Introduction

Good morning, beloved family in Christ. As we gather here today, we find ourselves standing at the crossroads of life, where the path is often winding and the journey unpredictable. We are here to seek solace, to find answers, and to understand the divine will of our Heavenly Father. Today, we are going to focus on a topic that is as real as the air we breathe, as tangible as the ground beneath our feet, and as relatable as the beating of our own hearts: When Life Doesn't Turn Out as We Expect.

Life, my dear brothers and sisters, is a beautiful tapestry woven with threads of joy and sorrow, triumph and defeat, laughter and tears. Each thread, each color, each pattern is a testament to our journey, our experiences, and our faith. And it is in this intricate tapestry of life that we often find ourselves questioning God's plan and purpose for us. We wonder why we face the trials we do, why our paths are strewn with obstacles, and why our dreams sometimes seem so far out of reach.

But let me assure you, dear friends, that in every thread of sorrow, in every pattern of defeat, and in every color of tears, God is teaching us. He is teaching us to be strong, to be resilient, to be patient, and to trust in His divine plan. And in every thread of joy, in every pattern of triumph, and in every color of laughter, God is testing us. He is testing our faith, our gratitude, our humility, and our commitment to Him.

Today, we will turn to the Word of God, specifically Psalm 143:1-12, to gain a better understanding of how we can learn God's will in hard times and remain faithful during times of testing.

Let us now read the scripture passage together:

"Hear my prayer, O Lord, give ear to my supplications: in thy faithfulness answer me, and in thy righteousness. And enter not into judgment with thy servant: for in thy sight shall no man living be justified. For the enemy hath persecuted my soul; he hath smitten my life down to the ground; he hath made me to dwell in darkness, as those that have been long dead. Therefore is my spirit overwhelmed within me; my heart within me is desolate. I remember the days of old; I meditate on all thy works; I muse on the work of thy hands. I stretch forth my hands unto thee: my soul thirsteth after thee, as a thirsty land. Selah."

Let us bow our heads in prayer:

"Dear Heavenly Father, as we gather here today, we ask for Your guidance and wisdom. Help us to understand Your divine will, especially when life doesn't turn out as we expect. Teach us to trust in Your plan, to learn from our trials, and to remain faithful during our triumphs. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen."

Life, dear friends, is like a journey on a boat. Sometimes, the sea is calm, the sun is shining, and the wind is in our sails. These are the good times when everything seems to be going our way. But then, there are times when the sea is rough, the sky is overcast, and the winds are against us. These are the hard times when life doesn't turn out as we expect. But remember, it is the skilled sailor who learns to navigate through the storm, not the one who only sails in calm waters. Similarly, it is through our trials that we learn God's will and through our triumphs that our faith is tested.

So, let us embark on this journey together, navigating through the storms and sailing in calm waters, learning God's will in hard times, and remaining faithful during times of testing. Let us open our hearts and minds to the teachings of Psalm 143:1-12 and allow God's Word to guide us, comfort us, and strengthen us. May God bless us all as we continue this journey together. Amen.

Scripture: Psalm 143:1-12

Friends, let's turn our hearts and minds to Psalm 143:1-12. This is a passage that speaks to us in the midst of our trials and tribulations. It's a passage that reminds us that even in the hardest of times, God is teaching us. And in the good times? Well, God is testing us.

Let's start with the hard times. We all have them. Times when it feels like the world is against us. Times when we feel lost and alone. But let's look at what the psalmist says in verse 5, "I remember the days of long ago; I meditate on all your works and consider what your hands have done."

The psalmist is in a tough spot. He's feeling overwhelmed. But what does he do? He remembers. He meditates on God's works. He considers what God has done. And in doing so, he's learning. He's learning about God's faithfulness. He's learning about God's power. He's learning about God's love.

And this is the first point I want to make. In hard times, God is teaching us. He's teaching us about His character. He's teaching us about His promises. He's teaching us about His love. And He's teaching us about His faithfulness.

Now, let's look at the word "meditate" in the original Hebrew. The word is "hagah," and it means to ponder, to murmur, to speak with oneself. It's not a passive act. It's an active engagement with God's works and God's word. It's a deliberate act of remembering and considering. It's a way of learning God's will, even in the midst of hardship.

As the great theologian Charles Spurgeon once said, "I have learned to kiss the wave that throws me against the Rock of Ages." In other words, even the trials that seem to knock us down can serve to draw us closer to God, to teach us about His will and His ways.

But what about the good times? Well, that's where the testing comes in. You see, it's easy to follow God when times are tough. It's easy to cry out to Him when we're in need. But what about when times are good? What about when we're comfortable? That's when the real test comes.

And this is the second point I want to make. In good times, God is testing us. He's testing our faith. He's testing our commitment. He's testing our love. And He's testing our obedience.

In verse 10, the psalmist says, "Teach me to do your will, for you are my God; may your good Spirit lead me on level ground." Even in the good times, the psalmist is seeking God's will. He's asking for God's guidance. He's asking for God's Spirit to lead him.

And this is the third point I want to make. Whether in good times or in hard times, we should always be seeking God's will. We should always be asking for His guidance. We should always be asking for His Spirit to lead us.

So, friends, let's remember this. In hard times, God is teaching us. In good times, God is testing us. But in all times, God is with us. And in all times, we should be seeking His will.

