Trusting God's Wisdom Amidst Life's Challenges

Devotional

Day 1: Listening to God's Greater Wisdom

In a world filled with noise and distractions, it is crucial to attune our hearts to the voice of God, who possesses wisdom far beyond our understanding. Just as Patrick Mahomes listens to his coaches for guidance, we are called to listen to God, who sees the bigger picture of our lives. Our plans may seem best, but God's wisdom surpasses our understanding, and we must learn to quiet the world's noise to hear His voice. This requires intentionality and a willingness to trust in His purpose, even when it defies our logic. By doing so, we align ourselves with His divine plan and experience the peace that comes from knowing He is in control. [02:31]

Proverbs 2:6-7 (ESV): "For the Lord gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding; he stores up sound wisdom for the upright; he is a shield to those who walk in integrity."

Reflection: What specific steps can you take today to quiet the noise around you and intentionally listen for God's guidance in your life?

Day 2: Trusting in God's Sovereignty

The story of Job teaches us a profound lesson about bringing our complaints to God rather than about Him. Even in the midst of suffering and confusion, Job chose to direct his grievances to God, which led to a deeper understanding of God's incomprehensible plan. This act of faith is a reminder that trusting in God's sovereignty means believing that He is in control and working all things for our good, even when we don't understand His plan. This trust is not blind but rooted in faith that God is who He says He is. By surrendering our doubts and fears to Him, we open ourselves to His peace and assurance. [04:59]

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: In what area of your life are you struggling to trust God's sovereignty, and how can you bring your doubts to Him in prayer today?

Day 3: Embracing an Eternal Perspective

The story of Lazarus challenges us to balance our earthly desires with eternal promises. Martha's interaction with Jesus reveals a tension between wanting her brother back and trusting in the eternal life Jesus offers. Her faith in Jesus as the Messiah underscores the belief that God can do anything, even when it defies human understanding. This story invites us to reconsider our perceptions of heaven and earth, reminding us that God's ultimate plan is beyond our immediate desires. By embracing an eternal perspective, we align our prayers and desires with God's greater purpose. [14:22]

Colossians 3:1-2 (ESV): "If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth."

Reflection: How can you shift your focus from earthly desires to eternal promises in your daily life, and what impact might this have on your relationship with God?

Day 4: Recognizing God's Invisible Power

The metaphor of trees and wind illustrates that God's invisible power is supreme. While we may be tempted to believe that visible things control the invisible, the truth is that God's power is at work in ways we cannot see. Our lives should reflect this truth by bowing to His will and acknowledging His sovereignty. Sin causes pain, but God's sovereignty ensures that He can use all things for good, ultimately leading to victory over death. By recognizing His invisible power, we find hope and assurance in His ultimate victory. [22:12]

2 Corinthians 4:18 (ESV): "As we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal."

Reflection: What is one area of your life where you need to acknowledge God's invisible power, and how can you actively submit to His will today?

Day 5: Faith Amidst Doubt

In times of pain and doubt, we are called to bring our struggles to God, trusting in His purpose and plan. Faith is not about having all the answers but about trusting God even when we don't understand. This trust leads to peace and hope in the midst of life's challenges. By bringing our pain and doubts to God, we open ourselves to His healing and guidance. This act of faith is a testament to our belief in His goodness and sovereignty, even when circumstances seem overwhelming. [27:56]

Habakkuk 3:17-18 (ESV): "Though the fig tree should not blossom, nor fruit be on the vines, the produce of the olive fail and the fields yield no food, the flock be cut off from the fold and there be no herd in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord; I will take joy in the God of my salvation."

Reflection: What doubts or struggles are you currently facing, and how can you bring them to God in faith, trusting in His purpose and plan for your life?

Sermon Summary

In today's message, we explored the profound truth that, like Patrick Mahomes listening intently to his coaches, we too must listen to God, who has a perspective and wisdom far beyond our own. We often fall into the trap of believing that our plans are the best for our lives, but as Christians, we are called to quiet the noise of the world and tune into God's voice. This requires us to trust in His purpose, even when we don't fully understand it. We reflected on the story of Job, who, despite his suffering, chose to bring his complaints to God rather than about God. This act of faith led to a deeper understanding of God's incomprehensible plan and a renewed trust in His sovereignty.

We also delved into the story of Lazarus, where Jesus demonstrates His power over life and death. Martha's interaction with Jesus reveals a tension between earthly desires and eternal promises. Her faith in Jesus as the Messiah underscores the belief that God can do anything, even when it defies human understanding. This story challenges us to reconsider our perceptions of heaven and earth, reminding us that God's ultimate plan is beyond our immediate desires.

