Why Do I Have Such A Hard Time Trusting God?

Jun 27, 2026

About this message

Looks at the frustration of wanting to change but slipping back into old patterns, drawing on Romans 7 and 8 to ask whether there is real hope and why trusting and surrendering to God is hard.

Message notes

Why Try: Why Do I Have Such a Hard Time Trusting God?

I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. Romans 7:15

Thanks be to God he gives us victory through Christ Jesus our Lord! Romans 7:25

Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. Romans 8:1

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The key to living a life that is pleasing to God is not found in trying harder.

The key to living a life that is pleasing to God is found in surrendering your will to His will.

Try harder to not worry.

Try harder to relax.

Try harder to go to sleep.

Try harder to stop cussing or drinking.

“The Twelve Steps followed by recovery groups lay out a way of life that is the single greatest path to freedom for addicts the world has ever known. But at the core of the steps lies a great paradox: In which of the twelve steps does it say, ‘Now try really hard not to drink’? Amazingly enough, the most powerful tool against the most powerful addiction in the world never asks people to decide to stop doing what is destroying their lives. Instead of mobilizing the will, its followers surrender their will. Try to overcome the problem by your will, and it will beat you. Surrender your will, and sobriety becomes possible. Surrender, which we think means defeat, turns out to be the only way to victory. This is not just the case with alcohol. It is also true with other addictions, with habits, with brokenness — and with sin in general. – John Ortberg

Those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.” The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and coheirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory. Romans 8:14–17

1. Our God is a loving father and not a controlling father.

You did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear. Romans 8:15

He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him, nothing in his appearance that we should desire him. He was despised and rejected by men. Isaiah 53:2–3

2. God is a close father.

For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.” Romans 8:15

The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. Psalm 34:18

You have collected all my tears in your bottle. Psalm 56:8

3. God is an encourager and not a discourager.

The spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. Romans 8:16

If we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ. Romans 8:17

Accepted Christ: 928

Participated in Baptism: 800

Jail & Prison Ministry Baptisms: 59

Week:

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Given $526,602

Year:

Needed $22,361,789

Given $22,672,224

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Group discussion

Why Try: Week 4

BIG IDEA

Throughout this sermon series, Why Try, we have been reminded that if we want to live hope-filled lives, we have to stop trying to control our lives and surrender everything fully to God. At the heart of surrender is trust. After all, if we have full trust in someone, surrendering to that person will come naturally. The opposite is true, too. If we do not have trust in someone or something, we will have a hard time letting go of control and surrendering. In our study today, we will see that we can confidently surrender everything to God, our Heavenly Father, because He can be trusted with every moment of every day.

Break the ICE

Who is someone in your life who has earned your trust? Why?

WATCH SERMON RECAP HERE

SMALL GROUP QUESTIONS

Bible Study

1. Read Romans 8:14-17. What are the implications of being children of God, according to this passage of Scripture?

Romans 8:14-17

For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God. 15So you have not received a spirit that makes you fearful slaves. Instead, you received God’s Spirit when he adopted you as his own children. Now we call him, “Abba, Father.” 16For his Spirit joins with our spirit to affirm that we are God’s children. 17And since we are his children, we are his heirs. In fact, together with Christ we are heirs of God’s glory. But if we are to share his glory, we must also share his suffering.

We learned in the weekend message that the word “Abba” signifies a close and intimate father-child relationship. How does this understanding impact the way you think about your relationship with God?
Read 1John 4:7-10, a book of the Bible written by Jesus’ disciple, John, who described himself in John 13:23 as, “the disciple Jesus loved.” How does John’s teaching in the passage of Scripture refute the false belief that God’s love must be earned?

1 John 4:7-10

7 Dear friends, let us continue to love one another, for love comes from God. Anyone who loves is a child of God and knows God. 8 But anyone who does not love does not know God, for God is love.9 God showed how much he loved us by sending his one and only Son into the world so that we might have eternal life through him. 10 This is real love—not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins.

4. Read Matthew 6:28-30. What does this verse reveal about our Heavenly Father’s trustworthiness toward His children?

Matthew 6:28-30

“And why worry about your clothing? Look at the lilies of the field and how they grow. They don’t work or make their clothing, 29yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are. 30And if God cares so wonderfully for wildflowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith?

