On My Way Back
Pastor Chad Veach
Sermon Summary
When it feels like God’s taking you the long way, remember: He’s worthy of your wait. If you’re feeling discouraged or struggling with obedience while you wait, start by being honest with God about where you are and trusting that His timing is always working for your good.
Sermon Highlights
God always loves to welcome His children home.
Things God is dealing with in me:
My faith in God’s timing
My discouragements
My confession
My obedience
God knows just what you need, and He knows just when you need it.
Sometimes God will take you around the long way, and it's on the long way that something's being developed in you.
Nothing reveals more about what you believe about God than the way that you wait.
God is worthy of your wait.
You gotta be careful with discouragement because discouragement will turn into rebellion.
Conviction leads to confession. If you can name it, God can heal it.
Your authority is in your authenticity — get real with God.
Sometimes God doesn't give you something new to do until you go back and do the last thing he told you to do.
Obedience precedes blessing. Obedience unlocks miracles.
The gospel: I was wrong. I’m forgiven. I’m restored.
Scriptures
Numbers 21:4-9 (NKJV) – The Israelites get discouraged in the waiting
Isaiah 40:28-31 (NKJV) – Waiting on the Lord renews your strength
Lamentations 3:25 (NKJV) – The Lord is good to those who wait for Him
Psalms 3:3 (NKJV) – “But You, oh Lord, are a shield for me…”
Proverbs 17:22 (NKJV) – “A merry heart does good, like medicine…”
Psalms 51:4 (NKJV) – David confesses his sins to God
1 John 1:9 (NKJV) – When we confess our sins, God forgives us
Philippians 2:8 (NKJV) – Jesus unlocked a miracle through obedience
John 3:13-15 (NKJV) – From “look and live” to “believe and live”
Sermon Discussion
Conversation Starter
Pastor Chad Veach talked about being stuck in LA traffic. How do you tend to react to standstill traffic?
Discussion Questions
“Things God is dealing with in me: my faith in God’s timing, my discouragements, my confession, my obedience.” Which of these areas do you feel God working on most in your life right now?
“Sometimes God will take you around the long way, and it's on the long way that something's being developed in you.” Share a time when something in your life took longer than expected but ended up producing growth in you.
Additional Questions
“Conviction leads to confession. If you can name it, God can heal it.” Share a time when being honest with God brought freedom or healing.
“Sometimes God doesn't give you something new to do until you go back and do the last thing he told you to do.” What’s one small step you can take this week toward something God’s previously placed on your heart?
Prayer Prompt
Ask your eGroup if they have any prayer requests or praise reports they’d like to share, and include them in your closing prayer.
Pray this prayer over your eGroup to close, and/or send it to them throughout the week to let them know you’re praying for them!
Lord, You are worthy of the wait. Thank You for giving us abundant grace when we feel discouraged. In the areas of our lives where You’re taking us “the long way,” please give us the wisdom to see how You’re strengthening and developing us for a purpose. Thank You for knowing exactly what we need when we need it. Please continue to teach us to pray often, being open and honest with You no matter what we face. In Jesus’ name, amen.