The sermon also addressed the fundamental heresy of believing that visible things control the invisible, using the metaphor of trees and wind. In reality, God's invisible power is supreme, and our lives should reflect this truth by bowing to His will. We live in a world where sin causes pain, but God's sovereignty ensures that He can use all things for good. The ultimate victory belongs to God, who will one day destroy death itself.

In conclusion, we are encouraged to bring our pain and doubts to God, trusting in His purpose and plan. Even when we don't have all the answers, faith calls us to follow God, believing that His way is good.

Key Takeaways

1. Listening to God's Wisdom: Just as Patrick Mahomes listens to his coaches for guidance, we must listen to God, who sees the bigger picture of our lives. Our plans may seem best, but God's wisdom surpasses our understanding, and we must learn to quiet the world's noise to hear His voice. [02:31]
2. Trusting in God's Sovereignty: The story of Job teaches us to bring our complaints to God rather than about Him. Even when we don't understand His plan, we must trust that God is in control and working all things for our good. This trust is not blind but rooted in faith that God is who He says He is. [04:59]
3. Eternal Perspective: The story of Lazarus challenges us to balance our earthly desires with eternal promises. While we may long for our loved ones to be with us, we must recognize the greater joy of being with God in heaven. Our prayers should reflect an understanding of God's ultimate plan. [14:22]
4. Invisible Power of God: The metaphor of trees and wind illustrates that God's invisible power is supreme. Our lives should acknowledge His sovereignty by bowing to His will. Sin causes pain, but God's sovereignty ensures that He can use all things for good, ultimately leading to victory over death. [22:12]
5. Faith Amidst Doubt: In times of pain and doubt, we are called to bring our struggles to God, trusting in His purpose and plan. Faith is not about having all the answers but about trusting God even when we don't understand. This trust leads to peace and hope in the midst of life's challenges. [27:56]
** [27:56]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[02:31] - Listening to God's Wisdom
[04:59] - Trusting in God's Sovereignty
[07:16] - Job's Revelation
[09:28] - Wrestling with Belief
[12:10] - Martha's Faith
[14:22] - Eternal Perspective
[16:57] - Jesus' Power Over Death
[18:53] - The Heresy of Visible Control
[22:12] - God's Invisible Power
[25:16] - Purpose of Lazarus' Resurrection
[27:56] - Faith Amidst Doubt
[30:00] - Closing Prayer and Reflection

Bible Study Guide

Observation Questions

What was Job's initial reaction to his suffering, and how did his perspective change after his encounter with God? [07:16]
How did Martha express her faith in Jesus when she met Him after Lazarus' death? [12:10]
What was the significance of Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead, according to the sermon? [25:16]
How does the metaphor of trees and wind illustrate God's invisible power? [22:12]

Interpretation Questions

How does Job's story illustrate the importance of bringing our complaints to God rather than about Him? [04:59]
In what ways does Martha's interaction with Jesus highlight the tension between earthly desires and eternal promises? [14:22]
How does the sermon explain the concept of God's sovereignty in the face of sin and suffering? [22:12]
What does the sermon suggest about the nature of faith amidst doubt and uncertainty? [27:56]

Application Questions

Reflect on a time when you believed your plan was best for your life. How can you practice quieting the world's noise to better hear God's voice? [02:31]
When faced with suffering or loss, how can you bring your complaints to God in a way that strengthens your faith rather than diminishes it? [04:59]
How can you balance your earthly desires with the eternal promises of God, especially when praying for loved ones? [14:22]
In what ways can you acknowledge God's invisible power in your daily life, especially when facing challenges? [22:12]
Think of a recent doubt or struggle you have faced. How can you bring this to God, trusting in His purpose and plan even when you don't understand? [27:56]
How can you remind yourself of God's ultimate victory over death in moments of fear or uncertainty? [22:12]
Identify a specific area in your life where you need to trust God's sovereignty more fully. What steps can you take this week to surrender that area to Him? [22:12]

Sermon Clips

"We all in our lives have this temptation to believe that we know what's best for our lives. We have this temptation to believe that my plan for my life is the best plan for my life. I know what's best. And so everybody get in line. Follow me. Follow my lead. And we try to implement our plans. But we as Christians believe that God created us on purpose for a purpose for a purpose. And if that is true, then we have to adopt a habit in our lives of quieting the rest of the world down so that we can hear from God and that we can obey his plan, follow his plan for our lives and do the things that he knows are best for us." [00:02:31] (49 seconds)

"Job is a large book in the Old Testament of the Bible that tells the story of a guy whose life fell apart. And he was wrestling with his faith, wrestling with God. Now the good news of this story is that he did complain, but he complained to God, not about God. Have you felt the temptation that when bad things happen in your life, you just want to blame God, talk to other people about what God did wrong, rather than go to God and ask him why he is allowing to happen what he's allowing to happen, or why he's causing to happen what he's causing to happen?" [00:04:19] (39 seconds)

