The Power of Letting Go

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 --> 0:01:05.119 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 --> 0:01:11.840 with the uns stapp. Wow. Thanks Grandpa. The units stap 0:01:11.840 --> 0:01:14.360 makes it easy for grandparents and family friends to give 0:01:14.440 --> 0:01:17.160 funds to a child's investment account for a limited time. 0:01:17.280 --> 0:01:19.440 Download the uns stap and use the code I heeart 0:01:19.440 --> 0:01:21.720 fifty at sign up to receive a fifty dollars bonus 0:01:21.720 --> 0:01:24.280 when you fund your account. That's code iHeart fifty when 0:01:24.319 --> 0:01:27.280 you sign up at unest dot co for a fifty 0:01:27.319 --> 0:01:30.120 dollars bonus. See terms and conditions at UNEs dot co. 0:01:31.280 --> 0:01:34.000 Hi, this is Joel and Victoria. Thanks for listening to 0:01:34.040 --> 0:01:36.800 our podcast and thanks for supporting the ministry. 0:01:36.920 --> 0:01:39.280 If you enjoy today's message, why don't you be a 0:01:39.319 --> 0:01:40.880 blessing and share it with a friends. 0:01:41.160 --> 0:01:43.880 We appreciate you and pray for God's very best in 0:01:43.959 --> 0:01:54.160 your life. 0:01:56.040 --> 0:01:58.560 Oh God bless you. It's a joy to come into 0:01:58.560 --> 0:01:59.200 your homes. 0:01:59.520 --> 0:02:02.040 We love you and we know God has great things 0:02:02.040 --> 0:02:04.000 in store for each one of you. If you're ever 0:02:04.080 --> 0:02:06.160 in our area, stop by and be a part of 0:02:06.200 --> 0:02:08.519 one of our services. I promise you we'll make you 0:02:08.560 --> 0:02:10.800 feel right at home. But thanks so much for tuning 0:02:10.840 --> 0:02:13.040 in today, and thank you again for coming out, and 0:02:13.400 --> 0:02:15.440 I like to start with something funny. And I heard 0:02:15.440 --> 0:02:18.679 about these three sons that left home and went out 0:02:18.720 --> 0:02:22.079 and prospered. One day they got back together to discuss 0:02:22.160 --> 0:02:25.600 the gifts that they bought their elderly mother. The first 0:02:25.639 --> 0:02:29.560 son said, I built mother a big house. The second 0:02:29.560 --> 0:02:32.680 son said, I got her a fancy car. The third 0:02:32.680 --> 0:02:35.480 one said, since I know how much mother loves to 0:02:35.520 --> 0:02:38.600 read the Bible, but she can barely see now, I 0:02:38.680 --> 0:02:42.079 got her a specially trained parrot that can quote the 0:02:42.240 --> 0:02:44.960 entire Bible. In a few days, they got a letter 0:02:44.960 --> 0:02:47.560 from their mother. It said, Milton, the house you built 0:02:47.560 --> 0:02:48.639 me is way too big. 0:02:49.160 --> 0:02:51.679 Gerald, the car you bought me is way too small. 0:02:51.840 --> 0:02:55.639 But my dearest Donald, your simple gift is my favorite. 0:02:55.840 --> 0:02:57.280 The chicken was delicious. 0:02:59.200 --> 0:03:02.400 Hold up by say it like you mean it. This 0:03:02.560 --> 0:03:05.119 is my Bible. I am what it says I am. 0:03:05.600 --> 0:03:07.880 I have what it says I have. I can do 0:03:07.960 --> 0:03:10.480 what it says I can do. Today I will be 0:03:10.560 --> 0:03:14.360 taught the word of God. I boldly confess. My mind 0:03:14.480 --> 0:03:17.720 is alert, my heart is receptive. I will never be 0:03:17.800 --> 0:03:22.600 the same. In Jesus' name, God bless you. I want 0:03:22.600 --> 0:03:24.519 to talk to you today about the. 0:03:24.360 --> 0:03:25.560 Power of letting go. 0:03:26.600 --> 0:03:30.200 We all go through disappointments and set backs and things. 0:03:29.919 --> 0:03:31.200 That we don't understand. 0:03:31.800 --> 0:03:34.519 Maybe you prayed for a loved one but they didn't 0:03:34.560 --> 0:03:37.920 get well, or maybe you worked hard for a promotion 0:03:38.240 --> 0:03:40.760 but you didn't get it. You stood in faith for 0:03:40.800 --> 0:03:44.000 a relationship but it didn't work out. One of the 0:03:44.040 --> 0:03:47.480 best things you can do is release it, let it go. 0:03:48.280 --> 0:03:51.320 If you go around dwelling on it, wondering why this 0:03:51.360 --> 0:03:54.280 didn't work out, why my loved one didn't get healed, 0:03:54.320 --> 0:03:57.120 why didn't get that promotion, all that's going. 0:03:57.000 --> 0:04:00.600 To do is lead to bitterness, resentment, elf pity. 0:04:01.120 --> 0:04:04.960 Before long, you'll be blaming others, blaming yourself, maybe even 0:04:05.080 --> 0:04:09.120 blaming God. You may not have understood it, it may 0:04:09.160 --> 0:04:12.360 not have been fair, but when you release it, it's 0:04:12.360 --> 0:04:16.280 an act of your faith. You're saying God, I trust you, 0:04:16.880 --> 0:04:19.679 I know you're in control, And even though it didn't 0:04:19.720 --> 0:04:23.280 work out my way, you said all things are going 0:04:23.320 --> 0:04:26.159 to work together for my good, so I believe you 0:04:26.360 --> 0:04:28.560 still have something good in my future. 