1 00:00:02,720 --> 00:00:06,000 Speaker 1: Life audio, God says to his people, trust me because 2 00:00:06,040 --> 00:00:08,760 Speaker 1: I'm doing a new thing. I think sometimes we're scared 3 00:00:08,760 --> 00:00:11,200 Speaker 1: of new we're scared of places we haven't been. But 4 00:00:11,400 --> 00:00:14,280 Speaker 1: God asks us time and time again, trust me. Don't 5 00:00:14,280 --> 00:00:17,400 Speaker 1: be afraid because I'm with you. I'm your shepherd, and 6 00:00:17,480 --> 00:00:20,080 Speaker 1: it will be a path of dependence that is for 7 00:00:20,200 --> 00:00:20,880 Speaker 1: your good. 8 00:00:20,960 --> 00:00:23,840 Speaker 2: Welcome to the Faith over Fear podcast, where we discussed 9 00:00:24,000 --> 00:00:27,920 Speaker 2: powerful truths to quiet anxiety and fear big and small. 10 00:00:28,160 --> 00:00:31,440 Speaker 2: I'm Jennifer Slattery, and I wonder have you ever felt 11 00:00:31,680 --> 00:00:35,800 Speaker 2: unable to rest because your mind kept reminding you of 12 00:00:36,000 --> 00:00:38,880 Speaker 2: everything that could go wrong. Bills you had to pay, 13 00:00:39,159 --> 00:00:44,480 Speaker 2: promotion and opportunity, a ministry, your child's future retirement. All 14 00:00:44,560 --> 00:00:48,040 Speaker 2: of it can feel like so much. And maybe you 15 00:00:48,120 --> 00:00:52,520 Speaker 2: tell yourself, if you're working harder, you're simply being responsible. 16 00:00:52,560 --> 00:00:57,000 Speaker 2: But sometimes all of our effort and planning stems from 17 00:00:57,040 --> 00:01:01,080 Speaker 2: this fear what if I don't do enough? And this 18 00:01:01,400 --> 00:01:05,320 Speaker 2: usually stems from the lie that tells us that our 19 00:01:05,480 --> 00:01:09,360 Speaker 2: and our loved ones well being depends on us. But 20 00:01:09,640 --> 00:01:14,080 Speaker 2: today's guest, doctor Tara Do, reminds us that that's simply 21 00:01:14,120 --> 00:01:19,080 Speaker 2: not true, because our good shepherd never slumbers, sleeps, or 22 00:01:19,120 --> 00:01:24,120 Speaker 2: abandons his beloved sheep. Tara, thank you so much for 23 00:01:24,240 --> 00:01:25,600 Speaker 2: joining us. 24 00:01:25,520 --> 00:01:26,200 Speaker 3: Oh with Jennifer. 25 00:01:26,200 --> 00:01:29,040 Speaker 1: I'm thrilled to be here with you and your listeners today. 26 00:01:29,200 --> 00:01:32,039 Speaker 1: I love this topic and I'm so excited to get 27 00:01:32,040 --> 00:01:33,080 Speaker 1: to talk about it with you. 28 00:01:33,600 --> 00:01:34,880 Speaker 4: Awesome well. 29 00:01:34,920 --> 00:01:38,720 Speaker 2: Tara dou is a Bible teacher, national speaker, and best 30 00:01:38,720 --> 00:01:41,679 Speaker 2: selling author passionate about helping women know and. 31 00:01:41,640 --> 00:01:43,440 Speaker 4: Love God's words scripture. 32 00:01:43,760 --> 00:01:47,720 Speaker 2: Tara directs Thrive, a ministry wive certificate program, and just 33 00:01:47,760 --> 00:01:50,840 Speaker 2: the author of the book that is the catalyst for 34 00:01:50,880 --> 00:01:55,320 Speaker 2: this conversation Overflowing Peace, Tara, a lot of people listening 35 00:01:55,560 --> 00:01:59,080 Speaker 2: love God deeply and they trust him, but there's just 36 00:01:59,120 --> 00:02:02,280 Speaker 2: this part of them that feels like they carry this 37 00:02:02,320 --> 00:02:05,160 Speaker 2: pressure that they have to hold everything together. 38 00:02:05,400 --> 00:02:07,720 Speaker 4: I'm wondering if you can relate to that at all. 39 00:02:07,880 --> 00:02:11,639 Speaker 1: My goodness, Yes, I think back to when we had 40 00:02:11,680 --> 00:02:14,440 Speaker 1: both sets of twins in two and a half years. 41 00:02:14,600 --> 00:02:17,600 Speaker 1: So there was a season that I had four children 42 00:02:18,080 --> 00:02:21,520 Speaker 1: two and under, and it is a blur when I 43 00:02:21,560 --> 00:02:24,600 Speaker 1: look back now, because I don't know how we survived 44 00:02:24,639 --> 00:02:27,720 Speaker 1: every day. There were so many days that I felt 45 00:02:27,760 --> 00:02:31,320 Speaker 1: like all I was doing was changing diapers and feeding 46 00:02:31,400 --> 00:02:33,960 Speaker 1: children and try to get children to nap, and I 47 00:02:33,960 --> 00:02:35,720 Speaker 1: wouldn't even have a time to take a shower. 48 00:02:35,800 --> 00:02:37,280 Speaker 3: And this was before the days of. 49 00:02:37,200 --> 00:02:40,079 Speaker 1: Like Walmart delivery or Amazon or. 50 00:02:40,480 --> 00:02:44,080 Speaker 3: Dry shampoo, and so I was a hot mess. I 51 00:02:44,160 --> 00:02:45,359 Speaker 3: looked like a hot mess. 52 00:02:45,400 --> 00:02:48,880 Speaker 1: I probably smelled like burps and sour milk and everything else, 53 00:02:49,040 --> 00:02:53,400 Speaker 1: and just felt totally overwhelmed. And then fast forward, I 54 00:02:53,520 --> 00:02:58,000 Speaker 1: now have four teenagers and they're all four driving and 55 00:02:58,200 --> 00:03:03,440 Speaker 1: making big adult decision And though physically they don't need 56 00:03:03,480 --> 00:03:06,280 Speaker 1: me as much. They can bathe themselves, praise the Lord, 57 00:03:06,560 --> 00:03:10,560 Speaker 1: and cook and clean, but emotionally it feels very weighty 58 00:03:10,639 --> 00:03:15,280 Speaker 1: some days as you're parenting teenagers going through really big 59 00:03:15,320 --> 00:03:18,519 Speaker 1: life things, and many days I just feel like, man, God, 60 00:03:18,600 --> 00:03:21,680 Speaker 1: I'm just not enough for this. I'm too small for 61 00:03:21,720 --> 00:03:22,800 Speaker 1: these big issues. 62 00:03:23,160 --> 00:03:23,440 Speaker 4: Yeah. 63 00:03:23,560 --> 00:03:26,160 Speaker 2: I think when we land in that place, we can 64 00:03:26,400 --> 00:03:30,760 Speaker 2: begin to think that our striving our we're just being responsible, right, 65 00:03:30,800 --> 00:03:33,320 Speaker 2: We're just doing our part, We're doing what we're supposed 66 00:03:33,360 --> 00:03:37,200 Speaker 2: to be doing, not realizing that we're operating out of fear. 67 00:03:37,600 --> 00:03:39,960 Speaker 2: And I do think that's one of the reasons Psalm 68 00:03:39,960 --> 00:03:44,520 Speaker 2: twenty three. It has been so profoundly helpful just across 69 00:03:44,640 --> 00:03:49,480 Speaker 2: the centuries. It can provide such comfort where somebody can say, 70 00:03:49,480 --> 00:03:52,360 Speaker 2: you know what, I genuinely know that God is going 71 00:03:52,400 --> 00:03:56,800 Speaker 2: to care for my knees. But sometimes I slip into striving, Yes, 72 00:03:56,840 --> 00:04:00,560 Speaker 2: and I just I need that reminder that I turn 73 00:04:01,080 --> 00:04:04,080 Speaker 2: to Christ. I can depend more fully on Him when 74 00:04:04,120 --> 00:04:08,360 Speaker 2: you fall into that striving, fearful striving. 75 00:04:08,600 --> 00:04:09,440 Speaker 4: What does that feel like. 76 00:04:10,240 --> 00:04:12,560 Speaker 1: I think it's a fear of failing. I think it's 77 00:04:12,600 --> 00:04:15,280 Speaker 1: a fear of what are other people gonna think. I 78 00:04:15,320 --> 00:04:17,839 Speaker 1: think there's this fear of I should be able to 79 00:04:17,960 --> 00:04:18,880 Speaker 1: do this right? 