1 00:00:07,910 --> 00:00:12,090 Speaker 1: Welcome to the Untangling Prayer Podcast. I'm Rachel Wojo, and 2 00:00:12,289 --> 00:00:17,189 Speaker 1: each week we unravel life's knots through prayer. Here you'll 3 00:00:17,230 --> 00:00:21,380 Speaker 1: find practical wisdom and prayer encouragement to guide you through 4 00:00:21,420 --> 00:00:26,439 Speaker 1: life's hardest seasons. Join me as we untangle life's messes together, 5 00:00:27,240 --> 00:00:38,519 Speaker 1: one prayer at a time. Welcome to the Untangling Prayer Podcast. 6 00:00:38,740 --> 00:00:42,180 Speaker 1: I'm Rachel, and I'm so glad that you are with 7 00:00:42,240 --> 00:00:46,000 Speaker 1: me today. If you know Jesus, you know how the 8 00:00:46,040 --> 00:00:51,300 Speaker 1: story ends. He wins. So why does life feel like 9 00:00:51,370 --> 00:00:55,090 Speaker 1: a fight? Maybe you've been praying that same prayer over 10 00:00:55,150 --> 00:00:58,770 Speaker 1: the same prodigal or the same diagnosis or the same 11 00:00:58,830 --> 00:01:02,770 Speaker 1: stack of bills, and you're starting to wonder what's wrong. 12 00:01:03,500 --> 00:01:06,440 Speaker 1: If God has already won the battle, then why do 13 00:01:06,480 --> 00:01:11,020 Speaker 1: we still struggle? That's the question that we're sitting with today. 14 00:01:11,500 --> 00:01:14,900 Speaker 1: And it seems like the right one to start a 15 00:01:14,940 --> 00:01:19,309 Speaker 1: busy October. Here on the podcast, we're moving into the 16 00:01:19,450 --> 00:01:22,730 Speaker 1: second part of my book, Praying Through Life's Battles. And 17 00:01:22,790 --> 00:01:26,709 Speaker 1: in September, we spent a good chunk of time going 18 00:01:26,790 --> 00:01:29,570 Speaker 1: over the weary section. And this month, it's for the 19 00:01:29,670 --> 00:01:32,940 Speaker 1: warring section. It's the season of the battles of life 20 00:01:33,020 --> 00:01:37,570 Speaker 1: when You're still showing up, but you are tired of 21 00:01:37,850 --> 00:01:40,280 Speaker 1: swinging or fighting or whatever you want to call it. 22 00:01:41,080 --> 00:01:44,260 Speaker 1: And if you feel like you're in good company, then 23 00:01:44,300 --> 00:01:46,780 Speaker 1: you're going to want to do the Bible Reading Challenge 24 00:01:46,959 --> 00:01:51,380 Speaker 1: October days 31 through 60, part two, start October 1st. 25 00:01:51,920 --> 00:01:55,080 Speaker 1: Just one short passage each day. And even if you 26 00:01:55,120 --> 00:01:58,760 Speaker 1: didn't do part one, you can grab the free Bible 27 00:01:58,800 --> 00:02:03,000 Speaker 1: reading plan at rachelwojo.com. And now for this week's segment 28 00:02:03,120 --> 00:02:07,040 Speaker 1: of questions in hard spaces, where I answer the hard 29 00:02:07,080 --> 00:02:11,359 Speaker 1: questions about prayer that you email or message me. And 30 00:02:11,419 --> 00:02:16,679 Speaker 1: today's question is, if God has won the battle, why 31 00:02:16,760 --> 00:02:20,559 Speaker 1: am I still struggling? I want to take you to 32 00:02:20,660 --> 00:02:25,639 Speaker 1: Deuteronomy chapter 3. This is day 31 in Praying Through 33 00:02:25,680 --> 00:02:28,870 Speaker 1: Life's Battles, the very first day of the For the 34 00:02:28,910 --> 00:02:33,030 Speaker 1: Warning section. Moses is near the end of his life, 35 00:02:33,310 --> 00:02:37,390 Speaker 1: and Israel has just defeated two kings, Sihon and Og. 36 00:02:37,970 --> 00:02:41,400 Speaker 1: And they're at the Jordan River, and Moses turns to Joshua, 37 00:02:41,880 --> 00:02:44,880 Speaker 1: who's about to lead God's people into the promised land. 38 00:02:45,020 --> 00:02:49,000 Speaker 1: And he says, You have seen with your own eyes 39 00:02:49,380 --> 00:02:51,760 Speaker 1: all that the Lord your God has done to these 40 00:02:51,840 --> 00:02:55,680 Speaker 1: two kings. The Lord will do the same to all 41 00:02:55,740 --> 00:02:59,139 Speaker 1: the kingdoms over there where you are going. Do not 42 00:02:59,200 --> 00:03:02,040 Speaker 1: be afraid of them. The Lord your God himself will 43 00:03:02,080 --> 00:03:06,840 Speaker 1: fight for you. Moses didn't say to Joshua that the 44 00:03:06,880 --> 00:03:10,870 Speaker 1: fighting was over. Joshua still had a river to cross. 