Hey everyone, welcome to today's podcast. Today, we're going to talk about obstacles that encourage our faith. We all face obstacles, and God uses obstacles to encourage and help us to grow in faith. Now, maybe I might not mention the specific obstacle that you're facing right now.
You can send me a message to let me know what that is. I'm going to focus on just a few that are very common to people who are really trying to live out God's plan and will for their life. And the first one of those obstacles is uncertainty. Sometimes we're just unsure of what it is that God wants for us.
And honestly, on a personal level, I've never been 100% certain of anything that God's called me to do, but you know what? That's why it's called faith. And this is a pattern that repeats itself throughout the Bible from the Old Testament to the New Testament. God's will usually comes in the form of a burden that you just can't shake.
And when he begins to speak to you, at some point that burden is going to point you to Scripture, and that Scripture is going to point lead you into your prayer closet to really find out what it is that God is calling you to do. And God might give you a little at the beginning, but God's full will is usually revealed after we have completely stepped out in faith and began to walk. When we first planted our church, I wasn't just 100% certain of the state or the city where we were going. But you know what?
I believe more in a God that loves a believer who holds on to him and cleans to him for dear life while doing something he believed he was called to do rather than believing in a God who cares more about his children executing his plan for their lives in an absolute perfect way. God blessed what we did because we took a step of faith. God is with us in those uncertain moments. And you know what?
The unknown leads us to dependence on God. So don't let the obstacle of uncertainty stop you. Another obstacle that we face is the obstacle of distraction. When you're distracted, you can barely keep up with all that you have going on.
It feels like your life is a mess and you're overwhelmed. And you find yourself saying, there's definitely no way I can volunteer at church because I have too much going on. I could never lead a small group. I have too much going on.
Listen, daily, there's always going to be hundreds of things fighting for your attention. But you I want to talk about these three things. First, there are the three there are the things that you have to do. Then there are the things that you want to do.
And then there are the things that you are called to do. The important part here is that you consider the bigger reason why you're here. Don't miss the main thing by staying focused on all the small things. Ask yourself the question, what am I called to do?
If you don't know the answer to that right now, it's okay. But I encourage you to spend the rest of your life trying to find and figure that out because finding your God given purpose in this world is the most fulfilling thing that you could ever do. Another obstacle is insecurity. Look, confidence is good.
It's good to be confident, but insecurity does a good job of keeping us reliant on God. So instead of running from the things that make you uncomfortable, let those things and those moments of insecurity drive you to prayer and to cling to God. Through our insecurity, sometimes God reminds us that everything that we do is about him and that because of his grace, we have nothing left to prove and that gives us freedom to know that you're absolutely loved, unconditionally loved, changes the way that you feel and gives you the freedom to act and not do things trying to gain God's approval, but do things out of love because you've already been approved. Another obstacle that we face is comparison.
Sometimes rather than listening to God alone, we look around and compare and allow our inadequacies to dictate what will attempt for God. When you allow this to happen, you know what it's all over before it starts. Instead of comparing ourselves to other people, why don't we cheer for each other instead of criticizing each other? Why don't we just obey instead of comparing and fear God instead of being paralyzed with the fear of men's opinions?
Don't take your eyes off of God. Take your eyes off of man and put them on God. Listen, we fall apart when we compare ourselves to others. Fix your eyes on God just like Jesus did and don't quit.
See you next time.