Better Together

Choose Faith Over Doubt - Episode 1097

September 23, 2025 | S7 E1097 | 52:34

When doubt arises, we have the opportunity to exercise our FAITH! Where our understanding ends is where God fills in the gaps. We can bring every question and uncertainty boldly to Him until our faith is louder than fear! | TBN Prayer Line: 714-731-1000

#Faith #IdentityinChrist #Doubt #Success #Failure #Weakness #Insecurity #Freedom #Purpose #Redemption #Truth #Confidence #Intimacy #PersonalStory #WordofGod #Faithfulness

Closed captions

Show Timecode

Better Together | Choose Faith Over Doubt - Episode 1097 | September 23, 2025

Laurie crouch: when doubt tries to enter our minds, we have the
00:00:01.613 --> 00:00:04.750
Opportunity to choose faith and to declare god's word over
00:00:04.850 --> 00:00:07.986
Our lives.
00:00:08.120 --> 00:00:09.354
Come on, we need to talk about this.
00:00:09.488 --> 00:00:10.689
♪♪♪
00:00:10.923 --> 00:00:20.799
♪♪♪
00:00:20.933 --> 00:00:30.809
♪♪♪
00:00:30.943 --> 00:00:34.646
Meghan robinson: you know, i always say that christmas time
00:00:38.851 --> 00:00:41.954
Is a love language for me.
00:00:41.954 --> 00:00:44.456
I love christmas.
00:00:44.456 --> 00:00:45.791
I love everything about it.
00:00:45.791 --> 00:00:47.159
I love decorating my house.
00:00:47.159 --> 00:00:48.494
I love creating magical moments for my kids.
00:00:48.494 --> 00:00:51.630
And when my husband and i, gosh, almost 14 years ago, moved to
00:00:51.630 --> 00:00:57.970
California, we moved here to start a church.
00:00:57.970 --> 00:01:01.773
And i don't know if any of you know what starting a church is
00:01:01.773 --> 00:01:05.344
Like, but we didn't know anyone, we didn't have any resources.
00:01:05.344 --> 00:01:09.715
Thank goodness for some amazing organizations that came around
00:01:09.715 --> 00:01:12.484
Us to help us with the process.
00:01:12.484 --> 00:01:14.586
But we moved to california with faith that god was calling us
00:01:14.586 --> 00:01:19.391
And with this promise inside of our spirit that god was gonna
00:01:19.391 --> 00:01:22.427
Take care of us and he was going to take care of our family.
00:01:22.427 --> 00:01:25.631
My girls were little at the time.
00:01:25.631 --> 00:01:27.366
They were seven and three.
00:01:27.366 --> 00:01:29.001
And i'll never forget the first year of being in california, our
00:01:29.001 --> 00:01:32.738
First christmas in california, i wanted to make it special
00:01:32.738 --> 00:01:37.009
Because i love christmas and i wanted it to be magical for
00:01:37.009 --> 00:01:40.245
My kids.
00:01:40.245 --> 00:01:41.613
But let me tell you, you guys, we were like operating
00:01:41.613 --> 00:01:44.116
On nothing.
00:01:44.116 --> 00:01:45.450
We're buying groceries on credit cards.
00:01:45.450 --> 00:01:47.352
We're like trying everything we could do to survive in
00:01:47.352 --> 00:01:51.056
California and to start this church.
00:01:51.056 --> 00:01:53.225
And i knew that god promises in his word that he's our provider.
00:01:53.225 --> 00:01:57.996
And so many times he had reminded me that if we would
00:01:57.996 --> 00:02:01.934
Steward and take care of building his house, he would
00:02:01.934 --> 00:02:04.570
Build our house.
00:02:04.570 --> 00:02:06.171
But i remember creeping up on christmas and we were in the
00:02:06.171 --> 00:02:09.174
Month of december and i was just like, lord, what are you going
00:02:09.174 --> 00:02:13.979
To do about this?
00:02:13.979 --> 00:02:15.480
Because i need christmas to be amazing for my kids.
00:02:15.480 --> 00:02:18.817
And i was just overwhelmed with just frustration of where we
00:02:18.817 --> 00:02:23.288
Were at and doubt started to creep in.
00:02:23.288 --> 00:02:25.791
Like, is god going to come through on this one?
00:02:25.791 --> 00:02:28.694
And i did what i always do.
00:02:28.694 --> 00:02:31.330
I began to make a plan.
00:02:31.330 --> 00:02:33.365
And i think i make great plans.
00:02:33.365 --> 00:02:34.933
And apparently god disagrees and he makes better.
00:02:34.933 --> 00:02:37.903
But i made a plan.
00:02:37.903 --> 00:02:39.271
I'm like, okay, i have to do something about this.
00:02:39.271 --> 00:02:41.373
And so the only thing that i could come up with was that my
00:02:41.373 --> 00:02:44.643
Mom had given me my grandma's wedding ring and i didn't
00:02:44.643 --> 00:02:49.081
Wear it.
00:02:49.081 --> 00:02:50.415
And it was sitting in a drawer.
00:02:50.415 --> 00:02:52.117
And i thought, okay, i'm gonna take that wedding ring and i'm
00:02:52.117 --> 00:02:55.821
Gonna go to a pawn shop and i'm gonna get some money so that i
00:02:55.821 --> 00:02:59.524
Can make christmas amazing for my kids.
00:02:59.524 --> 00:03:02.361
And i did.
00:03:02.361 --> 00:03:03.695
And i didn't tell anyone because i didn't want anyone to talk me
00:03:03.695 --> 00:03:05.430
Out of it.
00:03:05.430 --> 00:03:06.765
And so i took the ring and i went to a pawn shop and they
00:03:06.765 --> 00:03:09.534
Wouldn't take it.
00:03:09.534 --> 00:03:10.902
And i went to another pawn shop and they wouldn't take it.
00:03:10.902 --> 00:03:13.105
And finally, i put some ads out and i met this woman in a burger
00:03:13.105 --> 00:03:17.943
King, you guys.
00:03:17.943 --> 00:03:19.278
And i sat across the booth from her and she looked at this ring
00:03:19.278 --> 00:03:21.747
That was my grandma's ring, and she said, "i'll give you $400
00:03:21.747 --> 00:03:26.184
For it."
00:03:26.184 --> 00:03:27.552
And i thought, okay, i could make christmas awesome
00:03:27.552 --> 00:03:30.956
With $400.
00:03:30.956 --> 00:03:32.424
And i took it.
00:03:32.424 --> 00:03:34.059
And i went home very proud of myself.
00:03:34.059 --> 00:03:36.495
Like, i have done this, i am gonna make christmas magical for
00:03:36.495 --> 00:03:39.798
My children.
00:03:39.798 --> 00:03:41.133
And as i started planning and scheming, about a week went by
00:03:41.133 --> 00:03:44.369
And i had gone out to our mailbox to get the mail.
00:03:44.369 --> 00:03:47.873
And there was an envelope in there from a pastor in another
00:03:47.873 --> 00:03:51.076
State and it caught me by surprise.
00:03:51.076 --> 00:03:54.012
And i thought, what is this?
00:03:54.012 --> 00:03:55.614
And it was addressed to my husband and myself.
00:03:55.614 --> 00:03:57.783
And i opened it up, and inside was a letter and it said, kerry
00:03:57.783 --> 00:04:02.654
And meghan, we just want you to know that we're behind you.
00:04:02.654 --> 00:04:06.258
We believe in you as you're starting this church, and we
00:04:06.258 --> 00:04:09.094
Believe in your family, and we know the cost that it requires.
00:04:09.094 --> 00:04:12.631
And so this check is a check just for you and your family to
00:04:12.631 --> 00:04:17.202
Celebrate christmas.
00:04:17.202 --> 00:04:18.804
And it was a check for $2500.
00:04:18.804 --> 00:04:23.375
And i remember in that moment feeling so foolish because i
00:04:23.375 --> 00:04:28.213
Felt like i had to take matters into my own hands.
00:04:28.213 --> 00:04:31.149
Like i knew god is our provider, but i felt like this is on me to
00:04:31.149 --> 00:04:35.721
Make this happen.
00:04:35.721 --> 00:04:37.055
And i parted with something that was really special, special to
00:04:37.055 --> 00:04:39.758
My mom, special for me because i thought it was the only way.
00:04:39.758 --> 00:04:43.895
And yet god's provision was already in the mail.
00:04:43.895 --> 00:04:47.532
It was already coming.
00:04:47.532 --> 00:04:50.068
Meghan: i just wanna take a minute and talk to the friend
00:04:50.135 --> 00:04:53.271
That is just feeling overwhelmed by doubt.
00:04:53.271 --> 00:04:56.975
Listen, god's okay with your doubt.
00:04:56.975 --> 00:04:59.244
He's okay with your fears.
00:04:59.244 --> 00:05:00.746
He's okay with your frustrations.
00:05:00.746 --> 00:05:02.848
But no matter how big your doubt is, god is bigger still.
00:05:02.848 --> 00:05:07.018
And the scripture tells us that he's not man that he can lie,
00:05:07.018 --> 00:05:10.655
But he keeps his word.
00:05:10.655 --> 00:05:12.657
He's the author and fulfiller of all of his promises.
00:05:12.657 --> 00:05:15.627
Now listen, sometimes god doesn't work things out the way
00:05:15.627 --> 00:05:18.663
That we expect him to.
00:05:18.663 --> 00:05:20.499
More often than not, he surprises us.
00:05:20.499 --> 00:05:23.101
So keep your eyes open, keep your expectation raised.
00:05:23.101 --> 00:05:26.638
Remind yourself that if god has said it, he will do it.
00:05:26.638 --> 00:05:30.041
He is faithful to every single one of his promises.
00:05:30.041 --> 00:05:33.178
And you might be in a season where you are just feeling
00:05:33.178 --> 00:05:36.415
Disappointed and you're not seeing things happen, but i'm
00:05:36.415 --> 00:05:39.684
Just encouraging you, friend, grip a hold of faith.
00:05:39.684 --> 00:05:42.821
Faith is believing in what you cannot see.
00:05:42.821 --> 00:05:45.624
Hold tight to faith, believing that god is faithful to his
00:05:45.624 --> 00:05:49.995
Promises and i'm telling you, you will not end disappointed.
00:05:49.995 --> 00:05:55.233
There will be a day where you will see the fullness of all
00:05:55.233 --> 00:05:59.070
That god has planned for you.
00:05:59.070 --> 00:06:01.173
Meghan: and i find that that's so easy for all of us.
00:06:01.239 --> 00:06:03.575
It's so easy for all of us in moments of waiting, in moments
00:06:03.575 --> 00:06:06.611
Where we haven't seen the thing we've been praying for or hoping
00:06:06.611 --> 00:06:09.815
For yet to let doubt creep in.
00:06:09.815 --> 00:06:12.651
And the sound of doubt becomes louder than the sound of faith.
00:06:12.651 --> 00:06:16.655
And i think that's why i relate so much to sarah in the bible.
