Sermon Notes 

You may be in the trial of your life right now. Your suffering may be indescribable, and you don’t know what to do. God doesn’t always give you an explanation for why things happen or what His will for your life is. All He gives is an invitation to follow Him through it. 

Key Scriptures: 

John 21:17-22: II Corinthians 10:12; Deuteronomy 29:29; Hebrews 11:30-40

Key Points:

1. It is not wise to compare yourself to someone else. Quit asking God, “What about him?” Any time you compare what you’re going through to what someone else is going through, you miss the plan of God for your life. His plan for you may not seem as glorious as His plan for someone else right now, but you never know what someone else is going through behind the curtain. The Kingdom of God is not equal. 
2. Where you are right now is God’s will for your life. You may never get an explanation for some things you go through, but you can still choose to trust God. If you are serving God the best you can, you can be confident that where you are is His will for your life. Don’t let trials and tribulations take your eyes off Jesus. God can still get the glory in your suffering.
3. The godliest people in the Bible went through the greatest problems. It’s impossible to become who God wants you to be by bypassing trials and valleys. The greatest level of faith is trusting God without having to understand what you’re going through. The secret things belong to the Lord. The enemy sends his greatest attacks to people whose faith will affect generations. God chose you because you are you. God knows you better than you know yourself, and He knows what He’s doing in your life. Don’t let anything destroy your faith or diminish your confidence in God. Life cannot mess you up when you get that kind of faith.
4. God works in the darkness. God didn’t make the sun until the fourth day, which means He doesn’t need light to work; He works in the darkness, too. Nothing Hell can do can take you out of God’s hand. He is well aware of what you’re going through, and it will glorify Him. 
5. God will hurt you, but He’ll never harm you. Whoever God loves, He chastens. But like any good parent, He disciplines you to help you, not to hurt you. He loves you, and everything is working out for your good.

Final Thoughts:

Have the same faith to go through a trial that you do for a miracle. James was martyred, but Peter was set free. Elijah never died and was taken up in a fiery chariot, but Elisha died on a sickbed. So, never compare yourself to someone else, but choose to follow Jesus through every trial and storm. God’s grace is sufficient for you to get through every trial. And when you get to Heaven, it will all make sense and seem like nothing to you compared to His glory.