Better Together

Surrender to God's Timing - Episode 1099

September 25, 2025 | S7 E1099 | 52:34

Waiting isn’t wasted time—it’s a season of growth, preparation, and alignment! Follow Jesus’ example of purposeful patience and watch God work in your hidden season. When we activate our faith in the waiting, God prepares the way for what’s ahead! | TBN Prayer Line: 714-731-1000

#IdentityinChrist #WaitingonGod #Wilderness #SpiritualGrowth #Patience #Preparation #Timing #Faith #Purpose #Season #Change #Transformation #Rest #Healing #Courage #WordofGod #Contentment #PersonalStory

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Better Together | Surrender to God's Timing - Episode 1099 | September 25, 2025

Don't let a season of waiting make you forget who you are.
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Our god-given identity reminds
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Us to stay the course in all circumstances.
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Come on, let's talk about it.
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♪♪
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Today, we're going to talk a little bit about seasons of
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Waiting and and hiddenness and how that can lend to this
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Further diving into our identity.
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And i think the classic one when i think through the bible
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Is, you know, esther, we have this phrase,
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Whenever i think of her, i think of that iconic
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For such a time as this.
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Right. she was appointed to go and during a very, very dark
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Time and bring deliverance to the people of god.
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But there was this waiting process for her.
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You know, all throughout scripture, though, as i was
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Just thinking through it, i'm like, it's just about every one
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Of these characters, like, go through this journey.
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I think joseph, he has these crazy dreams and he gets this
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Jacket and then it's not until way later-- betrayal, prison,
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I mean, crazy things happening where he actually is stepping
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Into the promises, the identity, the destiny, and the
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Purpose is on his life.
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Right? a different journey than
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I'd imagined he would have expected.
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I think about, you know, matriarchs, patriarchs,
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Waiting, the promise of offspring many generations,
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Abraham and sarah and their passed age.
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It's not going to happen.
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And then every day that goes
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Longer, it's less and less likely.
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And then all of a sudden, god is true to his word.
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You know, it is
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All over the place in the word of god.
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And i think it's all over the place in us.
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And he still really likes to use these seasons of waiting,
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The hiddenness, to develop things on the inside of us.
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I was 25 years old, i had my degree from a great school, and
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My husband and i moved out to a school of ministry, and i was
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Applying to different jobs and
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I felt like i was a good candidate.
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You know, i did well and i have this degree and i'm proud
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Of it and paying for it.
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And so this should get me something right.
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So i'm applying to local retail
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To, you know, coffee shops. nothing.
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Not interested. don't want me.
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The rejection was running really deep.
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But there was one place that decided,
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We'll take a chance on this girl.
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We're gonna-- we're gonna give her a shot.
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That place was called spoon me frozen yogurt.
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Spoon me frozen yogurt.
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And so here i am.
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It's like minimum wage.
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Not even tips could be collected.
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I am around some sweet
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High school students, and this is my life.
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And in the meantime, i have friends who the prophetic words
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On their lives, the things that
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They've been building toward, the--
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It's just popping off.
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I mean, they can't dodge the favor that's coming at them.
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You know what i'm saying?
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They're like, it's just coming in full.
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And i am clocking in at spoon me frozen yogurt.
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Yeah. i remember so vividly this one day where it felt like
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So much came to a head, where the agitation of the words over
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Your life, the agitation of the purposes, the things that the
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Lord has spoken not happening and then not happening longer
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And then longer and longer and longer.
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And one of my jobs was-- the high school students,
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I don't know if their sense of smell wasn't as tuned, but
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There would be spills of the frozen yogurt, it would sour.
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And yours truly, callie, got to go find it and clean them up.
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Um, and some of them were there for a while.
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So i specifically one of these
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Low moments where i am-- it was cucumber.
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I'll never forget cucumber frozen yogurt.
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And i have the mop out and i'm going for it.
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And i feel tears fill my eyes.
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And i felt shame because i was comparing myself to other
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People in their seasons of fruit that was just
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Falling off their trees.
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Meanwhile, i'm mopping up,
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You know, frozen yogurt off the ground.
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Cucumbers. cucumbers, yeah,
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Were falling. they were falling.
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That's true.
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And i, i don't even know if i knew what to pray.
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And the lord and his kindness came, and he said, see, i'm
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Inviting you to see something different.
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I've worked a long time to get you to this exact moment.
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You haven't missed it.
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And he said, see --
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You look at microphones, you look at platforms, you look at
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Followings, you look at charts, you look at all these versions
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Of success, accolades, resumes as doing something well and
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Noteworthy, the fulfillment of something.
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And he said, do you know that nothing caught heavens
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Eye like their king hanging on a tree, brutalized.
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Everyone else had left. show's over.
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Completely misunderstood.
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And he's hanging there, dying.
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And heaven cannot look away.
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Heaven can't look away.
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And the lord told me,
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Callie, these seasons of waiting,
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Nobody's eyes are on you.
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Is it enough if heaven is looking at you?
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Is it enough
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If the faithfulness on the inside that we're building, the
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Showing up and doing the thing i've asked you to do, if that's
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Catching my attention, is that enough? or do we need it to be
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All the other things?
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And he invited me to see it
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Upside down, to see it differently.
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I look at jesus' life.
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His public ministry began at 30 years.
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We hear very little about 30 years of his life.
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Yeah. developing, growing normal life.
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Right? routines.
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And then the last three years happened.
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But if jesus went through waiting.
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Yeah. we're going to. we're going to go through waiting.
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Yeah. how do we do it well?
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How do we come out on the other side seeing it like he
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Does and not just waiting for the clock to pass by, not just
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Waiting for the opportunities.
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What does it look like to grab the time of waiting and be
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Intentional with it, to glean everything that that season
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Holds, and to make the most out of it? to me, that moment,
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I wasn't asking for it. i wasn't looking for it.
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It was the kindness of god to say, hey, i'm inviting you
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To see this time this way. the shame needs to go.
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I'm watching you ask heaven's opinion.
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Ask my opinion. to me in the waiting that became such a key.
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Yeah, yeah. so good.
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What does this look like? do i look like a jesus who is
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Willing to be unseen, misunderstood?
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And if his eyes are on me, is that enough?
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I just encourage you that if you feel like you're stuck in
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The season of waiting to declare god's goodness
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Over your life,
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Speak good. speak well.
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Take the time.
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Say god, during this time of waiting and seeking your face,
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God, i'm going to pour out before you. start declaring his
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Goodness over your life, his blessing on your life, and all
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The good things that he's done for you.
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Start being grateful for the past.
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Don't be a victim in you're waiting.
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I think some people just wait and wait and look how god's
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Blessing them and look what's happened for them.
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God is doing great things for you.
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Just see past yourself, maybe for a minute, and look at the
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Goodness of god on your life. and you know what?
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I think your attitude will change and i think you'll come.
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You'll be coming out of your waiting season and we'll say,
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Look what the lord has done.
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What if your seasons of waiting been like?
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What's gotten you through?
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And have you ever worked at a spoon me frozen yogurt?
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I feel like waiting is the story of my life.
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Like if i'm to write a book, it's going to be about waiting.
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And so i feel like there's still some things that
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I am waiting on.
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Some promises that i feel like the lord has given to me,
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Spoken to me that i just i still haven't seen play out
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Yet, but the thing that i think i've learned in seasons of
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Waiting, we've talked about this a little bit, is that
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It's in his heart,
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A man plans his course, but the lord determines his steps.
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And often i think i know where god's taking me.
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I think that god in his kindness
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He often gives us a glimpse of a promise. like the israelites.
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You know, he said, i'm taking you to a promised land, a land
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Flowing with milk and honey.
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And he gave them hope to lift their eyes and go, okay,
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God will follow you.
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But then there was a process of the wilderness where they're
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Waiting on the promise, and some of that their own doing
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And some of it just god
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Working out things in their lives.
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But i just feel like for me, it's been refining.
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That's what i feel like the waiting has done for me, and
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It's been stretching of my faith to continue to keep my
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Eyes on jesus, not make a plan on my own, which i'm really
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Good at doing, and to just continue to go, god, i'm going
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To trust you with the timing of my life.
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I'm a next kind of girl.
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Like i'm a move fast,
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What's next? let's go dream big.
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Like let's go.
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Over the past, probably decade, i feel like the thing that the
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Lord has taught me
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In the waiting has been about being still and being present
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In this moment. like what right now
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Is god doing? what right now
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Does god want me to see?
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Because so often i can be focused on where we need
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To go and what we want to accomplish.
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And i miss what's right here, right now in front of me.
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So i feel like part of the waiting for me has been to
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Teach me to be slow and teach me to be present and teach me
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To be grateful.
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Paul said, i'm content in all circumstances, right?
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And i feel like that's what the waiting has done in my life is
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It's teaching me how to posture my heart in a place of
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Contentment, that jesus is enough.
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And there's never a point we get to where we arrive or where
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We've, you know, finally checked the box,
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We've accomplished it all.
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We're all in this journey with jesus, and we have to learn to
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Be patient with the process.
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But man, oh man, that is not easy.
00:10:03.292 --> 00:10:06.929
You know, contentment is a challenge for most of us.
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Maybe for some of you it comes easier than it does for me.
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I'm a next kind of girl.
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Always pushing forward to the next thing, the next dream,
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The next moment.
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And i think the thing that the lord has taught me in the
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Waiting is how to be content, how to look around and
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Celebrate with gratitude what's right in front of me.
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Even in the hardest moments, there's always been something
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In my life that i can be grateful for.
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And i just think that in the waiting, god doesn't want us to
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Miss the moments of gratitude.
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So part of finding contentment has to do with choosing an
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Attitude of gratitude.
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So if you find yourself in a place where you're struggling
00:10:48.170 --> 00:10:50.339
To be content, can i just encourage you?
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Why don't you start looking around and find something
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To be grateful for?
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Start writing those things down.
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Start telling god thank you and just see what happens in your
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Heart and your mind.
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I learned one of the greatest lessons about waiting from a
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Young man in a wheelchair. wow.
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I was invited to speak at a conference in hawaii, a youth
00:11:08.157 --> 00:11:11.193
With a mission conference.
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And i spoke one night and did a couple of other things.
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And then this gentleman came in for the last night, and he was
00:11:14.764 --> 00:11:16.832
Kind of like the big name from africa.
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He was a pastor and a preacher, and i was singing before him.
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And then he came out and i had got friendly with this guy
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During the week who his name was john, and he was in a
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Wheelchair, just the most
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Vibrant, loving, kind, fun person.
00:11:30.412 --> 00:11:34.283
I just thought he was just darling.