God's Testing in Good Times

We often think that God is only active in our lives when we're going through tough times. But that's not the case. God is always at work, even when life seems to be smooth sailing. In the good times, He's testing us, shaping us, molding us into the people He wants us to be.

In Psalm 143, the psalmist is crying out to God. He's asking for guidance, for protection. He recognizes that even in times of prosperity, he needs to stay true to God. Verse 10 says, "Teach me to do your will, for you are my God; may your good Spirit lead me on level ground." This verse is a reminder to us all. Even when life is good, we must seek God's will. We must let His Spirit guide us.

So, what does this mean for us? How can we apply this to our lives?

Firstly, we need to recognize that God is always at work. He doesn't clock out when things are going well. He's there, shaping us, molding us, testing us.

Secondly, we need to seek God's will in all things. Not just when life is hard, but when life is good too. We need to let His Spirit guide us, to lead us on level ground.

Thirdly, we need to trust in God. Trust that He knows what He's doing. Trust that He has a plan for us. Trust that He is good, even when life isn't.

Now, let's look at a New Testament passage that echoes this theme. In James 1:2-4, James writes, "Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything."

Just like in Psalm 143, James is reminding us that God uses trials to test our faith, to make us stronger. But he's also reminding us that God uses good times to do the same thing.

So, what can we take away from this?

Firstly, we need to consider it joy when we face trials. Not because the trials are fun, but because we know that God is using them to make us stronger.

Secondly, we need to let perseverance finish its work. We need to stick with it, to keep going, to keep trusting in God. Because when we do, we'll be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

So, in the good times and the bad, let's remember that God is at work. He's teaching us, He's testing us, He's making us into the people He wants us to be. Let's trust in Him, let's seek His will, let's let His Spirit guide us. Because when we do, we'll find that we're not lacking anything. We'll find that we're mature, complete, exactly as God intended us to be.

Trusting in God's Unfailing Love

Life is a journey filled with peaks and valleys, moments of joy and periods of hardship. As we traverse this path, we often find ourselves questioning the purpose of our experiences. Why do we face trials and tribulations? Why do we encounter challenges when we least expect them? The answer, my friends, lies in the wisdom of Psalm 143:1-12. This passage offers us a profound understanding of God's will and His divine plan for our lives. It teaches us that in hard times, God is teaching us, but in good times, God is testing us.

The first point we must understand is that hard times are not punishments, but rather, they are classrooms where God teaches us invaluable lessons. When we face adversity, it is easy to feel abandoned or punished by God. However, the truth is far from it. God uses these moments to shape our character, to mold us into the individuals He wants us to be.

Consider the process of refining gold. The gold ore must be subjected to intense heat to remove the impurities and bring out its true beauty. Similarly, we must go through the fire of trials and tribulations to emerge as individuals of strong character and unwavering faith. This process is not easy, but it is necessary. As James 1:2-4 says, "Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything."

In the same vein, A.W. Tozer, a renowned pastor and author, once said, "It is doubtful whether God can bless a man greatly until He has hurt him deeply." This quote encapsulates the essence of our experiences during hard times. God uses these experiences to deepen our faith, to make us rely on Him more, and to prepare us for the blessings He has in store for us.

On the other hand, good times are not merely periods of rest and relaxation. They are, in fact, tests of our faith and commitment to God. When everything is going well, it is easy to forget about God, to become complacent in our faith. However, these are the times when our faith is truly tested.

Consider the story of the Israelites in the Bible. When they were in the wilderness, they relied on God for their daily bread. However, when they entered the Promised Land, a land flowing with milk and honey, they forgot about God and started worshiping idols. This story serves as a stark reminder that prosperity can lead to spiritual complacency if we are not careful.

Therefore, my friends, let us remember that both hard times and good times serve a purpose in our spiritual journey. Hard times teach us valuable lessons and mold our character, while good times test our faith and commitment to God. As we navigate through life, let us keep this wisdom in mind and trust in God's unfailing love to guide us through every circumstance.

Conclusion

As we draw this sermon to a close, let's take a moment to reflect on the lessons we've learned from Psalm 143:1-12. We've discovered that in the hard times, God is teaching us. He's not punishing us, or ignoring us, or even testing us. No, He's teaching us. He's showing us how to be more like Him, how to trust Him more, how to rely on Him more.

And in the good times? Well, that's when God is testing us. He's seeing if we'll remember Him, if we'll still rely on Him, if we'll still trust Him. It's easy to turn to God in the hard times, when we're desperate and in need. But what about when everything is going well? That's the real test.

So, what does this mean for us? How can we apply this to our lives?

Firstly, let's remember that God is always with us. He's there in the hard times, teaching us, guiding us, comforting us. And He's there in the good times, watching us, testing us, loving us. We are never alone.

Secondly, let's remember to turn to God in all times, not just when we're in need. Let's make a conscious effort to seek Him out, to thank Him for the good times, to rely on Him in the hard times.

Thirdly, let's strive to be more like Jesus in the coming week. Let's show love to those around us, let's be patient, kind, forgiving. Let's be humble, and selfless, and compassionate. Let's be like Jesus.

And finally, let's remember that God's will is perfect. It's not always easy to understand, and it's not always what we want. But it's perfect. It's exactly what we need.

So, as we go out into the world this week, let's remember these lessons. Let's remember that God is teaching us in the hard times, and testing us in the good times. Let's remember to seek Him out, to rely on Him, to trust Him. And let's strive to be more like Jesus, to show His love to the world.

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