Trusting God's Timing and Purposes in Disappointment
Summary
### Summary
Today, we explored the profound truth that God's way is always the best way, even when it doesn't align with our expectations or desires. We began by reflecting on personal experiences of disappointment and loss, such as the miscarriage my wife and I faced, and how these moments can challenge our faith. We then delved into the story of Lazarus from John 11, where Jesus' delay in coming to heal Lazarus initially seemed unloving but ultimately revealed God's greater purpose and timing.
Jesus' relationship with Mary, Martha, and Lazarus teaches us about dealing with despair and disappointment. When Lazarus fell ill, his sisters sent for Jesus, expecting immediate intervention. However, Jesus delayed, stating that Lazarus' sickness would not end in death but would glorify God. This delay was not a sign of neglect but a demonstration of God's perfect timing and purpose. Jesus' eventual arrival and the resurrection of Lazarus underscored the importance of trusting in God's timing and purposes, even when they are not immediately apparent.
We also discussed the concept of belief, emphasizing that true belief in Jesus is not just intellectual assent but a deep, committed trust in His character and promises. This belief is akin to stepping out on a high wire, fully trusting that Jesus will hold us up. We are called to focus not on the "how" or "when" of God's actions but on the "who"—Jesus Himself.
Furthermore, we examined the emotional depth of Jesus' response to Lazarus' death. Jesus wept, showing His empathy and shared sorrow with those mourning. This duality of Jesus being both deeply moved and confident in His power to resurrect Lazarus highlights His compassionate nature and His ultimate authority over life and death.
In conclusion, we are encouraged to trust in God's purposes, timing, and friendship. Even when we face delays, disappointments, or seemingly insurmountable challenges, we can rest in the assurance that God's way is best. His timing is perfect, His purposes are loving, and His friendship is steadfast. By looking to Jesus and practicing His presence daily, we can navigate life's trials with faith and hope.
### Key Takeaways
1. God's Purposes Are Best: God's agenda is always the one that brings the most glory to Him and is the most loving for us. Even when we face disappointments or delays, we can trust that God's purposes are ultimately for our good and His glory. This perspective helps us endure trials with a sense of purpose and hope. [14:19]
2. God's Timing Is Perfect: Jesus' delay in coming to Lazarus was not a sign of neglect but a demonstration of God's perfect timing. Often, what seems like a delay to us is God's way of orchestrating events for a greater purpose. Trusting in God's timing requires patience and faith, knowing that He is always on time. [22:42]
3. True Belief in Jesus: Belief in Jesus is more than intellectual assent; it is a committed trust in His character and promises. This kind of belief is like stepping out on a high wire, fully trusting that Jesus will hold us up. It requires us to focus on who Jesus is rather than how or when He will act. [10:03]
4. Jesus' Compassion and Authority: Jesus' response to Lazarus' death shows His deep empathy and His ultimate authority over life and death. He wept with those who mourned, demonstrating His compassion, while also confidently proclaiming His power to resurrect. This duality assures us that Jesus understands our pain and has the power to bring life out of death. [27:33]
5. Practicing the Presence of Jesus: Looking to Jesus and practicing His presence is a daily discipline that helps us navigate life's challenges. By focusing on truth statements about Jesus and turning away from distractions, we can cultivate a deeper relationship with Him. This practice strengthens our faith and helps us trust in His friendship and guidance. [29:19]
### YouTube Chapters
[0:00] - Welcome
[00:30] - Personal Story of Loss
[02:42] - Jesus' Friends: Mary, Martha, and Lazarus
[03:13] - Jesus' Delay and God's Glory
[07:39] - The Meaning of True Belief
[10:26] - Trusting in Jesus' Character
[14:19] - God's Purposes and Glory
[17:37] - The Safest Place: In God's Will
[22:42] - God's Perfect Timing
[26:50] - Jesus' Compassion and Authority
[29:19] - Practicing the Presence of Jesus
[32:28] - Encouragement to Trust and Hang On
[32:55] - Closing Prayer
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide
#### Bible Reading
1. John 11:1-44
2. Proverbs 3:5-6
3. Romans 5:6
