Don't Fight It

0:00:00.200 --> 0:00:02.880 No one likes to talk about money. Am I saving enough? 0:00:02.960 --> 0:00:05.040 Can I buy a house? Am I paying too much 0:00:05.040 --> 0:00:07.760 in taxes? Will I be able to retire? What if 0:00:07.760 --> 0:00:10.360 you could unlock insights about your finances in less than 0:00:10.400 --> 0:00:12.840 five minutes, with a clear picture of where you stand 0:00:12.880 --> 0:00:15.720 today and where your money can work harder. Now you 0:00:15.760 --> 0:00:18.759 can visit facet dot com to take the free quiz 0:00:18.800 --> 0:00:23.400 and get your financial wellness score today. That's Facet dot com. 0:00:23.400 --> 0:00:25.360 This ad is sponsored by Facet. Fast Wealth in Corporated 0:00:25.440 --> 0:00:27.280 is an sec registered investment advisor. This is not an 0:00:27.320 --> 0:00:29.080 offer to buy your self securities or is it investment, 0:00:29.160 --> 0:00:30.080 legal or tax advice. 0:00:30.760 --> 0:00:33.960 You're ready for a comeback, and with Purdue Global you 0:00:34.000 --> 0:00:37.200 can do more than take classes. You can take charge 0:00:37.520 --> 0:00:41.520 of your story, of your career, of your life, Earn 0:00:41.560 --> 0:00:43.559 a degree you can be proud of, and get an 0:00:43.680 --> 0:00:48.559 education employer's respect. It's time, your time, not just to 0:00:48.560 --> 0:00:50.960 go back to school, but to come back and move 0:00:51.040 --> 0:00:55.840 forward with Purdue Global, Purdue's online university for working adults. 0:00:56.440 --> 0:00:59.920 Start your comeback at Purdueglobal dot edu. 0:01:00.280 --> 0:01:02.240 He'll forget about the video game you gave him on 0:01:02.280 --> 0:01:02.840 his birthday. 0:01:03.160 --> 0:01:05.039 Wow, thanks Grandpa. 0:01:04.880 --> 0:01:07.280 But He'll never forget how you invested in his future 0:01:07.319 --> 0:01:08.280 with the units stapp. 0:01:08.800 --> 0:01:10.480 Wow, thanks Grandpa. 0:01:11.080 --> 0:01:13.600 The units stap makes it easy for grandparents and family 0:01:13.640 --> 0:01:16.319 friends to give funds to a child's investment account for 0:01:16.360 --> 0:01:18.760 a limited time. Download the uns stap and use the 0:01:18.800 --> 0:01:20.840 code I heeart fifty at sign up to receive a 0:01:20.880 --> 0:01:23.400 fifty dollars bonus when you fund your account. That's code 0:01:23.400 --> 0:01:26.400 iHeart fifty when you sign up at unest dot co 0:01:26.760 --> 0:01:29.319 for a fifty dollars bonus. See terms and conditions at 0:01:29.440 --> 0:01:30.120 UNEs dot co. 0:01:30.880 --> 0:01:33.319 Hi, this is Joel on Wednesdays. We bring you the 0:01:33.360 --> 0:01:35.840 best of I hope you enjoy the podcast. 0:01:49.480 --> 0:01:50.320 God bless you. 0:01:50.800 --> 0:01:53.240 It's a joy to come into your homes and you're 0:01:53.280 --> 0:01:55.840 ever in our area. Please stop buying. Be a part 0:01:55.840 --> 0:01:58.320 of one of our services. I promise you we'll make 0:01:58.360 --> 0:02:00.440 you feel right at home. But thanks so much for 0:02:00.520 --> 0:02:03.440 tuning in. Thank you again for coming out. I like 0:02:03.520 --> 0:02:06.480 to start with something funny and I heard about this husband. 0:02:06.880 --> 0:02:10.120 He was quietly reading the newspaper when his wife walked 0:02:10.200 --> 0:02:12.240 up behind him and hit him on the head with 0:02:12.280 --> 0:02:15.840 a frying pan. He said, what was that for? She 0:02:15.960 --> 0:02:18.000 said that was for the piece of paper I found 0:02:18.080 --> 0:02:20.520 in your pocket with the name Mary Lou on it. 0:02:21.040 --> 0:02:23.280 He said, oh, honey, that's just one of the horses 0:02:23.320 --> 0:02:26.880 that I bet on at the racetrack last week. She apologized, 0:02:26.919 --> 0:02:29.919 went about her business. Two days later, she hit him 0:02:29.919 --> 0:02:31.600 on the head with a bigger frying pan. 0:02:32.320 --> 0:02:33.160 When he came to. 0:02:33.520 --> 0:02:36.080 He said, what in the world was that for? She said, 0:02:36.440 --> 0:02:41.919 your horse just called. That's not inspiring at all. But 0:02:43.160 --> 0:02:45.800 say it like you mean it. This is my Bible. 0:02:46.200 --> 0:02:48.480 I am what it says I am. I have what 0:02:48.560 --> 0:02:50.960 it says I have. I can do what it says 0:02:51.000 --> 0:02:53.680 I can do. Today I will be talked the word 0:02:53.720 --> 0:02:57.880 of God. I boldly confess. My mind is alert, my 0:02:58.000 --> 0:03:02.320 heart is receptive. I will never be the same. In Jesus' name, 0:03:02.800 --> 0:03:06.160 God bless you. I want to talk to you today 0:03:06.240 --> 0:03:10.680 about don't fight it. We all face situations that we 0:03:10.720 --> 0:03:14.920 don't like. Somebody's not treating us right. Business is not 0:03:15.000 --> 0:03:17.840 growing as fast as we had hoped. We're seeing God 0:03:17.840 --> 0:03:21.200 and still haven't met anyone. It's easy to live uptight, 0:03:21.880 --> 0:03:25.679 all wrought up on the inside. We don't understand why 0:03:25.720 --> 0:03:29.880 it's taken so long, why this person hasn't changed, why 0:03:29.960 --> 0:03:34.840 our prayers haven't been answered. We end up frustrated, fighting 0:03:34.880 --> 0:03:36.720 against everything that we don't like. 0:03:37.520 --> 0:03:38.280 But here's the key. 0:03:39.000 --> 0:03:42.600 Just because it's uncomfortable doesn't mean it's not where we're 0:03:42.640 --> 0:03:46.720 supposed to be. God uses difficulties to do