Can We Question God? | Better Together Episode 1146

March 2, 2026 | S8 E1146 | 50:59

Is it wrong to question God? Doubt, confusion, and “why” questions aren't disqualifiers; they’re invitations to come closer. Our God welcomes the mess and meets our honest faith with His truth, grace, and comfort. | TBN Prayer Line: 714-731-1000

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Better Together | Can We Question God? | Better Together Episode 1146 | March 2, 2026
  • Our god is big enough to answer our toughest questions.
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  • He does not turn away even when we doubt him.
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  • Come on, let's talk about it.
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  • ♪ (music playing) ♪
  • 00:00:08.821 --> 00:00:35.881
  • - friends i am so excited for this week's conversations.
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  • We have been getting so many questions coming in from people
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  • All over the world.
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  • And some of these questions have become really frequent and
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  • Frequently brought up.
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  • And you know what?
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  • I really believe that god is not this
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  • Cookie cutter, religious master, but he could handle our
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  • Messy questions.
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  • And so that's what i'm going to tackle today with you all.
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  • I just know that we're not going to come out of this with a
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  • Perfect formula, but we're going to navigate through the mystery
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  • With some faith and try our best.
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  • And hopefully what will come out of it is a blessing and peace in
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  • The presence of god.
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  • I know when my family and i, when
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  • We were church planting in 2020, there
  • 00:01:26.298 --> 00:01:28.200
  • Was a pocket of that year when i just felt absolutely trapped.
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  • You know, we started this church planting journey off with a
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  • Vision for what it should be like.
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  • And then the lockdown happened and then income got cut off.
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  • And then we have four kids stuck at home and we just basically
  • 00:01:44.216 --> 00:01:48.487
  • Lost almost everything within a week.
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  • And, you know, during the first couple of weeks after, i mean,
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  • You do what you're trained to do, right?
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  • And a lot of us, we're trained to know how to
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  • Respond to hardship.
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  • We know we got to give him a sacrifice of praise.
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  • We know that we got to shift our mindset and meditate on the
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  • Words of god.
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  • And i was doing all these things and with my very best effort.
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  • But i remember one night, all the kids were asleep and it was
  • 00:02:14.079 --> 00:02:17.916
  • Around 1 a.m.
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  • And i was in front of my piano because that's usually where.
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  • - i didn't know you played.
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  • - i didn't either.
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  • - playing is a generous word.
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  • Fiddle around more like, you know, and i was in front of the
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  • Piano trying my best to be everything god wanted me to be.
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  • Trying my best to believe like he would want me to believe.
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  • But i remember in that moment, the discouragement was so heavy
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  • And i just had no song left to sing.
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  • I had no prayer left to give.
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  • And that was where i met the end of myself, the end of my very
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  • Best efforts, the end of all i know to do.
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  • A religion is nice when it makes sense, but the presence of god
  • 00:03:01.927 --> 00:03:07.065
  • Can be mysterious and rightfully so, because he's greater than
  • 00:03:07.065 --> 00:03:11.169
  • Our understanding.
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  • He's higher than our understanding.
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  • And i remember just sitting there.
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  • Frozen with nothing to give to him.
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  • And so i just began to weep.
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  • And that night i had no vision.
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  • I had no dream.
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  • I didn't receive a revelatory word from god.
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  • I just cried it out.
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  • And then i went back to bed and i woke up the next day and just
  • 00:03:32.124 --> 00:03:35.427
  • Did it all over again, right.
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  • But for months, actually, i think even for years, i remember
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  • Asking the lord, where were you that night?
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  • What were you doing that night?
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  • Because i could have used a helping hand.
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  • You could have thrown me a bone.
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  • It wouldn't have been hard.
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  • Lord, what were you doing?
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  • What were you thinking?
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  • And for a long time, i felt like he just didn't give
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  • Me an answer.
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  • And every time i asked him that question, i felt like
  • 00:04:07.025 --> 00:04:10.629
  • A failure, right?
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  • Because i think sometimes we see faith as...
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  • A performance before the lord.
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  • And when we are not demonstrating the strength of
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  • Our belief to god, we in a way feel like we are failing god.
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  • So i thought the silence meant disappointment.
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  • But i remember one day i was praying this prayer again, lord,
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  • Where were you?
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  • Because that memory caused a lot of pain for me.
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  • And i just felt the still small voice of the lord.
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  • And he said, i was with you, you know, and that was so simple and
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  • So profound.
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  • Because i thought, okay, if you were with me, then i should have
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  • Seen something.
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  • I should have heard something.
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  • I should have felt something.
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  • But he was just simply, i was with you.
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  • That's it.
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  • And isn't that what presence really is?
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  • Just to be with someone.
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  • And i think that was just a moment for me when i realized,
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  • Man, how we interpret the mystery is so important.
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  • And how we question the lord depends on what we think of the
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  • Mystery, what we assume of the mystery of the lord.
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  • A lot of the times, mystery could feel like a rejection.
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  • When god doesn't make sense, it sometimes feels like he's
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  • Abandoning us, when actually, mystery is an invitation from
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  • God to know and go deeper into his presence.
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  • And so your questions during this time of navigating mystery
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  • Is actually good.
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  • It's an opportunity to receive a deeper revelation of who he is.
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  • I think sometimes we feel like we're doing well by faith if
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  • Everything makes sense and we have no questions and we feel as
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  • Though there's no room for our questions.
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  • But we know, you know, and i know all the women here, you
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  • Have questioned god at a certain point in your life.
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  • So i want to dive into that.
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  • You know, i didn't realize that even when i wasn't feeling
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  • Anything, that the nearness of god was already with me, not
  • 00:06:13.885 --> 00:06:16.988
  • Because i earned it, but because of the blood of jesus, because
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  • He paid for that proximity.
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  • So now, okay, if we know god is with us, whether we doubt or
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  • Not, that god is kind, whether we're questioning.
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  • How do we navigate that time, that space when god makes no
  • 00:06:30.602 --> 00:06:36.041
  • Sense and we have questions?
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  • What do you think?
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  • - one of the things i really love is basing my life on the
  • 00:06:40.445 --> 00:06:43.582
  • Promises of god as opposed to how i feel.
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  • Because emotions do not have brains.
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  • You know, i can be in a season where i just
  • 00:06:47.552 --> 00:06:50.222
  • Don't feel anything.
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  • But i love in james where it says, and he will draw
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  • Near to you.
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  • Doesn't say he'll draw near to you if you're doing well
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  • This week.
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  • He'll draw near to you if you remember to read your bible.
  • 00:07:00.198 --> 00:07:01.900
  • He'll draw near to you if you went to church last sunday.
  • 00:07:01.900 --> 00:07:03.768
  • He just says, draw near to god and he will draw near to you.
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  • And i remember seasons where i've literally gone outside for
  • 00:07:05.103 --> 00:07:10.408
  • A walk and sat down on a stone somewhere and basically just
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  • Said, i'm here, lord.
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  • And not felt.
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  • You know, because i agree with you.
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  • It's lovely when you have that feeling of the lord's close or
  • 00:07:18.617 --> 00:07:21.019
  • You feel like he's speaking a word to your heart or suddenly a
  • 00:07:21.019 --> 00:07:22.187
  • Red cardinal appears and says, the lord be with you.
  • 00:07:22.187 --> 00:07:25.891
  • - wouldn't that be nice?
  • 00:07:25.891 --> 00:07:28.860
  • But i'm learning, and it's probably because i'm older than
  • 00:07:27.559 --> 00:07:32.330
  • You, but i'm learning that i can absolutely base my life on god's
  • 00:07:32.330 --> 00:07:34.733
  • Promises because he is not man that he should lie.
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  • And if he said, draw near to me and i'll draw near to you,
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  • There's times i've literally sat there for like an hour, not
  • 00:07:41.006 --> 00:07:42.941
  • Really heard anything, not really, but just...
  • 00:07:42.941 --> 00:07:45.377
  • I'm in your presence, and your presence changes everything.
  • 00:07:45.377 --> 00:07:48.613
  • - promises of god are consistent whether we believe it or whether
  • 00:07:48.613 --> 00:07:52.651
  • We feel it or not.
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  • Whether we see god, god is still present.
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  • Whether we know things are good or bad, god is still good.
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  • And so there is truth of things that are always going to be
  • 00:08:00.892 --> 00:08:05.063
  • True, whether we feel it or know it or not.
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  • And i think that's actually very comforting for me, at least,
  • 00:08:06.932 --> 00:08:10.302
  • Because my mind can take off running and believe
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  • Other things.
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  • But then if i calm down and slow down just long enough, i can
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  • Remember god is good.
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  • God is for me.
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  • He made me for such a time as this.
  • 00:08:23.982 --> 00:08:25.750
  • - and the honesty that we have to have with god.
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  • You know, i think so often we think of god as like the new
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  • Friend, right?
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  • When you have a new friend over, i'm like cleaning my baseboards.
  • 00:08:34.225 --> 00:08:35.927
  • Why am i cleaning my baseboards?
  • 00:08:35.927 --> 00:08:37.162
  • You know, you're trying to find tupperware lids.
  • 00:08:37.162 --> 00:08:39.497
  • You know, you're doing all these things to prepare for someone to
  • 00:08:39.497 --> 00:08:42.133
  • Come that you don't know well because you think they're going
  • 00:08:42.133 --> 00:08:46.037
  • To judge you based on how things are.
  • 00:08:46.037 --> 00:08:48.506
  • But then your best friend comes in in the middle of your mess,
  • 00:08:48.506 --> 00:08:50.942
  • In the craziness, and doesn't judge and loves you.
  • 00:08:50.942 --> 00:08:54.079
  • How much more is god, who is our dearest friend and comforter,
  • 00:08:54.079 --> 00:08:58.450
  • The creator of the whole world, want to come in the middle
  • 00:08:58.450 --> 00:09:00.852
  • Of our mess.
  • 00:09:00.852 --> 00:09:02.454
  • And he doesn't care what it looks like.
  • 00:09:02.454 --> 00:09:05.290
  • He cares about us and our hearts.
  • 00:09:05.290 --> 00:09:06.524
  • And so i think one of the biggest things that god is after
  • 00:09:06.524 --> 00:09:08.426
  • Is our honesty.
  • 00:09:08.426 --> 00:09:09.794
  • You know, that we don't have to create this whole thing of,
  • 00:09:09.794 --> 00:09:12.564
  • Lord, i am trying and i'm trying to have faith right here.
  • 00:09:12.564 --> 00:09:15.567
  • It is okay to come before the lord and say, god, i feel
  • 00:09:15.567 --> 00:09:17.802
  • So broken.
  • 00:09:17.802 --> 00:09:19.170
  • God, would you help my unbelief?
  • 00:09:19.170 --> 00:09:21.906
  • Because i have nothing to offer today.
  • 00:09:21.906 --> 00:09:23.241
  • But god, will you show up?
  • 00:09:23.241 --> 00:09:25.877
  • God, i'm believing in, like you said, going back to
  • 00:09:25.877 --> 00:09:28.013
  • His promises.
  • 00:09:28.013 --> 00:09:29.381
  • And there were times in my loss that i would literally say, i
  • 00:09:29.381 --> 00:09:32.350
  • Will not die, but i will live and i'll proclaim the
  • 00:09:32.350 --> 00:09:34.986
  • Mercies of god.
  • 00:09:34.986 --> 00:09:36.021
  • Because right now i feel like i'm dying, god.
  • 00:09:36.021 --> 00:09:37.822
  • I feel like i'm dying, but i'm proclaiming what your word says,
  • 00:09:37.822 --> 00:09:41.426
  • That i will not die.
  • 00:09:41.426 --> 00:09:42.861
  • And one day i will declare your mercies.
