Background:
The Israelites were punished for their disobedience and rebellion against God and were placed under oppression by the Midianites. After some time, they called upon God to forgive their sins, and He sent an angel to call Gideon to lead His people to victory over the Midianites. Though Gideon was initially doubtful, by the time the battle arrived, he demonstrated courage and trust in God’s power, believing the Israelites would be victorious. Despite the uncertainty and the daunting task ahead, Gideon and the Israelites trusted the process that had been set in motion by God.

Main Idea: We may be experiencing difficult situations that lead to uncertainty and anxiety, but it is in those very moments that we must recognize God is preparing us. We must adhere to His plan and acknowledge that it is only through His power that we can overcome our trials. These are the steps necessary for us to trust the process that God has envisioned.

There are three key practicesthat we can begin to trust the process.

APPRECIATE HIS PREPARATION
God commands Gideon to go down to the enemy camp, where he will receive a clear sign that he and the Israelites will be victorious against the Midianites. There, Gideon overhears two Midianite soldiers discussing a dream one of them had the night before. The other soldier interprets the dream as a sign that the Israelites will defeat the Midianites. This revelation gives Gideon the courage to believe that, through God, they will overcome what seemed impossible by human standards. Gideon is transformed into a fearless leader and this transformation was all part of God’s preparation.

In the same way, God is preparing each and every one of us, regardless of who we are. We may feel small, insignificant, or not “spiritual” enough, but He is guiding each step until we have the confidence to overcome what may seem difficult. In order to trust the process, we must first appreciate God’s preparation and remain humble.

ADHERE TO HIS PLAN
Upon hearing the dream and its interpretation while eavesdropping on the enemy at their camp, Gideon bows in worship to the Lord. He returns to his camp and calls upon his men to rise and prepare for battle, declaring that God has already given them the victory. Gideon chose to fully obey God’s command and follow His battle plan.

If we are to trust the process, we too must adhere to God’s plan. His plans are far greater than any we could devise ourselves. To truly trust God, we must simply follow what He has laid out for us. While Jesus is not physically present with us, He has given us the Holy Spirit and the Word of God which we are called to trust in and live by.

ACKNOWLEDGE HIS POWER
As he prepared his men, Gideon commanded them to watch him and follow his lead. Then they would shout, “For the Lord and for Gideon!” The Israelites were victorious against the Midianites without suffering any loss or casualty.

At the end of the conflict, the Israelites asked Gideon to have him and his family rule over them (Judges 8:22-23). However, Gideon declined and reminded them that only God is their true and only ruler. He acknowledged that the victory came solely through the power of God, not by any human strength or abilities.

This is the same truth we must acknowledge in order to trust the process. We must recognize that it is only by God’s power that we can be victorious over our enemy. It can never be about ourselves only. We must not trust our own strength, ability, talent, personality, etc. over God’s power. It is only by His power that our lives can be truly transformed.

Discussion Question: (Pick One)

1. What does “trust the process” mean to you in your spiritual life?

2. Which of the three practices above is the most challenging for you?

3. What is one step you can take to better trust the process God has for you?

4. How can we encourage one another to trust the process?