a work 0:03:46.720 --> 0:03:50.640 in us. We grow in the tough times. That's when 0:03:50.680 --> 0:03:54.320 our character is being developed, and God will not allow 0:03:54.440 --> 0:03:57.560 a difficulty unless he has a divine purpose for it 0:03:58.280 --> 0:04:01.160 and if we're going to reach our highest Butti, we 0:04:01.280 --> 0:04:02.520 have to make up our mind. 0:04:03.120 --> 0:04:03.920 I'm not going to. 0:04:03.880 --> 0:04:07.600 Live frustrated because I'm uncomfortable. I'm not going to be 0:04:07.720 --> 0:04:11.720 upset because things are not happening on my timetable. I'm 0:04:11.720 --> 0:04:14.640 not going to fight against everything that I don't like. 0:04:15.600 --> 0:04:19.479 Our attitude should be God, I trust you you're in 0:04:19.560 --> 0:04:24.120 complete control. I may not like this situation, but you 0:04:24.160 --> 0:04:27.600 wouldn't have me here unless I needed it. So I'm 0:04:27.640 --> 0:04:30.560 going to keep a good attitude and be my best 0:04:30.760 --> 0:04:35.120 right where I am. That's how you position yourself for promotion. 0:04:36.240 --> 0:04:39.400 In the scripture, it says that God didn't lead the 0:04:39.520 --> 0:04:44.480 Israelites the shortest route to the Promised Land. He took 0:04:44.520 --> 0:04:48.000 them the long way on purpose because they were not 0:04:48.120 --> 0:04:51.679 prepared for war. God knew if he would have taken 0:04:51.720 --> 0:04:55.120 them in too quickly, they would have been easily defeated. 0:04:55.720 --> 0:05:00.760 Their enemies were much bigger, much more experienced. They prayed 0:05:00.839 --> 0:05:04.880 many times, God, we're uncomfortable out here in the desert, 0:05:04.920 --> 0:05:08.240 we're hot, we're tired. Let us go in sooner. But 0:05:08.279 --> 0:05:12.359 God didn't answer that prayer. Not because God was trying 0:05:12.360 --> 0:05:16.000 to make their life miserable. But God knew what was 0:05:16.120 --> 0:05:19.000 up in front of them. He had to toughen them 0:05:19.120 --> 0:05:22.800 up and get them prepared so they could step into 0:05:22.880 --> 0:05:26.880 the fullness of their destiny. In the same way, God 0:05:26.920 --> 0:05:30.440 has already laid out the plan for your life. He 0:05:30.560 --> 0:05:34.719 knows exactly what you need, when you need it, who 0:05:34.760 --> 0:05:37.400 you need. He knows the battles you're going to face, 0:05:37.760 --> 0:05:40.080 the dreams you're going to accomplish. It's got it all 0:05:40.080 --> 0:05:47.680 figured out. That's why we cannot pray away every uncomfortable situation. God, 0:05:47.760 --> 0:05:50.160 this person at work, they're getting on my nerves. You've 0:05:50.160 --> 0:05:52.360 got to get him out of my life. No, God 0:05:52.400 --> 0:05:56.120 will use that person like sandpaper to rub the rough 0:05:56.200 --> 0:05:59.360 edges off of you. Even if you were to pray 0:05:59.400 --> 0:06:02.200 them away, God would send you two more people just 0:06:02.320 --> 0:06:02.520 like this. 0:06:03.880 --> 0:06:04.600 I've learned this. 0:06:05.240 --> 0:06:09.000 God is more interested in changing us than he is 0:06:09.080 --> 0:06:13.320 in changing our circumstances. God loves you too much to 0:06:13.440 --> 0:06:16.880 let you stay where you are. It may be uncomfortable, 0:06:17.320 --> 0:06:20.000 but you have to remind yourself this is not working 0:06:20.040 --> 0:06:20.599 against me. 0:06:21.160 --> 0:06:22.479 This is working for me. 0:06:23.120 --> 0:06:26.640 It's getting me in position for the amazing future God 0:06:26.680 --> 0:06:29.880 has in story and the truth is, some of the 0:06:29.880 --> 0:06:33.240 things you may be praying about, if God were to 0:06:33.279 --> 0:06:37.120 remove them right now, you wouldn't be prepared for where 0:06:37.160 --> 0:06:39.560 God has taken you. You got to let God do 0:06:39.640 --> 0:06:42.880 the work in you. In other words, be kind to 0:06:42.920 --> 0:06:46.160 the people that are not treating you right. Keep being 0:06:46.200 --> 0:06:49.359 your best, even though you're not getting the credit pass 0:06:49.440 --> 0:06:54.240 those tests. Paul prayed in Colossians three that the people 0:06:54.240 --> 0:06:57.800 would have the strength to endure whatever came their way. 0:06:58.760 --> 0:07:02.240 He didn't pray that God would delivered them instantly removed 0:07:02.240 --> 0:07:05.640 the difficulty. He prayed that they would have the strength 0:07:05.720 --> 0:07:09.960 to go through it with a good attitude. Paul understood 0:07:10.000 --> 0:07:13.880 this principle that God uses the tough times to get 0:07:13.960 --> 0:07:15.440 us prepared. 0:07:15.120 --> 0:07:17.960 For the next level. Think about David. 0:07:18.200 --> 0:07:21.440 He was chosen to be king, anointed by God to 0:07:21.480 --> 0:07:25.200 be the next leader of Israel. Surely God would answer 0:07:25.240 --> 0:07:29.560 all of his prayers. Surely God would make his life comfortable. No, 0:07:29.800 --> 0:07:33.720 David had to go through this same process for many years. 0:07:33.840 --> 0:07:38.440 King Saul made David's life miserable. David had done Saul 0:07:38.560 --> 0:07:42.240 nothing but good. He would play music when Saul wasn't. 0:07:41.960 --> 0:07:44.520 Feeling well, treated him with respect. 0:07:45.200 --> 0:07:48.760 But in return, Saul tried to kill David, chased him 0:07:48.760 --> 0:07:52.520 through the mountainside. I can hear David praying, God, you 0:07:52.640 --> 0:07:55.080 got to get this man out of my life. God, 0:07:55.160 --> 0:07:57.360 you know I haven't done anything wrong. 