0:04:29.360 --> 0:04:31.200 There's power in letting go. 0:04:32.080 --> 0:04:34.680 Not letting go of your dreams, don't let go of 0:04:34.720 --> 0:04:38.800 your promises, let go of the frustration of. 0:04:38.760 --> 0:04:40.719 Having to have it your way. 0:04:40.960 --> 0:04:43.600 Take your hands off the wheel and say, okay, God, 0:04:43.839 --> 0:04:46.599 I'm going to let you drive. You know the best 0:04:46.640 --> 0:04:50.000 path for my life. You can see the detours, the 0:04:50.040 --> 0:04:53.080 dead ends, you know the shortcuts. God, I'm going to 0:04:53.160 --> 0:04:55.279 let you take me where you want me to go. 0:04:55.880 --> 0:04:59.080 That's a very freeing way to live. But so often 0:04:59.320 --> 0:05:02.640 we'll trust God. We'll stay in faith as long as 0:05:02.680 --> 0:05:05.800 God does it our way. It's like this mountain climber 0:05:05.839 --> 0:05:08.839 I heard about. He was climbing up this huge cliff, 0:05:09.040 --> 0:05:11.520 almost to the top, when all of a sudden he 0:05:11.640 --> 0:05:14.839 lost his footing and began to fall. He reached out 0:05:14.920 --> 0:05:18.720 and miraculously grabbed a bush growing out of the rocks. 0:05:19.120 --> 0:05:22.000 He was dangling hundreds of feet in the air, holding 0:05:22.080 --> 0:05:26.080 on for dear life. He shouted out, is anybody up there? 0:05:26.839 --> 0:05:29.080 In a few seconds, a voice boomed out of the 0:05:29.120 --> 0:05:31.080 heavens and said, yes, I'm here. 0:05:31.440 --> 0:05:34.240 What do you need? He said, God, I can't hold 0:05:34.320 --> 0:05:36.320 on any longer. Please rescue me. 0:05:37.000 --> 0:05:40.159 God said, okay, son, turn loose of the bush and 0:05:40.240 --> 0:05:43.559 I'll catch you. After a long pause, the man said, 0:05:44.000 --> 0:05:48.920 is there anybody else up there? That's the way we 0:05:48.960 --> 0:05:52.480 do many times, God help me, but do it my way, 0:05:53.080 --> 0:05:55.279 the way I have planned, the way I want. 0:05:56.040 --> 0:05:56.080 No. 0:05:56.279 --> 0:05:58.520 In order for God to help us, we've got to 0:05:58.560 --> 0:06:02.560 be willing to let go. Maybe something didn't work out 0:06:02.640 --> 0:06:06.599 your way. Instead of being frustrated, why don't you have 0:06:06.680 --> 0:06:10.640 a bigger view. Maybe God has something better in store. 0:06:11.560 --> 0:06:15.920 Maybe God closed the door because you're believing too small. 0:06:16.120 --> 0:06:19.320 Maybe it didn't work out because what you're praying for 0:06:19.680 --> 0:06:23.000 would be second best, and God loves you too much 0:06:23.080 --> 0:06:25.880 to do it your way. The question is will you 0:06:25.960 --> 0:06:28.400 trust him to do it his way? Will you take 0:06:28.440 --> 0:06:31.159 your hands off the wheel and let him do the driving. 0:06:32.120 --> 0:06:34.640 A few years after Victoria and I were married, we 0:06:34.680 --> 0:06:37.560 found this house that we really wanted to buy. Was 0:06:37.600 --> 0:06:41.359 on a beautiful lot, had big trees, had a swimming pool. 0:06:41.680 --> 0:06:44.600 This was our dream house. We were sure it was 0:06:44.640 --> 0:06:48.599 supposed to be ours, and we made a very strong offer, 0:06:49.040 --> 0:06:51.560 just a little less than they were asking. We didn't 0:06:51.600 --> 0:06:55.800 hear anything back. Week after weeks, still nothing. Nobody lived 0:06:55.839 --> 0:06:58.640 in the house, and so we would go out practically 0:06:58.720 --> 0:07:02.360 every day and pray over the house. We would even 0:07:02.440 --> 0:07:06.000 march around it like the people of Israel going around Jericho. 0:07:06.480 --> 0:07:10.040 We would quote scriptures, We would bind, we would loose, 0:07:10.160 --> 0:07:12.560 we'd sing, we'd shout, we'd dance, we did. 0:07:12.400 --> 0:07:15.040 The Holy Macarena. 0:07:15.160 --> 0:07:18.160 As far as we were concerned, that was supposed. 0:07:17.760 --> 0:07:20.480 To be our house. Our mind was made up. We 0:07:20.480 --> 0:07:22.240 were consumed by it. 0:07:22.280 --> 0:07:25.000 About three weeks later, our realtor called and said, I'm 0:07:25.040 --> 0:07:27.600 sorry they sold the house to somebody else. 0:07:28.240 --> 0:07:29.440 We were so disappointed. 0:07:29.760 --> 0:07:33.360 We thought God, we prayed, we believed, we stood in faith. 0:07:33.560 --> 0:07:34.320 What happened. 0:07:34.840 --> 0:07:38.200 The scripture says God's ways are not our ways. 0:07:38.480 --> 0:07:40.840 They are higher and better than our ways. 0:07:41.600 --> 0:07:45.840 Sometimes what we're believing for is not God's best. 0:07:46.440 --> 0:07:47.320 We have good. 0:07:47.120 --> 0:07:50.760 Intentions, but God loves us too much to answer that prayer. 0:07:51.520 --> 0:07:55.120 I found anything you have to have in order to 0:07:55.160 --> 0:07:58.680 be happy is out of balance. If you have to 0:07:58.760 --> 0:08:01.560 have that house, you have to have that promotion, you 0:08:01.640 --> 0:08:02.800 have to meet that person. 