  • 00:09:42.861 --> 00:09:45.163
  • And that's the cool thing about the lord is obviously we know
  • 00:09:45.163 --> 00:09:47.399
  • That his promises are always true, but we can hold them
  • 00:09:47.399 --> 00:09:51.136
  • To that.
  • 00:09:51.136 --> 00:09:51.836
  • We know it's true.
  • 00:09:51.836 --> 00:09:53.438
  • And so sometimes we have to say it until we actually believe
  • 00:09:53.438 --> 00:09:57.642
  • That it's true.
  • 00:09:57.642 --> 00:09:58.376
  • But i think god is so kind.
  • 00:09:58.376 --> 00:09:59.978
  • That he comes in the midst of our mess and he just wants us
  • 00:09:59.978 --> 00:10:03.448
  • And our honesty.
  • 00:10:03.448 --> 00:10:04.582
  • And you can do something with that, right?
  • 00:10:04.582 --> 00:10:06.151
  • Like if my friend comes over and i know that she's struggling and
  • 00:10:06.151 --> 00:10:10.155
  • I say, how are you?
  • 00:10:10.155 --> 00:10:10.889
  • And she says, i'm fine.
  • 00:10:10.889 --> 00:10:11.790
  • Nothing's wrong over here.
  • 00:10:11.790 --> 00:10:13.425
  • And i know that they are walking through something
  • 00:10:13.425 --> 00:10:15.393
  • So devastating.
  • 00:10:15.393 --> 00:10:16.661
  • It's hard for me to comfort her and step into her story.
  • 00:10:16.661 --> 00:10:19.064
  • But when you come and you say, god, i am hurting.
  • 00:10:19.064 --> 00:10:22.634
  • This hurts.
  • 00:10:22.634 --> 00:10:25.303
  • God, i don't know what to do with this situation.
  • 00:10:24.169 --> 00:10:26.304
  • He can come in and all of his majesty.
  • 00:10:26.304 --> 00:10:28.573
  • And the way that he is so personal with his presence and
  • 00:10:28.573 --> 00:10:31.976
  • With his people and with his promises.
  • 00:10:31.976 --> 00:10:33.678
  • And he can come step in and do the work that only he can do.
  • 00:10:33.678 --> 00:10:37.015
  • - one of the greatest lessons i've learned in my life is to
  • 00:10:37.015 --> 00:10:40.885
  • Be very honest and raw and transparent in god's presence.
  • 00:10:40.885 --> 00:10:44.923
  • Honestly, it will change your life.
  • 00:10:44.923 --> 00:10:47.826
  • I don't know what your background is like or whether
  • 00:10:47.826 --> 00:10:50.462
  • You feel as if you have to be a certain way when you pray and
  • 00:10:50.462 --> 00:10:53.031
  • Say the right things.
  • 00:10:53.031 --> 00:10:54.299
  • But you know what?
  • 00:10:54.299 --> 00:10:56.134
  • God knows you.
  • 00:10:56.134 --> 00:10:57.202
  • God made you.
  • 00:10:57.202 --> 00:10:59.104
  • He knows exactly what's going on in your life.
  • 00:10:59.104 --> 00:11:00.271
  • And you get to tell him the whole truth.
  • 00:11:00.271 --> 00:11:02.640
  • I really encourage you to find a few moments today and just tell
  • 00:11:02.640 --> 00:11:05.643
  • God what's going on.
  • 00:11:05.643 --> 00:11:07.746
  • You don't have to clean yourself up to come to your father.
  • 00:11:07.746 --> 00:11:09.948
  • You get to come as you are.
  • 00:11:09.948 --> 00:11:11.616
  • Because i know as a mom, i...
  • 00:11:11.616 --> 00:11:14.586
  • Want to know what's going on with my kids you know and
  • 00:11:14.586 --> 00:11:17.655
  • Anything that they might be feeling i'd rather know about it
  • 00:11:17.655 --> 00:11:21.359
  • Than not know about it and as a mom i think there's nothing too
  • 00:11:21.359 --> 00:11:25.330
  • Big that you're going through that i would not still love you
  • 00:11:25.330 --> 00:11:30.635
  • Through, and i would still not be there for so how much
  • 00:11:30.635 --> 00:11:33.471
  • Greater is that that our father our god our heavenly father
  • 00:11:33.471 --> 00:11:37.442
  • Wants us to come to him with such honesty and
  • 00:11:37.442 --> 00:11:40.812
  • Such authenticity.
  • 00:11:40.812 --> 00:11:42.180
  • And is he not big enough to carry all of the stuff?
  • 00:11:42.180 --> 00:11:44.849
  • Can we come to him with all of our negative feelings, our
  • 00:11:44.849 --> 00:11:49.120
  • Shame, our guilt, our suffering, our frustrations, our anger even
  • 00:11:49.120 --> 00:11:54.359
  • Toward god?
  • 00:11:54.359 --> 00:11:55.226
  • Can he not handle that?
  • 00:11:55.226 --> 00:11:56.728
  • And so it's a good reminder of even if we swap places of
  • 00:11:56.728 --> 00:12:00.365
  • Someone that we love so much, how we might feel and then just
  • 00:12:00.365 --> 00:12:04.502
  • Flipping back around and saying, of course god would want it.
  • 00:12:04.502 --> 00:12:07.705
  • - it's an indication of the depth of relationship.
  • 00:12:07.705 --> 00:12:10.141
  • I think to the level that we're honest with god is an indication
  • 00:12:10.141 --> 00:12:13.478
  • Of how much we actually trust him and have a picture of how
  • 00:12:13.478 --> 00:12:16.080
  • Big he is.
  • 00:12:16.080 --> 00:12:17.415
  • Because, i mean, all through the psalms, all through scripture,
  • 00:12:17.415 --> 00:12:19.884
  • Really, i mean, think of david, you know, and then there's a
  • 00:12:19.884 --> 00:12:23.888
  • Psalm that christ quoted, psalm 22, my god, my god, why have you
  • 00:12:23.888 --> 00:12:26.357
  • Forsaken me?
  • 00:12:26.357 --> 00:12:28.593
  • If the son of god could ask a question like that, and i know
  • 00:12:28.593 --> 00:12:34.465
  • That when he was on the cross, i know he was praying through
  • 00:12:34.465 --> 00:12:35.967
  • The psalms.
  • 00:12:35.967 --> 00:12:37.335
  • For strength but i think that's one of the things we struggle
  • 00:12:37.335 --> 00:12:39.237
  • With being really honest with god but as i've got older i
  • 00:12:39.237 --> 00:12:43.174
  • Realize it's the greatest gift in a way to be because god
  • 00:12:43.174 --> 00:12:47.712
  • Already knows yeah i mean god already knows everything that's
  • 00:12:47.712 --> 00:12:50.014
  • True but to be able to bring all the seasons that are good and
  • 00:12:50.014 --> 00:12:52.016
  • The seasons that are hard and the questions he is definitely
  • 00:12:52.016 --> 00:12:58.923
  • Big enough to handle all.
  • 00:12:58.923 --> 00:13:00.325
  • - i think god really does welcome our
  • 00:13:00.325 --> 00:13:02.727
  • Questions i think god wants us to come to him with anything
  • 00:13:02.727 --> 00:13:05.630
  • That's on our mind.
  • 00:13:05.630 --> 00:13:07.098
  • It could be what stresses us out, what worries us.
  • 00:13:07.098 --> 00:13:10.034
  • It could also be what gives us joy and delight.
  • 00:13:10.034 --> 00:13:14.072
  • I think as a mother myself, i just want to hear what's going
  • 00:13:14.072 --> 00:13:16.007
  • On in my kids' lives.
  • 00:13:16.007 --> 00:13:17.208
  • I'll always take their phone call.
  • 00:13:17.208 --> 00:13:19.277
  • And so, yeah, i think god cares.
  • 00:13:19.277 --> 00:13:20.345
  • God wants to hear those things.
  • 00:13:20.345 --> 00:13:22.146
  • ♪ (music playing) ♪
  • 00:13:22.146 --> 00:13:27.252
  • - questioning god does not equal a lack of faith.
  • 00:13:27.252 --> 00:13:28.753
  • In fact, questioning god shows your honesty before the lord.
  • 00:13:28.753 --> 00:13:33.625
  • It shows your desire to have a deeper relationship with him.
  • 00:13:33.625 --> 00:13:36.027
  • I want to encourage you in the midst of whatever you're walking
  • 00:13:36.027 --> 00:13:38.863
  • Through to go to god with your questions.
  • 00:13:38.863 --> 00:13:40.932
  • He can handle anything.
  • 00:13:40.932 --> 00:13:43.668
  • He can handle our anger.
  • 00:13:43.668 --> 00:13:44.502
  • He can handle our doubt.
  • 00:13:44.502 --> 00:13:45.803
  • He can handle anything, and he is the one we can run to.
  • 00:13:45.803 --> 00:13:48.273
  • - in the church we tend to emphasize faith so much to the
  • 00:13:48.273 --> 00:13:52.677
  • Point where we feel as though we are sinning or failing god when
  • 00:13:52.677 --> 00:13:57.849
  • We doubt and so we immerse ourselves in that shame when
  • 00:13:57.849 --> 00:14:01.119
  • Actually faith isn't the absence of doubt but it's trusting god
  • 00:14:01.119 --> 00:14:06.824
  • Through the doubt and it's engaging with him as you
  • 00:14:06.824 --> 00:14:10.461
  • Navigate the mystery of his presence.
  • 00:14:10.461 --> 00:14:12.664
  • - god wants us to do life together because we
  • 00:14:12.664 --> 00:14:16.567
  • Are better together.
  • 00:14:16.567 --> 00:14:18.603
  • - so connect with us on social media and
  • 00:14:18.603 --> 00:14:21.105
  • Share your favorite moments from today.
  • 00:14:21.105 --> 00:14:23.841
  • - we can't wait for you to join us.
  • 00:14:23.841 --> 00:14:25.243
  • Let's keep the conversation going.
  • 00:14:25.243 --> 00:14:29.347
  • You can find the better together podcast.
  • 00:14:29.347 --> 00:14:30.848
  • On your favorite listening platform.
  • 00:14:30.848 --> 00:14:32.350
  • Subscribe today.
  • 00:14:32.350 --> 00:14:34.752
  • ♪ (music playing) ♪
  • 00:14:34.752 --> 00:14:36.998
  • ♪ (music playing) ♪
  • 00:14:36.998 --> 00:14:40.325
  • - sometimes we wonder, is it disrespectful to question god?
  • 00:14:40.325 --> 00:14:46.064
  • I think it's the absolute opposite.
  • 00:14:46.064 --> 00:14:47.665
  • I think when you're willing to ask god the hard questions, it
  • 00:14:47.665 --> 00:14:51.302
  • Means that you actually trust that he's big enough, that he
  • 00:14:51.302 --> 00:14:53.137
  • Loves you enough.
  • 00:14:53.137 --> 00:14:54.872
  • Never be afraid to bring everything that you're thinking
  • 00:14:54.872 --> 00:14:57.942
  • About or wondering about to god.
  • 00:14:57.942 --> 00:15:00.545
  • You get to bring all your emotions.
  • 00:15:00.545 --> 00:15:02.413
  • And i think that shows god that you love him and you trust that
  • 00:15:02.413 --> 00:15:04.983
  • He is big enough.
  • 00:15:04.983 --> 00:15:06.250
  • God is big enough to handle anything that you're
  • 00:15:06.250 --> 00:15:08.886
  • Walking through.
  • 00:15:08.886 --> 00:15:11.255
  • ♪ (music playing) ♪
  • 00:15:11.255 --> 00:15:14.258
  • - i remember a time that i was visiting some family's home and
  • 00:15:14.258 --> 00:15:18.730
  • Someone had told me something that really upset me.
  • 00:15:18.730 --> 00:15:22.800
  • And i got in the car and i was mad that it had upset me.
