This Doesn’t Make Sense… But What If It’s God?
Genesis 37
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We all carry an unspoken script that following God should make life clearer, smoother, and easier to understand. But when life suddenly unravels in ways we didn’t expect, it leaves us questioning everything—how we got here and whether we missed God. In that confusion, what feels wrong or off may not be a mistake at all, but the very place where God is still at work.
- Share about a time when your life took an unexpected turn – either something that seemed terrible at first but worked out well, or a moment when your carefully laid plans got completely flipped upside down. What was that experience like?
- Pastor James talked about how everyone has a “script” for their life – quiet expectations of how things should go if we follow God faithfully. What stood out to you about Joseph’s story and how it challenges our expectations of what following God should look like?
- Pastor James used the analogy of God working like a painter rather than a photographer. What did that comparison reveal to you about how God might be working in situations that feel confusing or messy?
- Read Genesis 37:3-11. What do we learn about Joseph’s dreams and the reactions they caused? Why do you think God gave Joseph a glimpse of his future without explaining how it would happen?
- The sermon highlighted four key principles: “God will begin it before you understand it,” “What God starts, opposition will challenge,” “Losing control does not cancel what God is doing.” And “If God started it, He is still writing it.” As you consider Joseph’s story, which of these resonates most with your experience, and why?
- In Genesis 37:18-28, Joseph’s brothers plot against him, saying “Then we’ll see what comes of his dreams” (Genesis 37:20). What does their response reveal about how people sometimes react when God is doing something in someone else’s life?
- Pastor James distinguished between “the dream God gives you” and “the version of that dream you build in your own mind.” Can you think of a time when you might have confused your version of what God was doing with what He actually had in mind? How did that affect your faith journey?
- The sermon mentioned that sometimes the hardest resistance comes not from people who reject you, but from people who know and love you but don’t understand what God is doing in your life. Have you ever experienced this kind of misunderstanding? How did you navigate it?
- When life goes “off script,” we often ask “Did I miss God?” Based on Joseph’s story, how might you evaluate whether confusion in your life means you’ve missed God’s will or whether you’re actually in the middle of His plan?
- Read Philippians 1:6. What is this verse saying? How does it speak specifically into your life right now?
- Pastor James said, “You were never meant to follow the dream. You were meant to follow God.” What’s the difference between these two approaches, and which one do you tend toward in your own life?
Serve Day is coming! – May 2 – This is one of the most exciting weekends of the year because we get to go out and serve the people of our community. We want every group to serve our community in some way. Find ideas and register your group here – www.journeyconnect.org/serveday
PRAYER:
God, thank You that You see the whole painting even when we can only see one confusing brushstroke. Help us trust that You begin things in our lives before we understand them, and that opposition doesn’t mean we’ve missed You.
When life goes off our script, remind us that You’re still writing the story. Give us the courage to follow You rather than our version of what we think You should do.
Help us hold onto what You’ve shown us, even when the process doesn’t make sense. We believe that if You started something in our lives, You’re still working on it. Teach us to trust You as the Author, especially in the chapters that feel dark or confusing. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
