Better Together

God's Strength Empowers You - Episode 1094

September 11, 2025 | S7 E1094 | 52:34

The Proverbs 31 woman "laughs without fear of the future." Our God is never surprised! He does not allow a single moment of our lives to be wasted. Suffering and pain invite us to rely on His strength, trust His sovereignty, and stand on His promises. | TBN Prayer Line: 714-731-1000

#GodlyWoman #Women #Strength #Future #Fear #Faith #Faithfulness #Pain #Suffering #Grief #Gratitude #Courage #Physicalhealth #SpiritualHealth #MentalHealth #Worship #WordofGod

Closed captions

Show Timecode

Better Together | God's Strength Empowers You - Episode 1094 | September 11, 2025

Laurie crouch: proverbs 31:17 tells us to dress ourselves
00:00:01.814 --> 00:00:05.417
In strength.
00:00:05.551 --> 00:00:06.785
So today we're talking about how to overcome fear with faith in a
00:00:06.885 --> 00:00:10.489
God who holds our future.
00:00:10.622 --> 00:00:11.990
Come on, join us.
00:00:12.124 --> 00:00:12.424
♪♪♪
00:00:13.792 --> 00:00:40.953
Elyse mahan: i have had moments in my life that i look
00:00:20.999 --> 00:00:44.389
Back on, seasons in my life, and at the time, i didn't know, do
00:00:44.389 --> 00:00:49.828
You call it chaos, i don't know what it was, that i was
00:00:49.828 --> 00:00:52.531
Walking through.
00:00:52.531 --> 00:00:53.899
But looking back, you realize, oh my gosh, that was only god
00:00:53.899 --> 00:00:58.971
That was walking.
00:00:58.971 --> 00:01:00.339
That was crazy.
00:01:00.339 --> 00:01:01.673
Any other term, what i just walked through was insane.
00:01:01.673 --> 00:01:03.709
Did you see what i did just there?
00:01:03.709 --> 00:01:05.377
Like, it's like the life version of like when a mum can lift a
00:01:05.377 --> 00:01:08.480
Car to save her kids.
00:01:08.480 --> 00:01:09.915
But i think the only thing that's changed in life is i'm
00:01:09.915 --> 00:01:13.285
Maybe a little bit more aware of it in the season that i'm in of
00:01:13.285 --> 00:01:16.255
Like, i am reliant on god's strength in this season.
00:01:16.255 --> 00:01:20.626
And i think back to the girl that left australia, that left
00:01:20.626 --> 00:01:23.996
Her childhood bedroom as a very sheltered pastor's kid and moved
00:01:23.996 --> 00:01:27.332
To los angeles to be in ministry.
00:01:27.332 --> 00:01:29.668
And went to this big city feeling like a lost girl and can
00:01:29.668 --> 00:01:33.939
Think about when my car like completely died on the freeway
00:01:33.939 --> 00:01:37.743
And let alone i'm trying to drive on the other side of the
00:01:37.743 --> 00:01:39.478
Road and i'm trying to speak to people that think i'm speaking a
00:01:39.478 --> 00:01:41.980
Different language, and i'm like, it's just an accent.
00:01:41.980 --> 00:01:43.882
Like, come on, america, let's go.
00:01:43.882 --> 00:01:45.984
But i think back to these little like moments that i'm like, it
00:01:45.984 --> 00:01:50.756
Was crazy that i did that.
00:01:50.756 --> 00:01:52.090
I didn't realize the big step that i was taking at the time or
00:01:52.090 --> 00:01:55.594
Seasons where things were piled on.
00:01:55.594 --> 00:01:57.029
And so, currently in this season.
00:01:57.029 --> 00:01:59.698
I've talked about this a few times, but from that girl to
00:01:59.698 --> 00:02:03.702
Then getting married in 2017, my husband leaving at the end of
00:02:03.702 --> 00:02:07.306
That year, now being the girl that was in ministry still
00:02:07.306 --> 00:02:12.511
Wondering, knowing god had a plan for me, but wondering if he
00:02:12.511 --> 00:02:15.447
Had the dreams for me that i still had.
00:02:15.447 --> 00:02:18.217
Seven years later, the last two years has been insane.
00:02:18.217 --> 00:02:22.821
Like moving from california to florida, really 'cause i fell in
00:02:22.821 --> 00:02:26.959
Love with a boy and getting engaged, getting married, now
00:02:26.959 --> 00:02:30.562
Being a instant mom to two little girls.
00:02:30.562 --> 00:02:33.899
My husband was a single dad for a few years.
00:02:33.899 --> 00:02:36.668
And now being pregnant with a boy, back in full-time ministry,
00:02:36.668 --> 00:02:40.672
I look around some days and i'm like, the only difference is
00:02:40.672 --> 00:02:43.508
That i'm like, god, i can't actually do this unless you help
00:02:43.508 --> 00:02:47.479
Me because i don't remember the last time i washed my hair, let
00:02:47.479 --> 00:02:51.083
Alone knowing how i'm gonna write this sermon for that thing
00:02:51.083 --> 00:02:55.020
Or be able to go on this field trip or figure this out for
00:02:55.020 --> 00:02:58.290
The girls.
00:02:58.290 --> 00:02:59.625
Like, there's so much new.
00:02:59.625 --> 00:03:00.993
And i think about this proverbs 31 woman and today we're talking
00:03:00.993 --> 00:03:05.597
About the strength that god empowers us to have.
00:03:05.597 --> 00:03:08.867
Like, tapping into his strength because ours just runs out.
00:03:08.867 --> 00:03:12.671
And yet there is something special about a woman that knows
00:03:12.671 --> 00:03:16.174
How to rise up in the moment, in a storm, in the moment of trauma
00:03:16.174 --> 00:03:21.813
Or like chaos or like i mentioned, the mum that lifts
00:03:21.813 --> 00:03:24.916
The truck like so that her kids can be free.
00:03:24.916 --> 00:03:28.086
These moments of strength that we have, i see it in this woman.
00:03:28.086 --> 00:03:34.026
And we're looking at proverbs 31 today, verse 17, and it says,
00:03:34.026 --> 00:03:38.930
"she equips herself with strength," i'm in the amplified
00:03:38.930 --> 00:03:42.034
Version 'cause i like extra words, and it says, "spiritual,
00:03:42.034 --> 00:03:44.636
Mental and physical fitness for her god-given task and makes her
00:03:44.636 --> 00:03:49.908
Arms strong."
00:03:49.908 --> 00:03:51.476
If people at home have not seen toni's arms, they should have
00:03:51.476 --> 00:03:53.745
A look.
00:03:53.745 --> 00:03:55.080
It's the physical example of what the scripture is talking
00:03:55.080 --> 00:03:58.016
About today.
00:03:58.016 --> 00:03:59.351
But i think about it, and i think, first of all, it's for
00:03:59.351 --> 00:04:01.086
The god-given task.
00:04:01.086 --> 00:04:02.788
And you know, this is crazy.
00:04:02.788 --> 00:04:04.923
I should not be able to withstand these elements right
00:04:04.923 --> 00:04:08.060
Now, but there is this strength, this girding of strength that
00:04:08.060 --> 00:04:11.663
God gives us.
00:04:11.663 --> 00:04:12.998
And that hebrew word for that strength, it's a word of what
00:04:12.998 --> 00:04:17.202
Soldiers do when they're preparing for battle.
00:04:17.202 --> 00:04:19.004
It's literally girding up the loins, preparing for action.
00:04:19.004 --> 00:04:21.540
It's not like this gentle, silent, feminine strength.
00:04:21.540 --> 00:04:25.110
It's like this, i'm gonna take my hoops out and i'm gonna, you
00:04:25.110 --> 00:04:28.013
Know, every other reference of like, i'm going to battle.
00:04:28.013 --> 00:04:31.350
There are seasons we go through in life where it's time to
00:04:31.350 --> 00:04:33.318
Actually go to battle whether you chose the battle or not.
00:04:33.318 --> 00:04:36.455
Have you been in seasons before where there was that awareness,
00:04:36.455 --> 00:04:40.392
Whether it was in the moment or later that you were like, "god,
00:04:40.392 --> 00:04:43.462
That was only you"?
00:04:43.462 --> 00:04:45.263
That despite everything you were going through, you just knew
00:04:45.263 --> 00:04:49.601
That it was only god's strength that empowered you?
00:04:49.601 --> 00:04:52.404
How have you guys seen that in your lives.
00:04:52.404 --> 00:04:56.441
Toni collier: you know, what's interesting is that i have a
00:04:56.441 --> 00:04:59.845
Women's course that we do and the very first week we talk
00:04:59.845 --> 00:05:03.081
About resilience.
00:05:03.081 --> 00:05:05.384
What does it actually mean to be resilient?
00:05:05.384 --> 00:05:06.885
What does it mean to get back up again?
00:05:06.885 --> 00:05:08.353
What does it mean to have grit?
00:05:08.353 --> 00:05:10.122
And a lot of women think that, okay, i'm gonna go through this
00:05:10.122 --> 00:05:13.325
Course, i'm gonna to go through this thing, i'm gonna go to
00:05:13.325 --> 00:05:15.026
Counseling, i'm gonna go to the bible study, i'm gonna go to
00:05:15.026 --> 00:05:17.062
Whatever and i'm gonna get to a point where i'm healed and it's
00:05:17.062 --> 00:05:19.798
All good to go.
00:05:19.798 --> 00:05:21.133
I am healing the thing.
00:05:21.133 --> 00:05:22.501
And what i try to remind them is that healing isn't about
00:05:22.501 --> 00:05:25.871
Figuring out how to live a perfect life.
00:05:25.871 --> 00:05:28.273
It's figuring out how to grow the capacity you need to hold
00:05:28.273 --> 00:05:31.843
The pain.
00:05:31.843 --> 00:05:33.445
And i think in these past two years, i have definitely
00:05:33.445 --> 00:05:36.481
Physically seen strength come from me.
00:05:36.481 --> 00:05:38.950
But what you talked about, elyse, in proverbs 31:10 is this
00:05:38.950 --> 00:05:42.687
Idea, this hebrew phrase of strength, and it's not just
00:05:42.687 --> 00:05:46.558
About physical strength to get up and to create business and to
00:05:46.558 --> 00:05:50.095
Work and to provide for your kids,
00:05:50.095 --> 00:05:52.197
But it's of mental strength too.
00:05:52.197 --> 00:05:54.199
And it's actually super important to have
00:05:54.199 --> 00:05:56.701
Mental strength.
00:05:56.701 --> 00:05:58.069
Really what it's saying is you're growing the capacity to
00:05:58.069 --> 00:06:01.273
Handle all of the things in your life, mental fortitude.
00:06:01.273 --> 00:06:04.609
The word is, i may say it wrong, "isheshael."
00:06:04.609 --> 00:06:08.280
It's a type of strength that isn't just about muscles and
00:06:08.280 --> 00:06:11.149
Being ripped.
00:06:11.149 --> 00:06:12.517
It's a type of capacity growth so that mentally, physically,
00:06:12.517 --> 00:06:16.588
Spiritually, specially spiritually, you can handle what
00:06:16.588 --> 00:06:20.692
Life has for you and what it has dealt you.
00:06:20.692 --> 00:06:24.129
Elyse: i know the difference on the days where i wake up and
00:06:24.129 --> 00:06:28.233
Connect with god and on the days where i press my snooze button.
