This January, we are exploring how we can experience breakthrough in our walk with God. As a church, our goal is to deepen our commitment to Christ and our understanding of who He is. It isn’t always easy to find that next level of growth - but as we read through the Scriptures we find plenty of resources to help us along the way.
Easy to Read, Difficult to Live
The Bible is filled with verses and commands that are easy to understand on paper, but often difficult to live out in obedience. One of the most famous verses in the Bible is found in Proverbs 3:5-6, and reads:
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to Him, and He will make your paths straight.” -Proverbs 3:5-6 NIV
We often quote this comforting verse when life spins out of control - it reminds us to look to the God who orders the universe when we feel incapable of ordering our world. And yet, this verse is incredibly difficult to put into practice. It is not easy to trust God. It comes naturally for us to worry, stress, or try to solve all of our problems ourselves. Trusting God? That’s hard.
Lessons From Hannah
Hannah understands how it feels when life is filled with uncertainty and disappointment. In 1 Samuel 1, we are introduced to Hannah. She is married to a man named Elkanah. Elkanah’s second wife has multiple children, while Hannah experiences painful infertility for years on end. To make matters worse, her husband's other wife has turned into her rival - mocking her for her infertility to the point where she won’t even eat (1 Samuel 1:6-7).
Hannah had a difficult life - which is why she is the perfect person to teach us what it means to trust God. Many of us in the same situation harden our hearts to God. Not Hannah. She is determined to trust God - so she gets on her knees in prayer and weeps before Him, entrusting her pain into the hands of her Father (1 Samuel 1:9-11).
Learning to Trust God in Our Trials
Craig Groeschel says that “what you worry about the most often reveals where you trust God the least.” I’ve found this to be true in my own life. The scenarios and circumstances that cause me the most pain, frustration, and anxiety are often the ones I want to take the most control over. I don’t want to hand them over to God - I’m too afraid He won’t work things out exactly the way I want Him to. I imagine that for Hannah, she was tempted to do the same. Years of infertility and mockery will easily callous a heart into self-preservation. But she chose to trust God. Here are a few things we can learn about trusting God from Hannah’s life.
Our Trials Are Opportunities To Trust God
Trials can harden us and turn us away from God. But they can also provide us with an opportunity to trust God even more. James 1:2-4 tells us to “consider it pure joy” when we face trials because “the testing of your faith produces perseverance.” We grow in our faith and become more complete disciples of Christ when we walk through trials well. Hannah allowed her trial to drive her to prayer. Let your trials drive you to the same place.
Let God Change Your Heart - Even If Your Circumstances Stay The Same
Hannah poured out her heart to God in the temple. She then met the High Priest Eli. At first, he thought she was drunk - but once she explained her situation and her prayer, he told her “God in peace, and may the God of Israel grant what you have asked of Him” (1 Samuel 1:17). Then Hannah left “and her face was no longer downcast” (verse 18). Hannah allowed God to transform the condition of her heart and she walked away glad, even though nothing had changed at that moment. When we trust God with our trials, He will begin to change our perspective even while we continue to walk through challenges.
God’s Faithfulness In The Past Means We Can Trust Him With The Future
A Jewish woman like Hannah would have been familiar with the stories and accounts of God’s faithfulness recorded all throughout the Torah. These stories were the foundation of her faith in God. If you want a faith like Hannah’s, you must look backwards and gird yourself with the knowledge that God has been abundantly faithful in the past. Look back on your own life - but also look all throughout the Scriptures to see the faithfulness of God from Genesis to Revelation. His faithfulness in all of history is why you can trust Him in your life today.
Conclusion: How To Begin Your Breakthrough
It’s not easy to follow the command found in Proverbs 3:5-6 - but it is essential that we make a choice to trust God and call to mind His faithfulness through the ages. Just like Hannah, we can find our breakthrough when we trust God with everything that we are dealing with - even when we are facing challenges, pain, and difficulty.
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Breakthrough Week 2: January 19th, 2025. Preached by Pastor Ben Dieterly
Article Edited by Julia Castro
This sermon series was inspired by the Think Ahead series preached by Chris Beall, Tim Doremus, Sam Marin, and Craig Groeschel. We have used some of their free resources to assist us in organizing our sermon outlines for this series!
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