Go! And Trust God's Transforming Work
Introduction
Craig Groeschel once said, "Sometimes God doesn’t change our situation because He is trying to change our hearts." How many of us have prayed for a situation to change, only to find ourselves still waiting? We long for healing, deliverance, breakthrough—but what if God is using the very situation we want to escape to transform us from the inside out?
In today’s sermon, we will explore how God works in our trials to shape us, strengthen us, and draw us closer to Him. We will examine Scripture to understand why God sometimes allows struggles to persist, how He uses them for His glory, and how we can trust Him even when circumstances remain unchanged.
1. God Uses Trials to Shape Our Character
Romans 5:3-5 (NLT): "We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation. And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love."
In the Greek, "endurance" (hypomone) conveys steadfastness under trial. God is more interested in our long-term growth than our short-term comfort. Just as an athlete must train under resistance to grow stronger, we develop spiritual endurance through life’s struggles.
Consider a sculptor working on a rough stone. With each chisel strike, the stone resists, but the artist sees the masterpiece within. Similarly, God shapes us through trials, revealing His image in us.
Instead of asking God to remove difficulties, ask Him to strengthen your character through them.
Oswald Chambers said, "Faith for my deliverance is not faith in God. Faith means whether I am visibly delivered or not, I will stick to my belief that God is love."
2. God’s Purpose Is Greater Than Our Pain
2 Corinthians 12:9-10 (NLT): "Each time he said, ‘My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.’ So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me. That’s why I take pleasure in my weaknesses, and in the insults, hardships, persecutions, and troubles that I suffer for Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong."
Paul pleaded for relief, but God allowed the struggle to remain to demonstrate His sufficiency. The Greek word for "grace" (charis) implies a divine influence that empowers and strengthens.
Imagine a pilot learning to fly. If the instructor takes control every time turbulence arises, the pilot never learns to navigate the skies. God allows us to experience turbulence so that we can trust His guidance.
Instead of viewing hardship as abandonment, see it as an opportunity for God’s power to be revealed.
A.W. Tozer said, "It is doubtful whether God can bless a man greatly until He has hurt him deeply."
3. God Wants to Change Our Hearts, Not Just Our Circumstances
Ezekiel 36:26 (NLT): "And I will give you a new heart, and I will put a new spirit in you. I will take out your stony, stubborn heart and give you a tender, responsive heart."
The Hebrew word for "heart" (lev) represents the inner person, including thoughts, emotions, and will. God is not merely interested in changing what happens to us—He wants to change who we are inside.
A thermostat and a thermometer both respond to temperature, but only the thermostat sets the climate. God doesn’t want us merely to react to situations; He wants to transform us so that we reflect His presence in every circumstance.
Ask God to work on your heart rather than just changing external situations.
Rick Warren said, "God is more interested in your character than your comfort. He wants you to grow spiritually and become more like Christ."
4. Trusting God Even When We Don’t Understand
Proverbs 3:5-6 (NLT): "Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take."
The Hebrew word for "trust" (batach) implies complete reliance and security, much like a child trusting a parent’s guidance.
A tapestry looks messy on the back with tangled threads, but on the front, it reveals a beautiful design. Our lives may seem chaotic now, but God sees the full picture.
Trust that God is weaving your story for His glory, even when the pattern is unclear.
Corrie ten Boom said, "Never be afraid to trust an unknown future to a known God."
Conclusion: Go! And Trust God’s Transforming Work
Craig Groeschel’s words remind us that God is always at work, even when our situations remain unchanged. He shapes our character, reveals His power in our weakness, changes our hearts, and calls us to trust Him beyond our understanding.
Call to Action:
Embrace trials as opportunities for growth.
Lean into God’s strength rather than your own.
Allow Him to work in your heart rather than just seeking external change.
Trust that His plan is greater than your pain.
Invitation to Faith:
If you have not yet trusted Jesus as your Lord and Saviour, today is the day. He is calling you into a relationship with Him—not just to change your situation, but to change your heart. Will you say yes to Him today? Let’s pray.
May we all go forward, trusting that God is always working for our good and His glory!
