Trusting When You Don’t Understand

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This is not an 0:00:57.520 --> 0:00:58.920 offer to buy your self securities sn or is it 0:00:58.960 --> 0:01:00.000 investment legal or tax fives. 0:01:00.320 --> 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 --> 0:01:09.240 Wow. 0:01:09.720 --> 0:01:10.840 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 uness 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 find 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. 0:01:30.920 --> 0:01:35.520 God has equipped you, empowered you, and anointed you. You've 0:01:35.520 --> 0:01:38.679 been raised up for such a time as this. No 0:01:38.880 --> 0:01:43.200 weapon formed against you will prosper you. Keep walking in faith, 0:01:43.560 --> 0:01:46.720 trusting when you don't understand, and you're going to walk 0:01:46.800 --> 0:01:52.800 into blessings, favor, healing, freedom, abundant victory. 0:01:52.680 --> 0:01:54.680 Like you've never seen. Hi. 0:01:54.760 --> 0:01:58.400 This is Joel and Victoria. Thanks for downloading our podcast. 0:01:58.600 --> 0:02:00.000 We enjoy spending this time. 0:02:00.040 --> 0:02:02.680 I'm with you. I know you're going to leave encouraged 0:02:02.720 --> 0:02:03.480 and inspired. 0:02:03.760 --> 0:02:06.720 Make sure you subscribe to get new messages every week 0:02:06.800 --> 0:02:09.480 and follow us on social media to stay connected. 0:02:09.639 --> 0:02:13.040 We appreciate your support. It helps keep the ministry going 0:02:13.480 --> 0:02:17.320 enjoy the message. God bless you. It's great to have 0:02:17.440 --> 0:02:20.120 you with us today. We are praying for you and 0:02:20.160 --> 0:02:22.760 your family, and I hope you'll stay connected with us 0:02:22.840 --> 0:02:26.840 during the week through our podcast, YouTube channel, serious XM 0:02:27.000 --> 0:02:27.720 social media. 0:02:28.200 --> 0:02:31.120 We want to keep it inspired and encouraged. But thanks 0:02:31.120 --> 0:02:31.839 for tuning in. 0:02:32.639 --> 0:02:34.959 I like to start with something funny, and I heard 0:02:34.960 --> 0:02:38.520 about this pastor. He was raising funds for a new auditorium. 0:02:38.880 --> 0:02:41.800 He said to the congregation, anyone that will give one 0:02:41.840 --> 0:02:43.880 thousand dollars can pick out. 0:02:43.760 --> 0:02:45.160 The next three hymns. 0:02:45.639 --> 0:02:48.840 A little old lady in the back raised her hand said, Pastor, 0:02:48.880 --> 0:02:49.440 I'll do it. 0:02:49.840 --> 0:02:51.000 He was so excited. 0:02:51.280 --> 0:02:53.800 He said, thank you so much. Now, which three hymns 0:02:53.840 --> 0:02:57.239 would you like? She looked over the congregation and said, 0:02:57.280 --> 0:03:00.920 I'll take him and him and him say it like 0:03:00.960 --> 0:03:04.280 you've mean it. This is my Bible. I am what 0:03:04.320 --> 0:03:07.040 it says I am. I have what it says I have. 0:03:07.480 --> 0:03:10.160 I can do what it says I can do. Today 0:03:10.280 --> 0:03:13.400 I will be taught the word of God. I boldly 0:03:13.480 --> 0:03:16.960 confess my mind is alert, my heart is receptive. 0:03:17.280 --> 0:03:20.960 I will never be the same. In Jesus' name, God 0:03:21.000 --> 0:03:21.520 bless you. 0:03:22.680 --> 0:03:25.440 I want to talk to you today about trusting when 0:03:25.480 --> 0:03:28.760 you don't understand. We all go through things in life 0:03:28.840 --> 0:03:32.280 that don't make sense. A friend walked out of a relationship, 0:03:32.720 --> 0:03:36.400 the company's downsizing, they don't need us anymore, or we 0:03:36.440 --> 0:03:37.480 were being our best. 0:03:37.680 --> 0:03:40.560 Then the pandemic hit. Business went down. 0:03:40.720 --> 0:03:43.640 Children can't go to school, Dreams are put on hold. 0:03:44.280 --> 0:03:48.080 Sometimes it feels like we're going backwards. It's easy to 0:03:48.120 --> 0:03:50.280 live frustrated and thank God, why. 0:03:50.160 --> 0:03:51.000 Is this happening? 0:03:51.600 --> 0:03:55.360 But we're not going to understand everything that happens. God's 0:03:55.400 --> 0:03:58.640 ways are not our ways. He can see things that 0:03:58.680 --> 0:04:02.600 we can't see. And just because it's not fair doesn't 0:04:02.640 --> 0:04:06.040 mean that God is not in control. Your steps are 0:04:06.080 --> 0:04:09.560 being ordered by the Lord. If he allowed it to happen, 0:04:09.880 --> 0:04:12.840 he's going to bring good out of it. He promises 0:04:13.000 --> 0:04:16.919 all things worked together for your good. On its own, 0:04:17.360 --> 0:04:21.040 it may not be good, it wasn't fair. You're uncomfortable, 0:04:21.400 --> 0:04:24.159 but when it all comes together, you're going to see 0:04:24.279 --> 0:04:28.200 how it works to your advantage. The difficulty, the delayed, 0:04:28.240 --> 0:04:30.920 the betrayal was all instrumental in. 0:04:30.960 --> 0:04:34.039 You reaching your destiny. But none of us like. 0:04:34.160 --> 0:04:39.720 Bad breaks, loss, delay, But without that difficulty, you couldn't 0:04:39.760 --> 0:04:43.159 become who you were created to be. It may look 0:04:43.279 --> 0:04:46.200 like a dead end, but really it's setting you up 0:04:46.279 --> 0:04:46.920 for promotion. 