Things We Don’t Understand

A youth lesson based on Hebrews 11:1 and Romans 8:28. Written by Dr. Terry W. Dorsett and presented at the Faith Community Church area wide Youth Rally on March 21, 2010.

There are many items that we use every day that we don't really understand how they work.
(I had each of these items on the platform to use as props.)

• Cell Phone
• Memory chip
• Wireless Internet
• Medicine 

There are many things we experience frequently that we really don't understand.
(I talked about an experience I had recently in each of these areas.)

• Wind
• Fear
• Love
• God's Presence

Hebrews 11:1 - Now faith is the reality of what is hoped for, the proof of what is not seen.

• Real faith is built on reality.
• There are certain things that we know are real, even if we do not fully understand them.
• God is one of those things that deep down we know is real, even when we don't know how to explain it.
• Faith that is built on reality gives us hope.
• That hope becomes the proof of our faith even when we do not see how it will work out.
• Those who place their hope in God through a commitment to Jesus Christ will begin to see how God works good things out of experiences that we do not understand when they first happen to us.  

Romans 8:28 - We know that all things work together for the good of those who love God: those who are called according to His purpose.

• This is a powerful verse. But it is important to understand what it really says, and what it does not say.
• This verse does not say that ALL THINGS are good.
• It says that all things WORK for good.
• This means that some things are bad but they produce good results in the lives of those who love God.
• Notice that this promise is given only to those who love God and are looking for God's purposes in their lives.
• Those who do not love God cannot claim this promise.
• If we want this verse to be true for us, we must have faith in God even when we don't understand what is happening to us and we must love God no matter what.

Do we have faith in God even when we don't understand what He is doing in our lives?

• If not, we might want to consider sincerely praying this prayer:
• Lord, I don't always understand what You are doing in my life, but I believe that You love me and have a plan for my life. Help me to trust You even when life does not make sense. Help me to love You no matter what. When my faith begins to fail, help me to remember that You will somehow make it all work out. Amen.