0:08:03.280 --> 0:08:05.080 You're putting too much emphasis on it. 0:08:05.480 --> 0:08:08.240 And it's good to have dreams, it's good to have goals, 0:08:08.440 --> 0:08:11.760 to stand in faith, to be determined, but you have 0:08:11.840 --> 0:08:14.640 to be mature enough to put that dream on the 0:08:14.680 --> 0:08:18.320 altar and say, God, this is what I want, this 0:08:18.400 --> 0:08:21.760 is what I'm praying and believing for. But God, you 0:08:21.920 --> 0:08:24.640 know what's best for me, and if it doesn't happen 0:08:24.760 --> 0:08:28.040 my way on my timetable, I'm not going to get 0:08:28.080 --> 0:08:29.760 bitter and be frustrated. 0:08:30.160 --> 0:08:33.199 God. I trust you, My life is in your hands. 0:08:34.040 --> 0:08:36.800 At first, Victoria and I we were kind of discouraged. 0:08:37.200 --> 0:08:40.080 We felt like God had let us down. The wind 0:08:40.240 --> 0:08:44.520 was taken out of ourselves. Eventually we did what I'm asking. 0:08:44.240 --> 0:08:44.720 You to do. 0:08:44.840 --> 0:08:46.880 We let it go and said, God, you know what's 0:08:46.920 --> 0:08:47.559 best for us. 0:08:48.160 --> 0:08:52.160 About three weeks later, we came across this older, run 0:08:52.240 --> 0:08:55.720 down home in a nice neighborhood close into the city. 0:08:55.840 --> 0:08:58.760 Everything just fell into place and we ended up buying 0:08:58.800 --> 0:09:01.920 that house, mixed it up and lived there for two years, 0:09:02.120 --> 0:09:04.200 and then we sold it for twice what we had 0:09:04.240 --> 0:09:07.440 paid for it. But that older home, to us, it 0:09:07.480 --> 0:09:11.679 didn't make sense. It wasn't anything like what we had envisioned. 0:09:11.920 --> 0:09:13.160 We wanted something. 0:09:12.960 --> 0:09:16.720 Nice and new. But God knew what he was doing. 0:09:17.160 --> 0:09:20.520 It was a step on the way to our divine destiny. 0:09:21.200 --> 0:09:24.960 At the time, it looked like a step backwards. The 0:09:25.000 --> 0:09:28.000 townhouse we were living in was much nicer than this 0:09:28.120 --> 0:09:28.840 older home. 0:09:29.320 --> 0:09:31.360 But God can see the big picture. 0:09:32.000 --> 0:09:33.880 If he would have let us buy that house, that 0:09:33.920 --> 0:09:36.600 we really wanted. We would have been stuck at that 0:09:36.760 --> 0:09:40.760 same level year after year. God had to close that 0:09:40.880 --> 0:09:43.960 door to move us one step closer to where he 0:09:44.040 --> 0:09:44.760 wanted us to be. 0:09:45.520 --> 0:09:45.640 Now. 0:09:45.679 --> 0:09:48.000 I've got big dreams and big goals. 0:09:48.040 --> 0:09:51.880 But one of my main prayers now is God, not 0:09:52.120 --> 0:09:55.160 my will, but let your will be done. 0:09:55.200 --> 0:09:57.960 If a door closes, no big deal. I let it go. 0:09:58.640 --> 0:10:01.400 If my plans don't work out, no big deal. I 0:10:01.440 --> 0:10:05.320 know God has something better. I've learned to not get 0:10:05.360 --> 0:10:08.640 so consumed by a dream that if it doesn't happen 0:10:08.679 --> 0:10:11.800 my way, I'm going to get all bent out of shape. 0:10:12.040 --> 0:10:16.560 It says in Proverbs, since the Lord is directing our steps, 0:10:17.240 --> 0:10:20.319 why do we try to figure out everything that happens 0:10:20.320 --> 0:10:24.080 along the way. Some of you have gone through a disappointment. 0:10:24.600 --> 0:10:27.040 It wasn't fair. You don't understand it. 0:10:27.559 --> 0:10:30.320 You could easily be bitter, live with a chip on 0:10:30.360 --> 0:10:33.400 your shoulder, give up on your dreams. No, God is 0:10:33.440 --> 0:10:36.880 at work in your life right now. He is directing 0:10:36.920 --> 0:10:40.600 your steps. What you thought was a set back is 0:10:40.640 --> 0:10:42.440 going to turn out to be a set up. 0:10:42.880 --> 0:10:45.600 God is getting you in position to take you to 0:10:45.640 --> 0:10:48.679 a new level of your destiny. Now you've got to 0:10:48.720 --> 0:10:50.000 get in agreement with God. 0:10:50.600 --> 0:10:54.680 Shake off the self pity, shake off the disappointment. Quit 0:10:54.760 --> 0:10:57.800 thinking that God has let you down and he doesn't 0:10:57.840 --> 0:10:58.840 answer your prayers. 0:10:59.080 --> 0:11:01.520 No, God has you in the palm of his hand. 0:11:01.960 --> 0:11:04.160 He is directing you every step of the way. 0:11:05.000 --> 0:11:08.280 That disappointment may not have been fair, but it's all 0:11:08.320 --> 0:11:10.479 a part of your divine destiny. 0:11:11.200 --> 0:11:13.880 If you will let it go and move forward, then 0:11:13.920 --> 0:11:14.480 you're going to. 0:11:14.440 --> 0:11:17.480 Come into something awesome that God is about to do. 0:11:18.160 --> 0:11:22.840 Not ordinary like you had planned, but extraordinary like God 0:11:22.920 --> 0:11:25.959 has planned. This is what I did when my father 0:11:26.040 --> 0:11:28.200 went to be with the Lord. My dad and I 0:11:28.280 --> 0:11:31.920 were very close, we were best friends. At seventy seven 0:11:32.040 --> 0:11:35.600 years of age, Daddy was diagnosed with congestive heart failure. 