0:04:47.560 --> 0:04:50.159 That door closed so a bigger door could open. 0:04:50.920 --> 0:04:54.040 That person that left you, it was hurtful, but it 0:04:54.080 --> 0:04:57.039 wasn't just their choice. God moved them out of the 0:04:57.040 --> 0:05:01.640 way so he could bring someone better. That struggle was difficult. 0:05:02.000 --> 0:05:05.200 You didn't do anything wrong, but you had opposition at work. 0:05:05.560 --> 0:05:08.760 Your child wouldn't do what's right. It wasn't fair. But 0:05:08.839 --> 0:05:11.599 what you couldn't see is it was growing you up, 0:05:11.960 --> 0:05:16.839 developing your character, getting you stronger, more confident, more determined. 0:05:17.279 --> 0:05:21.080 Without it, you wouldn't be prepared for the blessing, the increase, 0:05:21.240 --> 0:05:24.320 the new levels that are coming your way. And you 0:05:24.360 --> 0:05:28.600 may not understand what you're going through. You could live worried, discourage, 0:05:28.760 --> 0:05:29.760 try a new approach. 0:05:30.160 --> 0:05:30.440 God. 0:05:30.560 --> 0:05:33.680 I don't understand it, but I trust you. I know 0:05:33.760 --> 0:05:37.360 you're in control. You're working all things for my good. 0:05:37.480 --> 0:05:39.640 So I'm not going to live upset. I'm going to 0:05:39.720 --> 0:05:42.440 stay in peace, knowing that you will get me to 0:05:42.480 --> 0:05:46.560 where I'm supposed to be. In John thirteen, Jesus was 0:05:46.600 --> 0:05:50.040 about to be crucified. He and his disciples were eating 0:05:50.040 --> 0:05:53.720 dinner together at what we now know as the Last Supper. 0:05:54.200 --> 0:05:55.800 These disciples had spent. 0:05:55.600 --> 0:06:00.000 The last few years with Jesus, seeing incredible miracles. Healed 0:06:00.200 --> 0:06:03.960 the sick, raise Lazarus from the dead, feed thousands with 0:06:04.000 --> 0:06:06.960 a little boy's lunch. They were with Jesus when he 0:06:07.040 --> 0:06:10.840 made his triumphant entry into Jerusalem, with people lining the 0:06:10.839 --> 0:06:14.880 streets shouting Hosanna. It was an experience greater than they 0:06:14.960 --> 0:06:19.400 ever imagine. But that evening, as they gathered for dinner, 0:06:19.920 --> 0:06:24.400 the mood quickly changed. Jesus told them how his hour 0:06:24.480 --> 0:06:28.080 had come, how he was going to be betrayed and crucified. 0:06:28.440 --> 0:06:31.320 Instead of people celebrating, they would mock him. 0:06:31.800 --> 0:06:34.680 After dinner, Jesus took a bowl of water and a 0:06:34.720 --> 0:06:38.520 towel and he washed the disciples feet. He said in 0:06:38.640 --> 0:06:42.719 verse seven, you don't realize now what I'm doing, but 0:06:42.920 --> 0:06:47.600 one day you will understand. Jesus was telling the disciples, 0:06:47.600 --> 0:06:50.680 in effect, You're going to walk through some things in 0:06:50.720 --> 0:06:53.280 the days to come that you don't understand. 0:06:53.800 --> 0:06:55.400 Up to this point, there's. 0:06:55.200 --> 0:06:58.320 Been people cheering me on, But now I'm about to 0:06:58.360 --> 0:07:03.040 be betrayed. There's going to be opposition, persecution, I said, 0:07:03.040 --> 0:07:05.200 I would never leave you, but I'm about to be 0:07:05.360 --> 0:07:10.920 taken away. He knew they were going to feel lonely, confused, afraid, 0:07:11.360 --> 0:07:14.040 so he told them right up front, You're not going 0:07:14.080 --> 0:07:18.520 to understand it now, but one day you will. Like 0:07:18.600 --> 0:07:21.920 these disciples, there will be times in life that you 0:07:21.960 --> 0:07:24.080 don't understand what God is doing. 0:07:24.520 --> 0:07:27.080 Things don't make sense, trouble. 0:07:27.040 --> 0:07:31.520 Delays, closed doors, people that betrayed you, prayers that haven't 0:07:31.560 --> 0:07:35.520 been answered. It doesn't make sense now, but don't worry. 0:07:36.080 --> 0:07:39.720 One day you're going to understand. God is going to 0:07:39.760 --> 0:07:43.600 connect all the dots. He doesn't allow things that he 0:07:43.680 --> 0:07:45.080 doesn't have a purpose for. 0:07:45.760 --> 0:07:49.440 That trouble is not a surprise to God. The sickness 0:07:49.560 --> 0:07:50.920 didn't catch him off guard. 0:07:51.400 --> 0:07:54.160 The child getting off course is not going to stop 0:07:54.200 --> 0:07:58.200 his destiny. God is still on the throne. He's still 0:07:58.320 --> 0:08:01.640 ordering your steps. I can't see it right now, but 0:08:01.800 --> 0:08:05.640 behind the scenes, God is lining up things in your favor. 