80 00:04:18,920 --> 00:04:20,359 Speaker 3: Why am I struggling with this? 81 00:04:20,560 --> 00:04:22,720 Speaker 2: Does everybody else seem to have it all together? And 82 00:04:22,839 --> 00:04:24,680 Speaker 2: I can't take a shower? Yes? 83 00:04:25,040 --> 00:04:29,400 Speaker 1: And social media has hurt us because all we're seeing 84 00:04:29,520 --> 00:04:32,400 Speaker 1: is this picture perfect thing that someone else has put up, 85 00:04:32,480 --> 00:04:35,240 Speaker 1: and we know my life doesn't look like that, my 86 00:04:35,360 --> 00:04:37,600 Speaker 1: kids aren't dressed like that, my house doesn't. 87 00:04:37,360 --> 00:04:37,960 Speaker 3: Look like that. 88 00:04:38,160 --> 00:04:42,080 Speaker 1: What am I doing wrong? I'm failing? And this comparison 89 00:04:42,240 --> 00:04:45,680 Speaker 1: steals our peace and our joy, and it leads us 90 00:04:45,720 --> 00:04:49,160 Speaker 1: to being so many times paralyzed by the fears of 91 00:04:49,200 --> 00:04:51,360 Speaker 1: what we're not or in the fears of what are 92 00:04:51,400 --> 00:04:53,440 Speaker 1: other people going to think if they knew the real 93 00:04:53,560 --> 00:04:57,160 Speaker 1: me that hasn't showered today because I've got all these babies, 94 00:04:57,320 --> 00:05:00,480 Speaker 1: Or who is constantly fearful of letting my kids drive 95 00:05:00,480 --> 00:05:02,479 Speaker 1: a car? And so I think when we come to 96 00:05:02,520 --> 00:05:06,080 Speaker 1: the base of that, it's that we are not depending 97 00:05:06,080 --> 00:05:10,120 Speaker 1: on the Lord oftentimes and trusting him with faith. We're 98 00:05:10,160 --> 00:05:13,400 Speaker 1: trying to hold it and control it ourselves, right, And 99 00:05:13,480 --> 00:05:16,080 Speaker 1: I know in my life that is what often the 100 00:05:16,120 --> 00:05:18,240 Speaker 1: fears come to. Is I feel like I'm the one 101 00:05:18,279 --> 00:05:21,200 Speaker 1: in control. I'm the one holding all things together. If 102 00:05:21,279 --> 00:05:23,480 Speaker 1: I fall apart, then what's going to happen? But when 103 00:05:23,480 --> 00:05:27,240 Speaker 1: we look at Scripture, especially Psalm twenty three, we realize, well, 104 00:05:27,240 --> 00:05:30,480 Speaker 1: we're just really sheep, and sheep are kind of messy, 105 00:05:30,760 --> 00:05:33,719 Speaker 1: not very smart sometimes and can get themselves into some 106 00:05:33,800 --> 00:05:36,760 Speaker 1: big troubles, and they have a good shepherd who watches 107 00:05:36,800 --> 00:05:39,880 Speaker 1: out for them. And my life, Jennifer, when I shift 108 00:05:40,000 --> 00:05:43,240 Speaker 1: my mind away from myself and back on to who 109 00:05:43,320 --> 00:05:47,360 Speaker 1: God is, it rightly puts my fears into the right place, 110 00:05:47,560 --> 00:05:50,919 Speaker 1: and it reorients who's really in control. We feel like 111 00:05:50,960 --> 00:05:53,800 Speaker 1: we're able to control things, and we feel somehow like 112 00:05:53,839 --> 00:05:57,560 Speaker 1: that makes us feel better. But oftentimes when we finally 113 00:05:57,640 --> 00:05:59,840 Speaker 1: really sit to the Lord and say, my children are you, 114 00:06:00,800 --> 00:06:03,640 Speaker 1: my life is yours, You're the one in control at 115 00:06:03,680 --> 00:06:05,279 Speaker 1: a much more peaceful place to be. 116 00:06:05,920 --> 00:06:08,240 Speaker 2: Yeah, I think it can also be challenging. I'm thinking 117 00:06:08,240 --> 00:06:11,800 Speaker 2: of those in the work environment where if we have 118 00:06:12,720 --> 00:06:17,039 Speaker 2: bosses or co workers that are in that striving mindset 119 00:06:17,080 --> 00:06:20,839 Speaker 2: as well, then it can reinforce that idea. Well, I'm 120 00:06:20,839 --> 00:06:24,080 Speaker 2: not really acting in fear. I'm being responsible for the 121 00:06:24,200 --> 00:06:27,760 Speaker 2: men listening. My husband for the longest time, he was 122 00:06:27,800 --> 00:06:31,440 Speaker 2: in upper management with the railroad and not recognizing he 123 00:06:31,480 --> 00:06:35,440 Speaker 2: was driven by fear, and so his hours just kept 124 00:06:35,480 --> 00:06:38,960 Speaker 2: creeping higher and higher, and he was always on call, 125 00:06:39,040 --> 00:06:41,040 Speaker 2: and he was doing a lot of traveling, and in 126 00:06:41,080 --> 00:06:44,640 Speaker 2: that season, he wasn't very present when he came home. 127 00:06:44,680 --> 00:06:47,440 Speaker 2: He was exhausted. We had a young child who wanted 128 00:06:47,480 --> 00:06:51,440 Speaker 2: time with her dad, and our marriage was really that 129 00:06:51,560 --> 00:06:54,640 Speaker 2: was decades ago. But for him it was the fear 130 00:06:54,720 --> 00:06:58,880 Speaker 2: that if I don't perform to a certain level, I'm 131 00:06:58,920 --> 00:07:01,240 Speaker 2: going to lose my job. If I lose my job, 132 00:07:01,600 --> 00:07:03,320 Speaker 2: I'm not going to be able to take care of 133 00:07:03,320 --> 00:07:06,360 Speaker 2: my family. And I think sometimes we can get so 134 00:07:06,640 --> 00:07:09,359 Speaker 2: caught up in this striving, whether it's with our kids, 135 00:07:09,600 --> 00:07:13,440 Speaker 2: their jobs, ministries, whatever, or all of the above or 136 00:07:13,560 --> 00:07:17,160 Speaker 2: all of these, all of it right right, and we 137 00:07:17,200 --> 00:07:21,480 Speaker 2: can get so caught up, like so stuck on the 138 00:07:21,560 --> 00:07:24,160 Speaker 2: treadmill that I wonder if we don't even take the 139 00:07:24,200 --> 00:07:28,880 Speaker 2: time to recognize am I operating from spirit led wisdom? 140 00:07:29,680 --> 00:07:34,600 Speaker 2: Or am I operating out of fear? And I wonder 141 00:07:34,640 --> 00:07:38,000 Speaker 2: if to our listeners, maybe a practical step is just 142 00:07:38,080 --> 00:07:42,680 Speaker 2: saying what outcome feels dependent on me? Well, am I 143 00:07:42,800 --> 00:07:48,320 Speaker 2: afraid will happen if I slow down? Because faithfulness works diligently, 144 00:07:48,560 --> 00:07:51,960 Speaker 2: fear works frantically. 145 00:07:51,960 --> 00:07:55,280 Speaker 4: Did you ever find that in your motherhood journey? 146 00:07:55,360 --> 00:07:58,280 Speaker 2: Or even so, you're a professor, I'm sure you have deadlines, 147 00:07:58,320 --> 00:08:01,280 Speaker 2: come you got a grade paper all at once? Yeah, 148 00:08:01,400 --> 00:08:04,840 Speaker 2: do you ever find yourself the difference between Okay, I'm 149 00:08:04,880 --> 00:08:08,920 Speaker 2: working really diligently here and honoring what God has put 150 00:08:08,960 --> 00:08:11,520 Speaker 2: in front of me, versus Okay, I'm starting to slip 151 00:08:11,600 --> 00:08:13,280 Speaker 2: into I'm getting a little frantic. 152 00:08:13,480 --> 00:08:16,760 Speaker 1: Absolutely, And I think that's a great question to ask yourself, Like, 153 00:08:16,840 --> 00:08:21,080 Speaker 1: what is motivating my work ethic? Is it because I 154 00:08:21,160 --> 00:08:24,120 Speaker 1: want to glorify the Lord? In everything that I'm doing, 155 00:08:24,560 --> 00:08:26,760 Speaker 1: or is it because I'm trying to climb up the 156 00:08:26,760 --> 00:08:29,800 Speaker 1: corporate ladder or to try to please somebody else, or 157 00:08:29,840 --> 00:08:32,760 Speaker 1: to try to outperform this other person and have this 158 00:08:32,880 --> 00:08:37,200 Speaker 1: jealous competition going Asking ourselves what is the motivation often 159 00:08:37,240 --> 00:08:40,680 Speaker 1: will help me reset in my mind. The other thing 160 00:08:40,760 --> 00:08:43,480 Speaker 1: is sometimes I'll find that when I am serving out 161 00:08:43,480 --> 00:08:46,679 Speaker 1: of my own strength it has a limit to it. 162 00:08:47,000 --> 00:08:49,520 Speaker 1: I will get burnt out, i will get frustrated. If 163 00:08:49,520 --> 00:08:51,679 Speaker 1: I have a writing deadline and I'm trying to just 164 00:08:51,920 --> 00:08:55,000 Speaker 1: pump out these words, it's not good. And when I 165 00:08:55,160 --> 00:08:58,200 Speaker 1: stop reset, put my heart before the Lord and ask 166 00:08:58,280 --> 00:09:00,720 Speaker 1: him for his help, well, things end up going a 167 00:09:00,720 --> 00:09:03,720 Speaker 1: lot smoother. So we often will find ourselves like, whose 168 00:09:03,840 --> 00:09:06,839 Speaker 1: power are you working in? If you are operating in 169 00:09:06,880 --> 00:09:09,720 Speaker 1: your giftings where God wants you to as an act 170 00:09:09,760 --> 00:09:13,200 Speaker 1: of worship to him, it's actually really invigorating. No, it's 171 00:09:13,240 --> 00:09:17,000 Speaker 1: not this franticness. And honestly, Jennifer, I think about even 172 00:09:17,040 --> 00:09:18,120 Speaker 1: the Ten Commandments. 