0:07:58.160 --> 0:07:59.080 Isn't it interesting? 0:07:59.640 --> 0:08:04.160 God didn't remove solve, He didn't answer that prayer. Here 0:08:04.280 --> 0:08:08.160 David was doing the right thing. It was an unfair situation, 0:08:09.160 --> 0:08:12.320 but God knew what he was doing. He was getting 0:08:12.480 --> 0:08:13.440 David prepared. 0:08:14.400 --> 0:08:17.120 The longer you do the right. 0:08:16.920 --> 0:08:20.520 Thing when the wrong thing's happening, the longer you keep 0:08:20.560 --> 0:08:24.760 a good attitude in an unfair situation, the higher God 0:08:24.840 --> 0:08:26.240 is going to take you. 0:08:26.280 --> 0:08:27.600 Don't be discouraged by it. 0:08:29.280 --> 0:08:31.600 Joel, I've been doing the right thing in this marriage 0:08:31.600 --> 0:08:35.559 for years. I'm not seeing any results. I've been volunteering 0:08:35.640 --> 0:08:38.160 in the nursery for a long time nobody. 0:08:37.800 --> 0:08:38.800 Ever says thank you. 0:08:39.280 --> 0:08:40.960 I go to work, do more than I have to. 0:08:41.040 --> 0:08:44.640 I'm not being promoted. You're right where David was. Keep 0:08:44.679 --> 0:08:48.600 being faithful, keep doing the right thing. God is getting 0:08:48.600 --> 0:08:53.160 you prepared for something amazing. Your future is so big. 0:08:53.640 --> 0:08:57.680 God has to get your spiritual muscles, your character, your 0:08:57.760 --> 0:09:01.280 maturity to match the level that God is about to 0:09:01.280 --> 0:09:05.320 thrust you too. Now, don't fight it, just keep being 0:09:05.400 --> 0:09:10.720 your best. God is closely watching you. He sees every 0:09:10.840 --> 0:09:14.840 time you make a sacrifice, every time you overlook a wrong, 0:09:15.360 --> 0:09:18.160 every time you take the high road, every time you 0:09:18.280 --> 0:09:21.640 help someone in need that doesn't go unnoticed. 0:09:22.160 --> 0:09:23.719 God is keeping the records. 0:09:24.000 --> 0:09:28.199 He's saying payday is coming, the breakthrough is coming, the 0:09:28.200 --> 0:09:32.040 reward is coming, the new level is coming. Just like David, 0:09:32.240 --> 0:09:35.400 You're going to take your throne and become everything God's 0:09:35.440 --> 0:09:36.200 created you to be. 0:09:37.280 --> 0:09:40.320 But we naturally all like things easier. 0:09:40.960 --> 0:09:45.080 We love for God to remove the difficult people, eliminate 0:09:45.160 --> 0:09:48.960 the hardships. Answer our prayers the first time we prayed. 0:09:49.280 --> 0:09:53.080 But that's not always what's best. Have a new perspective. 0:09:53.840 --> 0:09:58.839 Those difficulties are not happening to you, They're happening for you. 0:10:00.040 --> 0:10:01.440 People that are hard to get along with. 0:10:02.240 --> 0:10:05.600 If you'll have the right attitude, take the high road, 0:10:05.760 --> 0:10:09.839 be kind, ignore their negative comments. They're not holding you down. 0:10:10.200 --> 0:10:14.640 They're polishing you. They're refining you. They're making you shine. 0:10:15.200 --> 0:10:18.800 Don't be upset. You couldn't go where God wants you 0:10:18.840 --> 0:10:20.000 to go without them. 0:10:20.800 --> 0:10:22.520 They're doing you a favor. 0:10:22.559 --> 0:10:26.120 Without that sandpaper, you would stay rough. The next time 0:10:26.160 --> 0:10:28.480 you see them said that, thinking, oh man, I'm gonna 0:10:28.480 --> 0:10:28.840 feel like. 0:10:28.880 --> 0:10:29.480 Dealing with them. 0:10:29.520 --> 0:10:32.280 No, just smile and say thank you Lord. I'm gonna 0:10:32.280 --> 0:10:34.959 be polished a little bit more today. I'm gonna shine 0:10:35.000 --> 0:10:39.679 a little bit brighter. Could it be that you are 0:10:39.760 --> 0:10:43.800 fighting what God wants to use. You're spending all your 0:10:43.840 --> 0:10:47.360 time trying to pray away the difficulty when you should 0:10:47.480 --> 0:10:50.520 be spending your time honoring God in the midst of 0:10:50.559 --> 0:10:54.920 the difficulty. Instead of fighting where you are, try a 0:10:54.960 --> 0:10:59.600 different approach. Embrace where you are. It may not be 0:10:59.760 --> 0:11:02.800 where you want to stay. I'm not saying to settle 0:11:02.840 --> 0:11:07.640 there and accept mediocrity. I'm saying to accept where you are, 0:11:08.360 --> 0:11:11.000 knowing that the creator of the universe has you in 0:11:11.040 --> 0:11:15.080 the palm of his hand. He's directing your steps. Nothing 0:11:15.160 --> 0:11:18.120 that's happened to you is a surprise to him. At 0:11:18.160 --> 0:11:22.240 the right time, God will change it in your due season, 0:11:22.840 --> 0:11:26.000 when you're ready, when it's best for you. God will 0:11:26.040 --> 0:11:29.160 remove the difficulty and take you to a new level. 0:11:29.800 --> 0:11:33.080 But in the meantime, one way we can show God 0:11:33.120 --> 0:11:37.680 we're trusting him is by enjoying our life while God 0:11:37.760 --> 0:11:42.160 is changing the circumstances. Maybe all your friends are married, 0:11:42.679 --> 0:11:45.920 you're still single. That's all right. This is where God 0:11:46.000 --> 0:11:49.280 has me right now. I'm at peace, I'm happy. I 0:11:49.320 --> 0:11:52.280 know the right person is already on their way. That's 0:11:52.280 --> 0:11:53.560 how you pass the test. 0:11:54.280 --> 0:11:56.760 Not every other minute. God, I'm begging you, please and 0:11:56.880 --> 0:11:58.839 be a man. God. I've been waiting for this. 0:11:59.040 --> 0:12:03.360 Now, God, I trust Maybe you're in an apartment believing 0:12:03.400 --> 0:12:04.840 for a nicer place to live. 0:12:05.559 --> 0:12:07.920 Not God, I am so sick and tired of this place. 