00:06:16.655 --> 00:06:20.392
And for those of you who know the story and i think a lot of
00:06:20.392 --> 00:06:23.662
Us might, but if you read in the book of genesis and chapter 17
00:06:23.662 --> 00:06:27.098
And 18, god's made this promise and he's made this promise to
00:06:27.098 --> 00:06:30.569
Abraham and sarah.
00:06:30.569 --> 00:06:31.937
And in fact, their names were abram and sarai.
00:06:31.937 --> 00:06:33.805
He's told them, abraham, you're gonna be the father of
00:06:33.805 --> 00:06:35.907
Many nations.
00:06:35.907 --> 00:06:37.242
So he calls him abraham, changes his name, and then he says to
00:06:37.242 --> 00:06:40.245
Sarai, which meant princess, my princess, he says to sarai, your
00:06:40.245 --> 00:06:44.082
Name's gonna be sarah, which means princess of many.
00:06:44.082 --> 00:06:47.085
And so basically, god's making them this promise, like, i am
00:06:47.085 --> 00:06:50.489
Going to give you a legacy.
00:06:50.489 --> 00:06:52.190
And so here they have this promise, but they're not seeing
00:06:52.190 --> 00:06:55.293
Anything happen.
00:06:55.293 --> 00:06:56.661
And so sarah takes matters into her own hands and she tells
00:06:56.661 --> 00:07:00.031
Abraham to go and sleep with his concubine and they have a son
00:07:00.031 --> 00:07:04.002
And it creates a lot of unrest that we know in the world today.
00:07:04.002 --> 00:07:07.839
And ultimately, they get to this place where god comes back on
00:07:07.839 --> 00:07:11.510
The scene through the form of an angel to remind sarah, like, and
00:07:11.510 --> 00:07:15.347
To remind abraham, no, i have this promise for you.
00:07:15.347 --> 00:07:17.949
And we read in genesis 18 that sarah laughs at it.
00:07:17.949 --> 00:07:21.186
Like, yeah, yeah, right.
00:07:21.186 --> 00:07:23.355
I haven't seen that happen.
00:07:23.355 --> 00:07:25.524
All the odds are against me in this moment.
00:07:25.524 --> 00:07:28.393
And i love this story because ultimately god's not swayed by
00:07:28.393 --> 00:07:31.997
Her doubt and he redeems it because she laughed at the
00:07:31.997 --> 00:07:35.534
Promise that god had given her, but god fulfills his promise in
00:07:35.534 --> 00:07:39.337
Giving her a son and tells them to name him isaac.
00:07:39.337 --> 00:07:43.041
And isaac means he will laugh.
00:07:43.041 --> 00:07:46.211
So where sarah thought she'd never have a child or never know
00:07:46.211 --> 00:07:48.580
The sound of laughter and she laughed at the promise of god,
00:07:48.580 --> 00:07:52.050
God redeems that and gives them a son, isaac, he will laugh.
00:07:52.050 --> 00:07:55.687
And i just love that because what they saw as limits and what
00:07:55.687 --> 00:08:00.125
Anyone looking at the situation would have seen as limits, god
00:08:00.125 --> 00:08:04.229
Saw his legacy and he spoke into that.
00:08:04.229 --> 00:08:07.065
And so i just, i relate with the story because so often i find
00:08:07.065 --> 00:08:11.570
Myself in the waiting and in the process.
00:08:11.570 --> 00:08:15.840
Just doubt can get so much louder than faith in my
00:08:15.840 --> 00:08:19.544
Own mind.
00:08:19.544 --> 00:08:21.513
Laurie: you know, i think walking by faith is always
00:08:21.580 --> 00:08:24.082
Something that you can doubt yourself and you can question
00:08:24.082 --> 00:08:31.323
Maybe your motives or you're hearing his voice.
00:08:31.323 --> 00:08:36.928
But something that i know for sure is that faith in god
00:08:36.928 --> 00:08:41.933
Never fails.
00:08:41.933 --> 00:08:44.235
Faith and trust in god that he's gonna do what he said he's gonna
00:08:44.235 --> 00:08:48.873
Do and that might not be and normally it's not anything that
00:08:48.873 --> 00:08:53.011
We can write down and be a perfect thing of what god is
00:08:53.011 --> 00:08:57.782
Gonna do for me.
00:08:57.782 --> 00:08:59.150
God is going to do his will his way.
00:08:59.150 --> 00:09:02.020
And his ways aren't our ways.
00:09:02.020 --> 00:09:04.956
He even told us that his thoughts are higher than
00:09:04.956 --> 00:09:07.692
Our thoughts.
00:09:07.692 --> 00:09:09.060
And so trust and belief and walking out in years of maturing
00:09:09.060 --> 00:09:13.698
In the lord and watching his faithfulness.
00:09:13.698 --> 00:09:17.135
He can't fail because it's not in his nature to fail.
00:09:17.135 --> 00:09:20.472
And so he won't fail you.
00:09:20.472 --> 00:09:22.173
Just put your faith and your trust in a loving god who loves
00:09:22.173 --> 00:09:25.176
You, knows you, and sees you and has the best for you.
00:09:25.176 --> 00:09:29.381
Meghan: so often i find myself taking the wheel, so to speak.
00:09:29.447 --> 00:09:33.051
Instead of jesus, take the wheel, it's meghan, take
00:09:33.051 --> 00:09:35.153
The wheel.
00:09:35.153 --> 00:09:36.521
And i just wonder if you can relate.
00:09:36.521 --> 00:09:37.856
Like, have you ever had a moment where you've tried to help god
00:09:37.856 --> 00:09:41.226
Fulfill his promise to you?
00:09:41.226 --> 00:09:43.094
Laurie: the thing about the lord is that he can speak into
00:09:43.094 --> 00:09:46.164
Someone's heart:
00:09:46.164 --> 00:09:47.532
"go to california and start a church.
00:09:47.532 --> 00:09:49.367
Go to hollywood.
00:09:49.367 --> 00:09:50.735
I called you to hollywood to make a difference in hollywood."
00:09:50.735 --> 00:09:53.872
Do stuff that we've stepped out and done.
00:09:53.872 --> 00:09:57.742
And then it's like every faucet of supply, everything just shuts
00:09:57.742 --> 00:10:05.116
Off and you sit there and you think, okay, i know i heard the
00:10:05.116 --> 00:10:10.422
Voice of the lord.
00:10:10.422 --> 00:10:11.956
I know what i felt that day.
00:10:11.956 --> 00:10:13.558
I know, i know god's voice.
00:10:13.558 --> 00:10:16.261
I would not have done that without god's move on my spirit
00:10:16.261 --> 00:10:21.299
And so i don't know what to do with that, you know.
00:10:21.299 --> 00:10:23.535
And i sometimes think of john the baptist.
00:10:23.535 --> 00:10:25.737
He's lived his life out in the wilderness declaring the coming
00:10:25.737 --> 00:10:30.308
Of the lord.
00:10:30.308 --> 00:10:31.676
The messiah is coming.
00:10:31.676 --> 00:10:33.511
And then when he sees jesus, he says, "there he is, the son of
00:10:33.511 --> 00:10:37.482
God," you know, and he baptizes him.
00:10:37.482 --> 00:10:39.984
And then his life goes to hell in a handbag and he's in prison
00:10:39.984 --> 00:10:43.455
And, you know, we ultimately know his head is served on
00:10:43.455 --> 00:10:47.692
A plate.
00:10:47.692 --> 00:10:49.227
But in that time he says to his disciples just, could you just
00:10:49.227 --> 00:10:54.632
Go ask him if he really is the one?
00:10:54.632 --> 00:10:58.002
And just to think, here i am, i feel like i've believed god,
00:10:58.002 --> 00:11:02.607
I've trusted and i believed and i've stepped out, you know, and
00:11:02.607 --> 00:11:06.511
Now we have nothing, you know, and here we are.
00:11:06.511 --> 00:11:11.483
And he sends his disciples and they say, jesus, john wants to
00:11:11.483 --> 00:11:17.355
Know, are you really him?
00:11:17.355 --> 00:11:19.624
And that doubt that john 'cause why aren't you coming and
00:11:19.624 --> 00:11:24.829
Rescuing me?
00:11:24.829 --> 00:11:26.931
Why aren't you helping me, you know.
00:11:26.931 --> 00:11:30.101
And then jesus says, "tell him not to be offended."
00:11:30.101 --> 00:11:34.739
And then they walk away and then jesus says, "he's the greatest
00:11:34.739 --> 00:11:39.644
Born among women."
00:11:39.644 --> 00:11:41.412
It's john the baptist.
00:11:41.412 --> 00:11:43.314
In all of his doubt, in all of his fear, in all of the things
00:11:43.314 --> 00:11:47.986
We think that we've stepped out and done something great for
00:11:47.986 --> 00:11:51.022
God, now we get to walk by faith.
00:11:51.022 --> 00:11:54.025
That's what it's called to walk by faith.
00:11:54.025 --> 00:11:56.761
And i think sometimes we do, do everything we can and sometimes
00:11:56.761 --> 00:12:02.000
And it just stops working.
00:12:02.000 --> 00:12:04.035
All the things that i used to do to make things move and to get
00:12:04.035 --> 00:12:08.473
Things going and get supply coming in and then all of a
00:12:08.473 --> 00:12:12.477
Sudden it just dries up.
00:12:12.477 --> 00:12:14.679
And this is where our trust and our faith and our beliefs sink
00:12:14.679 --> 00:12:19.851
In and it's when we surrender all to god.
00:12:19.851 --> 00:12:25.056
And it's that surrendering and it's not just getting what we
00:12:25.056 --> 00:12:28.993
Think we're gonna get because we've made this great step of
00:12:28.993 --> 00:12:32.664
Faith it's becoming disciplined and being like jesus who gave
00:12:32.664 --> 00:12:38.203
His life, right, for everything.
00:12:38.203 --> 00:12:41.272
And i think we can do the things, do the old things that
00:12:41.272 --> 00:12:45.443
Have always worked and they stopped.
00:12:45.443 --> 00:12:49.347
Just because we doubt, it doesn't disqualify us.
00:12:49.347 --> 00:12:52.951
Thomas was the one who he's always known as doubting thomas.
00:12:52.951 --> 00:12:57.889
Thomas did good things for god, you know, and he was the only
00:12:57.889 --> 00:13:02.060
Honest one among them all, you know.
00:13:02.060 --> 00:13:04.762
And then jesus is so sweet to thomas and he says, "okay, put
00:13:04.762 --> 00:13:09.000
Your hands right here.
00:13:09.000 --> 00:13:11.569
Feel this.
00:13:11.569 --> 00:13:12.904
But you're, look, look and see, look."
00:13:12.904 --> 00:13:16.708
So he's telling us in the natural, okay, go ahead and
00:13:16.708 --> 00:13:20.345
Feel, go ahead and look, i'm resurrected, you know.
00:13:20.345 --> 00:13:23.748
And he's so compassionate and he's so kind.
00:13:23.748 --> 00:13:26.484
And thomas is just so real and vulnerable and honest.
00:13:26.484 --> 00:13:31.289
Doubting is different than unbelieving.
00:13:31.289 --> 00:13:35.393
Doubt is always going, i believe, you know, help me where
00:13:35.393 --> 00:13:40.665
I'm doubting you and doubting that maybe i heard your voice.