#### Observation Questions
1. What was Jesus' initial response when He heard about Lazarus' sickness, and how did it reflect His love for Lazarus, Mary, and Martha? ([03:44])
2. How did Martha and Mary each react to Jesus' arrival after Lazarus had died? What were their emotional states? ([06:03])
3. What did Jesus mean when He said, "I am the resurrection and the life"? How did this statement relate to the situation with Lazarus? ([07:39])
4. How did Jesus demonstrate both His compassion and His authority in the story of Lazarus? ([27:33])
#### Interpretation Questions
1. Why did Jesus choose to delay His visit to Lazarus despite knowing he was sick? How does this reflect on God's timing and purposes? ([03:44])
2. What does it mean to have true belief in Jesus, as described in the sermon? How is this different from mere intellectual assent? ([10:03])
3. How does Jesus' emotional response to Lazarus' death (weeping and anger) help us understand His nature and His relationship with us? ([27:33])
4. In what ways does practicing the presence of Jesus help us navigate life's challenges, according to the sermon? ([29:19])
#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on a time when you faced disappointment or loss. How did you see God's purposes and timing at work in that situation? ([01:43])
2. How can you cultivate a deeper, committed trust in Jesus' character and promises in your daily life? What specific steps can you take this week? ([10:03])
3. When you experience delays or unanswered prayers, how can you remind yourself of God's perfect timing and greater purpose? ([22:42])
4. Think of a current challenge you are facing. How can you practice looking to Jesus and focusing on His presence to help you through it? ([29:19])
5. How can you demonstrate Jesus' compassion and authority in your interactions with others, especially those who are grieving or in pain? ([27:33])
6. Identify a specific distraction in your life that prevents you from focusing on Jesus. What practical steps can you take to minimize this distraction this week? ([30:09])
7. How can you encourage someone else who is struggling with disappointment or delay to trust in God's purposes and timing? Share a personal story or scripture that might help them. ([19:11])
Devotional
Day 1: Trusting in God's Greater Purpose
God's Purposes Are Best: God's agenda is always the one that brings the most glory to Him and is the most loving for us. Even when we face disappointments or delays, we can trust that God's purposes are ultimately for our good and His glory. This perspective helps us endure trials with a sense of purpose and hope. [14:19]
In life, we often encounter situations that challenge our faith and understanding. These moments of disappointment and loss can make us question God's intentions and timing. However, it is crucial to remember that God's purposes are always for our ultimate good and His glory. The story of Lazarus in John 11 illustrates this truth beautifully. When Jesus delayed in coming to heal Lazarus, it seemed unloving and neglectful. Yet, this delay was part of a greater plan to reveal God's glory through the resurrection of Lazarus.
Trusting in God's purposes means believing that He is orchestrating events in our lives for a greater good, even when we cannot see it. It requires us to shift our focus from our immediate circumstances to the bigger picture of God's plan. By doing so, we can endure trials with a sense of purpose and hope, knowing that God's way is always the best way.
Isaiah 55:8-9 (ESV): "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts."
Reflection: Think of a recent disappointment or trial in your life. How can you shift your perspective to see it as part of God's greater purpose for your good and His glory?
Day 2: Embracing God's Perfect Timing
God's Timing Is Perfect: Jesus' delay in coming to Lazarus was not a sign of neglect but a demonstration of God's perfect timing. Often, what seems like a delay to us is God's way of orchestrating events for a greater purpose. Trusting in God's timing requires patience and faith, knowing that He is always on time. [22:42]
One of the most challenging aspects of faith is trusting in God's timing. We live in a world that values immediacy and instant gratification, making it difficult to wait on God's perfect timing. The story of Lazarus teaches us that what appears to be a delay is often God's way of setting the stage for a greater purpose. Jesus' delay in coming to Lazarus was not a sign of neglect but a demonstration of God's perfect timing to reveal His glory through the resurrection.