00:06:28.233 --> 00:06:32.037
And no judgment, i've been there, i get it, but i wanna
00:06:32.037 --> 00:06:36.274
Start my day by putting on god's strength 'cause when i go out
00:06:36.274 --> 00:06:40.245
Into the world with my battle armor on, i'm ready for
00:06:40.245 --> 00:06:43.281
The battle.
00:06:43.281 --> 00:06:45.484
And the way i do that is by making sure i start my day in
00:06:45.484 --> 00:06:50.188
His presence with my father, getting my identity from him, my
00:06:50.188 --> 00:06:54.459
Affirmation from him so i'm not so desperate to seek it from
00:06:54.459 --> 00:06:58.497
Every other nook and cranny of our world.
00:06:58.497 --> 00:07:02.801
And i think the ways that i put on his strength are by
00:07:02.801 --> 00:07:07.372
Connecting to the source of strength, which is him and also
00:07:07.372 --> 00:07:11.376
By admitting the areas that i need it, which is sometimes a
00:07:11.376 --> 00:07:13.945
Tougher one, isn't it?
00:07:13.945 --> 00:07:15.714
So we're good to connect with him in the morning, but just
00:07:15.714 --> 00:07:17.482
Don't make me admit where i need your strength, where i'm weak,
00:07:17.482 --> 00:07:21.887
Where i'm frail.
00:07:21.887 --> 00:07:25.924
Yeah, his strength can't come in in the areas where we're not
00:07:25.924 --> 00:07:28.760
Willing to admit that we're weak.
00:07:28.760 --> 00:07:31.596
I'm always struggling with one or the other of them, but i've
00:07:31.596 --> 00:07:34.466
Found that when i can connect to the source of strength, when i'm
00:07:34.466 --> 00:07:39.971
Willing to surrender to my need to be strong all the time and
00:07:39.971 --> 00:07:44.776
Admit to my father where i need his strength, the two of those,
00:07:44.776 --> 00:07:50.015
They're a really good partnership to put on his
00:07:50.015 --> 00:07:52.817
Strength and go out into the world ready for battle.
00:07:52.817 --> 00:07:57.055
Toni: one of the things that i think is very interesting always
00:07:57.055 --> 00:07:58.890
In the bible is that there's a size of faith that we can have
00:07:58.890 --> 00:08:01.960
And we know the scripture like it's the size of a mustard seed.
00:08:01.960 --> 00:08:04.796
I love that the scriptures paint faith as a size because that
00:08:04.796 --> 00:08:09.434
Means that all you need is a little bit, but it can grow.
00:08:09.434 --> 00:08:13.238
And i think what we're seeing with this proverbs 31 woman is
00:08:13.238 --> 00:08:15.874
What it looks like for a woman to grow in her faith, what does
00:08:15.874 --> 00:08:20.946
It actually mean to believe that i can do all these things in
00:08:20.946 --> 00:08:24.249
Christ, i can have reverence in christ, i can take care of a
00:08:24.249 --> 00:08:26.851
Whole family alongside my husband or not, and i can take
00:08:26.851 --> 00:08:30.589
Care of other people as well?
00:08:30.589 --> 00:08:31.923
And i think that mental and spiritual strength are really
00:08:31.923 --> 00:08:35.193
What we're seeing from this woman.
00:08:35.193 --> 00:08:36.861
That's what i actually think would carry us through.
00:08:36.861 --> 00:08:38.763
That's what makes us resilient.
00:08:38.763 --> 00:08:40.298
It's us building our mental strength and building our faith
00:08:40.298 --> 00:08:44.336
In a god who gives us the strength.
00:08:44.336 --> 00:08:45.670
Elyse: well, that's when i was going through that breakup, and
00:08:45.670 --> 00:08:49.441
This is a mentality that i've had multiple times in my life,
00:08:49.441 --> 00:08:52.243
Not once.
00:08:52.243 --> 00:08:53.612
And i know a lot of women can share it.
00:08:53.612 --> 00:08:54.946
Growing up, it was kind of championed in our world, but
00:08:54.946 --> 00:08:56.648
Like this like revenge body thing and like when you break up
00:08:56.648 --> 00:08:59.584
With someone, that get the six pack of abs, show them what
00:08:59.584 --> 00:09:02.287
They're missing, that kind of thing and so without realizing
00:09:02.287 --> 00:09:05.056
It, i was like, i'm gonna get so fit, i'm gonna have so many abs,
00:09:05.056 --> 00:09:08.693
You're gonna regret everything.
00:09:08.693 --> 00:09:10.061
Like, as if, what? what?
00:09:10.061 --> 00:09:12.063
Toni: what are you talking about?
00:09:12.063 --> 00:09:13.498
Elyse: what i learned through that healing journey was, at
00:09:13.498 --> 00:09:15.500
Least you can have all the fitness in the world and still
00:09:15.500 --> 00:09:18.236
Feel so lonely at the end of the day and still be crying yourself
00:09:18.236 --> 00:09:21.373
To sleep.
00:09:21.373 --> 00:09:22.741
And abs does not fix a broken heart.
00:09:22.741 --> 00:09:25.377
Toni: it just doesn't.
00:09:25.377 --> 00:09:26.711
Elyse: and i think that can, and there's nothing wrong with abs,
00:09:26.711 --> 00:09:28.313
By the way, but you're absolutely right.
00:09:28.313 --> 00:09:30.015
What we're seeing here with this woman, it's bigger than a
00:09:30.015 --> 00:09:33.084
Physical strength.
00:09:33.084 --> 00:09:34.419
It's bigger than how many reps can you do.
00:09:34.419 --> 00:09:36.488
It is that in the middle of a moment where everything feels
00:09:36.488 --> 00:09:40.258
Crushing and that pain would be justified for you to stay down,
00:09:40.258 --> 00:09:46.631
How do we as women, first of all, how do we access
00:09:46.631 --> 00:09:49.868
His strength?
00:09:49.868 --> 00:09:51.236
How do we do that?
00:09:51.236 --> 00:09:52.570
Because i'm sure none of us would say, i don't want access
00:09:52.570 --> 00:09:55.573
To god's strength.
00:09:55.573 --> 00:09:56.908
We would all say we want it and need it, but how do we
00:09:56.908 --> 00:09:58.777
Access it?
00:09:58.777 --> 00:10:00.111
And then how do we action it?
00:10:00.111 --> 00:10:02.013
How do i outwork it when all i wanna do is hide, when all i
00:10:02.013 --> 00:10:05.250
Wanna do is run, when all i wanna do is give up?
00:10:05.250 --> 00:10:08.286
Because i think the physical strength would be belittling
00:10:08.286 --> 00:10:10.388
What this woman is.
00:10:10.388 --> 00:10:11.956
You're abs--it's that spiritual and mental fortitude that is the
00:10:11.956 --> 00:10:16.494
Thing that makes her be able to get up.
00:10:16.494 --> 00:10:19.297
Blynda lane: just to compare the story i was telling toni is,
00:10:19.297 --> 00:10:22.934
I've been on a journey, a strength training journey,
00:10:22.934 --> 00:10:25.437
It's about six months in,
00:10:25.437 --> 00:10:27.205
Where i've learned how to eat more protein, i've been at the
00:10:27.205 --> 00:10:30.041
Gym four to five days a week.
00:10:30.041 --> 00:10:32.577
It's some cardio, but mainly strength training.
00:10:32.577 --> 00:10:35.680
There's been a lot of showing up for very little
00:10:35.680 --> 00:10:39.484
Visible progress.
00:10:39.484 --> 00:10:40.852
And i was talking to her because her progress and visibility
00:10:40.852 --> 00:10:45.390
Are matching.
00:10:45.390 --> 00:10:46.758
The progress she's putting in and the visibility her body
00:10:46.758 --> 00:10:49.594
Shows matches.
00:10:49.594 --> 00:10:51.062
And it's really hard for someone to keep showing up and the
00:10:51.062 --> 00:10:55.200
Visibility not being there, which is where i'm currently at.
00:10:55.200 --> 00:10:59.871
And so i have had to do the mental fortitude test.
00:10:59.871 --> 00:11:04.209
I've had to find the grip because in the physical terms,
00:11:04.209 --> 00:11:08.413
I'm talking to my 80-year-old self saying you're gonna be
00:11:08.413 --> 00:11:10.982
Really glad that i'm showing up because--so i'm talking to my
00:11:10.982 --> 00:11:14.586
Future self saying i'm doing this because i wanna be strong
00:11:14.586 --> 00:11:17.388
For you.
00:11:17.388 --> 00:11:18.723
I know it's good for me.
00:11:18.723 --> 00:11:20.058
I know, you know, and this is the thing.
00:11:20.058 --> 00:11:22.360
There are signs that i'm stronger.
00:11:22.360 --> 00:11:24.529
I was saying i can do push ups that i could never do before,
00:11:24.529 --> 00:11:27.532
But for whatever reason my body just isn't showing the muscles
00:11:27.532 --> 00:11:30.401
Like you would hope, you know, if you're doing it you'd like
00:11:30.401 --> 00:11:32.804
Them to show.
00:11:32.804 --> 00:11:34.172
I'm sorry if that's vain i'm sorry, but if i'm doing the work
00:11:34.172 --> 00:11:35.907
Out, i like it showing.
00:11:35.907 --> 00:11:37.242
It really isn't.
00:11:37.242 --> 00:11:38.576
But what i have found, just to answer your question, is because
00:11:38.576 --> 00:11:43.648
I know the truth is i'm doing something good for my body.
00:11:43.648 --> 00:11:47.819
Because i know i want to be strong for myself in the future.
00:11:47.819 --> 00:11:51.956
Because i know that there are benefits whether i can see them
00:11:51.956 --> 00:11:55.093
Or not, i know that i have the resiliency and the mental
00:11:55.093 --> 00:11:58.429
Fortitude to continue showing up even before there's
00:11:58.429 --> 00:12:02.567
Visible progress.
00:12:02.567 --> 00:12:04.235
And i feel like because i know the amount of times i wanted to
00:12:04.235 --> 00:12:08.439
Give up in this last six months because i wasn't seeing the
00:12:08.439 --> 00:12:11.643
Results, even though i was feeling better, i was gauging
00:12:11.643 --> 00:12:15.547
Success by a few metrics that i wasn't getting any, you know,
00:12:15.547 --> 00:12:19.751
Maybe that was a scale or maybe that was a i'd like to see a
00:12:19.751 --> 00:12:22.387
Bicep or an ab.
00:12:22.387 --> 00:12:23.788
No, i was gauging my success by something that really isn't the
00:12:23.788 --> 00:12:27.859
Way to gauge success.
00:12:27.859 --> 00:12:29.227
But when i came over here and gauge success by, okay, i
00:12:29.227 --> 00:12:32.030
Started out, i could do two pushups now i can do 45.
00:12:32.030 --> 00:12:35.033
That was a result of consistency and of resiliency.
00:12:35.033 --> 00:12:38.837
So just to encourage the people watching, sometimes we might be
00:12:38.837 --> 00:12:43.775
Looking for perfection when we should just be looking
00:12:43.775 --> 00:12:46.644
For progress.
00:12:46.644 --> 00:12:48.313
And the more that we show up, the more progress we have.
00:12:48.313 --> 00:12:51.616
We will look back i think at a time and be like, look how far
00:12:51.616 --> 00:12:54.285
I've come.
00:12:54.285 --> 00:12:55.653
But when you're in the middle of it you can't always see that but
00:12:55.653 --> 00:12:57.522
You just have to keep showing up.
00:12:57.522 --> 00:12:58.890
And in the spiritual realm, in that world, it's the same.