"And God's response to Job when he begins to complain to God is, Job, you can't understand. My plan is too great. My plan is too big. My plan is too complex. If you could see how all the people in the world are on their own paths and how I am weaving it all together to create something beautiful and something good, God says to Job, you just can't. Your brain is not capable of comprehending my plan for my world. And so if we truly believe that God is in control, if we truly believe that God is who he says he is, we as Christians have to learn in our lives how to just surrender, how to just trust." [00:05:05] (50 seconds)

"Then Job replied to the Lord, I know that you can do anything, and no one can stop you. I know that you can do anything, God, and no one can stop you. You asked, who is this that questions my wisdom with such ignorance? It is I, and I was talking about things that I knew nothing about, things far too wonderful for me. You said, listen, and I will speak. Well, I have some questions for you, and you must answer them. This is God talking. I had only heard about you before, Job says, but now I have seen you with my own eyes. My eyes have been opened." [00:06:13] (54 seconds)

"And even in my pain, I trust that you work all things together for the good of those who love you and are called according to your purpose. A lot of us are still wrestling with the death of Daniel, our youth pastor here at the church. Many of you are wrestling with other things, though. I know of some others of you who have lost loved ones recently or received diagnosis, lost jobs, experienced pain and loss in other ways. This week, Darcy and I and our family found out that we actually had another loss in the family. Our Aunt Jeannie died, and she was one of the most selfless, godly people that we've known." [00:07:27] (49 seconds)

"Maybe they were some childish ideas that we said out of ignorance, or we said just because we had heard other people say them. Have you ever noticed that when painful things happen, everybody becomes a theologian? Everybody's got advice for you, and everybody wants to bring big, complex God things into very simple, cliche statements. Even people who normally don't have any faith or religion at all make statements like, oh, he's in a better place. To which most of us would say, do you believe that now? Is that just something people say or do you really think that?" [00:08:44] (44 seconds)

"And Jesus said to her, I am the resurrection and the life. That I am phrase is an important phrase in this. I'm God, he's saying. I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live even though they die. I imagine that if you went to Daniel, Daniel is our youth pastor that passed away not long ago. And you went to Daniel right now and you asked him if he would like to be put back in his old, broken, diabetes body, if you asked Daniel if he would like God to throw him back to this sinful, hateful world, if you asked Daniel if he would like to come back to this world where wives cheat on husbands, where pancreases fail, where money is hard to come by, where chiefs lose Super Bowls, Daniel would say, heck no. Are you kidding me?" [00:14:48] (79 seconds)

"So in a way, when we ask for God to bring somebody back from the dead, it's a little bit of a selfish request. I'm not saying it's a sinful request. I'm not saying it's wrong to ask for that. I think we just need to be aware of what we are asking. And this is what Martha is asking Jesus in this moment. Then Jesus said this, and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Whoever, this is talking about you. This is talking about us. Whoever believes in Jesus will never die. Do you believe this, Martha? Yes, Lord, she replied. I believe, get this response. Yes, I believe that you are the Messiah, the Son of God, who is to come into the world." [00:16:15] (55 seconds)

"He tries to take something that God created for good and then he convinces us to use it for evil. He does it in your life all the time. God created some good in your life and the Satan tries to use whatever that good thing is. Maybe it's the overconsumption of it, overindulgence. Maybe it's using a relationship that God gave you for personal gain. Satan tempts you to use it for a purpose that it was not created to be used for. life to use it. But if you're dead, it's like healing among God. But I want you to be used for it in your life. good care." [00:19:18] (36 seconds)

"The power is in the invisible, not in the visible. The trees acknowledge the supremacy of the wind when they bow to the wind. And if the trees do not bow to the wind, then they will be broken. The wind will blow them down. This is a bigger statement that I can fully teach or even understand in this message, but I'm learning something that I believe more and more. God is sovereign. I believe in the sovereignty of God, but sin causes pain. This is a big statement when it comes to answering the question, whose fault is it? Who do I blame? Who do I get mad at?" [00:21:53] (46 seconds)

"Because if God is sovereign, that means God is in control. That God, there is nothing that happens that God cannot control. God is sovereign. He's in control, but we live in a world where sin causes pain and we can blame sin. He's in control. He's in control. He's in control. Thank you. We can blame the Satan. Because when the Satan convinced Adam and Eve to sin in the garden, the Satan had set a trap that we have continually fallen into over and over and over again, all the way to today. He caused the pain and the death that causes us to run away from God. He caused the pain and the death that caused us to blame God. When we hurt, we have to learn to blame sin. It's sin's fault, not God's fault." [00:22:59] (52 seconds)

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