Subject: Living Without Worry: Trusting in God's Faithfulness
Dear Friends in Christ,
I hope this message finds you well and filled with peace. As we continue our journey together through this season, I wanted to reach out and share some reflections from Sunday's sermon on living without worry and trusting in God's consistent faithfulness.
**Summary:** The sermon explored how worry often reveals where we trust God the least, and challenged us to remember that God has been faithful in the past, is faithful today, and will be faithful tomorrow. Drawing from Matthew 6:25-27 and the story of God's deliverance of Israel from Egypt, we were reminded that the same God who parted the Red Sea, provided manna in the wilderness, and sent Jesus as Emmanuel—God with us—is still present in our lives today. Just as God guided His people through their darkest moments, He remains our lighthouse in every storm we face, calling us to release what we cannot control and trust in His unchanging character.
**Takeaways:**
- **Remember God's past faithfulness:** Take time to write down specific moments when God has been faithful to you—whether in health concerns, relationships, financial struggles, or seemingly small matters like a flat tire. These personal testimonies become anchors for our faith when new worries arise.
- **God is with us in the boat:** God's trustworthiness isn't proven by the absence of problems, but by His presence in our difficulties. Like a parent sitting beside a frightened child in the dark, God comes and lies down next to us, making our burdens feel manageable. Find your unique way to connect with God—through solitude, nature, Scripture, or whatever helps you experience His presence.
- **Focus on what you can control and release the rest:** Identify the things within your control and take practical action on those, while surrendering what you cannot control to God in prayer. Remember that the ending has already been written—Revelation promises that God will wipe away every tear, and there will be no more death, mourning, or pain.
As we approach Thanksgiving, let's carry this message with us: What we worry about most often reveals where we trust God the least. This week, I encourage you to actively practice trust and obedience, knowing that "there is no other way to be happy in Jesus but to trust and obey."
Don't forget our Thanksgiving service next Wednesday at 6:00 PM, where we'll gather with Westminster and First Lutheran to give thanks together. And please continue to pray for the Rambly Girls High School basketball team and their families as they recover from their accident.
Grace and Peace,
Pastor John Mitchem
First United Methodist Church
Dear Friends in Christ,
I hope this message finds you well and filled with peace. As we continue our journey together through this season, I wanted to reach out and share some reflections from Sunday's sermon on living without worry and trusting in God's consistent faithfulness.
**Summary:** The sermon explored how worry often reveals where we trust God the least, and challenged us to remember that God has been faithful in the past, is faithful today, and will be faithful tomorrow. Drawing from Matthew 6:25-27 and the story of God's deliverance of Israel from Egypt, we were reminded that the same God who parted the Red Sea, provided manna in the wilderness, and sent Jesus as Emmanuel—God with us—is still present in our lives today. Just as God guided His people through their darkest moments, He remains our lighthouse in every storm we face, calling us to release what we cannot control and trust in His unchanging character.
**Takeaways:**
- **Remember God's past faithfulness:** Take time to write down specific moments when God has been faithful to you—whether in health concerns, relationships, financial struggles, or seemingly small matters like a flat tire. These personal testimonies become anchors for our faith when new worries arise.
- **God is with us in the boat:** God's trustworthiness isn't proven by the absence of problems, but by His presence in our difficulties. Like a parent sitting beside a frightened child in the dark, God comes and lies down next to us, making our burdens feel manageable. Find your unique way to connect with God—through solitude, nature, Scripture, or whatever helps you experience His presence.
- **Focus on what you can control and release the rest:** Identify the things within your control and take practical action on those, while surrendering what you cannot control to God in prayer. Remember that the ending has already been written—Revelation promises that God will wipe away every tear, and there will be no more death, mourning, or pain.
As we approach Thanksgiving, let's carry this message with us: What we worry about most often reveals where we trust God the least. This week, I encourage you to actively practice trust and obedience, knowing that "there is no other way to be happy in Jesus but to trust and obey."
Don't forget our Thanksgiving service next Wednesday at 6:00 PM, where we'll gather with Westminster and First Lutheran to give thanks together. And please continue to pray for the Rambly Girls High School basketball team and their families as they recover from their accident.
Grace and Peace,
Pastor John Mitchem
First United Methodist Church