0:08:06.120 --> 0:08:08.840 When it's the right time, when it all comes together, 0:08:09.200 --> 0:08:10.880 it's going to work for your good. 0:08:11.240 --> 0:08:13.200 You're going to see the hand of God. 0:08:13.680 --> 0:08:16.680 You'll look back and say, if that hadn't have happened, 0:08:16.920 --> 0:08:20.320 I wouldn't have this position. If that door hadn't have closed, 0:08:20.440 --> 0:08:22.840 I wouldn't have met this person. If I hadn't have 0:08:22.880 --> 0:08:25.960 gone through that difficulty, I wouldn't have stepped in to 0:08:26.080 --> 0:08:30.320 this new level. Now, don't waste your time trying. 0:08:30.040 --> 0:08:31.720 To figure everything out. 0:08:32.320 --> 0:08:36.160 There are some things you're not supposed to understand right now. 0:08:36.720 --> 0:08:39.160 We can't see the plan of God. 0:08:39.280 --> 0:08:43.040 We can't fathom how he does things we think natural. 0:08:43.440 --> 0:08:47.040 He's supernatural, and if you're always trying to figure it out, 0:08:47.280 --> 0:08:50.840 it's going to frustrate you. Instead of using that energy 0:08:51.000 --> 0:08:54.400 trying to understand what's happening, use it to thank God 0:08:54.520 --> 0:08:57.720 that he's working. Thank him that he's fighting your battles. 0:08:58.040 --> 0:09:01.000 Think him that he's making your crooked places straight. Thank 0:09:01.080 --> 0:09:05.560 him that you're surrounded with his favor. The scripture says 0:09:05.880 --> 0:09:09.480 God will work out his plan for your life. You 0:09:09.520 --> 0:09:11.720 don't have to work it out. You don't have to 0:09:11.760 --> 0:09:17.040 live frustrated over what's not happening, discouraged over disappointments. You're 0:09:17.040 --> 0:09:20.920 not doing life by yourself. The creator of the universe 0:09:21.240 --> 0:09:25.120 is breathing in your direction. You keep honoring him and 0:09:25.240 --> 0:09:26.640 he'll open the right doors. 0:09:26.960 --> 0:09:28.080 He'll bring the right. 0:09:27.880 --> 0:09:32.360 People, he'll turn negative situations around. He'll make things happen 0:09:32.600 --> 0:09:35.880 that you couldn't make happen. His plan for your life 0:09:36.160 --> 0:09:39.160 is much bigger than your own. If you're going to 0:09:39.200 --> 0:09:42.280 stay in faith, you have to learn to trust when 0:09:42.280 --> 0:09:47.320 you don't understand. After Jesus was crucified, I'm sure the 0:09:47.400 --> 0:09:50.800 disciples thought, was he really the son of God? Did 0:09:50.880 --> 0:09:53.560 we waste our time with him? I thought he said 0:09:53.559 --> 0:09:56.120 he would never leave us. There was a time of 0:09:56.240 --> 0:10:01.040 doubt confusion where it looked like Jesus abandoned then, But 0:10:01.080 --> 0:10:04.800 as time went on they begin to realize the crucifixion 0:10:05.120 --> 0:10:08.520 was a part of God's plan. Judas betrayal was a 0:10:08.559 --> 0:10:12.439 part of the plan. The opposition, the mocking, the ridicule. 0:10:12.960 --> 0:10:16.400 It all had to happen. It was leading to redemption, 0:10:16.920 --> 0:10:21.800 to salvation. Are you frustrated because you don't understand what 0:10:21.840 --> 0:10:26.600 God is doing? Upset because that friend betrayed, you discouraged 0:10:26.600 --> 0:10:28.160 over the contract you lost? 0:10:28.840 --> 0:10:32.240 How do you know that's not leading you to your destiny? 0:10:32.880 --> 0:10:37.680 Without the betrayal, we wouldn't have salvation without that situation. 0:10:37.840 --> 0:10:41.360 You don't understand, You couldn't see the fullness of what 0:10:41.440 --> 0:10:45.280 God has in store. And sometimes we're trying to pray 0:10:45.320 --> 0:10:48.120 away what God is going to use to take us 0:10:48.160 --> 0:10:51.480 to the next level. I know it's uncomfortable, but the 0:10:51.480 --> 0:10:56.359 betrayals are necessary. The lonely nights are necessary, the delays, 0:10:56.559 --> 0:10:58.640 the struggles, it's all necessary. 0:10:59.200 --> 0:11:01.760 If Jesus could reach his destiny. 0:11:01.360 --> 0:11:05.040 Without these things that don't make sense, that weren't fair, 0:11:05.400 --> 0:11:08.199 people that did him wrong, how can we reach our 0:11:08.240 --> 0:11:11.720 destiny without them? But the way to stay in faith 0:11:12.120 --> 0:11:15.560 is to recognize that it's all a part of God's plan. 0:11:16.280 --> 0:11:17.960 It's not happening by accident. 0:11:18.559 --> 0:11:21.640 The enemy didn't somehow get the controls of your life. 0:11:22.200 --> 0:11:25.520 Wrestle them away from God. Now God is standing by 0:11:25.800 --> 0:11:29.120 hoping things work out. God has you in the palm 0:11:29.240 --> 0:11:32.920 of his hand. Nothing can snatch you away. Him being 0:11:33.000 --> 0:11:35.640 for you is more than the world being against you. 0:11:36.280 --> 0:11:39.000 It's very freeing when you can say God, I don't 0:11:39.080 --> 0:11:40.800 understand it, but I trust you. 0:11:41.360 --> 0:11:43.959 Doesn't seem fair, but I'm not going to live better. 