Go! And Trust God Where You Are - 1 Corinthians 7:17 Series

Go! And Trust God Where You Are - 1 Corinthians 7:17

Opening Prayer:

Heavenly Father,

Thank You for Your Word which speaks life, hope, and truth. Thank You for the gift of salvation through Your Son, Jesus Christ. As we open the Scriptures today, open our hearts to understand Your will and to walk in obedience. Help us trust You more fully, where we are, just as we are, knowing that You are with us and for us. In Jesus' name we pray, Amen.

Introduction: Trusting God Where You Are

Have you ever found yourself wondering, “Why am I here? Why this situation? Why now?” Life is full of seasons—some joyful, others painful. But in every season, God is present. He is at work, shaping us, growing us, and calling us to trust Him exactly where we are.

Today’s message is titled: Go! And Trust God Where You Are. Let’s begin by reading our central text.

1 Corinthians 7:17 (NLT): "Each of you should continue to live in whatever situation the Lord has placed you, and remain as you were when God first called you. This is my rule for all the churches."

This verse isn’t promoting stagnation—it’s calling us to faithfulness. Wherever God has placed you, He has a purpose. Trust Him in your season.

Point 1: God Calls Us in the Midst of Our Situation

In 1 Corinthians 7, Paul is addressing questions about marriage, singleness, and life circumstances. Some believers thought that becoming Christian meant they needed to abandon their previous lives, roles, or social standing.

Paul says, “No—God called you where you were. Honour Him where you are.”

Greek Word Study – “Called” (?e????e? / kekleken):

This verb speaks of a divine summons. Not just an invitation to salvation—but a placement into God’s plan.

John 21:22 (NLT): "Jesus replied, ‘If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you? As for you, follow me.’”

Here, Jesus redirects Peter’s focus—not toward comparing himself with others—but to simply follow Him. We are not called to mimic someone else's journey. We are called to follow Jesus faithfully in our own.

Tim Keller once said: “God will only give you what you would have asked for if you knew everything He knows.”

I love that quote. It reminds us that we don’t need to understand everything—we need to trust the One who does.

Point 2: Trusting God in Times of Plenty and in Times of Need

Philippians 4:12 (NLT): "I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little."

Paul wrote these words from prison. Yet he speaks of contentment. That “secret” he learned wasn’t a technique—it was Christ.

Greek Word Study – “Learned the secret” (µeµ??µa? / memyemai):

This word means to be initiated into a mystery. Paul had been initiated into the divine truth that Jesus is enough.

Psalm 13:6 (NLT): "I will sing to the Lord because he is good to me."

Even in a Psalm that begins with “O Lord, how long will you forget me?”, David ends with praise. Why? Because he trusts God’s goodness even when life feels uncertain.

The Silent Piano Lesson

A music teacher once sat a student at a piano and gave no instructions—just silence. Frustrated, the student eventually played a simple tune, which the teacher applauded. The lesson? Sometimes silence from above is a chance for us to act in faith, trusting what we’ve already been taught.

Charles Stanley said: “Obey God and leave all the consequences to Him.”

That’s simple. That’s profound. That’s faith.

Point 3: God’s Ways Are Beyond Our Understanding—But Always Good

Romans 11:33–34 (NLT): “Oh, how great are God’s riches and wisdom and knowledge! How impossible it is for us to understand his decisions and his ways! For who can know the Lord’s thoughts? Who knows enough to give him advice?”

This is the crescendo of Paul’s deep exploration of God’s redemptive plan for Israel and the Gentiles. He concludes with doxology—praise born of wonder. God’s ways are vast. Mysterious. Good.

Hebrew Parallel – Isaiah 55:8–9 echoes this thought: “My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts,” says the Lord. “And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine.”

The Puzzle Piece

A child once complained that his single puzzle piece looked ugly and meaningless. But once it was placed into the full picture, it made sense.

Beloved, we are holding a single piece—but God sees the full picture. Trust Him.

R.T. Kendall once wrote: “God is not obligated to explain Himself to you, but He will never stop loving you.”

That’s true comfort. Trust doesn’t come from knowing all the answers—it comes from knowing the One who holds them.