Message Title: Trusting God in Troubled Times: Lessons Learned
Date: February 7, 2021

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Some things in life you can't afford to forget

1. Remember this one: It's ok to wrestle with God and ask why
--What Habakkuk saw with his eyes betrayed what he believed in his heart
--When following God in obedience didn't make sense, Habakkuk leaned in and wrestled

2. Remember this one: Ministry is proportionate to proximity
--Being a Christ-centered, anti-racist means to identify racial injustices and leverage our privilege and influence for racial equality
--Jesus modeled this
--Bridges are built by listening, lamenting, learning, and lifting up

3. Remember this one: Waiting time doesn't have to be wasted time
--We are operating on God's timing
--What we do while we wait is important

4. Remember this one: Worship God in the midst of, not after, the wrestle!
--Habakkuk paints a picture of utter devastation
--He is a "though...yet" follower
--Rejoices in the midst of suffering

"If I find in myself desires which nothing in this world can satisfy, the only logical explanation is that I was made for another world" --CS Lewis

PCC BENEDICTION
May you jump into the arms of Jesus and may He push out into the world. May you be healed as you participate in the healing of others. Not because you must, but because you may. This is why we were born!

BEYOND SUNDAY
Trust the Lord, no matter what. Easier said than done...especially after living through 2020! Habakkuk’s message for God’s people around the world today is that followers of Jesus can, and must, trust in God no matter how tumultuous circumstances may become. However, trusting God is an ongoing process that involves wrestling, waiting, and worshipping Him. As we close out the series this week, we reflect on what we have learned.

1. Our words can have a huge impact on others. Even years later those words can be remembered. What words of wisdom or life lessons have you received from significant people in your life?

2. We learned from Pastor Scott that the book of Habakkuk is unique, for it is a dialogue between the prophet Habakkuk and God. It is a short book set in a time when Israel was in great stress and under threat from the powerful Babylonians. We see in Chapter 1 that Habakkuk earnestly wrestles with God, asking God why He is allowing His plan to unfold, as it appears to be counter to His character. As we heard repeatedly in this series by Pastor Gary Gaddini, “What Habakkuk saw with his eyes, betrayed what he believed in his heart.” What did you learn about wrestling with God from Chapter 1? What do you do when what you see with your eyes betrays what you know in your heart about God and His plans?

3. In the second week of our series Pastor Hurmon Hamilton gave a profound sermon on racial reconciliation from John 11. (Did you notice that, like Habakkuk, Mary also wrestled and questioned God regarding His plan?) Pastor Hurmon encouraged us with 4 principles to apply (Listen, Lament, Learn, and Lift-up) and 3 hidden obstacles (hidden trauma, unspoken skepticism, and displayed guilt) that undermine conversations with others. What awareness have you gained or action have you taken as you wrestle with your role in racial reconciliation?

4. In Habakkuk 2 we learn what it means to wait on God and that waiting time is not wasted time (Habakkuk 2:3). We gained an understanding that we are operating on God-time, not our-time. The valley of wait is not our favorite location, and many questions may surface as a result. We are not a “less than” Christian because we either have doubts or question God. Discuss this concept in your group. The Bible gives many accounts of those who waited. Read Psalm 40:1-3. How did David describe his “valley of wait”? How did God answer David’s cry? How might this impact others? How does this bring hope to you?

5. Last week, we focused on worshipping God in troubled times. We learned that we can worship in spite of our circumstances. Pastor Gary encouraged us to remember what God has done, what God is doing, and to trust what God will do. According to Pastor Gary, acceptance is embracing the present--good and bad--in order to shape the future. As Christians, we must come to a place of acceptance whether we understand things or not. See the Serenity Prayer below. Reflect on this prayer and share examples of how the principles in this prayer have impacted your life.

6. According to Pastor Gary, we are all dying, but not all of us are living. That’s why Habakkuk is in God’s Word; to teach us how to live and trust God in troubled times. Ponder what you have learned, and share any key thoughts or verses on how God has taught you to live and trust Him in troubled times through this study. Close with the Serenity Prayer.

Other Resources (see links below)
1. Watch a video overview of Habakkuk
2. Need support? - Get a coach, counselor or peer to walk with you
3. Need a group to grow? - Check out all the Winter Experiences 2021

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