The Process and the Ultimate Promise
Hello, everyone! Welcome to my first blog post of Unshakable Seeds. I am beyond blessed and excited that you’re here and choosing to be a part of this journey. My name is Addison Quinn Madden, and about two months ago, this idea was placed on my heart. Seeing it now come to life feels like such a full-circle moment.
The vision behind Unshakable Seeds is many things, but at its core, it’s about drawing young women and men closer to Jesus. I want to encourage more community amongst young people through Christ, though all ages are welcome to this blog. My hope is for Unshakable Seeds to be a safe space to take a break from scrolling, read a devotion, and refocus your heart. In addition to weekly posts, there will be virtual and in-person Bible studies, community service projects, and other exciting events.
While everyone has their own personal relationship with the Lord, I hope this blog can serve as a resource to deepen that intimacy. My desire is to be a listening ear for all your questions and commentary, or simply to stand in prayer with you. In addition, I hope to learn from others along the way.
As I was writing this, I wasn’t sure what I wanted my first topic to be about. There are so many great topics to discuss. From hope, lust, sin, trust, I mean, the list goes on. One of my favorite sermons is called “Don’t Quit in the Process”, and it’s spoken by one of the most remarkable female preachers I’ve listened to, Mrs. Sarah Jakes Roberts.
Roberts is a renowned author and preacher, and additionally the CEO of the podcast Woman Evolve. She has a unique way of reaching people who are seeking to make peace with their past, maximize their present, and deepen their intimacy with God. When I discovered her sermons on YouTube, I sought to watch more. She is extremely personable, making her a great resource for both male and female audiences worldwide. I’ve chosen to write about the sermon Mrs. Roberts gave, some key themes, and some other related Bible passages. I encourage you to watch the linked sermon after reading this article.
The Habit of Trusting God
An important theme in the sermon is leaning on God. In order to lean on God, you must first trust Him. Learning to trust God is a process, but once we do, we can live without worry. Make trusting in the Lord a daily habit in your life.
The Oxford definition of trust is “a firm belief in the reliability, truth, ability, or strength of someone or something”. There are a couple of people in my life I can name who display these traits. For example, I trust both of my parents because they have shown that I can rely on them for any of my needs and most of my wants. I have a couple of friends who always tell me the truth, whether I want to hear it or not. A select few of my advisors give me the strength to push through a hard semester. Hopefully, there are various people in your life who display similar characteristics. By all means, I 100% believe these are important things and that it’s very helpful to have people in your life whom you can trust, but unlike mankind, God is someone you can trust in all circumstances.
In the same way, there are people in my life who have shown me I can trust them; others have proven to be the opposite. I had a lab partner who didn’t complete his portion of our project, proving his unreliability. I’ve had multiple people lie straight to my face and say unkind things about me behind my back. There have been times when I’ve needed a friend’s help to comfort me through a tough situation, only for that friend to ultimately let me down. Here comes the good news. God will never let you down. He is someone you can trust without judgment, without explanation, and without convincing. God’s character is unmatched. He is so kind, so merciful, and so loyal. God looks at us like we are precious jewels, which to him we are.
Building a habit of trusting in God means relying on His strength completely, and believing in His faithfulness, goodness, and mercy. It means knowing that God loves you. There is an incomparable freedom found in the Lord that you will never be able to find in man. Put your trust in Him at all times, and He will show you just how awesome he really is.
When something goes wrong, try saying, “Lord, I know You will see me through this situation. I trust You, God.” When you receive an acceptance letter, say, “Lord, I trust You through this next chapter of my life. Thank You.” The peace that comes with trusting in the Lord is truly beautiful because He will never fail. It’s easier to let go of fear and uncertainty when you realize that God can handle any situation better than you can. Our all-knowing God has a plan for each of us.
Related Bible Verses of Encouragement
A Season for The Proccess and a Season for The Promise
In Robert’s sermon, she says, “[God] will not offer you a promise without a process [He’s not] willing to see you through”. In other words, whatever it is we’re looking to achieve in this life, God will be there to get us to that finish line. The same way He was with you when you received an A on that paper, God was with you during the midnight hour as you typed on that Google Doc. As you were scrolling through job applications and getting rejected, God knew that there was an acceptance letter on its way, and it was only a matter of time before you started your new job. God tells us that there’s a season for everything. Ecclesiastes 3 outlines that God has appointed a specific time for everything. A time to heal and gather, a time for war and peace, and a time for everything else under the sun. There’s a season for the process just like there is a season for the promise, but to get to the promise, you have to remain faithful in the process.
Being faithful in the process requires discipline. It requires you to give your worries and your “what ifs” to God. I find myself saying “what if” all the time.
“What if I stayed up that extra hour to study?”
“What if I went to that party last weekend?”
“What if I did not miss that deadline?”
The what-ifs of life can be hindering. Something that my mom always tells me is “What’s done is done”, and she is so right. The past is irreversible, and the future is out of our control. Typically, you’re more successful if you focus on the present. Most importantly, I realize we have to focus on the only guaranteed constant in our lives, God. God has been there from the very beginning. He will be there in the midst of our walk, and He will be there at the end of our journey on this earth. The only thing we can truly control is our reliance on the Lord. We should practice turning to God in every situation, whether positive, neutral, or negative. That is what trusting God in the process looks like. If you practice trusting God in the process, you’ll find that the overwhelming anxiety you feel in the morning before a big day suddenly disappears, and the rest you get through the night is more peaceful than you’ve ever known. Trusting in God makes us realize that the promise is guaranteed if we just trust God in the process.
There will be times when the Lord will tell you yes, there will be times when the Lord tells you no, and most importantly, there will be times when the Lord tells you not yet. Sometimes God puts us in a “not yet” season. He will teach you the wisdom and knowledge you need for the next season. So don’t be discouraged when a goal or an idea gets put aside. That’s just the Lord telling you, “not yet.” Praise Him for being there through it all. God has written your story; find peace in that.
Related Bible Verses of Encouragement
Here’s a prayer to wrap up…
Dear God, we come to You today first just to give You thanks. There is nothing outside of Your power. You control all things in the world and above it, and that alone is enough for us not to worry. When we question things, let us remember that You have already ordered our steps. We thank You that You remain with us at the beginning of the process and stick with us until we reap the promise. We ask for Your forgiveness every day of our lives. There is not a day that goes by that we do not fall short. Sometimes we sin without even realizing it, so we ask that You grant us forgiveness for all the conscious and unconscious sins we commit. So often we, as humans, think about how we feel, but we fail to ask how You feel. Whenever we are aware of sin or strife, may we remember Your presence so we can be drawn out of it. Lord, we pray that when we have no words for You, You give us something to say, and when our thoughts are scrambled, You clear our minds. We know that we will lack nothing if we use the strength You have given us. We thank You for the “little” things that aren’t so small. We pray that we remain aware of Your love and mercy daily, Lord. For we know that with You by our side, all things in our life shall prosper, and nothing will fail according to Your perfect will. For the Bible says, “The Lord is on my side; I will not fear.” Psalm 118:6. Thank You God, we loooove You. Amen.
Time to Reflect
What process are you going through right now? Think about what actions you can take this week to welcome God in your life with open arms to meet You in the process. Take some time today to pray and thank God for all the promises he’s already fulfilled in your life.
Devotional Summary
- Introduction of the goals of the Unshakable Seeds Blog
- Credit to Sarah Jakes Roberts and her sermon “Don’t Quit in the Process”,
- Developing the Habit of Trusting in God and Understanding What It Means to Fully Put Your Trust in the Lord
- Seasons for Everything
- Prayer and Reflection
Unshakable Seeds 
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