BIG IDEA

Because of who God is, you can do difficult things.

MESSAGE NOTES:

WHAT: 

For the next few weeks, we’re going to talk about two things: who we are and who God is. We're talking about who we are because many of us have questions and struggles related to who we are and who we're becoming. We're going to talk about who God is because you and I are made in the image of God, our Creator. To understand who we are, we must understand who our Creator is. To guide us through these conversations, each week we're going to look at a different true story from Scripture to discover who God is and who we are too.

SO WHAT:

The Bible doesn’t have super heroes, but it tells the story of a supernatural OG “Original God” , who works in unexpected ways to help people do difficult things. We can see this through the story of Elijah as he challenges the prophets of Baal to a test. Their god does not show up, but the God of Elijah does.

“37  Answer me, LORD, answer me, so these people will know that you, LORD, are God, and that you are turning their hearts back again.” 38  Then the fire of the LORD fell and burned up the sacrifice, the wood, the stones and the soil, and also licked up the water in the trench. 39  When all the people saw this, they fell prostrate and cried, “The LORD—he is God! The LORD—he is God!” 1 Kings 18:37-39

He prays and God shows up big time. What do we see about God:

• God hears our prayers.

• God can be trusted.

• God is powerful o God is the only true God.

  If we know that we serve a God like that doesn’t it make sense that we can do difficult things… that we can face major challenges head on with confidence and courage?

NOW WHAT:

We can do difficult things because God doesn’t take us out of difficult situations, but he gives us what we need in the midst of them.

Here are some practical ways to handle the difficult situations of life, with God.

• Setting a rhythm in your life to spend time daily with God to engage with the God who enables us to do difficult things.

• Making wise choices in the midst of a lot of voices pulling you in all kinds of directions.

• Being honest with someone you trust about what you’re struggling with. your parents, pastor, small group leader about something that you’re struggling with.

• Processing the loss of a loved one or changes in your friends of family.

• Taking a risk that you know God has called you to take.

  “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In

  this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” John 16:33