Trusting Jesus Through Life's Transitions and Challenges

Devotional

Day 1: God Has a Purpose and Plan for Your Life

God’s thoughts toward you are filled with peace and hope, even when you face difficult seasons. The Lord’s plans are not always easy, and sometimes they include challenges or times of waiting, but His ultimate desire is to give you a future and a hope. Even when circumstances seem uncertain or you feel like you’re in a place of captivity or hardship, you can trust that God is working for your good. He invites you to look beyond your present situation and believe that He is guiding your steps with loving intention. No matter what you face, God’s purpose for your life remains steadfast—He is for you, not against you. [06:44]

Jeremiah 29:11 (ESV)
“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.”

Reflection: In what area of your life do you need to trust that God’s plan is good, even if you can’t see the outcome yet?

Day 2: Abiding in Christ Is Essential for Lasting Fruit

True success and fruitfulness come not from our own strength or achievements, but from staying connected to Jesus. While the world may measure accomplishment by what we do on our own, Jesus teaches that apart from Him, we can do nothing of eternal value. When you abide in Christ—remaining close to Him, seeking His guidance, and relying on His power—you will bear much fruit that lasts. This connection is the source of strength, wisdom, and purpose for every believer, and it is only through Him that our lives have true meaning and impact. [08:12]

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: What is one practical way you can intentionally stay connected to Jesus today?

Day 3: Step Out in Faith—Get Out of the Boat

God calls us to take bold steps of faith, even when it feels risky or uncomfortable. Like Peter stepping out of the boat onto the water, you are invited to trust Jesus and move beyond what is familiar or safe. It’s easy to settle into routines or cling to past successes, but God often asks us to try new things for His glory and to follow where He leads. Whether it’s in your career, ministry, or relationships, don’t let fear or comfort keep you from experiencing the miraculous. When you hear Jesus calling, have the courage to step out and trust that He will meet you there. [12:11]

Matthew 14:28-29 (ESV)
“And Peter answered him, ‘Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.’ He said, ‘Come.’ So Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water and came to Jesus.”

Reflection: What “boat” is God asking you to step out of right now, and what is one step you can take in faith this week?

Day 4: Keep Your Eyes on Jesus Amid Distractions

It’s not enough to start with your eyes on Jesus—you must keep them there, especially when life’s storms and distractions arise. Peter was able to walk on water as long as he focused on Jesus, but when he noticed the wind and waves, he began to sink. The world is full of things that can pull your attention away from Christ: worries, temptations, busyness, and doubts. The challenge is to continually fix your gaze on Him, trusting that He will sustain you and guide you through every trial. Staying focused on Jesus is an ongoing journey that requires intentionality and perseverance. [19:57]

Luke 9:62 (ESV)
“Jesus said to him, ‘No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.’”

Reflection: What is currently distracting you from keeping your eyes on Jesus, and how can you refocus your attention on Him today?

Day 5: When You Fail, Cry Out—Jesus Will Lift You Up

Failure is not the end of your story; when you stumble or lose focus, Jesus is ready to reach out and lift you up the moment you call on Him. Peter began to sink when he was distracted, but as soon as he cried out, Jesus immediately reached out His hand to save him. Your failures do not have to define you or be fatal—what matters is that you turn to Jesus in your need. He responds with grace, not condemnation, and offers you a fresh start. Don’t let shame or fear keep you from calling out to Him; His arms are always open, ready to restore and strengthen you. [26:09]

Matthew 14:30-31 (ESV)
“But when he saw the wind, he was afraid, and beginning to sink he cried out, ‘Lord, save me.’ Jesus immediately reached out his hand and took hold of him, saying to him, ‘O you of little faith, why did you doubt?’”

Reflection: Is there an area where you feel like you’re sinking? Will you cry out to Jesus today and trust Him to lift you up?

Sermon Summary

Life is full of transitions, challenges, and opportunities, and each of us faces moments when we must decide whether to trust in our own strength or to turn to Jesus and let Him guide us. God’s plans for us are good, even when they lead through difficult seasons. The promise of Jeremiah 29:11, though spoken to a specific people in a specific time, still reveals God’s heart for His children: He desires to give us a future and a hope. Yet, we must remember that God’s plans often include times of trial, and it is in those moments that our faith and trust in Him are most vital.