00:12:58.890 --> 00:13:02.594
God is doing something in your life we don't always see it, but
00:13:02.594 --> 00:13:05.663
We have to keep going.
00:13:05.663 --> 00:13:09.067
Blynda: when we're in a hard place and at least for me, some
00:13:09.067 --> 00:13:12.604
Of my human nature says, i got to give up.
00:13:12.604 --> 00:13:15.273
I can't do it.
00:13:15.273 --> 00:13:16.608
I don't even want to get out of bed sometimes.
00:13:16.608 --> 00:13:17.976
Like i've been in hard places before where that's the feeling
00:13:17.976 --> 00:13:21.246
I have.
00:13:21.246 --> 00:13:22.580
And yet i know, because scripture tells me, that he
00:13:22.580 --> 00:13:26.050
Is our strength when we are weak.
00:13:26.050 --> 00:13:28.019
But what does that mean in the moment when you need his
00:13:28.019 --> 00:13:30.755
Strength, how do you find it?
00:13:30.755 --> 00:13:32.824
And i often think of about ruth.
00:13:32.824 --> 00:13:35.026
We talked about the story of ruth and, you know, naomi had
00:13:35.026 --> 00:13:39.297
Lost her spouse and her sons and ruth lost her husband and
00:13:39.297 --> 00:13:45.937
Decides to stay with naomi and to be faithful to her.
00:13:45.937 --> 00:13:49.307
And it's so interesting, i always put myself in the
00:13:49.307 --> 00:13:51.943
Position of ruth at that moment when she had that decision to
00:13:51.943 --> 00:13:55.413
Keep going with naomi, having no idea that her kinsmen redeemer
00:13:55.413 --> 00:13:59.317
Was ahead of her.
00:13:59.317 --> 00:14:00.652
She just had to make the choice to go.
00:14:00.652 --> 00:14:03.621
And i think sometimes we don't know.
00:14:03.621 --> 00:14:05.490
I know we know in our hearts, we believe that god has that
00:14:05.490 --> 00:14:08.226
Redemption ahead for us, but because we can't see it and feel
00:14:08.226 --> 00:14:11.396
It in that moment, we have the inclination to stop, to freak
00:14:11.396 --> 00:14:16.534
Out, to pause, whatever.
00:14:16.534 --> 00:14:18.236
And i believe that we have to tell ourselves to just take the
00:14:18.236 --> 00:14:22.206
Next step of faith because we are, if we're gonna walk as
00:14:22.206 --> 00:14:26.277
Women of faith, we have to believe that when we walk, we're
00:14:26.277 --> 00:14:29.614
Not always going to see, that's the very definition of faith.
00:14:29.614 --> 00:14:33.117
And so when you feel like you wanna stop, you wanna give up,
00:14:33.117 --> 00:14:35.687
You can't go again, i wanna encourage you to take the next
00:14:35.687 --> 00:14:38.356
Step of faith.
00:14:38.356 --> 00:14:39.691
Just walk forward like ruth.
00:14:39.691 --> 00:14:41.059
She just took her steps with naomi.
00:14:41.059 --> 00:14:43.061
She went and she was redeemed.
00:14:43.061 --> 00:14:45.396
And i just want you to be encouraged that what god has
00:14:45.396 --> 00:14:48.833
Ahead of you is redemption.
00:14:48.833 --> 00:14:50.802
He'll redeem the problem.
00:14:50.802 --> 00:14:52.670
He'll redeem the situation.
00:14:52.670 --> 00:14:54.272
He'll redeem your heart.
00:14:54.272 --> 00:14:55.606
He'll free you.
00:14:55.606 --> 00:14:56.975
He'll bring forgiveness.
00:14:56.975 --> 00:14:59.010
He'll bring redemption.
00:14:59.010 --> 00:15:00.345
I mean, he'll do all of these things if we trust him, but
00:15:00.345 --> 00:15:03.181
Please don't get stuck.
00:15:03.181 --> 00:15:04.549
Just take the next step and say, "god, i trust you today.
00:15:04.549 --> 00:15:07.318
I don't know what's ahead, but i trust you today, so i'm gonna
00:15:07.318 --> 00:15:09.620
Take one more step of faith because you are faithful.
00:15:09.620 --> 00:15:12.623
Now i'm not faithful, you are faithful and i take the step of
00:15:12.623 --> 00:15:15.526
Faith because i trust in you."
00:15:15.526 --> 00:15:19.197
Toni: we want to hear from you.
00:15:19.197 --> 00:15:21.099
Blynda: connect with us on social media to ask a question
00:15:21.099 --> 00:15:23.701
Or share a prayer request.
00:15:23.701 --> 00:15:25.069
Sheila walsh: let's build up one another and get better together.
00:15:25.069 --> 00:15:29.507
Female announcer: let's keep the conversation going.
00:15:29.507 --> 00:15:31.709
You can find the "better together" podcast on your
00:15:31.709 --> 00:15:34.045
Favorite listening platform.
00:15:34.045 --> 00:15:35.847
Subscribe today.
00:15:35.847 --> 00:15:39.996
Subscribe today.
00:15:39.996 --> 00:15:40.986
Chrystal evans hurst: i think the thing is, you kept talking
00:15:43.722 --> 00:15:45.924
About evidence and with working out, you have your idea of what
00:15:46.025 --> 00:15:51.697
Evidence is.
00:15:51.830 --> 00:15:53.465
Problem is in the spiritual realm, evidence is not about the
00:15:53.565 --> 00:15:59.138
End result.
00:15:59.271 --> 00:15:59.471
Faith is the evidence.
00:16:00.506 --> 00:16:02.241
Our showing up and trusting that there will be a result that god
00:16:02.241 --> 00:16:07.312
Determines, not that we determine because normally when
00:16:07.312 --> 00:16:11.150
We serve a god who likes to do exceedingly above and beyond
00:16:11.150 --> 00:16:13.952
Anything that we could ask or think.
00:16:13.952 --> 00:16:15.754
So really our evidence is our faith.
00:16:15.754 --> 00:16:19.858
The evidence of what's happening in the physical realm and the
00:16:19.858 --> 00:16:23.262
Spiritual realm is that we keep showing up in obedience, we keep
00:16:23.262 --> 00:16:27.132
Showing up in righteousness, we keep showing up in communing
00:16:27.132 --> 00:16:30.636
With god in faith, we keep--that is the actual
00:16:30.636 --> 00:16:33.439
Evidence because god is so much more about our sanctification
00:16:33.439 --> 00:16:38.277
Than he is about whatever idea we have that will come as
00:16:38.277 --> 00:16:42.014
A result.
00:16:42.014 --> 00:16:43.382
So you've got women out here that are like, "well, if i do
00:16:43.382 --> 00:16:45.184
This, this and this, i'll get married.
00:16:45.184 --> 00:16:47.419
If i do this, this, and this, my children will rise up, serve
00:16:47.419 --> 00:16:50.622
God, and call me blessed.
00:16:50.622 --> 00:16:51.990
If i do this, this, and this," and we are so geared towards the
00:16:51.990 --> 00:16:56.061
End result and god doesn't work that way.
00:16:56.061 --> 00:17:00.199
He's like, "i will take care of the end result and there will be
00:17:00.199 --> 00:17:03.836
A result.
00:17:03.836 --> 00:17:05.170
It just may not be the result that you thought it would be."
00:17:05.170 --> 00:17:08.240
And that's why it's so important that we put more value on our
00:17:08.240 --> 00:17:13.645
Relationship with god and our commitment to that than what we
00:17:13.645 --> 00:17:16.415
Think it will give us 'cause that's where the disappointment
00:17:16.415 --> 00:17:18.917
Comes in, when we have expectations for something that
00:17:18.917 --> 00:17:22.888
God had another idea for in the first place.
00:17:22.888 --> 00:17:25.257
Blynda: we have to talk about this one more.
00:17:25.257 --> 00:17:26.625
Chrystal: you know what i'm saying?
00:17:26.625 --> 00:17:27.960
Our expectations are the issue.
00:17:27.960 --> 00:17:29.328
And when you were talking about capacity and just strength, the
00:17:29.328 --> 00:17:32.531
Road to developing strength and building capacity is a road we
00:17:32.531 --> 00:17:37.202
Don't wanna take.
00:17:37.202 --> 00:17:38.637
You have muscles because every time you lift weights you're
00:17:38.637 --> 00:17:41.874
Actually tearing down the fibers.
00:17:41.874 --> 00:17:43.775
And in order for them to become stronger they have to be
00:17:43.775 --> 00:17:46.545
Broken first.
00:17:46.545 --> 00:17:48.013
Toni: and then i have to rest.
00:17:48.013 --> 00:17:49.348
Chrystal: and then you have to rest.
00:17:49.348 --> 00:17:50.682
We don't want that part. we just want the guns.
00:17:50.682 --> 00:17:52.951
You know what i'm saying?
00:17:52.951 --> 00:17:54.286
We just want, you know, and the building of our faith is what
00:17:54.286 --> 00:17:56.822
God is after.
00:17:56.822 --> 00:17:58.690
Sheila: one of my favorite stories in scripture is story of
00:17:58.690 --> 00:18:02.995
One of the prophets.
00:18:02.995 --> 00:18:04.329
His name was elijah.
00:18:04.329 --> 00:18:05.697
And he was an incredible man.
00:18:05.697 --> 00:18:07.266
He saw god do amazing things, miracles.
00:18:07.266 --> 00:18:10.636
I mean, i don't know if you've read the story, but there's a
00:18:10.636 --> 00:18:12.771
Story of how all these different prophets were calling on their
00:18:12.771 --> 00:18:16.608
God to consume a sacrifice and nothing happened.
00:18:16.608 --> 00:18:19.811
And by the end, they're cutting themselves and it's just
00:18:19.811 --> 00:18:22.181
A disaster.
00:18:22.181 --> 00:18:23.649
Nothing happened.
00:18:23.649 --> 00:18:25.184
But then elijah comes in the name of the living god, and god
00:18:25.184 --> 00:18:29.855
Shows up in power.
00:18:29.855 --> 00:18:31.223
It was phenomenal.
00:18:31.223 --> 00:18:32.858
But the interesting thing is from that place, a, elijah's
00:18:32.858 --> 00:18:36.762
Probably hungry, he hasn't probably eaten all day.
00:18:36.762 --> 00:18:39.431
He's been up in the mountainside.
00:18:39.431 --> 00:18:41.166
B, he's really tired, you know, he's had to watch through all
00:18:41.166 --> 00:18:44.102
Their shenanigans and then, c, god finally show up.
00:18:44.102 --> 00:18:46.905
And then the third thing he hears is that jezebel, the
00:18:46.905 --> 00:18:50.742
Queen, is after him and has said, "mark my words, i'm gonna
00:18:50.742 --> 00:18:54.580
To kill this man."
00:18:54.580 --> 00:18:56.081
And so he's just come to the place where he's just, "you
00:18:56.081 --> 00:18:58.517
Know what?
00:18:58.517 --> 00:18:59.885
I'm done."
00:18:59.885 --> 00:19:01.220
And he wanders into the desert.
00:19:01.220 --> 00:19:02.754
And you would think the very fact that god had shown up in
00:19:02.754 --> 00:19:05.757
Such a spectacular way and done this incredible miracle, you
00:19:05.757 --> 00:19:09.628
Would think the attitude of heaven toward elijah would be,
00:19:09.628 --> 00:19:13.298
"what is wrong with you?
00:19:13.298 --> 00:19:14.833
Didn't you see what god just did?"