  • 00:15:22.800 --> 00:15:24.469
  • I was like, god, you know, and i was talking out, you know, that
  • 00:15:24.469 --> 00:15:31.009
  • Communion with god.
  • 00:15:31.009 --> 00:15:32.777
  • You can talk to god wherever you are, whatever you're doing, the
  • 00:15:32.777 --> 00:15:35.813
  • Communion between each other.
  • 00:15:35.813 --> 00:15:38.282
  • I said, god, i'm not sure what
  • 00:15:38.282 --> 00:15:39.951
  • It was that upset me so much.
  • 00:15:39.951 --> 00:15:41.552
  • But the feeling that i have right now, you know
  • 00:15:41.552 --> 00:15:45.757
  • What that is.
  • 00:15:45.757 --> 00:15:46.924
  • And i said, i don't know if that's bitterness, but i
  • 00:15:46.924 --> 00:15:49.427
  • Don't like it.
  • 00:15:49.427 --> 00:15:50.728
  • So i know it's not good, you know, because it doesn't make me
  • 00:15:50.728 --> 00:15:53.031
  • Feel good.
  • 00:15:53.031 --> 00:15:54.298
  • But you know what bothered me about that.
  • 00:15:54.298 --> 00:15:57.502
  • And i said, i just need you to take all that out because you
  • 00:15:57.502 --> 00:15:59.837
  • Know exactly what it is and fill in the gaps.
  • 00:15:59.837 --> 00:16:02.473
  • His presence and his character, that's what we all
  • 00:16:02.473 --> 00:16:06.844
  • Are striving to know is god's character.
  • 00:16:06.844 --> 00:16:10.448
  • We can see evidence all around us.
  • 00:16:10.448 --> 00:16:12.850
  • The bible says only a fool says there is no god.
  • 00:16:12.850 --> 00:16:16.988
  • So does god exist? yes.
  • 00:16:16.988 --> 00:16:20.491
  • Just look up, you know, look around and you'll see.
  • 00:16:20.491 --> 00:16:23.361
  • So it's not the evidence that convinces us that god, it's his
  • 00:16:23.361 --> 00:16:28.699
  • Presence and his character.
  • 00:16:28.699 --> 00:16:31.269
  • And so knowing the character of god, that god is with me, he'll
  • 00:16:31.269 --> 00:16:34.772
  • Never forsake me.
  • 00:16:34.772 --> 00:16:37.141
  • So those times when you, i think we've all been there.
  • 00:16:37.141 --> 00:16:40.945
  • It's just like, man, i don't know.
  • 00:16:40.945 --> 00:16:43.448
  • Am i in trouble?
  • 00:16:43.448 --> 00:16:44.415
  • Did i do something wrong?
  • 00:16:44.415 --> 00:16:46.684
  • You know, did we make a mistake?
  • 00:16:46.684 --> 00:16:48.686
  • I mean, how many times did you think, did we make a mistake
  • 00:16:48.686 --> 00:16:51.255
  • Trying to start this church?
  • 00:16:51.255 --> 00:16:53.524
  • But you have done something in faith.
  • 00:16:53.524 --> 00:16:55.860
  • And i think that is such, and this sounds completely upside
  • 00:16:55.860 --> 00:16:59.797
  • Down, but i think that's what the kingdom of god is.
  • 00:16:59.797 --> 00:17:03.134
  • Sometimes when we feel like we've...
  • 00:17:03.134 --> 00:17:05.536
  • Followed what god has spoken to us, and then you find yourself
  • 00:17:05.536 --> 00:17:08.940
  • Going, okay, things are not going the way.
  • 00:17:08.940 --> 00:17:11.409
  • I thought faith was going to be me moving, and then god was just
  • 00:17:11.409 --> 00:17:14.412
  • Going to move real big and explode something because i had
  • 00:17:14.412 --> 00:17:20.084
  • This faith, and i have found that that's not really
  • 00:17:20.084 --> 00:17:22.286
  • What happens.
  • 00:17:22.286 --> 00:17:24.922
  • It's like when you take that great step of faith, now god is
  • 00:17:24.922 --> 00:17:27.558
  • Like going, absolutely, now come.
  • 00:17:27.558 --> 00:17:30.394
  • Come to me.
  • 00:17:30.394 --> 00:17:31.529
  • It's like peter getting out of the boat.
  • 00:17:31.529 --> 00:17:35.399
  • It says he hovered on the water, that he moved towards jesus.
  • 00:17:35.399 --> 00:17:36.801
  • Well, maybe the storm got even greater once he was to jesus.
  • 00:17:36.801 --> 00:17:40.905
  • What if jesus was saying, now that you're here, it's not about
  • 00:17:40.905 --> 00:17:46.611
  • What you see.
  • 00:17:46.611 --> 00:17:48.012
  • Because i'm here.
  • 00:17:48.012 --> 00:17:50.815
  • And i think that's what every trial or tribulation or every
  • 00:17:50.815 --> 00:17:55.586
  • Step of faith that leads us to that.
  • 00:17:55.586 --> 00:17:58.589
  • (gasps) are you here?
  • 00:17:58.589 --> 00:17:59.957
  • And god is going, i am here.
  • 00:17:59.957 --> 00:18:01.659
  • I want you to experience my presence here.
  • 00:18:01.659 --> 00:18:05.229
  • I think everyone has questioned a time in their life when you've
  • 00:18:05.229 --> 00:18:09.867
  • Thought, god, why me?
  • 00:18:09.867 --> 00:18:13.538
  • Why all this all at the same time?
  • 00:18:13.538 --> 00:18:15.840
  • It's like when it rains, it pours.
  • 00:18:15.840 --> 00:18:17.341
  • But god is always faithful.
  • 00:18:17.341 --> 00:18:19.277
  • There's always been something that i have been able to look
  • 00:18:19.277 --> 00:18:21.946
  • Back on and go, man, you were with us then, and you were with
  • 00:18:21.946 --> 00:18:25.216
  • Us then, and you were with us then.
  • 00:18:25.216 --> 00:18:28.486
  • And your bible says, your words say, you will never leave me,
  • 00:18:28.486 --> 00:18:34.792
  • Nor will you forsake me.
  • 00:18:34.792 --> 00:18:36.661
  • And so those promises you cling to, i hold on to those promises
  • 00:18:36.661 --> 00:18:41.299
  • That god never leaves us wanting.
  • 00:18:41.299 --> 00:18:45.937
  • That we lack nothing from god, that surely goodness and mercy
  • 00:18:45.937 --> 00:18:49.507
  • Follows us every day of our life.
  • 00:18:49.507 --> 00:18:52.176
  • You claim those.
  • 00:18:52.176 --> 00:18:54.278
  • You receive those.
  • 00:18:54.278 --> 00:18:55.580
  • You start meditating on those beautiful promises of god.
  • 00:18:55.580 --> 00:18:58.749
  • And man, in the time of your need, they'll be right
  • 00:18:58.749 --> 00:19:03.821
  • There for you.
  • 00:19:03.821 --> 00:19:04.689
  • - you know what that reminds me of?
  • 00:19:04.689 --> 00:19:06.991
  • So one of my kids, when she was little, like around four years
  • 00:19:06.991 --> 00:19:09.927
  • Old, she would spill water in front of us.
  • 00:19:09.927 --> 00:19:13.631
  • Like all of us.
  • 00:19:13.631 --> 00:19:14.999
  • Like, you know.
  • 00:19:14.999 --> 00:19:16.300
  • Five people are witnesses, but then she would pause and go,
  • 00:19:16.300 --> 00:19:19.704
  • Just don't believe it.
  • 00:19:19.704 --> 00:19:23.174
  • You know, she would just look straight at us and be like, just
  • 00:19:23.174 --> 00:19:26.110
  • Don't believe it.
  • 00:19:26.110 --> 00:19:27.345
  • You know, and i think this was just her way of diverting
  • 00:19:27.345 --> 00:19:31.249
  • The attention.
  • 00:19:31.249 --> 00:19:32.016
  • - nothing to see here, people.
  • 00:19:32.016 --> 00:19:33.217
  • - yeah, right, exactly.
  • 00:19:33.217 --> 00:19:34.452
  • That was her way of saying there's nothing to see here.
  • 00:19:34.452 --> 00:19:37.888
  • And in some way, i feel like we think that's what god wants
  • 00:19:37.888 --> 00:19:40.057
  • Us to do. - that's good.
  • 00:19:40.057 --> 00:19:42.193
  • God is basically saying, just don't believe the storm.
  • 00:19:42.193 --> 00:19:44.996
  • Just don't believe this horrendous pain you're going
  • 00:19:44.996 --> 00:19:48.366
  • Through. don't believe that loss.
  • 00:19:48.366 --> 00:19:50.368
  • And i think sometimes we feel some sort of way about that
  • 00:19:50.368 --> 00:19:53.571
  • Because it's almost like we have to produce this
  • 00:19:53.571 --> 00:19:57.842
  • Blind compliance.
  • 00:19:57.842 --> 00:19:59.410
  • But faith is not blind compliance.
  • 00:19:59.410 --> 00:20:02.013
  • It's not just a, yeah, right.
  • 00:20:02.013 --> 00:20:04.949
  • It's not really there.
  • 00:20:04.949 --> 00:20:06.050
  • And we're just playing this game.
  • 00:20:06.050 --> 00:20:07.618
  • But actually, when you look throughout scripture.
  • 00:20:07.618 --> 00:20:10.354
  • God has called us into covenant to engage and participate in
  • 00:20:10.354 --> 00:20:15.793
  • This faith.
  • 00:20:15.793 --> 00:20:17.728
  • I mean, god chose to wrestle with jacob.
  • 00:20:17.728 --> 00:20:20.531
  • I think that's interesting because never in a day do i ever
  • 00:20:20.531 --> 00:20:24.001
  • Think i want to wrestle with someone.
  • 00:20:24.001 --> 00:20:26.570
  • This is how i want to relate with that person.
  • 00:20:26.570 --> 00:20:30.875
  • But god chose that conflict.
  • 00:20:30.875 --> 00:20:34.211
  • God chose to engage with someone to that level of intimacy.
  • 00:20:34.211 --> 00:20:39.684
  • That level of tension, right, in order to commune with jacob and
  • 00:20:39.684 --> 00:20:46.757
  • In a way to give jacob a revelation that he would not
  • 00:20:46.757 --> 00:20:49.260
  • Have had unless he was willing to engage in that wrestling.
  • 00:20:49.260 --> 00:20:53.064
  • So i think we think we are winning at faith when we're just
  • 00:20:53.064 --> 00:20:57.301
  • Compliant, when actually you're winning at faith when you are
  • 00:20:57.301 --> 00:21:00.671
  • Engaging with god, participating with the lord amidst
  • 00:21:00.671 --> 00:21:03.174
  • Your doubts.
  • 00:21:03.174 --> 00:21:06.610
  • - you know, all of us can fall in these pits when we are left
  • 00:21:06.610 --> 00:21:09.880
  • Alone with our questions, when we believe the lies and we
  • 00:21:09.880 --> 00:21:13.718
  • Wrestle with it alone.
  • 00:21:13.718 --> 00:21:15.619
  • That's why god's given us community to come alongside of
  • 00:21:15.619 --> 00:21:17.988
  • Us, to speak truth, to encourage our hearts when we wrestle
  • 00:21:17.988 --> 00:21:20.758
  • Through these questions.
  • 00:21:20.758 --> 00:21:23.227
  • God, why did you allow this to happen?
  • 00:21:23.227 --> 00:21:24.595
  • God, are you still good?
  • 00:21:24.595 --> 00:21:25.963
  • Is there still good left in my life?
  • 00:21:25.963 --> 00:21:27.798
  • Those are all questions that we can ask and we can go to god to
  • 00:21:27.798 --> 00:21:31.001
  • And ask the lord to make a way in it.
