Trust God In The Waiting | Steven Furtick | Sermon Notes — Hello Pastor

Sermon Notes

Trust God In The Waiting

Elevation Church • Aug 7, 2026 • 24 min

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Take this message with you through a journey of Scripture, reflection, and prayer.

Summary

Pastor Steven Furtick encourages believers to trust God through life's bitter and incomplete seasons rather than rushing to judge the outcome while God is still working. Drawing from the lives of Ruth, Naomi, Jacob, Leah, and Rachel, he illustrates how God mixes together our pain, weaknesses, and unexpected challenges to bring about His divine purpose. Ultimately, we are reminded that every blessing comes with responsibilities and that God uses what we least expect to accomplish His ultimate good.

Themes

Trusting God's TimingGod's Sovereignty in PainMixed BlessingsThe New CovenantSurrender and Trust

Key Points

1.
God operates under an everlasting covenant sealed by the blood of Jesus, assuring us of His constant presence through bitterness and brokenness.
2.
We cannot judge the outcome of a situation while it is still in progress; God is mixing all elements together according to His sovereign plan.
3.
The uncomfortable and painful parts of our lives—our 'grease'—are often the exact elements God uses to bring about flavor, strength, and blessing.
4.
Every 'Rachel' (the dream or desire we long for) comes with a 'Leah' (the unchosen challenge, sacrifice, or responsibility that accompanies it).
5.
We often try to tell God how to work, but He invites us to 'get out of His kitchen' and let Him refine and combine our circumstances.
6.
God sees value and purpose in the things people reject, just as He chose Leah—the unloved sister—to be in the direct lineage of Jesus Christ.
7.
If a situation is not good yet, it simply means God is not finished mixing the ingredients of your life.

Sermon Moments

“Pastor Steven shares an illustration about pouring out sausage grease, where his wife Holly told him, 'Leave the grease, I'm about to use it to make your eggs.'”

“God telling the believer who tries to manage everything: 'Get out of My kitchen!'”

“The musical reminder: 'If it's not good, then He's not done—He hasn't mixed it yet.'”

“The insight that every 'Rachel' (what you love and want) comes with a 'Leah' (what you didn't ask for but must carry).”

“The humorous family story of his kids asking for a dog without realizing the mess and responsibility that comes with it.”

“The profound genealogical truth that Leah, the unwanted sister, became the mother of Judah and the ancestor of King David and Jesus.”

This Week

Stop trying to remove every unwanted trial or weakness and ask God how He wants to mix it into your spiritual growth.

Refrain from making final judgments about painful or unfinished situations in your life today.

Surrender control over how God answers your prayers and step out of 'God's kitchen.'

Embrace the undesirable responsibilities that accompany the blessings and dreams you asked God for.

Meditate on Romans 8:28 when faced with difficult circumstances this week.

Remind yourself during moments of brokenness that God's covenant with you in Christ is secure and unconditional.

Express gratitude for the unexpected, overlooked aspects of your life, knowing God can bring great purpose through them.

Remember This

Do not judge your life while it is still in progress; trust God to mix your pain, weakness, and blessings together for His ultimate purpose.

A Challenge for You

Get out of God's kitchen, stop trying to manage the recipe of your life, and let Him turn your grease and weakness into something good.

These are personal sermon notes shared to help you remember the message — not a replacement for Scripture, your church, or your pastors.