00:13:40.665 --> 00:13:44.602
And god is always faithful because that's his character
00:13:44.602 --> 00:13:47.372
That's who he is.
00:13:47.372 --> 00:13:49.440
Kalley heiligenthal: the more that i have experience with
00:13:49.507 --> 00:13:52.710
Walking with god, the more that i believe he is who he says he
00:13:52.710 --> 00:13:57.048
Is, the easier these steps of faith can be.
00:13:57.048 --> 00:14:00.118
Why?
00:14:00.118 --> 00:14:01.452
Because there's traction behind because the awareness of who he
00:14:01.452 --> 00:14:04.722
Is, i believe that he is real, i believe he's with me, i believe
00:14:04.722 --> 00:14:09.227
He's for me, this is momentum into our steps as we move
00:14:09.227 --> 00:14:14.265
Forward in faith.
00:14:14.265 --> 00:14:16.100
And so as we walk, as we progress remembering who he is
00:14:16.100 --> 00:14:22.440
Will always be fuel, it'll always be the power behind our
00:14:22.440 --> 00:14:26.811
Steps of faith.
00:14:26.811 --> 00:14:29.013
Sheila walsh: god created us to be in community and we want you
00:14:29.080 --> 00:14:31.983
To join ours.
00:14:31.983 --> 00:14:33.351
Kalley: follow us on social media and join our conversation.
00:14:33.351 --> 00:14:37.388
Laurie: let's keep the conversation going.
00:14:37.455 --> 00:14:39.724
You can find the "better together" podcast on your
00:14:39.724 --> 00:14:42.026
Favorite listening platform.
00:14:42.026 --> 00:14:43.828
Subscribe today.
00:14:43.828 --> 00:14:45.863
Sheila: that story about john the baptist, i find that the
00:14:49.705 --> 00:14:51.807
Most moving one in the whole of new testament.
00:14:51.907 --> 00:14:52.708
Because it's so interesting when i can't imagine what it was like
00:14:54.910 --> 00:14:57.746
For john, you know, he's in this dungeon, it's way down and it's
00:14:57.746 --> 00:15:01.283
Dark, and he's used to being out in the open air, as you say,
00:15:01.283 --> 00:15:03.819
He's used to being free.
00:15:03.819 --> 00:15:05.588
And that's when the enemy comes with all these doubts.
00:15:05.588 --> 00:15:08.090
What if you blew it?
00:15:08.090 --> 00:15:09.425
What if you spent your whole life?
00:15:09.425 --> 00:15:11.026
You had one job and you blew it.
00:15:11.026 --> 00:15:14.029
And the very fact of john even having to say to his disciples,
00:15:14.029 --> 00:15:16.732
Would you go and ask?
00:15:16.732 --> 00:15:18.334
And i wondered how that sat with jesus, you know, do you mind
00:15:18.334 --> 00:15:22.638
John wants to know.
00:15:22.638 --> 00:15:23.973
And it's so interesting what jesus sends back because, you
00:15:23.973 --> 00:15:26.475
Know, isaiah talks about the things messiah will do.
00:15:26.475 --> 00:15:29.378
And when jesus sends john's disciples back, he tells them
00:15:29.378 --> 00:15:32.514
That the blind see, the lame walk, the deaf hear, but he
00:15:32.514 --> 00:15:36.018
Doesn't say they'll be released to the prisoners.
00:15:36.018 --> 00:15:38.754
And it's the whole thing of not being offended.
00:15:38.754 --> 00:15:41.357
Will you love a god you don't understand?
00:15:41.357 --> 00:15:44.293
Will you still serve a god when things don't go the way you
00:15:44.293 --> 00:15:47.296
Thought they would go?
00:15:47.296 --> 00:15:49.131
And to me that is one of the greatest maturing things in
00:15:49.131 --> 00:15:52.334
Our faith.
00:15:52.334 --> 00:15:53.702
It's like, you know, god tells us to do something and we step
00:15:53.702 --> 00:15:56.272
Out in faith and then nothing happens that we think is
00:15:56.272 --> 00:16:00.776
Supposed to happen, but it's all about jesus.
00:16:00.776 --> 00:16:03.612
It's all about our faith in jesus.
00:16:03.612 --> 00:16:05.814
It's like him saying personally to us, "will you still love me
00:16:05.814 --> 00:16:09.118
When you don't understand?
00:16:09.118 --> 00:16:11.053
Will you still love me when it didn't work out the way you
00:16:11.053 --> 00:16:13.389
Thought it was gonna--like, okay, you put everything on the
00:16:13.389 --> 00:16:16.692
Line and it didn't turn out the way you thought.
00:16:16.692 --> 00:16:19.461
Will you still love me?
00:16:19.461 --> 00:16:20.829
Will you still trust me because i am still good and i am
00:16:20.829 --> 00:16:23.399
Still god."
00:16:23.399 --> 00:16:24.733
And honestly, i weep when i read that passage because i'm like, i
00:16:24.733 --> 00:16:28.771
Mean, i'm sure everything jesus wanted to say to john, "listen
00:16:28.771 --> 00:16:31.206
John, hang in there, if you just knew, just, you know, a little
00:16:31.206 --> 00:16:35.010
Bit further down the line, i'm gonna die and i'm gonna be
00:16:35.010 --> 00:16:38.514
Buried and i'm coming for you, john.
00:16:38.514 --> 00:16:40.582
You're gonna lay your head down on that block that day, not
00:16:40.582 --> 00:16:43.385
Knowing that in just a few days i'm coming for you.
00:16:43.385 --> 00:16:46.288
We're going home.
00:16:46.288 --> 00:16:47.656
We're going home."
00:16:47.656 --> 00:16:49.058
Meghan: i often have wondered how i should respond when i know
00:16:49.124 --> 00:16:53.829
That god has called me to do something, but it seems like
00:16:53.829 --> 00:16:57.599
Every step i take, nothing is happening.
00:16:57.599 --> 00:17:01.370
Maybe you found yourself there as well.
00:17:01.370 --> 00:17:03.772
And i just want to encourage you, the scripture says that
00:17:03.772 --> 00:17:07.810
God's plans are not my plans.
00:17:07.810 --> 00:17:11.246
His thoughts are not my thoughts.
00:17:11.246 --> 00:17:14.083
God has deeper, richer plans than you or i could ever come
00:17:14.083 --> 00:17:18.420
Up with.
00:17:18.420 --> 00:17:19.755
And if god has asked you to do something, be obedient.
00:17:19.755 --> 00:17:23.726
Take the steps of faith.
00:17:23.726 --> 00:17:25.527
Don't get so fixated on the outcome you think you're aiming
00:17:25.527 --> 00:17:28.831
For that you miss out on the road that god's trying to take
00:17:28.831 --> 00:17:32.568
You on.
00:17:32.568 --> 00:17:33.936
So trust him.
00:17:33.936 --> 00:17:35.270
Proverbs 3:5 says, "trust in the lord with all of your heart.
00:17:35.270 --> 00:17:37.206
Lean not on your own understanding, but in all your
00:17:37.206 --> 00:17:40.642
Ways acknowledge him and he will direct your path."
00:17:40.642 --> 00:17:44.046
So i gotta tell you, grab a hold of the hand of jesus, walk on
00:17:44.046 --> 00:17:48.417
This faith journey with him.
00:17:48.417 --> 00:17:50.252
I'm telling you it may not look like what you thought it was
00:17:50.252 --> 00:17:52.354
Gonna look like, but it'll be even better.
00:17:52.354 --> 00:17:55.224
Meghan: it's such a reminder because for all of us, i think
00:17:55.290 --> 00:17:57.593
Doubt it naturally tries to become louder than faith.
00:17:57.593 --> 00:18:01.530
And i think often, at least for me, our human reaction can be
00:18:01.530 --> 00:18:06.235
Fear or control and that never works out well.
00:18:06.235 --> 00:18:09.972
I mean, even recently, my husband and i, we were just, you
00:18:09.972 --> 00:18:13.609
Know, we planted a church here in southern california and we
00:18:13.609 --> 00:18:17.012
Had just shifted a location.
00:18:17.012 --> 00:18:18.380
We're a portable church, so we don't have a building.
00:18:18.380 --> 00:18:20.716
But i was in a worship service next to my husband and we were
00:18:20.716 --> 00:18:24.353
Worshiping god and the presence of god was just there.
00:18:24.353 --> 00:18:27.089
It was strong.
00:18:27.089 --> 00:18:28.457
And after church, we were talking, but what we began to
00:18:28.457 --> 00:18:30.392
Talk about was the frustrations, the things that we haven't seen
00:18:30.392 --> 00:18:33.695
Yet in our church.
00:18:33.695 --> 00:18:36.165
And i feel like, so for us as pastors, this is my story and
00:18:36.165 --> 00:18:40.502
All of us have different different stories.
00:18:40.502 --> 00:18:41.837
I think oftentimes, it's so easy to get our eyes on what we
00:18:41.837 --> 00:18:45.641
Haven't seen or how the plan hasn't worked the way that we
00:18:45.641 --> 00:18:48.143
Thought that it would work.
00:18:48.143 --> 00:18:49.511
It doesn't look like what i thought it would look like.
00:18:49.511 --> 00:18:51.480
And we were kind of just frustrated in that moment.
00:18:51.480 --> 00:18:53.982
And my husband shared with me, he's like, yeah, but i felt god
00:18:53.982 --> 00:18:57.619
Ask me, kerry, could you just be concerned on if the service is
00:18:57.619 --> 00:19:03.158
Pleasing to me?
00:19:03.158 --> 00:19:04.526
Like, not is everything working.
00:19:04.526 --> 00:19:06.595
Not is everything the way you dreamed it would be.
00:19:06.595 --> 00:19:08.664
And i feel like that that's our life as well.
00:19:08.664 --> 00:19:10.632
It's not just a picture of the church.
00:19:10.632 --> 00:19:12.301
It's like, meghan, could you just be satisfied enough with is
00:19:12.301 --> 00:19:16.105
Your life pleasing to me?
00:19:16.105 --> 00:19:17.739
Are you walking in obedience to me?
00:19:17.739 --> 00:19:19.975
But it's so easy for fear and control and what can i do to
00:19:19.975 --> 00:19:23.846
Control the narrative and make sure the outcome is what i want
00:19:23.846 --> 00:19:25.647
It to be to set in.
00:19:25.647 --> 00:19:27.483
Kalley: it's interesting that you bring up because i think the
00:19:27.483 --> 00:19:30.786
Hands on the wheel thing, i think we all have our ways that
00:19:30.786 --> 00:19:34.323
We kind of cope in these moments when doubt hits 'cause i think
00:19:34.323 --> 00:19:37.593
For me i don't know i'm sure i have a knee jerk grab the
00:19:37.593 --> 00:19:40.596
Wheel reaction.
00:19:40.596 --> 00:19:42.030
I also can find myself like gideon.
00:19:42.030 --> 00:19:44.266
I'm like yeah i'm maybe hiding out somewhere being like,
00:19:44.266 --> 00:19:48.303
"i don't know.
00:19:48.303 --> 00:19:49.671
I don't know what's happening.