Trusting in God's timing requires patience and faith. It means believing that God is never late and that His timing is always perfect, even when it doesn't align with our expectations. By embracing God's timing, we can find peace and assurance, knowing that He is in control and working all things for our good.
Ecclesiastes 3:11 (ESV): "He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also, he has put eternity into man's heart, yet so that he cannot find out what God has done from the beginning to the end."
Reflection: Is there an area in your life where you are struggling to wait on God's timing? How can you practice patience and trust that God is orchestrating events for a greater purpose?
Day 3: Committed Trust in Jesus
True Belief in Jesus: Belief in Jesus is more than intellectual assent; it is a committed trust in His character and promises. This kind of belief is like stepping out on a high wire, fully trusting that Jesus will hold us up. It requires us to focus on who Jesus is rather than how or when He will act. [10:03]
Belief in Jesus goes beyond mere intellectual agreement with His teachings; it involves a deep, committed trust in His character and promises. This kind of belief is akin to stepping out on a high wire, fully trusting that Jesus will hold us up. It requires us to focus on who Jesus is rather than how or when He will act in our lives.
True belief means placing our confidence in Jesus' character, knowing that He is faithful, loving, and powerful. It involves surrendering our fears and doubts to Him, trusting that He will guide us and provide for us in every situation. By focusing on Jesus and His promises, we can navigate life's uncertainties with confidence and peace.
Proverbs 3:5-6 (ESV): "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths."
Reflection: What is one area of your life where you find it difficult to fully trust Jesus? How can you take a step of faith today to place your trust in His character and promises?
Day 4: Experiencing Jesus' Compassion and Authority
Jesus' Compassion and Authority: Jesus' response to Lazarus' death shows His deep empathy and His ultimate authority over life and death. He wept with those who mourned, demonstrating His compassion, while also confidently proclaiming His power to resurrect. This duality assures us that Jesus understands our pain and has the power to bring life out of death. [27:33]
The story of Lazarus not only reveals Jesus' power over life and death but also His deep compassion for those who are hurting. When Jesus saw Mary and Martha mourning the loss of their brother, He was deeply moved and wept with them. This display of empathy shows that Jesus understands our pain and shares in our sorrows. At the same time, Jesus confidently proclaimed His authority by raising Lazarus from the dead, demonstrating His power to bring life out of death.
This duality of compassion and authority assures us that Jesus is both empathetic and powerful. He is not distant or indifferent to our struggles; He is present with us, sharing in our pain and offering His comfort. Moreover, He has the power to transform our situations, bringing hope and life even in the darkest moments.
Psalm 34:18 (ESV): "The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit."
Reflection: Reflect on a time when you experienced Jesus' compassion in a difficult situation. How can you draw on that experience to trust in His authority and power in your current challenges?
Day 5: Practicing the Presence of Jesus
Practicing the Presence of Jesus: Looking to Jesus and practicing His presence is a daily discipline that helps us navigate life's challenges. By focusing on truth statements about Jesus and turning away from distractions, we can cultivate a deeper relationship with Him. This practice strengthens our faith and helps us trust in His friendship and guidance. [29:19]
Practicing the presence of Jesus is a daily discipline that involves intentionally focusing on Him and cultivating a deeper relationship with Him. This practice helps us navigate life's challenges by grounding us in the truth of who Jesus is and His promises. By turning away from distractions and focusing on truth statements about Jesus, we can experience His presence more fully in our daily lives.
This discipline requires us to be intentional about spending time with Jesus, whether through prayer, reading Scripture, or simply being still in His presence. As we practice His presence, we strengthen our faith and grow in our trust in His friendship and guidance. This daily practice helps us to remain anchored in Jesus, no matter what challenges we face.
John 15:4 (ESV): "Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me."
Reflection: What are some practical ways you can practice the presence of Jesus in your daily life? How can you create space to focus on Him and cultivate a deeper relationship with Him today?
