Pastor Tracey then took over, starting her sermon with a personal story about her first date at a theme park with her now-husband. She compared the terror of her first roller coaster ride to the ups and downs of life, emphasizing that, like on a roller coaster, we must hold tightly to our faith in God.

Tracey recounted the story of Joseph from Genesis 37, focusing on how Joseph was favored by his father, Jacob, and how his brothers’ jealousy led them to throw him into a pit, stripping him of his special coat—a symbol of his favor. She emphasized that Joseph did nothing to deserve being thrown into the pit, just as we sometimes face hardships without cause. Even in our lowest moments, God is with us, though we may struggle with “cognitive dissonance,” doubting God’s goodness during tough times.

Pastor Tracey also shared the inspiring story of Kaylin Moore, a football player who overcame significant hardships, including domestic violence, gang violence, and the challenges of growing up in a tough neighborhood. Despite these difficulties, Kaylin held onto his faith and his dreams, eventually achieving his goal of playing football on TV, allowing his imprisoned father to watch him. His story mirrored Joseph’s perseverance and faith, even while waiting for God’s promises to be fulfilled.

Tracey concluded by reassuring the congregation that whether we find ourselves in a pit through no fault of our own or because of our own mistakes, God’s promises remain true. His love for us never wavers, even when our faith is tested.

Genesis 37:1-4
37 Jacob lived in the land where his father had stayed, the land of Canaan.
2 This is the account of Jacob’s family line.
Joseph, a young man of seventeen, was tending the flocks with his brothers, the sons of Bilhah and the sons of Zilpah, his father’s wives, and he brought their father a bad report about them.
3 Now Israel loved Joseph more than any of his other sons, because he had been born to him in his old age; and he made an ornate[a] robe for him. 4 When his brothers saw that their father loved him more than any of them, they hated him and could not speak a kind word to him.

Hebrews 10:23
23 Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.

Genesis 50:24-26
24 Then Joseph said to his brothers, “I am about to die. But God will surely come to your aid and take you up out of this land to the land he promised on oath to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.” 25 And Joseph made the Israelites swear an oath and said, “God will surely come to your aid, and then you must carry my bones up from this place.”
26 So Joseph died at the age of a hundred and ten. And after they embalmed him, he was placed in a coffin in Egypt.