00:19:49.671 --> 00:19:51.006
I'm afraid."
00:19:51.006 --> 00:19:52.341
Even if there is a call to something and it's not working
00:19:52.341 --> 00:19:54.143
Like i'd, so i'll kind of retreat, you know.
00:19:54.143 --> 00:19:57.546
But i also think like you're just saying there's the
00:19:57.546 --> 00:20:00.282
Complaining, the whining of the israelites when it's like we've
00:20:00.282 --> 00:20:03.218
Been waiting for this promised land and we're still here among
00:20:03.218 --> 00:20:06.822
The sand, we're still wandering in a desert and it's like
00:20:06.822 --> 00:20:10.325
Actually think it's interesting and probably valuable for us to
00:20:10.325 --> 00:20:14.129
Know where maybe those go to's can be so that we can have an
00:20:14.129 --> 00:20:18.100
Awareness, oh, i'm doing that.
00:20:18.100 --> 00:20:19.434
Does that make sense?
00:20:19.434 --> 00:20:20.802
Oh man, i'm hiding.
00:20:20.802 --> 00:20:22.237
I'm hiding and the lord's like, hey, great and mighty warrior,
00:20:22.237 --> 00:20:25.574
Come on.
00:20:25.574 --> 00:20:26.909
You know what i'm saying?
00:20:26.909 --> 00:20:28.277
Or like--
00:20:28.277 --> 00:20:29.611
Meghan: i'm controlling.
00:20:29.611 --> 00:20:30.946
Kalley: yeah, or like job shouting down god, which i'm
00:20:30.946 --> 00:20:33.015
Like, i mean the man's been through a lot, he has, you know
00:20:33.015 --> 00:20:35.017
What i'm saying?
00:20:35.017 --> 00:20:36.351
But then like you have god approach him and say, hey, who
00:20:36.351 --> 00:20:41.690
Like who calls forth the waters, you know.
00:20:41.690 --> 00:20:45.127
And we all have our tendencies when things aren't going our way
00:20:45.127 --> 00:20:48.297
And it's i don't even mean that with judgment.
00:20:48.297 --> 00:20:50.165
I'm like, when devastating things happen, you're
00:20:50.165 --> 00:20:52.768
Like, what?
00:20:52.768 --> 00:20:54.102
Even that awareness of hey god, what is it that i tend to do?
00:20:54.102 --> 00:20:57.873
Would you actually show me a map of where i go 'cause i actually
00:20:57.873 --> 00:21:01.677
Want to run to you instead, but i might not even know that
00:21:01.677 --> 00:21:04.813
That's what i'm doing.
00:21:04.813 --> 00:21:06.181
Like what's that knee jerk?
00:21:06.181 --> 00:21:07.516
Is it pull away, is it force, that fight or flight?
00:21:07.516 --> 00:21:10.052
What do i do in those moments?
00:21:10.052 --> 00:21:11.420
God, would you expose that?
00:21:11.420 --> 00:21:13.155
Would you show me?
00:21:13.155 --> 00:21:14.723
Am i offended?
00:21:14.723 --> 00:21:16.191
And actually would you show me the alternate that you have?
00:21:16.191 --> 00:21:19.094
What does it look like to actually draw near to you in the
00:21:19.094 --> 00:21:21.830
Question, draw near to you when i'm not sure what's happening,
00:21:21.830 --> 00:21:25.267
Draw near to you when the words have been spoken and this feels
00:21:25.267 --> 00:21:28.637
Impossible and like i'm being made a mockery.
00:21:28.637 --> 00:21:31.273
I have my gut reaction.
00:21:31.273 --> 00:21:33.108
God, what are you inviting me into instead?
00:21:33.108 --> 00:21:37.045
How do i actually combat that death thing in me that wants to
00:21:37.045 --> 00:21:41.316
Respond and react?
00:21:41.316 --> 00:21:42.684
How do we temper that strategically?
00:21:42.684 --> 00:21:44.853
And i think he is so in the business of actually walking us
00:21:44.853 --> 00:21:48.924
Or shepherding us through 'cause that's development.
00:21:48.924 --> 00:21:52.794
That's maturation to actually, oh, i'm doing that thing.
00:21:52.794 --> 00:21:57.499
Okay, thank you.
00:21:57.499 --> 00:21:58.934
I'm gonna choose to come to you instead.
00:21:58.934 --> 00:22:00.836
I'm gonna, i'm lifting my hands from the white-knuckle control.
00:22:00.836 --> 00:22:04.273
I'm coming outside of the wine press that i've been hiding in
00:22:04.273 --> 00:22:07.909
To the sound of your voice.
00:22:07.909 --> 00:22:09.278
I'm laying down offense.
00:22:09.278 --> 00:22:10.712
I'm gonna quit the grumbling complaining.
00:22:10.712 --> 00:22:13.482
Man, as i'm saying, i've done all of them, but it's like, you
00:22:13.482 --> 00:22:16.618
Know, like god, would you actually search me and know me.
00:22:16.618 --> 00:22:19.554
Where am i going apart from you to try to cope with
00:22:19.554 --> 00:22:22.491
This situation?
00:22:22.491 --> 00:22:24.026
Could i actually find comfort in the sound of his voice,
00:22:24.026 --> 00:22:27.663
You know.
00:22:27.663 --> 00:22:29.031
Hosanna wong: when hard times come, when tough decisions need
00:22:29.097 --> 00:22:31.400
To be made, when you need to have a difficult conversation,
00:22:31.400 --> 00:22:36.338
You will want to be a person of faith, a person who is brave, a
00:22:36.338 --> 00:22:41.410
Person who can have peace, a person who can be level headed.
00:22:41.410 --> 00:22:45.314
You will want to be the best version of yourself and be able
00:22:45.314 --> 00:22:48.450
To make the wisest choices, but a lot of the faith that you will
00:22:48.450 --> 00:22:53.889
Have worked out in public will come from your moments with
00:22:53.889 --> 00:22:58.927
Jesus in private when you know who you are, when it's just you
00:22:58.927 --> 00:23:03.265
And god, when you see god's lens of yourself and of the world.
00:23:03.265 --> 00:23:07.235
When you are humbled before god for real and private, it will
00:23:07.235 --> 00:23:11.106
Help you live a life of humility in public.
00:23:11.106 --> 00:23:13.709
Do you want to be a person of faith?
00:23:13.709 --> 00:23:15.410
It's often not a switch we can just turn on and will ourselves
00:23:15.410 --> 00:23:18.714
To have faith.
00:23:18.714 --> 00:23:20.349
It's something that's cultivated in quiet unseen moments, but
00:23:20.349 --> 00:23:24.152
Rest assured, it will be seen throughout your life.
00:23:24.152 --> 00:23:27.522
When it's real, it will overflow into the everyday moments of
00:23:27.522 --> 00:23:31.360
Your everyday life.
00:23:31.360 --> 00:23:33.261
Sheila: the difference between success and faithfulness is
00:23:33.328 --> 00:23:36.131
Something i've been thinking about a lot this last few days
00:23:36.131 --> 00:23:39.334
Because so often we have this idea of, i'll do this and
00:23:39.334 --> 00:23:41.636
That'll happen and this will be successful.
00:23:41.636 --> 00:23:44.873
But i'm not so sure god cares so much about success.
00:23:44.873 --> 00:23:48.377
I don't think that's a big deal.
00:23:48.377 --> 00:23:49.745
Laurie: we can never tell god what success looks like.
00:23:49.745 --> 00:23:52.247
Sheila: it's faithfulness.
00:23:52.247 --> 00:23:53.915
Would you be faithful even when it doesn't look like what you
00:23:53.915 --> 00:23:56.685
Think it would look like?
00:23:56.685 --> 00:23:58.620
Hosanna: as i'm listening to each of you talk about your
00:23:58.620 --> 00:24:01.223
Journeys of faith and the ways that you've wrestled with doubt,
00:24:01.223 --> 00:24:05.894
I even heard you say the word like mature, like some of this
00:24:05.894 --> 00:24:08.497
Comes from a mature relationship with jesus or continuously
00:24:08.497 --> 00:24:12.234
Walking and having faith or god, search me, show me a road map,
00:24:12.234 --> 00:24:15.270
Where do i go?
00:24:15.270 --> 00:24:16.638
These are questions that we have started to ask after a life of
00:24:16.638 --> 00:24:20.642
Walking with jesus.
00:24:20.642 --> 00:24:22.677
So if you're listening today and you're thinking, wow, i mean,
00:24:22.677 --> 00:24:25.514
That sounds wise, that sounds mature, but i'm just not
00:24:25.514 --> 00:24:28.083
Spiritually there, man, i was not spiritually there for years.
00:24:28.083 --> 00:24:32.354
There are some things that i know about god because i have
00:24:32.354 --> 00:24:35.724
Taken steps of faith for god before.
00:24:35.724 --> 00:24:38.927
And i've seen things not turn out the way that i wanted and
00:24:38.927 --> 00:24:42.531
Held on to faith in god and i've seen things turn out not the way
00:24:42.531 --> 00:24:45.200
I wanted and i've lost faith in god and then had to come back to
00:24:45.200 --> 00:24:47.669
A place of faith in god.
00:24:47.669 --> 00:24:49.004
There's some things that we know after a lifetime of walking with
00:24:49.004 --> 00:24:51.873
Jesus that you may not know yet, but there is more to discover
00:24:51.873 --> 00:24:55.677
About jesus and your life and the goodness of god after you
00:24:55.677 --> 00:24:58.713
Take a step of faith.
00:24:58.713 --> 00:25:00.081
There are things you won't know about god until you take a step
00:25:00.081 --> 00:25:02.350
Of faith.
00:25:02.350 --> 00:25:03.718
I am an expert at failing, i have tried a lot of things.
00:25:03.718 --> 00:25:09.157
I have started a lot of things.
00:25:09.157 --> 00:25:10.592
I have taken steps of faith and it hasn't turned out the way
00:25:10.592 --> 00:25:13.728
I wanted.
00:25:13.728 --> 00:25:15.096
So my dreams have failed many times.
00:25:15.096 --> 00:25:17.399
Me thinking that god's will cannot possibly be done now has
00:25:17.399 --> 00:25:21.203
Happened many times.
00:25:21.203 --> 00:25:22.804
And i have seen the goodness of god and the sanctification
00:25:22.804 --> 00:25:25.740
Becoming more like christ when i've walked through these things
00:25:25.740 --> 00:25:28.710
That i wouldn't have known.
00:25:28.710 --> 00:25:30.045
So this is what i mean to say.
00:25:30.045 --> 00:25:31.680
Sometimes we don't know how something is going to turn out.
00:25:31.680 --> 00:25:34.783
We cannot trust in the end result, we cannot trust in the
00:25:34.783 --> 00:25:37.652
Outcome, but we can trust in god's character.
00:25:37.652 --> 00:25:40.922
When we don't know what's gonna happen, we can ask ourselves,
00:25:40.922 --> 00:25:43.892
Who is it that calls us?
00:25:43.892 --> 00:25:46.194
Who is it that is asking us to take a step of faith?
00:25:46.194 --> 00:25:49.064
Do we trust in him?