00:11:34.283 --> 00:11:36.218
And the pastor stood up that night, this african
00:11:36.218 --> 00:11:38.788
Pastor, and said, tonight, god has told me that everyone in
00:11:38.788 --> 00:11:42.491
Here who needs to be healed is going to be healed.
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And i don't know, i'm like 22, 23 and i'm like, oh my gosh,
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This is amazing, lord. and i wasn't brought up in that.
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I was brought up in more of a kind of small baptist church.
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But i'd come to a place where i thought, you know what,
00:11:55.504 --> 00:11:57.406
God, you can do anything.
00:11:57.406 --> 00:11:58.707
There is absolutely zippity doo dah that you can do.
00:11:58.707 --> 00:12:01.977
So that was-- all
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My heart was like, this is going to be amazing.
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John is going to get healed. so he preached his sermon
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And then he began praying for people.
00:12:08.083 --> 00:12:09.752
And a lot of people came up and said they were, you know,
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They were healed.
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And then they kind of took him off, and he was in his car, and
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He was off to his hotel.
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And the tent started to clear out.
00:12:17.560 --> 00:12:19.495
And i'm looking because i can't
00:12:19.495 --> 00:12:20.663
Wait to see where john's standing.
00:12:20.663 --> 00:12:22.031
And he's at the back and he's in his wheelchair.
00:12:22.031 --> 00:12:24.934
And so i walk up to him and i must have tears rolling down my
00:12:24.934 --> 00:12:28.737
Face because he said, no, no, sheila, don't cry.
00:12:28.737 --> 00:12:30.840
He said, i know--
00:12:30.840 --> 00:12:32.308
And he said it with such conviction, without a shadow of
00:12:32.308 --> 00:12:35.144
A doubt that god could heal me.
00:12:35.144 --> 00:12:37.680
But until he does, i will worship him from here.
00:12:37.680 --> 00:12:40.950
Wow.
00:12:40.950 --> 00:12:42.218
And there was something about that, that sense of i'm not
00:12:42.218 --> 00:12:45.955
Bitter about what the guy said.
00:12:45.955 --> 00:12:47.690
His thing was like, no, this is all about god.
00:12:47.690 --> 00:12:50.059
Can god do this? absolutely.
00:12:50.059 --> 00:12:51.660
But until he does, i will worship him.
00:12:51.660 --> 00:12:55.798
I'm not just going to sit here.
00:12:55.798 --> 00:12:57.333
I'm going to worship him from here.
00:12:57.333 --> 00:12:58.934
Wow. and that has had a lifelong imprint on my heart
00:12:58.934 --> 00:13:02.905
Because i'm thinking, lord, if you sit me down somewhere where
00:13:02.905 --> 00:13:05.708
I didn't expect to be for a long time,
00:13:05.708 --> 00:13:07.910
I want to learn to worship from here.
00:13:07.910 --> 00:13:09.545
From there.
00:13:09.545 --> 00:13:11.380
Our view of god has everything
00:13:11.380 --> 00:13:13.282
To do with how we wait. how is that?
00:13:13.282 --> 00:13:16.285
Now, if i'm trapped
00:13:16.285 --> 00:13:17.286
In a room with somebody i don't like,
00:13:17.286 --> 00:13:18.754
Waiting is going to be really hard.
00:13:18.754 --> 00:13:20.923
If i'm trapped in a room with my favorite person,
00:13:20.923 --> 00:13:24.660
This could be beautiful.
00:13:24.660 --> 00:13:25.895
And the reality is, when we are
00:13:25.895 --> 00:13:27.997
In the waiting, we have the opportunity to know the lord.
00:13:27.997 --> 00:13:31.934
We have the opportunity to to see different aspects of who he
00:13:31.934 --> 00:13:36.305
Is and he is wonderful.
00:13:36.305 --> 00:13:40.676
We are better together because of you.
00:13:40.676 --> 00:13:43.012
Connect with us on social media to ask a question,
00:13:43.012 --> 00:13:45.314
Share a prayer request,
00:13:45.314 --> 00:13:46.415
And make friends with women all over the world.
00:13:46.415 --> 00:13:48.651
Let's keep the conversation going.
00:13:48.651 --> 00:13:51.007
Let's keep the conversation going.
00:13:51.007 --> 00:13:51.388
There is an amazing book, alicia britt jolie.
00:13:54.791 --> 00:13:57.427
Yes. her anonymous book.
00:13:57.427 --> 00:13:59.629
Alicia, i'll forever thank you for that book.
00:13:59.629 --> 00:14:02.265
She wrote the most amazing book about the hidden years.
00:14:02.265 --> 00:14:06.536
Yes. and at the end, you're just bawling because it's about
00:14:06.536 --> 00:14:11.341
This child from the time it's born,
00:14:11.341 --> 00:14:13.877
It's got its mom and dad, it's clapping at everything.
00:14:13.877 --> 00:14:17.547
And then that child grows and the the audience of the
00:14:17.547 --> 00:14:21.618
Mom and dad isn't enough anymore.
00:14:21.618 --> 00:14:24.621
And talks about him needing now the applause of man.
00:14:24.621 --> 00:14:28.358
Yeah. and how the hidden years are probably the most important
00:14:28.358 --> 00:14:33.029
To god because he's the one--
00:14:33.029 --> 00:14:34.831
That's it -- cheering you on.
00:14:34.831 --> 00:14:36.399
He's the one and he's enough for me, you know.
00:14:36.399 --> 00:14:41.037
And so i think hidden years,
00:14:41.037 --> 00:14:42.138
I mean they can come in every form.
00:14:42.138 --> 00:14:43.907
They can come in retirement.
00:14:43.907 --> 00:14:45.575
They can come in when you have a baby and you feel like you're
00:14:45.575 --> 00:14:49.512
Hidden at home raising children,
00:14:49.512 --> 00:14:51.448
Or, i mean, just the plethora of things.
00:14:51.448 --> 00:14:54.417
But i think those moments where it's just you and god, i think
00:14:54.417 --> 00:14:58.421
There's something so precious
00:14:58.421 --> 00:15:00.223
And so valuable about those times.
00:15:00.223 --> 00:15:03.693
It's just you and me, god.
00:15:03.693 --> 00:15:05.628
And you see me raw and you see my faith.
00:15:05.628 --> 00:15:08.264
And you see me getting up and you see me worshiping.
00:15:08.264 --> 00:15:11.801
Yeah. anyway, god sees all of that.
00:15:11.801 --> 00:15:15.372
I remember when i was touring on the road by myself for over
00:15:15.372 --> 00:15:19.175
Four years, and i was performing spoken word poetry
00:15:19.175 --> 00:15:22.178
And preaching at churches all over the country without a
00:15:22.178 --> 00:15:24.714
Home, without a family support, without a community support,
00:15:24.714 --> 00:15:28.351
Without a boyfriend, without any friends.
00:15:28.351 --> 00:15:30.120
And i was living in guest rooms
00:15:30.120 --> 00:15:32.655
Of families all over the country.
00:15:32.655 --> 00:15:34.391
And i was so alone, and i felt like i needed more financial
00:15:34.391 --> 00:15:38.762
Security and more friendships.
00:15:38.762 --> 00:15:40.764
And i would love a husband.
00:15:40.764 --> 00:15:42.799
Like, i remember having a list of things i felt like i needed,
00:15:42.799 --> 00:15:45.769
And i remember sensing from
00:15:45.769 --> 00:15:47.504
God, i think year two on the road,
00:15:47.504 --> 00:15:51.141
Can i just be enough for you right now?
00:15:51.141 --> 00:15:53.777
I remember feeling this calming sense, not like a rebuke, but a
00:15:53.777 --> 00:15:57.480
Calming sense of can i be enough right now and thinking
00:15:57.480 --> 00:16:02.318
This season might not last forever.
00:16:02.318 --> 00:16:05.255
I might not always have this alone time with just me and god.
00:16:05.255 --> 00:16:07.524
Maybe one day a community will come,
00:16:07.524 --> 00:16:08.992
Friends will come, opportunities will come,
00:16:08.992 --> 00:16:10.994
Husband maybe will come.
00:16:10.994 --> 00:16:12.729
But i might not always have
00:16:12.729 --> 00:16:14.064
This time that it's just me and god.
00:16:14.064 --> 00:16:16.499
So i embraced that season of loneliness.
00:16:16.499 --> 00:16:18.735
And i found my security in my relationship with jesus.
00:16:18.735 --> 00:16:23.473
And it's a good thing that i found my identity in him alone.
00:16:23.473 --> 00:16:26.242
Because eventually the money came and the money went.
00:16:26.242 --> 00:16:29.913
Thank god my foundation was on jesus.
00:16:29.913 --> 00:16:32.015
Community came and community went.
00:16:32.015 --> 00:16:34.451
Thank goodness my foundation was on jesus.
00:16:34.451 --> 00:16:36.086
I started dating a man who i'm married to the glory of god,
00:16:36.086 --> 00:16:38.254
But my identity and my security was not found in him.
00:16:38.254 --> 00:16:40.890
I already had it in jesus.
00:16:40.890 --> 00:16:42.292
I welcomed the add on, but he
00:16:42.292 --> 00:16:43.927
Was not where my identity was found.
00:16:43.927 --> 00:16:45.929
Does that make sense?
00:16:45.929 --> 00:16:47.197
I'm saying that moments alone with you and god are some of
00:16:47.197 --> 00:16:50.300
The most precious times in your life.
00:16:50.300 --> 00:16:53.570
Don't waste them.
00:16:53.570 --> 00:16:55.138
Don't skip past them.
00:16:55.138 --> 00:16:56.773
There is something in them that you need for the season ahead.
00:16:56.773 --> 00:17:01.678
In those moments of just like, okay, you feel like
00:17:01.678 --> 00:17:06.416
Everything's stalled. even though it can continue,
00:17:06.416 --> 00:17:09.519
But you're stalled.
00:17:09.519 --> 00:17:11.154
In a way, i think that's some of the most valuable time, our
00:17:11.154 --> 00:17:16.626
Opportunistic time for us with god and worshiping and knowing
00:17:16.626 --> 00:17:23.633
That he's in control of my life and he's in control of the
00:17:23.633 --> 00:17:27.270
Things around me, and all i need to give him is incentive
00:17:27.270 --> 00:17:31.274
To bless my life and live in faith.
00:17:31.274 --> 00:17:33.376
The righteous live by faith and
00:17:33.376 --> 00:17:36.012
It's the only way to please god.
00:17:36.012 --> 00:17:38.014
So wouldn't he give you the opportunity--
00:17:38.014 --> 00:17:40.049
Yes. right. yeah.
00:17:40.049 --> 00:17:41.684
-- to walk by faith? yes.