  • 00:21:31.001 --> 00:21:32.903
  • But also with those hard questions, it's very important
  • 00:21:32.903 --> 00:21:36.073
  • To ask believers in christ, mentors, people that you
  • 00:21:36.073 --> 00:21:39.443
  • Respect to come alongside you and help you
  • 00:21:39.443 --> 00:21:41.612
  • As you wrestle through them.
  • 00:21:41.612 --> 00:21:43.514
  • I remember being angry with god at one point.
  • 00:21:43.514 --> 00:21:47.017
  • I literally remember months after my husband passed away and
  • 00:21:47.017 --> 00:21:50.121
  • I'm raising these precious little babies.
  • 00:21:50.121 --> 00:21:52.456
  • And i called my mom one day and i was like, can you watch
  • 00:21:52.456 --> 00:21:54.925
  • The kids? i just need to go on a run.
  • 00:21:54.925 --> 00:21:56.827
  • And i could just feel it.
  • 00:21:56.827 --> 00:21:57.895
  • I mean, i felt all these emotions just coming in.
  • 00:21:57.895 --> 00:21:59.597
  • I was like, i just need to go run.
  • 00:21:59.597 --> 00:22:02.400
  • So i dropped off my babies and i remember i started running
  • 00:22:02.400 --> 00:22:04.535
  • And i am.
  • 00:22:04.535 --> 00:22:06.437
  • Just so mad i'm like god why did you call my kids to this i mean
  • 00:22:06.437 --> 00:22:11.008
  • That was the anger that i had, it's one thing to call me
  • 00:22:11.008 --> 00:22:13.611
  • To this pain it's another thing my kids ran you know to the door
  • 00:22:13.611 --> 00:22:17.047
  • When they heard the door knock and said daddy daddy and i'm
  • 00:22:17.047 --> 00:22:20.351
  • Like he's been gone four months you know just that-- that just
  • 00:22:20.351 --> 00:22:23.220
  • Brought up so much in my heart you know and so as a mom you
  • 00:22:23.220 --> 00:22:27.658
  • Know you're discipling them and trying to teach them but i'm
  • 00:22:27.658 --> 00:22:29.927
  • Grieving myself.
  • 00:22:29.927 --> 00:22:31.328
  • And so at the beginning of this run, i mean, i am running fast.
  • 00:22:31.328 --> 00:22:34.064
  • I am just weeping.
  • 00:22:34.064 --> 00:22:35.966
  • And i'm like, god, i feel so angry.
  • 00:22:35.966 --> 00:22:38.235
  • I'm so mad.
  • 00:22:38.235 --> 00:22:40.171
  • I don't want to be mad about this.
  • 00:22:40.171 --> 00:22:42.173
  • I know you called our family to this.
  • 00:22:42.173 --> 00:22:44.708
  • God, i want to trust you in it, but god, i'm just mad.
  • 00:22:44.708 --> 00:22:46.177
  • And i just kept running.
  • 00:22:46.177 --> 00:22:48.279
  • And it was crazy because as i kept running, i kept saying, but
  • 00:22:48.279 --> 00:22:52.616
  • God, i've seen you here.
  • 00:22:52.616 --> 00:22:53.584
  • But god, you have ministered to us here.
  • 00:22:53.584 --> 00:22:56.287
  • God, you have never let us alone.
  • 00:22:56.287 --> 00:22:58.556
  • God, i saw that person that showed up at our door and
  • 00:22:58.556 --> 00:23:01.325
  • Brought us a meal and prayed over our home.
  • 00:23:01.325 --> 00:23:03.627
  • I saw that person reach out and prayed for me in that moment
  • 00:23:03.627 --> 00:23:06.464
  • That i need.
  • 00:23:06.464 --> 00:23:07.798
  • And so as i was running, it came from anger to literally yielding
  • 00:23:07.798 --> 00:23:12.470
  • To at the end of the run, i had my hand in the air and i said,
  • 00:23:12.470 --> 00:23:15.773
  • God, i will trust you.
  • 00:23:15.773 --> 00:23:17.107
  • And god, i will still worship you even when this is hard and
  • 00:23:17.107 --> 00:23:20.211
  • Even when this is not going away because you are worthy of all
  • 00:23:20.211 --> 00:23:24.081
  • Praise and god, you have been good.
  • 00:23:24.081 --> 00:23:26.550
  • And so it's amazing how we are on this journey with god.
  • 00:23:26.550 --> 00:23:31.055
  • And unless i had to start where i was at the anger part, i
  • 00:23:31.055 --> 00:23:34.458
  • Wouldn't have made it to the trusting part.
  • 00:23:34.458 --> 00:23:37.094
  • And you see that example in scripture of lament.
  • 00:23:37.094 --> 00:23:40.197
  • That is what lament is.
  • 00:23:40.197 --> 00:23:43.601
  • It's giving god, you know, was it okay that my
  • 00:23:43.601 --> 00:23:45.102
  • Husband passed away?
  • 00:23:45.102 --> 00:23:46.103
  • No, i wasn't okay with it.
  • 00:23:46.103 --> 00:23:47.471
  • But i was okay with jesus being near to us.
  • 00:23:47.471 --> 00:23:50.407
  • Was it good that my kids were walking through this pain?
  • 00:23:50.407 --> 00:23:52.977
  • No, but was god good?
  • 00:23:52.977 --> 00:23:54.378
  • And did it say the nearness of god is our good?
  • 00:23:54.378 --> 00:23:57.548
  • So god was still good, even though the circumstance wasn't.
  • 00:23:57.548 --> 00:24:00.751
  • And i think that's what happens.
  • 00:24:00.751 --> 00:24:03.053
  • And that's all throughout scripture.
  • 00:24:03.053 --> 00:24:04.388
  • David saying, god, why have you forsaken me?
  • 00:24:04.388 --> 00:24:06.557
  • God, why did you allow this to happen?
  • 00:24:06.557 --> 00:24:08.125
  • All these people are against me.
  • 00:24:08.125 --> 00:24:09.593
  • I'm hurting in this way, but you are my refuge.
  • 00:24:09.593 --> 00:24:11.495
  • But god, i will trust in you.
  • 00:24:11.495 --> 00:24:14.031
  • But god, you are faithful.
  • 00:24:14.031 --> 00:24:17.001
  • God, have the steadfast love that never ceases.
  • 00:24:17.001 --> 00:24:19.503
  • I mean, you see that all throughout scripture, god's
  • 00:24:19.503 --> 00:24:22.239
  • Faithfulness is steadfast love, but often we don't get to the
  • 00:24:22.239 --> 00:24:24.842
  • Goodness of god or experience his nearness or his presence
  • 00:24:24.842 --> 00:24:28.412
  • Until we get honest with god.
  • 00:24:28.412 --> 00:24:29.980
  • It's right where we start.
  • 00:24:29.980 --> 00:24:31.815
  • And it's the process of lament, which i feel like so often in
  • 00:24:31.815 --> 00:24:34.885
  • The christian circles, we skip over it because like you said,
  • 00:24:34.885 --> 00:24:38.389
  • You just want to act like everything's fine.
  • 00:24:38.389 --> 00:24:40.491
  • Nobody knows what to deal with this sad, angry widow.
  • 00:24:40.491 --> 00:24:42.893
  • And i was like, i don't know what to do with this.
  • 00:24:42.893 --> 00:24:46.196
  • But god does.
  • 00:24:46.196 --> 00:24:47.464
  • God always knows what to do with it.
  • 00:24:47.464 --> 00:24:49.333
  • And he promises to be near the brokenhearted and those crushed
  • 00:24:49.333 --> 00:24:52.736
  • In spirit.
  • 00:24:52.736 --> 00:24:54.171
  • He promises it.
  • 00:24:54.171 --> 00:24:55.372
  • So even when we feel like, oh, people are afraid of our
  • 00:24:55.372 --> 00:24:58.742
  • Emotions or i'm too much for this person, god never tires.
  • 00:24:58.742 --> 00:25:01.178
  • He never goes silent while we are hurting.
  • 00:25:01.178 --> 00:25:04.915
  • He never does.
  • 00:25:04.915 --> 00:25:06.216
  • He is always with us and he just wants us to come to him.
  • 00:25:06.216 --> 00:25:10.154
  • - and god gave us those emotions.
  • 00:25:10.154 --> 00:25:11.855
  • - yes. he made those emotions in us.
  • 00:25:11.855 --> 00:25:13.691
  • - when we give god our sorrows, it doesn't mean that we are just
  • 00:25:13.691 --> 00:25:16.760
  • Ignoring the reality of what we are going through, but actually
  • 00:25:16.760 --> 00:25:20.230
  • It means lamenting.
  • 00:25:20.230 --> 00:25:21.498
  • Lament is holy.
  • 00:25:21.498 --> 00:25:24.501
  • Lament is completely acceptable to god.
  • 00:25:24.501 --> 00:25:28.372
  • It's having sorrow with god and not without god.
  • 00:25:28.372 --> 00:25:33.310
  • It's not walking away from him because of our pain, but it's
  • 00:25:33.310 --> 00:25:36.146
  • Enduring our pain with him.
  • 00:25:36.146 --> 00:25:38.048
  • - it is like this... image of the psalms.
  • 00:25:38.048 --> 00:25:42.820
  • It's the psalms being written and prayed.
  • 00:25:42.820 --> 00:25:46.390
  • It's david saying, it's a confessional, right?
  • 00:25:46.390 --> 00:25:48.492
  • You start with this confession and it's like you're angry and
  • 00:25:48.492 --> 00:25:52.296
  • These emotions and all of a sudden you realize, oh, but god,
  • 00:25:52.296 --> 00:25:55.265
  • You're still good.
  • 00:25:55.265 --> 00:25:56.133
  • God, you're still good.
  • 00:25:56.133 --> 00:25:57.501
  • In some of the moments that i have felt the most, like things
  • 00:25:57.501 --> 00:26:01.905
  • Aren't okay.
  • 00:26:01.905 --> 00:26:03.040
  • Just having also other image bearers come around.
  • 00:26:03.040 --> 00:26:05.476
  • Sometimes it's not just what we're doing, but what can we
  • 00:26:05.476 --> 00:26:08.612
  • Give to others?
  • 00:26:08.612 --> 00:26:09.713
  • And they don't have to say anything.
  • 00:26:09.713 --> 00:26:11.382
  • Just sitting in it and saying.
  • 00:26:11.382 --> 00:26:13.317
  • And just sitting, like, i don't have the answers.
  • 00:26:13.317 --> 00:26:16.086
  • That's actually probably the best thing.
  • 00:26:16.086 --> 00:26:17.588
  • Maybe don't say anything.
  • 00:26:17.588 --> 00:26:18.922
  • - yeah, i think when pain's the greatest, words should be
  • 00:26:18.922 --> 00:26:22.092
  • The fewest.
  • 00:26:22.092 --> 00:26:23.027
  • - yes, exactly, sheila.
  • 00:26:23.027 --> 00:26:23.661
  • Like, just sit.
  • 00:26:23.661 --> 00:26:25.195
  • That is so good.
  • 00:26:25.195 --> 00:26:26.497
  • I remember my mom telling me that when she and my dad were
  • 00:26:26.497 --> 00:26:28.332
  • Dating, they weren't even engaged yet, and they went to,
  • 00:26:28.332 --> 00:26:30.734
  • My dad was singing at a church in glasgow in scotland, and a
  • 00:26:30.734 --> 00:26:33.737
  • Woman stood up and gave this testimony of how she had
  • 00:26:33.737 --> 00:26:36.640
  • Lost her child.
  • 00:26:36.640 --> 00:26:38.509
  • And it was with this sense of, you know, thanking god and
  • 00:26:38.509 --> 00:26:42.680
  • Everything was great.
  • 00:26:42.680 --> 00:26:43.947
  • And my mom said she sat there feeling like, lord, what's
  • 00:26:43.947 --> 00:26:46.817
  • Wrong with me?
