting in God
• [06:45] - God’s Judgments and His Eternal Covenant
• [09:20] - The Promise to Abraham and Our Inheritance
• [12:00] - Wandering, Protection, and God’s Faithfulness
• [14:30] - Joseph’s Story: From Promise to Pit
• [18:00] - Joseph in Potiphar’s House and Prison
• [22:10] - The Refining Power of God’s Word
• [25:40] - Joseph’s Promotion and Purpose
• [28:30] - Trusting God in the Dark Times
• [31:37] - Remembering God’s Word in Difficulty
• [34:00] - Jeremiah 29:11 in Context
• [36:50] - Creating Kingdom Culture in Captivity
• [40:00] - God’s Loving Character and Our Response
• [43:00] - Invitation to Relationship and Closing Blessing

Bible Reading

Psalm 105:1-19 (ESV) — > Oh give thanks to the Lord; call upon his name; make known his deeds among the peoples!
> Sing to him, sing praises to him; tell of all his wondrous works!
> Glory in his holy name; let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice!
> Seek the Lord and his strength; seek his presence continually!
> Remember the wondrous works that he has done, his miracles, and the judgments he uttered,
> O offspring of Abraham, his servant, children of Jacob, his chosen ones!
> He is the Lord our God; his judgments are in all the earth.
> He remembers his covenant forever, the word that he commanded, for a thousand generations,
> the covenant that he made with Abraham, his sworn promise to Isaac,
> which he confirmed to Jacob as a statute, to Israel as an everlasting covenant,
> saying, “To you I will give the land of Canaan as your portion for an inheritance.”
> When they were few in number, of little account, and sojourners in it,
> wandering from nation to nation, from one kingdom to another people,
> he allowed no one to oppress them; he rebuked kings on their account,
> saying, “Touch not my anointed ones, do my prophets no harm!”
> When he summoned a famine on the land and broke all supply of bread,
> he had sent a man ahead of them, Joseph, who was sold as a slave.
> His feet were hurt with fetters; his neck was put in a collar of iron;
> until what he had said came to pass, the word of the Lord tested him.

Jeremiah 29:4-7, 10-14 (ESV) — > “Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, to all the exiles whom I have sent into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon: Build houses and live in them; plant gardens and eat their produce. Take wives and have sons and daughters; take wives for your sons, and give your daughters in marriage, that they may bear sons and daughters; multiply there, and do not decrease. But seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the Lord on its behalf, for in its welfare you will find your welfare. ...
> “For thus says the Lord: When seventy years are completed for Babylon, I will visit you, and I will fulfill to you my promise and bring you back to this place. For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you. You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you, declares the Lord, and I will restore your fortunes and gather you from all the nations and all the places where I have driven you, declares the Lord, and I will bring you back to the place from which I sent you into exile.”

Observation Questions

1. In Psalm 105, what are some of the specific actions the psalmist calls God’s people to do in response to His works? (see verses 1-5)
2. According to the sermon, how did Joseph respond to being betrayed, enslaved, and imprisoned? What did he continue to do in each circumstance? [18:00]
3. In Jeremiah 29, what instructions does God give to His people while they are in exile? What are they told to do in a place that is not their home? [34:00]
4. What does the phrase “the word of the Lord refined him” mean in the context of Joseph’s story? (Psalm 105:19; [22:10])

Interpretation Questions

1. The sermon says God’s judgments are not confining, but reveal His loving character and desire for our best. How does this understanding of God’s judgments differ from how people often view them? [06:45]
2. Joseph’s journey included betrayal, slavery, and prison, yet he continued to use his gifts and serve faithfully. What does this suggest about how we should view our own difficult circumstances? [28:30]
3. God told the exiles in Babylon to “build, plant, and seek the peace of the city.” What might it look like for someone today to “bloom where they are planted,” even in a place or season they don’t want to be? [36:50]
4. The sermon says, “Don’t forget in the darkness what you learned in the light.” Why is it important to remember God’s promises and truths during hard times? [31:37]

Application Questions

1. The psalmist urges us to “give thanks, call on the Lord, and make His deeds known.” What is one specific way you can share about God’s goodness with someone this week? [03:30]
2. Joseph kept being himself and using his gifts, even when life was unfair. Is there a place in your life right now where you feel stuck or overlooked? How can you keep serving and using your gifts in that place? [28:30]
3. When have you experienced a time where God’s promise or calling for your life seemed impossible or delayed? How did you respond, and what did you learn from that season? [22:10]
4. The sermon says God’s people are called to “create kingdom culture wherever you are.” What does “kingdom culture” mean to you, and what is one way you can bring hope, peace, or integrity to your workplace, school, or home this week? [36:50]
5. The story of Joseph shows that God’s refining process often happens in the dark times. Is there a current challenge or hardship that you sense God might be using to shape your character? How can you cooperate with Him in that process? [22:10]
6. God’s promise in Jeremiah 29:11 was given to people in captivity, not comfort. How does knowing this change the way you view God’s plans for your life, especially in hard seasons? [34:00]
7. The sermon reminds us that God is a loving Father who delights in us, not a distant, angry judge. How does this truth affect the way you approach God in prayer or worship? [40:00]