Why Trusting God Is So Hard (And What We're Afraid to Let Go Of), Part 1

What if the thing you're holding onto for security is the very thing keeping you from peace? This sermon is for you if you're sincere in your faith but feel worn down by the pressure to bring something impressive to God. ******* Trusting God sounds simple, until it asks something of us. In this message, Jesus confronts two very different responses to following Him, revealing a tension we all recognize: the pull between control and trust, safety and surrender. As the story unfolds, assumptions are challenged and a deeper question emerges—not about belief, but about what we're willing to release. This sermon invites you to examine where faith feels costly, why letting go can feel risky, and what might be at stake in the way we approach trust. In Part 1 of this sermon, originally titled From Clinging to Trusting: Following Jesus with Empty Hands Pastor Josh Weidmann teaches on Mark 10:13-31:   A surprising moment where Jesus challenges assumptions about who belongs in God's kingdom Why sincere effort and good intentions don't always lead where we expect The contrast between coming to Jesus with confidence… and coming with nothing at all How posture—not performance—shapes the way people respond to Jesus A story that exposes how deeply ingrained self-reliance can be, even in spiritual life An invitation to reflect on where control may be quietly replacing trust