00:19:14.833 --> 00:19:16.702
But that's not what happened.
00:19:16.702 --> 00:19:18.237
In fact, we're told the angel of the lord woke elijah up and
00:19:18.237 --> 00:19:23.775
Said, "listen, you're tired and you're hungry.
00:19:23.775 --> 00:19:26.478
Here's something to eat."
00:19:26.478 --> 00:19:28.213
And then said, "you know what?
00:19:28.213 --> 00:19:29.815
Take another nap because what we have ahead of us is a lot and
00:19:29.815 --> 00:19:33.619
You're gonna need another lap.
00:19:33.619 --> 00:19:35.487
I think the fact that god and his majesty understands who you
00:19:35.487 --> 00:19:40.525
And i are in our weakness, god has compassion for us.
00:19:40.525 --> 00:19:45.397
And maybe you've been pushing yourself so, so hard.
00:19:45.397 --> 00:19:48.567
And maybe god's word for you is, you know what?
00:19:48.567 --> 00:19:51.203
It's okay to take a nap.
00:19:51.203 --> 00:19:52.638
It's okay to rest.
00:19:52.638 --> 00:19:54.006
It's okay to take a few deep breaths because that's the way
00:19:54.006 --> 00:19:57.442
That god feels toward you.
00:19:57.442 --> 00:20:00.279
Toni: i've had to be strong my whole life, and so many people
00:20:00.279 --> 00:20:03.315
Have always said, "oh my gosh, you're so strong."
00:20:03.315 --> 00:20:06.018
Chrystal: and it actually was never strength.
00:20:06.018 --> 00:20:07.486
It was more like survival.
00:20:07.486 --> 00:20:08.854
Toni: yeah, like i clawed my way out of that situation.
00:20:08.854 --> 00:20:12.357
I don't know what you're talking about, okay?
00:20:12.357 --> 00:20:13.892
I had to.
00:20:13.892 --> 00:20:15.227
It was me surviving.
00:20:15.227 --> 00:20:16.595
It wasn't strength.
00:20:16.595 --> 00:20:17.929
It was me surviving.
00:20:17.929 --> 00:20:19.298
And what i love about what you said, chrystal, about the
00:20:19.298 --> 00:20:22.467
Evidence being faith is that when you go through something
00:20:22.467 --> 00:20:26.138
Hard, i would much rather someone say to me, "oh my
00:20:26.138 --> 00:20:30.108
Goodness, like, your faith in god has really inspired me,"
00:20:30.108 --> 00:20:34.313
Versus "wow, you're so strong."
00:20:34.313 --> 00:20:35.981
I mean there is a hate relationship with the word
00:20:35.981 --> 00:20:37.349
"strength" because when i go through hard things i don't
00:20:37.349 --> 00:20:40.852
Wanna come out on the other side and be glorified.
00:20:40.852 --> 00:20:43.121
I want for god to be glorified on the other side.
00:20:43.121 --> 00:20:45.157
And sometimes on the other side of really hard things,
00:20:45.157 --> 00:20:49.428
Glorifying god may mean you saying, "i actually can't do
00:20:49.428 --> 00:20:53.732
This and i need the lord and i need help."
00:20:53.732 --> 00:20:56.468
And for the world, that doesn't look like strength.
00:20:56.468 --> 00:20:59.838
But in the kingdom, surrendering and being weak and being
00:20:59.838 --> 00:21:04.276
Boastful about it--it's the opposite is actually where our
00:21:04.276 --> 00:21:08.213
Real strength comes from because it's our strength running out
00:21:08.213 --> 00:21:11.883
And his beginning.
00:21:11.883 --> 00:21:13.552
That's the good news.
00:21:13.552 --> 00:21:14.920
Sheila: my favorite verse in proverbs 31 is kind of unusual.
00:21:14.920 --> 00:21:18.156
It's verse 25.
00:21:18.156 --> 00:21:19.524
Toni: okay, here we go. elyse: let's find it.
00:21:19.524 --> 00:21:21.293
Sheila: i love it.
00:21:21.293 --> 00:21:22.761
It says, "she is clothed with strength and dignity, and she
00:21:22.761 --> 00:21:25.130
Laughs without fear of the future."
00:21:25.130 --> 00:21:27.799
That verse is huge for me because i lived so much of my
00:21:27.799 --> 00:21:31.103
Life afraid of the future.
00:21:31.103 --> 00:21:32.704
You know, what if this happens?
00:21:32.704 --> 00:21:34.072
What if that happens?
00:21:34.072 --> 00:21:35.407
What if this?
00:21:35.407 --> 00:21:36.775
Like i used to tease my mom.
00:21:36.775 --> 00:21:38.110
She had this big plaque up in our kitchen.
00:21:38.110 --> 00:21:39.478
It was, "i know the plans i have for you, says the lord."
00:21:39.478 --> 00:21:41.580
You know.
00:21:41.580 --> 00:21:42.948
And i would say to her, you know, "mum, i would just like to
00:21:42.948 --> 00:21:45.016
See the plans."
00:21:45.016 --> 00:21:46.385
I can make a few suggestions, you know, a couple of
00:21:46.385 --> 00:21:48.720
Amendments, sign off on the plans.
00:21:48.720 --> 00:21:51.256
And i said, "you don't really know what you're saying yes to."
00:21:51.256 --> 00:21:54.359
And she would say to me, "no, but i know who i'm saying
00:21:54.359 --> 00:21:57.095
Yes to."
00:21:57.095 --> 00:21:58.463
And i knew she meant it from the marrow of her bones, but i
00:21:58.463 --> 00:22:01.099
Wasn't, i wasn't there.
00:22:01.099 --> 00:22:02.801
But i think when you watch the way that goodness kindness walks
00:22:02.801 --> 00:22:06.538
You through all the stuff and shows you, you know what?
00:22:06.538 --> 00:22:10.375
"you fell down here and where was i?"
00:22:10.375 --> 00:22:12.744
"you were right there."
00:22:12.744 --> 00:22:14.079
"you know, that door slammed in your face and left you bruised.
00:22:14.079 --> 00:22:17.182
Where was i?" "you were there."
00:22:17.182 --> 00:22:19.084
That's why i can honestly say that now, she laughs without
00:22:19.084 --> 00:22:21.553
Fear of the future.
00:22:21.553 --> 00:22:22.888
And it doesn't mean that i don't think the future might hold
00:22:22.888 --> 00:22:25.323
Things that are really difficult.
00:22:25.323 --> 00:22:27.692
Blynda: when we talk about proverbs 31:25 saying, "she
00:22:27.692 --> 00:22:30.729
Laughs without fear of the future," what does that really
00:22:30.729 --> 00:22:34.599
Mean, to have no fear of the future?
00:22:34.599 --> 00:22:37.035
And it makes me think about this scripture in john 16:33.
00:22:37.035 --> 00:22:41.072
It says, "i have told you these things so that in me you may
00:22:41.072 --> 00:22:44.910
Have peace."
00:22:44.910 --> 00:22:46.278
We've talked about peace a few times.
00:22:46.278 --> 00:22:48.146
"in this world, you will have trouble, but take heart, i have
00:22:48.146 --> 00:22:52.417
Overcome the world."
00:22:52.417 --> 00:22:55.053
I think whatever life brings us, and i know i have friends who
00:22:55.053 --> 00:22:59.758
Are walking through some really hard things right now.
00:22:59.758 --> 00:23:02.294
Life can bring some devastating things, but we don't have to
00:23:02.294 --> 00:23:06.798
Fear the future, not because we muscle up all this strength, not
00:23:06.798 --> 00:23:11.670
Because we are resilient and have grit.
00:23:11.670 --> 00:23:14.973
All of that is great, but none of that is going to take
00:23:14.973 --> 00:23:18.176
Fear away.
00:23:18.176 --> 00:23:19.544
The only thing that takes fear away is the peace that god
00:23:19.544 --> 00:23:24.349
Brings knowing that he has the victory.
00:23:24.349 --> 00:23:27.152
He's already won.
00:23:27.152 --> 00:23:28.620
He's done the work on the cross.
00:23:28.620 --> 00:23:30.422
There's nothing that you could face in your life that he has
00:23:30.422 --> 00:23:34.092
Not conquered.
00:23:34.092 --> 00:23:35.427
And when you come from a position of victory that jesus
00:23:35.427 --> 00:23:38.697
Won it all, he paid the price for it all, when you come from
00:23:38.697 --> 00:23:41.733
That position, every single thing that you face in your life
00:23:41.733 --> 00:23:44.803
You can know though it's hard, though it may take some
00:23:44.803 --> 00:23:48.073
Strength, it may take some resilience to walk through it,
00:23:48.073 --> 00:23:52.210
You aren't alone and the one who walks with you through it is the
00:23:52.210 --> 00:23:55.914
One who has already got the victory and it's jesus in
00:23:55.914 --> 00:23:59.351
Your life.
00:23:59.351 --> 00:24:00.886
Sheila: i had to have an mri and i don't like being in those
00:24:00.886 --> 00:24:04.356
Narrow tubes.
00:24:04.356 --> 00:24:05.690
I'm kind of claustrophobic.
00:24:05.690 --> 00:24:07.058
I had had this bizarre accident where it looked like i'd maybe
00:24:07.058 --> 00:24:08.927
Broken my neck.
00:24:08.927 --> 00:24:10.295
So i'm laying in this thing and the guy said to me, "here's your
00:24:10.295 --> 00:24:14.733
Panic button.
00:24:14.733 --> 00:24:16.301
I'll be in the other room 'cause you'll be alone in here."
00:24:16.301 --> 00:24:19.237
And the minute he said that, i thought, no.
00:24:19.237 --> 00:24:24.109
But it was like this understanding of, you know what?
00:24:24.109 --> 00:24:26.611
Lord, you've brought me through enough, enough deep waters,
00:24:26.611 --> 00:24:30.081
Enough firestorms to know that whatever the outcome is, you're
00:24:30.081 --> 00:24:34.119
Gonna be there.
00:24:34.119 --> 00:24:35.453
Chrystal: i love that because what you said first is, i don't
00:24:35.453 --> 00:24:39.591
Like those spaces.
00:24:39.591 --> 00:24:40.926
I don't like those long narrow tubes.
00:24:40.926 --> 00:24:42.294
And when you quoted that scripture, i was thinking, she
00:24:42.294 --> 00:24:44.262
Is clothed in strength and dignity.
00:24:44.262 --> 00:24:46.431
We read that like she has strength, but it doesn't say she
00:24:46.431 --> 00:24:51.202
Has strength.
00:24:51.202 --> 00:24:52.537
It says, she's been clothed, which means you are covered with
00:24:52.537 --> 00:24:55.574
Strength and dignity on top of whatever the reality is.
00:24:55.574 --> 00:24:59.044
So if the reality is i don't like the narrow tube, that
00:24:59.044 --> 00:25:02.047
Doesn't mean that you can't still wear strength on top of
00:25:02.047 --> 00:25:05.550
Your actual experience.
00:25:05.550 --> 00:25:07.152
Which is why i think it's so important that we recognize that
00:25:07.152 --> 00:25:11.156
When we talk about strength, it doesn't mean like i feel like i
00:25:11.156 --> 00:25:14.125
Have it, but it does mean i can wear it.
00:25:14.125 --> 00:25:16.861
It does mean i can speak with confidence because i know in
00:25:16.861 --> 00:25:20.432
Whom my strength lies.