0:11:36.160 --> 0:11:40.880 We prayed, we believed, we stood in faith, but unfortunately 0:11:41.160 --> 0:11:44.479 my father went to be with the Lord. My prayers 0:11:44.679 --> 0:11:48.240 weren't answered the way I wanted. I could have thought, God, 0:11:48.360 --> 0:11:51.280 you heal my mother. Why didn't you heal my father? God, 0:11:51.320 --> 0:11:54.280 why wouldn't you give him more years? When we want 0:11:54.360 --> 0:11:57.280 something so badly that would do at everything we can 0:11:57.400 --> 0:12:00.640 to make it happen, and it doesn't work out, it's 0:12:00.640 --> 0:12:03.800 easy to get negative and bitter. I was discouraged, I'd 0:12:03.840 --> 0:12:07.600 lost my best friend. And sure there's a proper time 0:12:07.679 --> 0:12:11.680 for mourning, but you cannot let a season of mourning 0:12:12.040 --> 0:12:15.480 turn into a lifetime of mourning. At some point, you've 0:12:15.520 --> 0:12:17.640 got to say, God, I'm letting it go. 0:12:18.360 --> 0:12:23.640 Yes I'm disappointed, Yes it's hard, but just because my loved. 0:12:23.320 --> 0:12:26.520 One has died doesn't mean that your plan for my 0:12:26.679 --> 0:12:30.200 life has ended. And what I thought would be the 0:12:30.280 --> 0:12:33.240 darkest hour of my life the death of my father. 0:12:33.400 --> 0:12:36.760 And I say this respectfully because I honor and love 0:12:36.840 --> 0:12:39.800 my dad, but it turned out to be the brightest 0:12:39.880 --> 0:12:42.800 hour of my life. It launched me into what I'm 0:12:42.800 --> 0:12:47.040 doing now. The death of my father was another step 0:12:47.320 --> 0:12:50.600 on the way to my divine destiny. When you go 0:12:50.679 --> 0:12:54.520 through loss, loss of a loved one, loss of a relationship, 0:12:54.559 --> 0:12:58.040 loss of a job, can be very difficult. Many people 0:12:58.120 --> 0:13:01.240 get negative, bitter, they have a chip on their shoulder. 0:13:01.800 --> 0:13:04.120 But if you can just learn to let it go 0:13:04.840 --> 0:13:07.959 and say God, I don't understand it, but I trust you, 0:13:08.160 --> 0:13:11.800 I know you're still in control, then just like I did, 0:13:12.120 --> 0:13:14.640 you're going to step in to a greater level of 0:13:14.679 --> 0:13:19.160 your destiny. I've learned God doesn't always take us from 0:13:19.200 --> 0:13:23.000 A to B to C. Sometimes God will take you 0:13:23.040 --> 0:13:26.480 from A to B all the way to S and 0:13:26.520 --> 0:13:29.600 then back to D, and then to K, and then 0:13:29.640 --> 0:13:32.760 to F and then to Z. God's ways are not 0:13:32.880 --> 0:13:35.480 our ways. Quit trying to figure it all out and 0:13:35.559 --> 0:13:39.440 simply trust him. Well, Joel, why didn't my marriage make 0:13:39.520 --> 0:13:42.920 it Why did this person leave me? Why did this 0:13:43.040 --> 0:13:46.960 company lay me off after working there faithfully for thirty years. 0:13:47.120 --> 0:13:49.000 Here's my answer. It's very profound. 0:13:49.440 --> 0:13:54.080 I don't know why. You may never know why, but 0:13:54.240 --> 0:13:57.840 I do know. God is directing your steps. God is 0:13:57.880 --> 0:14:00.960 a just God. It may not have been fair. 0:14:00.960 --> 0:14:02.120 But God is fair. 0:14:02.640 --> 0:14:05.559 If you'll let it go and move forward, God has 0:14:05.640 --> 0:14:08.440 promised he will pay you back for the unfair things 0:14:08.440 --> 0:14:09.440 that have happened. 0:14:09.840 --> 0:14:10.600 Some of you today. 0:14:10.679 --> 0:14:13.960 If you just start letting things go, you'd come in 0:14:13.960 --> 0:14:18.640 to breakthroughs, to promotions, to new beginnings. As long as 0:14:18.640 --> 0:14:22.560 you're holding on to the old, negative, discourage, bitter, it's 0:14:22.600 --> 0:14:25.400 going to keep you from the new. A lady asked 0:14:25.400 --> 0:14:28.480 me one time, Joel, why did your mother get healed 0:14:28.520 --> 0:14:32.920 from cancer but my mother didn't. We prayed, we believed, 0:14:33.040 --> 0:14:36.360 we stood on the same scriptures. My answer is always 0:14:36.360 --> 0:14:38.840 the same. I don't know why. I don't claim to 0:14:38.880 --> 0:14:40.880 have all the answers, but I do know. 0:14:41.400 --> 0:14:44.320 God is for you. He said he would give you 0:14:44.440 --> 0:14:45.960 beauty for those ashes. 0:14:46.200 --> 0:14:48.560 But you've got to let go of the ashes, let 0:14:48.640 --> 0:14:51.640 go of the disappointments, let go of the hurts and pains. 0:14:51.960 --> 0:14:54.600 Quit trying to figure out why something bad has happened 0:14:54.600 --> 0:14:57.960 to you. Why did I have this miscarriage? Why was 0:14:57.960 --> 0:15:00.760 I born into this family? Why did this person leave me? 0:15:00.920 --> 0:15:04.360 That's just going to lead to frustration. There are some 0:15:04.480 --> 0:15:09.440 situations that we face that there are no logical explanations. 0:15:09.480 --> 0:15:10.120 Too. 0:15:10.600 --> 0:15:13.600 You have to be big enough to say, I don't 0:15:13.720 --> 0:15:16.680 understand why this has happened. And you know what, I'm 0:15:16.760 --> 0:15:20.360 okay with not understanding why. I don't have to have 0:15:20.480 --> 0:15:24.440 all the answers. Your God and I'm not. Your ways 0:15:24.520 --> 0:15:27.800 are not my ways, and since you're directing my steps, 0:15:27.960 --> 0:15:30.440 I'm not going to waste another minute of my time 0:15:30.520 --> 0:15:33.920 and energy trying to figure out everything that happens along 0:15:33.960 --> 0:15:37.680 the way. That's a very powerful way to live, and 0:15:37.760 --> 0:15:40.760 most of the time we can deal with a situation 0:15:41.560 --> 0:15:43.920 if we can find a file in our thinking to 0:15:43.960 --> 0:15:47.920 put it in we think this happened because of this reason. 