0:11:44.600 --> 0:11:47.880 Had some bad breaks, disappointments, but I'm not going to 0:11:47.960 --> 0:11:51.320 go around sour. I know you're still in control and 0:11:51.440 --> 0:11:55.319 you will work out your plan for my life. Friend 0:11:55.360 --> 0:11:59.560 of mine is in commercial real estate. He specializes in hotels. 0:12:00.080 --> 0:12:02.880 He'll buy them, run them for a few years, then 0:12:02.920 --> 0:12:05.960 turn around and sell them. At one point, he owned 0:12:06.000 --> 0:12:09.800 over two hundred hotels, most of them were small. 0:12:09.600 --> 0:12:12.440 In rural areas. His dream was to. 0:12:12.360 --> 0:12:15.840 Own a large hotel in a major city. A couple 0:12:15.880 --> 0:12:19.440 of years ago, he had a rare opportunity to purchase 0:12:19.520 --> 0:12:23.280 this prestigious hotel in New York City. It was in 0:12:23.320 --> 0:12:28.160 a premier location overlooking Central Park. He was so excited. 0:12:28.520 --> 0:12:32.120 He worked for months and months arranging the funding. He 0:12:32.160 --> 0:12:35.160 found a partner that would go in with him financially. 0:12:35.240 --> 0:12:37.000 This was a huge undertaking. 0:12:37.360 --> 0:12:40.200 He was going to have to stretch and leverage everything 0:12:40.240 --> 0:12:42.239 he had, including his house. 0:12:42.520 --> 0:12:43.360 For it to work. 0:12:43.760 --> 0:12:47.079 Occupancy had to be strong, business had to be good. 0:12:47.360 --> 0:12:50.440 This was the only way he could make this huge payment. 0:12:51.120 --> 0:12:55.079 After over two years of putting it together. This January, 0:12:55.480 --> 0:12:58.560 he was supposed to finally close on the property, but 0:12:58.640 --> 0:13:02.360 at the last minute, his business partner backed out. He 0:13:02.400 --> 0:13:06.320 couldn't believe it. He scrambled to find another loan. Stretched 0:13:06.360 --> 0:13:09.839 even further now, he was way over his head. The 0:13:09.960 --> 0:13:12.960 day he went to closing, his bank called and said 0:13:13.000 --> 0:13:16.160 they had changed their mind and wouldn't lend him the funds. 0:13:16.600 --> 0:13:18.040 He was so disappointed. 0:13:18.440 --> 0:13:22.199 This was his dream, a prestigious hotel, two years worth 0:13:22.240 --> 0:13:26.120 of work, all for not. He couldn't understand why it 0:13:26.160 --> 0:13:30.840 didn't work out. What he couldn't see was three months later, 0:13:31.320 --> 0:13:34.680 this pandemic would hit in New York City would be 0:13:34.720 --> 0:13:38.960 the epicenter. All the hotels had to close, no income, 0:13:39.280 --> 0:13:42.960 no business, no customers. He would have this huge payment 0:13:43.280 --> 0:13:46.200 and no way to make it. He told me, if 0:13:46.240 --> 0:13:49.120 that deal would have gone through, he would be bankrupt. 0:13:49.520 --> 0:13:52.680 He would have lost all his other hotels, his personal 0:13:52.760 --> 0:13:57.200 finances would be gone. Sometimes what we think is a 0:13:57.240 --> 0:14:00.960 bad break is really God protecting us. You may not 0:14:01.160 --> 0:14:04.280 understand what God is doing now, but one day you 0:14:04.360 --> 0:14:05.439 will understand. 0:14:05.840 --> 0:14:07.320 One day you'll say. 0:14:07.160 --> 0:14:10.400 I'm glad that door didn't open, I'm glad that prayer 0:14:10.440 --> 0:14:14.520 didn't get answered, I'm glad that relationship didn't get started. 0:14:15.360 --> 0:14:19.960 I'm asking you to trust when you don't understand. God 0:14:20.000 --> 0:14:23.080 can see the big picture for our lives. All we 0:14:23.120 --> 0:14:25.920 can see is a little down the road. God knows 0:14:25.920 --> 0:14:29.160 where the dead ends are, he knows where the shortcuts are. 0:14:29.440 --> 0:14:31.240 He's ordering your steps. 0:14:31.960 --> 0:14:34.360 I used to just thank him for the open doors, 0:14:34.680 --> 0:14:37.040 but now I thank him just as much for the 0:14:37.080 --> 0:14:40.560 closed doors, because if it's not supposed to be mine, 0:14:40.720 --> 0:14:41.560 I don't want it. 0:14:42.120 --> 0:14:44.600 If God is closing a door, don't fight it. 0:14:45.200 --> 0:14:48.360 If you tried your best and it didn't work out, yes, 0:14:48.560 --> 0:14:52.000 be persistent, but at some point you have to accept 0:14:52.040 --> 0:14:56.000 it as God's plan and move on. That's a sign 0:14:56.200 --> 0:15:00.200 that God has something better, something more fulfilling, more re ward. 0:15:00.680 --> 0:15:02.680 Does it mean that it's never going to happen. 0:15:02.960 --> 0:15:05.600 It may just mean that it's not the right time. 0:15:06.400 --> 0:15:09.040 But too often we get discouraged, bitter. 