Part 1: He Loved Me Through It!

Sermon Synopsis 2/1/26

Delivered by Bishop Joseph W. Walker, III

OPENING PRAYER & SCRIPTURE

• God, we thank You, and we open our hearts now, ready to receive Your Word today.
  Let it make sense. Let it meet somebody right where they are.
   In Jesus’ name, amen.
• Scripture: Psalm 42:1–5 (NKJV)

“As the deer pants for the water brooks, so pants my soul for You, O God…
 Why are you cast down, O my soul? And why are you disquieted within me?
 Hope in God, for I shall yet praise Him for the help of His countenance.”

• Turn to somebody and tell them, “He loved me through it.”
  You may be seated in the presence of the Lord.

I. INTRODUCTION — WHEN DARKNESS SPEAKS

• The recent winter storm that swept through Nashville—and cities across America—did more than cover roads with ice.
  For some of us, the lights went out.
   But what really happened is that it uncovered emotions many of us didn’t even know were still there.
• Homes grew quiet in ways that felt unsettling.
  The cold pressed in.
   Time slowed down.
   Nights felt longer than expected.
   And when the noise stopped, the thoughts got louder.
• Families huddled together:
  • Checking phones for updates
  • Listening for news
  • Praying for warmth and safety
• The storm interrupted routines:
  • Plans were canceled
  • Flights were grounded
  • Schedules were disrupted
• It reminded us how quickly life can shift.
  One moment everything feels stable, and the next moment everything feels
• The hymn writer said, “Time is filled with swift transition. Naught of earth unmoved can stand. Build your hopes on things eternal, and hold to God’s unchanging hand.”
• Darkness doesn’t just surround us — it speaks to us.
  It asks questions faith has to answer:
  • Where is God now?
  • Why is this happening?
  • How long is this going to last?
• Psalm 42 is written from that kind of season.
  The psalmist is not celebrating victory — he is surviving pressure.
• He is:
  • Faithful, but fatigued
  • Devoted, but discouraged
  • Still showing up, but internally wrestling
• This is a pilgrim song, sung on the journey to worship.
  Which teaches us something powerful:
   You can be on your way to God and still be fighting something on the inside.
• Just because people lift their hands doesn’t mean they aren’t lifting heavy burdens.
  Some people praised today because praise was the only thing keeping them standing.
• And through all of it, there is an unspoken testimony in the room:
  God loved us through it.
   Not because we did everything right.
   Not because we were strong.
   But because God stayed faithful when everything else felt unstable.

II. DESPERATE DESIRE IN DARKNESS

• The psalmist opens by saying, “As the deer pants for the water brooks, so pants my soul for You, O God.”
• Panting is a sign of exhaustion.
  It means, “I’m tired. I’m at the end of myself.”
   But it also means, “I know where refreshment is.”
• Even though the language is poetic, the situation is urgent.
  A deer panting for water is not searching for luxury — it is searching for survival.
• Darkness strips away distractions and exposes what really matters.
• Notice what the psalmist does not say:
  • He does not say, “I need answers.”
  • He does not say, “I need explanations.”
• He says, “I need God.”
• Some of you are here today because pressure clarified your priorities.
  You don’t need hype.
   You don’t need fluff.
   You don’t need noise.
   You just need God.
• Not just Sunday God.
  You need Him Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday.
   Hour by hour. Minute by minute. Second by second.

A. Lean Into God Instead of Leaning Into Fear

• Fear is always loudest in darkness.
  It thrives in uncertainty and feeds on unanswered questions.
• Fear magnifies worst-case scenarios and minimizes God’s past faithfulness.
• Fear asks questions God never authorized:
  • What if this never changes?
  • What if it gets worse?
  • What if God doesn’t show up this time?
• Faith leans in and says, “I trust God even when everything around me is unstable.”
• When Peter stepped out of the boat, the storm did not change — his focus did.
• When Peter looked at the wind, fear pulled him down.
  When Peter looked at Jesus, grace pulled him up.
• Fear keeps you comfortable but stagnant.
  Faith pulls you forward even when obedience feels risky.
• Every time you lean into God, you are declaring that anxiety will not have the final word over your life.

B. Let Your Need Drive You to Prayer, Not Paralysis

• The psalmist refuses to shut down under the weight of his emotions.
• Unexpressed pain becomes heavy.
  When pain has nowhere to go, paralysis sets in.
• Prayer gives pain a pathway and pressure a place to land.
• Hannah prayed instead of retreating into silence.
  Israel cried out instead of giving up in bondage.
• Prayer moves what fear tries to freeze.
• Prayer declares:
  • I will not die here
  • I will not quit here
  • I will not stay stuck here
• Prayer reconnects you to God’s voice even when circumstances don’t immediately change.
• It’s like calling 911:
  • You may not see sirens yet
  • But help is already on the way
• Don’t hang up.
  Don’t stop praying.
   Help is on the way.

III. DEFEATING DOUBT IN DARKNESS

• The psalmist hears the question echoing around him:
  “Where is your God?”
• That question comes:
  • Externally, from people watching your situation
  • Internally, from your own thoughts at 2 a.m.
• Storms don’t create doubt.
  They amplify
• That’s why remembrance is a weapon against despair.

A. Confront Questions Without Abandoning Faith

• Questioning God is not rebellion.
  Walking away is.
• Abraham questioned the promise.
• Job questioned God from pain.
• Thomas questioned the resurrection.
• God rebukes unbelief, but He welcomes honest inquiry.
• Wrestle — but don’t run.
  Stay connected while you ask.
• God will use your questions to deepen your faith, not destroy it.

B. Speak Truth to Your Soul When Emotions Try to Lead

• The psalmist talks to his own soul.
• David encouraged himself in the Lord when nobody else would.
• Sometimes you have to speak truth out loud:
  • No weapon formed against me shall prosper
  • Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning
  • They that wait on the Lord shall renew their strength
• Don’t let crisis create spiritual amnesia.
  Remember what God told you.

IV. DEFIANT HOPE IN DARKNESS

• Hope is not wishful thinking.
  Hope is expectation rooted in the character of God.
• Joseph hoped in the pit.
• Israel hoped at the Red Sea.
• Mary hoped with no explanation.
• The enemy attacks the Word to weaken faith.
  When faith weakens, hope suffers.
• That’s why hope becomes an act of resistance.

A. Speak Hope Intentionally Even When Circumstances Resist It

• What you say in the storm matters.
  Words are not neutral — they create atmosphere.
• God spoke light before the sun appeared.
  He does not wait for conditions to change before He speaks.
• Ezekiel prophesied to dry bones with no movement, no sound, and no life — and God honored the declaration.
• Speaking hope is not denial.
  It is faith beyond what you see.
• Even medical science confirms that attitude and language influence outcomes.
• Guard your environment like you guard your thermostat.
  Not everyone gets to set the temperature of your faith.

B. Choose Praise Before Relief Arrives

• Praise is not a reaction — it is a decision.
• When the lights went out across the city, God did not leave the neighborhood.
  Heaven stayed lit.
• You didn’t just survive the storm — you experienced grace.
• Families shared food.
  Neighbors checked on one another.
   Parents reassured children while fighting their own fear.
• That’s a yet praise:
  • Praise before it turns around
  • Praise before power comes back
  • Praise before relief arrives
• The night was long — but God loved you through it.
  The cold was real — but God loved you through it.

VI. ALTAR / INVITATION

• Your strength does not come from people.
  Your strength comes from God.
• If you need salvation…
• If you need rededication…
• If you’re exhausted like the deer and need what only God can give…
•