0:15:48.160 --> 0:15:50.640 In other words, he was running with the wrong crowd 0:15:50.840 --> 0:15:51.920 and he got into trouble. 0:15:52.000 --> 0:15:52.760 That makes sense. 0:15:53.360 --> 0:15:55.760 Or she wasn't raised in a good environment and she 0:15:55.880 --> 0:15:56.640 got off course. 0:15:56.840 --> 0:16:00.600 That makes sense. But what about the things that don't 0:16:00.640 --> 0:16:01.280 make sense? 0:16:02.080 --> 0:16:05.360 Ten years ago, when the planes crashed into the World 0:16:05.360 --> 0:16:10.160 Trade Center in Pennsylvania and Washington, nearly three thousand people 0:16:10.480 --> 0:16:13.480 tragically lost their lives, costs so much. 0:16:13.560 --> 0:16:15.760 Hurt and pain that didn't make sense. 0:16:16.520 --> 0:16:19.280 Doesn't make sense for a baby to be born with 0:16:19.360 --> 0:16:23.360 a birth injury, I can't explain. That doesn't make sense 0:16:23.400 --> 0:16:26.680 for a drunk driver to end someone's life. Does it 0:16:26.800 --> 0:16:29.200 make sense for a good person to come down with 0:16:29.280 --> 0:16:33.400 a terminal illness? What happens when we can't find a 0:16:33.440 --> 0:16:34.360 file to put it in? 0:16:35.200 --> 0:16:36.000 Here's the answer. 0:16:36.320 --> 0:16:39.800 Every one of us needs to create a file in 0:16:39.880 --> 0:16:44.800 our thinking called and I don't understand it file, And 0:16:44.840 --> 0:16:47.440 when things come up that don't make sense that you 0:16:47.480 --> 0:16:52.080 can't figure out, instead of getting frustrated confused, simply put 0:16:52.120 --> 0:16:55.080 it in your I don't understand it file and leave 0:16:55.120 --> 0:16:59.160 it alone. If you go through life trying to figure 0:16:59.200 --> 0:17:02.760 out why something bad happened, why it didn't work out, 0:17:03.040 --> 0:17:05.879 why my child didn't get healed. It's going to cause 0:17:05.920 --> 0:17:09.639 you to be bitter. It's going to poison your life. Listen, 0:17:09.720 --> 0:17:12.680 if God wants you to know why he's God, he'll 0:17:12.720 --> 0:17:15.760 tell you. But if he's not revealing it to you, 0:17:15.760 --> 0:17:19.399 you need to leave it alone. Some things God doesn't 0:17:19.400 --> 0:17:22.679 want you to know. It says in Proverbs it is 0:17:22.720 --> 0:17:24.480 God's privilege. 0:17:23.920 --> 0:17:25.080 To conceal things. 0:17:25.840 --> 0:17:28.720 If you're going to trust God, you have to accept 0:17:28.720 --> 0:17:32.280 the fact that there are going to be unanswered questions. 0:17:32.640 --> 0:17:36.400 Everything is not going to fit perfectly into our theology. 0:17:36.920 --> 0:17:39.719 But we can come back to the central theme of 0:17:39.760 --> 0:17:43.080 who God is. God is good, God is loving, God 0:17:43.160 --> 0:17:46.119 is kind, God is fear, God is just. Here's what 0:17:46.160 --> 0:17:50.080 I've learned. Don't put a question mark where God has 0:17:50.119 --> 0:17:54.360 put a period. If you prayed, you believe it didn't work. 0:17:54.200 --> 0:17:56.600 Out, God put a period. Move forward. 0:17:57.359 --> 0:18:00.760 When my father was sick, the whole church prayed, we 0:18:00.880 --> 0:18:03.000 all stood in faith, but Daddy went to be with 0:18:03.080 --> 0:18:03.480 the Lord. 0:18:04.080 --> 0:18:06.080 What happened? God put a period. 0:18:06.760 --> 0:18:09.280 Now we could put a question mark and say, God, 0:18:09.600 --> 0:18:11.960 why didn't you hear our prayers? Why didn't you give 0:18:12.000 --> 0:18:15.479 him more time? Or we could accept the fact that 0:18:15.520 --> 0:18:18.360 God put a period, that that chapter is over. This 0:18:18.440 --> 0:18:21.679 is a new day, and we celebrated what God had 0:18:21.720 --> 0:18:24.760 done through my father, and we stepped into the new 0:18:24.840 --> 0:18:27.000 beginning God had in store for us. 0:18:27.320 --> 0:18:28.520 Don't put a question mark. 0:18:29.040 --> 0:18:31.520 If you were hard but you didn't get the promotion, 0:18:32.040 --> 0:18:35.320 dust your face off and move forward. God has something better. 0:18:36.000 --> 0:18:39.120 Talk to a gentleman last week. He was very discouraged 0:18:39.200 --> 0:18:42.600 because his business didn't make it. He gave it his best, 0:18:42.680 --> 0:18:45.880 but it still went under him. He told how he'd 0:18:45.880 --> 0:18:48.919 put in all of his savings and his time, his effort. 