173 00:09:18,160 --> 00:09:19,520 Speaker 3: We think, well, we're doing great. 174 00:09:19,559 --> 00:09:22,360 Speaker 1: We've not murdered anybody day, we're not coveting our neighbor's donkey, 175 00:09:22,600 --> 00:09:23,600 Speaker 1: we're not stealing. 176 00:09:23,840 --> 00:09:24,920 Speaker 3: But that fourth. 177 00:09:24,679 --> 00:09:27,960 Speaker 1: Commandment to honor the Sabbath. A lot of us don't 178 00:09:28,000 --> 00:09:32,160 Speaker 1: do that very well, but God instituted the Sabbath as 179 00:09:32,200 --> 00:09:35,280 Speaker 1: a reminder that all that we do comes from Him. 180 00:09:35,520 --> 00:09:38,560 Speaker 1: He is our provider, not us, and our work is 181 00:09:38,600 --> 00:09:39,760 Speaker 1: to glorify Him. 182 00:09:40,360 --> 00:09:41,240 Speaker 3: We do that over our. 183 00:09:41,160 --> 00:09:43,760 Speaker 1: Six days, but we need to make sure we build 184 00:09:43,800 --> 00:09:44,400 Speaker 1: in rest. 185 00:09:44,520 --> 00:09:46,560 Speaker 3: I was reading a book one time and this. 186 00:09:46,559 --> 00:09:49,200 Speaker 1: Quote jumped out at me and she said, rest is 187 00:09:49,240 --> 00:09:52,440 Speaker 1: an act of worship. And Jennifer, that stopped me in 188 00:09:52,480 --> 00:09:55,679 Speaker 1: my tracks because I think sometimes especially those of us 189 00:09:55,679 --> 00:09:58,680 Speaker 1: who can be frantic workers, think that we're working really 190 00:09:58,760 --> 00:10:02,160 Speaker 1: hard for God. We forget that even our rest is 191 00:10:02,200 --> 00:10:05,559 Speaker 1: an act of worship, because in that moment we remind 192 00:10:05,600 --> 00:10:08,400 Speaker 1: ourselves he's God and we're not. He is the one 193 00:10:08,400 --> 00:10:11,120 Speaker 1: who's providing for all my needs, not me, and he's 194 00:10:11,160 --> 00:10:14,239 Speaker 1: the one who's given us our days to spend wisely 195 00:10:14,360 --> 00:10:17,480 Speaker 1: for his glory. And so those are some reset things 196 00:10:17,480 --> 00:10:20,440 Speaker 1: that I do have to hopefully reorient my heart and 197 00:10:20,520 --> 00:10:22,800 Speaker 1: my mind to be motivated by the right things. 198 00:10:23,000 --> 00:10:26,959 Speaker 2: Yeah, and for those who don't know God yet are 199 00:10:27,000 --> 00:10:30,079 Speaker 2: just getting to know him. Rest is evidence of trust, 200 00:10:30,120 --> 00:10:32,760 Speaker 2: and trust is built over time, which I did really 201 00:10:32,880 --> 00:10:35,800 Speaker 2: enjoy in your book talking about the faithfulness of the 202 00:10:35,800 --> 00:10:39,359 Speaker 2: shepherd and how he leads us to deeper trust. Sometimes 203 00:10:39,400 --> 00:10:43,679 Speaker 2: when we hear sermons or messages or read passages of scripture, 204 00:10:43,880 --> 00:10:46,280 Speaker 2: we can read it as in do X and Y 205 00:10:46,360 --> 00:10:50,199 Speaker 2: and then Z, not realizing that this is a lifestyle journey. 206 00:10:50,200 --> 00:10:53,080 Speaker 2: And then I wanted to touch on something, and he said, 207 00:10:53,080 --> 00:10:56,680 Speaker 2: you know, maybe we're trying to please someone that might 208 00:10:56,800 --> 00:11:01,240 Speaker 2: require significant healing as well to get Is this an 209 00:11:01,280 --> 00:11:05,960 Speaker 2: identity issue? Do I have maybe some shame unprocessed wounds 210 00:11:06,240 --> 00:11:10,520 Speaker 2: that I am trying to even subconsciously compensate for in 211 00:11:10,640 --> 00:11:13,520 Speaker 2: my striving. We're going to take a quick break to 212 00:11:13,640 --> 00:11:17,480 Speaker 2: listen to our sponsors, and when we get back, let's 213 00:11:17,760 --> 00:11:22,520 Speaker 2: talk about how to build that trust in our good shepherd. 214 00:11:32,800 --> 00:11:35,640 Speaker 2: We are back. Before the break, we talked about some 215 00:11:35,720 --> 00:11:41,320 Speaker 2: of the reasons taking appropriate without neglecting our responsibilities, why 216 00:11:41,360 --> 00:11:44,120 Speaker 2: that can feel so hard, and so now we're going 217 00:11:44,200 --> 00:11:47,479 Speaker 2: to transition to the how can we pursue our callings, 218 00:11:47,960 --> 00:11:51,400 Speaker 2: show up to our loved ones, and manage our work 219 00:11:51,480 --> 00:11:55,200 Speaker 2: all of the things from a place of confidence and 220 00:11:55,480 --> 00:12:00,720 Speaker 2: integrity rather than fear. Let's go back to you opened 221 00:12:00,760 --> 00:12:03,880 Speaker 2: your book and you talked about how Psalm twenty three 222 00:12:04,120 --> 00:12:09,439 Speaker 2: one really encapsulates everything. And so if you could say 223 00:12:09,480 --> 00:12:12,480 Speaker 2: that verse to our listeners for those who aren't familiar 224 00:12:12,520 --> 00:12:14,400 Speaker 2: with it, and why that. 225 00:12:14,320 --> 00:12:17,320 Speaker 4: Really is for you a necessary starting place. 226 00:12:17,800 --> 00:12:18,640 Speaker 3: Absolutely so. 227 00:12:18,679 --> 00:12:21,360 Speaker 1: Psalm twenty three is often read at funerals, but it 228 00:12:21,440 --> 00:12:23,640 Speaker 1: is a psalm for the living. It's a psalm for 229 00:12:23,840 --> 00:12:28,080 Speaker 1: us today, and it starts with the Lord is my shepherd. 230 00:12:28,840 --> 00:12:32,840 Speaker 1: I have what I need. Some translations say I shall 231 00:12:32,880 --> 00:12:37,160 Speaker 1: not want or I lack nothing. But it's beautiful because 232 00:12:37,360 --> 00:12:41,640 Speaker 1: the Lord is the Greek word for God, Elohim. It 233 00:12:41,840 --> 00:12:45,280 Speaker 1: is the great name of the almighty God of heaven 234 00:12:45,320 --> 00:12:49,160 Speaker 1: and Earth, the one who created everything, spoke it all 235 00:12:49,240 --> 00:12:53,840 Speaker 1: into existence. And it is juxtaposed with this very personal 236 00:12:54,040 --> 00:12:58,920 Speaker 1: my shepherd, this God who knows everything, every star, every planet, 237 00:12:58,920 --> 00:13:01,800 Speaker 1: every galaxy, he also knows my name, and he is 238 00:13:02,000 --> 00:13:05,760 Speaker 1: my shepherd. Because of that truth, I have all that 239 00:13:05,800 --> 00:13:09,880 Speaker 1: I need. I don't want anything else, I lack nothing. 