“The Painful Path of Faith”

A sermon by Pastor Dave McMurry. More about Grace Bible Church: https://begrace.org

Summary

Pastor Dave introduces a new sermon series called “Wrestle with God”, focusing on the life of Jacob from Genesis 25:19-34. He explains that Jacob’s name was later changed to Israel, meaning “one who wrestles with God,” making him an appropriate figure to study when examining our own struggles with faith. Pastor Dave notes that Jacob is an interesting Biblical hero because he frequently fails and lets people down, reminding us that we’re called to imitate the faith of Old Testament figures, not necessarily all their behaviors. Explore more about our Beliefs & Values.

The sermon identifies three critical “trail Markers” on what Pastor Dave calls “The Painful Path of Faith.” The first Marker presents a choice between prayer or family dysfunction. When faced with barrenness—the same challenge that led Abraham and Sarah to make disastrous choices—Isaac instead prayed to the Lord. Pastor Dave challenges listeners to break cycles of family dysfunction not by blaming their past or reacting against it, but by seeking God in prayer and asking, “Lord, what would you have me do?” Join a Group to discuss and apply these principles.

The second trail Marker offers a choice between grace or human strength. Pastor Dave examines the contrast between the twins Jacob and Esau—one weak, one strong—and how God declares He will subvert expectations by making “the older serve the younger.” This reflects a pattern throughout Scripture where God often chooses the weak to humble the strong. Pastor Dave references Paul’s “thorn in the flesh” from 2 Corinthians 12, suggesting that our weaknesses and “limps” can become powerful reminders of God’s grace. He clarifies that Christians shouldn’t reject strength entirely but should ensure their strength is dependent on God’s grace and directed toward His glory. For more on faith and weakness, listen to “The Weakness of Faith”.

The third trail Marker contrasts calling versus temporary desires. When Esau sells his birthright for a bowl of stew, he demonstrates how easily we can trade our spiritual calling for momentary gratification. Pastor Dave connects this to Hebrews 12, which warns against being like Esau who “despised his birthright.” Every choice to indulge in sin is essentially giving up our calling to love God and others. The solution isn’t to be manipulative like Jacob but to “look to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith,” who endured the cross for the joy set before Him. Browse more sermons in our Media archive.

Pastor Dave concludes with a powerful illustration from a wilderness hike where he and his wife got lost without trail Markers. He connects this to Jesus’ words in John 14, where Thomas admits, “We don’t know the way.” Rather than merely providing a map, Jesus declares, “I am the way, the truth, and the life.” Pastor Dave encourages his congregation that even when they stray from the path, Jesus Himself—not just directions—will be there to guide them back. The painful path of faith involves daily turning from self-indulgence to trusting in God’s goodness and grace. Ready to take your Next Steps in faith? Plan a Visit to our Sunday Gatherings.