Psalm 27 (Trusting, Leaning, and Seeking)

The Neighborhood Church

We hear that God is good. We remind ourselves that God is trustworthy. We tell each other that we'll make it. But why are we so forgetful when setbacks and struggles surround us? Psalm 27 is a conversation between the poet, God, and the poet's own internal thoughts. Where do we go when things get tough? Do we "seek God's face" or do we fear God's rejection? Psalm 27 is a fascinating movement of raw pleading and restless seeking that ultimately settles into trust and waiting. We have much to learn and reflect upon as we explore this relentless expression of trusting, leaning, and seeking. NOTES -- // SCRIPTURE FOCUS -- Psalm 27 // The Psalms are the prayerbook of God’s people that covers the vast landscape of human emotion and experience. The Psalms give us permission to bring our whole selves to God, reminding us who to trust when we’re anxious and afraid. // Do you see the movement? From danger, into the sanctuary, settling into trust. // Raw pleading and restless seeking are both valid expressions of authentic faith. Keep asking, seeking, and waiting long enough and, like the Psalmist, our raw and restless expressions can be transformed into the quiet confidence of trust: knowing that we are not alone and that God is not done. I. TRUSTING WHO GOD IS AND WHY THAT MATTERS (Who has God been to you lately?) // Trusting who we know God to be must be nurtured, remembered, and settled before the setbacks come (and they will). Why? Because we so often let our circumstances dictate who God is instead. II. LEANING HARDER INTO GOD WHEN LIFE IS HARD (Can you name what you're facing?) // When life is hard, we lean harder into Jesus. We engage God instead of enemies. We seek God by creating space, crying out, and checking in with yourself and others. III. SEEKING GOD WHO IS WITH US AND "GATHERS" US (How will create space to be with him?) // Can we turn our anxiety into asking and abiding? Our worrying into praying? Can we talk to God, reassure ourselves, and encourage each other? Can we skip Christianese platitudes without skimping on empathy & encouragement? REFLECT -- / What area of your life is God asking for more of your trust? / How will you create space to seek God's face this week? / Who do you know God to be lately?