49th Convocation Opening Service - I Just Don't Know
Summary: The sermon explored the tension between what we know and what we don't know in our Christian walk, reminding us that the Bible is not merely a book of rules but a spiritual infrastructure designed to help us function effectively as believers. We were challenged to stop trying to understand every step of our journey and instead trust that God is directing our path. The central message emphasized that while there are many things we don't know—when our breakthrough will come, how God will deliver us, or why we're facing certain trials—there are fundamental truths we DO know: our Redeemer lives, all things work together for our good, and joy comes in the morning. This sermon calls us to shift our focus from the uncertainty that paralyzes us to the certainties that empower us to praise God even in the valley.
Takeaways:
Stop trying to figure out the path you didn't plan. Proverbs 20:24 reminds us that "man's goings are of the Lord" and asks "how can a man then understand his own way?" When we try to control and understand everything, we become weighed down and unable to praise God freely. Our job is simply to acknowledge Him and trust His direction one step at a time.
Learn to wait with patience and praise. James 1:2-4 teaches us to "count it all joy" when we face trials because tribulation works patience, and patience produces perfection and completeness. How we wait matters—we shouldn't wait with our heads hung down but with our hands lifted up, a dance in our feet, and a hallelujah in our mouths. The trial isn't about the destination alone; it's about who we become while we're waiting.
Declare what you DO know when the devil attacks with what you don't know. When the enemy asks if God will change your situation tomorrow, respond: "I don't know what tomorrow holds, but I know who holds tomorrow." When he asks where God is, declare: "I don't know where He is, but He knows where I am." When he questions if you'll be healed, proclaim: "I don't know when, but I know by His stripes I am healed." This is spiritual warfare—countering uncertainty with the certainty of God's promises.