0:15:09.360 --> 0:15:10.160 It's not fair. 0:15:10.800 --> 0:15:13.400 But if you believe that God is ordering your steps, 0:15:13.680 --> 0:15:16.600 then you'll trust him with the open doors and. 0:15:16.520 --> 0:15:18.240 Trust him with the closed doors. 0:15:18.560 --> 0:15:21.240 You'll trust him with the good breaks and trust him 0:15:21.320 --> 0:15:25.320 with the bad breaks. How we respond to these tests 0:15:25.400 --> 0:15:28.360 has a great impact on whether new doors are going 0:15:28.400 --> 0:15:31.960 to open, whether we see things turn around. If we 0:15:32.040 --> 0:15:36.440 go through difficulties discouraged God, Why did this happen? Why 0:15:36.440 --> 0:15:39.160 did they do me wrong? Why did my business partner 0:15:39.240 --> 0:15:42.240 back out? Why did my health go down? That's going 0:15:42.320 --> 0:15:46.640 to keep us where we are. It's significant that Jesus 0:15:46.840 --> 0:15:50.480 washed the disciples feet. The scripture tells us to put 0:15:50.520 --> 0:15:53.640 on the armor of God. Part of the armor is 0:15:53.640 --> 0:15:57.160 our shoes of peace. When he washed their feet, he 0:15:57.360 --> 0:16:00.440 was saying, as you go out and walk, walk through 0:16:00.440 --> 0:16:03.240 things you don't understand, stay in peace. 0:16:03.920 --> 0:16:06.840 He didn't wash their eyes. He knew they wouldn't be 0:16:06.920 --> 0:16:09.600 able to see what he was doing. He didn't wash 0:16:09.680 --> 0:16:10.360 their ears. 0:16:10.560 --> 0:16:13.880 He knew they wouldn't understand what was happening, so he 0:16:14.160 --> 0:16:17.560 washed their feet and sent them out into something they 0:16:17.600 --> 0:16:18.680 didn't understand. 0:16:19.400 --> 0:16:22.400 It's like us today. Who would have ever thought this 0:16:22.560 --> 0:16:24.040 year would have turned out like it? 0:16:24.120 --> 0:16:24.480 Has? 0:16:24.840 --> 0:16:28.760 A pandemic, the economy shutting down, not able to go 0:16:28.840 --> 0:16:34.800 to work, People's lives put on hold, so much uncertainty, unrest, tension. 0:16:35.320 --> 0:16:38.400 There are a lot of things we don't understand, troubled 0:16:38.440 --> 0:16:43.120 that we've never seen. Like Jesus washed the disciple's feet. 0:16:43.520 --> 0:16:46.320 You're his disciple. If you would have been there, he 0:16:46.320 --> 0:16:49.640 would have washed your feet. I could imagine him doing 0:16:49.680 --> 0:16:53.280 that today. He's saying, you're going to walk through things 0:16:53.280 --> 0:16:56.160 you don't understand, see difficulties that. 0:16:56.160 --> 0:16:56.960 You've never seen. 0:16:57.440 --> 0:17:00.160 There's going to be plenty of opportunities to live. I've 0:17:00.200 --> 0:17:04.640 upset and afraid, but don't worry. I've washed your feet, 0:17:04.960 --> 0:17:08.359 I've prepared you for what you're going to face. I've 0:17:08.440 --> 0:17:11.080 armed you with strength for the battle. It may not 0:17:11.280 --> 0:17:13.960 make sense, but it's all a part of my plan. 0:17:14.640 --> 0:17:16.280 God is getting you ready for. 0:17:16.320 --> 0:17:20.399 New levels of influence, new levels of favor, new levels 0:17:20.440 --> 0:17:25.040 of leadership, new levels of resources. Now, make sure you 0:17:25.200 --> 0:17:29.920 keep your shoes of peace on. Don't panic over the pandemic, 0:17:30.560 --> 0:17:34.439 don't fear the unknown, don't lose sleep over what doesn't 0:17:34.480 --> 0:17:39.840 make sense. God has equipped you, empowered you, and anointed you. 0:17:39.840 --> 0:17:42.600 You've been raised up for such a time as this. 0:17:43.119 --> 0:17:47.040 No weapon formed against you will prosper You. Keep walking 0:17:47.119 --> 0:17:50.840 in faith, trusting when you don't understand, and you're going 0:17:50.920 --> 0:17:57.280 to walk into blessings, favor, healing, freedom, abundance, victory like 0:17:57.359 --> 0:17:58.240 you've never seen. 0:17:59.080 --> 0:17:59.679 I've learned. 0:18:00.160 --> 0:18:03.440 When you stay in faith when you don't understand, you're 0:18:03.480 --> 0:18:03.840 going to. 0:18:03.800 --> 0:18:06.119 Come into blessings that you don't understand. 