You Can Change The End | Pastor Steven Furtick | Elevation Church
You Can Change the End: How Your Faith Can Transform Your Story
Introduction: Facing Life’s Red Seas
Life has a way of presenting us with moments that feel utterly final — obstacles that seem insurmountable, broken relationships that seem beyond repair, and seasons that feel like the end of the road. For many of us, these “Red Sea” moments provoke fear, regret, and a desperate search for escape. But the hope of the Christian faith isn’t that God erases your struggles; it’s that through Him, you can change the outcome, no matter how impossible things seem.
Today, let’s explore the powerful truth that you can change the end of your story. Drawing inspiration from the Exodus narrative, let’s discover the practical steps, faith-filled responses, and real-time choices that can open a new chapter in your journey — no matter how your story began.
Stuck Between a Pharaoh and a Red Sea?
Think about the Israelites: God had just delivered them from Egyptian bondage. They stood on the edge of new beginnings, only to find Pharaoh’s army chasing them down from behind and the Red Sea blocking their path ahead. Have you ever felt similarly trapped? You step out in faith, eager for a fresh start, only to have old fears and familiar pressures come at you again.
These moments reveal a spiritual principle: even when God frees us from something, that old thing often tries to chase us down again. Sometimes, it’s not just about letting go of what held you back, but also refusing to let your past define your future.
It’s Not Over: What’s Your Real-Time Response?
The Israelites were terrified. Their immediate reaction? “It’s over.” With despair and anger, they questioned their decision to follow Moses. Their fear led to blame and revisionist history: “Weren’t we better off as slaves in Egypt?” How many times have you, in moments of panic, looked back with rose-colored glasses at things that weren’t actually better?
Then came Moses. He tried to bring calm, telling the people to “stand still” and trust God – reasonable advice in a crisis, but God had something else in mind. He told Moses, “Why are you crying out to me? Move on!” This surprising command shifted the entire dynamic: God required an act of faith.
Small Decisions, Big Results
God instructed Moses to stretch out his staff – the same staff he’d used in the past for miracles. To the naked eye, this act seemed insignificant. What good could a wooden staff possibly do against a raging sea? But God uses small acts of obedience as “little hinges” on which “big doors” swing. Sometimes, it’s the tiniest step of faith that triggers the greatest breakthrough.
In your life, there are countless moments like this: do you stay overwhelmed by what’s behind and before you, or do you move forward in faith, however uncertain you may feel?
Hinge Moments: The Power of a “Then” Decision
Every significant story contains what I call “hinge moments” — instances when your reaction determines the next chapter. You may not be able to rewrite your past, but you get to choose your response in the present. That response determines your future.
Will you stay paralyzed by fear and blame? Or will you take a small step forward, even in the face of uncertainty and doubt? God doesn’t always promise a fresh start, but He absolutely offers you a forward step.
Faith Isn’t Escaping Reality — It’s Facing Responsibility
Many times, we interpret God’s voice as a call to escape, when God is actually calling us to step up. True freedom isn’t about running from every uncomfortable situation. Instead, God invites us to embrace responsibility — to forgive, to heal, to grow, to move forward even when it’s hard.
Ask yourself: is God really leading you to abandon your commitments? Or is it possible that He’s equipping you to endure, overcome, and be transformed right where you are?
Which Story Will You Tell?
Imagine looking back on your life and saying, “That was the hardest season I ever faced — and then…” The testimony isn’t in the struggle itself, but in what you did next. Did you retreat and shut down, or did you choose to take a step toward healing, forgiveness, or bold obedience?
Throughout Scripture, we see men and women at the brink of “the end,” only to write a new “then” into their story:
- Moses stretched out his hand, even with doubts, and God parted the sea.
- David, after terrible personal failure, got up, washed, and worshipped. “Then David got up…” became the turning point for the next season of his life.
- Samson lost everything but, in his final moment, cried out to God and made his last act count for more than all before.
- Peter denied Jesus and hit rock bottom, but “then Peter stood up” on Pentecost and preached the gospel with boldness, seeing thousands saved.
- Even the thief on the cross, with only moments to spare, called out to Jesus — and our Savior responded with the promise of paradise.
The power in each story isn’t just what happened to them but in what they did “then.” That’s the game-changer.
It’s Not Too Late: God Writes New Endings
Maybe your past is full of missteps, regret, or wasted years. The enemy whispers that
