Pastor Tom came straight out of the gate in our new sermon series PUNCHED with this question: How do we know if we are growing spiritually? When we talk about our own growing up, each of us has a unique journey. Unique people, circumstances, families of origin, faith journey. And we just can’t get away from the truth that crisis is the environment that generates the greatest potential for our spiritual growth. Oh, how I wish that was not so.
There have always been two distinct paths: Lord, get me out of my situation (control) or, Lord, help me to trust You so that you can bring glory to Your name through my situation (trust). When we were babies we learned that if we cry long enough someone will show up. As we journey on spiritually, God wants to teach us that He alone is the One in whom we need to look to for our help (Psalm 121). He continues to reveal Himself as the sole reliable source for our trust. Our “understanding” is not the highest form of revelation – it’s our trust in Him that leads us to higher ground.
I am facing situations where I would like God to simply control the outcomes. In fact, I have the solutions all mapped out for Him. God, if You would just do this, everything would work out fine. But He reminds me that I am on the long road of learning to trust in Him, that I don’t see all that He sees, and that there is more at stake than I could possibly know. So, forsaking all I trust Him.
(Psalm 121, Song: Tis So Sweet to Trust in Jesus)