0:12:07.960 --> 0:12:10.440 And God, Joel said, things have shifted, and I had 0:12:10.559 --> 0:12:14.240 seen one shift in my life. No, God, I trust you. 0:12:14.679 --> 0:12:16.360 This is where you have me right now. 0:12:16.520 --> 0:12:17.240 I'm content. 0:12:17.559 --> 0:12:20.120 But God, I know in my future you're going to 0:12:20.160 --> 0:12:22.800 open the windows of heaven pour out blessings that I 0:12:22.840 --> 0:12:27.120 cannot contain. Lord, I want to thank you in advance 0:12:27.200 --> 0:12:30.160 that it's on the way. That's how you see promises 0:12:30.200 --> 0:12:34.040 come to pass. When we were trying to acquire this facility, 0:12:34.440 --> 0:12:37.000 the former Compact Center, it was a three and a 0:12:37.040 --> 0:12:40.839 half year battle. The Houston City Council voted for us 0:12:40.840 --> 0:12:43.800 to have the building, but then a large company filed 0:12:43.800 --> 0:12:46.240 a lawsuit to try to keep us from moving in. 0:12:46.960 --> 0:12:49.400 At times it looked impossible. 0:12:49.440 --> 0:12:51.160 All the odds were against us. 0:12:51.880 --> 0:12:53.880 Even if we were to win, the lawsuit could have 0:12:53.880 --> 0:12:56.719 been tied up for ten years in the court system. 0:12:57.000 --> 0:12:58.520 Now I had already told. 0:12:58.280 --> 0:13:01.480 The congregation that it was we were gonna renovate it 0:13:01.640 --> 0:13:02.280 and move in. 0:13:03.480 --> 0:13:06.040 Many times I woke up in the middle of the 0:13:06.160 --> 0:13:09.360 night in a cold sweat, with a voice. 0:13:09.040 --> 0:13:12.560 Saying, what if it doesn't work out? What if you 0:13:12.559 --> 0:13:16.079 don't win the lawsuit. You've already put the vision out, Joel. 0:13:16.280 --> 0:13:17.679 People have given funds. 0:13:17.760 --> 0:13:19.640 It's going to be a big mess. 0:13:20.000 --> 0:13:23.400 I was tempted to worry, be stressed, beg God, God, 0:13:23.440 --> 0:13:24.960 you gotta please make this happen. 0:13:25.320 --> 0:13:27.240 Now I did what I'm asking you to do. 0:13:27.880 --> 0:13:31.200 God, It's all in your hands. I believe God, You've 0:13:31.200 --> 0:13:34.200 promised us to this building. But while I'm waiting. 0:13:34.559 --> 0:13:38.320 I'm not gonna worry. I'm not gonna live frustrated. I'm 0:13:38.320 --> 0:13:40.640 not gonna play out all the what ifs. God. 0:13:40.679 --> 0:13:44.760 I trust you, I know you have the final say. 0:13:44.920 --> 0:13:49.720 Instead of fighting it begging God, I embraced where I was. 0:13:50.400 --> 0:13:54.040 We're in a lawsuit. It's out of my control. I've 0:13:54.080 --> 0:13:57.240 done my best. Now I'm gonna stay in faith and 0:13:57.320 --> 0:13:59.959 trust God to do the rest. Three and a half 0:14:00.200 --> 0:14:03.040 years later, God gave us this beautiful facility and here 0:14:03.080 --> 0:14:03.760 we are today. 0:14:05.280 --> 0:14:06.240 But think about this. 0:14:07.080 --> 0:14:10.440 God could have answered our prayers the first week we 0:14:10.600 --> 0:14:13.679 prayed just as easily as he did three and a 0:14:13.720 --> 0:14:17.040 half years later. He's God would have been no big deal. 0:14:17.520 --> 0:14:19.800 He wouldn't have even had to get up off the throne. 0:14:19.880 --> 0:14:22.080 He could have just spoken it and it would have happened. 0:14:22.200 --> 0:14:26.080 Why didn't he do it? One reason I believe is 0:14:26.160 --> 0:14:29.640 God was doing a work in me. During those three 0:14:29.680 --> 0:14:32.640 and a half years. I learned to trust God like 0:14:32.720 --> 0:14:36.480 I'd never trusted him before. Some things you can only 0:14:36.560 --> 0:14:39.280 learn in the struggle. You can't learn in the good 0:14:39.320 --> 0:14:41.680 times when it's easy, everything's going your way. 0:14:42.240 --> 0:14:43.400 That doesn't take any faith. 0:14:43.960 --> 0:14:46.840 You can only learn like David, when you're in the 0:14:46.880 --> 0:14:51.360 wilderness and you're not being treated right. Don't be frustrated 0:14:51.640 --> 0:14:54.920 because it's not happening in your way on your timetable. 0:14:55.440 --> 0:14:56.920 God knows what he's doing. 0:14:57.480 --> 0:15:01.720 He's getting you prepared. Here's the key. Your destiny is 0:15:01.800 --> 0:15:05.080 bigger than you think. You're going to go further than 0:15:05.120 --> 0:15:08.800 you can imagine. God can see the new levels in 0:15:08.800 --> 0:15:10.840 front of you. He knows what's up there. 0:15:11.280 --> 0:15:11.440 Now. 0:15:11.560 --> 0:15:17.040 Keep passing those tests. Stay in faith even when it's difficult. 0:15:17.360 --> 0:15:20.560 Keep doing the right thing, even when the wrong thing's happening. 