00:25:49.064 --> 00:25:50.432
Do we trust that he has plans that are for his glory and
00:25:50.432 --> 00:25:53.335
Our good?
00:25:53.335 --> 00:25:54.703
And sometimes when i can't trust the outcome i can trust in god's
00:25:54.703 --> 00:25:58.306
Character and when even that becomes fuzzy 'cause i'm in so
00:25:58.306 --> 00:26:02.978
Much fear and i have all these feelings, i can sometimes pull
00:26:02.978 --> 00:26:06.581
Up god's resume.
00:26:06.581 --> 00:26:09.284
I don't know if there's a better way to say that.
00:26:09.284 --> 00:26:10.785
I can pull up what i've seen god already do in my life.
00:26:10.785 --> 00:26:14.256
When i'm not sure what god's gonna do next, i can look back
00:26:14.256 --> 00:26:18.026
And see what he's already done and think man look how god has
00:26:18.026 --> 00:26:21.696
Always kept his character.
00:26:21.696 --> 00:26:23.698
Look how god has always been faithful.
00:26:23.698 --> 00:26:25.300
Look how god has always been with me.
00:26:25.300 --> 00:26:27.702
When i don't know what the future holds, i can look at what
00:26:27.702 --> 00:26:30.171
The past has proven and can i trust in that god?
00:26:30.171 --> 00:26:34.409
Yes i can.
00:26:34.409 --> 00:26:35.777
I can take the step of faith without knowing the end results.
00:26:35.777 --> 00:26:38.613
Sheila: one of the things you will know if you've lived for
00:26:38.680 --> 00:26:41.416
Any length of time at all is that we all fail.
00:26:41.416 --> 00:26:44.019
We all make mistakes.
00:26:44.019 --> 00:26:45.353
And sometimes with the best heart in the world, you know,
00:26:45.353 --> 00:26:47.055
We'll give herself to something and it just doesn't work out.
00:26:47.055 --> 00:26:50.258
But the interesting thing is how does god view you when you have
00:26:50.258 --> 00:26:54.262
Given yourself to something and maybe it was a good thing you
00:26:54.262 --> 00:26:56.932
Felt god wanted you to do, but it just didn't happen.
00:26:56.932 --> 00:27:00.302
I think god sees the heart.
00:27:00.302 --> 00:27:02.771
That's what i love so much.
00:27:02.771 --> 00:27:04.139
That man looks at the outward appearance, you know, you might
00:27:04.139 --> 00:27:07.008
Not look successful on the outside, but god looks at
00:27:07.008 --> 00:27:09.477
The heart.
00:27:09.477 --> 00:27:10.845
But even if you're in a place where you think, you know what?
00:27:10.845 --> 00:27:13.315
The reason i failed was because of my own choices.
00:27:13.315 --> 00:27:16.117
I made some really wrong choices and this failed, and i feel like
00:27:16.117 --> 00:27:20.589
I've disappointed god and, you know, maybe he's kind of counted
00:27:20.589 --> 00:27:23.558
Me out, no.
00:27:23.558 --> 00:27:25.060
Remember what david prayed, "create in me a clean heart, o
00:27:25.060 --> 00:27:28.496
Lord, and restore to me the joy of my salvation."
00:27:28.496 --> 00:27:32.767
God is so close to you even right now, and if you feel like
00:27:32.767 --> 00:27:37.005
You failed, you just ask god for forgiveness.
00:27:37.005 --> 00:27:40.175
And then it says in psalm 34, those who look to him for help
00:27:40.175 --> 00:27:45.080
Will be radiant with joy.
00:27:45.080 --> 00:27:47.015
No shadow of shame will touch their faces.
00:27:47.015 --> 00:27:50.885
Laurie: sometimes it takes decades before you go, ooh,
00:27:50.952 --> 00:27:57.692
That's what he was doing.
00:27:57.692 --> 00:27:59.361
Meghan: hindsight 2020.
00:27:59.361 --> 00:28:01.196
Laurie: for years, you know, things that oh yes we're gonna
00:28:01.196 --> 00:28:05.467
Do that.
00:28:05.467 --> 00:28:06.801
Yes, god's gonna meet us there.
00:28:06.801 --> 00:28:08.169
Yes, god, where are you?
00:28:08.169 --> 00:28:09.504
And then years and years down the road you start going he had
00:28:09.504 --> 00:28:14.342
A plan all along and he has a plan for you.
00:28:14.342 --> 00:28:18.747
No matter where we are today, there is a plan.
00:28:18.747 --> 00:28:21.583
Nothing is derailed with god.
00:28:21.583 --> 00:28:25.987
You might feel like you have derailed your life and that
00:28:25.987 --> 00:28:29.457
There is no hope and there is no plan, but god has a plan.
00:28:29.457 --> 00:28:34.829
He can resurrect things that are dead.
00:28:34.829 --> 00:28:38.066
He can bring to life what we think is gone.
00:28:38.066 --> 00:28:42.404
Things that we don't understand, he can make it play out to where
00:28:42.404 --> 00:28:46.875
You look one day and go, god had a plan all along.
00:28:46.875 --> 00:28:50.078
Sheila: even when things go really wrong, you find
00:28:50.078 --> 00:28:52.914
God there.
00:28:52.914 --> 00:28:54.282
I'm thinking of when barry and i, when we we first moved to
00:28:54.282 --> 00:28:57.185
Dallas, we bought a house in the neighborhood that i thought was
00:28:57.185 --> 00:29:00.755
Perfect, but it was right near high school.
00:29:00.755 --> 00:29:03.158
And christian was just a little boy at the time.
00:29:03.158 --> 00:29:05.260
And these teenagers were driving past in their car and twice
00:29:05.260 --> 00:29:07.862
Nearly knocked him off his bike and i said to barry, "you know
00:29:07.862 --> 00:29:09.731
What, babe, i think we need to move to a quieter area."
00:29:09.731 --> 00:29:12.901
So we found this other house and it was in a kind of more gated
00:29:12.901 --> 00:29:15.403
Community and it just seemed perfect.
00:29:15.403 --> 00:29:19.307
And so we put our house on the market, and unfortunately, we
00:29:19.307 --> 00:29:24.045
Signed the papers on the new house 20 minutes before the
00:29:24.045 --> 00:29:28.216
People pulled out of buying our other house.
00:29:28.216 --> 00:29:30.852
So for five years, we owned two homes and it was devastating.
00:29:30.852 --> 00:29:36.991
And we ended up in bankruptcy court, which, you know, i don't
00:29:36.991 --> 00:29:40.495
Know if any of you have ever faced anything like that, but it
00:29:40.495 --> 00:29:42.831
Was, but what i discovered is god shows up in
00:29:42.831 --> 00:29:45.633
Bankruptcy court.
00:29:45.633 --> 00:29:46.968
I'll never forget that morning.
00:29:46.968 --> 00:29:48.803
Barry and i are sitting there, well case number six, you know,
00:29:48.803 --> 00:29:51.072
And i'm watching everybody around us, and this man's
00:29:51.072 --> 00:29:53.408
Tearing his tissue apart, it's like it's snowing in the
00:29:53.408 --> 00:29:55.777
Courtroom because he's so nervous.
00:29:55.777 --> 00:29:57.579
And i remember thinking, lord, this is amazing.
00:29:57.579 --> 00:30:00.181
I never thought i would end up in a bankruptcy court, but
00:30:00.181 --> 00:30:02.584
You're here with me.
00:30:02.584 --> 00:30:04.018
And it sometimes when things so don't go right you discover, you
00:30:04.018 --> 00:30:08.990
Know what?
00:30:08.990 --> 00:30:10.358
Even here, even if i walk through the valley of the shadow
00:30:10.358 --> 00:30:12.060
Of death, even there i will not be afraid because you're
00:30:12.060 --> 00:30:14.863
With me.
00:30:14.863 --> 00:30:16.231
And when you discover that no matter what goes wrong in life,
00:30:16.231 --> 00:30:18.566
Jesus is right there it's like, okay.
00:30:18.566 --> 00:30:21.102
Kalley: it's beautiful.
00:30:21.102 --> 00:30:22.470
Laurie: nothing to fear.
00:30:22.470 --> 00:30:23.805
Sheila: no, there's nothing to fear because jesus is here.
00:30:23.805 --> 00:30:26.307
Meghan: the fire becomes a little less scary.
00:30:26.307 --> 00:30:28.042
Kalley: yeah, yeah, it really does.
00:30:28.042 --> 00:30:31.346
Sheila: you know, sometimes i think there's places in life
00:30:31.412 --> 00:30:33.181
Where we think, lord, i could go through that, i could go through
00:30:33.181 --> 00:30:35.550
That, but not that.
00:30:35.550 --> 00:30:37.051
What i discovered that day as we sat in that court waiting for
00:30:37.051 --> 00:30:39.954
The judge to call our case was the presence of jesus.
00:30:39.954 --> 00:30:43.958
I realize that there's nowhere on earth, whether it's a divorce
00:30:43.958 --> 00:30:47.262
Court, a bankruptcy court, whatever it is, whether it's a
00:30:47.262 --> 00:30:50.799
Prison that you're watching from, there's no place that you
00:30:50.799 --> 00:30:53.701
And i will go where jesus isn't with us.
00:30:53.701 --> 00:30:56.805
And so, eventually one of our houses sold and we were able to
00:30:56.805 --> 00:31:00.642
Move on with our life, but i never forgot the lesson of
00:31:00.642 --> 00:31:03.578
Knowing, no matter how dark the valley, no matter how dark your
00:31:03.578 --> 00:31:07.348
Valley is right now, you are not alone.
00:31:07.348 --> 00:31:11.252
Meghan: one of my favorite, my favorite chapters in the bible
00:31:11.319 --> 00:31:14.355
Is found in mark chapter 5, and it's a story of a man
00:31:14.355 --> 00:31:17.492
Named jairus.
00:31:17.492 --> 00:31:18.827
It's like my life message.
00:31:18.827 --> 00:31:20.395
And you were talking about, what do we do first?
00:31:20.395 --> 00:31:23.331
Like what's our natural response when fear or doubt or trying to
00:31:23.331 --> 00:31:27.302
Become the loudest in our minds.
00:31:27.302 --> 00:31:28.803
And the reason i love this story is because we meet this man
00:31:28.803 --> 00:31:31.673
Named jairus and it says he was a ruler in the synagogue and he
00:31:31.673 --> 00:31:34.709
Was in capernaum and we don't know how he knew about jesus.
00:31:34.709 --> 00:31:37.545
We can imagine, but he had somehow heard about this man
00:31:37.545 --> 00:31:40.548
Named jesus, and this man named jesus that was doing miracles.
00:31:40.548 --> 00:31:43.318
And jairus finds himself in this desperate situation.
00:31:43.318 --> 00:31:46.554
It says his daughter was at the point of death.
00:31:46.554 --> 00:31:48.890
And he immediately, his first response was to go and
00:31:48.890 --> 00:31:52.994
Find jesus.