00:17:41.684 --> 00:17:43.386
And to look for those opportunities,
00:17:43.386 --> 00:17:45.455
To look for what are ways i can
00:17:45.455 --> 00:17:47.123
Draw closer to god in this season?
00:17:47.123 --> 00:17:49.626
Draw closer to other people in this season?
00:17:49.626 --> 00:17:51.995
What are ways that i can excavate and discover
00:17:51.995 --> 00:17:54.764
Other things about god? yeah.
00:17:54.764 --> 00:17:56.833
It's like, what are you saying to me now, lord?
00:17:56.833 --> 00:17:59.002
What are you saying?
00:17:59.002 --> 00:18:00.136
What might i miss if i'm only just looking at all the
00:18:00.136 --> 00:18:02.972
Other seasons i wish i will one day be in.
00:18:02.972 --> 00:18:05.675
Yes. last year, my baby brother elijah got sick
00:18:05.675 --> 00:18:10.413
Out of nowhere. he was healthy his whole life
00:18:10.413 --> 00:18:12.315
Until he wasn't.
00:18:12.315 --> 00:18:13.416
And we didn't have a diagnosis.
00:18:13.416 --> 00:18:15.885
And for weeks and weeks and weeks, he's in a hospital going
00:18:15.885 --> 00:18:19.155
Under the knife, going through procedures.
00:18:19.155 --> 00:18:22.058
And i was afraid he wasn't going to come out alive.
00:18:22.058 --> 00:18:24.794
I was afraid he wasn't going
00:18:24.794 --> 00:18:25.728
To come out with the same personality.
00:18:25.728 --> 00:18:27.597
We were in a lot of waiting.
00:18:27.597 --> 00:18:28.998
And now praise the lord,
00:18:28.998 --> 00:18:30.533
My brother lived, but he does have a sickness he will live
00:18:30.533 --> 00:18:33.970
With for the rest of his life.
00:18:33.970 --> 00:18:35.905
And i'm still praying that elijah will live longer
00:18:35.905 --> 00:18:37.740
Than they think he will.
00:18:37.740 --> 00:18:38.975
I'm still praying that elijah will recover. all of that.
00:18:38.975 --> 00:18:40.643
And elijah now is in a season of waiting his whole life.
00:18:40.643 --> 00:18:44.647
Sometimes we're in a season of waiting.
00:18:44.647 --> 00:18:46.416
And then it happens.
00:18:46.416 --> 00:18:47.584
Sometimes in a season of waiting, and then we see that
00:18:47.584 --> 00:18:49.118
It's never going to happen.
00:18:49.118 --> 00:18:50.386
And then sometimes we're just in this never ending waiting
00:18:50.386 --> 00:18:52.655
Season about something specific.
00:18:52.655 --> 00:18:55.024
And for us, for elijah,
00:18:55.024 --> 00:18:57.093
Now it's like, okay, we know he's alive and he has the same
00:18:57.093 --> 00:18:59.762
Personality, but now he has this very rare sickness that
00:18:59.762 --> 00:19:02.865
He'll live with for the rest of his life.
00:19:02.865 --> 00:19:03.933
His whole future is different now.
00:19:03.933 --> 00:19:06.035
And now all of his abilities are different now.
00:19:06.035 --> 00:19:08.137
So now our lives are different now.
00:19:08.137 --> 00:19:09.772
What do we do in the middle of this waiting?
00:19:09.772 --> 00:19:12.508
One of the things that elijah
00:19:12.508 --> 00:19:14.077
Loved to do was play basketball.
00:19:14.077 --> 00:19:15.945
He was on a competitive basketball team.
00:19:15.945 --> 00:19:17.780
It was the one thing him and my dad did when my dad was alive.
00:19:17.780 --> 00:19:21.884
And now he was told
00:19:21.884 --> 00:19:22.952
He can't play competitive basketball anymore.
00:19:22.952 --> 00:19:24.687
It's like his one hobby, his one.
00:19:24.687 --> 00:19:26.222
I mean, it was devastating finding out from the doctor,
00:19:26.222 --> 00:19:27.890
Like you can't play anymore.
00:19:27.890 --> 00:19:29.359
And then there was something my brother used to always
00:19:29.359 --> 00:19:31.628
Say no to. he, at his job
00:19:31.628 --> 00:19:33.963
There was always this big conference in new york that
00:19:33.963 --> 00:19:36.532
People at his level were
00:19:36.532 --> 00:19:37.533
Invited to, but he would never go.
00:19:37.533 --> 00:19:40.103
He doesn't love flying.
00:19:40.103 --> 00:19:41.170
He doesn't love traveling. he would never go.
00:19:41.170 --> 00:19:43.373
And every year you're like, why aren't you going?
00:19:43.373 --> 00:19:44.707
You should go.
00:19:44.707 --> 00:19:45.541
I'll buy you all the travel things.
00:19:45.541 --> 00:19:46.843
We'll get the compression socks. i'll get you the water bottles.
00:19:46.843 --> 00:19:48.745
I know all the gadgets. he never wanted to go.
00:19:48.745 --> 00:19:51.281
And this last year he said,
00:19:51.281 --> 00:19:52.615
I think i'm going to go to new york.
00:19:52.615 --> 00:19:55.351
And he was like, you know, i'm not going to do nothing.
00:19:55.351 --> 00:19:57.887
I wasn't built to do nothing.
00:19:57.887 --> 00:19:59.355
There's a verse in psalms that talks about when you're in
00:19:59.355 --> 00:20:01.524
Waiting seasons and it says, trust in the lord, and it says,
00:20:01.524 --> 00:20:05.461
Dwell in the land you're in and do good.
00:20:05.461 --> 00:20:10.099
Yes.
00:20:10.099 --> 00:20:11.668
And elijah and i were looking at that verse in our waiting
00:20:11.668 --> 00:20:13.569
And in our disappointment and in our grief, and it was just
00:20:13.569 --> 00:20:18.908
Something he thought of, of i wasn't built to do nothing.
00:20:18.908 --> 00:20:22.211
Yeah.
00:20:22.211 --> 00:20:23.680
So how can i dwell in the land i'm in?
00:20:23.680 --> 00:20:25.581
Wow. this is where i am.
00:20:25.581 --> 00:20:27.317
And how can i do something good? yeah.
00:20:27.317 --> 00:20:29.118
He said, i said, okay, i'm going to go to new york.
00:20:29.118 --> 00:20:30.953
He's never been on a plane by himself.
00:20:30.953 --> 00:20:32.855
Definitely not across the country.
00:20:32.855 --> 00:20:34.057
We live on the west coast. wow.
00:20:34.057 --> 00:20:35.491
And i got him all the gear, and i sent him all the
00:20:35.491 --> 00:20:37.694
Compression socks and all the gadgets, and he went to
00:20:37.694 --> 00:20:40.496
New york, and he can't play basketball anymore.
00:20:40.496 --> 00:20:42.965
There's so many things he cannot do.
00:20:42.965 --> 00:20:45.034
And he mourned that. we still mourn that.
00:20:45.034 --> 00:20:47.603
And yet he was like, what can i do?
00:20:47.603 --> 00:20:49.972
What can i see now that i didn't see before?
00:20:49.972 --> 00:20:52.308
He sent me pictures of him at this conference,
00:20:52.308 --> 00:20:54.243
They welcomed him on the stage with confetti falling.
00:20:54.243 --> 00:20:56.979
He's waving at the crowd.
00:20:56.979 --> 00:20:58.081
I said, you look like you're running for office.
00:20:58.081 --> 00:21:00.283
You look like you're having the best time.
00:21:00.283 --> 00:21:01.651
I said, did you have the best time?
00:21:01.651 --> 00:21:02.652
He said, i had a great time.
00:21:02.652 --> 00:21:04.387
And i don't mean to say like, oh man, the sickness is a gift.
00:21:04.387 --> 00:21:07.256
We're glad for it now. i'm not glad for it now.
00:21:07.256 --> 00:21:09.359
This is not a gift. i'm still very upset.
00:21:09.359 --> 00:21:11.928
And yet my brother, who's living it, literally was trying
00:21:11.928 --> 00:21:15.565
To find something in it to still encounter god, enjoy god,
00:21:15.565 --> 00:21:20.002
Obey god, because this is the land i'm in.
00:21:20.002 --> 00:21:22.038
So i'm going to be mad forever,
00:21:22.038 --> 00:21:23.473
Or i can dwell well, dwell well in the land i'm in.
00:21:23.473 --> 00:21:28.478
Yeah. and i can do good while i'm here.
00:21:28.478 --> 00:21:30.680
And i will never stop praying for my brother.
00:21:30.680 --> 00:21:33.416
And i hope that the diagnosis changes.
00:21:33.416 --> 00:21:35.785
But i am also learning from my brother in the waiting, as he
00:21:35.785 --> 00:21:39.655
Is digging for and unearthing ways to encounter god now that
00:21:39.655 --> 00:21:44.694
He never did before.
00:21:44.694 --> 00:21:47.163
I think there's something we can all learn from that.
00:21:47.163 --> 00:21:50.066
You know, it's really important that in waiting seasons we
00:21:50.066 --> 00:21:52.602
Don't waste the waiting
00:21:52.602 --> 00:21:54.704
Because god is doing a refining work inside of us during the
00:21:54.704 --> 00:21:58.975
Waiting moments.
00:21:58.975 --> 00:22:00.443
So we don't just kick back, throw our feet up on the table
00:22:00.443 --> 00:22:03.880
And say, i'll just watch
00:22:03.880 --> 00:22:04.881
Netflix until god decides to do something.
00:22:04.881 --> 00:22:07.683
No, waiting should be an active kind of waiting.
00:22:07.683 --> 00:22:11.487
The word in hebrew for wait is
00:22:11.487 --> 00:22:13.289
Qavah, which means to intertwine together.
00:22:13.289 --> 00:22:16.125
It's like an actively braiding a cord together.
00:22:16.125 --> 00:22:19.395
And that cord is jesus and me braiding together.
00:22:19.395 --> 00:22:24.133
And i just want to remind you that if
00:22:24.133 --> 00:22:26.068
You are waiting on god,
00:22:26.068 --> 00:22:27.937
You've got to be actively seeking him,
00:22:27.937 --> 00:22:30.640
Actively leaning in to what he wants to do today.
00:22:30.640 --> 00:22:33.309
God, what do you want to do in my life today?
00:22:33.309 --> 00:22:35.778
I surrender not my will, but yours be done.
00:22:35.778 --> 00:22:38.681
We cannot sit back and passively wait.
