Shady Grove CME Church, Bible study with Pastor Ben Reese 🌿

Trusting God's Plan

When you don't know what comes next

You don't need to see the whole road to trust the One who's walking it with you.

Introduction

Between chapters

Every one of us has stood at a place where the next step wasn't clear. A door closed, a season ended, or a prayer is still waiting on an answer. This study is for that place.

Over the next hour we'll walk with four people who had to trust God without seeing the whole picture:

You won't leave knowing everything that comes next. You'll leave knowing the One who does, and with one step of faith to take this week.

Opening scripture

He already knows the plan

Jeremiah 29:11

11For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.

  • God speaks these words to people in exile, far from home
  • He has thoughts toward you, even in the waiting
  • His plan ends in peace, not harm
  • "An expected end": there is a future and a hope

Opening

When the road goes quiet

  • Trusting God means depending on His character
  • Seeking His wisdom
  • Taking faithful steps, even when we can't see the whole picture

Think about it

When life goes quiet and you don't know what's next, what's your first instinct: pray, plan, panic, or pull back?

Part 1 · The anchor

Trust before the forecast

Proverbs 3:5–6

5Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.

6In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.

Key words

Notes

  • Trust is where you put your weight
  • Your understanding is a tool, not a crutch
  • Acknowledge God in all your ways, not just Sunday
  • Faith comes before the forecast

Live it out

  1. Check what you're leaning on
  2. Pray before you plan
  3. Invite God into one closed area of life

Discuss

Which is harder for you: trusting with all your heart, or not leaning on your own understanding?

Part 2 · Abraham

Trust that walks

Genesis 12:1–4

1Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father's house, unto a land that I will shew thee:

2And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing:

3And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.

4So Abram departed, as the LORD had spoken unto him; and Lot went with him: and Abram was seventy and five years old when he departed out of Haran.

Notes

  • God gave the departure, not the destination
  • He didn't know the where, but he knew the Who
  • Obedience is the evidence of trust
  • It's never too late to take a first step
  • Your faith doesn't have to be perfect to be real

Live it out

  1. Name your "Haran"
  2. Take the step you can see
  3. Hold onto the promise, not the plan

Discuss

Why does God often give the step before the explanation?

Part 3 · David

Trust that wrestles

Psalm 13

1How long wilt thou forget me, O LORD? for ever? how long wilt thou hide thy face from me?

2How long shall I take counsel in my soul, having sorrow in my heart daily? how long shall mine enemy be exalted over me?

3Consider and hear me, O LORD my God: lighten mine eyes, lest I sleep the sleep of death;

4Lest mine enemy say, I have prevailed against him; and those that trouble me rejoice when I am moved.

5But I have trusted in thy mercy; my heart shall rejoice in thy salvation.

6I will sing unto the LORD, because he hath dealt bountifully with me.

Three movements

Notes

  • Honest questions are not unbelief
  • The hinge word: "But"
  • His circumstances didn't change. His focus did
  • Trust remembers God's mercy (chesed)
  • Praise comes before the answer
  • Don't walk away with your question

Live it out

  1. Write your own Psalm 13
  2. Make a "He did it before" list
  3. Sing in the waiting

Discuss

What helps you get from "How long?" to "But I have trusted"?

Part 4 · Jesus

Trust that surrenders

Luke 22:39–46

39And he came out, and went, as he was wont, to the mount of Olives; and his disciples also followed him.

40And when he was at the place, he said unto them, Pray that ye enter not into temptation.

41And he was withdrawn from them about a stone's cast, and kneeled down, and prayed,

42Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done.

43And there appeared an angel unto him from heaven, strengthening him.

44And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground.

45And when he rose up from prayer, and was come to his disciples, he found them sleeping for sorrow,

46And said unto them, Why sleep ye? rise and pray, lest ye enter into temptation.

Notes

  • Crisis trust is built in daily habits
  • Surrender isn't pretending
  • "Nevertheless" is the turning point
  • God may send strength instead of removing the cup
  • Sorrow can put prayer to sleep: rise and pray
  • Friday is not the final word

Live it out

  1. Find your garden
  2. Pray honestly, then pray "nevertheless"
  3. Ask for strength, not just escape

Discuss

What would it sound like for you to pray "nevertheless" over what you're holding onto?

Part 5 · Paul

Trust that rests

Romans 8:28–29

28And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

29For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.

Notes

  • Not "we feel," but "we know"
  • God works all things together (synergei)
  • God's goal is my character, not my comfort
  • A covenant promise for those who love Him
  • Grace got there first

Live it out

  1. Ask "Who are You shaping me to become?"
  2. Look back to look forward
  3. Rest on purpose

Discuss

How does knowing God's goal is your character, not your comfort, change how you face what's next?

Your response

Name it, then take one step

Where is trust hard for me right now?

Which face of trust do I need most?

AbrahamTrust that walks

Take the step I've been putting off

DavidTrust that wrestles

Write my own "How long?" prayer

JesusTrust that surrenders

Pray "nevertheless" every day

PaulTrust that rests

List three times God worked it for good

My step of faith

This week, I will trust God with
by .

Closing

Pray it back to God

Lord, I don't know what comes next, but I know You. I put my whole weight on You tonight. I won't lean on my own understanding. I'll acknowledge You in every way I walk. When I can't see the path, straighten it in front of me. Like Abraham, help me walk. Like David, help me be honest. Like Jesus, help me surrender. And like Paul, help me rest. Not my will, but Yours be done. In Jesus' name, Amen.

I don't have to see it to trust Him in it.

Daily readings this week