  • 00:26:46.817 --> 00:26:48.152
  • Because i don't think that's how i would be in this situation.
  • 00:26:48.152 --> 00:26:49.653
  • But after the service, my mom went to the restroom and she
  • 00:26:49.653 --> 00:26:53.290
  • Heard somebody in the cubicle next to her crying.
  • 00:26:53.290 --> 00:26:55.292
  • And it was that woman.
  • 00:26:55.292 --> 00:26:56.727
  • And i thought, you know, there's something about that.
  • 00:26:56.727 --> 00:26:59.963
  • The message is, you know, you cry away from the
  • 00:26:59.963 --> 00:27:02.966
  • Presence of god.
  • 00:27:02.966 --> 00:27:03.867
  • And i'm like, no, it's the opposite.
  • 00:27:03.867 --> 00:27:05.235
  • God invites us to tell him everything.
  • 00:27:05.235 --> 00:27:07.337
  • Because the fact that you were able to do that, the fact you
  • 00:27:07.337 --> 00:27:10.741
  • Were able to be angry, it's like what jesus did.
  • 00:27:10.741 --> 00:27:13.343
  • When you pour out your pain in the presence of god, you make
  • 00:27:13.343 --> 00:27:16.947
  • Space for grace.
  • 00:27:16.947 --> 00:27:18.315
  • Whereas when you hold on to it all, you know, it's like you've
  • 00:27:18.315 --> 00:27:21.251
  • Just been god at a distance.
  • 00:27:21.251 --> 00:27:23.654
  • - it reminds me of habakkuk.
  • 00:27:23.654 --> 00:27:27.324
  • Habakkuk is one of my favorite books in the bible because it
  • 00:27:27.324 --> 00:27:30.461
  • Starts off with a complaint.
  • 00:27:30.461 --> 00:27:31.762
  • It starts off with, how long, lord, must i call for help?
  • 00:27:31.762 --> 00:27:37.901
  • And you do not listen or cry out to you about violence and you
  • 00:27:37.901 --> 00:27:40.971
  • Do not save.
  • 00:27:40.971 --> 00:27:42.606
  • And it's just habakkuk on behalf of god's people.
  • 00:27:42.606 --> 00:27:46.643
  • Questioning god.
  • 00:27:46.643 --> 00:27:49.213
  • And the fact that god included this in scripture, and we're
  • 00:27:49.213 --> 00:27:52.249
  • Supposed to learn from this exchange between son and father,
  • 00:27:52.249 --> 00:28:01.325
  • Between child and god, right?
  • 00:28:01.325 --> 00:28:03.761
  • What's so beautiful about that is at the end, he goes, though
  • 00:28:03.761 --> 00:28:06.597
  • The fig tree does not bud and there is no fruit on the vines,
  • 00:28:06.597 --> 00:28:11.769
  • Though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food.
  • 00:28:11.769 --> 00:28:15.305
  • Though the flocks disappear from the pen and there are no herds
  • 00:28:15.305 --> 00:28:19.276
  • In the stalls, yet i will celebrate in the lord.
  • 00:28:19.276 --> 00:28:23.747
  • I will rejoice in the god of my salvation.
  • 00:28:23.747 --> 00:28:26.817
  • The lord, my lord, is my strength.
  • 00:28:26.817 --> 00:28:30.988
  • He makes my feet like those of a deer and enables me to walk on
  • 00:28:30.988 --> 00:28:35.425
  • Mountain heights.
  • 00:28:35.425 --> 00:28:37.761
  • And the fact that he got to that place of celebration, not
  • 00:28:37.761 --> 00:28:45.669
  • Because of his strength, not because of his wisdom, but
  • 00:28:45.669 --> 00:28:47.704
  • Because he was, like you were saying, willing to pour himself
  • 00:28:47.704 --> 00:28:50.874
  • Out honestly and bring the hard questions to the table.
  • 00:28:50.874 --> 00:28:55.879
  • And as you engage in the mystery of his presence, at the end, you
  • 00:28:55.879 --> 00:29:02.953
  • End with celebration because you realize that the one that you're
  • 00:29:02.953 --> 00:29:07.658
  • Engaging with is greater than the questions, greater
  • 00:29:07.658 --> 00:29:12.496
  • Than the doubt.
  • 00:29:12.496 --> 00:29:13.697
  • And i think sometimes we feel like, clarity equals the
  • 00:29:13.697 --> 00:29:16.633
  • Presence of god.
  • 00:29:16.633 --> 00:29:18.535
  • And that feeling better equals the presence of god.
  • 00:29:18.535 --> 00:29:23.473
  • And here habakkuk is like, well, there's no bud on the trees.
  • 00:29:23.473 --> 00:29:28.579
  • There's nothing happening.
  • 00:29:28.579 --> 00:29:30.447
  • But i celebrate the lord.
  • 00:29:30.447 --> 00:29:33.483
  • I think one of the hardest things that we experience as
  • 00:29:33.483 --> 00:29:37.855
  • Believers is when god feels silent.
  • 00:29:37.855 --> 00:29:39.923
  • You know, maybe you've been praying about something for a
  • 00:29:39.923 --> 00:29:43.427
  • Long time and you just feel as if you don't know if god's even
  • 00:29:43.427 --> 00:29:45.729
  • Listening and you don't even feel his presence very close.
  • 00:29:45.729 --> 00:29:49.366
  • And in those times, for me, has become really important to study
  • 00:29:49.366 --> 00:29:53.270
  • What god's word actually says.
  • 00:29:53.270 --> 00:29:55.606
  • You know, it says in when james wrote his letter, when jesus'
  • 00:29:55.606 --> 00:29:58.475
  • Brother wrote his letter, he said, he gave us this promise.
  • 00:29:58.475 --> 00:30:01.879
  • He said, draw near to god and he will draw near to you.
  • 00:30:01.879 --> 00:30:06.116
  • So even if it feels as if the lord is far, far away,
  • 00:30:06.116 --> 00:30:08.619
  • Just know...
  • 00:30:08.619 --> 00:30:10.053
  • When you're seeking his presence, he is with you.
  • 00:30:10.053 --> 00:30:12.422
  • I love seeing how jesus responded to ongoing attacks
  • 00:30:12.422 --> 00:30:16.426
  • From the enemy and then pain in his father's presence.
  • 00:30:16.426 --> 00:30:19.029
  • Because you know when the holy spirit led him into the
  • 00:30:19.029 --> 00:30:21.565
  • Wilderness to be tested of the devil.
  • 00:30:21.565 --> 00:30:23.533
  • And so then all the questions are coming, all the
  • 00:30:23.533 --> 00:30:25.402
  • Why questions.
  • 00:30:25.402 --> 00:30:27.638
  • And how he responds to the enemy is...
  • 00:30:27.638 --> 00:30:29.172
  • Always with the word of god.
  • 00:30:29.172 --> 00:30:30.974
  • And i'm thinking if the son of god used the word of god to
  • 00:30:30.974 --> 00:30:33.810
  • Combat the enemy of god, that's my strategy plan.
  • 00:30:33.810 --> 00:30:36.947
  • But when he's in the presence of the lord, that's when he's able
  • 00:30:36.947 --> 00:30:40.350
  • To process his pain and be honest and real and not pretend.
  • 00:30:40.350 --> 00:30:42.953
  • I just think it's a beautiful gift that jesus was willing to
  • 00:30:42.953 --> 00:30:46.556
  • Do that for us.
  • 00:30:46.556 --> 00:30:47.891
  • Just show us how much it cost him to invite us to, because i
  • 00:30:47.891 --> 00:30:51.962
  • Think of people watching.
  • 00:30:51.962 --> 00:30:53.430
  • They're going through seasons right now where they're like, i
  • 00:30:53.430 --> 00:30:55.866
  • Never saw this coming.
  • 00:30:55.866 --> 00:30:56.733
  • And this is just devastating.
  • 00:30:56.733 --> 00:30:58.235
  • And how am i going to make it?
  • 00:30:58.235 --> 00:30:59.569
  • To honor the fact that you're in a place that is not good, but
  • 00:30:59.569 --> 00:31:03.307
  • God understands.
  • 00:31:03.307 --> 00:31:04.808
  • And you get to tell him everything that's true.
  • 00:31:04.808 --> 00:31:06.944
  • And he stays.
  • 00:31:06.944 --> 00:31:08.211
  • - and he doesn't just leave it at that.
  • 00:31:08.211 --> 00:31:10.180
  • I think the cool, most amazing thing about jesus is, you know,
  • 00:31:10.180 --> 00:31:13.750
  • We have these seasons of why, but the lord ministers to us and
  • 00:31:13.750 --> 00:31:17.254
  • It doesn't stay that same season.
  • 00:31:17.254 --> 00:31:19.323
  • You know, i moved from a season of why all the time to
  • 00:31:19.323 --> 00:31:22.926
  • Eventually accepting where i was, accepting the journey god
  • 00:31:22.926 --> 00:31:25.929
  • Called me to.
  • 00:31:25.929 --> 00:31:27.331
  • And i remember one time just sitting before god, what?
  • 00:31:27.331 --> 00:31:29.800
  • Now, what do i do with this?
  • 00:31:29.800 --> 00:31:31.969
  • I went from the why that i will never understand.
  • 00:31:31.969 --> 00:31:34.905
  • I will never understand how a perfectly healthy 30-year-old
  • 00:31:34.905 --> 00:31:37.274
  • Man can pass away.
  • 00:31:37.274 --> 00:31:39.242
  • I just, i'll never understand it.
  • 00:31:39.242 --> 00:31:41.278
  • I'm never going to have all the answers to all my questions.
  • 00:31:41.278 --> 00:31:43.680
  • But what i do have is a god that met with me in the questions and
  • 00:31:43.680 --> 00:31:48.552
  • Stayed with me and has never left my side.
  • 00:31:48.552 --> 00:31:50.587
  • And so because of his faithfulness, because of god's
  • 00:31:50.587 --> 00:31:53.857
  • Goodness, because the promises that have never failed, even
  • 00:31:53.857 --> 00:31:58.028
  • When life has failed, even when circumstances have failed.
  • 00:31:58.028 --> 00:32:00.364
  • I can stand on the rock of ages, the anchor that holds, and i can
  • 00:32:00.364 --> 00:32:03.700
  • Know that god is faithful even in all of those things and that
  • 00:32:03.700 --> 00:32:07.771
  • God can lead us from the why to say, god, what now?
  • 00:32:07.771 --> 00:32:11.041
  • What do i do with this circumstance?
  • 00:32:11.041 --> 00:32:13.076
  • What do i do this?
  • 00:32:13.076 --> 00:32:14.611
  • The life, like you were saying, that you find yourself
  • 00:32:14.611 --> 00:32:16.646
  • In a story.
  • 00:32:16.646 --> 00:32:17.981
  • I would have never picked this story, but god, you are going to
  • 00:32:17.981 --> 00:32:19.449
  • Meet with us here.
  • 00:32:19.449 --> 00:32:21.752
  • God, what do i do with this here?
  • 00:32:21.752 --> 00:32:23.687
  • And the same god that works you through the why can work you
  • 00:32:23.687 --> 00:32:26.256
  • Through the what, and he will never leave your side
  • 00:32:26.256 --> 00:32:28.392
  • Anywhere in between.
  • 00:32:28.392 --> 00:32:30.694
  • - i think that's a beautiful reminder that jesus is the one
  • 00:32:30.694 --> 00:32:33.463
  • That paid the price to stay near to us.
  • 00:32:33.463 --> 00:32:36.033
  • I think sometimes we feel like we have to perform or give
  • 00:32:36.033 --> 00:32:39.703
  • Something awesome to god for him to stay, which is why we feel so
  • 00:32:39.703 --> 00:32:45.809
  • Bad when we're questioning him.