00:25:20.432 --> 00:25:21.933
So i can--i mean, how many times have we complimented maybe a
00:25:21.933 --> 00:25:25.537
Woman who seems to be a woman of great faith or a woman who's
00:25:25.537 --> 00:25:27.739
Lived a life of great faith and kind of what you were saying,
00:25:27.739 --> 00:25:30.442
You know, she's just like, no it's not me, you know, it's the
00:25:30.442 --> 00:25:33.578
Lord, and we think these are these like
00:25:33.578 --> 00:25:34.913
Churchy colloquialisms.
00:25:34.913 --> 00:25:36.381
And really she's like no actually it's not.
00:25:36.381 --> 00:25:38.683
Like i'm wearing strength and what you see is dignity, but
00:25:38.683 --> 00:25:42.654
That is what i choose to get dressed in regardless of what's
00:25:42.654 --> 00:25:46.224
Actually happening.
00:25:46.224 --> 00:25:47.626
Blynda: i did a study on esther once and i remember there's a
00:25:47.626 --> 00:25:50.161
Scripture, a part of the scripture that says, "and she
00:25:50.161 --> 00:25:53.398
Put on the royal, she put on the royal robe to approach
00:25:53.398 --> 00:25:57.268
The king."
00:25:57.268 --> 00:25:58.603
And we know of esther, she was called to save a nation, but we
00:25:58.603 --> 00:26:01.873
Know before she approached the king she spent time in prayer
00:26:01.873 --> 00:26:05.243
And fasting basically a whole year of beautifying preparation.
00:26:05.243 --> 00:26:09.280
But when i always saw the correlation that putting on the
00:26:09.280 --> 00:26:13.652
Royal robe was really a display of what she had already put on.
00:26:13.652 --> 00:26:18.657
She had put on prayer and fast.
00:26:18.657 --> 00:26:20.458
She had already clothed herself with what was going to be
00:26:20.458 --> 00:26:24.229
Required to do the hard thing in front of her.
00:26:24.229 --> 00:26:26.998
And then the scripture tells us she put on the royal robe to
00:26:26.998 --> 00:26:29.234
Show us this is what it looks like when we're gonna be walking
00:26:29.234 --> 00:26:33.338
As royalty, meaning we have our mission to do what god has put
00:26:33.338 --> 00:26:38.810
Before us to do.
00:26:38.810 --> 00:26:40.245
Whatever that looks like we can walk with that feeling of we're
00:26:40.245 --> 00:26:45.617
Putting on strength which means everything we carry with us is
00:26:45.617 --> 00:26:50.822
From him but it's also the preparation that we do to walk
00:26:50.822 --> 00:26:54.693
In that strength.
00:26:54.693 --> 00:26:56.027
What are we doing to--we can't avoid crisis.
00:26:56.027 --> 00:26:59.130
We can't avoid the rug being pulled out.
00:26:59.130 --> 00:27:01.332
We can't, but what are we doing to prepare so that when that
00:27:01.332 --> 00:27:04.769
Happens, when that moment happens, the instinct we have is
00:27:04.769 --> 00:27:07.639
We put on that royal robe and we walk with strength and dignity.
00:27:07.639 --> 00:27:10.608
Chrystal: how are we going into battle, putting on the royal
00:27:10.608 --> 00:27:12.610
Armor of god, you know, ephesians 6.
00:27:12.610 --> 00:27:13.978
Elyse: and that's what the word, that's what that
00:27:13.978 --> 00:27:15.914
Hebrew word meant.
00:27:15.914 --> 00:27:17.248
It meant like getting ready for battle.
00:27:17.248 --> 00:27:20.185
Chrystal: when we think about our anxiety and the fear that
00:27:20.185 --> 00:27:23.655
Comes with looking at our future, particularly when we
00:27:23.655 --> 00:27:26.224
Feel like our future is out of control, we don't have answers,
00:27:26.224 --> 00:27:29.527
We don't know how things will turn out, i think we have to
00:27:29.527 --> 00:27:32.530
Separate the normal and automatic feelings that come
00:27:32.530 --> 00:27:37.469
With that from what you do, what you choose to do with that.
00:27:37.469 --> 00:27:41.139
It is possible to feel fear and not operate in fear.
00:27:41.139 --> 00:27:45.577
It is possible to experience the rise of anxiety or worry and
00:27:45.577 --> 00:27:50.115
Choose to hand it over.
00:27:50.115 --> 00:27:51.816
In the bible we are told to cast our cares on to god because he
00:27:51.816 --> 00:27:56.054
Cares for us.
00:27:56.054 --> 00:27:57.388
So you can feel fear and not operate in fear.
00:27:57.388 --> 00:28:00.125
You can feel the stirring of anxiety and use that as a
00:28:00.125 --> 00:28:03.194
Motivator to pray and lay your concerns at god's feet.
00:28:03.194 --> 00:28:06.431
So don't feel like you're a bad person if you have feelings that
00:28:06.431 --> 00:28:10.068
You don't wanna have, let those feelings send you to the feet
00:28:10.068 --> 00:28:14.038
Of jesus.
00:28:14.038 --> 00:28:15.406
Let those experiences help you to trust that god will keep you
00:28:15.406 --> 00:28:20.245
In your future and let those things send you to the word of
00:28:20.245 --> 00:28:23.915
God where you can speak truth over your mind, your body, and
00:28:23.915 --> 00:28:27.085
Also use god's word to renew your mind.
00:28:27.085 --> 00:28:30.421
Fear, anxiety, and worry don't have to control you.
00:28:30.421 --> 00:28:33.158
They're simply indicators to let you know where you are so that
00:28:33.158 --> 00:28:35.927
You can step closer to the god who can deliver you in the
00:28:35.927 --> 00:28:39.197
Future to come.
00:28:39.197 --> 00:28:41.633
Toni: i love that--i think one of the greatest tools that we
00:28:41.633 --> 00:28:44.969
Have for going through really painful things
00:28:44.969 --> 00:28:48.840
Is our remembrance.
00:28:48.840 --> 00:28:50.341
Like when you said like, oh, no, i'm not alone, like it's like
00:28:50.341 --> 00:28:54.045
This light bulb kind of goes off.
00:28:54.045 --> 00:28:55.513
And i think our remembrance of what god has already done sets
00:28:55.513 --> 00:28:59.717
Our faith up for what he will do because what it says is--no, no,
00:28:59.717 --> 00:29:04.589
No enemy.
00:29:04.589 --> 00:29:05.957
I've actually seen the goodness of god in really hard
00:29:05.957 --> 00:29:08.660
Situations before.
00:29:08.660 --> 00:29:09.994
I know.
00:29:09.994 --> 00:29:11.329
I know where to run to. i know who to trust in.
00:29:11.329 --> 00:29:12.964
It's happened so many times with our family over the last
00:29:12.964 --> 00:29:15.667
Two years.
00:29:15.667 --> 00:29:17.035
And i remember us walking through the season where
00:29:17.035 --> 00:29:19.938
Everything bad just kept happening and it started to make
00:29:19.938 --> 00:29:23.341
Us kind of scared.
00:29:23.341 --> 00:29:24.709
When i would go out of town and leave my kids with my nanny,
00:29:24.709 --> 00:29:26.978
Like, i'm talking about clockwork every time.
00:29:26.978 --> 00:29:29.480
Electricity randomly goes out, our house is flooding, a snake
00:29:29.480 --> 00:29:32.750
Is in the driveway, like just crazy stuff to literally where i
00:29:32.750 --> 00:29:36.688
Remember my nanny is just like, "can we pray before you leave?"
00:29:36.688 --> 00:29:39.624
Like because she's nervous.
00:29:39.624 --> 00:29:41.226
Like, "oh my goodness, don't leave."
00:29:41.226 --> 00:29:43.061
And i just remember us hitting a moment where we're like, first
00:29:43.061 --> 00:29:45.897
Of all, the punk enemy does not get to have our anxiety
00:29:45.897 --> 00:29:50.168
Like this.
00:29:50.168 --> 00:29:51.502
We got all kinds of other things that we can be anxious about.
00:29:51.502 --> 00:29:53.638
He's not about to do that to us.
00:29:53.638 --> 00:29:55.506
And we're going to walk with more expectation that god's
00:29:55.506 --> 00:29:59.677
Going to protect.
00:29:59.677 --> 00:30:01.045
And i think that's what your remembrance does.
00:30:01.045 --> 00:30:03.314
It starts to set you up to the point where you can actually
00:30:03.314 --> 00:30:07.285
Boldly say james 4:7, yell a loud no to the enemy and watch
00:30:07.285 --> 00:30:10.688
Him flee.
00:30:10.688 --> 00:30:12.023
Whisper a quiet yes to jesus and he'll be there in no time.
00:30:12.023 --> 00:30:14.158
But what happens is we give more energy to the enemy.
00:30:14.158 --> 00:30:17.395
And we're like, no, oh my gosh, he's so this, he's so that i
00:30:17.395 --> 00:30:19.831
Can't believe this is happening.
00:30:19.831 --> 00:30:21.165
We become like "woe is me."
00:30:21.165 --> 00:30:24.035
There was a shift in us that was like, "if i only need to whisper
00:30:24.035 --> 00:30:27.739
A quiet yes to jesus, like that's all the energy that it
00:30:27.739 --> 00:30:30.508
Takes, but put in the right direction can give me some armor
00:30:30.508 --> 00:30:34.746
To rebuke the enemy in all of his ways."
00:30:34.746 --> 00:30:37.215
And that's what's so exciting about the proverbs 31 woman,
00:30:37.215 --> 00:30:41.152
Specifically that last line that we keep reading, verse 30,
00:30:41.152 --> 00:30:43.855
"charm is deceptive and beauty is fleeting, but a woman who
00:30:43.855 --> 00:30:46.591
Fears the lord is to be praised."
00:30:46.591 --> 00:30:47.992
A woman who has reverence for god.
00:30:47.992 --> 00:30:49.894
A woman who knows that god's on the way.
00:30:49.894 --> 00:30:51.829
A woman who remembers what he's already done.
00:30:51.829 --> 00:30:54.999
That's what we're trying to get to, to a point where we're like,
00:30:54.999 --> 00:30:58.536
I am not, i don't have a righteous fear of the enemy of
00:30:58.536 --> 00:31:02.073
My soul, but i have a righteous fear of the lord and i know he's
00:31:02.073 --> 00:31:04.809
Coming through 'cause i've seen him do it before.
00:31:04.809 --> 00:31:07.312
That's where i think we need to get to.
00:31:07.312 --> 00:31:08.846
Elyse: it's powerful because i think back to some of the times
00:31:08.846 --> 00:31:12.216
When i have needed those reminders and didn't feel strong
00:31:12.216 --> 00:31:15.453
Enough to voice them myself.
00:31:15.453 --> 00:31:16.788
I felt like i'd lost my voice.
00:31:16.788 --> 00:31:18.156
And it has been the women around me that have reminded me of the
00:31:18.156 --> 00:31:22.293
Song of strength when i've not felt strong enough to remember
00:31:22.293 --> 00:31:26.197
The lyrics of it, right?
00:31:26.197 --> 00:31:27.532
And that--there's nothing like sitting with a woman that has
00:31:27.532 --> 00:31:29.968
Done the years with the lord, but isn't the woman that you
00:31:29.968 --> 00:31:33.538
Tell your problems to that she can one up them, 'cause we don't
00:31:33.538 --> 00:31:36.207
Need to be around that when we're going through it, but
00:31:36.207 --> 00:31:38.376
She's the woman that can sit back in her chair and smile and
00:31:38.376 --> 00:31:40.912
Be like, "you're gonna be just fine."