0:15:20.880 --> 0:15:24.240 Don't fight it begging God every other minute, Please, God, 0:15:24.280 --> 0:15:25.080 you got to change it. 0:15:25.200 --> 0:15:26.600 That's just going to frustrate you. 0:15:27.240 --> 0:15:30.960 Learn to embrace where you are, and it's okay to 0:15:31.040 --> 0:15:33.720 be honest and say God, I don't like where I am. 0:15:34.480 --> 0:15:38.920 I'm uncomfortable. It's taken longer than I thought. But God, 0:15:39.240 --> 0:15:42.520 I trust you. I know this is not happening to me. 0:15:43.040 --> 0:15:45.960 It's happening for me. It's all a part of your 0:15:45.960 --> 0:15:50.400 divine plan. When you learn to embrace where you are, 0:15:51.200 --> 0:15:52.400 it's a freeing way to live. 0:15:53.000 --> 0:15:54.280 Takes all the pressure off. 0:15:55.200 --> 0:16:01.760 Hebrews says, those who have believed enter into the way 0:16:01.800 --> 0:16:05.680 to know that you're really in faith is you're at rest. 0:16:05.920 --> 0:16:09.800 There's a peace. You may have a problem believing for 0:16:09.840 --> 0:16:12.800 a situation to turn around. It's taking a long time. 0:16:13.040 --> 0:16:16.400 You could easily be discouraged. You know, the key is 0:16:16.440 --> 0:16:19.400 to stay in that place of rest where you know 0:16:19.600 --> 0:16:21.080 God is in complete control. 0:16:21.880 --> 0:16:25.280 You're not moved by what you see. You're not worried 0:16:25.320 --> 0:16:26.920 because it's taken a long time. 0:16:27.400 --> 0:16:31.120 You're not disappointed because you went through a setback. Every 0:16:31.240 --> 0:16:33.960 day you stay in peace, you are one day closer 0:16:33.960 --> 0:16:37.520 to see in that situation turn around. Now, you say, Joel, 0:16:37.640 --> 0:16:40.640 I just don't understand why God doesn't answer my prayers. 0:16:40.720 --> 0:16:45.040 I'm going to church, I'm faithful. I help others think 0:16:45.080 --> 0:16:50.360 about this. Maybe what you're praying about is too small. 0:16:50.560 --> 0:16:54.160 Maybe God has something much better and he loves you 0:16:54.320 --> 0:16:58.080 so much that he won't answer that prayer. But until 0:16:58.120 --> 0:17:02.000 you enter into this rest and quit being sour thinking 0:17:02.040 --> 0:17:04.920 that God's letting you down, it'll keep the new thing 0:17:04.960 --> 0:17:08.200 from happening. Now, a prayer that we should all pray 0:17:08.280 --> 0:17:11.800 on a regular basis is God, not my will, but 0:17:11.920 --> 0:17:15.119 let your will be done. And it's okay to say God, 0:17:15.400 --> 0:17:17.919 this is what I'm believing for God. This is what 0:17:17.960 --> 0:17:20.640 I want, this is what I'm dreaming about. But God, 0:17:20.760 --> 0:17:23.440 if you have something better, I trust you. 0:17:23.440 --> 0:17:24.639 You know what's best for me. 0:17:26.080 --> 0:17:28.960 If you're only going to be happy if God does 0:17:29.000 --> 0:17:33.120 it your way, then you're not really trusting. We can 0:17:33.200 --> 0:17:36.480 only see a little bit down the road. God can 0:17:36.520 --> 0:17:40.040 see the big picture. He can see around every curve. 0:17:40.440 --> 0:17:43.520 He knows where the dead ends are, where the shortcuts are. 0:17:43.800 --> 0:17:47.239 God knows how to get you to your destination. Why 0:17:47.280 --> 0:17:50.440 don't you take your hands off the wheels, so to speak, 0:17:50.800 --> 0:17:52.960 and let God take you where he wants you to go. 0:17:53.960 --> 0:17:57.439 Two thousand and one, and executive flew to Houston for 0:17:57.520 --> 0:18:01.400 an important job interview. It was at a top company, 0:18:01.640 --> 0:18:04.600 one of the largest in the nation, headquartered right here 0:18:04.600 --> 0:18:08.480 in Houston. In the natural. It was a golden opportunity 0:18:08.800 --> 0:18:12.080 looked like a huge boost for his career. He was 0:18:12.160 --> 0:18:15.040 ready to give up his position of nearly thirty years 0:18:15.080 --> 0:18:18.399 and move his family here to town. He flew in 0:18:18.440 --> 0:18:20.959 a day early, came to the service and asked us 0:18:20.960 --> 0:18:23.600 to pray over the interview. We prayed that God would 0:18:23.640 --> 0:18:26.240 give him wisdom and favor and cause him to stand out. 0:18:27.200 --> 0:18:31.080 Called back the next day so excited. Everything had gone 0:18:31.119 --> 0:18:35.840 great looked very promising. Three weeks later, he was invited 0:18:35.880 --> 0:18:37.680 back for a second interview. 0:18:38.160 --> 0:18:40.800 Once again, he flew in a day early. We prayed. 0:18:41.080 --> 0:18:42.160 He went to the interview. 0:18:42.280 --> 0:18:45.200 A few hours later, they called him back in said 0:18:45.240 --> 0:18:48.760 we really like you. You're very talented, but we're sorry 0:18:49.240 --> 0:18:52.760 you're not going to fit with our organization. You would 0:18:52.800 --> 0:18:56.240 have thought that his world had just ended. He was 0:18:56.359 --> 0:18:59.760 so set on having that position. He felt like God 0:18:59.760 --> 0:19:03.080 had totally let him down. I told him what I'm 0:19:03.080 --> 0:19:06.439 telling you, You've got to trust God. Even when you 0:19:06.520 --> 0:19:09.359 don't get the answer that you were looking for. You 0:19:09.480 --> 0:19:14.000 got to believe that God's in control. He's directing your steps. 0:19:13.720 --> 0:19:16.919 Keeping you on the best plan for your life. He 0:19:17.000 --> 0:19:20.160 went back home to his city very very disappointed. 0:19:20.920 --> 0:19:23.840 Six months later, the company he was trying to get 0:19:23.880 --> 0:19:27.840 a position with filed for bankruptcy. It was a big 0:19:27.920 --> 0:19:31.440 scandal all over the national news. The company ended up 0:19:31.480 --> 0:19:35.400 totally folding. Here's how good God is. He was two 0:19:35.480 --> 0:19:39.119 years away from his retirement. If he'd have gotten hired 0:19:39.160 --> 0:19:42.600 by that company, he would not only not have a job, 0:19:43.080 --> 0:19:45.600 but he would have lost nearly thirty years of his 0:19:45.720 --> 0:19:46.840 retirement benefits. 