240 00:13:10,679 --> 00:13:14,000 Speaker 1: And I think that's a beautiful way of saying this 241 00:13:14,240 --> 00:13:18,560 Speaker 1: truth that when you are a follower of God, when 242 00:13:18,640 --> 00:13:22,160 Speaker 1: you know God Almighty, the creator of heaven and earth, 243 00:13:22,360 --> 00:13:25,720 Speaker 1: you are his child. You are his sheep, and though 244 00:13:26,000 --> 00:13:28,400 Speaker 1: there can be wind and waves and storms that are 245 00:13:28,440 --> 00:13:32,240 Speaker 1: happening around you, you have all you need because you 246 00:13:32,440 --> 00:13:36,360 Speaker 1: have Him. And that's where David starts this beautiful psalm 247 00:13:36,360 --> 00:13:41,079 Speaker 1: Psalm twenty three. The Lord is my shepherd, and therefore 248 00:13:41,120 --> 00:13:42,680 Speaker 1: I have everything I need. 249 00:13:43,120 --> 00:13:43,640 Speaker 4: I love that. 250 00:13:43,920 --> 00:13:47,960 Speaker 2: And for our listeners who maybe aren't familiar with who 251 00:13:48,040 --> 00:13:52,040 Speaker 2: Dave was, so he was ancient Israel's second king, and 252 00:13:52,480 --> 00:13:57,760 Speaker 2: he went through a lot of really difficult circumstances. Yes, 253 00:13:57,760 --> 00:14:01,520 Speaker 2: we probably in the moment, he probably like his needs 254 00:14:01,559 --> 00:14:04,160 Speaker 2: maybe weren't going to be met. And in fact, some 255 00:14:04,240 --> 00:14:07,360 Speaker 2: of his prayers recorded in scripture demonstrate that he had 256 00:14:07,800 --> 00:14:10,640 Speaker 2: what I would call times where he flipped his lid 257 00:14:10,920 --> 00:14:13,960 Speaker 2: or freaked out, was overwhelmed. There was a point where 258 00:14:13,960 --> 00:14:17,600 Speaker 2: he actually wanted to annihilate an entire household. But as 259 00:14:17,640 --> 00:14:21,360 Speaker 2: I was reading your book and really processing through Psalm 260 00:14:21,360 --> 00:14:25,800 Speaker 2: twenty three, I remembered another verse that David wrote, Psalm 261 00:14:25,840 --> 00:14:27,560 Speaker 2: one thirty one, verse two, and I'm going to read 262 00:14:27,600 --> 00:14:31,760 Speaker 2: it now. Indeed, I have calmed and quieted myself like 263 00:14:31,840 --> 00:14:36,360 Speaker 2: a wean child with its mother. I am content like 264 00:14:36,720 --> 00:14:40,200 Speaker 2: a young child. And it reminds me of your conversation 265 00:14:40,320 --> 00:14:44,120 Speaker 2: of how sheep won't lie down when they are anxious. 266 00:14:44,320 --> 00:14:48,480 Speaker 2: If you could read Psalm twenty three two, and how 267 00:14:48,560 --> 00:14:53,960 Speaker 2: does that verse, in particular, speaking on just resting in 268 00:14:54,000 --> 00:14:56,960 Speaker 2: the care of our shepherd, how does. 269 00:14:56,800 --> 00:14:58,520 Speaker 3: That speak to that yep? 270 00:14:58,720 --> 00:15:02,600 Speaker 1: He lets me lie down in green pastures. He leads 271 00:15:02,680 --> 00:15:06,040 Speaker 1: me beside quiet waters, is what Psalm twenty three to 272 00:15:06,120 --> 00:15:09,720 Speaker 1: two says. It's a beautiful image of what a good 273 00:15:09,760 --> 00:15:13,920 Speaker 1: shepherd does for his sheep. His sheep need green grass 274 00:15:13,960 --> 00:15:17,640 Speaker 1: to eat, and they need water to drink. And sheep, 275 00:15:17,880 --> 00:15:20,760 Speaker 1: because they're not very smart, will go more toward the 276 00:15:20,800 --> 00:15:25,000 Speaker 1: poisonous weeds or the dead brown grass. But a good 277 00:15:25,080 --> 00:15:28,360 Speaker 1: shepherd leads them to green grass to eat because that's 278 00:15:28,400 --> 00:15:31,160 Speaker 1: what's nourishing to their bodies. But when it says he 279 00:15:31,240 --> 00:15:33,720 Speaker 1: lets me lie down, it's a beautiful picture because a 280 00:15:33,800 --> 00:15:36,520 Speaker 1: sheep will not lie down if they're hungry. A sheep 281 00:15:36,560 --> 00:15:38,960 Speaker 1: will not lie down if they're afraid. A sheep will 282 00:15:38,960 --> 00:15:42,280 Speaker 1: not lie down if there's tension between the sheep. And 283 00:15:42,360 --> 00:15:46,040 Speaker 1: so the fact that David says, because God's my shepherd, 284 00:15:46,040 --> 00:15:48,600 Speaker 1: he will let me lie down in these green pastures, 285 00:15:48,640 --> 00:15:52,480 Speaker 1: it's referring to my soul is so satisfied by his 286 00:15:52,640 --> 00:15:55,440 Speaker 1: provisions that I'm not hungry for anything else. I'm not 287 00:15:55,600 --> 00:15:59,160 Speaker 1: afraid of predators coming to get me. There's no tension 288 00:15:59,200 --> 00:16:02,440 Speaker 1: with other sheep, and i can lie down and rest 289 00:16:02,720 --> 00:16:06,720 Speaker 1: because God is my shepherd. So the green Pastures is 290 00:16:06,760 --> 00:16:10,600 Speaker 1: really this beautiful picture of physical provisions of the Lord, 291 00:16:10,680 --> 00:16:14,320 Speaker 1: but also provisions for an anxious heart and an anxious 292 00:16:14,320 --> 00:16:17,800 Speaker 1: spirit because we can lie down and rest because He's 293 00:16:17,840 --> 00:16:20,240 Speaker 1: our good shepherd. And it reminds me of other psalms 294 00:16:20,240 --> 00:16:22,200 Speaker 1: that talk about that I will lie down and rest 295 00:16:22,200 --> 00:16:25,280 Speaker 1: in perfect peace. Him whose mind is steadfast on you, 296 00:16:25,480 --> 00:16:28,560 Speaker 1: or he who guards his mind, will have perfect peace 297 00:16:28,600 --> 00:16:31,520 Speaker 1: in Christ Jesus. That's from Philippians, and so that really 298 00:16:31,560 --> 00:16:34,200 Speaker 1: is in line with a lot of places in scripture 299 00:16:34,200 --> 00:16:37,640 Speaker 1: that talk about how we can find our rest when 300 00:16:37,680 --> 00:16:40,720 Speaker 1: our minds are knowing that we have a God who 301 00:16:40,760 --> 00:16:43,280 Speaker 1: loves us and will care for us. But the second 302 00:16:43,280 --> 00:16:45,640 Speaker 1: part of that verse talks about the quiet waters. Now, 303 00:16:45,720 --> 00:16:49,000 Speaker 1: sheep are afraid of rushing loud noises, and so they 304 00:16:49,040 --> 00:16:51,920 Speaker 1: do not want to go to the waters that are rushing, 305 00:16:52,040 --> 00:16:55,440 Speaker 1: so they will often lead to more stagnant waters that 306 00:16:55,480 --> 00:16:58,200 Speaker 1: are quiet. But the problem with those stagnant waters is 307 00:16:58,240 --> 00:17:01,400 Speaker 1: their poisonous to the sheep will fill their bellies with 308 00:17:01,560 --> 00:17:04,320 Speaker 1: gas and make them a cast sheep flipped over. So 309 00:17:04,440 --> 00:17:07,760 Speaker 1: a shepherd has to lead the sheep to quiet waters, 310 00:17:07,840 --> 00:17:11,520 Speaker 1: meaning waters that are slowly trickling, so they're sweet water 311 00:17:11,640 --> 00:17:14,960 Speaker 1: to the sheep, not poisonous water, and not rushing water, 312 00:17:15,119 --> 00:17:18,879 Speaker 1: but just perfectly quiet waters. And it's so beautiful because 313 00:17:19,000 --> 00:17:22,320 Speaker 1: Jesus in the Gospel of John calls himself both our 314 00:17:22,400 --> 00:17:25,320 Speaker 1: daily bread and our living water. And so we see 315 00:17:25,400 --> 00:17:29,679 Speaker 1: how Jesus gives us himself our daily bread that we 316 00:17:29,720 --> 00:17:33,199 Speaker 1: don't need to strive. He nourishes us. But also he 317 00:17:33,359 --> 00:17:35,440 Speaker 1: is our living water. And when we drink of him, 318 00:17:35,440 --> 00:17:37,200 Speaker 1: we're not going to be thirsty for the things of 319 00:17:37,280 --> 00:17:40,159 Speaker 1: this world, because I'll be honest, Jennifer, this world is 320 00:17:40,200 --> 00:17:41,960 Speaker 1: eating and drinking a lot of things that are not 321 00:17:42,040 --> 00:17:46,000 Speaker 1: good for them. We are intaking and consuming not only 322 00:17:46,080 --> 00:17:49,840 Speaker 1: unhealthy foods and unhealthy drinks, but also we're filling our 323 00:17:49,880 --> 00:17:52,120 Speaker 1: minds and our hearts and our souls with a lot 324 00:17:52,160 --> 00:17:56,440 Speaker 1: of things that can lead not to rest but to anxiousness. 