00:22:38.681 --> 00:22:41.384
We've got to actively wait
00:22:41.384 --> 00:22:42.952
With an expectation that
00:22:42.952 --> 00:22:44.587
God is the author
00:22:44.587 --> 00:22:46.155
And fulfiller of all of his promises, and he will not
00:22:46.155 --> 00:22:49.425
Let us down.
00:22:49.425 --> 00:22:51.227
I think one of the greatest threats to that, to dwelling
00:22:51.227 --> 00:22:54.297
Well in the land that i'm in,
00:22:54.297 --> 00:22:56.699
I think one of the greatest threats is the comparison trap.
00:22:56.699 --> 00:23:00.002
And it's like you shared earlier, you're finding
00:23:00.002 --> 00:23:02.338
Yourself in the frozen yogurt store and you're like, everyone
00:23:02.338 --> 00:23:06.509
Else is doing the thing that god crafted them and created
00:23:06.509 --> 00:23:10.079
Them to do. and you're so frustrated by it.
00:23:10.079 --> 00:23:12.381
And i find that that's the narrative often that, you know,
00:23:12.381 --> 00:23:15.451
There's so many women that are praying for a child and yet
00:23:15.451 --> 00:23:19.755
Unable to get pregnant and attending baby showers for
00:23:19.755 --> 00:23:22.658
Friends and going, god, why not me?
00:23:22.658 --> 00:23:25.027
And i think that so many women, you go, i question my identity.
00:23:25.027 --> 00:23:28.264
Am i not good enough?
00:23:28.264 --> 00:23:29.398
Do you not trust me with this god? or so many single
00:23:29.398 --> 00:23:32.134
Friends of mine that are waiting to get married and god,
00:23:32.134 --> 00:23:34.303
Are you ever going to bring the right man into my life?
00:23:34.303 --> 00:23:37.306
Or, you know, for me it's been dreams that are in my heart and
00:23:37.306 --> 00:23:40.543
Things that i'm waiting on.
00:23:40.543 --> 00:23:41.777
And then i see other people doing and accomplishing and,
00:23:41.777 --> 00:23:45.214
And the greatest threat to
00:23:45.214 --> 00:23:47.383
Dwelling in the land that i'm living is the comparison trap,
00:23:47.383 --> 00:23:52.455
Where i just get my eyes on everybody else and i start
00:23:52.455 --> 00:23:55.424
Feeling sorry for myself or doubting my identity, or
00:23:55.424 --> 00:23:59.061
Wondering if i'm good enough and going, why not me?
00:23:59.061 --> 00:24:02.031
I think for me, some of the key scriptures that have helped me
00:24:02.031 --> 00:24:04.800
Process says don't look to the right or to the left.
00:24:04.800 --> 00:24:06.802
Ponder the path of your own feet.
00:24:06.802 --> 00:24:09.272
And it's just this reminder like i am on this journey.
00:24:09.272 --> 00:24:12.642
You are on this journey.
00:24:12.642 --> 00:24:13.809
And it's it's unique for each of us.
00:24:13.809 --> 00:24:16.145
And when we get our eyes focused on someone else's
00:24:16.145 --> 00:24:18.714
Story, or how god's blessing someone else, or where someone
00:24:18.714 --> 00:24:21.450
Else is struggling, we're either going to be riddled with
00:24:21.450 --> 00:24:24.020
Insecurity or pride.
00:24:24.020 --> 00:24:26.656
Like, i've gotten a little bit further than they've gotten.
00:24:26.656 --> 00:24:29.392
And so at the end of the day, we have to go, god, here's
00:24:29.392 --> 00:24:33.763
Where you've placed me. i want to dwell here.
00:24:33.763 --> 00:24:35.665
I want to be content here.
00:24:35.665 --> 00:24:36.999
I want to trust you with this process.
00:24:36.999 --> 00:24:39.168
And the only way to do that
00:24:39.168 --> 00:24:40.202
Is to ponder the path of our own feet. wow.
00:24:40.202 --> 00:24:43.673
If god has you in a hidden season, you aren't behind.
00:24:43.673 --> 00:24:47.743
You're not missing anything.
00:24:47.743 --> 00:24:49.545
You are right where you're supposed to be.
00:24:49.545 --> 00:24:51.414
Now it's normal to feel like, am i missing out?
00:24:51.414 --> 00:24:53.583
I, i thought i'd be here by now.
00:24:53.583 --> 00:24:56.185
I thought, you know, maybe i would be like that friend.
00:24:56.185 --> 00:24:58.588
That comparison will kill you.
00:24:58.588 --> 00:25:00.990
All you need to do in those moments, that's so important,
00:25:00.990 --> 00:25:03.893
Lock in to the voice of the lord.
00:25:03.893 --> 00:25:06.529
Is this where he has you?
00:25:06.529 --> 00:25:08.531
If that is true, we don't want anything apart from him.
00:25:08.531 --> 00:25:11.634
Anyway. i don't want to go into a season outside of hiddenness
00:25:11.634 --> 00:25:15.805
If that's not where he is.
00:25:15.805 --> 00:25:17.607
I want to be where he is.
00:25:17.607 --> 00:25:19.442
You will not miss out with god beside you.
00:25:19.442 --> 00:25:23.746
I think the things that are built there too, it's just,
00:25:23.746 --> 00:25:25.548
It's like to me it's just resistance training.
00:25:25.548 --> 00:25:27.883
It's like you could just feel the muscle build.
00:25:27.883 --> 00:25:30.186
Oh, yeah. the burn.
00:25:30.186 --> 00:25:31.654
I'm like, oh, man, you know, some of that,
00:25:31.654 --> 00:25:34.390
Yeah. it hurts.
00:25:34.390 --> 00:25:35.625
It's like, this is like a workout to kind of be balancing
00:25:35.625 --> 00:25:39.128
These things we're talking about.
00:25:39.128 --> 00:25:40.429
It's not natural to see things in the light of like, i'm going
00:25:40.429 --> 00:25:44.000
To, i'm going gonna be in the land that i'm in,
00:25:44.000 --> 00:25:45.401
I'm gonna do good.
00:25:45.401 --> 00:25:46.235
Like i'm not gonna compare myself.
00:25:46.235 --> 00:25:48.004
God, my eyes are going to be set on what you are saying and
00:25:48.004 --> 00:25:51.107
Not on my surroundings. yeah.
00:25:51.107 --> 00:25:52.942
This is active muscle building.
00:25:52.942 --> 00:25:54.844
This is active maturing and development.
00:25:54.844 --> 00:25:58.114
And i think when we just get our way, when we-- i'm like,
00:25:58.114 --> 00:26:00.983
If that's my kids, like, i'm not growing fun adults.
00:26:00.983 --> 00:26:04.620
If all, all i'm ever doing is giving them what they want when
00:26:04.620 --> 00:26:08.090
They want it, i'm going to have--
00:26:08.090 --> 00:26:09.959
We're all going to have a really hard life.
00:26:09.959 --> 00:26:11.861
You know what i'm saying?
00:26:11.861 --> 00:26:12.828
Like there are-- it is for their good.
00:26:12.828 --> 00:26:15.164
We're growing and saying, hey, we're actually going to wait
00:26:15.164 --> 00:26:17.533
For that yummy dessert until we just please eat the chicken or
00:26:17.533 --> 00:26:22.071
Whatever it is, you know? yeah, absolutely.
00:26:22.071 --> 00:26:24.540
And i think that that development, that growth, i
00:26:24.540 --> 00:26:28.377
Remember in these times, the lord also saying, hey, the
00:26:28.377 --> 00:26:31.280
Thing that i've meant to bless
00:26:31.280 --> 00:26:32.815
Your life, i add no trouble to it.
00:26:32.815 --> 00:26:35.117
So the thing you're waiting for, if i put it on your
00:26:35.117 --> 00:26:37.386
Shoulders prematurely and you can't bear up underneath the
00:26:37.386 --> 00:26:40.489
Weight of it, it will crush you.
00:26:40.489 --> 00:26:42.258
And that is not what i do. right.
00:26:42.258 --> 00:26:44.560
I will never put the thing on your shoulders at the
00:26:44.560 --> 00:26:47.396
Cost of the person underneath.
00:26:47.396 --> 00:26:49.031
Why? because i love you more than the destiny,
00:26:49.031 --> 00:26:51.567
More than the things that you're going to do,
00:26:51.567 --> 00:26:53.302
More than the fulfillment of x, y, and z.
00:26:53.302 --> 00:26:55.638
I love you. yeah.
00:26:55.638 --> 00:26:57.540
We're gonna grow. yeah.
00:26:57.540 --> 00:26:58.808
It's time to grow.
00:26:58.808 --> 00:26:59.875
Not because i think anything less of you.
00:26:59.875 --> 00:27:03.079
Because i know what's coming.
00:27:03.079 --> 00:27:04.880
Because i love you. i believe in you.
00:27:04.880 --> 00:27:06.515
The words are true.
00:27:06.515 --> 00:27:07.783
We're gonna grow you up into
00:27:07.783 --> 00:27:09.719
Them so that i can-- sustain you.
00:27:09.719 --> 00:27:12.088
To sustain what
00:27:12.088 --> 00:27:13.889
God's promise is on our life.
00:27:13.889 --> 00:27:16.625
We don't want to be crushed
00:27:16.625 --> 00:27:17.693
By the anointing or crushed by god's--
00:27:17.693 --> 00:27:20.996
He's not going to do that to us.
00:27:20.996 --> 00:27:22.798
You know, we've got to grow to
00:27:22.798 --> 00:27:24.633
Sustain what god wants to, to give
00:27:24.633 --> 00:27:27.236
Because to whom much is given, much is required.
00:27:27.236 --> 00:27:31.006
You know, so we don't get there overnight.
00:27:31.006 --> 00:27:33.809
I think sometimes we can wait so long that we
00:27:33.809 --> 00:27:38.280
Get used to the waiting.
00:27:38.280 --> 00:27:40.382
And maybe god is actually wanting to change your
00:27:40.382 --> 00:27:43.519
Perspective and seeing how god is
00:27:43.519 --> 00:27:46.188
Moving on your behalf.
00:27:46.188 --> 00:27:47.990
And sometimes we just have to step away a little bit and just
00:27:47.990 --> 00:27:50.993
Say, man, i'm waiting for this.
00:27:50.993 --> 00:27:52.528
I'm waiting for that. and you're so disgruntled.
00:27:52.528 --> 00:27:54.663
And you're so-- maybe you have a bad
00:27:54.663 --> 00:27:57.032
Attitude, and maybe god is just
00:27:57.032 --> 00:27:58.667
Waiting for you to soften up a bit.
00:27:58.667 --> 00:28:01.070
Maybe he's just waiting for you to go,
00:28:01.070 --> 00:28:03.038
You know what?