45 00:03:10,970 --> 00:03:15,010 Speaker 1: Jericho was still right there. There were years of battles 46 00:03:15,169 --> 00:03:19,410 Speaker 1: ahead of Joshua. But what Moses gave Joshua was the 47 00:03:19,530 --> 00:03:23,570 Speaker 1: promise about who would be fighting for him. You've seen 48 00:03:23,610 --> 00:03:26,310 Speaker 1: it with your own eyes, what God has done to 49 00:03:26,370 --> 00:03:28,450 Speaker 1: those two kings. He said, he's going to do the 50 00:03:28,490 --> 00:03:33,790 Speaker 1: same thing. So if you're still struggling, you haven't missed 51 00:03:34,050 --> 00:03:37,190 Speaker 1: out on victory. You're standing in the same place that 52 00:03:37,230 --> 00:03:41,450 Speaker 1: Joshua was standing when he stood at that river. God's 53 00:03:41,570 --> 00:03:45,030 Speaker 1: promise is in your hand and the fight is still 54 00:03:45,070 --> 00:03:48,309 Speaker 1: in front of you. I say it often and Jesus 55 00:03:48,350 --> 00:03:51,190 Speaker 1: said it, in this world, you will have trouble, but 56 00:03:51,250 --> 00:03:55,720 Speaker 1: take heart. I have overcome the world and those were 57 00:03:55,750 --> 00:04:00,970 Speaker 1: held together. The trouble was real. but so was his victory. 58 00:04:01,770 --> 00:04:05,810 Speaker 1: So there's a word in Deuteronomy 3.22, the Lord your 59 00:04:05,850 --> 00:04:10,440 Speaker 1: God himself will fight for you. That word himself. God 60 00:04:10,470 --> 00:04:13,410 Speaker 1: doesn't hand your battle off to someone else and then 61 00:04:13,500 --> 00:04:17,120 Speaker 1: check back in later. He is in it with you. 62 00:04:17,900 --> 00:04:20,200 Speaker 1: And for this hard question, I want to encourage you 63 00:04:20,240 --> 00:04:23,779 Speaker 1: to do what Moses told Joshua to do. Look back 64 00:04:23,820 --> 00:04:26,040 Speaker 1: at what you've seen God do with your own eyes. 65 00:04:26,880 --> 00:04:29,669 Speaker 1: And let those things remind you that He's fighting for 66 00:04:29,730 --> 00:04:33,950 Speaker 1: you right now. Thanks so much for listening to this 67 00:04:34,050 --> 00:04:37,690 Speaker 1: segment of Questions in Hard Spaces. We'll be right back 68 00:04:38,250 --> 00:04:42,730 Speaker 1: after this brief word from our sponsors. Thank you for 69 00:04:42,790 --> 00:04:46,730 Speaker 1: allowing that word from our sponsors. And now I'm diving 70 00:04:46,870 --> 00:04:51,870 Speaker 1: into the podcast segment we call Pray More, Worry Less Encouragement. 71 00:04:52,370 --> 00:04:56,279 Speaker 1: This is the segment where we focus on one prayer 72 00:04:56,360 --> 00:04:59,120 Speaker 1: principle to help you pray more and worry less. And 73 00:04:59,190 --> 00:05:05,310 Speaker 1: today's principle is praising Jesus is a weapon against the struggle. 74 00:05:06,010 --> 00:05:09,690 Speaker 1: When you're in the middle of a hard fight, praise 75 00:05:09,790 --> 00:05:12,860 Speaker 1: is probably the last thing on your list. I know 76 00:05:12,920 --> 00:05:15,020 Speaker 1: it is for me. Most of us would rather vent 77 00:05:15,100 --> 00:05:18,159 Speaker 1: about it or lie awake trying to work out the 78 00:05:18,200 --> 00:05:22,670 Speaker 1: problem another way. But in the warring part of a battle, 79 00:05:22,890 --> 00:05:26,390 Speaker 1: we have to reflect on what God has done so 80 00:05:26,430 --> 00:05:30,870 Speaker 1: that praise becomes that weapon that turns our worry into worship. 