325 00:17:56,720 --> 00:17:58,439 Speaker 2: Right, there are a couple of things I was thinking 326 00:17:58,600 --> 00:18:01,000 Speaker 2: about when you were talking. When you talk about those 327 00:18:01,040 --> 00:18:05,480 Speaker 2: whose minds are stayed on the Lord, basically there's a 328 00:18:05,720 --> 00:18:09,639 Speaker 2: choice in that too that I am going to follow 329 00:18:09,840 --> 00:18:13,959 Speaker 2: after God. And I'm reminded of another passage that David 330 00:18:13,960 --> 00:18:17,960 Speaker 2: wrote where he was going through was probably why while Saul, 331 00:18:18,119 --> 00:18:21,400 Speaker 2: ancient Israel's first king, was chasing after him to kill him. 332 00:18:21,480 --> 00:18:24,359 Speaker 2: I don't remember. He laid out his concerns to God, 333 00:18:24,520 --> 00:18:26,720 Speaker 2: kind of vented his emotions, and then he said, show 334 00:18:26,760 --> 00:18:30,639 Speaker 2: me the way I should go for I entrust myself 335 00:18:30,760 --> 00:18:32,920 Speaker 2: to you. And I want to say two things here. 336 00:18:32,960 --> 00:18:36,120 Speaker 2: I've received emails from listeners who are like, I don't 337 00:18:36,160 --> 00:18:37,880 Speaker 2: know how to hear from God. I don't know how 338 00:18:37,920 --> 00:18:40,359 Speaker 2: he's leading. How do I know when he's leading? 339 00:18:40,560 --> 00:18:43,399 Speaker 1: For anybody who's listening. The number one way that God 340 00:18:43,440 --> 00:18:45,880 Speaker 1: speaks to us is through his word, So we need 341 00:18:45,920 --> 00:18:48,840 Speaker 1: to be reading the Bible. I love his promises in 342 00:18:48,920 --> 00:18:52,080 Speaker 1: John chapter ten, the sheep know my voice and I 343 00:18:52,200 --> 00:18:55,200 Speaker 1: know them. And so if you are a Christian, if 344 00:18:55,240 --> 00:18:58,639 Speaker 1: you listen to the Holy Spirit in his word and 345 00:18:58,720 --> 00:19:01,960 Speaker 1: in church to hear his voice, and he also is 346 00:19:02,000 --> 00:19:03,760 Speaker 1: going to know his sheep, and he's not going to. 347 00:19:03,800 --> 00:19:06,399 Speaker 3: Let you go astray. He's going to find you and 348 00:19:06,440 --> 00:19:07,160 Speaker 3: bring you back. 349 00:19:07,400 --> 00:19:10,600 Speaker 1: We have a good shepherd, and there's so many stories 350 00:19:10,640 --> 00:19:13,840 Speaker 1: in scripture about the wayward sheep that thinks they're going 351 00:19:13,880 --> 00:19:16,680 Speaker 1: this way, and the shepherd just gently guides them back. 352 00:19:17,200 --> 00:19:19,280 Speaker 1: And that's how he uses his rod and his staff 353 00:19:19,280 --> 00:19:21,919 Speaker 1: that Psal I'm twenty three talk about to try to 354 00:19:21,960 --> 00:19:24,720 Speaker 1: get us back on the right path, right where we're 355 00:19:24,720 --> 00:19:25,280 Speaker 1: supposed to be. 356 00:19:25,720 --> 00:19:28,879 Speaker 2: Yeah, and sometimes in the middle of his leading, it 357 00:19:28,920 --> 00:19:31,720 Speaker 2: may not feel like we're walking beside quiet water. Right 358 00:19:32,320 --> 00:19:35,360 Speaker 2: when we're talking about David here, ancient israel second king, 359 00:19:35,600 --> 00:19:39,560 Speaker 2: he was a fugitive for what ten years, fifteen years? 360 00:19:39,600 --> 00:19:42,280 Speaker 1: A lot of years Saul was trying to kill him, 361 00:19:42,400 --> 00:19:43,840 Speaker 1: the current king of Riel. 362 00:19:44,480 --> 00:19:45,439 Speaker 3: Yeah, so he was. 363 00:19:45,720 --> 00:19:48,760 Speaker 1: He was hiding in caves for many years. 364 00:19:48,640 --> 00:19:51,720 Speaker 2: Right, right, And that doesn't mean he was not following 365 00:19:52,480 --> 00:19:56,080 Speaker 2: that's d It just that's right that he was in 366 00:19:56,240 --> 00:20:00,119 Speaker 2: So let's actually fast forward a bit too. There's one 367 00:20:00,320 --> 00:20:04,080 Speaker 2: verse in the Psalm twenty three passage that has comforted 368 00:20:04,240 --> 00:20:05,040 Speaker 2: so so many. 369 00:20:05,200 --> 00:20:06,000 Speaker 4: It's verse four. 370 00:20:06,680 --> 00:20:09,280 Speaker 3: Yes, would you read that I walk. 371 00:20:09,280 --> 00:20:12,359 Speaker 1: Through the valley of the shadow of Death, I will 372 00:20:12,440 --> 00:20:16,679 Speaker 1: fear no evil, for you are with me. And so 373 00:20:17,080 --> 00:20:20,440 Speaker 1: I think this verse reminds us that just because you're 374 00:20:20,440 --> 00:20:22,800 Speaker 1: a Christian doesn't mean your whole life is going to 375 00:20:22,800 --> 00:20:25,440 Speaker 1: be filled with sunshine and rainbows. We live in a 376 00:20:26,480 --> 00:20:29,399 Speaker 1: hurting world. We live in a world that's full of 377 00:20:29,440 --> 00:20:32,840 Speaker 1: some brokenness and darkness, and there will be seasons that 378 00:20:33,000 --> 00:20:35,600 Speaker 1: might be really difficult. If you haven't been in one 379 00:20:35,600 --> 00:20:37,919 Speaker 1: of those seasons, chances are you're going to be in 380 00:20:37,960 --> 00:20:41,000 Speaker 1: one before you get to heaven. And I love that. 381 00:20:41,480 --> 00:20:45,000 Speaker 1: David reminds us in PS. I'm twenty three. Even when 382 00:20:45,440 --> 00:20:49,200 Speaker 1: I go through a valley that seems so dark, where 383 00:20:49,240 --> 00:20:52,639 Speaker 1: it's so filled with loss or dying or death, I 384 00:20:52,720 --> 00:20:55,800 Speaker 1: don't have to be afraid because my God's not going 385 00:20:55,880 --> 00:20:56,359 Speaker 1: to leave me. 386 00:20:56,560 --> 00:20:57,879 Speaker 3: He is with me. 387 00:20:58,160 --> 00:21:02,440 Speaker 1: And theologians have this fancy term for this called God's 388 00:21:02,520 --> 00:21:07,200 Speaker 1: omni presence. It means that he is always near us. 389 00:21:07,480 --> 00:21:11,119 Speaker 1: And that's because God is spirit and he's not confined 390 00:21:11,200 --> 00:21:12,120 Speaker 1: to a time and a. 391 00:21:12,080 --> 00:21:13,440 Speaker 3: Space like you and I are. 392 00:21:13,600 --> 00:21:16,480 Speaker 1: He is able to be fully present with me here 393 00:21:16,480 --> 00:21:20,119 Speaker 1: in New Orleans, and Jennifer in her studio, and you wherever. 394 00:21:19,760 --> 00:21:22,080 Speaker 3: You're listening, God is with you. 395 00:21:22,320 --> 00:21:25,480 Speaker 1: And what's so beautiful about this truth is that because 396 00:21:25,560 --> 00:21:29,240 Speaker 1: we have a good shepherd who is with us wherever 397 00:21:29,320 --> 00:21:33,280 Speaker 1: we are, we don't have to be afraid because he's there. 