00:28:03.038 --> 00:28:04.406
Maybe in this time and in this season, maybe i
00:28:04.406 --> 00:28:06.742
Change my attitude. maybe i become
00:28:06.742 --> 00:28:08.511
A little more grateful.
00:28:08.511 --> 00:28:10.146
Maybe i do something
00:28:10.146 --> 00:28:12.615
That maybe i haven't done before.
00:28:12.615 --> 00:28:14.350
Maybe i reach out to others.
00:28:14.350 --> 00:28:16.619
Not saying that it's bad, but i'm--
00:28:16.619 --> 00:28:19.155
I'm saying you don't need
00:28:19.155 --> 00:28:20.456
To be mad at god
00:28:20.456 --> 00:28:21.791
In the waiting give him your life.
00:28:21.791 --> 00:28:24.460
Do something good for other people.
00:28:24.460 --> 00:28:26.428
Look outside of yourself for a minute.
00:28:26.428 --> 00:28:29.231
God might be wanting you to see something
00:28:29.231 --> 00:28:31.233
Different in this beautiful season of time.
00:28:31.233 --> 00:28:33.869
This season is good for you,
00:28:33.869 --> 00:28:36.872
The waiting on god, the expecting him to do something
00:28:36.872 --> 00:28:40.743
Wonderful in your life. it says,
00:28:40.743 --> 00:28:43.012
They that wait upon the lord will renew your strength.
00:28:43.012 --> 00:28:47.116
So look to that and say, i am
00:28:47.116 --> 00:28:49.018
Being strengthened in the lord right now, and i'm ready
00:28:49.018 --> 00:28:53.455
With my fruit in its season,
00:28:53.455 --> 00:28:55.825
It's growing in this time.
00:28:55.825 --> 00:28:57.459
I'm a tree planted,
00:28:57.459 --> 00:28:59.094
Ready to spring forth.
00:28:59.094 --> 00:29:00.396
My fruit in its season, my leaf will never
00:29:00.396 --> 00:29:03.432
Fade nor wither.
00:29:03.432 --> 00:29:04.400
And everything i do prospers.
00:29:04.400 --> 00:29:08.504
There's something about who you become in the process of
00:29:08.504 --> 00:29:10.706
Waiting that's just invaluable. yes.
00:29:10.706 --> 00:29:14.610
It's just because i think we have such a kind of western
00:29:14.610 --> 00:29:17.713
Mindset of this looks like growth and this looks like
00:29:17.713 --> 00:29:21.517
Stagnation, but in the kingdom
00:29:21.517 --> 00:29:23.519
Of god, it's not like that. right.
00:29:23.519 --> 00:29:25.421
What he also causes during those periods that seem
00:29:25.421 --> 00:29:27.990
Stagnant to us-- i think i can think of things the lord
00:29:27.990 --> 00:29:30.893
Has taken me through,
00:29:30.893 --> 00:29:32.127
And i think if you hadn't broken my heart before, or if
00:29:32.127 --> 00:29:34.630
I hadn't gone through that, i wouldn't have known where to
00:29:34.630 --> 00:29:37.733
Lean in these days. wow.
00:29:37.733 --> 00:29:39.468
I remember so clearly at 34 praying and saying, god,
00:29:39.468 --> 00:29:43.639
I know this is not a good prayer and i'm sorry, but if you could
00:29:43.639 --> 00:29:48.277
Just take me home, i would be so grateful.
00:29:48.277 --> 00:29:51.113
Because i just felt like the weight of trying to walk
00:29:51.113 --> 00:29:54.750
Through this desert of
00:29:54.750 --> 00:29:56.652
Mental illness was just way too challenging.
00:29:56.652 --> 00:29:59.121
I thought, i just can't do it.
00:29:59.121 --> 00:30:01.123
And i remembered that at exactly the same age, my dad
00:30:01.123 --> 00:30:04.126
Decided to end his own life.
00:30:04.126 --> 00:30:05.928
And i remember thinking, you know what?
00:30:05.928 --> 00:30:07.529
Maybe that is just the way to go.
00:30:07.529 --> 00:30:09.932
But here's what i would say about that.
00:30:09.932 --> 00:30:13.369
There is something so powerful about the word of god because
00:30:13.369 --> 00:30:17.740
In the hospital they take away
00:30:17.740 --> 00:30:18.774
Anything you can hurt yourself with.
00:30:18.774 --> 00:30:20.542
You know, i remember they took away my hairdryer and i'm like,
00:30:20.542 --> 00:30:22.778
Trust me, i have no intentions of blow drying myself to death.
00:30:22.778 --> 00:30:25.447
It's not going to happen. she was not amused.
00:30:25.447 --> 00:30:27.583
But they take away a lot, but they don't take away.
00:30:27.583 --> 00:30:29.852
They didn't take away my bible.
00:30:29.852 --> 00:30:31.387
And so in the middle of the night, when-- some of these
00:30:31.387 --> 00:30:33.322
Things are worse in the middle of the night or in the middle
00:30:33.322 --> 00:30:36.125
Of a waiting time, i would literally get out of my bed and
00:30:36.125 --> 00:30:39.295
Plant my feet on the floor and i would say out loud, i believe
00:30:39.295 --> 00:30:44.700
I will live to see the goodness
00:30:44.700 --> 00:30:47.336
Of the lord in the land of the living.
00:30:47.336 --> 00:30:50.205
Yes, and i didn't feel it. right.
00:30:50.205 --> 00:30:52.708
But i was declaring what i believed to be true, because
00:30:52.708 --> 00:30:56.345
David, at some of the worst times in his life, came out
00:30:56.345 --> 00:30:58.981
With some of the greatest declarations of faith, because
00:30:58.981 --> 00:31:01.917
He knew his own frailty.
00:31:01.917 --> 00:31:03.252
And it was like, i just had to
00:31:03.252 --> 00:31:04.520
Check my address, look where i am.
00:31:04.520 --> 00:31:06.722
I'm in a psych hospital.
00:31:06.722 --> 00:31:08.023
This is not something you're going to want
00:31:08.023 --> 00:31:10.292
To put in your resume', but --
00:31:10.292 --> 00:31:12.428
Right.
00:31:12.428 --> 00:31:14.029
I believe i will live to see the goodness of the lord in
00:31:14.029 --> 00:31:17.666
The land of the living.
00:31:17.666 --> 00:31:19.301
So good.
00:31:19.301 --> 00:31:20.469
I think you go through seasons where you have to just
00:31:20.469 --> 00:31:21.403
Keep declaring who god is. yes.
00:31:21.403 --> 00:31:23.038
No matter what your life looks.
00:31:23.038 --> 00:31:24.206
Like, you have to keep declaring what the word says,
00:31:24.206 --> 00:31:26.041
Because what you're saying is so powerful.
00:31:26.041 --> 00:31:27.643
That is the foundation.
00:31:27.643 --> 00:31:29.178
So david also, he's preaching at himself.
00:31:29.178 --> 00:31:31.046
Wait upon the lord.
00:31:31.046 --> 00:31:32.047
Let your heart take courage.
00:31:32.047 --> 00:31:33.382
Wait upon the lord.
00:31:33.382 --> 00:31:34.483
And you find that all throughout the scripture,
00:31:34.483 --> 00:31:36.218
Wait upon the lord.
00:31:36.218 --> 00:31:37.786
Oh, i hate the wait, but every single man and woman of
00:31:37.786 --> 00:31:41.523
Faith that we read about in the scripture had to learn what
00:31:41.523 --> 00:31:43.392
It looked like to wait upon the lord.
00:31:43.392 --> 00:31:45.694
Let your heart take courage and wait upon the lord.
00:31:45.694 --> 00:31:49.164
When i know who i am in christ,
00:31:49.164 --> 00:31:51.166
When i know that i am loved,
00:31:51.166 --> 00:31:53.402
That i am wanted,
00:31:53.402 --> 00:31:55.237
That he loves me and he likes me,
00:31:55.237 --> 00:31:57.039
He adores me,
00:31:57.039 --> 00:31:58.240
I'm chosen for an important purpose in his great plan,
00:31:58.240 --> 00:32:02.378
It helps me feel safe.
00:32:02.378 --> 00:32:05.614
It helps me feel secure.
00:32:05.614 --> 00:32:07.182
And it helps me surrender to him.
00:32:07.182 --> 00:32:09.184
I am not out here on my own in some stranded ship
00:32:09.184 --> 00:32:13.155
Not sure where i'm going.
00:32:13.155 --> 00:32:14.990
If i am loved and seen and known by god, then as i
00:32:14.990 --> 00:32:18.193
Surrender to him everything i'm surrendering to him,
00:32:18.193 --> 00:32:20.763
Everything he's going to do in my life
00:32:20.763 --> 00:32:22.131
Is for his glory and my good.
00:32:22.131 --> 00:32:23.832
What you, when you know who you are, it changes how you live.
00:32:23.832 --> 00:32:27.202
So when we're secure in who we are, we can start living lives
00:32:27.202 --> 00:32:30.139
As free and brave children of god that we really are.
00:32:30.139 --> 00:32:36.311
Join the conversation on our bettertogether youtube channel.
00:32:36.311 --> 00:32:39.848
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00:32:44.004 --> 00:32:44.154
And waiting on the lord is expecting something good
00:32:47.657 --> 00:32:49.959
To happen, right? right.
00:32:49.959 --> 00:32:51.594
That's expectancy, you know.
00:32:51.594 --> 00:32:53.863
That is holy expectation. holy expectation.
00:32:53.863 --> 00:32:56.699
I love this. in hidden years,
00:32:56.699 --> 00:32:58.735
God is our only consistent audience.
00:32:58.735 --> 00:33:01.738
Others come and go, but only he always sees.
00:33:01.738 --> 00:33:05.475
Anonymous seasons afford us the opportunity to establish god as
00:33:05.475 --> 00:33:10.747
Our soul's true point of reference
00:33:10.747 --> 00:33:13.016
If we resist underestimating how he treasures our hiddenness
00:33:13.016 --> 00:33:17.720
And take the time to decide whose attention and acceptance
00:33:17.720 --> 00:33:21.391
Really matters in our life. that's very good.
00:33:21.391 --> 00:33:24.127
Yes. that's alicia.
00:33:24.127 --> 00:33:26.496
Yes. that's brilliant.
00:33:26.496 --> 00:33:27.897
Beautiful. it causes you to truly
00:33:27.897 --> 00:33:30.667
Have to step back and evaluate your motives.
00:33:30.667 --> 00:33:35.138
Yeah. it causes you to truly be introspective and allow god to
00:33:35.138 --> 00:33:40.777
Get rid of anything inside of you that doesn't belong there.