81 00:05:31,610 --> 00:05:37,100 Speaker 1: That's what Moses was doing for Joshua. Joshua stepped into 82 00:05:37,150 --> 00:05:41,560 Speaker 1: Jordan and Moses pointed him back at what God had 83 00:05:41,740 --> 00:05:46,780 Speaker 1: already done. Worry keeps us rehearsing the problem over and over, 84 00:05:46,880 --> 00:05:51,110 Speaker 1: but praise says out loud, who Jesus is and what 85 00:05:51,150 --> 00:05:54,729 Speaker 1: he has done. And it's hard to keep rehearsing the 86 00:05:54,770 --> 00:05:58,270 Speaker 1: problem if you're praising the Lord. I always go back 87 00:05:58,310 --> 00:06:00,850 Speaker 1: to Paul and Silas on this topic. It's one of 88 00:06:00,890 --> 00:06:05,480 Speaker 1: my favorite passages, and there's an entire episode dedicated to it. 89 00:06:05,540 --> 00:06:10,219 Speaker 1: But Acts 16.25, about midnight, Paul and Silas were praying 90 00:06:10,800 --> 00:06:13,520 Speaker 1: and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were 91 00:06:13,660 --> 00:06:17,600 Speaker 1: listening to them. So their feet were still in the stalks. 92 00:06:18,410 --> 00:06:23,250 Speaker 1: They were still in chains. Nothing had changed, but praise 93 00:06:23,310 --> 00:06:26,050 Speaker 1: was the weapon. The next verse says, suddenly there was 94 00:06:26,070 --> 00:06:30,200 Speaker 1: a violent earthquake that the foundations of the prison were 95 00:06:30,279 --> 00:06:33,580 Speaker 1: shaken at once. All the prison doors flew open and 96 00:06:33,820 --> 00:06:41,000 Speaker 1: everyone's chains came loose. They praised God before anything changed. 97 00:06:41,710 --> 00:06:46,110 Speaker 1: And the other prisoners were listening. Your praise in the 98 00:06:46,190 --> 00:06:49,380 Speaker 1: middle of the battle might be the thing that someone 99 00:06:49,540 --> 00:06:53,000 Speaker 1: else needs to hear. So what does this look like 100 00:06:53,400 --> 00:06:57,280 Speaker 1: on an ordinary day when the struggle is still sitting 101 00:06:57,700 --> 00:07:00,820 Speaker 1: right in front of you? I think it starts small. 102 00:07:01,400 --> 00:07:04,750 Speaker 1: Before you ask God for anything, thank Jesus for one 103 00:07:04,810 --> 00:07:07,850 Speaker 1: thing He's already done. Say it out loud, and then 104 00:07:07,950 --> 00:07:11,130 Speaker 1: thank Him for another thing. And by the time you 105 00:07:11,170 --> 00:07:14,520 Speaker 1: get to your request, you'll be bringing it to a 106 00:07:14,560 --> 00:07:19,190 Speaker 1: God you've remembered is faithful. You can pray it with 107 00:07:19,230 --> 00:07:22,070 Speaker 1: me right now if you want. Jesus, I praise you 108 00:07:22,170 --> 00:07:26,170 Speaker 1: because you have already won. You have fought for me before, 109 00:07:26,190 --> 00:07:29,150 Speaker 1: and I've seen it with my own eyes. I'm still 110 00:07:29,210 --> 00:07:33,570 Speaker 1: in this battle, and it's hard, but I'm choosing to 111 00:07:33,650 --> 00:07:36,440 Speaker 1: worship you in the middle of the battle. Fight for 112 00:07:36,480 --> 00:07:41,390 Speaker 1: me today in your name. Amen. for our final segment 113 00:07:41,450 --> 00:07:45,170 Speaker 1: of the podcast. Each week, I share an answer prayer story, 114 00:07:45,810 --> 00:07:48,570 Speaker 1: and this week's story is still kind of unfolding in 115 00:07:48,650 --> 00:07:53,670 Speaker 1: our own family because this coming Sunday, my daughter Tris 116 00:07:53,870 --> 00:07:58,190 Speaker 1: is marrying Noah. You know, weddings are expensive. When Tris 117 00:07:58,270 --> 00:08:02,110 Speaker 1: and Noah sat down and put their budget together and 118 00:08:02,190 --> 00:08:04,790 Speaker 1: showed it to me, shared it with me, I thought, man, 119 00:08:05,520 --> 00:08:07,050 Speaker 1: There is no way we're going to be able to 120 00:08:07,110 --> 00:08:09,730 Speaker 1: make it. I tried to be positive in front of them. 121 00:08:09,770 --> 00:08:11,870 Speaker 1: And it was a very small budget, let me just 122 00:08:11,910 --> 00:08:15,050 Speaker 1: tell you. But I had to pray about it over 123 00:08:15,250 --> 00:08:18,250 Speaker 1: and over again in the last few months. And God 124 00:08:18,370 --> 00:08:23,040 Speaker 1: has provided. It wasn't through one big opportunity, but a 125 00:08:23,180 --> 00:08:27,120 Speaker 1: lot of small opportunities. One of them had been on 126 00:08:27,140 --> 00:08:32,790 Speaker 1: my calendar for over 18 months. And just God connected 127 00:08:32,870 --> 00:08:36,890 Speaker 1: me with people in so many different ways for various 128 00:08:36,970 --> 00:08:41,550 Speaker 1: ministry opportunities. One of those opportunities had been on the 129 00:08:41,570 --> 00:08:45,370 Speaker 1: book for 18 months. And I mean, it was on 130 00:08:45,429 --> 00:08:48,860 Speaker 1: the books. God put it on there long before that 131 00:08:48,910 --> 00:08:52,300 Speaker 1: wedding budget was ever even created. And then the Lord 132 00:08:52,360 --> 00:08:57,260 Speaker 1: gave my husband an opportunity to work a second part-time 133 00:08:57,300 --> 00:09:00,770 Speaker 1: job that he'd already had before. And this is what 134 00:09:01,410 --> 00:09:05,189 Speaker 1: Moses said to Joshua. You have seen what God has 135 00:09:05,230 --> 00:09:08,170 Speaker 1: done with your own eyes. And so when I sit 136 00:09:08,210 --> 00:09:11,670 Speaker 1: down on Sunday for this wedding, I'm going to be 137 00:09:11,720 --> 00:09:16,040 Speaker 1: praising God for His financial provision for Tris and Noah 138 00:09:16,700 --> 00:09:20,819 Speaker 1: and His graciousness in bringing them together. But God has 139 00:09:20,860 --> 00:09:24,980 Speaker 1: done miraculous things in Tris' heart and life, and I 140 00:09:25,100 --> 00:09:28,570 Speaker 1: know it's the same for Noah. And I know He'll 141 00:09:28,610 --> 00:09:34,569 Speaker 1: continue to do so. If you're in the middle of 142 00:09:34,630 --> 00:09:36,670 Speaker 1: a battle right now and you're trying to remember what 143 00:09:36,740 --> 00:09:40,480 Speaker 1: God has already done, that's exactly what you need to do. 144 00:09:41,100 --> 00:09:43,460 Speaker 1: And the For the Warring section of Praying Through Life's 145 00:09:43,520 --> 00:09:46,880 Speaker 1: Battles is for you. It gives you 30 days of 146 00:09:46,960 --> 00:09:50,600 Speaker 1: scripture and prayer for the season when you're still in 147 00:09:50,620 --> 00:09:54,680 Speaker 1: the thick of it. You can get your copy at battleprayers.com. 148 00:09:56,550 --> 00:10:00,380 Speaker 1: Thank you for joining me on Untangling Prayer. I'm Rachel. Wojo, 149 00:10:00,440 --> 00:10:05,020 Speaker 1: and until next time, remember, God sees you, He hears you, 150 00:10:05,740 --> 00:10:14,590 Speaker 1: and He knows your needs. Thanks for joining me on 151 00:10:14,630 --> 00:10:19,429 Speaker 1: the Untangling Prayer podcast. If this episode resonated with you, 152 00:10:19,670 --> 00:10:22,030 Speaker 1: share it with someone who could use a little hope. 153 00:10:22,570 --> 00:10:26,460 Speaker 1: And be sure to subscribe for more. Until next time, 154 00:10:26,600 --> 00:10:29,900 Speaker 1: keep seeking, keep trusting, and keep praying.