398 00:21:33,480 --> 00:21:37,440 Speaker 1: And God works everything together for the good. What satan 399 00:21:37,560 --> 00:21:40,840 Speaker 1: means for evil, God can use for good. And He 400 00:21:40,960 --> 00:21:43,840 Speaker 1: weighs nothing. He weighs no parts of our lives. And 401 00:21:43,920 --> 00:21:46,240 Speaker 1: so everything that you've gone through or everything that you 402 00:21:46,320 --> 00:21:51,119 Speaker 1: will go through, it matters. It matters for your sanctification, 403 00:21:51,320 --> 00:21:54,439 Speaker 1: it matters for your character, it matters for your life 404 00:21:54,440 --> 00:21:57,359 Speaker 1: and your purpose and why He has you here. David 405 00:21:57,520 --> 00:22:00,000 Speaker 1: was very familiar with this. The value of the shadow 406 00:22:00,200 --> 00:22:03,080 Speaker 1: of death is a very real place in Israel. There 407 00:22:03,200 --> 00:22:06,320 Speaker 1: is times of day where it is completely pitch dark, 408 00:22:06,359 --> 00:22:09,000 Speaker 1: even at noontime, and there will be predators that were hiding, 409 00:22:09,040 --> 00:22:12,080 Speaker 1: and shepherds had to lead their sheep through this valley 410 00:22:12,320 --> 00:22:15,199 Speaker 1: to get from the high pasturelands of Bethlehem to the 411 00:22:15,240 --> 00:22:18,040 Speaker 1: low pasture lands of Jericho, and they'd have to walk 412 00:22:18,080 --> 00:22:21,000 Speaker 1: their sheep through this valley. Shepherds knew they had to 413 00:22:21,040 --> 00:22:23,680 Speaker 1: get through that valley. And it's such a beautiful reminder 414 00:22:23,720 --> 00:22:25,359 Speaker 1: for me and for you. You're not going to be 415 00:22:25,359 --> 00:22:28,160 Speaker 1: in the valley forever. Amen, you will get through it. 416 00:22:28,200 --> 00:22:31,560 Speaker 1: There is sunshine on the other side. And it doesn't 417 00:22:31,600 --> 00:22:33,680 Speaker 1: say even when I run through the valley. It doesn't 418 00:22:33,720 --> 00:22:36,560 Speaker 1: say even though I bypass the valley. It says, even 419 00:22:36,560 --> 00:22:39,760 Speaker 1: though I walk through the valley. There are seasons, and 420 00:22:39,800 --> 00:22:42,159 Speaker 1: there are times, my friends, when you might need to 421 00:22:42,240 --> 00:22:43,160 Speaker 1: just keep walking. 422 00:22:43,400 --> 00:22:44,440 Speaker 4: Yeah, just keep. 423 00:22:44,240 --> 00:22:47,119 Speaker 1: Putting one foot in front of the other, and even 424 00:22:47,119 --> 00:22:49,960 Speaker 1: in the darkness, even when you feel like you are alone, 425 00:22:50,280 --> 00:22:53,000 Speaker 1: listen for God's voice and know that He is there. 426 00:22:53,320 --> 00:22:55,800 Speaker 1: I think it was Corey ten Boom, or maybe it 427 00:22:55,840 --> 00:22:59,720 Speaker 1: was Elizabeth Elliott, whose head suffering is never for nothing 428 00:23:00,200 --> 00:23:03,840 Speaker 1: in the darkness, that sometimes God is closer to us 429 00:23:03,880 --> 00:23:06,080 Speaker 1: than he ever is in the line, and I think 430 00:23:06,119 --> 00:23:08,400 Speaker 1: that's such a good reminder for you and I, as 431 00:23:08,440 --> 00:23:12,120 Speaker 1: these sheep who are walking through valleys and hard seasons 432 00:23:12,160 --> 00:23:15,480 Speaker 1: of life, your suffering is not for nothing, and that 433 00:23:15,600 --> 00:23:18,520 Speaker 1: in the darkness your God might be the closest to 434 00:23:18,560 --> 00:23:21,440 Speaker 1: you than he ever is, and it will not be wasted. 435 00:23:21,680 --> 00:23:23,840 Speaker 1: You keep putting one foot in front of the other, 436 00:23:24,000 --> 00:23:27,040 Speaker 1: trusting that this is a season that will pass, and 437 00:23:27,080 --> 00:23:30,520 Speaker 1: there is sunshine and new green pastures ahead of you 438 00:23:30,600 --> 00:23:31,520 Speaker 1: on the other side. 439 00:23:31,600 --> 00:23:35,320 Speaker 2: Aymen. And so maybe if you are in the middle 440 00:23:35,320 --> 00:23:37,960 Speaker 2: of that really hard place right now, maybe a couple 441 00:23:38,040 --> 00:23:41,760 Speaker 2: practices that can help carry you through is you can 442 00:23:41,800 --> 00:23:45,440 Speaker 2: read Psalm twenty three each morning, and as you do, 443 00:23:46,119 --> 00:23:50,520 Speaker 2: scientists and mental health professionals are finding increasingly what scriptures told. 444 00:23:50,359 --> 00:23:51,000 Speaker 3: Us all along. 445 00:23:51,160 --> 00:23:53,760 Speaker 2: But as we take in that truth, it changes our 446 00:23:53,760 --> 00:23:57,720 Speaker 2: brain towards peace and connectedness and truth. And then I 447 00:23:57,760 --> 00:24:02,160 Speaker 2: would encourage you to write down three ways God has 448 00:24:02,240 --> 00:24:05,880 Speaker 2: already proven faithful and can reflect on those. 449 00:24:06,240 --> 00:24:10,160 Speaker 1: He is a good, good father, and he gives good 450 00:24:10,160 --> 00:24:13,439 Speaker 1: gifts to his children. From him comes goodness in life, 451 00:24:13,960 --> 00:24:16,439 Speaker 1: and so he's not going to be anything other than that. 452 00:24:16,680 --> 00:24:20,240 Speaker 1: But I love that practical tip, Jennifer, of writing down 453 00:24:20,480 --> 00:24:22,520 Speaker 1: how has he been faithful to you in the past, 454 00:24:22,560 --> 00:24:25,000 Speaker 1: because that's his character, and his character is not going 455 00:24:25,080 --> 00:24:27,880 Speaker 1: to change. Just like he was faithful to you, then 456 00:24:28,320 --> 00:24:31,240 Speaker 1: he's going to be faithful to you now because that's 457 00:24:31,320 --> 00:24:32,199 Speaker 1: who he is. 458 00:24:32,520 --> 00:24:34,680 Speaker 3: He is faithful, His. 459 00:24:34,720 --> 00:24:39,440 Speaker 1: Grace covers us, His love on the cross bore all 460 00:24:39,480 --> 00:24:42,879 Speaker 1: of the punishment for us. And so this season that 461 00:24:42,960 --> 00:24:46,439 Speaker 1: you're walking through is not because you've done something wrong, 462 00:24:46,760 --> 00:24:49,400 Speaker 1: but in this season, your God wants to teach you 463 00:24:49,440 --> 00:24:53,960 Speaker 1: something about himself, and sometimes in the hard seasons that 464 00:24:54,040 --> 00:24:56,919 Speaker 1: we learn to trust him like we never learn on 465 00:24:56,960 --> 00:24:57,760 Speaker 1: the mountaintops. 466 00:24:58,040 --> 00:25:03,280 Speaker 2: Yeah, yeah, if we orient our soul to him, right, 467 00:25:03,520 --> 00:25:06,000 Speaker 2: if we turn away, we're the ones saying I don't 468 00:25:06,040 --> 00:25:09,119 Speaker 2: want to go towards the green pastures because it looks 469 00:25:09,160 --> 00:25:11,840 Speaker 2: like the journey there is too hard. So we're going 470 00:25:11,920 --> 00:25:14,680 Speaker 2: to take another break to listen to our sponsors. When 471 00:25:14,680 --> 00:25:18,120 Speaker 2: we get back, we're going to land our plane talking 472 00:25:18,200 --> 00:25:23,520 Speaker 2: about a very important and sometimes challenging aspect of following 473 00:25:23,720 --> 00:25:27,000 Speaker 2: God from living from a place of spirit led confidence 474 00:25:27,119 --> 00:25:30,080 Speaker 2: rather than fear and exhaustion. And that's gaining the courage 475 00:25:30,119 --> 00:25:35,280 Speaker 2: to follow. However, he leads because he knows where the 476 00:25:35,320 --> 00:25:46,960 Speaker 2: green pastures are. So we'll be back in a minute. 477 00:25:48,400 --> 00:25:53,440 Speaker 2: All right, We are back as we work on gaining 478 00:25:53,520 --> 00:25:56,399 Speaker 2: the courage the trust to follow God. 479 00:25:56,680 --> 00:26:00,600 Speaker 4: Let's tap us on twenty three to three. Actually, mm hmm. 480 00:26:00,880 --> 00:26:03,240 Speaker 3: I love it. He restores my soul. 481 00:26:03,440 --> 00:26:08,240 Speaker 1: He leads me along paths of righteousness for his name's sake. 482 00:26:08,520 --> 00:26:12,560 Speaker 1: One translation says, he leads me down new paths of 483 00:26:12,720 --> 00:26:15,160 Speaker 1: dependence for my good. 484 00:26:15,320 --> 00:26:15,920 Speaker 4: I love that. 485 00:26:15,960 --> 00:26:18,159 Speaker 2: Say that one more time, and I hope you expand 486 00:26:18,200 --> 00:26:19,960 Speaker 2: on that, because that's that's the crux. 487 00:26:20,680 --> 00:26:25,560 Speaker 1: Yes, he leads me down new paths of dependence for 488 00:26:25,920 --> 00:26:29,280 Speaker 1: my good. Now, Jennifer, I learned this about sheep. They 489 00:26:29,320 --> 00:26:32,800 Speaker 1: are creatures of habit. They like to walk down the 490 00:26:32,880 --> 00:26:36,639 Speaker 1: same paths. They want to go to the same pastures. 