00:31:52.994 --> 00:31:54.362
And i love that because that's ultimately what we're talking
00:31:54.362 --> 00:31:56.764
About here today is like, if we could get to the place where in
00:31:56.764 --> 00:31:59.901
Our desperate situations, the darkest places, the hardest
00:31:59.901 --> 00:32:03.404
Moments where doubt is louder than faith, if our first
00:32:03.404 --> 00:32:06.574
Response could be to go and find jesus.
00:32:06.574 --> 00:32:08.443
Sheila: if that becomes our knee jerk response, yeah.
00:32:08.443 --> 00:32:10.478
Meghan: it does.
00:32:10.478 --> 00:32:11.846
And then what we see in the scripture here is that jairus
00:32:11.846 --> 00:32:14.048
Finds jesus and he tells jesus the problem.
00:32:14.048 --> 00:32:16.451
He says, "my daughter's at the point of death.
00:32:16.451 --> 00:32:18.119
Will you come with me?"
00:32:18.119 --> 00:32:19.487
And jesus says, "yes."
00:32:19.487 --> 00:32:20.822
He says, "i'll go with you," which is a beautiful reminder in
00:32:20.822 --> 00:32:23.691
Scripture that jesus will go with us into whatever situation
00:32:23.691 --> 00:32:26.661
It is that we're facing.
00:32:26.661 --> 00:32:28.263
And on the journey, they met with this woman with an issue of
00:32:28.263 --> 00:32:31.799
Blood and jesus stops and addresses that.
00:32:31.799 --> 00:32:34.035
And this woman is immediately healed.
00:32:34.035 --> 00:32:35.737
And it's this awesome, amazing part of the scripture.
00:32:35.737 --> 00:32:39.073
And i just imagined jairus had to have been like, okay, this
00:32:39.073 --> 00:32:42.443
Is awesome.
00:32:42.443 --> 00:32:43.778
He can do miracles.
00:32:43.778 --> 00:32:45.113
Like maybe, maybe there's a chance for my daughter here too.
00:32:45.113 --> 00:32:48.082
But at the same time, i imagine he was like, hurry up.
00:32:48.082 --> 00:32:50.251
Like, let's go, like, what about me?
00:32:50.251 --> 00:32:51.920
And i think that's where a lot of us find ourselves.
00:32:51.920 --> 00:32:54.055
When doubt is getting really loud, i think often we're
00:32:54.055 --> 00:32:56.824
Looking at everybody else's miracles and we're watching
00:32:56.824 --> 00:32:59.727
Things happen for other people and we're frustrated because
00:32:59.727 --> 00:33:02.530
We're not seeing the thing that we're praying for or hoping for
00:33:02.530 --> 00:33:05.767
Or believing for and we get frustrated.
00:33:05.767 --> 00:33:08.069
And as he's standing there, word comes from his home and they
00:33:08.069 --> 00:33:12.707
Tell jairus, "hey, stop bothering the teacher, your
00:33:12.707 --> 00:33:16.044
Daughter is dead."
00:33:16.044 --> 00:33:18.379
And jairus, i can only imagine like the disappointment and
00:33:18.379 --> 00:33:21.649
Maybe, maybe we can relate all of us in some way.
00:33:21.649 --> 00:33:25.219
Like the disappointment, the loss, the grief, the what am i
00:33:25.219 --> 00:33:28.389
Gonna do?
00:33:28.389 --> 00:33:29.724
And jesus turns and looks at him, and i just think this is a
00:33:29.724 --> 00:33:32.327
Word for us when we're struggling with doubt.
00:33:32.327 --> 00:33:36.364
He turns and looks at jairus and he says, "do not fear.
00:33:36.364 --> 00:33:40.802
Only believe."
00:33:40.802 --> 00:33:42.971
And jairus has a choice to make.
00:33:42.971 --> 00:33:44.939
Like, am i going to trust jesus in the midst of this process
00:33:44.939 --> 00:33:50.578
Or not?
00:33:50.578 --> 00:33:51.913
And i think it's a beautiful thing for all of us because the
00:33:51.913 --> 00:33:53.681
Scripture wasn't written to us, but it was written for us.
00:33:53.681 --> 00:33:57.185
And in the original greek, the word said, "jesus says," and
00:33:57.185 --> 00:34:01.889
They changed it to "jesus said," like past tense to tell
00:34:01.889 --> 00:34:04.859
The story.
00:34:04.859 --> 00:34:06.194
But it originally read, "jesus says, do not fear.
00:34:06.194 --> 00:34:10.164
Only believe."
00:34:10.164 --> 00:34:11.632
And i love that because i feel like when we're overwhelmed with
00:34:11.632 --> 00:34:16.170
Doubt, when we're facing the most difficult circumstances,
00:34:16.170 --> 00:34:20.541
When we don't know how it's gonna play out, it's like you
00:34:20.541 --> 00:34:23.411
Were saying, even in bankruptcy court, can i go, okay.
00:34:23.411 --> 00:34:28.449
You're with me.
00:34:28.449 --> 00:34:30.151
And that's what matters.
00:34:30.151 --> 00:34:33.187
Kalley: so when you're in seasons of doubt and it feels
00:34:33.254 --> 00:34:35.456
Like it's hard to know up from down and what the voice of the
00:34:35.456 --> 00:34:38.760
Lord sounds like, this is when it's so important to dive into
00:34:38.760 --> 00:34:42.597
The word of god because it's here, it's stable, it's steady,
00:34:42.597 --> 00:34:47.301
We can trust it.
00:34:47.301 --> 00:34:49.003
When it feels like our senses are every which way and our
00:34:49.003 --> 00:34:51.873
Feelings are betraying us, the word of god will not.
00:34:51.873 --> 00:34:55.810
Find this, open it, eat it, get it inside.
00:34:55.810 --> 00:35:00.348
This is what god sounds like, this is his character, this is
00:35:00.348 --> 00:35:03.918
His nature.
00:35:03.918 --> 00:35:05.253
When in doubt, what does the word say?
00:35:05.253 --> 00:35:09.057
Laurie: join the conversation on our "better together"
00:35:09.123 --> 00:35:11.459
Youtube channel.
00:35:11.459 --> 00:35:12.794
Subscribe today and never miss a new upload.
00:35:12.794 --> 00:35:16.862
Laurie: a lot of people have heard me say all i have is
00:35:20.469 --> 00:35:21.437
My belief.
00:35:23.705 --> 00:35:25.541
All i have is my faith in god.
00:35:25.541 --> 00:35:28.911
And so doubt and fear just have to take a backseat because of
00:35:28.911 --> 00:35:33.782
The faithfulness throughout the years.
00:35:33.782 --> 00:35:35.617
And there's something so beautifully to be said of a
00:35:35.617 --> 00:35:39.388
Lifetime with jesus, a lifetime of watching his hand, you know.
00:35:39.388 --> 00:35:44.793
So we have generation upon generation upon generations of
00:35:44.793 --> 00:35:49.064
Hundreds and thousands of years of belief in jesus christ and
00:35:49.064 --> 00:35:54.103
God's faithfulness.
00:35:54.103 --> 00:35:56.105
You know, that the righteous have never been forsaken.
00:35:56.105 --> 00:35:59.408
They've never been left begging for bread.
00:35:59.408 --> 00:36:02.344
That we have this god who cares and loves throughout and always
00:36:02.344 --> 00:36:07.516
Will for eternity.
00:36:07.516 --> 00:36:09.151
His people, you know.
00:36:09.151 --> 00:36:11.854
Hosanna: we have history.
00:36:11.854 --> 00:36:13.222
Sheila: god has a track record.
00:36:13.222 --> 00:36:15.390
Hosanna: he has a track record.
00:36:15.390 --> 00:36:16.725
That's good.
00:36:16.725 --> 00:36:18.093
I love that you said to look for jesus, look for jesus in
00:36:18.093 --> 00:36:22.397
These moments.
00:36:22.397 --> 00:36:23.732
Look for the step of faith he's calling you to take in
00:36:23.732 --> 00:36:25.734
These moments.
00:36:25.734 --> 00:36:27.102
I'm thinking about the times when god called me and my
00:36:27.102 --> 00:36:30.239
Husband guy* to do something.
00:36:30.239 --> 00:36:32.107
And we did it.
00:36:32.107 --> 00:36:33.442
And then the results were not what we had expected.
00:36:33.442 --> 00:36:35.811
And i can just even see this through line a couple of times
00:36:35.811 --> 00:36:39.748
After walking with jesus for a long time.
00:36:39.748 --> 00:36:42.918
I remember there was a time when me and my husband, guy, both
00:36:42.918 --> 00:36:45.220
Felt called.
00:36:45.220 --> 00:36:46.622
Which is a rare moment when both of us felt from god separately
00:36:46.622 --> 00:36:50.626
To come together and say, god's calling us to invest all of our
00:36:50.626 --> 00:36:55.531
Lives and family savings into this one project.
00:36:55.531 --> 00:37:00.102
And we knew it was god to this day.
00:37:00.102 --> 00:37:02.471
I know it was god.
00:37:02.471 --> 00:37:04.239
And we said yes with all our hearts and we invested
00:37:04.239 --> 00:37:07.643
Everything in it and the people we trusted were not trustworthy
00:37:07.643 --> 00:37:11.313
And we lost everything.
00:37:11.313 --> 00:37:13.515
And all these relationships that i had put so much stock in and
00:37:13.515 --> 00:37:18.086
Even found so much of my identity in, we lost.
00:37:18.086 --> 00:37:21.456
And then lies were told and then reputations were broken and
00:37:21.456 --> 00:37:25.627
Communities were torn apart.
00:37:25.627 --> 00:37:27.095
And we lost everything and we had to start over again.
00:37:27.095 --> 00:37:29.698
And i remember thinking like, what will i say in my defense?
00:37:29.698 --> 00:37:34.803
I remember thinking how will i defend myself?
00:37:34.803 --> 00:37:37.105
How will i get the money?
00:37:37.105 --> 00:37:38.941
What do i need to do?
00:37:38.941 --> 00:37:40.275
And i remember me and guy, we looked for jesus and we didn't
00:37:40.275 --> 00:37:42.978
Just say, what happened, we said, what do we do now?
00:37:42.978 --> 00:37:45.981
And i remember over weeks and weeks of praying, we both
00:37:45.981 --> 00:37:48.850
Strongly felt like god said, "forgive and don't
00:37:48.850 --> 00:37:52.054
Say anything."
00:37:52.054 --> 00:37:53.488
And we thought, that's not you, god.
00:37:53.488 --> 00:37:55.991
Come again.
00:37:55.991 --> 00:37:57.426
And we did and we forgave and we didn't say anything.
00:37:57.426 --> 00:38:00.462
Only a couple of trusted people in our lives
00:38:00.462 --> 00:38:02.064
Knew the real story.
00:38:02.064 --> 00:38:03.865
But from that, you know what?
00:38:03.865 --> 00:38:05.200
Those couple of people that knew the real story, those
00:38:05.200 --> 00:38:07.402
Friendships went even deeper and we had--we built trust with
00:38:07.402 --> 00:38:12.040
Better relationships and our marriage got closer and then my
00:38:12.040 --> 00:38:16.311
Identity wasn't any of the wrong things anymore.
00:38:16.311 --> 00:38:18.480
And years later i see god's favor.
