Sunday, March 1, 2026 – Series: Puzzled Week 2

Where Are We Headed This Week?

Last week, we stepped out from hiding. This week, we step out of needing to control.

Genesis 12 begins with a command that feels both simple and terrifying:

“Go.”

Leave your country.
Leave your security.
Leave what you know.

God calls Abram out of the story he has built for himself and into a promise he can’t control. That same invitation echoes through every text this week.

Psalm 121 reminds us that help does not come from our effort, but from the Lord.

Romans 4 dismantles spiritual achievement — righteousness is not earned, but received.

And in John 3, Nicodemus learns that new life does not come through religious mastery, but through new birth.

If Week 1 asked, “Where are you?” Week 2 asks, “Will you trust Me?”

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A Deeper Look

Self-reliance is exhausting. We convince ourselves that maturity means carrying everything.
That faith means figuring it out. That responsibility means controlling outcomes.

But Scripture keeps telling a different story.

Abram is not given a map — only a promise. The psalmist does not look inward for help — he looks upward.
Paul reminds us that Abraham was justified by faith, not performance. Nicodemus discovers that spiritual expertise cannot manufacture new life.

The old story says:

Secure yourself.
Prove yourself.
Control the outcome.

The new story says:

Trust.
Receive.
Be born again.

Spiritual fatigue often comes from living in the wrong story. God is not asking you to try harder this Lent. He is inviting you to let go.

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Biblical Texts This Week

Genesis 12:1–4a
Psalm 121
Romans 4:1–5, 13–17
John 3:1–17

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Weekly Practices

1. Notice Where You Grip
Throughout the week, ask: “What am I trying to control right now?” Name it.

2. Pray the Psalm
Each morning, pray Psalm 121 slowly. Especially verse 2: “My help comes from the Lord.”

3. Practice Release
Once per day, physically open your hands while praying: “Lord, I release what I cannot control.”