How do you feel when you are with someone whom you consider trustworthy?
What struggles will you have trusting someone you do not know?
KNOWING GOD BUILDS OUR TRUST IN HIM
Jeremiah 17:7-8 gives us a picture of what we can be like when we get to know God and learn to trust Him.
Jeremiah 17:7-8
“Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD,
whose trust is the LORD.
He is like a tree planted by water,
that sends out its roots by the stream,
and does not fear when heat comes,
for its leaves remain green,
and is not anxious in the year of drought,
for it does not cease to bear fruit.”
Share: What makes this image appealing to you?
Discover: What enables us to be like that tree?
Reflect: How does what you learn about God influence your willingness to trust Him?
As we grow in our knowledge of God, we may realize that we have some wrong ideas about Him. This was true of the disciples, which Jesus addressed during a storm on the Sea of Galilee.
Lea Mark 4:37-41.
Mark 4:37-41
And a great windstorm arose, and the waves were breaking into the boat, so that the boat was already filling. But he was in the stern, asleep on the cushion. And they woke him and said to him, “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?” And he awoke and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, “Peace! Be still!” And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. He said to them, “Why are you so afraid? Have you still no faith?” And they were filled with great fear and said to one another, “Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?”
Discover: During the storm, what did the disciples accuse Jesus of?
Share: Has there been a time when you felt Jesus didn’t care about the difficulties you were facing?
Discover: What did Jesus rebuke the disciples for?
Reflect: How did their accusation and fear reveal a lack of faith?
Reflect: What does their reaction and question, “Who then is this?” tell us about what they understood about Jesus at that time?
Discuss: How could knowing Him better have changed their reaction to the storm?
The disciples had been with Jesus for quite some time. They had seen Him heal many people and heard Him teach, yet they still had much to learn about Him.
Share: How complete do you think your view of God is? How do you think this affects your trust in Him?
Getting to know God’s character and attributes enables us to see that He is worthy of our trust.
KNOWING GOD GIVES US A FIRM FOUNDATION
Knowing God and choosing to trust Him gives us assurance as we live our lives, no matter what happens.
Lea Romans 8:28-29.
Romans 8:28-29
And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.
Discover: What assurance do we have about every circumstance and situation in our lives?
Discover: What two things is God committed to bringing about in our lives?
When we are in difficulties it can be hard to turn our eyes to God and trust His promises. Knowing in advance where our security comes from allows us to stand firm.
Look at Romans 8:31, 35, 37-39.
Romans 8:31, 35, 37-39
What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? . . . Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? . . . No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Discover: How do these verses show God’s control over everything?
Reflect: What perspective does this give you about your present circumstances and your future?
Share: How does this provide hope in the midst of hardship? Have you experienced this?
Reflect: How does Romans 8 address any doubt in your mind about God’s commitment to you and His love for you?
We are not assured that life will be without difficulties, but we are assured that, “The Lord is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble; he knows those who take refuge in him” (Nahum 1:7).
Share: Why do you think we sometimes turn to other things instead of the Lord when we face difficulties?
En John 6 many people turned away from following Jesus. They were unwilling to trust Him when things got difficult. Look at how Peter responded in John 6:67-69.
John 6:67-69
So Jesus said to the twelve, “Do you want to go away as well?” Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life, and we have believed, and have come to know, that you are the Holy One of God.”
Discover: What convinced Peter to stay with Jesus?
Reflect: What gives you confidence to trust Jesus?
KNOWING GOD CHANGES OUR PERSPECTIVE ON CIRCUMSTANCES
Knowing God and choosing to trust Him can make a huge difference in how we respond to what happens in our lives. Let’s look at how we can apply knowledge about God and His assurances to our circumstances.
Isaiah 26:3-4 illustrates this.
Isaiah 26:3-4
You keep him in perfect peace
whose mind is stayed on you,
because he trusts in you.
Trust in the Lord forever,
for the Lord God is an everlasting rock.
Discover: What does God promise when we keep our minds on Him?
Discuss: What does it mean to keep our minds “stayed on” God? How can we do that?
Discover: What is true about God that allows us to experience peace and stability?
Every attribute and characteristic of God influences and impacts our lives. Let’s see how the writer of Psalm 93 applies truth about God to his situation, and practices keeping his mind stayed on the Lord:
Psalm 93:1-4
The Lord reigns; he is robed in majesty;
the Lord is robed; he has put on strength as his belt.
Yes, the world is established; it shall never be moved.
Your throne is established from of old;
you are from everlasting.
The floods have lifted up, O Lord,
the floods have lifted up their voice;
the floods lift up their roaring.
Mightier than the thunders of many waters,
mightier than the waves of the sea,
the Lord on high is mighty!
Discover: According to verses 1-2, how does the Lord’s majesty and strength impact the world? For how long?
Discuss: What seems to be happening in verse 3?
Share: Are there any “floods” that have risen up in your life or any difficulties “roaring” at you?
Discover: What does he declare about God in verse 4?
Reflect: How did focusing on who God is (verses 1-2) impact the writer’s perspective (verse 4) when he faced the floods of life (verse 3)?
When “floods” are impacting our lives, they can easily
become our focus. That’s when we need to refocus our attention on the truth of who God is. It helps to state what we know about God and how it impacts our situation.
For example, based on Isaiah 26:3-4 you could say: Because God is an everlasting rock , I can experience perfect peace.
Discuss: What statements could you make based on Psalm 93? (Because God is _____ , I can/ I am/ I will _____. )
Choosing to BELIEVE what we KNOW about God enables us to UNDERSTAND Him and how He makes a difference in our lives. Then we learn to interpret circumstances in light of who God is.
KNOWING GOD DEVELOPS OUR LOVE FOR HIM
What do you think of this statement: “The heart cannot love what the mind does not know”?
Jesus was once asked what the greatest commandment is. He replied, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.”
Reflect: What do you think it means to love God with your mind as Jesus said in Matthew 22:36-37?
Matthew 22:36-37
“Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?” And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.
Look at how we are invited to experience God in Salmo 34:8.
Salmo 34:8
Prueben y vean que el Señor es bueno; dichosos los que en él se refugian.
Discover: What does this verse encourage us to do, and what is the promised result?
Reflect: How can we taste and see who God is?
As we get to know God, we see that He is not only worthy of our trust, but also our love.
KNOWING GOD STRENGTHENS US FOR ACTION
Daniel 11:32b
. . . but the people who know their God shall stand firm and take action.
Discover: What are two ways knowing God can make a difference in your life?
Share: Is there a situation in your life right now where you need to stand firm or step out in faith?
Reflect: What attribute or ability of God would help you rely on Him in your situation?
• Our love and trust in God depend on how well we KNOW Him.
• What we BELIEVE about God affects how we approach Him and live our lives.
• And, like putting on a pair of glasses to see clearly, our UNDERSTANDING of God becomes the lens through which we view life and interpret circumstances.
We will grow in these areas as we spend time with God in His Word. When you do so, remember to ask the question: “How would my thinking be different if it were transformed by this truth?”
GOING FORWARD
Clarify: What thoughts or questions do you have?
Summarize: How does what we learn about God help to renew our minds and give us His perspective on life?
Apply: What steps can you take so you will know God better, trust Him more, stand firm in your faith, and take action?
Pass it on: Whom could you tell about how knowing God has changed how you see your circumstances?
Reinforce:
As you read these passages, discover what they tell you about God. Ask Him to dispel any wrong perspectives you may have.• Jeremiah 17:5-8
• Romans 8:18-39
• Psalm 27:1-14
• John 6:26-69
• Psalm 57:1-11
• Hebrews 11:1-40