0:18:49.160 --> 0:18:52.199 He just couldn't understand why it didn't work out. I 0:18:52.320 --> 0:18:55.080 told him what I'm telling you. That's over and done. 0:18:55.560 --> 0:18:58.640 God put a period. Don't put a question mark. Don't 0:18:58.680 --> 0:19:02.200 live in self pity God, why did this happen? No, 0:19:02.400 --> 0:19:05.199 that's simply another chapter in your book. 0:19:05.760 --> 0:19:08.840 Do yourself a favor. Turn the page. 0:19:08.920 --> 0:19:12.639 If you'll move forward, you'll come into another chapter. The 0:19:12.680 --> 0:19:16.480 good news is your story doesn't end in defeat. It 0:19:16.680 --> 0:19:20.000 ends in victory. God always causes you to try out. 0:19:20.680 --> 0:19:23.200 So if you're not victorious right now, just. 0:19:23.240 --> 0:19:26.120 Keep moving forward. That means it's not the end. 0:19:27.000 --> 0:19:30.199 In the scripture, David had a newborn baby that was 0:19:30.359 --> 0:19:33.840 very sick and close to death. For seven days and 0:19:33.920 --> 0:19:38.120 seven nights, David fasted and prayed for the baby. Wouldn't 0:19:38.200 --> 0:19:41.040 eat anything, wouldn't get up off the floor. In fact, 0:19:41.119 --> 0:19:43.320 his men were worried about it. It's David, you got 0:19:43.320 --> 0:19:46.520 to eat something. He wouldn't do it. On the seventh day, 0:19:46.560 --> 0:19:48.840 they came in with the bad news that the baby 0:19:48.880 --> 0:19:52.560 had died. They weren't sure how David was going to respond, 0:19:53.119 --> 0:19:55.520 but when David heard the news, he got up off 0:19:55.520 --> 0:19:59.320 the ground, went home, took a shower, put on some 0:19:59.400 --> 0:20:02.320 new clothes, got something to eat, and went to the 0:20:02.359 --> 0:20:06.320 temple and began to worship. His men were so amazed 0:20:06.359 --> 0:20:09.960 at how he could recover so quickly. David said, when 0:20:10.000 --> 0:20:13.720 the baby was alive, I prayed for God to heal him. 0:20:14.320 --> 0:20:17.440 But now that he is gone, I cannot bring him back. 0:20:18.040 --> 0:20:20.840 He will not come to me, but one day I 0:20:20.920 --> 0:20:24.359 will go to be with him. David was saying, God 0:20:24.400 --> 0:20:27.400 put a period here, I'm not gonna put a question mark. 0:20:28.160 --> 0:20:32.200 I prayed, I believed, I fasted, I did everything I could, 0:20:32.520 --> 0:20:34.800 but it didn't work out. So I'm gonna let it go. 0:20:35.040 --> 0:20:38.800 I'm going to release it and move forward with my life. 0:20:38.840 --> 0:20:42.280 Maybe you've done everything you could. You prayed, you believed, 0:20:42.320 --> 0:20:44.760 you gave it your all, but it didn't work out. 0:20:45.320 --> 0:20:48.160 Best thing you can do is release it. Just let 0:20:48.240 --> 0:20:48.600 it go. 0:20:49.240 --> 0:20:52.840 Don't go around in self pity, defeated, thinking there's nothing 0:20:52.920 --> 0:20:56.640 good in your future. Do like David freshen Up, put 0:20:56.680 --> 0:20:59.239 on a new attitude. Go to the mall, buy some 0:20:59.280 --> 0:21:02.119 new clothes, get something good to eat, and get ready 0:21:02.119 --> 0:21:04.840 for the new thing God is about to do. Now, 0:21:04.920 --> 0:21:06.680 some of you ladies are thinking, I heard the word 0:21:06.720 --> 0:21:07.120 I needed. 0:21:07.160 --> 0:21:10.080 He said, go to the mall. 0:21:10.240 --> 0:21:13.080 I think about Eve in the scripture. She went through 0:21:13.119 --> 0:21:17.600 a great disappointment. Her son Cain killed her son Abel, 0:21:17.880 --> 0:21:21.040 the first murder in the Bible. And I'm sure Eve, 0:21:21.240 --> 0:21:25.359 like any mother, was devastated and heartbroken. She could have thought, God, 0:21:25.680 --> 0:21:28.000 how could you let this happen to me? But I 0:21:28.040 --> 0:21:32.360 love what Eve said Genesis four twenty five. God has 0:21:32.400 --> 0:21:37.320 appointed another seed for me. She was saying, I don't understand. 0:21:37.359 --> 0:21:40.359 It doesn't make sense, but I know God is still 0:21:40.359 --> 0:21:41.000 in control. 0:21:41.359 --> 0:21:42.440 This is not the end. 0:21:42.680 --> 0:21:46.840 He has appointed another seed. God is saying, when you 0:21:46.960 --> 0:21:49.960 go through things that you don't understand. It is not 0:21:50.160 --> 0:21:54.560 the end. God is going to appoint another seed. The 0:21:54.600 --> 0:21:58.919 reason God says seed is seed represents the future. It 0:21:59.000 --> 0:22:01.879 indicates what's come. And if you'll let go of what 0:22:02.040 --> 0:22:04.880 didn't work out, let go of the hurts and pains, 0:22:05.320 --> 0:22:08.919 then for everything you've lost, God will appoint another seed, 0:22:09.520 --> 0:22:12.280 everything that was taken away, another seed. 0:22:12.880 --> 0:22:15.160 You are going to give birth to more in the. 0:22:15.200 --> 0:22:18.120 Future than you've lost in the past. Now, you've got 0:22:18.119 --> 0:22:22.000 to do your part and keep moving forward. When you 0:22:22.119 --> 0:22:25.480 drive home today, in your car, there's a big windshield 0:22:25.560 --> 0:22:29.159 in the front and then a very small rear view mirror. 0:22:29.560 --> 0:22:32.480 The reason the windshield is so large and the rear 0:22:32.560 --> 0:22:35.840 view mirror is so small is because what's in your 0:22:36.000 --> 0:22:39.520 past is not nearly as important as what's in your future. 