Relying solely on our own abilities, education, or determination may bring worldly success, but it cannot produce fruit that lasts for eternity. Jesus reminds us in John 15 that apart from Him, we can do nothing of eternal value. When we abide in Him, He gives us the strength to face anything, just as Paul wrote from prison in Philippians 4:13. God is able to do far more than we can ask or imagine, both in this life and the life to come, when we keep our eyes fixed on Jesus.

But faith is not just about believing; it’s about stepping out. Like Peter, we are called to get out of the boat—to leave behind comfort and familiarity and trust Jesus enough to try new things, even when it feels risky. The world is full of examples of those who refused to innovate and were left behind. In the same way, we must be willing to follow God’s leading into new ventures for His glory, not just in business or life, but in ministry and service.

Yet, even when we step out in faith, distractions and storms will come. Peter walked on water as long as he kept his eyes on Jesus, but when he looked at the wind and waves, he began to sink. The challenge is not just to start with our eyes on Jesus, but to keep them there, resisting the pull of distractions and discouragement.

And when we do fail—and we all will at times—our story doesn’t end there. Peter’s failure did not define him. When he cried out, Jesus immediately reached out and lifted him up. Our failures are not fatal or final when we turn to Christ. He is always ready to restore us when we call on Him.

Key Takeaways

1. God’s plans for us are good, but they often include seasons of difficulty. The promise of a future and a hope is not a guarantee of ease, but of God’s faithful presence and purpose through every circumstance. Trusting Him means believing that even in hardship, He is working for our good and His glory. [07:30]
2. True fruitfulness and lasting impact come only from abiding in Christ. Our own strength and achievements may impress the world, but only what is done in dependence on Jesus will have eternal significance. The invitation is to remain connected to Him, drawing daily strength and direction from His presence. [08:12]
3. Faith requires action—stepping out of the boat when Jesus calls, even when it feels uncomfortable or uncertain. Comfort and tradition can become barriers to God’s new work in our lives. We are called to courageously pursue the new things God is leading us into, trusting that He will meet us there. [12:11]
4. The greatest challenge is not just to start with our eyes on Jesus, but to keep them there amid life’s distractions and storms. The world will always offer reasons to look away, but perseverance in faith means continually refocusing on Christ, allowing Him to sustain and guide us through every season. [20:15]
5. Failure is not the end for those who belong to Jesus. When we falter, the most important thing is to cry out to Him, for He is always ready to reach out and lift us up. Our failures can become moments of deeper dependence and renewed faith, as we experience His grace and restoration. [26:09]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[06:02] - The Most Important Decision: Turning to Jesus
[06:44] - Understanding God’s Plans in Context
[07:44] - The Limits of Self-Reliance
[08:12] - Abiding in Christ for True Fruitfulness
[09:24] - Strength Through Christ in All Circumstances
[10:29] - Life is Better with Jesus
[10:56] - Will You Get Out of the Boat?
[12:11] - The Courage to Step Out in Faith
[14:02] - The Danger of Settling and the Need for Innovation
[16:46] - Learning from Blockbuster and Kodak
[18:30] - Stepping Out for God’s Glory
[19:19] - Keeping Your Eyes on Jesus
[21:05] - The Ongoing Journey of Faith
[21:56] - Will You Get Up When You Fail?
[24:06] - Peter’s Failure and Jesus’ Response
[26:09] - The Power of Crying Out to Jesus
[28:14] - Facing New Chapters with Faith
[29:38] - Invitation to Respond and Closing Song

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading

Jeremiah 29:11 — “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.”

- John 15:5
“I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.”

- Matthew 14:22-33
(Peter walks on water, gets distracted, and Jesus rescues him.)

Observation Questions

According to Jeremiah 29:11, what kind of plans does God have for His people? How does the sermon explain the original context of this verse? ([06:44])
In John 15:5, what does Jesus say about our ability to bear fruit apart from Him? ([08:12])
In the story of Peter walking on water (Matthew 14), what happened when Peter took his eyes off Jesus? ([19:29])
What was Jesus’ immediate response when Peter cried out for help as he was sinking? ([26:09])

Interpretation Questions

The sermon says God’s plans are good, but they often include seasons of difficulty. How does understanding the context of Jeremiah 29:11 help us trust God during hard times? ([07:30])
What does it mean to “abide in Christ” in practical terms, and why is this necessary for lasting impact? ([08:12])
Why do you think Jesus allowed Peter to step out of the boat, knowing he might fail? What does this teach us about faith and risk? ([12:11])
The sermon points out that failure is not the end for those who belong to Jesus. How can our failures become moments of deeper dependence on Christ? ([26:09])