00:31:40.912 --> 00:31:43.881
Chrystal: but you feel like you're on fire.
00:31:43.881 --> 00:31:45.650
Elyse: it doesn't feel like a season.
00:31:45.650 --> 00:31:47.018
Chrystal: but the reason why that woman can say that is
00:31:47.018 --> 00:31:49.087
Because she's walked through the fire.
00:31:49.087 --> 00:31:51.222
If the three boys that went into the fiery furnace that saw jesus
00:31:51.222 --> 00:31:55.093
Come through see you on fire, they're gonna say,
00:31:55.093 --> 00:31:58.696
Oh, it's okay, don't worry about it.
00:31:58.696 --> 00:32:00.431
You don't have that until you've walked through it.
00:32:00.431 --> 00:32:03.468
And that goes back to what we were saying about
00:32:03.468 --> 00:32:05.069
Building strength.
00:32:05.069 --> 00:32:06.404
You wanna be the woman who has great faith and you see her and
00:32:06.404 --> 00:32:09.707
You go, i want a faith like that.
00:32:09.707 --> 00:32:11.609
Like i just wanna have calm in my heart and, you know, just
00:32:11.609 --> 00:32:15.380
Know i'm not freaking out like her.
00:32:15.380 --> 00:32:17.782
She just seems like she's so at peace and i wanna be able to
00:32:17.782 --> 00:32:20.318
Trust god like that.
00:32:20.318 --> 00:32:21.686
But what fire does she have to go through in order to
00:32:21.686 --> 00:32:24.889
Have that?
00:32:24.889 --> 00:32:26.224
Elyse: we want the faith but not the fire.
00:32:26.224 --> 00:32:27.558
Toni: no because you do actually like the crazy people who's like
00:32:27.558 --> 00:32:30.661
It's gonna work out, it's gonna work out.
00:32:30.661 --> 00:32:31.996
Like we have some wounds like for real for real.
00:32:31.996 --> 00:32:35.833
I'm able to tell my daughter and my nanny like no guys we've seen
00:32:35.833 --> 00:32:39.037
God do it before because i have been out here in the valleys and
00:32:39.037 --> 00:32:42.040
I've seen him do it.
00:32:42.040 --> 00:32:43.541
It cost her to be able to say that a lot.
00:32:43.541 --> 00:32:48.079
Sheila: i've learned so much about what it means to
00:32:48.079 --> 00:32:50.882
Overcome fear.
00:32:50.882 --> 00:32:52.216
And i learned it from someone--
00:32:52.216 --> 00:32:53.718
I don't know if you know this name.
00:32:53.718 --> 00:32:55.053
Do you know the name elisabeth elliot?
00:32:55.053 --> 00:32:56.788
She was married to a missionary, jim elliot, who lost his life
00:32:56.788 --> 00:32:59.857
Many, many years ago, he and his friends, missionaries to the
00:32:59.857 --> 00:33:03.961
Auca indians.
00:33:03.961 --> 00:33:05.363
And their trip did not go as planned and they all ended up,
00:33:05.363 --> 00:33:10.301
All the husbands ended up losing their life.
00:33:10.301 --> 00:33:12.804
And elisabeth was left there in this foreign land with a three
00:33:12.804 --> 00:33:16.541
Year old daughter.
00:33:16.541 --> 00:33:17.909
And her thing was, what do i do now?
00:33:17.909 --> 00:33:20.011
Do i just go home?
00:33:20.011 --> 00:33:21.379
But god called us as a family.
00:33:21.379 --> 00:33:23.881
And she sat down and she talked to one of her friends and a
00:33:23.881 --> 00:33:26.918
Friend said to her, "okay, elisabeth, do you believe that
00:33:26.918 --> 00:33:29.720
God wants you to be here?"
00:33:29.720 --> 00:33:31.689
And she said, "yeah, i do, but i'm afraid."
00:33:31.689 --> 00:33:35.093
And she said, "if you believe god wants you to be here, then
00:33:35.093 --> 00:33:37.795
Do it afraid."
00:33:37.795 --> 00:33:39.597
So then i should just take the next step in what you believe
00:33:39.597 --> 00:33:41.999
God wants you to do and then you discover that courage came along
00:33:41.999 --> 00:33:45.336
For the right.
00:33:45.336 --> 00:33:47.305
Elyse: going through some of my worst times ever, i felt
00:33:47.305 --> 00:33:51.576
Challenged reading about joshua crossing over the jordan river
00:33:51.576 --> 00:33:55.113
And taking memorial stones and building a memorial to god so
00:33:55.113 --> 00:33:58.616
They would come back and remember that every spot and
00:33:58.616 --> 00:34:01.352
Felt like god was like, go and make one of them yourself.
00:34:01.352 --> 00:34:03.955
And i went to home depot, got me some rocks, took them home, and
00:34:03.955 --> 00:34:07.458
Every day would write what god had done and started creating my
00:34:07.458 --> 00:34:10.561
Own memorial stone, which looked so strange with the aesthetic of
00:34:10.561 --> 00:34:13.698
My apartment, but it was what i needed to do.
00:34:13.698 --> 00:34:15.766
And sometimes, what do you need to do in your season to
00:34:15.766 --> 00:34:18.970
Gain strength?
00:34:18.970 --> 00:34:20.304
It doesn't make sense when you feel weak to pick up a weight
00:34:20.304 --> 00:34:23.007
And yet the very thing you need to do to build that strength is
00:34:23.007 --> 00:34:26.544
To break that muscle down so that it can come back stronger.
00:34:26.544 --> 00:34:30.047
And the really frustrating piece is that often what we need to do
00:34:30.047 --> 00:34:34.252
In those seasons to build strength is the thing that you
00:34:34.252 --> 00:34:38.022
Keep pushing out of your mind, is the thing that you don't
00:34:38.022 --> 00:34:40.992
Wanna do, is the calling somebody else up and hanging out
00:34:40.992 --> 00:34:45.530
With someone when all you wanna do is isolate,
00:34:45.530 --> 00:34:48.199
Is finding those things and thanking god, praising god when
00:34:48.199 --> 00:34:52.170
It really does look like nothing around you is going right.
00:34:52.170 --> 00:34:55.306
And it's not pithy naivety.
00:34:55.306 --> 00:34:57.341
This woman is not naive.
00:34:57.341 --> 00:34:58.943
And i used to look at that verse, she smiles without fear
00:34:58.943 --> 00:35:02.113
Of the future and just think, must be nice.
00:35:02.113 --> 00:35:04.215
Like, because for so long, i was the girl that pretended
00:35:04.215 --> 00:35:08.386
Everything was fine and i was the one that would smile, but
00:35:08.386 --> 00:35:11.756
Have a lot of fear about the future.
00:35:11.756 --> 00:35:13.524
Smile with lots of fear about the future doesn't sound as
00:35:13.524 --> 00:35:15.626
Good, obviously, in the bible verse, but it had to come to a
00:35:15.626 --> 00:35:18.596
Place where she could smile, not just because she knew god had
00:35:18.596 --> 00:35:22.867
Come through before, but it says that she was prepared for it.
00:35:22.867 --> 00:35:25.937
And i often, before this season in my life, had stuck my head in
00:35:25.937 --> 00:35:29.840
The sand.
00:35:29.840 --> 00:35:31.175
When there was a storm out, had just thought maybe if i ignore
00:35:31.175 --> 00:35:33.678
It, it'll go away, which is not very good with cycles and had to
00:35:33.678 --> 00:35:37.315
Realize after some things came to ahead in my life that if i
00:35:37.315 --> 00:35:40.418
Don't deal with these now, they will come up in the future.
00:35:40.418 --> 00:35:43.955
Because when the storm hits, it's not the time to be building
00:35:43.955 --> 00:35:47.458
The strength you need.
00:35:47.458 --> 00:35:50.228
Announcer: join the conversation on our "better together"
00:35:50.228 --> 00:35:52.530
Youtube channel.
00:35:52.530 --> 00:35:53.898
Subscribe today and never miss a new upload.
00:35:53.898 --> 00:35:57.994
Subscribe today and never miss a new upload.
00:35:57.994 --> 00:35:58.770
Blynda: we were just in a worship service at church a
00:36:01.506 --> 00:36:03.242
Couple of weeks ago.
00:36:03.375 --> 00:36:04.576
So we've had the whole worship service and it was, i mean, the
00:36:04.676 --> 00:36:06.511
Whole--it was just amazing.
00:36:06.645 --> 00:36:08.280
I mean, just the worship was so strong that day.
00:36:08.380 --> 00:36:09.214
And one of the older gentlemen that's on our worship team, i
00:36:11.416 --> 00:36:14.653
Mean, he's just the smiliest, happiest.
00:36:14.653 --> 00:36:18.023
I mean, i love watching him worship.
00:36:18.023 --> 00:36:19.658
He's perfect to help lead our congregation because he just has
00:36:19.658 --> 00:36:22.961
The joy of the lord all over him.
00:36:22.961 --> 00:36:25.230
Well, the worship part ended and before it kind of went into the
00:36:25.230 --> 00:36:28.867
Message they showed a video.
00:36:28.867 --> 00:36:30.535
And all of a sudden this person i've just watched on the worship
00:36:30.535 --> 00:36:33.805
Team, he's on the video giving his testimony.
00:36:33.805 --> 00:36:37.175
And i'm watching it.
00:36:37.175 --> 00:36:38.543
And it's him and his wife, and they're probably in their maybe
00:36:38.543 --> 00:36:41.747
Late 50s, early 60s, and they begin talking about that the
00:36:41.747 --> 00:36:46.385
Last six months of their life, they lost two sons and his mom.
00:36:46.385 --> 00:36:52.124
So they had a health crisis with the one son who had been a
00:36:52.124 --> 00:36:55.661
Little bit ill and he passed away.
00:36:55.661 --> 00:36:58.764
Then his mother passed away maybe three weeks after.
00:36:58.764 --> 00:37:03.201
And then like three months after, just in a crazy turn of
00:37:03.201 --> 00:37:06.805
Events accident, their other son passed away.
00:37:06.805 --> 00:37:09.808
This is the man that i had just watched with the most joy of the
00:37:09.808 --> 00:37:13.912
Lord on his face, would have never known.
00:37:13.912 --> 00:37:16.515
And now all of a sudden i'm watching the same person tell
00:37:16.515 --> 00:37:20.018
What their last six months under any circumstances, anybody
00:37:20.018 --> 00:37:24.489
Watching the worst you could imagine.
00:37:24.489 --> 00:37:27.159
Two sons and a mom.
00:37:27.159 --> 00:37:29.928
And i thought to myself when i watched him--i mean, i'm like
00:37:29.928 --> 00:37:33.799
Wiping tears away.
00:37:33.799 --> 00:37:35.133
It was such a moving--but because he said this, he looked
00:37:35.133 --> 00:37:38.704
Into the camera and he said, "when we feel like everything in
00:37:38.704 --> 00:37:42.874
Our life has been taken from us, all we knew to do is worship.
00:37:42.874 --> 00:37:48.380
All we knew to do is worship."
00:37:48.380 --> 00:37:50.582
And he said, "so i just have to keep worshiping because i trust
00:37:50.582 --> 00:37:54.019
God with my life.
00:37:54.019 --> 00:37:55.354
I always have.
00:37:55.354 --> 00:37:56.722
And when it was good, it was easy to trust him.
00:37:56.722 --> 00:37:59.024
It's harder when it's bad, but i have no other choice.
00:37:59.024 --> 00:38:01.493
I have to trust god."