00:38:18.480 --> 00:38:21.416
God did call us into something but it wasn't for the project i
00:38:21.416 --> 00:38:24.419
Thought it was for, it was for a closeness with each other and
00:38:24.419 --> 00:38:27.089
With him that i had never experienced before.
00:38:27.089 --> 00:38:29.124
Laurie: now you're talking.
00:38:29.124 --> 00:38:30.692
Kalley: so when we're faced with doubt questions, it is so
00:38:30.759 --> 00:38:34.263
Important to stand first in who we are in jesus, to stand in
00:38:34.263 --> 00:38:39.167
Our identity.
00:38:39.167 --> 00:38:40.502
Why?
00:38:40.502 --> 00:38:41.870
Because that will take care of a lot of the questions if there
00:38:41.870 --> 00:38:45.240
Are things that are hitting on who am i, who is god, that will
00:38:45.240 --> 00:38:49.778
Solidify and dig us deep our foundations into the truth.
00:38:49.778 --> 00:38:54.916
From that point, if we have further doubts, questions, we
00:38:54.916 --> 00:38:58.020
Continue to bring those to the lord, but identity is such an
00:38:58.020 --> 00:39:01.556
Important first place to come to remember what has god said about
00:39:01.556 --> 00:39:06.695
Me and have everything come into alignment there first.
00:39:06.695 --> 00:39:11.767
Hosanna: one other time our warehouse burnt down with all of
00:39:11.833 --> 00:39:15.203
Our resources.
00:39:15.203 --> 00:39:16.571
We had rebuilt after that one time and we had self-published
00:39:16.571 --> 00:39:19.808
All of these resources, a warehouse worth people's
00:39:19.808 --> 00:39:21.977
Salaries depended on it and it burnt to the ground.
00:39:21.977 --> 00:39:24.713
We had no answers for a long time.
00:39:24.713 --> 00:39:27.115
And we thought, god, what do you want us to do?
00:39:27.115 --> 00:39:28.817
Rebuild the same way?
00:39:28.817 --> 00:39:30.252
And god told us to do something else, to take a path i did not
00:39:30.252 --> 00:39:33.822
Wanna take.
00:39:33.822 --> 00:39:35.157
I had too much pride to go this other way.
00:39:35.157 --> 00:39:36.992
And in that moment, more than the books that were burned, my
00:39:36.992 --> 00:39:40.162
Pride was burned away.
00:39:40.162 --> 00:39:41.530
And we said yes and there was favor in our ministry and in
00:39:41.530 --> 00:39:44.766
Our marriage.
00:39:44.766 --> 00:39:46.134
And i'll tell you last year, this is what i
00:39:46.134 --> 00:39:47.469
Haven't shared before.
00:39:47.469 --> 00:39:48.837
Last year our house flooded.
00:39:48.837 --> 00:39:51.707
God called us to do something in faith.
00:39:51.707 --> 00:39:54.109
I could feel it when god was calling us to take another step
00:39:54.109 --> 00:39:58.246
Of faith.
00:39:58.246 --> 00:39:59.581
I thought, this is gonna cost me something and i don't want to.
00:39:59.581 --> 00:40:03.452
But greater than my feeling is i know who god is.
00:40:03.452 --> 00:40:05.954
I know it's we said yes.
00:40:05.954 --> 00:40:07.522
Our house flooded.
00:40:07.522 --> 00:40:09.858
We didn't live in our house for five months last year.
00:40:09.858 --> 00:40:12.894
We had to rebuild everything and me and my husband go into
00:40:12.894 --> 00:40:15.330
Our house.
00:40:15.330 --> 00:40:16.698
We see all the floor in shambles and he looks at me and he goes,
00:40:16.698 --> 00:40:19.301
"how do you feel?"
00:40:19.301 --> 00:40:20.669
And i said, "this feels like favor."
00:40:20.669 --> 00:40:24.373
Every time this has happened to us, it has been the favor of god
00:40:24.373 --> 00:40:28.543
And god has something he is gonna teach us on the other side
00:40:28.543 --> 00:40:31.813
Of this that would not have happened if our house
00:40:31.813 --> 00:40:33.382
Didn't flood.
00:40:33.382 --> 00:40:34.716
I said we're gonna obey god and god's gonna restore something in
00:40:34.716 --> 00:40:36.752
Our lives we didn't know what was broken.
00:40:36.752 --> 00:40:38.387
So i share all that to say this i don't know why god is calling
00:40:38.387 --> 00:40:42.057
You to do something, but you also might not know why god is
00:40:42.057 --> 00:40:45.160
Calling you to do something.
00:40:45.160 --> 00:40:46.828
And you might say this wasn't what the results should
00:40:46.828 --> 00:40:48.530
Have been.
00:40:48.530 --> 00:40:49.898
You don't know that.
00:40:49.898 --> 00:40:51.233
God called you to do something not because of something he
00:40:51.233 --> 00:40:53.135
Wants from you but because of something he wants for you and
00:40:53.135 --> 00:40:56.338
You taking the step of faith is the obedience.
00:40:56.338 --> 00:40:59.307
And you getting closer to god is the outcome that god was
00:40:59.307 --> 00:41:03.979
Hoping for.
00:41:03.979 --> 00:41:05.347
Laurie: there is nothing lost in the kingdom of god there's not
00:41:05.347 --> 00:41:08.817
Time, there's not money.
00:41:08.817 --> 00:41:10.852
There's nothing lost.
00:41:10.852 --> 00:41:12.521
And in those times of i don't get it, i don't understand why
00:41:12.521 --> 00:41:15.724
Did we just go into escrow on that building that god told us
00:41:15.724 --> 00:41:18.860
To go in to and now it burns down or now we didn't get to
00:41:18.860 --> 00:41:23.064
Close escrow.
00:41:23.064 --> 00:41:24.433
And all of that stuff that man, if that's not faith then i don't
00:41:24.433 --> 00:41:27.469
Know what faith is.
00:41:27.469 --> 00:41:28.937
All that stuff is everything on earth the earth is the lord's
00:41:28.937 --> 00:41:33.341
And the fullness thereof.
00:41:33.341 --> 00:41:35.243
And that heart of giving it all away, that investment, i give
00:41:35.243 --> 00:41:40.949
That to you in jesus name.
00:41:40.949 --> 00:41:42.684
Hundredfold return right here because nothing it all belongs
00:41:42.684 --> 00:41:46.788
To you anyway.
00:41:46.788 --> 00:41:48.223
Nothing is lost in the kingdom of god.
00:41:48.223 --> 00:41:50.459
God sees the heart.
00:41:50.459 --> 00:41:52.093
It's that heart posture that you give, you take away, blessed be
00:41:52.093 --> 00:41:57.232
The name of the lord.
00:41:57.232 --> 00:41:58.567
It belongs to you anyway, right?
00:41:58.567 --> 00:42:00.602
And it is all maturing and becoming like christ.
00:42:00.602 --> 00:42:04.573
I love that because you'll never be able to be defeated ever
00:42:04.573 --> 00:42:11.480
Because you're an overcomer.
00:42:11.480 --> 00:42:13.215
And it's always god asking us a question who do you say that i
00:42:13.215 --> 00:42:17.219
Am today?
00:42:17.219 --> 00:42:20.021
You've just done this you've done it in faith.
00:42:20.021 --> 00:42:22.991
I see all of that.
00:42:22.991 --> 00:42:24.459
Who do you--give me incentive to bless your life.
00:42:24.459 --> 00:42:27.963
Who do you say that i am today?
00:42:27.963 --> 00:42:30.065
Am i your provider?
00:42:30.065 --> 00:42:31.633
Am i your joy?
00:42:31.633 --> 00:42:33.201
Am i your satisfaction and i'm am i your strength?
00:42:33.201 --> 00:42:36.538
Am i your solid foundation?
00:42:36.538 --> 00:42:38.507
All of that stuff, yes you are.
00:42:38.507 --> 00:42:40.809
Yes you are.
00:42:40.809 --> 00:42:42.143
You're all of it.
00:42:42.143 --> 00:42:43.478
God, that's--
00:42:43.478 --> 00:42:44.846
Meghan: that's the beauty.
00:42:44.846 --> 00:42:46.181
Laurie: that's the beauty of god.
00:42:46.181 --> 00:42:47.549
Laurie: you know, i know that we go through periods of times when
00:42:47.616 --> 00:42:52.821
We just think, oh, did i hear from the lord?
00:42:52.821 --> 00:42:55.624
Oh, did i hear that right?
00:42:55.624 --> 00:42:58.226
We took this step and i might be afraid that maybe we stepped out
00:42:58.226 --> 00:43:03.064
In the wrong direction or stepped out too soon and you can
00:43:03.064 --> 00:43:06.735
Just go through doubts in your life, but i believe that if
00:43:06.735 --> 00:43:10.572
You've stepped out in faith, that there is no way that you
00:43:10.572 --> 00:43:13.475
Can fail.
00:43:13.475 --> 00:43:14.809
And you just fail and if you fall, you fall forward.
00:43:14.809 --> 00:43:18.446
God always sees your faith.
00:43:18.446 --> 00:43:20.682
And so i pray today that you just say, god, i pray that you
00:43:20.682 --> 00:43:24.319
Turn my doubt into faith.
00:43:24.319 --> 00:43:26.454
Let me just see, you know how you sometimes don't talk about
00:43:26.454 --> 00:43:29.758
Things like, like if you're married, you should not let the
00:43:29.758 --> 00:43:32.894
Divorce word ever come out of your mouth.
00:43:32.894 --> 00:43:35.096
It's not an option.
00:43:35.096 --> 00:43:36.598
Pray that doubt is just not an option for you.
00:43:36.598 --> 00:43:39.801
It's not an option for me to doubt god or doubt my faith and
00:43:39.801 --> 00:43:44.005
Let my faith be strong in you.
00:43:44.005 --> 00:43:45.941
So i'm believing with you today that your doubt is turned into
00:43:45.941 --> 00:43:50.011
Faith and that the fear and the questioning is just quelled in
00:43:50.011 --> 00:43:56.017
Your spirit and that god does what he always does.
00:43:56.017 --> 00:44:00.021
He's always faithful.
00:44:00.021 --> 00:44:01.623
He's always able to come through.
00:44:01.623 --> 00:44:03.558
He's always making a way for you.
00:44:03.558 --> 00:44:05.760
So i'm believing with you today.
00:44:05.760 --> 00:44:08.930
Meghan: his plans are greater than ours.
00:44:08.997 --> 00:44:11.633
And i think that.
00:44:11.633 --> 00:44:13.268
Laurie: exceeding abundantly.
00:44:13.268 --> 00:44:14.636
Meghan: proverbs 16 talks about in his heart a man plans
00:44:14.636 --> 00:44:16.471
His course.
00:44:16.471 --> 00:44:17.839
But the lord determines his steps.
00:44:17.839 --> 00:44:20.508
And i think it's just so natural in all of us to, you know, we
00:44:20.508 --> 00:44:25.447
Get inspired.
00:44:25.447 --> 00:44:26.781
We have a moment of faith where we hear god speak to us and it
00:44:26.781 --> 00:44:29.784
Feels exciting.