00:33:40.777 --> 00:33:44.214
Whether it be selfish, ambition, pride, insecurity,
00:33:44.214 --> 00:33:47.550
I feel like in the waiting seasons if we allow god to,
00:33:47.550 --> 00:33:51.054
It's like it just exposes the things that need to be removed
00:33:51.054 --> 00:33:55.391
So that god can--
00:33:55.391 --> 00:33:56.926
What remains is steadfast and is firm
00:33:56.926 --> 00:34:00.396
Because fire brings what's not good to the surface.
00:34:00.396 --> 00:34:03.633
I remember reading that thing about-- gosh,
00:34:03.633 --> 00:34:05.368
What missionary was it?
00:34:05.368 --> 00:34:06.603
There was a missionary one time who was overseas with her
00:34:06.603 --> 00:34:10.240
Children, and she was in china, and they were watching a
00:34:10.240 --> 00:34:12.909
Goldsmith, and he was getting pieces of gold and putting them
00:34:12.909 --> 00:34:15.812
In these little crock pots and
00:34:15.812 --> 00:34:17.447
Put them in a fire and bring it out.
00:34:17.447 --> 00:34:19.749
And then he would dust off, and each time he upped the heat
00:34:19.749 --> 00:34:22.886
Of the fire. it would get hotter every time.
00:34:22.886 --> 00:34:26.189
And she said to him at the end, you know-- amy carmichael. she
00:34:26.189 --> 00:34:30.894
Said to him at the end, how do you know when it's processed?
00:34:30.894 --> 00:34:33.730
And he said, when i can see my face in it.
00:34:33.730 --> 00:34:35.565
Wow. and i think that's-- wow.
00:34:35.565 --> 00:34:37.500
God is so much more interested in seeing his face in us,
00:34:37.500 --> 00:34:40.503
Bringing all-- sometimes the heat gets worse every time.
00:34:40.503 --> 00:34:43.139
You know, you can go through a hard thing and you think, oh,
00:34:43.139 --> 00:34:45.842
Glad that was over.
00:34:45.842 --> 00:34:47.010
Well, watch out because something else comes, you know.
00:34:47.010 --> 00:34:50.313
And the heat's turned up.
00:34:50.313 --> 00:34:51.748
But again, it's making us--
00:34:51.748 --> 00:34:53.449
If the whole jolly point of my life is to become
00:34:53.449 --> 00:34:56.152
More like jesus, then-- yeah.
00:34:56.152 --> 00:34:58.521
Yeah. then the waiting serves the purpose.
00:34:58.521 --> 00:35:02.725
You know, there's things in my
00:35:02.725 --> 00:35:04.227
Life that i'm still waiting for.
00:35:04.227 --> 00:35:06.996
And there's other things where i've seen god be so faithful
00:35:06.996 --> 00:35:10.700
To his promises.
00:35:10.700 --> 00:35:12.368
So when i look back on seasons of waiting that have now come
00:35:12.368 --> 00:35:15.505
To fruition, i go, oh, i can see what you were doing there,
00:35:15.505 --> 00:35:20.109
God. you were refining me.
00:35:20.109 --> 00:35:22.545
You were helping me learn how.
00:35:22.545 --> 00:35:24.380
To trust you more.
00:35:24.380 --> 00:35:25.815
You were getting rid of any selfish ambition inside of me.
00:35:25.815 --> 00:35:30.553
You are helping to deal with the rough places that needed
00:35:30.553 --> 00:35:33.389
To be made smooth.
00:35:33.389 --> 00:35:34.924
When i look back on my
00:35:34.924 --> 00:35:36.192
Seasons of waiting, i can see that
00:35:36.192 --> 00:35:38.761
God was doing a deep work inside of me.
00:35:38.761 --> 00:35:42.765
And i just want to encourage you, if you find yourself there,
00:35:42.765 --> 00:35:46.502
Open up your heart to what god wants to do.
00:35:46.502 --> 00:35:48.938
He wants to do a work inside of
00:35:48.938 --> 00:35:51.040
You to refine who you are, to get rid
00:35:51.040 --> 00:35:53.409
Of what doesn't belong, and to establish what needs to remain.
00:35:53.409 --> 00:35:56.913
So don't get discouraged in the waiting.
00:35:56.913 --> 00:35:58.948
God is working in the waiting.
00:35:58.948 --> 00:36:01.150
I'm still waiting on a few promises from god myself, but
00:36:01.150 --> 00:36:04.587
In the process i'm going, god, what do you want to work on
00:36:04.587 --> 00:36:07.090
Inside of me so i can be who you created me to be?
00:36:07.090 --> 00:36:11.894
I think if we're talking about how to grow in patience,
00:36:11.894 --> 00:36:15.865
There is no shortcut.
00:36:15.865 --> 00:36:17.800
I mean, the only way you grow in patience is you--
00:36:17.800 --> 00:36:21.604
If you wait, and you have to wait.
00:36:21.604 --> 00:36:24.107
But i think what a relevant
00:36:24.107 --> 00:36:25.808
Thing to grow in this day and age
00:36:25.808 --> 00:36:28.811
Right now, when everything is
00:36:28.811 --> 00:36:30.613
Immediate gratification. it's available.
00:36:30.613 --> 00:36:32.815
I'm not saying that's wrong or bad, but there are not natural
00:36:32.815 --> 00:36:35.618
Places to grow your patience, like you have to be
00:36:35.618 --> 00:36:39.289
Intentional to do it. do you know what i'm saying?
00:36:39.289 --> 00:36:40.923
You can microwave a full meal.
00:36:40.923 --> 00:36:42.292
You can look up whatever you want, get an answer by, you
00:36:42.292 --> 00:36:46.296
Know, pulling up your phone.
00:36:46.296 --> 00:36:47.730
Everything is available at our fingertips.
00:36:47.730 --> 00:36:50.266
How else are we going to learn?
00:36:50.266 --> 00:36:52.135
And it is a fruit of the spirit.
00:36:52.135 --> 00:36:54.137
It's available for us.
00:36:54.137 --> 00:36:56.005
It is important. it's part of who jesus is.
00:36:56.005 --> 00:36:59.142
That means he wants it in us.
00:36:59.142 --> 00:37:01.878
And i will not,
00:37:01.878 --> 00:37:03.012
We cannot develop it without waiting.
00:37:03.012 --> 00:37:06.616
So there's not natural places in our lives today.
00:37:06.616 --> 00:37:10.687
I really, i really believe it is a massive setup, and i think
00:37:10.687 --> 00:37:14.891
It is something that testifies to the work of god, because how
00:37:14.891 --> 00:37:18.961
Else are we patient?
00:37:18.961 --> 00:37:20.396
I mean, it is like, i think it's a radical muscle to have.
00:37:20.396 --> 00:37:23.499
I think it's countercultural.
00:37:23.499 --> 00:37:24.901
I don't think it's readily available.
00:37:24.901 --> 00:37:26.436
I don't think you see much of it.
00:37:26.436 --> 00:37:28.071
Go drive on a road somewhere.
00:37:28.071 --> 00:37:29.605
I'm like, their patience is not prevalent.
00:37:29.605 --> 00:37:31.808
It's not, but it's valuable.
00:37:31.808 --> 00:37:33.810
Yeah. he's asking us to be it
00:37:33.810 --> 00:37:35.278
Because he is so patient with us.
00:37:35.278 --> 00:37:38.247
He's long suffering and he's wanting us to reflect that
00:37:38.247 --> 00:37:42.819
Specific part in him.
00:37:42.819 --> 00:37:44.654
So it's like, man, well, if that's the thing that i want,
00:37:44.654 --> 00:37:47.657
Then god prepare me to wait and build that muscle up
00:37:47.657 --> 00:37:51.561
On the inside. to the praise of your glory,
00:37:51.561 --> 00:37:55.064
Have me look different than than the instant gratification
00:37:55.064 --> 00:37:59.669
World that we live in, you know.
00:37:59.669 --> 00:38:01.671
It's so interesting.
00:38:01.671 --> 00:38:02.839
When i graduated from seminary, i was like, okay, lord,
00:38:02.839 --> 00:38:04.574
Here you go. i'm ready. woo hoo!
00:38:04.574 --> 00:38:06.709
You know, you feel like you've you've done all the stuff,
00:38:06.709 --> 00:38:09.245
You've put all the work in
00:38:09.245 --> 00:38:10.246
And you're ready to hit the ground running.
00:38:10.246 --> 00:38:11.981
And everybody else who was in my class all knew exactly
00:38:11.981 --> 00:38:14.984
Where they were going.
00:38:14.984 --> 00:38:16.185
You know, guys were going to pastor different churches.
00:38:16.185 --> 00:38:18.388
My best friend was going off to be a missionary somewhere, and
00:38:18.388 --> 00:38:21.057
I had received absolutely nothing from the lord.
00:38:21.057 --> 00:38:24.627
And i'm like, what do i do?
00:38:24.627 --> 00:38:26.162
I mean, you know, we're done. we're done here.
00:38:26.162 --> 00:38:28.865
And so i did something that my mother was so against.
00:38:28.865 --> 00:38:32.101
I took whatever little bit of money i had, and i went to a
00:38:32.101 --> 00:38:35.471
Travel agent and i said, okay,
00:38:35.471 --> 00:38:37.640
This is how much money i've got.
00:38:37.640 --> 00:38:38.775
I want to go as far as possible.
00:38:38.775 --> 00:38:41.010
Um, what do you recommend?
00:38:41.010 --> 00:38:42.979
And they said, north africa.
00:38:42.979 --> 00:38:44.547
And i'm like, great, i'm off.
00:38:44.547 --> 00:38:46.349
So i literally bought a plane ticket.
00:38:46.349 --> 00:38:48.418
Wow. to north africa.
00:38:48.418 --> 00:38:50.753
And i fasted and prayed for 21 days.
00:38:50.753 --> 00:38:54.390
And it was--
00:38:54.390 --> 00:38:55.558
And i really believed that at the end of the 21 days,
00:38:55.558 --> 00:38:58.394
Because, lord, i've spent every penny.
00:38:58.394 --> 00:39:00.930
I've not eaten yet, you're going to come up with some
00:39:00.930 --> 00:39:03.499
Brilliant plan. so at the end of the 21 days,
00:39:03.499 --> 00:39:06.335
And by the way, the one good thing
00:39:06.335 --> 00:39:07.770
Was these two bedouins took me across the sahara
00:39:07.770 --> 00:39:11.240
Desert to watch the sunrise over the sahara.
00:39:11.240 --> 00:39:13.709
I mean, if my daughter said, i'm going to go across the
00:39:13.709 --> 00:39:16.979
Sahara, i'm like, no, you're not. yeah.