Quotes
### Quotes for Outreach
1. "God's word is alive. God's word is just different, man. It's different than every other book. And if we should open ourselves to it, he will speak stuff that only he could know directly into our hearts. And check it out, you don't even have to totally believe that for him to do it. So even if you're not there yet, hey, just be open and see what happens." [00:30] (18 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "Jesus is the death cure. That means when you close your eyes to die, you are instantly gonna wake up and be like, what the heck am I still doing here? Let's go. Let's get to my reward, Jesus. Come on. Whoo! I'm so glad. I think most of us are really so glad to be done with this body. Like, oh my gosh. Whoo, I feel so much better already." [09:10] (21 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "Trust in the Lord with all of your heart. Trust in the Lord with all of your heart, and lean not on your own understanding. Somebody point to this. Say, not much help all the time. Not much help all the time. In all your ways submit to him, and he, who? He. He will make your paths straight. Does that mean that you have to make them straight? No, it means he will do it. He'll be the one that straightens the path." [11:27] (27 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "God's way is best. It doesn't always look best, but it is best. Here's number one. God's purposes are best. Believe what? We decide to trust what? We decide to trust that God's purposes are best. We got our own purposes. I can have my purposes of, it could be great stuff. It could be to help others or to keep others safe. It could also be about me. It could be that I get what I want or that I become who I think I'm supposed to actualize myself in this world to be. I can have lots of agendas, but God's agenda is the one that's important." [13:48] (33 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "The safest place in the universe is in God's will. Even when it's not the will you prefer. The safest place in the universe is in God's will. Even when it's not the will that you prefer. And it brings the most faith to others when we do it God's way. God's way helps other people." [18:06] (17 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
### Quotes for Members
1. "Trust resists focusing on how God is gonna do it, what exactly he's gonna do, when he's gonna do it, trust is always focused on the person of Jesus Christ. Trust is focused on whom. That's what trust is about. That's what belief is about. That's what faith is about. With the question we're asking, sometimes we ask what is true, but we really need to ask more often, what is true about Jesus with regard to my situation? My answer is in the Son of God. What is true about him?" [10:56] (33 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "We need to consider who it is we're trusting, we're believing, we're entrusting ourselves to, and then as we let it go, we say, okay, I know you, because it's you that knows about this situation, I'm gonna try to walk away from it in my heart. I might walk right back, but then I'm gonna disciplinedly walk away from it again because of whom it is I am trusting. We forget this sometimes. We forget that though we work very hard and we're trying to solve every problem and get it done just so, and we just know it's gotta be this way or that way, the Bible is very clear that we are supposed to believe God." [12:22] (34 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "God's way brings the most glory to Jesus. It is the way that is most loving. It's also the safest way. I think we might have missed this in verse 9. The disciples are saying, hey, Lord, should we go back? Really? Because you might get in a little bit of trouble. And Jesus says, there's 12 hours of daylight every day. During the day, people can walk safely. They can see. Because they have the light of this world. But at night, there is a danger of stumbling because they have no light. He says, guys, I'm the light of the world. I know you think we're maybe in danger. But as long as you stay with me and you stay within my light, you keep close to me, you keep following my word. My word is a lamp for your feet and a light for your path. As long as you stay near me, the dark ain't going to hurt you." [17:37] (40 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "Sometimes we need to leave something in Jesus' hands while we go on and do the rest of what we know to do. Maybe you'll bring this back. Maybe you'll resurrect it like Lazarus. Maybe you'll keep it dead like Moses. I don't know which one you're going to do. But I've got to go on and do the other things I know to do. Life can't stop while I wait for this particular thing. God's way is best." [26:11] (22 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "We practice looking. It's us looking at Jesus. We practice it. We get better and better at it. Hebrews 12, 2, looking away from all that will distract to Jesus. Looking away from all that will distract to Jesus. We look at Jesus, who's the leader and the source of our faith and also its finisher. Believing, guys, the way they're talking about it in Hebrews is believing is directing your gaze on Jesus. It's directing your heart on Jesus. It's saying, yes, all these things. But Jesus. And it's something you can practice every day." [28:38] (35 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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