0:19:47.359 --> 0:19:49.560 Friends, God knows what he's doing. 0:19:50.040 --> 0:19:55.080 Quit fighting against what doesn't go your way. Quit being 0:19:55.119 --> 0:19:59.080 disappointed because your plans didn't work out. You may not 0:19:59.320 --> 0:20:03.000 understand it now, but one day you will thank God 0:20:03.040 --> 0:20:07.360 for those closed doors. God's ways are better than our ways. 0:20:07.840 --> 0:20:10.280 Don't try to figure it all out. Well, Joe, why 0:20:10.320 --> 0:20:13.320 didn't I get the promotion? I had the seniority, I 0:20:13.440 --> 0:20:17.760 worked the hardest. Listen, just as God supernaturally opens doors, 0:20:18.040 --> 0:20:22.560 God will supernaturally close doors. We all thank God for 0:20:22.640 --> 0:20:25.239 the open doors, and that's good. We should celebrate that. 0:20:25.920 --> 0:20:28.439 But I've learned to thank God just as much for 0:20:28.560 --> 0:20:32.560 my closed doors. What I used to see as a disappointment, 0:20:32.960 --> 0:20:36.840 now I see as the hand of God. I realized, 0:20:36.880 --> 0:20:40.080 if God closed it, he has something better in store. 0:20:40.800 --> 0:20:43.520 Why don't you trust him? Why don't you enter into 0:20:43.520 --> 0:20:47.199 that rest? God, you know what's best for me. I 0:20:47.240 --> 0:20:49.080 don't have to have my way to be happy. 0:20:49.440 --> 0:20:50.200 I know your. 0:20:50.080 --> 0:20:54.120 Plans are better than my plans. A few years back, 0:20:54.359 --> 0:20:57.400 a young lady came to the altar for prayer. She 0:20:57.480 --> 0:21:00.760 was very distraught because her boyfriend had just broken up 0:21:00.760 --> 0:21:03.760 with her. She was certain he was the man of 0:21:03.800 --> 0:21:07.679 her dreams. She couldn't live without him. We prayed and 0:21:07.720 --> 0:21:11.800 asked God to restore that relationship. For the next six months, 0:21:12.280 --> 0:21:15.040 almost every week she would come back for prayer. We 0:21:15.080 --> 0:21:16.359 prayed again and again. 0:21:17.200 --> 0:21:18.399 I tried to tell her. 0:21:18.280 --> 0:21:21.520 To stay open, trust God to do it his way. 0:21:21.680 --> 0:21:23.680 He knows what's best for you. She didn't want to 0:21:23.720 --> 0:21:26.679 hear any of that. She only wanted God to do 0:21:26.720 --> 0:21:31.080 it her way. But God is so merciful, He loves 0:21:31.200 --> 0:21:34.040 us so much. If it's not the right thing, God 0:21:34.119 --> 0:21:37.280 will keep the door closed even though we're trying to 0:21:37.320 --> 0:21:40.840 pry it open. We see it as a big disappointment. God, 0:21:40.920 --> 0:21:43.520 I can't believe you let me down. You didn't answer 0:21:43.560 --> 0:21:47.399 my prayer. The truth is God was doing us a favor. 0:21:47.920 --> 0:21:51.200 He was saving us from heartache and pain. Now I 0:21:51.240 --> 0:21:54.560 didn't see her for a long time. About five years later, 0:21:55.040 --> 0:21:57.480 I ran into her in the lobby after the service. 0:21:58.160 --> 0:22:01.480 She was very happy, had a handsome young man by 0:22:01.520 --> 0:22:02.440 her side. 0:22:02.680 --> 0:22:03.880 A newborn baby. 0:22:04.400 --> 0:22:06.280 Come to find out they were married a couple of 0:22:06.359 --> 0:22:07.080 years earlier. 0:22:07.400 --> 0:22:08.639 She was so excited. 0:22:09.280 --> 0:22:13.040 I congratulated them, prayed over the little baby. At one 0:22:13.080 --> 0:22:17.640 point her husband stepped away. She whispered Joel, you remember 0:22:17.720 --> 0:22:19.520 the young man I used to have you pray about 0:22:19.520 --> 0:22:20.199 all the time. 0:22:20.640 --> 0:22:22.760 I thought, yeah, the one you couldn't live without. And 0:22:24.119 --> 0:22:25.440 she told how. 0:22:25.640 --> 0:22:29.639 He's been married and divorced twice already, He's constantly in 0:22:29.720 --> 0:22:32.479 and out of trouble, can't hold down a good job. 0:22:33.119 --> 0:22:36.399 I'll never forget what she said. I thank God every 0:22:36.520 --> 0:22:41.159 day that he didn't answer those prayers. But I wonder 0:22:42.760 --> 0:22:45.040 how many things are we upset. 0:22:44.600 --> 0:22:48.840 Over wondering why God didn't answer that prayer, Why the 0:22:48.920 --> 0:22:52.600 situation didn't change, why the door closed. Yet, if God 0:22:52.680 --> 0:22:55.760 were to pull back the curtain and let us see 0:22:55.800 --> 0:22:59.480 into the future what he can see, we'd realize God 0:22:59.520 --> 0:23:02.480 knows exact exactly what he's doing. God has our best 0:23:02.480 --> 0:23:03.280 interest at heart. 0:23:03.960 --> 0:23:07.000 That promotion you didn't get, you were so disappointed. It's 0:23:07.040 --> 0:23:08.560 because God has something better. 0:23:09.400 --> 0:23:12.879 That door that closed, we couldn't understand. It seemed like 0:23:12.880 --> 0:23:16.160 a perfect fit for us. But seeing the big picture, 0:23:16.600 --> 0:23:18.320 we realized that road was. 0:23:18.240 --> 0:23:20.600 A dead end. It was leading to nowhere. 0:23:21.480 --> 0:23:23.600 That traffic jam you got caught in, you were so 0:23:23.720 --> 0:23:24.360 stressed out. 0:23:24.760 --> 0:23:27.679 It was saving you from an accident. That person that 0:23:27.760 --> 0:23:29.560 walked out on you. It's very painful. 0:23:30.160 --> 0:23:33.120 But if they hadn't left, you wouldn't meet the right 0:23:33.160 --> 0:23:34.320 person God has. 0:23:34.119 --> 0:23:34.800 In your future. 