0:22:40.320 --> 0:22:43.800 Where you are going is much more important than where 0:22:43.840 --> 0:22:47.719 you've been. But if you stay focused on the past, 0:22:47.840 --> 0:22:50.880 you'll get stuck right where you are. Listen, if one 0:22:50.960 --> 0:22:55.959 dream has died, dream another dream. God has appointed another seed. 0:22:56.720 --> 0:23:00.199 Don't let one set back define who you are are. 0:23:00.920 --> 0:23:06.200 Don't let one betrayal, one mistake, one divorce, one bankruptcy 0:23:06.280 --> 0:23:08.760 ruin the rest of your life that is not who 0:23:08.840 --> 0:23:11.880 you are. That is just another step on the way 0:23:11.920 --> 0:23:13.240 to your divine destiny. 0:23:13.440 --> 0:23:14.080 Now let it. 0:23:14.000 --> 0:23:17.000 Go and step into the new beginning God has in store. 0:23:17.880 --> 0:23:21.119 Bottom line is you have to quit mourning over something 0:23:21.119 --> 0:23:24.520 that you cannot change. If God put a period there, 0:23:24.840 --> 0:23:29.080 don't waste another minute in self pity, defeated, wondering why 0:23:29.119 --> 0:23:32.280 this has happened. Now that chapter is over and done, 0:23:32.400 --> 0:23:32.800 this is. 0:23:32.760 --> 0:23:33.440 A new day. 0:23:33.840 --> 0:23:36.680 God has another seed in front of you. He has 0:23:36.720 --> 0:23:41.320 another relationship, another business, another breakthrough, another victory. 0:23:41.320 --> 0:23:42.800 Move forward into the new. 0:23:43.560 --> 0:23:46.480 This is exactly what David did. He said in Psalm 0:23:46.480 --> 0:23:50.679 one thirty one. I don't concern myself with matters that 0:23:50.720 --> 0:23:51.760 are too great for me. 0:23:52.359 --> 0:23:55.240 I have quieted and stilled my soul. 0:23:56.160 --> 0:23:59.520 David knew that situation with his little baby was way 0:23:59.560 --> 0:24:02.479 over his head. He knew he would never understand it, 0:24:02.760 --> 0:24:04.600 so he didn't get negative and bitter. 0:24:04.920 --> 0:24:08.840 He released it. He quieted and stilled his soul. 0:24:09.320 --> 0:24:12.560 When you go through situations that you don't understand, that's 0:24:12.680 --> 0:24:15.240 learned to do like David and say God, it doesn't 0:24:15.280 --> 0:24:18.240 make sense. I don't know why this has happened, but 0:24:18.280 --> 0:24:20.919 I'm not going to get bitter and upset and confused. 0:24:21.080 --> 0:24:25.080 I'm going to quiet and steal my soul. Why because 0:24:25.119 --> 0:24:28.120 I know God has appointed another seed. I know it's 0:24:28.119 --> 0:24:31.640 not the end. Friends, When you can let things go 0:24:32.200 --> 0:24:34.600 and not get bitter and upset and drop out of 0:24:34.720 --> 0:24:37.560 church and start blaming God, then the creator of the 0:24:37.680 --> 0:24:40.200 universe will go to work for you. God has said 0:24:40.400 --> 0:24:42.719 he will take what was meant for your harm and 0:24:42.880 --> 0:24:46.040 use it to your advantage. I heard about this young 0:24:46.080 --> 0:24:48.920 couple that were going to visit their relatives. It was 0:24:49.000 --> 0:24:52.160 September eleventh, the day of the attacks on our nation. 0:24:52.960 --> 0:24:54.000 Early in the morning. 0:24:54.400 --> 0:24:55.080 On the way to the. 0:24:55.040 --> 0:24:57.879 Airport, they had a flat tire and ended up missing 0:24:57.920 --> 0:25:01.119 their flight. It just so happened, and their plane was 0:25:01.160 --> 0:25:03.639 one of the plains that went down. They had not 0:25:03.800 --> 0:25:06.880 had a flat tire, they wouldn't be alive today. Of course, 0:25:06.880 --> 0:25:10.399 they were very grateful. The young men's father lived in 0:25:10.440 --> 0:25:13.960 New York City and he called very frantically, very worried. 0:25:14.359 --> 0:25:16.199 The young man gave him the good news that they 0:25:16.240 --> 0:25:20.320 weren't on that flight. This father was a retired firefighter 0:25:20.400 --> 0:25:23.040 there in New York, and he told his son he 0:25:23.119 --> 0:25:25.919 was going to the World Trade Center to help rescue people. 0:25:26.480 --> 0:25:28.840 Well that was the last time the father and son 0:25:28.880 --> 0:25:29.480 ever spoke. 0:25:29.840 --> 0:25:33.119 The father was killed when the buildings came crashing down. 0:25:33.960 --> 0:25:37.240 When this young couple heard the news, the joy of 0:25:37.520 --> 0:25:40.840 their life being spared turned to sorrow and sadness and 0:25:41.160 --> 0:25:45.159 even confusion. See, this father wouldn't have anything to do 0:25:45.280 --> 0:25:48.360 with God, not open at all, and his son had 0:25:48.400 --> 0:25:51.280 tried and tried to share his faith with no success. 