  • 00:32:45.809 --> 00:32:47.244
  • And we feel so bad when we feel the doubt.
  • 00:32:47.244 --> 00:32:50.180
  • But it's jesus that paid the highest of prices so that he
  • 00:32:50.180 --> 00:32:52.849
  • Could stay.
  • 00:32:52.849 --> 00:32:54.518
  • So we don't have to conjure up some
  • 00:32:54.518 --> 00:32:56.153
  • Sort of payment to convince him to want to be with us.
  • 00:32:56.153 --> 00:32:59.356
  • We are forever a temple of the holy spirit.
  • 00:32:59.356 --> 00:33:03.527
  • The holy of holies is within us.
  • 00:33:03.527 --> 00:33:07.097
  • And he's the one that paid the price.
  • 00:33:07.097 --> 00:33:09.332
  • And i think that's very freeing because, you know, i feel
  • 00:33:09.332 --> 00:33:12.235
  • Guilty sometimes.
  • 00:33:12.235 --> 00:33:13.570
  • I feel really guilty that, you know, like when you have nothing
  • 00:33:13.570 --> 00:33:16.773
  • Good in your heart and you know it, you know, when you are
  • 00:33:16.773 --> 00:33:19.876
  • Annoyed, you are bitter, you are judgmental, you know, and
  • 00:33:19.876 --> 00:33:23.213
  • I just, sometimes i get tempted to try to pretend that's not
  • 00:33:23.213 --> 00:33:31.021
  • There and give him something in a way as payment for his
  • 00:33:31.021 --> 00:33:34.591
  • Companionship. but knowing, no, he already paid it.
  • 00:33:34.591 --> 00:33:39.996
  • I can now just enter into his courts confidently and boldly
  • 00:33:39.996 --> 00:33:44.234
  • Because of his grace. dwell. dwell.
  • 00:33:44.234 --> 00:33:46.570
  • - we can always go to god with anything.
  • 00:33:46.570 --> 00:33:49.306
  • With our anger, with our whys, with our questions, and we have
  • 00:33:49.306 --> 00:33:53.276
  • Access to the throne of grace through the person of jesus.
  • 00:33:53.276 --> 00:33:55.812
  • So i want to encourage you today, if you are feeling those
  • 00:33:55.812 --> 00:33:58.415
  • Feelings, don't run from them, run to god with them.
  • 00:33:58.415 --> 00:34:01.184
  • Because when we run to god, we will find the comfort
  • 00:34:01.184 --> 00:34:04.287
  • That we need.
  • 00:34:04.287 --> 00:34:05.989
  • You go from lamenting your life and asking the questions and the
  • 00:34:05.989 --> 00:34:08.658
  • Anger to literally saying, god, but i will trust you because you
  • 00:34:08.658 --> 00:34:12.462
  • Are faithful and you are true no matter what my circumstances or
  • 00:34:12.462 --> 00:34:15.699
  • My feelings feel at this moment.
  • 00:34:15.699 --> 00:34:17.667
  • - i think sometimes when we encounter feelings of doubt, we
  • 00:34:17.667 --> 00:34:22.239
  • Feel kind of ashamed as if, well, we shouldn't doubt because
  • 00:34:22.239 --> 00:34:26.276
  • Of who god is.
  • 00:34:26.276 --> 00:34:27.577
  • But i think we should do the absolute opposite.
  • 00:34:27.577 --> 00:34:29.779
  • I think when you have feelings of doubt, you should run to god
  • 00:34:29.779 --> 00:34:32.582
  • And ask him your hard questions.
  • 00:34:32.582 --> 00:34:35.185
  • If something's going on in your life right now and you're like,
  • 00:34:35.185 --> 00:34:38.155
  • Lord, i don't understand this.
  • 00:34:38.155 --> 00:34:39.055
  • Why did you not show up there?
  • 00:34:39.055 --> 00:34:41.024
  • Why did you show up for her and not for me?
  • 00:34:41.024 --> 00:34:43.293
  • Bring everything to god.
  • 00:34:43.293 --> 00:34:45.262
  • Because the more you pour your life out to god, the more you've
  • 00:34:45.262 --> 00:34:48.231
  • Made space for god to speak back into yours.
  • 00:34:48.231 --> 00:34:50.233
  • - be the first to know all the latest better together updates.
  • 00:34:50.233 --> 00:34:55.138
  • Visit bettertogether.tv to sign up for our weekly emails and
  • 00:34:55.138 --> 00:34:58.108
  • Never miss the latest news.
  • 00:34:58.108 --> 00:35:01.645
  • ♪ (music playing) ♪
  • 00:35:01.645 --> 00:35:02.990
  • ♪ (music playing) ♪
  • 00:35:02.990 --> 00:35:04.948
  • - i remember reading this story about tsar nicholas before the
  • 00:35:04.948 --> 00:35:08.385
  • Execution of that whole family, where he was one night going
  • 00:35:08.385 --> 00:35:12.088
  • Around the camp where all the soldiers, all the russian
  • 00:35:12.088 --> 00:35:14.257
  • Soldiers were.
  • 00:35:14.257 --> 00:35:15.926
  • And there was one little light on in a room, and it was the guy
  • 00:35:15.926 --> 00:35:18.628
  • Who was supposed to be doing all the books and
  • 00:35:18.628 --> 00:35:20.897
  • Keeping everything.
  • 00:35:20.897 --> 00:35:22.299
  • And he went in just to say hi to him and realized the guy was
  • 00:35:22.299 --> 00:35:25.602
  • Asleep, had his head down on the papers, and by his side was a
  • 00:35:25.602 --> 00:35:28.805
  • Gun, and he'd written a note.
  • 00:35:28.805 --> 00:35:31.474
  • And his basic thing was he had embezzled some of the money, he
  • 00:35:31.474 --> 00:35:34.511
  • Had messed things up, and there was no way he could fix it.
  • 00:35:34.511 --> 00:35:38.014
  • And he knew that whenever it was discovered that, i mean, his
  • 00:35:38.014 --> 00:35:40.850
  • Life was pretty much over.
  • 00:35:40.850 --> 00:35:42.452
  • I read the last line that this guy wrote on the note, and he
  • 00:35:42.452 --> 00:35:45.088
  • Said, who can pay this price?
  • 00:35:45.088 --> 00:35:47.057
  • And because of tsar nicholas's relationship with this boy's
  • 00:35:47.057 --> 00:35:50.961
  • Father, and he knew who the family was, and he thought, he
  • 00:35:50.961 --> 00:35:53.530
  • Extended, and he wrote at the bottom of the note, i will,
  • 00:35:53.530 --> 00:35:57.334
  • Signed it tsar nicholas.
  • 00:35:57.334 --> 00:35:59.469
  • And i think that's just a tiny picture of what jesus did.
  • 00:35:59.469 --> 00:36:02.138
  • You know, who can pay for this?
  • 00:36:02.138 --> 00:36:04.341
  • Who can pay for this?
  • 00:36:04.341 --> 00:36:05.809
  • And jesus said, me.
  • 00:36:05.809 --> 00:36:06.776
  • I mean, it's done.
  • 00:36:06.776 --> 00:36:08.578
  • It's finished.
  • 00:36:08.578 --> 00:36:09.913
  • - i think about, you're going to laugh at this, but do you know
  • 00:36:09.913 --> 00:36:11.514
  • What a weighted vest is?
  • 00:36:11.514 --> 00:36:12.382
  • It's like the new craze, right?
  • 00:36:12.382 --> 00:36:14.651
  • - my husband bought one.
  • 00:36:14.651 --> 00:36:15.986
  • - so you put on this weighted vest to go on a walk and it's
  • 00:36:15.986 --> 00:36:17.887
  • Like you get double workout.
  • 00:36:17.887 --> 00:36:20.123
  • So my husband gave it to me for my birthday.
  • 00:36:20.123 --> 00:36:23.126
  • I mean, would i recommend husbands maybe giving that
  • 00:36:23.126 --> 00:36:25.528
  • To your wife for her birthday?
  • 00:36:25.528 --> 00:36:26.863
  • I'm not sure.
  • 00:36:26.863 --> 00:36:27.897
  • - that's a message in itself right there.
  • 00:36:27.897 --> 00:36:29.266
  • - but actually, i'm really into all that stuff.
  • 00:36:29.266 --> 00:36:31.968
  • So i was very grateful.
  • 00:36:31.968 --> 00:36:34.404
  • But when i put it on, i instantly felt anxiety.
  • 00:36:34.404 --> 00:36:36.373
  • I felt like this weight kind of pressing in on me.
  • 00:36:36.373 --> 00:36:39.876
  • And i was walking.
  • 00:36:39.876 --> 00:36:42.412
  • I kept walking.
  • 00:36:42.412 --> 00:36:43.780
  • And about the third time, i was really studying in john about
  • 00:36:43.780 --> 00:36:46.750
  • Abiding in god.
  • 00:36:46.750 --> 00:36:48.151
  • And the lord said, when you try to do things and create things,
  • 00:36:48.151 --> 00:36:52.122
  • If i do this, god will love me more.
  • 00:36:52.122 --> 00:36:55.292
  • If i do this, then i can hear from him more.
  • 00:36:55.292 --> 00:36:56.926
  • If i do this, oh, if i can just do more for god.
  • 00:36:56.926 --> 00:36:59.496
  • He said, it is like you putting on this weighted vest.
  • 00:36:59.496 --> 00:37:02.732
  • How can you run after me?
  • 00:37:02.732 --> 00:37:05.168
  • Fix your eyes on jesus.
  • 00:37:05.168 --> 00:37:07.203
  • Run the race before you when you feel weighted down with the
  • 00:37:07.203 --> 00:37:09.606
  • Pressures that you put on yourself.
  • 00:37:09.606 --> 00:37:11.908
  • And so when i took off that weighted vest, i felt like i
  • 00:37:11.908 --> 00:37:15.412
  • Could run a marathon.
  • 00:37:15.412 --> 00:37:17.447
  • I mean, i was like, this is amazing.
  • 00:37:17.447 --> 00:37:19.249
  • I can breathe better. i can run faster.
  • 00:37:19.249 --> 00:37:21.418
  • And just god gave me that picture to remind me that in
  • 00:37:21.418 --> 00:37:24.387
  • Him, we have everything we need.
  • 00:37:24.387 --> 00:37:26.790
  • We don't need to muster all these added weights that i
  • 00:37:26.790 --> 00:37:30.126
  • Cannot run towards the calling god has given me in christ.
  • 00:37:30.126 --> 00:37:33.730
  • When we are putting on all these self-created weights that god is
  • 00:37:33.730 --> 00:37:38.101
  • Trying to free us from, all we need to do is dwell.
  • 00:37:38.101 --> 00:37:40.337
  • We just need to abide in him and walk in him.
  • 00:37:40.337 --> 00:37:43.106
  • He's got it all.
  • 00:37:43.106 --> 00:37:44.307
  • - everybody unburdens themselves before the lord
  • 00:37:44.307 --> 00:37:47.410
  • In different ways.
  • 00:37:47.410 --> 00:37:48.978
  • And i think it's unique to different people.
  • 00:37:48.978 --> 00:37:50.747
  • I think when we think that we have to do it exactly like
  • 00:37:50.747 --> 00:37:54.150
  • Somebody else, that's when we start to fall into a trap.
  • 00:37:54.150 --> 00:37:56.953
  • However, i would say as long as you are being true and
  • 00:37:56.953 --> 00:38:00.590
  • Honest to what you are carrying inside and
  • 00:38:00.590 --> 00:38:05.729
  • Bring it out before the lord, whether it
  • 00:38:05.729 --> 00:38:07.797
  • Is through journaling, whether it is through weeping, whether
  • 00:38:07.797 --> 00:38:10.367
  • It's through running and praying, whatever it is that it
  • 00:38:10.367 --> 00:38:13.303
  • Takes for you to bring your most honest self and not get so
  • 00:38:13.303 --> 00:38:17.273
  • Caught up on bringing to him what's presentable.
