Trusting God in the Midst of Uncertainty

Mark 14:32-42 (NLT) 

    And they came to an olive grove called Gethsemane, and Jesus said, "Sit here while I go and pray." [33] He took Peter, James, and John with him, and he began to be filled with horror and deep distress. [34] He told them, "My soul is crushed with grief to the point of death. Stay here and watch with me."

    [35] He went on a little farther and fell face down on the ground. He prayed that, if it were possible, the awful hour awaiting him might pass him by. [36] "Abba, Father," he said, "everything is possible for you. Please take this cup of suffering away from me. Yet I want your will, not mine."

    [37] Then he returned and found the disciples asleep. "Simon!" he said to Peter. "Are you asleep? Couldn't you stay awake and watch with me even one hour? [38] Keep alert and pray. Otherwise temptation will overpower you. For though the spirit is willing enough, the body is weak."

    [39] Then Jesus left them again and prayed, repeating his pleadings. [40] Again he returned to them and found them sleeping, for they just couldn't keep their eyes open. And they didn't know what to say.

    [41] When he returned to them the third time, he said, "Still sleeping? Still resting? Enough! The time has come. I, the Son of Man, am betrayed into the hands of sinners. [42] Up, let's be going. See, my betrayer is here!"

Hebrews 4:14-16 (NLT) 

    That is why we have a great High Priest who has gone to heaven, Jesus the Son of God. Let us cling to him and never stop trusting him. [15] This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for he faced all of the same temptations we do, yet he did not sin. [16] So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it.

1. Trust and hold on to Christ who knows our every fear and difficulties.

Isaiah 57:15 (GW) 

        The High and Lofty One lives forever, and his name is holy.  This is what he says:          I live in a high and holy place.  But I am with those who are crushed and humble.  I will renew the spirit of those who are humble and the courage of those who are crushed.

Be quick to fight off discouragement when it first arrives, before it stays and grows into growing despair.

Exodus 14:15 (NLT) 

    Then the Lord said to Moses, "Why are you crying out to me? Tell the people to get moving!

Isaiah 43:18 (NIV) 

    "Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past.

Start doing the things that God has already convicted our hearts to do before seeking further revelation

2.  Pursue the Lord, and He will answer!

 Jeremiah 29:13 (NIV) 

    You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.

Luke 11:8-9 (NLT) 

    But I tell you this—though he won't do it as a friend, if you keep knocking long enough, he will get up and give you what you want so his reputation won't be damaged.

    [9] "And so I tell you, keep on asking, and you will be given what you ask for. Keep on looking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened.

Genesis 18:17 (NIV) 

    Then the Lord said, "Shall I hide from Abraham what I am about to do?

The greatest faith is not a faith that has all the answers. The greatest faith is a faith that is able to hold unanswered questions and still follow God.

Matthew 5:48 (NLT) 

    But you are to be perfect, even as your Father in heaven is perfect.

Start small but start immediately

Exodus 6:6-9 (NLT) 

    "Therefore, say to the Israelites: 'I am the Lord, and I will free you from your slavery in Egypt. I will redeem you with mighty power and great acts of judgment. [7] I will make you my own special people, and I will be your God. And you will know that I am the Lord your God who has rescued you from your slavery in Egypt. [8] I will bring you into the land I swore to give to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. It will be your very own property. I am the Lord!' "

    [9] So Moses told the people what the Lord had said, but they wouldn't listen anymore. They had become too discouraged by the increasing burden of their slavery.

Mark 9:28-29 (NLT) 

    Afterward, when Jesus was alone in the house with his disciples, they asked him, "Why couldn't we cast out that evil spirit?"

    [29] Jesus replied, "This kind can be cast out only by prayer."

Exodus 6:6 (NIV) 

    "Therefore, say to the Israelites: 'I am the Lord, and I will bring you out from under the yoke of the Egyptians. I will free you from being slaves to them, and I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and with mighty acts of judgment.

Exodus 6:6 (NASB) 

    … I will deliver you from their bondage. I will also redeem you with an outstretched arm...

3. Come humbly to God and ask for a supernatural deliverance to break the bondage of areas we are enslaved to, so we can be free again.

Psalm 91:14-15 (NASB) 

        "Because he has loved Me, therefore I will deliver him; I will set him securely on high, because he has known My name.  "He will call upon Me, and I will answer him;         I will be with him in trouble; I will rescue him, and honor him.

James 5:13-16 (NLT) 

    Are any among you suffering? They should keep on praying about it. And those who have reason to be thankful should continually sing praises to the Lord.

    [14] Are any among you sick? They should call for the elders of the church and have them pray over them, anointing them with oil in the name of the Lord. [15] And their prayer offered in faith will heal the sick, and the Lord will make them well. And anyone who has committed sins will be forgiven.

    [16] Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and wonderful results.