The Pit Stop: Sermon Recap

Original Sermon presented on August 27th, 2023

Scripture Focus: Genesis 37:12–36 (Joseph’s “pit stop”)
Key Verse: “What’s more, I am with you, and I will protect you wherever you go… I will not leave you until I have finished giving you everything I have promised you.” Genesis 28:15 (NLT)

In racing, nobody likes a pit stop. It slows you down. It interrupts momentum. It feels like lost time.

But pit stops are also where the car gets refueled, repaired, and reset so the driver can finish the race strong.

And honestly? Life has pit stops, too.

Joseph was running what looked like a smooth race.

Favored son.
Coat of many colors.
Dreams from God.
A future that looked bright.

Then… everything changed.

His robe was ripped off.
He was thrown into a pit.
Sold for silver.
And suddenly, he was in a place he never planned to be, slavery in Potiphar’s house.

That was Joseph’s pit stop.

And if you’ve ever had life flip on you fast - one phone call, one diagnosis, one betrayal, one layoff, one unexpected loss - you already know what a pit stop feels like.

It’s that moment when you’re looking around like:
“Wait… how did I get here?”

But here’s what God kept showing me:

The pit stop is not the end. It’s maintenance. It’s preparation. It’s a strategy.

Joseph’s pit stop didn’t cancel the dream.
It positioned him for it.

God was moving him from dreamer to deliverer.

And sometimes, God will pause you, not to punish you, but to prepare you.

Because you can’t run on empty and expect to finish strong.

One reason we fight pit stops so hard is that they expose something:

When you pull into the pit, you’re not in control anymore.

You have to trust the pit crew.

You have to sit still while adjustments are made.

You have to let someone else handle what you can’t fix from the driver’s seat.

And that’s the part that humbles us, because we want to keep moving, keep proving, keep pushing.

But God loves you too much to let you burn out, blow up, or break down on the track.

So he pulls you in.

Three Reminders for Your Pit Stop Season

1) A Pit Stop Is Not the End

If you’re in an unexpected pause right now, don’t you dare assume it’s over.

Cry if you need to.
Take a breath.
Let it hurt.

But after that, turn your face toward God and listen.
Pit stop seasons are often where God speaks the clearest because everything else finally gets quiet.

2) Trust the Pit Crew

As believers, we have the ultimate pit crew:

• God the Father: the One holding the plan
• Jesus: the Savior who already paid the price
• The Holy Spirit: the Helper who strengthens, comforts, and guides
• The Body of Christ: the people God sends to cover you, pray, and carry you when you’re low

You were never meant to do this alone.
Even the best driver can’t win without support.

3) Finish the Race

The goal isn’t “finish fast.”
The goal is finish faithfully.

Joseph had more than one pit stop.
But God’s promise still prevailed.

What they meant for evil, God worked for good.

So if you’re tired, take a pause.
If you’re discouraged, take a breath.
But don’t quit.

God didn’t pull you in to leave you stranded.
He pulled you in to send you back out stronger.

Prayer:

Father, if this is a pit stop season for me, help me not to panic. Help me not to assume the pause means you forgot me. Refuel me. Repair what’s been worn down. Align my heart with Your plan. And when it’s time to re-enter the race, give me the strength to finish what You started.
In Jesus’ name, amen.

Journal Prompt

Where in my life am I resisting the “pit stop” because I don’t want to lose control?
What might God be trying to refuel, repair, or realign in me?