  • 00:38:17.273 --> 00:38:21.111
  • No, you have to bring to him what is honest.
  • 00:38:21.111 --> 00:38:24.114
  • - and it all goes back to, it's not about us.
  • 00:38:24.114 --> 00:38:27.650
  • It's not about... me.
  • 00:38:27.650 --> 00:38:29.452
  • It's what god has done.
  • 00:38:29.452 --> 00:38:30.453
  • It's what god can do through us.
  • 00:38:30.453 --> 00:38:32.689
  • I think of the beatitudes.
  • 00:38:32.689 --> 00:38:35.024
  • When jesus says, blessed are the poor in spirit, people think we
  • 00:38:35.024 --> 00:38:38.862
  • Need to stay poor in spirit.
  • 00:38:38.862 --> 00:38:41.164
  • But he says, they'll be comforted.
  • 00:38:41.164 --> 00:38:44.734
  • Theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
  • 00:38:44.734 --> 00:38:46.469
  • And blessed are those who mourn.
  • 00:38:46.469 --> 00:38:47.937
  • So our mourning, they're going to be comforted.
  • 00:38:47.937 --> 00:38:51.141
  • So with everything that we go through, we get god back.
  • 00:38:51.141 --> 00:38:54.778
  • In our desperate times, if we'll lean into those, i know it
  • 00:38:54.778 --> 00:39:00.283
  • Sounds upside down, but that's the kingdom of heaven.
  • 00:39:00.283 --> 00:39:03.286
  • It sounds upside down, but it's almost like the worst it is, the
  • 00:39:03.286 --> 00:39:07.023
  • Better it is for us because we get god because of it.
  • 00:39:07.023 --> 00:39:12.695
  • So we don't stay mourning.
  • 00:39:12.695 --> 00:39:16.399
  • We don't stay poor in spirit.
  • 00:39:16.399 --> 00:39:18.101
  • When we're humbled, when god has a way, god has a way.
  • 00:39:18.101 --> 00:39:21.004
  • That's kind of one of our sayings here.
  • 00:39:21.004 --> 00:39:23.973
  • God has a way. that humbling that you were mad.
  • 00:39:23.973 --> 00:39:27.143
  • You ran.
  • 00:39:27.143 --> 00:39:28.912
  • You probably never felt so humbled at the end of your run
  • 00:39:28.912 --> 00:39:31.047
  • Because all of a sudden your hands are lifted up.
  • 00:39:31.047 --> 00:39:33.349
  • God has a way of taking what we feel on the inside to show us
  • 00:39:33.349 --> 00:39:38.788
  • Who he is because all it is is god's character.
  • 00:39:38.788 --> 00:39:44.127
  • He's faithful. he's just.
  • 00:39:44.127 --> 00:39:45.829
  • He's merciful. he's love.
  • 00:39:45.829 --> 00:39:47.664
  • He's joy. he's peace.
  • 00:39:47.664 --> 00:39:49.265
  • He's satisfaction.
  • 00:39:49.265 --> 00:39:50.867
  • He's everything.
  • 00:39:50.867 --> 00:39:52.235
  • And so anything that draws us to the end of ourselves, to the
  • 00:39:52.235 --> 00:39:56.673
  • Ruin of ourselves, we find god in his wholeness and in the
  • 00:39:56.673 --> 00:40:04.013
  • Beauty of his glory.
  • 00:40:04.013 --> 00:40:06.182
  • It's like, where can i go from the presence of the lord?
  • 00:40:06.182 --> 00:40:09.419
  • We can't go anywhere.
  • 00:40:09.419 --> 00:40:11.254
  • The earth is filled with his glory.
  • 00:40:11.254 --> 00:40:12.489
  • And so those times of i'm all alone, no, we're not.
  • 00:40:12.489 --> 00:40:16.759
  • We just need to open our eyes, our spiritual eyes.
  • 00:40:16.759 --> 00:40:20.763
  • That's what's so important about declaring god's word over our
  • 00:40:20.763 --> 00:40:25.134
  • Lives and knowing the words.
  • 00:40:25.134 --> 00:40:26.970
  • When i start questioning or feeling the pressure of
  • 00:40:26.970 --> 00:40:29.606
  • Something, it's the lord is my shepherd.
  • 00:40:29.606 --> 00:40:33.376
  • I shall not want.
  • 00:40:33.376 --> 00:40:35.411
  • I lack nothing.
  • 00:40:35.411 --> 00:40:36.946
  • There is nothing that i lack.
  • 00:40:36.946 --> 00:40:39.015
  • Because jesus is my good shepherd.
  • 00:40:39.015 --> 00:40:41.484
  • He makes me lie down in green pastures.
  • 00:40:41.484 --> 00:40:44.921
  • He restores my soul.
  • 00:40:44.921 --> 00:40:48.725
  • He leads me in the paths of righteousness for his namesake.
  • 00:40:48.725 --> 00:40:54.297
  • Yea, though i walk through the valley of the shadow of death, i
  • 00:40:54.297 --> 00:40:57.934
  • Will fear no evil.
  • 00:40:57.934 --> 00:40:59.736
  • So you start just declaring and repeating what god has already,
  • 00:40:59.736 --> 00:41:05.308
  • Who god is in your life.
  • 00:41:05.308 --> 00:41:06.976
  • Talk about bringing you out.
  • 00:41:06.976 --> 00:41:08.545
  • I was in that same situation one day that you were talking about.
  • 00:41:08.545 --> 00:41:12.882
  • It was like, what in the heck just happened?
  • 00:41:12.882 --> 00:41:16.052
  • And i went and i sat on my piano, which i play
  • 00:41:16.052 --> 00:41:18.288
  • For one only.
  • 00:41:18.288 --> 00:41:22.292
  • And i just thought, man, we just took this huge step of faith.
  • 00:41:22.292 --> 00:41:25.261
  • I don't even know what faith is because that didn't work out.
  • 00:41:25.261 --> 00:41:28.097
  • And i was just at the end.
  • 00:41:28.097 --> 00:41:30.833
  • Simple little things started coming out of me.
  • 00:41:30.833 --> 00:41:33.670
  • If you knew what i had in store for you.
  • 00:41:33.670 --> 00:41:39.409
  • If you knew what is ahead, there would be no time for heartbreak
  • 00:41:39.409 --> 00:41:41.844
  • And sorrow and questioning my love and my grace and all the
  • 00:41:41.844 --> 00:41:49.752
  • Things that's going through your head right now. wow.
  • 00:41:49.752 --> 00:41:54.624
  • You wouldn't be doing that if you knew, if you only knew.
  • 00:41:54.624 --> 00:41:58.094
  • And boy, that changed my perspective.
  • 00:41:58.094 --> 00:41:59.896
  • And i'll never forget that day.
  • 00:41:59.896 --> 00:42:02.398
  • Because i always go back to it in my mind.
  • 00:42:02.398 --> 00:42:06.202
  • If i knew what god was really doing behind the scenes right
  • 00:42:06.202 --> 00:42:08.938
  • Now, i shouldn't be worrying.
  • 00:42:08.938 --> 00:42:12.709
  • I shouldn't be fearful.
  • 00:42:12.709 --> 00:42:13.810
  • I shouldn't be fretting.
  • 00:42:13.810 --> 00:42:15.211
  • None of that.
  • 00:42:15.211 --> 00:42:17.046
  • Because god is working on my behalf.
  • 00:42:17.046 --> 00:42:20.116
  • Doing something great.
  • 00:42:20.116 --> 00:42:21.784
  • You know, a lot of times we hear people's story and they'll say,
  • 00:42:21.784 --> 00:42:25.221
  • You know, i got so mad at god.
  • 00:42:25.221 --> 00:42:28.157
  • Or maybe they are mad at god.
  • 00:42:28.157 --> 00:42:30.326
  • And i just think, oh.
  • 00:42:30.326 --> 00:42:32.462
  • Don't get mad at god.
  • 00:42:32.462 --> 00:42:34.397
  • Please don't.
  • 00:42:34.397 --> 00:42:36.666
  • He's the last one you should ever get mad at.
  • 00:42:36.666 --> 00:42:38.901
  • He's the one who is the answer to everything.
  • 00:42:38.901 --> 00:42:41.504
  • He's the one that's, he's our savior.
  • 00:42:41.504 --> 00:42:43.873
  • He is our savior from anything we find ourself in.
  • 00:42:43.873 --> 00:42:47.677
  • Run to god, not away from god, but right straight into his arms
  • 00:42:47.677 --> 00:42:50.580
  • Because his arms are open wide to you.
  • 00:42:50.580 --> 00:42:55.618
  • - i like what you said too.
  • 00:42:55.618 --> 00:42:57.720
  • God's kingdom is backwards.
  • 00:42:57.720 --> 00:42:59.355
  • It's backwards from anything we understand.
  • 00:42:59.355 --> 00:43:01.624
  • And we were created to live in the tension.
  • 00:43:01.624 --> 00:43:04.560
  • Even when jesus came into the world, he's the prince of peace.
  • 00:43:04.560 --> 00:43:07.697
  • But he came through tension and turmoil.
  • 00:43:07.697 --> 00:43:10.099
  • The world was tumultuous.
  • 00:43:10.099 --> 00:43:13.302
  • You know, rome had taken over and caesar had claimed himself
  • 00:43:13.302 --> 00:43:19.909
  • The savior of the world.
  • 00:43:19.909 --> 00:43:21.644
  • And, you know, they're all coming in for census
  • 00:43:21.644 --> 00:43:24.113
  • To be taxed on property that they
  • 00:43:24.113 --> 00:43:26.749
  • Had owned for generations upon generations you
  • 00:43:26.749 --> 00:43:29.152
  • Know it was a very in the government it was a terrible
  • 00:43:29.152 --> 00:43:33.022
  • Time and yet jesus comes in peace and it's this
  • 00:43:33.022 --> 00:43:35.558
  • Understanding you know laura you're talking about this
  • 00:43:35.558 --> 00:43:39.195
  • Understanding in like this heavenly understanding right
  • 00:43:39.195 --> 00:43:42.165
  • Like our our faith understanding and it's not ever what
  • 00:43:42.165 --> 00:43:45.568
  • We think right and no it was not good that we experienced
  • 00:43:45.568 --> 00:43:51.340
  • Suffering it's not good that we've had these terrible things
  • 00:43:51.340 --> 00:43:53.142
  • That we of course don't want but also what a privilege to be able
  • 00:43:53.142 --> 00:43:56.245
  • To live that out in this short time that we have on this earth
  • 00:43:56.245 --> 00:44:03.886
  • Because god's timing is not our timing. and yes, we get to
  • 00:44:03.886 --> 00:44:07.457
  • Question what is happening in this timing and ask him but also
  • 00:44:07.457 --> 00:44:10.193
  • The opposite of that is to trust that we have a time that started
  • 00:44:10.193 --> 00:44:16.199
  • Before us and a time that is after us all of that stuff and
  • 00:44:16.199 --> 00:44:18.401
  • So i think just remembering and putting yourself in the
  • 00:44:18.401 --> 00:44:22.805
  • Narrative of an everlasting god instead of our finite
  • 00:44:22.805 --> 00:44:26.242
  • Understanding of this world can kind of shift some
  • 00:44:26.242 --> 00:44:30.079
  • Of those things.
  • 00:44:30.079 --> 00:44:31.314
  • - i think everything that we just processed here was so
  • 00:44:31.314 --> 00:44:34.083
  • Helpful, even for me.
  • 00:44:34.083 --> 00:44:37.587
  • And i'm just reminded of doubting thomas.