00:39:16.979 --> 00:39:18.981
But anyway, i got back from that and i still had nothing.
00:39:18.981 --> 00:39:23.252
And instead i--
00:39:23.252 --> 00:39:25.154
So i end up just applying for jobs.
00:39:25.154 --> 00:39:26.889
And i get this job as a house mother in a home for
00:39:26.889 --> 00:39:30.159
Emotionally disturbed teenagers.
00:39:30.159 --> 00:39:32.261
And i'm thinking, oh, well, i totally get it.
00:39:32.261 --> 00:39:34.630
This is where i'm first going to share the love of god.
00:39:34.630 --> 00:39:36.632
Then god will widen my platform.
00:39:36.632 --> 00:39:38.067
Literally, the first morning we're at breakfast, these six
00:39:38.067 --> 00:39:40.703
Boys and one of them looks like a little angel.
00:39:40.703 --> 00:39:42.371
I don't know his story yet, but he looks like a little angel.
00:39:42.371 --> 00:39:45.374
And chris, the house father, said to him, listen, you need
00:39:45.374 --> 00:39:48.711
To eat that before you get up. and this boy took his knife
00:39:48.711 --> 00:39:53.282
And stuck chris' hand to the table.
00:39:53.282 --> 00:39:56.752
And i'm like, oh.
00:39:56.752 --> 00:39:58.754
I mean, i was so shocked.
00:39:58.754 --> 00:40:01.924
Yeah. and three months down the line two of the boys, i thought
00:40:01.924 --> 00:40:05.761
I was getting on really well with and really helping,
00:40:05.761 --> 00:40:08.664
Broke into my room in the middle of the night.
00:40:08.664 --> 00:40:10.566
Stole what little jewelry i had, hit me over the head
00:40:10.566 --> 00:40:12.902
With a bottle.
00:40:12.902 --> 00:40:14.303
And i remember walking out into the middle of the woods in this
00:40:14.303 --> 00:40:20.309
Little town in scotland where this home was and saying, okay,
00:40:20.309 --> 00:40:23.546
Lord, i don't get it.
00:40:23.546 --> 00:40:25.047
I don't get it. what's happening here?
00:40:25.047 --> 00:40:27.049
And i almost felt--
00:40:27.049 --> 00:40:28.184
And i've never heard the audible voice of god, but i
00:40:28.184 --> 00:40:30.386
Felt god showing me, listen, loving this world is going to
00:40:30.386 --> 00:40:33.422
Be way more difficult than you think.
00:40:33.422 --> 00:40:34.957
Yeah, you think you've learned all these lessons and you've
00:40:34.957 --> 00:40:37.560
Passed all these grades, and you're just going to go out
00:40:37.560 --> 00:40:40.329
There and you're just going to love people. until you see
00:40:40.329 --> 00:40:43.232
How broken people are,
00:40:43.232 --> 00:40:45.501
I'm not going to let you go near them.
00:40:45.501 --> 00:40:47.570
You know, it was just this humbling of--
00:40:47.570 --> 00:40:50.706
Wow.
00:40:50.706 --> 00:40:51.641
You know what, i get it, i am clueless.
00:40:51.641 --> 00:40:53.609
Yeah.
00:40:53.609 --> 00:40:54.810
And so i stayed there for a year, and i was the house
00:40:54.810 --> 00:40:57.113
Mother and i served, and i learned to love these boys
00:40:57.113 --> 00:41:00.550
Before god opened up a door.
00:41:00.550 --> 00:41:01.751
And i ended up going to work with youth for christ.
00:41:01.751 --> 00:41:03.519
But i'm so grateful for his kindness in showing me how
00:41:03.519 --> 00:41:08.190
Little reserve, how little inner strength, how little
00:41:08.190 --> 00:41:10.760
Anything i had until i began--
00:41:10.760 --> 00:41:13.663
I felt as if the lord-- remember the guy who was blind>
00:41:13.663 --> 00:41:16.032
And jesus put mud in his eyes
00:41:16.032 --> 00:41:17.433
And washed and said, do you see people?
00:41:17.433 --> 00:41:18.668
Well, yeah.
00:41:18.668 --> 00:41:19.502
Yeah, they're kind of like shapes.
00:41:19.502 --> 00:41:20.770
I felt like god washed my eyes a second time and said, no,
00:41:20.770 --> 00:41:24.473
They're not shapes, they're people.
00:41:24.473 --> 00:41:26.275
Wow.
00:41:26.275 --> 00:41:27.443
So who you become in the waiting changes who you become.
00:41:27.443 --> 00:41:31.213
How do you prepare for god's timing?
00:41:31.213 --> 00:41:33.649
I honestly don't know.
00:41:33.649 --> 00:41:35.284
I think you just live each day knowing that god is good,
00:41:35.284 --> 00:41:39.322
That god is in control.
00:41:39.322 --> 00:41:41.157
And every morning when i get up-- we have a little dog,
00:41:41.157 --> 00:41:44.393
A little yorkie called maggie.
00:41:44.393 --> 00:41:46.028
And so i'll let maggie out, but then i'll go for a walk.
00:41:46.028 --> 00:41:48.864
And my prayer every single day is simply, lord, you know,
00:41:48.864 --> 00:41:52.969
Today i don't know what this
00:41:52.969 --> 00:41:54.236
Day holds, but i absolutely believe
00:41:54.236 --> 00:41:57.039
That you hold this day.
00:41:57.039 --> 00:41:58.107
And you know what this day holds.
00:41:58.107 --> 00:41:59.875
So right now, before i even understand everything that's
00:41:59.875 --> 00:42:03.012
Going to happen, good things might happen today that i
00:42:03.012 --> 00:42:05.181
Did not see coming.
00:42:05.181 --> 00:42:06.649
Hard things might happen that i
00:42:06.649 --> 00:42:08.117
Couldn't have prepared my heart for.
00:42:08.117 --> 00:42:09.785
But one thing i know for sure is that you are with me.
00:42:09.785 --> 00:42:14.190
There's something about
00:42:14.190 --> 00:42:15.291
Learning to walk beside the shepherd.
00:42:15.291 --> 00:42:17.660
It means that no matter which way your road goes, you know
00:42:17.660 --> 00:42:21.030
That he's there and you're not alone.
00:42:21.030 --> 00:42:23.032
And he will never, never leave you.
00:42:23.032 --> 00:42:26.669
Who we become in the waiting is important.
00:42:26.669 --> 00:42:28.771
Yeah.
00:42:28.771 --> 00:42:29.772
The hebrew word for wait is this word qavah,
00:42:29.772 --> 00:42:34.143
And it's actually not a passive word like sit back, be idle.
00:42:34.143 --> 00:42:40.149
It's an active word.
00:42:40.149 --> 00:42:41.951
The word kvar means to braid, to intertwine.
00:42:41.951 --> 00:42:46.489
It was a word that came from
00:42:46.489 --> 00:42:47.590
The same word where they got rope,
00:42:47.590 --> 00:42:50.593
To intertwine.
00:42:50.593 --> 00:42:53.696
It means for us today, as god calls us, to wait on him, that
00:42:53.696 --> 00:42:58.267
We are called to wait with god.
00:42:58.267 --> 00:43:02.371
As we wait on god, wait with god.
00:43:02.371 --> 00:43:04.774
Yes. it is not about sitting idle.
00:43:04.774 --> 00:43:07.376
Yeah, it's not passive. it's not about not engaging.
00:43:07.376 --> 00:43:11.547
Yes, that's right. it's about engaging,
00:43:11.547 --> 00:43:14.283
Intertwining with god in the wait.
00:43:14.283 --> 00:43:18.287
God is not leaving you on hold while he's picking up other
00:43:18.287 --> 00:43:22.024
Phone calls from more important people and dealing with
00:43:22.024 --> 00:43:24.193
More important things.
00:43:24.193 --> 00:43:25.494
No, what you are going through is important to god, and what
00:43:25.494 --> 00:43:28.297
You desire is important to god.
00:43:28.297 --> 00:43:29.932
And what god has for you in your life is important to god.
00:43:29.932 --> 00:43:32.201
In fact, it's so important that it must be cultivated.
00:43:32.201 --> 00:43:35.571
In the waiting. there is more intertwining with him
00:43:35.571 --> 00:43:39.141
That he wants to do with you in the waiting.
00:43:39.141 --> 00:43:41.577
The waiting is not punishment.
00:43:41.577 --> 00:43:44.513
The waiting is nourishment.
00:43:44.513 --> 00:43:46.782
Yes, there is something god wants to grow in the waiting.
00:43:46.782 --> 00:43:49.552
There's something god wants to
00:43:49.552 --> 00:43:50.553
Strengthen and solidify in the waiting.
00:43:50.553 --> 00:43:52.588
The waiting is not wasted.
00:43:52.588 --> 00:43:54.390
The waiting is important.
00:43:54.390 --> 00:43:55.958
And it's important that people that we become in the waiting,
00:43:55.958 --> 00:43:59.095
You want to be as intertwined as you can be.
00:43:59.095 --> 00:44:00.896
It reminds me of the scripture,
00:44:00.896 --> 00:44:02.431
I am like a tree planted by the streams of water, ready to give
00:44:02.431 --> 00:44:07.369
Forth my fruit in its season.
00:44:07.369 --> 00:44:10.372
In its season. right, right, right.
00:44:10.372 --> 00:44:12.508
My leaf will never fade.
00:44:12.508 --> 00:44:14.076
So we don't have to worry about getting old,
00:44:14.076 --> 00:44:15.911
And god's just going to skip my life,
00:44:15.911 --> 00:44:18.347
And on with the next.
00:44:18.347 --> 00:44:19.815
My leaf will never fade nor wither.
00:44:19.815 --> 00:44:21.550
And everything i do prospers. yes.
00:44:21.550 --> 00:44:24.120
And so, in that season of growing and-- we always call it,
00:44:24.120 --> 00:44:27.490
We're having a fruit inspection. you know what?
00:44:27.490 --> 00:44:30.025
What if, what if we didn't know we had patience.
00:44:30.025 --> 00:44:32.762
Yeah. and the bible says, let patience have its perfect work
00:44:32.762 --> 00:44:37.032
So that you're complete. mature and complete.
00:44:37.032 --> 00:44:39.301
And your entire-- lacking nothing from god,
00:44:39.301 --> 00:44:43.205
No good thing from god.
00:44:43.205 --> 00:44:46.142
So we can have joy in the
00:44:46.142 --> 00:44:47.743
Trials of our faith and in the waiting.