0:18:06.640 --> 0:18:09.400 When you trust God when it doesn't make sense, you're 0:18:09.440 --> 0:18:13.240 going to come into favor that doesn't make sense. Could 0:18:13.280 --> 0:18:17.000 it be that the disappointment you're so upset about is 0:18:17.080 --> 0:18:20.879 really a blessing in disguise. You can't see it, but 0:18:20.960 --> 0:18:24.520 It's a part of a divine plan, a critical peace 0:18:24.720 --> 0:18:27.520 that God is going to use years down the road 0:18:27.840 --> 0:18:31.040 to take you where you've never dreamed. But right now, 0:18:31.480 --> 0:18:36.120 that situation by itself doesn't make sense. It seems random, 0:18:36.160 --> 0:18:39.080 just a bad break, when in fact it's the hand 0:18:39.080 --> 0:18:43.439 of God setting you up for increase. Without that challenge, 0:18:43.520 --> 0:18:46.840 you want see the far and beyond favor that belongs 0:18:46.840 --> 0:18:51.159 to you. Trust Him when it doesn't make sense. I 0:18:51.200 --> 0:18:54.520 know this is not easy. We don't like closed doors, 0:18:55.119 --> 0:19:00.199 unfair situations, being uncomfortable. But God uses these things to 0:19:00.280 --> 0:19:03.680 move us into our purpose. It's not just the good 0:19:03.720 --> 0:19:07.320 breaks that will take you into your destiny. The closed 0:19:07.320 --> 0:19:11.320 doors are as important as the open doors. The betrayals 0:19:11.560 --> 0:19:15.719 are just as important as the divine connections. God uses 0:19:15.760 --> 0:19:20.160 them all. When you understand this, you won't live upset 0:19:20.440 --> 0:19:23.320 when your plans don't work out. You won't go around 0:19:23.359 --> 0:19:27.280 sour because somebody did you wrong. You'll stay in peace 0:19:27.560 --> 0:19:30.280 knowing that God wouldn't have allowed it if he wasn't 0:19:30.320 --> 0:19:33.240 going to use it for your good. It may not 0:19:33.440 --> 0:19:35.960 feel good, but this is where you have to show 0:19:36.000 --> 0:19:39.359 God what you're made of. Anyone can be happy when 0:19:39.440 --> 0:19:42.560 things are going their way. Anyone can thank God when 0:19:42.720 --> 0:19:45.480 doors are opening, but if you want to pass this 0:19:45.720 --> 0:19:49.320 test and see God's favor in new ways, you have 0:19:49.400 --> 0:19:52.159 to thank him when it doesn't work out. You have 0:19:52.200 --> 0:19:55.199 to have a smile when you could be complaining. Be 0:19:55.280 --> 0:19:58.440 good to others when someone is not being good to you. 0:19:59.000 --> 0:20:02.440 This is what faith is all about. Not God. I'll 0:20:02.440 --> 0:20:04.679 trust you as long as you keep me happy. 0:20:05.119 --> 0:20:09.080 Answer my prayers, change my husband, move my boss, keep 0:20:09.080 --> 0:20:12.359 me in the ac it's hot outside. The problem with 0:20:12.480 --> 0:20:16.800 that thinking is God uses difficulties to get us to 0:20:16.840 --> 0:20:20.760 our destiny. If you're not willing to be uncomfortable and 0:20:20.880 --> 0:20:24.000 keep a good attitude when things don't work out, it. 0:20:23.960 --> 0:20:25.880 Will keep you from rising higher. 0:20:26.720 --> 0:20:29.280 When I was in my late twenties, I received a 0:20:29.320 --> 0:20:32.679 certified letter in the mail saying that we hadn't filed 0:20:32.680 --> 0:20:36.840 our tax returns properly, and now we owe thousands of dollars. 0:20:37.359 --> 0:20:39.919 The men that did our taxes lived in another state. 0:20:40.359 --> 0:20:43.680 He wasn't familiar with a certain law in Texas. Now 0:20:43.720 --> 0:20:47.800 we had this unexpected bill to make matters worse. About 0:20:47.840 --> 0:20:50.919 half of what we owed was in penalties. We were 0:20:50.960 --> 0:20:53.840 a young couple saving up for a down payment for 0:20:53.920 --> 0:20:55.960 a house, and this was going to take all of 0:20:56.000 --> 0:21:00.600 our funds. I thought, God, this is not fair. Professional 0:21:00.840 --> 0:21:03.760 he messed up. Now I'm having to pay for his mistake. 0:21:04.640 --> 0:21:08.679 Nothing about that situation seemed good. I thought, it's just 0:21:08.680 --> 0:21:11.840 a bad break. Let's pay it and move on. We 0:21:11.960 --> 0:21:14.439 ended up finding a man that helped us get that 0:21:14.560 --> 0:21:18.000 straightened out. He's a tax attorney. He came over to 0:21:18.080 --> 0:21:21.960 our house every night for several weeks. We filed the forms, 0:21:22.080 --> 0:21:25.680 did the paperwork. We became good friends. We'd go out 0:21:25.680 --> 0:21:29.720 to eat and run errands together. Ten years later, when 0:21:29.760 --> 0:21:32.560 I was working for my father in the television department 0:21:32.600 --> 0:21:36.840 at Lakewood, someone offered us a construction permit for the 0:21:36.960 --> 0:21:41.639 last full power television station in Houston. TV's stations in 0:21:41.760 --> 0:21:45.040 major cities are very valuable, but I didn't know where 0:21:45.080 --> 0:21:45.520 to start. 0:21:46.040 --> 0:21:46.760 I was young. 0:21:47.160 --> 0:21:49.560 I didn't know anything about buying a permit for a 0:21:49.600 --> 0:21:53.719 television station. Then I thought, I'll call my friend, the 0:21:53.760 --> 0:21:56.919 one I met during the tax issue. Three months later, 0:21:57.080 --> 0:22:00.359 we had a signed contract. We put the station on 0:22:00.400 --> 0:22:02.760 the air. My father went to be with the lord 0:22:02.800 --> 0:22:06.119 and I became the pastor. A few years later, we 0:22:06.160 --> 0:22:09.199 acquired the compact center. It was going to cost one 0:22:09.280 --> 0:22:13.119 hundred million dollars to renovate. We decided to sell the station. 