00:38:01.493 --> 00:38:04.029
And he wasn't just saying that with his words.
00:38:04.029 --> 00:38:07.699
I got to see evidence that he was doing that with his life.
00:38:07.699 --> 00:38:11.636
He was worshiping in the midst of the most pain and sorrow.
00:38:11.636 --> 00:38:16.208
And so i think when we're asking ourselves, what are ways that we
00:38:16.208 --> 00:38:21.413
Have evidence of that faith that we're building?
00:38:21.413 --> 00:38:24.483
I think we worship.
00:38:24.483 --> 00:38:26.785
I think we remember--
00:38:26.785 --> 00:38:28.453
Sheila: and i think as an eternal perspective too.
00:38:28.453 --> 00:38:30.555
I think there's something about an eternal--'cause i remember
00:38:30.555 --> 00:38:33.458
When i was in that tube, and i was in for like i don't know
00:38:33.458 --> 00:38:35.460
40 minutes.
00:38:35.460 --> 00:38:36.795
And i can remember laying there thinking, "lord, you went
00:38:36.795 --> 00:38:38.830
Through so many things that were way, way, way harder.
00:38:38.830 --> 00:38:41.333
How did you do this?"
00:38:41.333 --> 00:38:42.801
And so when i got out, i went to hebrews.
00:38:42.801 --> 00:38:45.704
And i was actually reading hebrews 12, but in the
00:38:45.704 --> 00:38:49.141
Message paraphrase.
00:38:49.141 --> 00:38:51.042
And it became life changing for me 'cause it said, "keep your
00:38:51.042 --> 00:38:54.780
Eyes on jesus, who both began and finished this race
00:38:54.780 --> 00:38:58.550
We're in."
00:38:58.550 --> 00:38:59.885
Study how he did it because he never lost sight of where he
00:38:59.885 --> 00:39:02.921
Was headed.
00:39:02.921 --> 00:39:04.289
That glorious finish in and with god, he could put up with
00:39:04.289 --> 00:39:08.326
Everything along the way, the cross, the shame, whatever, and
00:39:08.326 --> 00:39:11.029
Now he's there.
00:39:11.029 --> 00:39:12.364
And i think there's something about having this eternal
00:39:12.364 --> 00:39:15.033
Perspective because we think this life that we've got, you
00:39:15.033 --> 00:39:17.669
Know, we've got to kind of squeeze every kind of ounce of
00:39:17.669 --> 00:39:19.838
Success or happiness out of it.
00:39:19.838 --> 00:39:21.540
But i think for jesus it was like, and i was thinking, "well,
00:39:21.540 --> 00:39:24.109
What was the joy set before him?"
00:39:24.109 --> 00:39:26.344
You know, it was you and it was you and it was you and it
00:39:26.344 --> 00:39:29.147
Was you.
00:39:29.147 --> 00:39:30.515
It wasn't that he was gonna be back with the father that had
00:39:30.515 --> 00:39:32.451
Always been, it was the fact he got to take us with him.
00:39:32.451 --> 00:39:35.153
And i think when you have that eternal perspective that this is
00:39:35.153 --> 00:39:38.490
Really like a breath and everything that god is doing in
00:39:38.490 --> 00:39:42.494
Us to make us more like jesus because we have this
00:39:42.494 --> 00:39:46.364
Ridiculously glorious future that nobody can touch.
00:39:46.364 --> 00:39:51.036
Blynda: when i feel weak or afraid, the first thing that i
00:39:51.036 --> 00:39:53.939
Really do is i run to the word.
00:39:53.939 --> 00:39:56.274
Psalm 27:1 says, "the lord is my light and my salvation, whom
00:39:56.274 --> 00:40:01.546
Shall i fear?"
00:40:01.546 --> 00:40:02.948
See, when i'm afraid or when i'm uncertain about what is in front
00:40:02.948 --> 00:40:05.984
Of me, the word can encourage me.
00:40:05.984 --> 00:40:08.053
Right there it's telling me, why would you fear?
00:40:08.053 --> 00:40:10.388
He's your light, he's your salvation.
00:40:10.388 --> 00:40:12.824
So i do.
00:40:12.824 --> 00:40:14.192
I just run to the word.
00:40:14.192 --> 00:40:15.527
I wanna know because it's living and active.
00:40:15.527 --> 00:40:16.862
I wanna know what it has to say about my situation because he's
00:40:16.862 --> 00:40:19.397
So intentional to meet us and pursue our hearts where we are.
00:40:19.397 --> 00:40:23.235
The other thing i would say is i worship.
00:40:23.235 --> 00:40:25.804
There's just something about turning on some worship music
00:40:25.804 --> 00:40:28.907
And just even sometimes it's like the first three notes can
00:40:28.907 --> 00:40:32.811
Just settle my heart into a posture of peace.
00:40:32.811 --> 00:40:35.647
So i do, i let worship play in my home.
00:40:35.647 --> 00:40:38.049
And then i guess third, if i were really feeling afraid or
00:40:38.049 --> 00:40:42.521
Concerned about my future or where are you god?
00:40:42.521 --> 00:40:45.557
I would recount the faithfulness of god in my life.
00:40:45.557 --> 00:40:47.993
I would start recounting all the ways he's been faithful to build
00:40:47.993 --> 00:40:51.196
Up my faith to believe that if he's been faithful before, he'll
00:40:51.196 --> 00:40:53.999
Be faithful again.
00:40:53.999 --> 00:40:56.067
Chrystal: i think it's so important that you pay attention
00:40:56.067 --> 00:40:59.037
To what you do when you need strength because just listening
00:40:59.037 --> 00:41:05.010
To the testimony that you were sharing with us, his answer was
00:41:05.010 --> 00:41:09.381
To worship.
00:41:09.381 --> 00:41:10.715
His answer was to look up a person from whence the
00:41:10.715 --> 00:41:13.451
Strength comes.
00:41:13.451 --> 00:41:15.053
One of the indicators i think of you trying to be strong in
00:41:15.053 --> 00:41:19.024
Yourself is that you dig into, "well, what can i do?" versus
00:41:19.024 --> 00:41:22.060
First going, "let me get strength from you."
00:41:22.060 --> 00:41:24.462
And that has to do with the eternal perspective too.
00:41:24.462 --> 00:41:27.465
Because if i think that the result, the earthly result is
00:41:27.465 --> 00:41:31.636
The answer and i'm looking to myself as an earthly individual
00:41:31.636 --> 00:41:35.740
As the answer, both where i get strength from and who has to
00:41:35.740 --> 00:41:40.011
Solve the problem, that actually becomes a greater burden, me
00:41:40.011 --> 00:41:43.448
Trying to be my own strength than me looking to god.
00:41:43.448 --> 00:41:48.486
So we sometimes bury ourselves trying to find strength in
00:41:48.486 --> 00:41:52.290
Ourselves as opposed to looking up and out.
00:41:52.290 --> 00:41:55.260
Because also there are some things in life where the amount
00:41:55.260 --> 00:42:00.231
Of strength you need to get through it, you can't
00:42:00.231 --> 00:42:02.968
Actually find.
00:42:02.968 --> 00:42:04.769
You can't find.
00:42:04.769 --> 00:42:06.104
So okay, i lose a job.
00:42:06.104 --> 00:42:07.439
I need the strength to figure out, you know, what do i need to
00:42:07.439 --> 00:42:09.641
Do next?
00:42:09.641 --> 00:42:10.976
And, you know, in earthly terms, all right, i'm going to do what
00:42:10.976 --> 00:42:12.777
I need to do.
00:42:12.777 --> 00:42:14.145
I'm going to float some resumes.
00:42:14.145 --> 00:42:15.480
I'm gonna--that seems kind of doable, right?
00:42:15.480 --> 00:42:17.749
But then when you talk about that kind of stuff, you know,
00:42:17.749 --> 00:42:20.752
Two losses back to back, three losses back to back, your
00:42:20.752 --> 00:42:23.421
Children and a parent?
00:42:23.421 --> 00:42:24.990
There is no capacity for that kind of grief, which is why it
00:42:24.990 --> 00:42:31.696
Grieves me so when people have such deep trauma like that and
00:42:31.696 --> 00:42:36.201
They don't know the lord because there is no cistern that's deep
00:42:36.201 --> 00:42:42.507
Enough or that's without cracks where you can serve up what you
00:42:42.507 --> 00:42:45.910
Need in order to get through that.
00:42:45.910 --> 00:42:47.245
I mean, i've been through seasons like that and i've had
00:42:47.245 --> 00:42:49.881
People say to me, you know, how did you, you know, i've got this
00:42:49.881 --> 00:42:53.385
Person that's in the hospital, but these kids that are at home?
00:42:53.385 --> 00:42:55.654
And you know it's god when you look back on it and you have no
00:42:55.654 --> 00:42:58.790
Answer for how you got through that.
00:42:58.790 --> 00:43:00.892
Sheila: i know, that's so true.
00:43:00.892 --> 00:43:02.227
Chrystal: and you even surprise yourself when you look back and
00:43:02.227 --> 00:43:05.830
It might not even be looking at it, it might be telling someone
00:43:05.830 --> 00:43:09.167
Else once you hear yourself saying, number one, there was
00:43:09.167 --> 00:43:13.104
This marital issue.
00:43:13.104 --> 00:43:14.439
Number two, this person was in the hospital.
00:43:14.439 --> 00:43:15.874
Number three, this kid got sick.
00:43:15.874 --> 00:43:17.909
Number four, i didn't know where the money came from.
00:43:17.909 --> 00:43:20.612
Number--and when you say it out loud and then you're like, "i
00:43:20.612 --> 00:43:24.315
Don't know," and that's why it turns our hearts towards heaven
00:43:24.315 --> 00:43:29.187
When we admit how bad it was and how weak it was and when we
00:43:29.187 --> 00:43:33.625
Realize that it's only because of the grace of god that we made
00:43:33.625 --> 00:43:36.161
It through.
00:43:36.161 --> 00:43:37.495
Blynda: it's so interesting that you say that because, you know,
00:43:37.495 --> 00:43:39.230
Everybody talks about like a gratefulness journal like go and
00:43:39.230 --> 00:43:42.000
Write the things that you're grateful for whatever.
00:43:42.000 --> 00:43:43.668
Okay, well i was in part of my little low stage, probably a
00:43:43.668 --> 00:43:47.472
Little "woe is me."
00:43:47.472 --> 00:43:48.940
I just did not have that place.
00:43:48.940 --> 00:43:52.977
I was not at that place.
00:43:52.977 --> 00:43:54.345
I wasn't.
00:43:54.345 --> 00:43:55.680
And so i literally was praying one day and i was like, god, i
00:43:55.680 --> 00:43:59.150
Just feel like i just wanna tell you everything that's gone wrong
00:43:59.150 --> 00:44:01.753
In the last--and he said, "okay, go ahead."
00:44:01.753 --> 00:44:04.489
Elyse: the anti gratitude journal.
00:44:04.489 --> 00:44:05.957
Blynda: so i got out and i literally wrote down everything
00:44:05.957 --> 00:44:08.560
I felt like we were walking through everything, i mean,
00:44:08.560 --> 00:44:10.462
Every kid, all of it and i mean, it just kept going.
00:44:10.462 --> 00:44:13.098
I was like, see, see, there is a lot going on here--
00:44:13.098 --> 00:44:15.366
Elyse: you feel like justified.
00:44:15.366 --> 00:44:16.735
Like you like--"told you."