00:44:29.784 --> 00:44:31.152
And we just don't always know exactly what the journey is that
00:44:31.152 --> 00:44:34.122
God's calling us into or what he's trusting us with.
00:44:34.122 --> 00:44:36.725
And sometimes i feel like god trusts us with pain and
00:44:36.725 --> 00:44:40.395
Sometimes he trusts us with loss and sometimes he trusts us with
00:44:40.395 --> 00:44:44.466
Heartbreak and sometimes he trusts us with amazing moments.
00:44:44.466 --> 00:44:48.203
But it's this journey of, can i get to the place where my first
00:44:48.203 --> 00:44:51.806
Response no matter what is i run to jesus and i remember who he
00:44:51.806 --> 00:44:56.144
Is and i remember that this life is about walking with him and
00:44:56.144 --> 00:44:59.280
Walking in obedience to him.
00:44:59.280 --> 00:45:01.249
And can i remember who i am?
00:45:01.249 --> 00:45:04.519
Because ultimately, if i can get back to that place of identity
00:45:04.519 --> 00:45:07.522
And recognize, i am a daughter of the most high god.
00:45:07.522 --> 00:45:12.127
Like, i am his.
00:45:12.127 --> 00:45:14.262
When i think back to the story i told in the very beginning just
00:45:14.262 --> 00:45:17.532
About christmas and how worried i was about making christmas
00:45:17.532 --> 00:45:22.504
Awesome for my kids, i get back to that story and i go, oh, but
00:45:22.504 --> 00:45:28.810
God was looking at me as his kid, as his daughter, and he
00:45:28.810 --> 00:45:33.415
Knew what i cared about, and he knew what was important to me.
00:45:33.415 --> 00:45:36.651
And he was already ahead of me in our future, like making a way
00:45:36.651 --> 00:45:40.221
Where there seemed to be no way because i'm his.
00:45:40.221 --> 00:45:43.458
And as much as i love my kids and i want to create beautiful
00:45:43.458 --> 00:45:48.530
Moments for them, god loves me in the same way.
00:45:48.530 --> 00:45:51.433
But that's also the picture too, isn't it?
00:45:51.433 --> 00:45:53.168
Because as much as i love my kids, there's moments where i
00:45:53.168 --> 00:45:56.738
Have allowed them to grow through pain or through loss or
00:45:56.738 --> 00:46:01.543
Through heartbreak.
00:46:01.543 --> 00:46:02.911
I can't protect them from everything because oftentimes
00:46:02.911 --> 00:46:05.547
It's the hard things that we navigate that actually help.
00:46:05.547 --> 00:46:08.583
Like you're sharing, defined us and creating us the person we're
00:46:08.583 --> 00:46:13.521
Supposed to be.
00:46:13.521 --> 00:46:14.856
So i think it all goes back to that identity of him as our
00:46:14.856 --> 00:46:18.259
Father and knowing that.
00:46:18.259 --> 00:46:20.028
And he loves us and he's with us and he will not leave us, he
00:46:20.028 --> 00:46:22.897
Will not disappoint us.
00:46:22.897 --> 00:46:24.332
Just the nature of who god is, amen.
00:46:24.332 --> 00:46:28.103
Why don't i take a moment and just pray for us?
00:46:28.103 --> 00:46:30.238
And let me pray for the girl that's listening because i know
00:46:30.238 --> 00:46:34.876
How easy it can be to be disappointed, to be tired in the
00:46:34.876 --> 00:46:38.780
Waiting, to feel like maybe god doesn't see you, but you need to
00:46:38.780 --> 00:46:43.218
Know he sees you, you're his, you're his daughter.
00:46:43.218 --> 00:46:45.420
He loves you.
00:46:45.420 --> 00:46:46.921
And like sheila said earlier, "even though i walk through the
00:46:46.921 --> 00:46:50.358
Valley of the shadow of death, i will fear no evil."
00:46:50.358 --> 00:46:53.795
Why?
00:46:53.795 --> 00:46:55.130
"because you are with me."
00:46:55.130 --> 00:46:56.498
So, lord jesus, we just pray for every single person who's tuned
00:46:56.498 --> 00:47:00.168
In right now.
00:47:00.168 --> 00:47:01.503
God, i pray for those that are just struggling with heartache,
00:47:01.503 --> 00:47:04.472
With loss, with disappointment.
00:47:04.472 --> 00:47:06.474
God, for those who are just doubting right now, god, i thank
00:47:06.474 --> 00:47:10.145
You that in your kindness that you're not swayed by our doubt,
00:47:10.145 --> 00:47:13.948
You're not swayed by our fear, but god, you meet us right there
00:47:13.948 --> 00:47:17.786
And you walk with us through it.
00:47:17.786 --> 00:47:20.088
So god, i pray you would just lean in close to your people
00:47:20.088 --> 00:47:23.558
Right now.
00:47:23.558 --> 00:47:24.893
God, to your sons, to your daughters.
00:47:24.893 --> 00:47:26.361
God, would you just lean in close?
00:47:26.361 --> 00:47:28.930
God, remind them that you are with them.
00:47:28.930 --> 00:47:31.766
God, that you have good plans for them.
00:47:31.766 --> 00:47:34.269
God, that you're working in the details.
00:47:34.269 --> 00:47:36.604
God, the things they don't see, the things they can't understand
00:47:36.604 --> 00:47:39.340
Yet, god, you are in control.
00:47:39.340 --> 00:47:42.043
So god, today we just remind ourselves of that.
00:47:42.043 --> 00:47:44.979
We remind ourselves that you're a good father, and god, we just
00:47:44.979 --> 00:47:48.082
Put our hope and our trust in you.
00:47:48.082 --> 00:47:50.251
In jesus's name we pray, amen.
00:47:50.251 --> 00:47:55.190
Laurie: connect with us on social media and let us know how
00:47:55.190 --> 00:47:57.625
Our team can pray for you.
00:47:57.625 --> 00:47:59.527
♪♪♪
00:47:59.594 --> 00:48:06.935
Meghan: we're behind the scenes at "better together," and we
00:48:06.935 --> 00:48:10.138
Need to talk about insecurity.
00:48:10.138 --> 00:48:13.274
When i think about insecurity, i think it comes for all of us.
00:48:13.274 --> 00:48:16.711
There's moments where we all are struggling with this feeling of
00:48:16.711 --> 00:48:21.049
Just not being good enough.
00:48:21.049 --> 00:48:22.951
And for me, often insecurity comes when i am looking at
00:48:22.951 --> 00:48:26.621
Others and i'm seeing them experience success or blessings
00:48:26.621 --> 00:48:30.625
In areas that i desire.
00:48:30.625 --> 00:48:32.794
And so for me, that's been one of the greatest challenges i
00:48:32.794 --> 00:48:36.331
Think is overcoming the comparison trap because the
00:48:36.331 --> 00:48:39.000
Comparison trap is always the slide for me into insecurity.
00:48:39.000 --> 00:48:43.438
I don't know about you.
00:48:43.438 --> 00:48:44.806
Hosanna: yeah, i think this is something a lot of us struggle
00:48:44.806 --> 00:48:47.542
With feeling like someone else is more gifted or someone else
00:48:47.542 --> 00:48:51.713
Is more talented or someone else is more capable.
00:48:51.713 --> 00:48:55.283
And the truth is, well, i guess the two questions i would ask
00:48:55.283 --> 00:48:58.887
Are one, who told you that?
00:48:58.887 --> 00:49:00.889
Where did that mindset come from that some people are better than
00:49:00.889 --> 00:49:04.259
Others who told you that?
00:49:04.259 --> 00:49:05.593
And is the person that told you that, do they have the authority
00:49:05.593 --> 00:49:08.329
In that?
00:49:08.329 --> 00:49:09.664
Is that what god says about you?
00:49:09.664 --> 00:49:11.332
Second thing i would say is depending on what you're saying,
00:49:11.332 --> 00:49:13.534
Like they're more talented than me, they're more capable
00:49:13.534 --> 00:49:15.870
Than me.
00:49:15.870 --> 00:49:17.205
It is possible that in a certain area they are.
00:49:17.205 --> 00:49:20.508
It is possible in a certain field that person is a better
00:49:20.508 --> 00:49:24.479
Photographer than you.
00:49:24.479 --> 00:49:25.813
It is possible that in that area that person's a better singer
00:49:25.813 --> 00:49:28.249
Than you.
00:49:28.249 --> 00:49:29.751
It's not about being the best and all of the things there, but
00:49:29.751 --> 00:49:32.921
There are things you can do that god's uniquely called you to
00:49:32.921 --> 00:49:34.923
That he does not hold them to do.
00:49:34.923 --> 00:49:36.257
Does that make sense?
00:49:36.257 --> 00:49:37.625
Part of it might be true, so what?
00:49:37.625 --> 00:49:40.395
Let's celebrate that god created us all uniquely and beautifully.
00:49:40.395 --> 00:49:44.198
Thank goodness that there's multiple people get
00:49:44.198 --> 00:49:46.034
Multiple things.
00:49:46.034 --> 00:49:47.368
I would try to stop fixing what other people are great at and
00:49:47.368 --> 00:49:51.172
Say, "god, what is it that you've given me uniquely that
00:49:51.172 --> 00:49:53.074
You want me to use for your glory?"
00:49:53.074 --> 00:49:54.709
Meghan: and when you feel yourself comparing you to
00:49:54.709 --> 00:49:57.712
Someone else, especially a friend or someone that you love,
00:49:57.712 --> 00:50:00.648
I've coined this mantra, i'm a cheerleader for and a champion
00:50:00.648 --> 00:50:04.452
Of my friends.
00:50:04.452 --> 00:50:05.820
I find that when i begin to say, i'm a cheerleader for and a
00:50:05.820 --> 00:50:09.223
Champion of my friends, it reminds me that i can cheer
00:50:09.223 --> 00:50:12.427
Somebody else on and what they're great at and it doesn't
00:50:12.427 --> 00:50:15.330
Have to make me feel less about myself.
00:50:15.330 --> 00:50:18.266
And so that's probably one of the greatest ways that i found
00:50:18.266 --> 00:50:21.035
To combat the comparison factor is to cheer others on, to
00:50:21.035 --> 00:50:24.772
Celebrate their wins and successes because it helps me
00:50:24.772 --> 00:50:27.642
Get to a place where i'm like confident and secure in who
00:50:27.642 --> 00:50:30.878
I am.
00:50:30.878 --> 00:50:32.213
Hosanna: i think celebration of others and letting other people
00:50:32.213 --> 00:50:35.516
Celebrate you, yeah, i think celebrating the wins all around
00:50:35.516 --> 00:50:38.653
Is a great way to start overcoming insecurity.
00:50:38.653 --> 00:50:42.590
Laurie: join our conversations anytime, anywhere.
00:50:42.657 --> 00:50:45.393
Download tbn+ to stream your favorite episodes.
00:50:45.393 --> 00:50:48.629
♪♪♪
00:50:48.696 --> 00:50:48.696

Choose Faith Over Doubt - Episode 1097

September 23, 2025 | S7 E1097 | 52:34

Closed captions

Share