Application Questions

The sermon challenges us to trust God’s plans even when life is hard. Can you share a time when you went through a difficult season? How did you see God’s faithfulness, or are you still waiting to see it? ([07:30])
Jesus says we can do nothing of eternal value apart from Him. Are there areas in your life where you’ve been relying on your own strength instead of depending on Jesus? What would it look like to invite Him into those areas this week? ([08:12])
Peter had to get out of the boat to experience a miracle. Is there a “boat” of comfort or routine that God might be calling you to step out of? What is one practical step you could take to follow Him into something new? ([12:11])
The world is full of distractions that can pull our focus away from Jesus. What is one specific distraction in your life right now? How can you intentionally keep your eyes on Jesus this week? ([20:15])
When Peter began to sink, he cried out and Jesus immediately reached out to help him. Is there an area where you feel like you’re “sinking” right now? What would it look like for you to cry out to Jesus in that situation? ([26:09])
The sermon mentions that failure is not fatal or final with Jesus. How do you usually respond to failure? Is it hard for you to ask Jesus for help or to accept His grace? Why or why not? ([26:09])
The pastor shared about the importance of community and accountability. Who in your life helps you keep your eyes on Jesus? How can you encourage each other to stay focused on Him this week? ([28:55])

Sermon Clips

For all of us the most important decision we can ever make is to turn to Jesus for ourselves and let him guide us through everything in life that we will do. [00:06:10]

But the principle still holds for all of us amen. God has a great plan for every one of our lives and sometimes unfortunately that may include some difficulties, but at the end God will see us through if we look to him and trust in him. [00:07:28]

We need to understand that if we try to go it simply on our own by our own education, by our own power, by our own strength pulling ourselves up by our own bootstraps, we may accomplish a lot but none of us will ever accomplish everything we're supposed to unless we put our faith in Christ. [00:07:55]

But when it comes to eternal things, none of us will accomplish things of eternal value apart from being connected to him. [00:08:56]

Do you realize once you once you put your faith in Christ you have a connection there that he gives you the strength to face anything. [00:09:23]

When we put our eyes on Jesus we find out that life in the world to come is definitely going to be way better but also life in the here and now is better as well. [00:10:26]

There were 12 disciples in that boat, and Jesus walks out on the water and all 12 of them realize it's him at some point they've put their eyes on him, but only one of them had the nerve and the faith in the audacity to say hey Lord, if that's you can I come out there with you. [00:10:59]

Who gets out of a boat in the middle of a lake in the middle of the storm in the middle of the night? Only somebody who's brave enough to look to Jesus and hear Jesus say come on, come on. [00:12:15]

My generation and the generation older than me, the generations older than me, need young people who will dream up new things. Amen now I made you say that some of you didn't agree with me did you, but it's the truth we need innovation, we need people with fresh ideas and fresh energy. [00:12:41]

But please hear me today there's a danger in settling okay, and if we're not careful we can get so comfortable in our accomplishments already that we forget to innovate. [00:14:04]

Will you get out of the boat and not only will you get out of the boat for business, but will we get out of the boat for the glory of God and try new things that he directs us to do for ministry or are we going to sit in our comfortable boat. [00:18:40]

Having put our eyes on Christ the ongoing challenge is to keep them there because the world is always going to try to distract us and detract us from faith in him. [00:20:04]

Committing your life to Christ and staying on track with him is more than just praying a prayer one time and getting dunked in a tank one time, it's an ongoing journey and we've got a privilege and a responsibility to keep our eyes on him. [00:21:18]

The only person who hasn't failed in general in life is the person who's never tried anything. Amen and if you've never tried anything could you say that you've really succeeded? I don't think so but in the spiritual sense, Jesus or Peter rather, he failed. [00:23:39]

As soon as you cry out Jesus will reach out, and immediately he will lift you up. I'll hear me today, we're all probably going to fail somewhere along the way to some degree or another, your failure doesn't have to define you, your failure doesn't have to be fatal. [00:26:55]

Don't get distracted and when you do, call out to him quickly. Don't let him, don't let the devil win, he's out there and God's waiting for you with wide or wide open arms. [00:32:46]

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