Join us this Sunday! In-Person 9:00am & 10:45am, Online 9:00am, 10:45am & 5:00pm

Join us this Sunday! In-Person 9:00am & 10:45am, Online 9:00am, 10:45am & 5:00pm

Join us at the next Sunday worship service:
In-Person
9:00am & 10:45am,
Online 9:00am, 10:45am & 5:00pm

God and You

“Show me the right path, O Lord; point out the road for me to follow. Lead me by your truth and teach me, for you are the God who saves me. All day long I put my hope in you.” – Psalm 25:4-5.

Psalm 25 teaches us to seek God in the hard times. If you read the entire Psalm, you quickly notice just how much David desired to learn how God wanted him to do things. That makes sense because whatever we think is important will determine the direction of our lives. Or as Andy Stanley said in his book, The Principle of the Path, “your direction determines your destination.”

David wanted to follow God by discovering the paths that God wanted him to follow. David asked to be guided on those paths so he waited on God for instruction. You can understand why David felt he needed direction and more importantly guidance from God when you read this Psalm; David had problems. 

He has enemies that are waiting to “rejoice in his defeat.” (v. 2). It is not one enemy he is facing and they don’t much like him. “See how many enemies I have and how viciously they hate me! “(v. 19) David is alone and in distress and his problems are going from bad to worse. (vv. 16-17)  And, David’s repeated requests for God to teach him the right path to follow (vv. 4-5, 8-9, 12) imply that he is confused about his future direction.  David is not alone in facing trials in life. None of us are exempt from facing trials if we are a follower of Jesus. Yet there are people who believe that if they obey God, He will give them a free pass from trials. Unfortunately, it just doesn’t work that way. One of the many things I love about the Bible is the numerous stories of ordinary people doing extraordinary things through the power of God. Most of these men and women went through difficult trials. “Dear friends, don’t be surprised at the fiery trials you are going through, as if something strange were happening to you.” (1 Peter 4:12)

Trails are not a referendum on the fairness of God. The trial you are in is not just about God, it is about you and God. We will have trials in our life, but the question is how do we view trials. If we truly want a deep, meaningful relationship with Jesus Chris, then our trials is one of the ways we can grow that relationship. “Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy.” (James 1:2)

The only way you will truly consider trials a great joy is if we want more of God than you want to get rid of your trial. 

Discussion Questions:

  1. Do you view trials as a referendum on the fairness of God? How can you change that?
  2. What can we do this week to begin looking at trials with joy? 

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