0:22:13.920 --> 0:22:16.679 We were told by an expert, a man that sells 0:22:16.760 --> 0:22:20.080 more stations in the US than anyone else, that. 0:22:20.080 --> 0:22:21.680 We would get a certain amount. 0:22:22.040 --> 0:22:24.960 We believed it was worth much more, but he was 0:22:25.080 --> 0:22:28.080 very vocal about how it would never sell for that amount, 0:22:28.359 --> 0:22:31.359 how we were wasting our time trying to get that much. 0:22:31.800 --> 0:22:34.480 He gave us all the reasons why it wasn't going 0:22:34.480 --> 0:22:38.600 to happen. The market was down too much, supply, too 0:22:38.600 --> 0:22:42.160 many stations for sale. He had all the facts as 0:22:42.160 --> 0:22:44.840 to why it wasn't as valuable and why it wasn't 0:22:44.840 --> 0:22:47.919 going to attract a buyer. We let that go in 0:22:48.040 --> 0:22:51.800 one ear and out the other. Don't let people talk 0:22:51.840 --> 0:22:55.280 you out of what God put in your heart. Sometimes 0:22:55.400 --> 0:22:59.240 people have too many facts, they have too much information. 0:22:59.720 --> 0:23:03.439 Don't let their doubt get off on you. God is 0:23:03.520 --> 0:23:07.600 not limited by what the experts say. His favor on 0:23:07.640 --> 0:23:11.760 your property, your business, your gifts, your talents will cause 0:23:11.800 --> 0:23:15.560 things to happen that shouldn't happen. We had a buyer 0:23:15.680 --> 0:23:19.800 come to us and offer almost twice what he said 0:23:19.840 --> 0:23:22.399 we would never get When he heard the figure, he 0:23:22.480 --> 0:23:26.240 nearly passed out. We sold the station and used those 0:23:26.320 --> 0:23:31.000 funds to help renovate the Compact Center. What's interesting is 0:23:31.080 --> 0:23:33.520 none of this would have happened if I had not 0:23:33.680 --> 0:23:38.000 had the tax problem some twenty years earlier. I was 0:23:38.080 --> 0:23:41.359 discouraged by it. It was a bad break. It wasn't 0:23:41.359 --> 0:23:45.920 my fault. I didn't realize God was ordering my steps. 0:23:46.240 --> 0:23:50.320 That was a critical piece for me to fulfill my destiny. 0:23:50.560 --> 0:23:53.440 I thought back then it would only be the good breaks, 0:23:53.960 --> 0:23:56.280 open doors, things falling into place. 0:23:56.920 --> 0:23:58.400 I didn't know God would. 0:23:58.320 --> 0:24:03.840 Use disappointments, breaks, things that weren't fair. Like Jesus told 0:24:03.880 --> 0:24:07.520 the disciples, You're not going to understand what I'm doing now, 0:24:08.000 --> 0:24:12.040 but one day you will understand. Now, looking back, I 0:24:12.080 --> 0:24:15.120 can see it so clearly. If I had not had 0:24:15.160 --> 0:24:18.200 the tax problem, I would have never met the attorney. 0:24:18.680 --> 0:24:22.119 Without my attorney friend, I would have never pursued the station. 0:24:22.800 --> 0:24:26.080 Without the station, we wouldn't have the funds to renovate 0:24:26.119 --> 0:24:30.720 the Compact Center. I wonder, if you're upset about something 0:24:30.800 --> 0:24:34.639 now that later on you're going to realize it had 0:24:34.680 --> 0:24:37.119 to happen to get you to your destiny. 0:24:37.600 --> 0:24:38.760 You didn't like it. 0:24:38.760 --> 0:24:42.680 It wasn't fair, but God used it to connect the dots. 0:24:43.040 --> 0:24:44.200 It was instrumental. 0:24:44.680 --> 0:24:47.040 You wouldn't have met the person, you wouldn't have been 0:24:47.080 --> 0:24:49.800 at the right place. You wouldn't have sold the property, 0:24:49.960 --> 0:24:53.399 you wouldn't have started the business. Maybe, like with me, 0:24:53.960 --> 0:24:58.320 what you're discouraged over now is really a blessing. You 0:24:58.359 --> 0:25:01.359 can't see what God is up to, But later on 0:25:01.640 --> 0:25:03.000 you're going to understand. 0:25:03.840 --> 0:25:07.119 God knows what you're going to need twenty years from now. 0:25:07.720 --> 0:25:11.960 A disappointment today, a setback, a betrayal. You may not 0:25:12.119 --> 0:25:15.159 see how that works out for your good until years 0:25:15.200 --> 0:25:19.320 down the road. When our daughter Alexandra was a little girl, 0:25:19.600 --> 0:25:23.240 she loved to put puzzles together. Every couple of weeks 0:25:23.400 --> 0:25:25.480 we'd get a new puzzle and work on it, and 0:25:25.520 --> 0:25:28.440 sometimes it'd take two or three days to complete. 0:25:28.600 --> 0:25:32.119 Invariably we'd find a piece that wouldn't fit anywhere. 0:25:32.560 --> 0:25:36.480 We would try every option, put it here, there still nothing. 0:25:37.080 --> 0:25:40.520 I was convinced that the manufacturer made a mistake. They 0:25:40.560 --> 0:25:44.240 did something wrong, left something out. They put this piece 0:25:44.280 --> 0:25:47.200 in from another puzzle because it does not fit. 0:25:47.359 --> 0:25:48.560 It was so frustrating. 