0:23:35.480 --> 0:23:39.600 I'm asking you to quit fighting against everything you don't like. 0:23:40.240 --> 0:23:43.960 It's not happening to you. It's happening for you. When 0:23:44.000 --> 0:23:47.919 you're at rest, You're passing the test. A friend of 0:23:47.960 --> 0:23:52.080 mine went up to the mall recently to return an item. 0:23:52.600 --> 0:23:55.040 She had her little newborn baby in the back seat. 0:23:55.440 --> 0:23:57.800 When she pulled in the parking lot, she noticed this 0:23:57.920 --> 0:24:01.000 lady was about to pull out, and she waited there 0:24:01.320 --> 0:24:05.160 and waited and waited and waited. The lady was taken forever. 0:24:05.760 --> 0:24:09.359 The longer she waited, the more frustrated she became. She thought, 0:24:09.400 --> 0:24:11.639 come on, lady, I know you can see me. What 0:24:11.800 --> 0:24:15.240 could be taken you so long. After several minutes, she 0:24:15.359 --> 0:24:18.199 got aggravated and just drove off, went and parked at 0:24:18.240 --> 0:24:21.480 the very end of the road. She got out, got 0:24:21.480 --> 0:24:24.320 her little baby, and headed to the store. When she 0:24:24.440 --> 0:24:27.159 got to the front of the store, she realized she 0:24:27.240 --> 0:24:29.920 had forgotten the item that she wanted to take back. 0:24:30.480 --> 0:24:34.200 She's already frustrated, she thought, this is just not my day. 0:24:34.880 --> 0:24:36.359 Nothing is going my way. 0:24:36.720 --> 0:24:39.280 She walked all the way back to her car long 0:24:39.359 --> 0:24:42.720 way with their baby, got the item she needed, turned 0:24:42.720 --> 0:24:45.760 back and started walking toward the store. When she got 0:24:45.760 --> 0:24:48.920 about halfway there, this car came around in a big rush, 0:24:49.400 --> 0:24:52.399 rolled down the window and said, hey, don't go in 0:24:52.480 --> 0:24:55.760 the store, there's a deranged man in there with a 0:24:55.880 --> 0:24:59.800 gun taking people hostage. In less than a minute, there 0:24:59.840 --> 0:25:04.320 were a dozen police cars, swat team, helicopter surrounding that 0:25:04.400 --> 0:25:06.880 place trying to get the people out safely. 0:25:07.800 --> 0:25:09.880 Without that delay, she. 0:25:09.960 --> 0:25:13.600 Could have been in there with her newborn baby, trapped 0:25:13.640 --> 0:25:14.760 with that deranged man. 0:25:15.320 --> 0:25:16.080 What am I saying? 0:25:16.400 --> 0:25:20.359 Don't fight your delays, don't fight the inconveniences, don't fight 0:25:20.400 --> 0:25:25.119 when you getting caught by that train. You may not 0:25:25.359 --> 0:25:27.920 understand it, but God knows what he's doing. 0:25:28.560 --> 0:25:31.879 He can see the big picture. Dare to trust him. 0:25:32.320 --> 0:25:36.560 Proverbs twenty says, since the Lord is directing our steps, 0:25:37.160 --> 0:25:40.000 why do we try to figure out everything. 0:25:39.560 --> 0:25:40.920 That happens along the way. 0:25:41.880 --> 0:25:45.359 You may never know why you had a delay, a disappointment, 0:25:45.400 --> 0:25:49.320 a setback. But when you really believe that the creator 0:25:49.400 --> 0:25:51.840 of the universe has you in the palm of his hand, 0:25:52.440 --> 0:25:55.120 then you can stay in peace even when you don't 0:25:55.200 --> 0:25:59.119 understand it. That's what faith is all about. I know 0:25:59.200 --> 0:26:03.240 a gentleman does missionary work in Africa. He was supposed 0:26:03.280 --> 0:26:06.200 to catch an early morning flight the next day to 0:26:06.320 --> 0:26:10.119 come back home. The person taking him had car trouble 0:26:10.400 --> 0:26:13.800 and he ended up missing that flight. It's very upset 0:26:14.000 --> 0:26:16.080 because it was going to take him another week to 0:26:16.119 --> 0:26:17.879 get home from that small city. 0:26:18.560 --> 0:26:20.040 Went back to the hotel a little. 0:26:19.920 --> 0:26:23.359 Later that afternoon, flipped on the news. The plane he 0:26:23.440 --> 0:26:27.439 was supposed to be on had crashed into the mountain side. 0:26:27.680 --> 0:26:30.399 Some of the very things that we fight against, the 0:26:30.440 --> 0:26:34.680 things that frustrate us, God has ordained them to keep 0:26:34.760 --> 0:26:36.160 us from accident and harm. 0:26:36.800 --> 0:26:39.159 They're called divine delays. 0:26:39.800 --> 0:26:44.040 Your plans are interrupted on purpose since the Lord is 0:26:44.119 --> 0:26:47.920 directing our steps. Don't fight it. It's not always going 0:26:48.000 --> 0:26:51.920 to make sense. I turned fifty years old in March 0:26:51.960 --> 0:26:54.639 of this year, and I was reflecting back over my 0:26:56.080 --> 0:26:59.160 thank you, thank you, still good looking though, all right? 0:26:59.200 --> 0:26:59.439 Come on. 0:27:01.280 --> 0:27:04.240 I was reflecting back over my life and just thinking 0:27:04.280 --> 0:27:06.879 about what would I have done differently, what could I 0:27:06.880 --> 0:27:10.520 have done better. I have no big regrets. I've lived 0:27:10.520 --> 0:27:13.800 a happy, blessed life. But one adjustment I would have 0:27:13.880 --> 0:27:18.080 made is I would have trusted God more. I wouldn't 0:27:18.080 --> 0:27:21.440 have worried about things that I couldn't change. I wouldn't 0:27:21.440 --> 0:27:24.000 have been stressed out when my plans didn't work out. 0:27:24.560 --> 0:27:27.360 I wouldn't have stayed awake at night wondering how we're 0:27:27.359 --> 0:27:29.280 going to raise the funds and what am I going 0:27:29.359 --> 0:27:32.359 to speak on next week. I would have entered into 0:27:32.400 --> 0:27:36.280 this place of rest. Some of you are always fighting, 0:27:36.880 --> 0:27:40.200 worried up tight, don't like where you are, don't like 0:27:40.280 --> 0:27:41.639 the job, don't like the people. 