God's Greatest Glory Revealed in Life's Hardest Places

When we think about God's glory, we often imagine grand and majestic moments. But Pastor Steven Furtick of Elevation Church reminds us that God's greatest glory is often revealed in the hardest places of our lives.

It's not always easy to see God's hand at work when we're facing uncertainty and difficulty. Yet, Jacob's story teaches us that it's precisely in those moments that God reveals His purpose and glory. Jacob had a dream in which he saw a ladder reaching up to heaven, with angels ascending and descending on it. He woke up from his sleep and exclaimed, 'It was awesome!' (Genesis 28:10-19). It wasn't the stone pillow that was amazing – it was the purpose God revealed to him.

In our own lives, we may be facing struggles and uncertainties, but God is working for us even in those moments. Even when we're rebelling against Him, He is still at work, seeking to reveal His glory in our lives. When we turn to Him with joy and gratitude, out of our bellies will flow rivers of living water (John 7:38).

Elijah thought God would be revealed through the earthquake, wind, or fire (1 Kings 19), but it was while he was sleeping that God spoke to him in a still, small voice. Jacob didn't receive his greatest revelation while he was running or trying to manipulate people and situations – he received it while at rest.

God is already busy working all things together for our good, even when we can't see it (Romans 8:28). We don't work for love; we work from love. When we're motivated by a desire to serve God, He will use us in mighty ways.

But often, we present a false image or illusion of happiness to the world on social media or in our daily lives. We may put on a perfect front at church or in public, but God sees the real us – and it's only when we're honest with Him that we can experience His true blessing.

Jacob's story is full of lessons for us today. He tricked his father into giving him the firstborn blessing by pretending to be Esau, and he exchanged a bowl of stew for his brother's birthright (Genesis 25:29-34). But God called him Israel, revealing that He would use Jacob's weaknesses to unlock his purpose in life.

Some of us may find ourselves in places we never intended to be – uncertain, struggling, or even running from our problems. But it's precisely in those moments that God wants to do something through us. Sometimes, He will make us stop moving forward so that we can recalibrate our direction and align ourselves with His plans.

As Pastor Furtick reminds us, 'God doesn't just want to do something for you – He also wants to do something through you.' So, even when life is hard, let's remember that God's greatest glory is often revealed in those difficult places. And may we be like Jacob, who was willing to surrender his false pretenses and receive the true blessing of God's presence and purpose in our lives.

Pastor steven furtick sermons 2020