0:25:51.760 --> 0:25:54.880 The son was so heartbroken, not only of course, over 0:25:54.920 --> 0:25:57.719 the loss of his dad, but he just wasn't sure 0:25:58.080 --> 0:26:01.280 that his father was at peace with God. About three 0:26:01.280 --> 0:26:03.399 months later, there was a knock on their door and 0:26:03.920 --> 0:26:06.520 was a young couple holding a little baby. 0:26:07.080 --> 0:26:09.440 The man said, are you so and so? And he said, 0:26:09.440 --> 0:26:09.800 I am. 0:26:10.200 --> 0:26:11.800 Said would you mind if we came in for a 0:26:11.840 --> 0:26:14.439 few minutes and visit it? Come to find out, The 0:26:14.520 --> 0:26:17.840 wife explained how she was in the World Trade Center 0:26:18.040 --> 0:26:21.200 the day of the attacks. She was seven months pregnant, 0:26:21.640 --> 0:26:25.440 and this father ended up rescuing her and carrying her 0:26:25.480 --> 0:26:26.880 all the way down the stairs. 0:26:27.560 --> 0:26:30.040 On the way down, she began to talk. 0:26:29.880 --> 0:26:33.320 To his dad about his relationship to God and about 0:26:33.359 --> 0:26:36.600 receiving Christ. She said, when we got to the bottom floor, 0:26:36.760 --> 0:26:39.000 your dad knelt down on his knees, and he asked 0:26:39.080 --> 0:26:43.639 Christ to come into his Hearten she said, we not 0:26:43.800 --> 0:26:46.600 only came to give you this good news, but we 0:26:46.640 --> 0:26:48.680 wanted to introduce you to our little baby. 0:26:48.920 --> 0:26:50.520 We named him after your father. 0:26:51.640 --> 0:26:55.640 The scripture says, now we know in part, but one 0:26:55.720 --> 0:26:58.920 day we will know in full. There are a lot 0:26:58.920 --> 0:27:02.320 of things right now, all that we don't understand, but 0:27:02.400 --> 0:27:06.320 I'm convinced one day they will make sense. One day 0:27:06.400 --> 0:27:09.480 we'll look back in amazement and see how the hand 0:27:09.520 --> 0:27:12.760 of God was always working in our lives, doing greater 0:27:12.880 --> 0:27:16.080 things than we imagine. At the time, it looked bad, 0:27:16.440 --> 0:27:18.000 It looked like God wasn't fair. 0:27:18.240 --> 0:27:19.560 But God is fair. 0:27:19.680 --> 0:27:23.639 Somehow, some way, even though we didn't know it. God 0:27:23.720 --> 0:27:26.879 took the injustice and brought good out of it. He 0:27:26.960 --> 0:27:29.600 took the tragedy and used it to save a loved one. 0:27:29.960 --> 0:27:32.760 He took the betrayal and opened up a greater door. 0:27:33.240 --> 0:27:35.800 Why don't you trust him? Why don't you take your 0:27:35.840 --> 0:27:38.360 hands off the wheel and let him do the driving. 0:27:39.160 --> 0:27:41.879 Let go of the frustration of having to have it 0:27:41.960 --> 0:27:45.880 your way, Let go of the wives of life. Put 0:27:45.920 --> 0:27:49.240 those unanswered questions in your I don't understand it file 0:27:49.720 --> 0:27:53.400 The scripture says, now we see through a glass dimly, 0:27:53.800 --> 0:27:57.200 but one day we will see face to face. Some 0:27:57.240 --> 0:27:59.640 of you today have things that are weighing you down, 0:28:00.320 --> 0:28:01.760 keeping you from God's best. 0:28:02.240 --> 0:28:04.960 Make a decision right now. You're going to let it go, 0:28:05.720 --> 0:28:07.240 release it to God. 0:28:07.359 --> 0:28:09.880 You can walk out of here free into the bright 0:28:09.960 --> 0:28:13.840 future God has in store. Remember, for everything you've lost, 0:28:14.080 --> 0:28:18.080 God's already appointed another seed, another breakthrough, another victory. 0:28:18.600 --> 0:28:20.040 If you'll learn to let things. 0:28:19.960 --> 0:28:23.760 Go, let go of disappointments, things you don't understand. Then 0:28:23.800 --> 0:28:26.360 as you let go, God will go to work. He'll 0:28:26.400 --> 0:28:29.400 make your wrongs right. He'll pay you back for injustice. 0:28:29.480 --> 0:28:32.920 And I believe in declare you're gonna rise higher, overcoming 0:28:32.960 --> 0:28:37.320 every obstacle, defeating every enemy. You're gonna become everything God 0:28:37.359 --> 0:28:38.160 created you to be. 0:28:38.720 --> 0:28:42.440 If you receive it. Can you say amen today? Or 0:28:42.440 --> 0:28:43.680 we never like to close. 0:28:43.440 --> 0:28:46.760 Our broadcast without giving you an opportunity to make Jesus 0:28:46.800 --> 0:28:47.760 the lord of your life. 0:28:48.000 --> 0:28:49.760 Would you pray with me, just. 0:28:49.760 --> 0:28:53.160 Say, Lord, Jesus, come into my heart. 0:28:54.120 --> 0:28:55.920 I make you my Lord and savior. 0:28:57.080 --> 0:28:59.440 Friends, if you prayed that simple prayer, we believe you 0:28:59.480 --> 0:29:02.320 got born again. Get in a good Bible based church. 0:29:02.560 --> 0:29:05.080 Keep God first place. He's going to take your places 0:29:05.120 --> 0:29:06.200 that you've never dreamed of. 0:29:06.960 --> 0:29:10.360 Thank you for listening to the joel Ostine podcast. Help 0:29:10.480 --> 0:29:13.200 us continue to share the message of hope with those 0:29:13.280 --> 0:29:17.200 all over the world. Visit jolostin dot com slash give 0:29:17.280 --> 0:29:18.959 Hope to give a gift today. 0:29:20.240 --> 0:29:22.680 Thanks so much for listening to today's message. 0:29:22.800 --> 0:29:25.560 I hope you'll subscribe so you can receive the latest 0:29:25.600 --> 0:29:27.000 podcast to keep you. 0:29:27.040 --> 0:29:30.120 Inspired all through the week. We're praying for you. I 0:29:30.160 --> 0:29:33.040 know God's best is still ahead. We'll see you next time.