When God doesn't make sense: Restored Faith

1 Kings 19:1-18
1. When you find yourself in a valley, don't forget your mountaintop experiences. v1-5 Sometimes circumstances put us in the valley, sometimes we put ourselves in the valley.
2. God is always ready and willing to gently restore us. v5-9 We can't live a Godly life on sheer emotion. We need rest, and God speaks to us then.
3. After a spiritual encounter with God, do not forget: Satan WILL show up. v10 Elijah bought into the lie: "I am the only one left."
4. God's often comes in the quiet, do not miss it. v11-14 Elijah recognized the whisper,  but failed to recognize the blessing in the middle of it. God changes us most with a still small voice.

What now??
v15-18
1. Remember who God really is.
2. Remember who you really are in Christ. (Listen to the voice of Christ)
-I am a child of God. Jn 1:12
-I am fellow heir with Christ Rom 8:17
-I am Redeemed Eph 1:7
-I am victorious. 1 Cor 15:57
-I am dearly loved. Col 3:12
-I will never be forsaken or forgotten. Heb 13:5
3. Allow him to restore your soul and faith. Ps 62:6
Give thanks!
4. Trust His plan and go!

When God doesn't make sense: Even if...

Daniel 3:1-30 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego and the fiery furnace.
1. When God doesn't make sense, remember who He is! They believed in God and His ability to do miracles.
2. When God doesn't make sense, say "Even if !" Don't doubt God no matter your circumstances. Their obedience was not continent on God delivering them or acting the way they thought He should act. Worship God in the fire. Sometimes God takes us home to heaven, and that's even better. v25 Jesus was right there in the fire with them. Isa 43:1-3
3. God uses fire for our good and His glory. v27-28 They came out of the fire unbound.
4. "Even if" faith is powerful. v29-30

When God is Late

John 11:1-45 The death and resurrection of Lazarus. We need to believe in Jesus even when he doesn't move when we want him to or do what we want him to do.
God is powerful enough to fix anything we are going through, but sometimes he waits.
1. You can love the Lord and still have a problem.
2. It's not over. Sometimes God waits so long in a situation that it stinks. God will walk right into the middle of a stinky situation to help us.
3. God is never late!
4. Keep on believing.