00:44:47.743 --> 00:44:50.780
I think so many people think that i have to be busy to be
00:44:50.780 --> 00:44:53.916
Pleasing god, that i have to be so productive.
00:44:53.916 --> 00:44:56.852
And there is a production of rest.
00:44:56.852 --> 00:44:59.789
That's right. yes. yes.
00:44:59.789 --> 00:45:00.890
And letting god--
00:45:00.890 --> 00:45:01.991
God loves to work with nothing.
00:45:01.991 --> 00:45:05.327
So our emptiness, our
00:45:05.327 --> 00:45:07.963
Hiddenness is everything to god.
00:45:07.963 --> 00:45:10.633
Yes it is. yeah.
00:45:10.633 --> 00:45:12.234
You know, he loves to work with nothing, null and void.
00:45:12.234 --> 00:45:15.504
And let me, let me do it.
00:45:15.504 --> 00:45:17.706
Let me make something beautiful of your life.
00:45:17.706 --> 00:45:21.010
And so those hidden years
00:45:21.010 --> 00:45:22.111
Aren't something to be afraid of.
00:45:22.111 --> 00:45:24.013
They're not something to run away from.
00:45:24.013 --> 00:45:27.082
They're probably the most precious.
00:45:27.082 --> 00:45:29.018
Yeah, absolutely.
00:45:29.018 --> 00:45:30.186
You know, and just growing and letting my fruit grow.
00:45:30.186 --> 00:45:34.023
Your everyday life and the little circumstances of life
00:45:34.023 --> 00:45:38.460
That everyone has just to work on those.
00:45:38.460 --> 00:45:41.831
And fruit inspection, love. joy.
00:45:41.831 --> 00:45:44.900
Peace. being content.
00:45:44.900 --> 00:45:47.203
Being lovable. being filled with joy.
00:45:47.203 --> 00:45:50.306
Peaceful. yes.
00:45:50.306 --> 00:45:51.674
You know?
00:45:51.674 --> 00:45:52.708
It almost challenges the question--
00:45:52.708 --> 00:45:54.476
I think you mentioned motivation, but is it enough
00:45:54.476 --> 00:45:57.646
For me to just have him? yes.
00:45:57.646 --> 00:45:59.748
Because we have him there in the waiting.
00:45:59.748 --> 00:46:02.251
And it may feel like there's nothing else, and it's him.
00:46:02.251 --> 00:46:05.354
But can i be contented in the presence of god?
00:46:05.354 --> 00:46:08.257
Because if there's something else i think i'm waiting for,
00:46:08.257 --> 00:46:11.794
I'm longing for,
00:46:11.794 --> 00:46:13.429
When i finally get that thing, it will never be what his
00:46:13.429 --> 00:46:16.899
Presence is.
00:46:16.899 --> 00:46:18.100
And we have that available right now, in every season,
00:46:18.100 --> 00:46:22.104
And in the hidden waiting,
00:46:22.104 --> 00:46:24.473
It suspends everything else, pushes everything else away.
00:46:24.473 --> 00:46:28.544
We learn to be nourished and contented in his presence
00:46:28.544 --> 00:46:32.281
Alone, which we will always have.
00:46:32.281 --> 00:46:34.984
That's where, regardless, outside of my circumstances,
00:46:34.984 --> 00:46:38.020
Um, in all things, all things, i can be content because i
00:46:38.020 --> 00:46:42.558
Have him here with me.
00:46:42.558 --> 00:46:44.727
It reminds me of the hebrews 11. we were talking about it,
00:46:44.727 --> 00:46:47.897
But these these men and women of great faith, and we talked
00:46:47.897 --> 00:46:51.634
About the horrible verse at the
00:46:51.634 --> 00:46:54.203
End that can feel confusing, right?
00:46:54.203 --> 00:46:56.071
And all these, though commended through their faith, did not
00:46:56.071 --> 00:46:58.340
Receive what was promised, since god had provided
00:46:58.340 --> 00:47:00.976
Something better for us, that apart from us, they should not
00:47:00.976 --> 00:47:04.446
Be made perfect.
00:47:04.446 --> 00:47:05.214
What is this? it's so good,
00:47:05.214 --> 00:47:08.083
It must be done with him.
00:47:08.083 --> 00:47:10.252
Fulfillment, completion is with him.
00:47:10.252 --> 00:47:13.522
It is never apart from. it's found in no outcome.
00:47:13.522 --> 00:47:17.092
It's found in no platform.
00:47:17.092 --> 00:47:18.494
It's found in no
00:47:18.494 --> 00:47:19.695
I arrived to this stage of my life.
00:47:19.695 --> 00:47:21.730
Now i have acquired this. this is in my name.
00:47:21.730 --> 00:47:24.533
None of that will satisfy.
00:47:24.533 --> 00:47:26.535
And he knows that.
00:47:26.535 --> 00:47:28.237
He knows our design.
00:47:28.237 --> 00:47:29.738
And he's good enough to dig it deep in us,
00:47:29.738 --> 00:47:32.908
That what i need is his presence.
00:47:32.908 --> 00:47:35.477
And i have him,
00:47:35.477 --> 00:47:37.012
Here and now. i have him.
00:47:37.012 --> 00:47:39.615
So good.
00:47:39.615 --> 00:47:40.382
Would it be okay if we just pray?
00:47:40.382 --> 00:47:42.184
Oh, man.
00:47:42.184 --> 00:47:43.018
God, i just i'm asking god in me,
00:47:43.018 --> 00:47:45.120
Father, you would not stop until this is dug in deep.
00:47:45.120 --> 00:47:48.457
God, and those are big prayers to pray.
00:47:48.457 --> 00:47:50.092
But god, would you bring us to a place of such contentment in
00:47:50.092 --> 00:47:54.129
Your face, in the sound of your voice and your smile over us,
00:47:54.129 --> 00:47:58.600
That we would be waiting for no other thing, god, that we would
00:47:58.600 --> 00:48:01.603
Find our fill, our joy, our wholeness in your eyes,
00:48:01.603 --> 00:48:06.942
Reflected in in who you are.
00:48:06.942 --> 00:48:09.511
God, i thank you that the promise is you never leave us.
00:48:09.511 --> 00:48:12.247
You never forsake us.
00:48:12.247 --> 00:48:13.515
So in the solitude, in the quiet, in the question, in the
00:48:13.515 --> 00:48:18.087
Longing, in the waiting, the promises, you will be found
00:48:18.087 --> 00:48:22.224
There and you are more than enough.
00:48:22.224 --> 00:48:25.361
God, i ask for everyone watching.
00:48:25.361 --> 00:48:27.162
I ask for those of us here,
00:48:27.162 --> 00:48:28.297
Father, may we find you personally to be the god of
00:48:28.297 --> 00:48:33.168
More than enough, the one whose
00:48:33.168 --> 00:48:35.437
Face contains everything we need.
00:48:35.437 --> 00:48:38.640
The one whose voice, like a thousand waters, brings the
00:48:38.640 --> 00:48:41.910
Nourishment to my thirsty soul that i am waiting for.
00:48:41.910 --> 00:48:45.180
God, we say, would you help us to wait?
00:48:45.180 --> 00:48:47.649
Be strong and wait on the lord.
00:48:47.649 --> 00:48:50.386
You are worth waiting for.
00:48:50.386 --> 00:48:53.255
God, we say it again.
00:48:53.255 --> 00:48:54.523
You are worth waiting for. build it in us.
00:48:54.523 --> 00:48:58.594
God, thank you, thank you.
00:48:58.594 --> 00:49:01.764
In jesus' name. amen.
00:49:01.764 --> 00:49:05.601
Connect with us on social media and let us know how our team
00:49:05.601 --> 00:49:08.504
Can pray for you.
00:49:08.504 --> 00:49:13.742
Hi everyone!
00:49:16.512 --> 00:49:17.246
We're answering your questions
00:49:17.246 --> 00:49:18.514
Behind the scenes here at better together.
00:49:18.514 --> 00:49:20.582
So, kalley, let me ask you this.
00:49:20.582 --> 00:49:21.984
This is from cheyanne who watches us on youtube.
00:49:21.984 --> 00:49:25.721
She sent us this question.
00:49:25.721 --> 00:49:27.322
How do you prepare for the next level god has for you while
00:49:27.322 --> 00:49:30.993
You're in a waiting season?
00:49:30.993 --> 00:49:32.995
How did you learn to shift your mindset from your old identity
00:49:32.995 --> 00:49:36.265
To god's identity?
00:49:36.265 --> 00:49:38.600
Such a great question.
00:49:38.600 --> 00:49:39.668
I think the waiting season is such a prime time
00:49:39.668 --> 00:49:43.238
To do this, to actually explore is the way that i'm
00:49:43.238 --> 00:49:48.277
Operating in my life, a reflection of the truth of
00:49:48.277 --> 00:49:51.647
God's word, a reflection of the truths of who i am in jesus as
00:49:51.647 --> 00:49:56.185
A as a son, as a daughter of, of god?
00:49:56.185 --> 00:49:59.922
I think a waiting season actually affords us some space,
00:49:59.922 --> 00:50:03.358
Time and intentionality to actually kind of run through
00:50:03.358 --> 00:50:06.762
And and ask the lord, is there anything that that you see that
00:50:06.762 --> 00:50:10.999
You either want to exchange for something new or different
00:50:10.999 --> 00:50:13.836
For the truth?
00:50:13.836 --> 00:50:15.003
Is there anything that you're wanting to build in me
00:50:15.003 --> 00:50:17.773
For what's to come?
00:50:17.773 --> 00:50:19.508
A waiting season is just kind of open, beautiful time to
00:50:19.508 --> 00:50:23.579
Explore those things.
00:50:23.579 --> 00:50:24.680
And i think it's not
00:50:24.680 --> 00:50:25.948
Something to just try to get through.
00:50:25.948 --> 00:50:28.183
You know, man, i just kind of try to, you know, bide my time
00:50:28.183 --> 00:50:31.320
Till i'm on the other side.
00:50:31.320 --> 00:50:32.688
Be intentional.
00:50:32.688 --> 00:50:33.989
There's such purpose in these seasons, and i just i think the
00:50:33.989 --> 00:50:37.593
Question that you would even ask it to me notes that you're
00:50:37.593 --> 00:50:40.696
Thinking in a great way about this season.
00:50:40.696 --> 00:50:42.965
Yeah.
00:50:42.965 --> 00:50:44.133
Join our conversations anytime, anywhere.
00:50:44.133 --> 00:50:46.935
Download tbn+ to stream your favorite episodes.
00:50:46.935 --> 00:50:46.935

Surrender to God's Timing - Episode 1099

September 25, 2025 | S7 E1099 | 52:34

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