0:25:49.240 --> 0:25:52.359 What's interesting is every time we got close to the 0:25:52.600 --> 0:25:56.240 end and more of the pieces came together. All of 0:25:56.280 --> 0:25:59.080 a sudden, that piece that I was so sure it 0:25:59.119 --> 0:26:03.200 was a mistake would fit perfectly into place didn't make 0:26:03.240 --> 0:26:05.840 sense on its own. I had to wait for the 0:26:05.880 --> 0:26:10.080 pieces to come together. You may have some pieces in 0:26:10.119 --> 0:26:13.199 your life that don't make sense. Why did I not 0:26:13.320 --> 0:26:15.360 get that promotion I worked so hard for. 0:26:15.800 --> 0:26:18.439 Why did I have that tax issue? Was it my fault? 0:26:18.760 --> 0:26:22.960 Why did that person walk out of a relationship by itself? 0:26:23.160 --> 0:26:26.600 That peace doesn't fit right now, It's not going to 0:26:26.640 --> 0:26:29.800 make sense. You have to wait for the other pieces 0:26:29.840 --> 0:26:34.480 to come together. The scripture says all things work together 0:26:34.760 --> 0:26:39.119 for good. God is in the process of connecting the 0:26:39.200 --> 0:26:40.680 dots in your life. 0:26:40.920 --> 0:26:45.120 Be patient and let him work out his plan. Trust him. 0:26:45.280 --> 0:26:46.880 When the peace doesn't make. 0:26:46.720 --> 0:26:51.600 Sense, I can assure you your manufacture didn't make a mistake. 0:26:52.280 --> 0:26:55.199 When God designed a plan for your life, when he 0:26:55.240 --> 0:26:58.720 made your puzzle, so to speak, he didn't accidentally put 0:26:58.760 --> 0:27:01.920 in a wrong piece, something that didn't fit. He didn't 0:27:02.000 --> 0:27:06.159 leave something out. You have been fearfully and wonderfully made. 0:27:06.480 --> 0:27:08.520 Everything is serving his plan. 0:27:09.320 --> 0:27:10.640 But here's a key. 0:27:10.720 --> 0:27:14.640 He never said you're going to understand everything. I'm going 0:27:14.680 --> 0:27:16.679 to show you what I'm doing. It's all going to 0:27:16.720 --> 0:27:17.320 make sense. 0:27:17.560 --> 0:27:18.080 He said. 0:27:18.520 --> 0:27:21.800 My ways are not your ways. He said, walk by 0:27:21.840 --> 0:27:25.080 faith and not by sight. You have to trust him 0:27:25.359 --> 0:27:28.800 when you don't understand, stay in faith when it doesn't 0:27:28.800 --> 0:27:32.720 make sense. God is working behind the scenes in your 0:27:32.760 --> 0:27:36.400 life right now. You're on the verge of seeing him 0:27:36.640 --> 0:27:40.360 connect some dots. This is not the time to be discouraged. 0:27:40.560 --> 0:27:43.400 This is the time to stir your faith up. If 0:27:43.440 --> 0:27:47.199 you'll do this, I believe and declare, you're about to 0:27:47.240 --> 0:27:52.960 step into a new level of favor, breakthroughs, healing, divine connections. 0:27:53.320 --> 0:27:54.960 Things you haven't understood in. 0:27:54.920 --> 0:27:58.240 The past, you're about to understand. God is about to 0:27:58.280 --> 0:28:01.120 bring it together to see what he. 0:28:01.240 --> 0:28:01.679 Was up to. 0:28:02.359 --> 0:28:06.520 In Jesus' name, If you receive it, can you say amen. 0:28:07.880 --> 0:28:10.920 I'd like to give you an opportunity to make Jesus 0:28:10.960 --> 0:28:13.520 the lord of your life. Would you pray with me? 0:28:14.280 --> 0:28:18.920 Just say, Lord, Jesus, I repent of my sins. Come 0:28:18.920 --> 0:28:22.600 into my heart. I make you my Lord and savior. 0:28:23.440 --> 0:28:26.040 If you prayed that simple prayer, we believe you got 0:28:26.080 --> 0:28:29.359 born again. We'd like to send you some free information. 0:28:29.920 --> 0:28:31.200 Just text the number on the. 0:28:31.160 --> 0:28:32.840 Screen and we'll get it to you. 0:28:33.200 --> 0:28:35.720 I hope you'll get into a good Bible based church 0:28:35.960 --> 0:28:38.720 and keep God first place. He's going to take your 0:28:38.720 --> 0:28:42.200 places that you've never dreamed. Thanks so much for listening 0:28:42.280 --> 0:28:45.400 to today's message. I hope you'll subscribe so you can 0:28:45.480 --> 0:28:49.040 receive the latest podcast to keep you encouraged and inspired 0:28:49.120 --> 0:28:49.880 all through the week. 0:28:50.080 --> 0:28:52.320 Help us to continue to share the message of hope 0:28:52.320 --> 0:28:55.760 with those all around the world. Visit Joelosting dot com 0:28:55.880 --> 0:28:58.479 or click the link in the description to partner with 0:28:58.560 --> 0:28:59.080 us today. 0:28:59.320 --> 0:29:01.080 We hope you'll share we Are this message with a 0:29:01.120 --> 0:29:04.080 friend and be sure to follow us on social media. 0:29:04.120 --> 0:29:07.440 We're praying for you. 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