491 00:26:36,960 --> 00:26:38,080 Speaker 1: They do that. 492 00:26:40,200 --> 00:26:42,000 Speaker 4: Like a god returning to his vomit. 493 00:26:42,040 --> 00:26:44,400 Speaker 3: But go ahead, that's right, that's exactly right. 494 00:26:44,760 --> 00:26:48,040 Speaker 1: And I think it's because they think I've been there before. 495 00:26:48,119 --> 00:26:48,680 Speaker 3: I know that. 496 00:26:49,480 --> 00:26:53,919 Speaker 1: And so a good shepherd, though, doesn't lead his sheep 497 00:26:54,080 --> 00:26:56,760 Speaker 1: back to the pastures that have already been graised because 498 00:26:56,760 --> 00:27:00,400 Speaker 1: there's no grass there. And if a sheep caught instantly 499 00:27:00,440 --> 00:27:02,840 Speaker 1: is walking on the same path that leads to these 500 00:27:02,880 --> 00:27:05,960 Speaker 1: grooves and these ruts, that their feet can get wedged 501 00:27:06,040 --> 00:27:08,760 Speaker 1: into and it can cause all sorts of sprained ankles 502 00:27:08,840 --> 00:27:12,439 Speaker 1: or broken bones. So a good shepherd knows that he 503 00:27:12,640 --> 00:27:16,560 Speaker 1: has to lead his sheep down paths of righteousness or 504 00:27:16,840 --> 00:27:21,120 Speaker 1: right paths, or new paths of dependence, because he has 505 00:27:21,200 --> 00:27:24,119 Speaker 1: to lead them to new pastures, into new places that 506 00:27:24,119 --> 00:27:27,280 Speaker 1: they haven't been before. But what I learned that's so 507 00:27:27,480 --> 00:27:31,280 Speaker 1: beautiful is that a shepherd never takes his sheep down 508 00:27:31,359 --> 00:27:34,200 Speaker 1: a path that he hasn't walked before, and he never 509 00:27:34,280 --> 00:27:36,840 Speaker 1: takes them to a pasture that he hasn't already prepared 510 00:27:36,880 --> 00:27:40,600 Speaker 1: for them. And so he's literally asking them to trust 511 00:27:40,720 --> 00:27:43,360 Speaker 1: him as he leads them down these new paths. 512 00:27:43,600 --> 00:27:45,000 Speaker 3: But they're not new paths. 513 00:27:44,680 --> 00:27:46,800 Speaker 1: To him, and they're not new pastures to him. But 514 00:27:46,840 --> 00:27:50,160 Speaker 1: it will be for their good because it leads them 515 00:27:50,240 --> 00:27:54,240 Speaker 1: to places that are filled with good nourishment and good 516 00:27:54,280 --> 00:27:57,400 Speaker 1: clean water, and that are good in the seasons. Because 517 00:27:57,640 --> 00:28:01,400 Speaker 1: the sheep have to graze in different elevations of pasture 518 00:28:01,480 --> 00:28:03,600 Speaker 1: lands throughout a year. They can't always stay on the 519 00:28:03,680 --> 00:28:06,400 Speaker 1: high pasture lands because in the winter time it will 520 00:28:06,400 --> 00:28:08,600 Speaker 1: be too cold for them, and they can't stand the 521 00:28:08,640 --> 00:28:10,800 Speaker 1: low pasture lands because in the summertime it's going to 522 00:28:10,800 --> 00:28:11,720 Speaker 1: be too hot for them. 523 00:28:11,800 --> 00:28:15,119 Speaker 3: And so a shepherd knows in the right seasons. 524 00:28:14,640 --> 00:28:16,760 Speaker 1: Where the grass is going to be green and where 525 00:28:16,920 --> 00:28:19,360 Speaker 1: the elevation will be good for them. But it does 526 00:28:19,480 --> 00:28:21,959 Speaker 1: mean that a shepherd has to lead the sheep, and 527 00:28:22,520 --> 00:28:24,600 Speaker 1: you and I know that sometimes sheep are not very 528 00:28:24,600 --> 00:28:27,040 Speaker 1: easy to lead. Sometimes they think they know the better 529 00:28:27,080 --> 00:28:29,520 Speaker 1: path to go down, or the better place that is 530 00:28:29,560 --> 00:28:34,119 Speaker 1: for them. But a shepherd will teach his sheep follow me, 531 00:28:34,880 --> 00:28:38,160 Speaker 1: know my voice, and trust me because I'm leading you 532 00:28:38,240 --> 00:28:41,880 Speaker 1: down paths that will be for your good. But you 533 00:28:42,000 --> 00:28:45,080 Speaker 1: have to trust me. It reminds me of Isaiah, where 534 00:28:45,160 --> 00:28:48,160 Speaker 1: Jesus and through the word God says to his people, 535 00:28:48,400 --> 00:28:50,640 Speaker 1: trust me because I'm doing a new thing. I think 536 00:28:50,680 --> 00:28:53,440 Speaker 1: sometimes we're scared of new We're scared of new things. 537 00:28:53,680 --> 00:28:56,920 Speaker 1: We're scared of places we haven't been. But God asks 538 00:28:57,000 --> 00:28:59,560 Speaker 1: us time and time again, trust me. I'm doing a 539 00:28:59,560 --> 00:29:01,680 Speaker 1: new thing. I'm leading you to a new place. I'm 540 00:29:01,760 --> 00:29:04,120 Speaker 1: leading you down a new path. But don't be afraid 541 00:29:04,120 --> 00:29:07,240 Speaker 1: because I'm with you. I'm your shepherd, and it will 542 00:29:07,280 --> 00:29:10,719 Speaker 1: be a path of dependence that is for your good. Jennifer, 543 00:29:10,760 --> 00:29:12,920 Speaker 1: I can look back at so many times in my 544 00:29:13,000 --> 00:29:16,360 Speaker 1: life and I can remember being scared to go down 545 00:29:16,400 --> 00:29:20,239 Speaker 1: this new job opportunity path, or to move into a 546 00:29:20,280 --> 00:29:23,400 Speaker 1: new house, or to find a new church, or in 547 00:29:23,440 --> 00:29:26,840 Speaker 1: my case, to move to a new state, or even find. 548 00:29:26,600 --> 00:29:28,160 Speaker 3: A new ministry of writing. 549 00:29:28,240 --> 00:29:30,680 Speaker 1: This is new to me, and I was scared because 550 00:29:30,760 --> 00:29:34,000 Speaker 1: I've never done this before in any of those situations 551 00:29:34,200 --> 00:29:36,920 Speaker 1: that I look back now and I praise the Lord 552 00:29:37,040 --> 00:29:40,320 Speaker 1: for leading me like he did, because it has been 553 00:29:40,440 --> 00:29:41,280 Speaker 1: for my good. 554 00:29:42,040 --> 00:29:42,760 Speaker 4: I love that. 555 00:29:43,200 --> 00:29:46,160 Speaker 2: I think one of our challenges as humans we want 556 00:29:46,200 --> 00:29:48,920 Speaker 2: to see the five year plan, the ten year plan, 557 00:29:49,160 --> 00:29:53,320 Speaker 2: the twenty year plan, and God often leads that very 558 00:29:53,600 --> 00:29:56,400 Speaker 2: next step rather than giving us the whole map, probably 559 00:29:56,400 --> 00:29:59,440 Speaker 2: because it would overwhelm us. So a question we can 560 00:29:59,520 --> 00:30:02,240 Speaker 2: ask our selve to help anchor us in the present 561 00:30:02,360 --> 00:30:04,719 Speaker 2: where God is. He's present with us in the present. 