“A Leap of Fath: Trusting God in the amid of Doubt”

Just like how we sometimes doubt a recipe until we taste the final dish, we may doubt God's plans until we see the good that comes out of them. But just like that delicious meal, God's plans always turn out to be just as satisfying as we hoped - and usually even better!

— We all have doubts; but in the midst of times of doubting how do we still trust God?

— Often times we take this great big leap and look at the “mysteries of scripture” [which there are plenty] and use that to continue doubting

— One of those areas that is a mystery is this…

Why does God allow Suffering?

— We have all walked through “suffering.”

— It could be personal, family, spiritual, emotional, physical “suffering”

— Suffering is REAL!!!

— It hurts… sometimes deep into your soul

— Why would God who loves us… allow us to suffer?

— I’m sorry there are NO straight up answers to that question.

— But I know he hears us when we pray… we talked about that last week.

Is Suffering Part of the Plan?

— As the world marches toward the end-times persecution of us, as Christians will increase

— Up to this point we have experienced even 1/10th of the persecution that will be coming

— I do believe that before the days of the “Great Tribulation.” We, the church, all believers in Jesus will be taken up to Heaven.

— The purpose of the “tribulation” and the “great tribulation” as laid out in the Book of Revelation is to drive EVERYONE left after the “church” has been raptured, or taken up to Jesus and to defeat satan.

— But there is and will be much suffering, trouble, pain along the way.

— Listen here in John 16.

John 16:33 (ESV)

33 I have said these things to you, that in me [Jesus] you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”

— If you want peace, which is an opposite of suffering and chaos we need to be in Jesus.

— In this world we will have tribulation and suffering

— But take heart, it says, because Jesus has overcome the world…

— Jesus brought a new way to to understand, to accept and grow from tribulation and suffering.

Question: Don’t Christians who have a relationship with Christ, avoid suffering?

— Well, we may think it should

— But here is what the Apostle [Paul] said about it

2 Timothy 3:12 ESV

12 Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted,

— Is that now? Is that in the future?

— The answer is “Yes!” to both

— The next scripture is from 1Peter.

— The intended recipients of 1 Peter have been experiencing significant hardships as a result of opposition to their faith in Christ.

— Let me editorialize a bit… It seems like we are facing some of those significant hardships today. Nothing like that which is coming… but never-the-less, still hardship.

— Our world is slipping… slipping considerably

— AND WE, ALL OF US… ARE ALLOWING THAT SLIPPING TO OCCUR!

— believers who endure suffering, are following the example of Christ.

1 Peter 4:12 ESV

12 Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you.

— The fiery trial here is the trials of the end-times

— Don’t be surprised by the fire or by the test

— Be ready and call it was it is… it is from the pit hell.

— In 1Peter 2, He gives us a reason for the trial and an example of follow

1 Peter 2:21 ESV

21 For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps.

— Once again, understanding the trial, sometimes a fiery trial that comes to us.

— That we have been “called” to continue our march, our path towards Christ.

— To walk in His footsteps..! Regardless!!

Application: Trials, Tribulation, Pain, & Suffering CAN draw us away from Christ… If we allow it

— This is the worst of circumstances

— If we are drawn away, if we allow it.

— It taints our relationship with God, Jesus and the Spirit.

— By being drawn away, we remove the covering of the Holy Spirit, who protects, who leads, who guides and directs our paths.

— I believe there is another path...

#1 - “Trusting God in the Midst of Doubt, Trial & Suffering”

— Our scripture for this morning is from the Book of Proverbs.

— It’s very familiar and has great application for us!!

Proverbs 3:5–7 (ESV)

5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. 6 In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. 7 Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord, and turn away from evil.

— From Warren Wiersbe

Proverbs are pithy statements that summarize in a few choice words practical truths relating to some aspect of everyday life. The Spanish novelist Cervantes defined a proverb as “a short sentence based on long experience.”

Warren W. Wiersbe

————————

— Know that your pain and suffering and God’s response to it is based on an eternity of experience.

— “Trust the Lord…” with your whole being, with your whole inclination, with every part of who you are.

— Your understanding of situation may not be truthfully the whole situation.

— Be careful and understand the situation carefully.

— In the morning, in evening and multiple, multiple times and in all ways, through your situation… “Acknowledge him… and He will reward with you a straight path

— He won’t necessarily take the pain, trial or the suffering but Christ will be present with you through the whole path… wherever it leads.

— Verse 7 instructs while we are experiencing this doubt, this tribulation, this pain, this suffering

— That we DO NOT rely on ourselves, our own “eyes” but rely on, REVERE [fear] the Lord.

— A large part of trusting is surrendering!

— Surrendering control

#2 - Surrending Control to God

— There are situations that we are deep in our pain, our suffering, or tribulation that we have nowhere to turn

— That’s when it’s time to say “I SURRENDER”

— God I need you to step into the ring to fight this… I can’t.

— What will God do in the midst of the most difficult circumstances in our lives?

— If we trust Him?

Isaiah 26:3 (ESV)

3 You keep him [mankind] in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you.

— You, Your mind, your intellect remains in “perfect peace”

— When our mind is focused on God, on the things of God, everyday focused on God… He will grant us that perfect peace

— When we practice that “perfect peace,” God will trust us.

— Trust us to remember where that peace and trust come from… From God.

Application: God Has A Plan… If We Will Participate

Jeremiah 29:11 NIV84

11 For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

— So we do have a hope and future

— Inspite of pain, suffering, tribulation

— God has a plan for you

—- … to prosper us

— … not to harm us

— … to give us a hope, in the most desperate circumstances and choices

— and a future

#3 - So… What now, where do we go from here?

— Trials and tribulations

— Pain and suffering

— “difficulties” of all kinds.

— physical, emotional, spiritual

Application: Find Peace by CLINGING to God’s Promises

— By definition - “To hold tightly!”

— With your very last strength… HOLD TIGHTLY

2 Corinthians 1:20 ESV

20 For all the promises of God find their Yes in him. That is why it is through him that we utter our Amen to God for his glory.

— We can hold tightly to the promises

— In all of those situations that we been talking about this morning

— His promises are guaranteed.

— What we don’t have though is “timelessness” of God to watch ALL of the events play out

— And see how they have fit God’s plan perfectly.

Application: Find Peace by TRUSTING in God’s Faithfulness

— By clinging to his promises

— By living a life that thanks God for EVERY good gift

— By realizing that God is faithful to his promises

— this is worth repeating

Jeremiah 29:11 ESV

11 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.

— Cling to this

— realize that our timeline is not His

— Know the plan

— And finally

Application: Walk in Obedience Despite Doubt

— I once heard the story of a missionary in a remote village who, unable to communicate with the locals, declared, 'Behold, I am a servant of the Lord.' Surprisingly, the villagers responded by embracing him, showing that our willingness to serve speaks louder than words.

— There is an awesome story of service and obedience despite the doubt that the person may have had

— This person was nominally connected to God but heard His voice loud and clear

— Inspite of everything that was going to happen she stuck with plan… God’s plan

Luke 1:38 ESV

38 And Mary said, “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her.

— I hope and pray that these words would be my words, our words when faced with “impossible” circumstances.

“Behold I am a Servant of the Lord”

Let’s Pray