Message Series // Where?
Message Date // May 3, 2020 (Cory Bragg)
Big Idea
Trust is something we all have to deal with in our lives. There are areas where trust is easy for us to give, but there are also those areas in our lives where we have trust issues. Maybe we’ve been hurt or betrayed by others. Maybe we have a tough time believing what others tell us, or we have a tendency to keep people at a distance. Maybe we have a bent to expect the worst. And it’s one thing when it’s difficult to trust people, but it’s quite another thing to have trust issues with God. Maybe you are having a tough time trusting God in this season. No matter what, the bottom line is that trust is needed in every relationship…especially when it comes to God. Why? How we trust God can either develop or stunt our spiritual growth. We can either be paralyzed with fear, or we can use this season as an opportunity to learn what God is doing in our lives. God wants you to trust Him, and He knows that you will come out of this season better if you do.
“In one’s heart a person plans their course, but the Lord determines their steps.” – Proverbs 16:9
Discussion
One of the areas we can have trust issues with God revolves around His direction in our lives…the “where”. Sometimes our prayer can become…”God, where do I go from here?” In the journey of life, there will be times when we will wonder where God will take our life in a month, a year, or over the course of many years. When was there a time (or times) where your prayers revolved around God’s direction in your life? How did those moments feel when it came to trusting God?
Read Genesis 12:1-9. In these verses, we are introduced to a man named Abram (also known as Abraham). Abraham was probably one of the most traveled persons in the Bible, and these 9 verses share part of his journey. When all was said and done, Abraham traveled over 2,100 miles by foot, and most of it when he was over 75 years old! As we read part of his story in Genesis 12, there are 5 things we can learn from all of his “wheres” in life…
- GO doesn’t mean KNOW. (Genesis 12:1, Hebrews 11:8, Proverbs 16:9)
- God directs us with PROMISES, not PREDICTABLES. (Genesis 12:2-3, Numbers 23:19)
- Wherever you go, don’t go ALONE. (Genesis 12:4-5, Hebrews 10:24-25)
- Find the strength to take the NEXT STEP by remembering God’s faithfulness with your LAST STEP. (Genesis 12:6-9 “altars”, Philippians 4:13)
- Find PEACE where you ARE knowing someday you will be THERE. (Hebrews 11:8-10)
Which of these 5 principles is one you are wrestling with now? Which one encourages you the most? Why?
Read Hebrews 11:8-10. The author mentions that even though Abraham didn’t always know where he was going in the journey of life, he still “obeyed and went”. Why is obedience and a commitment to God’s course for your life, whether you it’s what you envisioned or not, so important?
Next Steps
Maybe today you are in a challenging place and asking God…”Where?”. In this time, rely on the truth that even though you can’t trace His hand, you can trust His heart. What is one next step you can take to build your trust in God’s direction?
Proverbs 16:9
Numbers 23:19
Isaiah 40:29-31
Philippians 4:6-7
Philippians 4:13