TRUST ISSUES WEEK 2

Intro

Picture of family, shout out Diana

refer to Ps. Joseph’s preaching from last week who taught us to trust in God without understanding, how Abraham decided to trust God with his “promised child”, how after many years of not having children, God finally blessed them with a baby boy and God asks Abraham to sacrifice him as a living sacrifice! Abraham obeyed but God provided the necessary sacrifice.

Trusting God even when it doesn’t make sense

Mia Example

I have to admit something about myself.

I play too much.

I joke around a lot. Some people don’t always understand my sense of humor — but it’s just the dad in me. I’ll say something that I think is hilarious, and everyone else is just staring at me like…

“What is he even talking about?”

Over time I’ve learned to chill out a little bit.

Only a little bit.

One of the things I used to think was funny was when my daughter Mia didn’t know a lot of things yet. When kids are little, they just believe what you tell them. And I realized something…

I could tell her something crazy — and she would believe it.

Now , I never told her anything bad. Just funny things.

I’d say things like:

“If you swallow a watermelon seed… a watermelon will grow in your stomach.” Or I’d say, “If we go too fast in the car… the car might start flying.”

And she’d look at me like…

“Really?”

And honestly I thought it was hilarious.

But as Mia has gotten older… she’s started to figure something out.

She realized that about 80% of the time… I’m joking.

So now when I tell her something…

she doesn’t just believe me anymore.

She trusts… but verifies. Every time.

“Mia did you know milk comes from cows?”

“looks at mom”

“Mia, did you know daddy penguins hold the eggs to keep them warm?”

Now im at the point where I say “Mia did you know…?” and she is already looking over at mom to verify.

And honestly… I can’t blame her. That’s my fault.

Because when someone tells you things that aren’t always true — even if they’re joking — eventually you start realizing that person might not always be reliable.

And when that happens… trust starts to weaken. Trust is built on consistency.

If someone keeps telling you things that aren’t true, eventually you stop trusting what they say.

But here’s the difference when it comes to God.

God has never said:

“I’m just kidding.” “That’s not what I meant.” “That was a joke.”

God’s Word doesn’t change.

Proverbs 3:1 “My child, never forget the things I have taught you. Store my commands in your heart.”

Why would God start the chapter by saying “never forget”?

Why emphasize “store these words in your heart”?

Because God’s Word isn’t temporary.

It doesn’t change with culture.

It doesn’t change with emotions.

It doesn’t change with opinions.

I hope you forget some of the things I say.

I hope Mia forgets some of the things I say.

But God being perfect.

God being true. when He speaks, it’s worth remembering forever

Proverbs 3:5 “Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding.”

Think about how bold that statement is.

No person could make that claim.

No leader.

No friend.

No parent.

Because everyone will fail you at some point — Your parents will make mistakes. — Your best friend might spill your secrets. —Pastors and leaders are human.

“Trust Me with all your heart.”

Why?

Because God never lies.

He never contradicts Himself.

He never fails.

He never abandons His children.

So tonight I believe God is saying something simple to us.

“It’s time”

It’s time

Turn to the person next to you and say:

“It’s time.”

It’s time to stop treating God’s Word like a quick devotional.

Like a two-minute verse of the day.

Like a motivational quote you scroll past.

It’s time to stop treating scripture like a quick check-in instead of our daily direction.

It’s time to stop approaching the Bible like it’s just another human opinion.

2 Timothy 3:16 “All Scripture is breathed by God”

Think about that.

The same God who hung the stars in the sky…

The same God who causes the sun to rise every morning…

The same God who separated the land from the sea…

The same God who designed every detail of creation…

wrote words for you and me to read.

And when you realize who wrote this book, you wouldn’t hesitate to open it every single day.

You wouldn’t doubt who you are.

Because you would read that you were created in God’s image.

You wouldn’t doubt your authority.

Because God says you are the head and not the tail.

You wouldn’t doubt His provision.

Because if He feeds the birds in the sky — why wouldn’t He take care of you?

You wouldn’t doubt His love.

Psalm 23:6 “Surely your goodness and unfailing love will pursue me all the days of my life, and I will live in the house of the Lord forever.”

REPEAT “THAT SAME GOD, SPEAKS TO ME. SO WHY SHOULD I DOUBT?”

Trust & Verify

Truth — Many of us struggle to trust God — not because God is untrustworthy.

But because we haven’t taken the time to hear Him for ourselves.

We’ve allowed other voices to become louder than God’s voice.

Podcasters. Preachers. Friends. Parents. Influencers.

Everyone except God.

So when someone tells you something God never actually promised…

like “your life will only be blessings and nothing bad will ever happen”…

the moment hardship comes…

you get mad at God.

But the truth is… you trusted someone else’s words without verifying them in God’s Word.

So when someone speaks… trust. But verify.

When pastors speak — verify.

When podcasters speak — verify.

When your friends speak — verify.

Even when I speak — verify.

Go find out for yourself what God actually says.

Because your parents’ faith can’t save you.

My faith can’t save you.

Your friend’s faith can’t save you.

You have your own journey with God.

Your own relationship.

Your own walk.

How Long?

How long will it take you…

to wake up? To stop doubting God? To stop doubting His goodness?

To stop doubting His love?

How long will it take you to stop living by your understanding…

and start trusting His?

“some of us are walking around IN GOD’S CREATION, AS GODS CREATION, IN OUR OWN UNDERSTANDING.

“TRUST IN THE LORD WITH ALL YOUR HEART”

Not halfway. Not when it’s convenient.

With all your heart.

And tonight you have a decision to make.

Will you keep living by your understanding?

Or will you trust the God who has never lied…

never failed… never abandoned His children…

and never once said,

“I was just kidding.”

STAND

ALTAR

The same God who hung the stars in the sky…

The same God who designed every detail of your life…

The same God who knows every struggle you’re facing…

is speaking to you tonight.

So tonight if you're tired of living by your own understanding…

If you're tired of doubting God…

If you're ready to start trusting His Word for yourself…

I want to invite you right now.

Let tonight be the moment where you say:

“God, I’m done trying to figure life out on my own.

I choose to trust You.”

invitation to Accept Jesus as Lord and savior — never done it before, want to secure your place in eternity, want to live with your father in heaven

If doubt has been louder than faith in your heart, tonight is the night to lay down your doubts and trust God again. If you have been holding back because you’re not sure you can trust God completely, this is your moment to step forward in faith

If you realize that you have treated God’s word casually instead of holy — if it has been less important in your daily lives than other things, its been in the background of your life and you are ready to recommit