00:44:16.735 --> 00:44:18.069
Blynda: yes, and it was so--it was interesting 'cause it was
00:44:18.069 --> 00:44:20.071
Actually a little therapeutic because i had just something
00:44:20.071 --> 00:44:22.841
About just like i just needed to get out, but what i didn't
00:44:22.841 --> 00:44:26.644
Expect was he was setting me up to write those things because
00:44:26.644 --> 00:44:33.051
Then six months, a year later i could go back and see how he had
00:44:33.051 --> 00:44:37.989
Worked every one of those things out for good for my--
00:44:37.989 --> 00:44:41.292
Toni: blynda, this reminds me of john 11, the death and
00:44:41.292 --> 00:44:45.530
Resuscitation of lazarus, not resurrection because he
00:44:45.530 --> 00:44:48.466
Died again.
00:44:48.466 --> 00:44:49.968
But i love--i've been studying the book of john.
00:44:49.968 --> 00:44:53.972
I've been all up in these, like, the miracles.
00:44:53.972 --> 00:44:55.907
It has been great for me.
00:44:55.907 --> 00:44:57.742
And this specific story, we assume obviously that the
00:44:57.742 --> 00:45:01.346
Miracle here is that jesus raises lazarus from the dead,
00:45:01.346 --> 00:45:04.382
Which is actually a miracle and it's amazing.
00:45:04.382 --> 00:45:06.918
And i think there's another miracle in the story.
00:45:06.918 --> 00:45:09.220
And as i've been studying that specific passage, you've got
00:45:09.220 --> 00:45:13.458
These two sisters.
00:45:13.458 --> 00:45:14.993
Martha, surprisingly, okay, our girl martha is a little curious
00:45:14.993 --> 00:45:20.532
As to why jesus wasn't there, why he didn't come and save him
00:45:20.532 --> 00:45:23.234
Earlier, why he didn't just speak a word and raise him from
00:45:23.234 --> 00:45:25.570
Where he was, right.
00:45:25.570 --> 00:45:26.938
Blynda: maybe a little sassy about it.
00:45:26.938 --> 00:45:28.273
Toni: maybe a little sassy like where were you?
00:45:28.273 --> 00:45:29.607
If you were here.
00:45:29.607 --> 00:45:30.942
Elyse: i would be.
00:45:30.942 --> 00:45:32.277
Toni: but she had faith and she actually was--even now.
00:45:32.277 --> 00:45:34.312
Like even now my brother will meet his maker.
00:45:34.312 --> 00:45:37.081
He will be back.
00:45:37.081 --> 00:45:38.416
And jesus was like the whole time like, no, i'm actually
00:45:38.416 --> 00:45:40.952
Gonna raise him from the dead, right?
00:45:40.952 --> 00:45:42.353
Like he knows this in the back of his mind.
00:45:42.353 --> 00:45:44.088
So then old girl mary, who was still at the house cried up,
00:45:44.088 --> 00:45:47.225
Okay, in a little ball, comes around the corner and she a
00:45:47.225 --> 00:45:50.261
Little sassy, okay?
00:45:50.261 --> 00:45:51.930
She's like, "where were you? i can't believe it.
00:45:51.930 --> 00:45:54.032
What happened?" all these things.
00:45:54.032 --> 00:45:56.201
What i find so interesting in the story is that before they
00:45:56.201 --> 00:45:59.871
Go, like jesus knows the whole entire time "i'm gonna raise
00:45:59.871 --> 00:46:04.175
Him," that he cries with them.
00:46:04.175 --> 00:46:06.110
I remember when my daughter broke her bike and i was on my
00:46:06.110 --> 00:46:08.446
Way home and she was crying and upset and when i got home i was
00:46:08.446 --> 00:46:11.983
Like, "hey baby, calm down.
00:46:11.983 --> 00:46:13.318
I got you a new bike in the trunk."
00:46:13.318 --> 00:46:14.752
Like it's okay.
00:46:14.752 --> 00:46:16.087
You don't have to cry. you don't have to grieve.
00:46:16.087 --> 00:46:18.489
It's literally not the way of our lord.
00:46:18.489 --> 00:46:20.725
You can grieve even though good is on the way.
00:46:20.725 --> 00:46:25.063
And i will sit with you in it.
00:46:25.063 --> 00:46:26.998
What a miracle it is to have a god who does not dismiss the
00:46:26.998 --> 00:46:32.370
Time that we need to grieve, knowing that he's gonna work it
00:46:32.370 --> 00:46:36.207
All out for good.
00:46:36.207 --> 00:46:37.642
He is not saying muster up the strength, get your little
00:46:37.642 --> 00:46:41.713
Bootstraps up, stop.
00:46:41.713 --> 00:46:43.781
I'm going to work it out.
00:46:43.781 --> 00:46:45.383
Why don't you have faith? you don't believe in me.
00:46:45.383 --> 00:46:47.018
I think our faith has the capacity to grieve and i think
00:46:47.018 --> 00:46:50.421
Our god is okay with that.
00:46:50.421 --> 00:46:52.056
Sheila: absolutely.
00:46:52.056 --> 00:46:53.424
Chrystal: david was a man after god's own heart and the question
00:46:53.424 --> 00:46:55.793
Is why.
00:46:55.793 --> 00:46:57.195
But he's also the one that wrote the most emotional content that
00:46:57.195 --> 00:47:00.431
We can borrow today for celebrating the goodness of god,
00:47:00.431 --> 00:47:04.269
Giving thanks for how god shows up, but also, where are you?
00:47:04.269 --> 00:47:08.806
Why do i have to go through this?
00:47:08.806 --> 00:47:10.241
Toni: turn, lord.
00:47:10.241 --> 00:47:11.576
Chrystal: yeah, like, can you fix this?
00:47:11.576 --> 00:47:12.944
Have you forgotten about me?
00:47:12.944 --> 00:47:14.279
I really believe that a part of that scripture of david being
00:47:14.279 --> 00:47:20.351
Someone who connected heart to heart with god, it's like full
00:47:20.351 --> 00:47:24.656
Face adam and eve in the garden, "who told you you were naked?"
00:47:24.656 --> 00:47:27.759
I'm standing emotionally, mentally, strengthily, naked
00:47:27.759 --> 00:47:32.597
Before you is tell me the whole story.
00:47:32.597 --> 00:47:36.134
Like don't forget who i am. don't forget that i'm god.
00:47:36.134 --> 00:47:39.737
Don't forget to believe. don't forget to celebrate.
00:47:39.737 --> 00:47:41.806
Don't forget that i have the power.
00:47:41.806 --> 00:47:44.075
But in the midst of the things you believe about me, don't
00:47:44.075 --> 00:47:47.345
Dismiss your own struggles.
00:47:47.345 --> 00:47:50.882
Toni: god is so trustworthy with our pain because he has created
00:47:50.882 --> 00:47:54.285
Us and he knows every single thing about us, but even more
00:47:54.285 --> 00:47:57.956
Than that, he sent his son jesus to be in human form so that he
00:47:57.956 --> 00:48:03.795
Can understand our pain even further.
00:48:03.795 --> 00:48:06.164
We read in john 11 that jesus wept.
00:48:06.164 --> 00:48:08.166
He cried because his best friend had died and he was watching his
00:48:08.166 --> 00:48:11.669
Friends grieve.
00:48:11.669 --> 00:48:13.438
He knows our pain and so he's trustworthy with it because he
00:48:13.438 --> 00:48:17.108
Himself put himself in a situation where he could
00:48:17.108 --> 00:48:20.912
Understand our pain.
00:48:20.912 --> 00:48:22.580
Elyse: and when we talk about strength and using god's
00:48:22.580 --> 00:48:26.084
Strength, the first step in that is admitting that we don't
00:48:26.084 --> 00:48:29.053
Have it.
00:48:29.053 --> 00:48:30.388
And i think that that's the perfect full circle moment to
00:48:30.388 --> 00:48:33.524
Come to, is we can look back on seasons, but maybe you're in a
00:48:33.524 --> 00:48:37.762
Season right now where you're like, i don't have the strength.
00:48:37.762 --> 00:48:42.166
Congratulations--
00:48:42.166 --> 00:48:43.501
Toni: you made it.
00:48:43.501 --> 00:48:44.936
Chrystal: perfect setup.
00:48:44.936 --> 00:48:46.270
Elyse: 'cause you're the perfect setup to access his.
00:48:46.270 --> 00:48:48.172
And so, i guess, today talking about strength, i would love to
00:48:48.172 --> 00:48:51.209
Finish it by praying for those that feel at their weakest
00:48:51.209 --> 00:48:55.880
Because they're at the greatest setup to access his strength.
00:48:55.880 --> 00:48:59.517
So, could we pray?
00:48:59.517 --> 00:49:02.220
Lord, as we refocus on maybe some of the additions that you
00:49:02.220 --> 00:49:06.491
Never added to what it looks like to be your daughter, to
00:49:06.491 --> 00:49:10.628
What it looks like to be a woman that is called, even after your
00:49:10.628 --> 00:49:16.000
Own heart, father, i'm just so aware today of the people
00:49:16.000 --> 00:49:20.004
Watching this.
00:49:20.004 --> 00:49:21.572
And we're talking about strength that have never felt more weak,
00:49:21.572 --> 00:49:24.108
That are in that current season where everything's been broken
00:49:24.108 --> 00:49:27.512
Up, where it feels like they've never been more aware of what
00:49:27.512 --> 00:49:31.482
They've been asked to carry in this season and yet their lack
00:49:31.482 --> 00:49:35.119
Of muscles.
00:49:35.119 --> 00:49:36.788
Father, i thank you that you've never ever asked us to carry
00:49:36.788 --> 00:49:39.657
Something alone.
00:49:39.657 --> 00:49:41.092
And god, i thank you that you have all of the strength to be
00:49:41.092 --> 00:49:45.730
Able to tackle the task that you have given us today.
00:49:45.730 --> 00:49:49.367
And lord, i just pray for the person right now that doesn't
00:49:49.367 --> 00:49:53.171
Have the strength, that they would feel your strength right
00:49:53.171 --> 00:49:55.540
Now in this moment.
00:49:55.540 --> 00:49:57.542
God, beginning to lift the weight that has become too heavy
00:49:57.542 --> 00:50:00.511
To carry, to be able to lift the cloud that has been hanging over
00:50:00.511 --> 00:50:04.515
Their head,
00:50:04.515 --> 00:50:05.883
That would be able to lift the anxiety and the fear of the
00:50:05.883 --> 00:50:09.654
Future, god, you're also right there in this moment with them,
00:50:09.654 --> 00:50:13.391
Ready to carry whatever weights that they have.
00:50:13.391 --> 00:50:16.327
So god, i thank you for your strength and may we surrender
00:50:16.327 --> 00:50:21.532
Enough to be able to admit we need it 'cause i thank you, god,
00:50:21.532 --> 00:50:26.938
That you have more than enough for all of us as your kids.
00:50:26.938 --> 00:50:30.341
We commit this time to you in jesus's name, amen.
00:50:30.341 --> 00:50:36.814
Announcer: connect with us on social media and let us know how
00:50:36.814 --> 00:50:39.217
Our team can pray for you.
00:50:39.217 --> 00:50:42.587
Join our conversations anytime, anywhere.
00:50:42.587 --> 00:50:45.289
Download tbn+ to stream your favorite episodes.
00:50:45.289 --> 00:50:48.993
♪♪♪
00:50:48.993 --> 00:50:48.993

God's Strength Empowers You - Episode 1094

September 11, 2025 | S7 E1094 | 52:34

Closed captions

Share