  • 00:44:37.587 --> 00:44:39.455
  • And it's interesting because history calls him doubting
  • 00:44:39.455 --> 00:44:43.793
  • Thomas but when you really look at thomas's life, you see he
  • 00:44:43.793 --> 00:44:46.696
  • Was loyal to jesus.
  • 00:44:46.696 --> 00:44:50.967
  • He was honest to jesus.
  • 00:44:50.967 --> 00:44:53.302
  • You know, when jesus was going to go back to, i think it was
  • 00:44:53.302 --> 00:44:55.738
  • Judea, right?
  • 00:44:55.738 --> 00:44:57.039
  • And then that would have been to his peril.
  • 00:44:57.039 --> 00:44:59.575
  • Thomas is like, well, i'll go to, you know, let's just die
  • 00:44:59.575 --> 00:45:01.477
  • Together.
  • 00:45:01.477 --> 00:45:03.146
  • Like he did not lack love for jesus, but the disappointment of
  • 00:45:03.146 --> 00:45:07.116
  • The crucifixion was so weighty that it caused him to say, and
  • 00:45:07.116 --> 00:45:14.590
  • Utter one of the strongest negations in greek when he says,
  • 00:45:14.590 --> 00:45:18.060
  • If i don't see the mark of the nails in his hands, put my
  • 00:45:18.060 --> 00:45:23.966
  • Finger into the mark of the nails and put my hand into his
  • 00:45:23.966 --> 00:45:26.936
  • Side, i will never believe.
  • 00:45:26.936 --> 00:45:29.105
  • It's like a double negative.
  • 00:45:29.105 --> 00:45:31.641
  • It's like, it's such a strong, like, i will not.
  • 00:45:31.641 --> 00:45:34.277
  • And it just reminds me that, you know what?
  • 00:45:34.277 --> 00:45:38.147
  • Some of us may have truly loved jesus with all our hearts.
  • 00:45:38.147 --> 00:45:41.117
  • And we've tried our absolute best, but when life deals what
  • 00:45:41.117 --> 00:45:45.154
  • Life does, sometimes the discouragement and the
  • 00:45:45.154 --> 00:45:52.428
  • Disappointment could have an overcast over the shine of the
  • 00:45:52.428 --> 00:45:55.131
  • Cross, right?
  • 00:45:55.131 --> 00:45:57.500
  • And for thomas, what he beheld was so dark that he
  • 00:45:57.500 --> 00:46:02.205
  • Just refused.
  • 00:46:02.205 --> 00:46:04.907
  • But yet that negation, that negativity, that refusal to
  • 00:46:04.907 --> 00:46:12.081
  • Believe, when jesus came, he met him with welcome.
  • 00:46:12.081 --> 00:46:14.250
  • He says, peace be with you.
  • 00:46:14.250 --> 00:46:17.453
  • And he invited thomas, feel my side, feel the scars.
  • 00:46:17.453 --> 00:46:22.959
  • And the fact that even though thomas...
  • 00:46:22.959 --> 00:46:26.896
  • Dared to doubt god, dared to question jesus.
  • 00:46:26.896 --> 00:46:34.270
  • Jesus just met him with peace and with welcome, with an
  • 00:46:34.270 --> 00:46:36.839
  • Invitation to see, to experience, to engage with
  • 00:46:36.839 --> 00:46:42.011
  • Our faith.
  • 00:46:42.011 --> 00:46:46.048
  • And at the end, thomas ends up uttering the highest
  • 00:46:46.048 --> 00:46:49.886
  • Christological statement in the book of john, which is, my
  • 00:46:49.886 --> 00:46:53.856
  • Lord, my god.
  • 00:46:53.856 --> 00:46:55.491
  • - it's interesting when you think about, well, what does god
  • 00:46:55.491 --> 00:46:59.662
  • Think about those who have doubts?
  • 00:46:59.662 --> 00:47:01.597
  • And i'm reminded of a conversation that jesus had with
  • 00:47:01.597 --> 00:47:04.300
  • A father.
  • 00:47:04.300 --> 00:47:05.635
  • He was asking his son had had fits since he was a little boy
  • 00:47:05.635 --> 00:47:07.403
  • And would do things like throw himself into a fire.
  • 00:47:07.403 --> 00:47:11.507
  • I mean, it was a terrible situation as a parent to
  • 00:47:11.507 --> 00:47:14.410
  • Deal with.
  • 00:47:14.410 --> 00:47:16.045
  • And he asked jesus if it was possible to heal his son.
  • 00:47:16.045 --> 00:47:19.081
  • And jesus said, all things are possible if you believe.
  • 00:47:19.081 --> 00:47:22.351
  • And so this is what the father said, and i love this.
  • 00:47:22.351 --> 00:47:25.187
  • He said, i believe, help my unbelief.
  • 00:47:25.187 --> 00:47:27.456
  • That's a very honest prayer.
  • 00:47:27.456 --> 00:47:30.259
  • You can say, okay, lord, i believe, but help my unbelief,
  • 00:47:30.259 --> 00:47:33.262
  • And he will.
  • 00:47:33.262 --> 00:47:35.531
  • - this is an encouragement to anyone that feels that their
  • 00:47:35.531 --> 00:47:40.836
  • Doubt, that the weight of their inability to believe and trust
  • 00:47:40.836 --> 00:47:44.307
  • God in this hour.
  • 00:47:44.307 --> 00:47:45.641
  • Is somehow so repulsive to jesus that he doesn't want to spend
  • 00:47:45.641 --> 00:47:48.110
  • Time with you.
  • 00:47:48.110 --> 00:47:49.979
  • And i really believe that in this moment, jesus meets you
  • 00:47:49.979 --> 00:47:55.418
  • With welcome and an invitation.
  • 00:47:55.418 --> 00:47:58.054
  • So can we just pray right now for our friends?
  • 00:47:58.054 --> 00:48:00.957
  • Holy spirit, we acknowledge you.
  • 00:48:00.957 --> 00:48:04.327
  • And god, i just pray for the one that's listening in that feels,
  • 00:48:04.327 --> 00:48:07.730
  • You know what?
  • 00:48:07.730 --> 00:48:09.598
  • I want to believe.
  • 00:48:09.598 --> 00:48:11.000
  • I want to want to love god, but i just don't have it within me.
  • 00:48:11.000 --> 00:48:15.905
  • Jesus, we know that your grace is sufficient.
  • 00:48:15.905 --> 00:48:20.142
  • And god, you paid the price to remain near.
  • 00:48:20.142 --> 00:48:23.412
  • You paid the price that we may never be alone.
  • 00:48:23.412 --> 00:48:29.986
  • So jesus, we praise you.
  • 00:48:29.986 --> 00:48:31.153
  • We thank you.
  • 00:48:31.153 --> 00:48:32.455
  • And although the questions are still with us, god, you are
  • 00:48:32.455 --> 00:48:35.858
  • Magnified in our midst.
  • 00:48:35.858 --> 00:48:37.593
  • In jesus' name we pray. amen.
  • 00:48:37.593 --> 00:48:41.163
  • ♪ (music playing) ♪
  • 00:48:41.163 --> 00:48:43.766
  • Connect with us on social media and let us know how our team can
  • 00:48:43.766 --> 00:48:45.368
  • Pray for you.
  • 00:48:45.368 --> 00:48:48.437
  • ♪ (music playing) ♪
  • 00:48:48.437 --> 00:48:54.310
  • - hey everybody, i'm sheila.
  • 00:48:54.310 --> 00:48:55.644
  • Behind the scenes here at better together with brittany and we're
  • 00:48:55.644 --> 00:48:57.513
  • Answering some of your questions.
  • 00:48:57.513 --> 00:48:58.814
  • So let me ask you this question first.
  • 00:48:58.814 --> 00:49:00.783
  • This is from jenny and she writes, how do you keep
  • 00:49:00.783 --> 00:49:03.786
  • Declaring god's promise even when you feel discouraged,
  • 00:49:03.786 --> 00:49:06.756
  • Especially over prayer?
  • 00:49:06.756 --> 00:49:09.458
  • That has been unanswered for such a long time. wow.
  • 00:49:09.458 --> 00:49:13.429
  • - well, first off, i just want to say i'm sorry.
  • 00:49:13.429 --> 00:49:14.797
  • I'm sorry for what you've walked through, and i'm sorry for what
  • 00:49:14.797 --> 00:49:16.198
  • May feel like the death of dreams or the waiting season
  • 00:49:16.198 --> 00:49:20.870
  • That you've been in.
  • 00:49:20.870 --> 00:49:22.204
  • But i also want to encourage you that god hears you and he sees
  • 00:49:22.204 --> 00:49:24.473
  • You, and god's promises are not based on our feelings.
  • 00:49:24.473 --> 00:49:27.443
  • So even when we feel like god has not answered or god has let
  • 00:49:27.443 --> 00:49:30.679
  • Us down, that doesn't mean that it's true.
  • 00:49:30.679 --> 00:49:32.581
  • The truth is that god is still working on your behalf, and he
  • 00:49:32.581 --> 00:49:35.618
  • Is doing more than you can even imagine behind
  • 00:49:35.618 --> 00:49:38.954
  • The scenes.
  • 00:49:38.954 --> 00:49:40.322
  • So i just want to encourage you to keep running to the truth,
  • 00:49:40.322 --> 00:49:42.324
  • Keep running to the promises, even when you don't feel it and
  • 00:49:42.324 --> 00:49:44.460
  • Watch what god will do.
  • 00:49:44.460 --> 00:49:46.028
  • - you know, jenny, it's interesting because i'm thinking
  • 00:49:46.028 --> 00:49:48.964
  • About somebody i used to look up to when i was a young girl who
  • 00:49:48.964 --> 00:49:52.268
  • Was in our church and he and his wife got married and then he
  • 00:49:52.268 --> 00:49:56.272
  • Became a christian and she was lovely, but she just didn't have
  • 00:49:56.272 --> 00:49:59.909
  • Any interest in the church.
  • 00:49:59.909 --> 00:50:01.310
  • Every tuesday night, i would go to our prayer meeting and there
  • 00:50:01.310 --> 00:50:03.846
  • Was only maybe, i don't know, 30 of us.
  • 00:50:03.846 --> 00:50:05.581
  • And he would pray faithfully every tuesday for his wife.
  • 00:50:05.581 --> 00:50:08.951
  • And then i went off to seminary and i came back and realized
  • 00:50:08.951 --> 00:50:12.621
  • He'd gone to me with jesus.
  • 00:50:12.621 --> 00:50:13.889
  • And it wasn't until later i discovered that she gave her
  • 00:50:13.889 --> 00:50:16.659
  • Life to christ at his memorial service.
  • 00:50:16.659 --> 00:50:18.961
  • So it kind of taught me this lesson, a lifetime is not too
  • 00:50:18.961 --> 00:50:22.031
  • Long to pray.
  • 00:50:22.031 --> 00:50:23.399
  • Just know that not one of your prayers has fallen to the
  • 00:50:23.399 --> 00:50:26.435
  • Ground. and in fact, it tells us in psalms and in the revelation
  • 00:50:26.435 --> 00:50:29.972
  • Given to john and patmos that the angels hold up these great
  • 00:50:29.972 --> 00:50:33.042
  • Bowls of incense before god.
  • 00:50:33.042 --> 00:50:35.344
  • And do you know what they are?
  • 00:50:35.344 --> 00:50:36.345
  • The prayers of the people. yes.
  • 00:50:36.345 --> 00:50:37.513
  • The prayers are not lost, jenny.
  • 00:50:37.513 --> 00:50:39.248
  • - stream full episodes of better together on demand.
  • 00:50:39.248 --> 00:50:43.719
  • Go to bettertogether.tv to stream all of our
  • 00:50:43.719 --> 00:50:47.356
  • Latest conversations.
  • 00:50:47.356 --> 00:50:49.024
  • ♪ (music playing) ♪
  • 00:50:49.024 --> 00:50:49.024