Audio from Senior Pastor Vaughn Drawdy on Sunday morning May 27th, 2018.
These sermon notes are made available through the YouVersion free Bible app.
https://www.bible.com/events/420034
Wouldn't it be great if life was perfect - no problems, worries, challenges, issues or pain. But it isn't. We face various trials along the way. God's Word gives us encouragement, strength and life changing truth to handle the pitfalls we face.
James 1:2-4 NIV
2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. 4 Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.
Life's pitfalls have a way of changing us. Sometimes the overwhelming pressure of the problem seems like more than we can handle. I've seen great men of God make decisions that they normally would not have because their perspective was tainted by stress and fear. I have seen many seek God's wisdom, find power in His presence and overcome the adversity stronger and more mature. God is at work in us, so He can work through us.
One of by-products of pitfalls is fear.
-Fear of the unknown.
-Fear of failure.
When we are faced with more than we can handle, feeling overwhelmed, we can become quite fearful. We all have had those moments... the wind and the waves of the storm crash on us.
Think about Peter in Matthew 14:30. Peter steps out of the boat while it is out in the Sea of Galilee. He walked on the water toward Jesus in the middle of a storm. But,...
Matt. 14:30 NIV
30 But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, ‘Lord, save me!’
What happened to Peter?
He took His eyes off Jesus and felt the wind and waves crashing on him.
Victory comes when we are with Jesus.
So how do we overcome fear, doubt, trials, problems?
- Go to God, cry out for understanding & wisdom
- Know that the "what if's" of the problem could take you further into anxiety, stress, depression, and fear. (Proverbs 3:5-6). The "what if's" are normally us, leaning to our own understanding.
Proverbs 3:5-6 NIV
5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; 6 in all your ways submit to him,and he will make your paths straight.
So what does it look like to overcome fear?
-Submit and embrace God's Word for your life and your situation.
Here are a few passages to reach out for, hold on to and find peace in. When we walk in His truths, our paths are not so jagged, rough or tough - He makes our path straight.
Isaiah 41:10 NIV
10 So do not fear, for I am with you;do not be dismayed, for I am your God.I will strengthen you and help you;I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
Psalm 56:3 NIV
3 When I am afraid, I put my trust in you.
Philippians 4:6-7 NIV
6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
2 Timothy 1:7 NIV
7 For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline.
God desires to work in you so He can be known through you. The process of maturing in His ways and walking in His truth requires humility, repentance and prayer. For we are His people, called by His name and He desires to heal us and empower us so that His provision of love, salvation and life are known in a world full of pitfalls, problems and pain. (2 Chronicles 7:14)