Application

Do you find yourself trying to earn or perform for God’s love at times? If so, how does the Scripture you studied today impact the way you think about God’s love for you?
Look back over the last year. How has God specifically taken care of you and provided for you as your perfect Heavenly Father?
What is an area of your life that you need to trust God with? How does His proven faithfulness as your perfect Heavenly Father encourage you to release control and surrender that area to Him?

Moving Forward

The truth that God loves us and relates to us as our Heavenly Father if we have placed our faith in Him is the best news. Who do you know who needs to hear this good news that God is trustworthy and offers the hope of salvation to all who place their faith in Him? If there is not someone in your life with whom you are currently sharing your faith, where can you start going to meet people and build relationships with those who are far from Christ? If you have someone in your life who is far from Christ, how can you reach out to them this week? Maybe you can share your 2-minute story of the difference Christ has made in your life, or the Bridge Illustration, or invite that person to church with you this weekend. Whatever it looks like for you, commit to reaching out to those in your life who are far from Christ. End your time together in prayer for those in your lives who need the hope of Christ.

Going Deeper:

As He taught His disciples to pray in Luke 11, Jesus revealed that we are invited to address God as “Father.” This invitation to address God as Father is likely not surprising to many of us, but it was a groundbreaking teaching. Jesus was explaining here that the God of the universe, who made the heavens and the earth and everything in it, and who holds all honor, glory, and power, relates to us as our Heavenly Father. As we consider the truth that God is our Heavenly Father and that we are His children, let’s turn to Scripture to learn how this truth changes everything for us. Specifically, we will look at three truths about our Heavenly Father: He is near, He cares for us, and He has given us a priceless inheritance.

Our Heavenly Father Is Near to Us:

Scripture makes it clear that God is not a distant, absentee Father, simply watching us from afar. Instead, like any good father, our perfect Heavenly Father is nearby. He walks closely with us each and every day. As a result, we are never alone.

1. Read Psalm 145:18. What does this passage of Scripture reveal about God’s nearness?

Psalm 145:18

The Lord is close to all who call on him, yes, to all who call on him in truth.

2. Read Joshua 1:9, words from a passage of Scripture that God spoke to Joshua when He called him to lead His people. The words God spoke to Joshua are true for us today. How does God’s nearness give strength and courage?

Joshua 1:9

This is my command—be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”

3. How have you experienced God’s nearness in your own life?

God Cares for Us:

Unlike the false gods of the false religions in the world, our God and Heavenly Father, the one true God, cares deeply for us. He sees our difficulties, pain, and struggles, and is deeply moved. Even more, He cares about everything that we care about. As we heard in the weekend message, “if it concerns you, it concerns Him.”

1. Read Psalm 56:8. What is notable regarding God’s care for us in this passage of Scripture?

Psalm 56:8

You keep track of all my sorrows. You have collected all my tears in your bottle. You have recorded each one in your book.

2. Read 1st Peter 5:7. How should the truth that God cares for us impact how we live today?

1st Peter 5:7

Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you.

3. What is a care and concern you are facing today? How does the truth that God cares about you impact how you will bring that concern to God today?

God Has Given Us a Priceless Inheritance:

As children of God, one of the promises we have to claim is that we have a priceless inheritance as His heirs. This truth should give us deep confidence as we walk through this life. On our worst days, we can find strength and confidence as we look toward the inheritance awaiting us if we have placed our faith in Christ.

1. Read 1 Peter 1:3-5.

1 Peter 1:3-5

All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. It is by his great mercy that we have been born again, because God raised Jesus Christ from the dead. Now we live with great expectation, 4and we have a priceless inheritance—an inheritance that is kept in heaven for you, pure and undefiled, beyond the reach of change and decay. 5And through your faith, God is protecting you by his power until you receive this salvation, which is ready to be revealed on the last day for all to see.

What is our inheritance, according to this passage of Scripture, and how does Peter describe this inheritance?
Why is our inheritance greater than anything on this earth?
How should this understanding of our inheritance from our Heavenly Father impact how we live today?

Which of the truths about God, our Heavenly Father, and your relationship with Him do you need the reminder of today? Share that truth with your group and explain why you need the reminder. Commit to memorizing one of the verses related to that truth that you read this week to focus your heart and mind on that truth today.

View Monthly Memory Verse