The Tree Church

Pastor Matthew Johnson

No matter what I trust God. Seek first the Kingdom of God and rest in His love.

All of us will experience troubles in our life. IT can be anything that causes us stress, physically or mentally. How can we experience the peace of God to carry us through those times? We need to put the IT in perspective. Some things in our life are greater than our ability to correct them. 

Understand IT is greater than me but God is greater than IT.

What does God agree to in our life?  We do not have the ability to define His good He does.

Romans 8:28

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

HIs purpose is to conform us in to the image of His Son. In the process there will be pain. He will say no to us if the result hurts the transformation. When we ask for something out of His will for our life…the answer is no. We must trust Him completely.

He says no to something in order to say yes to the greater.

2 corinthian 12

2 I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago—whether in the body I do not know, or whether out of the body I do not know, God knows—such a one was caught up to the third heaven. 3 And I know such a man—whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows—4 how he was caught up into Paradise and heard inexpressible words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter. 5 Of such a one I will boast; yet of myself I will not boast, except in my infirmities. 6 For though I might desire to boast, I will not be a fool; for I will speak the truth. But I refrain, lest anyone should think of me above what he sees me to be or hears from me. 

7 And lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the revelations, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure. 8 Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me. 9 And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” 

The bigger the issue the more confusing it seems when God does not intervene. 

Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

He will use our pain for our good! 

To keep Paul humble God gave Him a thorn. God hates pride and arrogance.

If God is saying no to something that you ask; you can trust that He is saying yes to something better. 

We are more receptive to His guidance when we are at our lowest point. God is not numb to our pain.

Jesus wept is the shortest verse in the Bible. He knew that He would raise Lazarus from the dead but He wept with those who at the moment wept.

What is the point of praying for an outcome? It is to remind us that His answer is always in our best interest. Our salvation and our transformation in to the image of Jesus is His  desire and in our best interest.