0:27:42.240 --> 0:27:44.120 Why don't you try a different approach? 0:27:44.720 --> 0:27:48.240 This will save you a lot of frustration. Embrace where 0:27:48.280 --> 0:27:52.119 you are, even when it's uncomfortable, even when you don't 0:27:52.240 --> 0:27:55.600 like it. Stay in peace, keep a good attitude. When 0:27:55.640 --> 0:27:58.640 you do that, God is using it to your advantage. 0:27:58.760 --> 0:28:04.120 You're growing, You're developing character. It's positioning you for the amazing. 0:28:03.720 --> 0:28:05.119 Future God has in store. 0:28:05.800 --> 0:28:08.520 And if you won't enter into this rest and not 0:28:08.720 --> 0:28:12.120 fight against everything, you'll not only enjoy your life more, 0:28:12.640 --> 0:28:15.880 but I believe and declare, just like David, You're going 0:28:15.920 --> 0:28:19.199 to step into the fullness of your destiny. God is 0:28:19.240 --> 0:28:22.719 going to take you further than you've imagined, opening doors 0:28:22.720 --> 0:28:26.640 that no man can shut. You're going to overcome every obstacle, 0:28:26.960 --> 0:28:31.000 accomplish every dream, and become everything that God's created you 0:28:31.080 --> 0:28:31.280 to be. 0:28:31.640 --> 0:28:34.800 In Jesus' name, if you receive it, can you say 0:28:34.840 --> 0:28:35.439 him in today? 0:28:37.400 --> 0:28:40.200 We never like to close our broadcast without giving you 0:28:40.200 --> 0:28:42.960 an opportunity to make Jesus the lord of your life. 0:28:43.280 --> 0:28:47.520 Would you pray with me? Just say Lord, Jesus, I 0:28:47.680 --> 0:28:48.800 repent of my sins. 0:28:50.160 --> 0:28:54.080 Come into my heart. I make you my Lord and savior. 0:28:55.480 --> 0:28:58.000 Friends, if you prayed that simple prayer, we believe you 0:28:58.040 --> 0:29:00.960 got born again. Get in a good Bible based church. 0:29:01.360 --> 0:29:04.080 Keep God first place. He's going to take you places 0:29:04.160 --> 0:29:05.200 that you've never dreamed of. 0:29:06.440 --> 0:29:10.120 Thank you for listening to the Jolostine podcast. Help us 0:29:10.160 --> 0:29:13.000 continue to share the message of hope with those all 0:29:13.040 --> 0:29:17.200 over the world. Visit jolostein dot com slash give Hope 0:29:17.280 --> 0:29:18.479 to give a gift today. 0:29:19.760 --> 0:29:22.680 Thanks so much for listening to today's message. I hope 0:29:22.680 --> 0:29:26.040 you'll subscribe so you can receive the latest podcast to 0:29:26.120 --> 0:29:28.160 keep you inspired all through the week. 0:29:28.400 --> 0:29:29.320 We're praying for you. 0:29:29.520 --> 0:29:31.240 I know God's best is still ahead. 0:29:31.480 --> 0:29:32.520 We'll see you next time. 0:29:38.680 --> 0:29:43.720 Nice funs, soft, fluffy and ultralow Netcarbs discover hero Bread, 0:29:43.920 --> 0:29:48.160 the delicious ultralow netcarbred with incredible taste and texture. Hero 0:29:48.320 --> 0:29:50.520 Bread has zero grams of sugar and is under one 0:29:50.560 --> 0:29:54.000 hundred calories per serving, plus high end fiber and up 0:29:54.000 --> 0:29:57.280 to ten grams of protein per serving. Available on Amazon 0:29:57.320 --> 0:30:00.320 dot com, Walmart dot com, and Hero dot ce Oh, 0:30:00.520 --> 0:30:04.160 that's hero dot Co. Order from Hero dot Co now 0:30:04.200 --> 0:30:06.680 and get ten percent off your purchase with promo code 0:30:06.800 --> 0:30:07.840 IHM ten. 0:30:10.000 --> 0:30:12.560 More than ever before, people are turning to the church 0:30:12.600 --> 0:30:16.160 for their mental health struggles. Unfortunately, the church has largely 0:30:16.240 --> 0:30:19.320 been ill equipped to help. That is until now. Join 0:30:19.400 --> 0:30:22.400 nearly fifty thousand people just like you who've enrolled in 0:30:22.400 --> 0:30:25.320 the Mental Health Coach training program and become equipped to 0:30:25.440 --> 0:30:27.800 help for a limited time. Apply for a full tuition 0:30:27.920 --> 0:30:30.200 scholarship and only pay a one time tech fee of 0:30:30.240 --> 0:30:34.200 fifty four dollars if accepted. Apply now at mentalhealth coach 0:30:34.440 --> 0:30:37.200 dot org. That's mentalhealth coach dot org. 0:30:38.720 --> 0:30:40.719 Summer is here, and our sleep is just as important 0:30:40.720 --> 0:30:41.680 as our weekend plans. 0:30:41.760 --> 0:30:43.760 So get the sleep you deserve with Lisa for. 0:30:43.720 --> 0:30:45.719 A limited time. Save up to seven hundred dollars off 0:30:45.760 --> 0:30:48.760 select mattresses plus two free pillows during our summer sale. 0:30:48.880 --> 0:30:51.200 Check out our hybrid mattress designed to keep you cool 0:30:51.280 --> 0:30:54.160 during those hot summer nights. Lisa also offers free shipping 0:30:54.280 --> 0:30:56.120 and a risk free one hundred night trial. 0:30:56.320 --> 0:30:57.520 Get the sleep you deserve. 0:30:57.760 --> 0:30:59.600 Shop our summer sale now and save up to seven 0:30:59.640 --> 0:31:02.680 hundred dollars off select mattresses plus two free pill ups 0:31:02.680 --> 0:31:05.120 at Lisa dot com. That's l e e s a 0:31:05.320 --> 0:31:08.320 dot com exclusion supply. Visit Lisa dot com for details