Beyond the Weekend: EPIC
Stories of Trust, Failure and Faith That Point to Jesus
What does it look like to believe God, not just believe in God? This fall, we're diving into the raw, unfiltered stories of biblical heroes who wrestled with doubt, took dangerous detours, and discovered that trusting God means following him even when you can't see the outcome. Their epic journeys of trust, failure and faith all point to the ultimate hero—Jesus.
Key Messaging Points:
- There's a difference between believing in God and believing God
- God speaks in life's detours and disruptions
- Wrestling with God transforms us
- Trusting God means obeying before you see the outcome
- Every story of human struggle points to Jesus
Faithful in Routine
Read: 1 Samuel 7:15-17 Listen: 1 Samuel 7
Samuel continued as Israel’s leader all the days of his life. From year to year he went on a circuit from Bethel to Gilgal to Mizpah, judging Israel in all those places. 1 Samuel 7:15-16
Samuel’s life is marked by a faithful routine. He travels a regular circuit year after year, leading Israel throughout his life. He travels to the same towns, sharing God’s words, over and over and over. He models faithfulness in the ordinary, everyday moments. Non-heroic routines laced with steady faithfulness fill his days. Near the end of his life, no one can accuse him of any wrongdoing. He has been wholly faithful to God (1 Samuel 12:3-4).
We may be tempted to assume that our greatest impact comes from big, flashy moments. But often the greatest impact we can make is by bringing our best selves again and again in the mundane moments. Each day, we have many opportunities to grow through slow, steady faithfulness with sometimes nauseating repetition. Teachers have another thoughtful one-on-one conversation with a student. Adult children exercise love and patience while caring for aging parents. Parents with young children maintain consistent bedtime routines of praying and reading a Bible story. Employees show up on time and give their best efforts even when the job is less than ideal. Faithfulness is like strength training—muscle grows through consistent repetition, not a single heroic lift.
TODAY: Write two to three things in your journal you are grateful for in your ordinary routine, no matter how small they may seem. Thank God for the opportunity to grow in faithfulness, with his help, through those circumstances. Explore Samuel’s story of faithfulness further on the Beyond the Weekend Podcast—find it wherever you listen to podcasts or on YouTube HERE.