562 00:30:04,920 --> 00:30:10,280 Speaker 2: What is the next obedient step? To those again who 563 00:30:10,360 --> 00:30:13,440 Speaker 2: are still building We're all still building our trust muscles, 564 00:30:13,480 --> 00:30:18,120 Speaker 2: but we're better able to follow God after we process 565 00:30:18,200 --> 00:30:22,240 Speaker 2: our fear with him, and we can ask ourselves again, 566 00:30:22,360 --> 00:30:26,320 Speaker 2: we've presented this previously, but am I acting from wisdom 567 00:30:26,560 --> 00:30:30,120 Speaker 2: or from fear and just constantly bringing that inviting him 568 00:30:30,120 --> 00:30:33,280 Speaker 2: into that process, like, yes, show me when I'm acting 569 00:30:33,320 --> 00:30:39,080 Speaker 2: out of fear rather than wisdom. So let's dial it down, 570 00:30:39,840 --> 00:30:45,680 Speaker 2: keep it really practical. What is one next obedient step 571 00:30:45,960 --> 00:30:48,520 Speaker 2: that he's asking us to take that maybe we've been 572 00:30:49,440 --> 00:30:52,960 Speaker 2: delaying because we want more certainty, and He's like, I'm 573 00:30:53,000 --> 00:30:55,520 Speaker 2: not giving you certainty. The certainty I'm giving you is me, 574 00:30:56,080 --> 00:31:00,239 Speaker 2: my faithfulness, my character, my promises. And some examples might 575 00:31:00,280 --> 00:31:02,280 Speaker 2: be maybe you need to pick up a madaphone call 576 00:31:02,440 --> 00:31:05,720 Speaker 2: to work towards reconciliation. Maybe you need to submit the 577 00:31:05,840 --> 00:31:09,280 Speaker 2: job application, or maybe you need to say, yeah, my 578 00:31:09,400 --> 00:31:12,280 Speaker 2: boss is leaning on me really hard right now, but 579 00:31:12,360 --> 00:31:15,600 Speaker 2: I've got a teenager at home who needs me, who's 580 00:31:15,600 --> 00:31:18,680 Speaker 2: battling depression, or who's dealing with the bully, and so 581 00:31:18,880 --> 00:31:21,680 Speaker 2: I am going to not answer my phone this weekend, 582 00:31:21,880 --> 00:31:22,600 Speaker 2: and I'm going. 583 00:31:22,480 --> 00:31:25,520 Speaker 4: To entrust my job to God. 584 00:31:26,280 --> 00:31:26,840 Speaker 3: That's right. 585 00:31:27,040 --> 00:31:29,719 Speaker 4: So I like what you said about the pastures. 586 00:31:29,960 --> 00:31:33,080 Speaker 2: Don't ask God for tomorrow's pasture before we follow him 587 00:31:33,240 --> 00:31:34,720 Speaker 2: into today. 588 00:31:36,040 --> 00:31:38,840 Speaker 3: That's I mean, friends, think bad. 589 00:31:39,000 --> 00:31:42,880 Speaker 1: Throughout scripture, God has been trying to teach his people 590 00:31:43,280 --> 00:31:46,440 Speaker 1: to depend on him every day. That's why the Israelites 591 00:31:46,480 --> 00:31:49,080 Speaker 1: got manna every morning that they had to collect, and 592 00:31:49,120 --> 00:31:51,560 Speaker 1: they couldn't collect more than what they could use that 593 00:31:51,640 --> 00:31:54,080 Speaker 1: day because it would go bad. He led them by 594 00:31:54,120 --> 00:31:56,840 Speaker 1: a pillar of fire by day in a cloud by night, 595 00:31:56,880 --> 00:32:00,000 Speaker 1: and they had followed that through the wilderness. Jesus talked 596 00:32:00,240 --> 00:32:03,640 Speaker 1: and the lord's prayer, thank you God for this daily bread. 597 00:32:04,160 --> 00:32:04,920 Speaker 3: And so there is. 598 00:32:04,840 --> 00:32:09,560 Speaker 1: Something beautiful about depending on God every day. 599 00:32:09,720 --> 00:32:10,600 Speaker 3: And I think yes. 600 00:32:10,680 --> 00:32:12,440 Speaker 1: In our minds we want to think, well, God, what 601 00:32:12,480 --> 00:32:13,800 Speaker 1: do you want me to do five years from now, 602 00:32:13,840 --> 00:32:16,400 Speaker 1: ten years from now? When really our prayers should be 603 00:32:16,440 --> 00:32:18,600 Speaker 1: when we wake up in the morning, God, thank you 604 00:32:18,640 --> 00:32:21,960 Speaker 1: for waking me up. My day is yours. How do 605 00:32:22,000 --> 00:32:23,720 Speaker 1: you want me to obey you today? How do you 606 00:32:23,760 --> 00:32:25,920 Speaker 1: want me to live for you today? How can I 607 00:32:26,080 --> 00:32:29,840 Speaker 1: follow you today? And thank Him for today and what 608 00:32:30,000 --> 00:32:32,800 Speaker 1: He's given you today and make the most of that, 609 00:32:33,360 --> 00:32:36,400 Speaker 1: and then trust him for tomorrow? And I love Matthew six. 610 00:32:36,840 --> 00:32:38,960 Speaker 1: Do not worry for tomorrow. Tomorrow has enough cares of 611 00:32:39,000 --> 00:32:41,640 Speaker 1: its own. But praise God for today and thank him 612 00:32:41,680 --> 00:32:45,640 Speaker 1: for his faithfulness to you today, and take that next step. Right. 613 00:32:45,760 --> 00:32:48,120 Speaker 3: His word is a lamp to our feet and a. 614 00:32:48,120 --> 00:32:50,400 Speaker 1: Light to our path. But a lantern does not show 615 00:32:50,440 --> 00:32:52,720 Speaker 1: you very far. It only shows you what to take 616 00:32:52,760 --> 00:32:53,480 Speaker 1: the next step. 617 00:32:54,240 --> 00:32:57,240 Speaker 2: Yes, and Lord increased my trust. That's a prayer he loves. 618 00:32:57,520 --> 00:32:59,280 Speaker 3: That's exactly right, he does. 619 00:32:59,720 --> 00:32:59,880 Speaker 4: Yes. 620 00:33:00,160 --> 00:33:03,640 Speaker 2: And so Tara's book is absolutely beautiful, And you got 621 00:33:03,680 --> 00:33:07,320 Speaker 2: a little from this conversation to know she went deep 622 00:33:07,480 --> 00:33:12,720 Speaker 2: into what does it mean to live as sheep? Her 623 00:33:12,720 --> 00:33:17,840 Speaker 2: book is overflowing peace, What God says about a peace 624 00:33:18,040 --> 00:33:21,040 Speaker 2: filled life. I'm going to read a little from the 625 00:33:21,080 --> 00:33:25,880 Speaker 2: back cover. Are your days filled with scattered priorities, frenzied 626 00:33:26,200 --> 00:33:30,200 Speaker 2: calendar commitments, anxious thoughts are a sense of overall aimlessness. 627 00:33:30,240 --> 00:33:33,560 Speaker 2: Do you wonder why you're not experiencing the great peace 628 00:33:33,680 --> 00:33:37,440 Speaker 2: and guidance God promises when your world is full of 629 00:33:37,600 --> 00:33:42,520 Speaker 2: chaos and you're running on empty? Yes? Okay, By inserting 630 00:33:42,520 --> 00:33:45,720 Speaker 2: my own yes, I get that you are not alone. 631 00:33:45,920 --> 00:33:49,000 Speaker 2: In her much anticipated follow up to the best selling book, 632 00:33:49,400 --> 00:33:54,000 Speaker 2: Overflowing Joy, Bible teacher Tara do journeys with you to 633 00:33:54,080 --> 00:33:58,440 Speaker 2: experience the overflowing piece found in Psalm twenty three and 634 00:33:58,760 --> 00:34:03,120 Speaker 2: really found in your Good Shepherd. As you walk through 635 00:34:03,320 --> 00:34:05,840 Speaker 2: these pages, you'll discover how to trust the Lord as 636 00:34:05,880 --> 00:34:09,680 Speaker 2: your peacegiving shepherd, the nearness of the Good Shepherd to 637 00:34:09,760 --> 00:34:12,840 Speaker 2: guide you through any hill or valley, the abundant, tranquil 638 00:34:12,840 --> 00:34:15,640 Speaker 2: and life giving peace poured into your life through Jesus, 639 00:34:15,680 --> 00:34:18,279 Speaker 2: no matter what chaos. 640 00:34:17,920 --> 00:34:21,640 Speaker 4: You face, and so. 641 00:34:20,680 --> 00:34:25,600 Speaker 2: So much more, because faithful following and anxious striving might 642 00:34:25,760 --> 00:34:29,319 Speaker 2: look the same externally. Because I can be led by 643 00:34:29,400 --> 00:34:32,840 Speaker 2: God's spirit and just be getting a bunch of stuff 644 00:34:32,880 --> 00:34:35,960 Speaker 2: done or I can be led by Jennifer's lattery and 645 00:34:36,040 --> 00:34:37,319 Speaker 2: getting a bunch of stuff done. 646 00:34:37,320 --> 00:34:38,400 Speaker 4: But I love what you said. 647 00:34:38,760 --> 00:34:43,799 Speaker 2: The joy and the fulfillment is in the following and 648 00:34:44,000 --> 00:34:47,239 Speaker 2: typically well, things get done so much more quickly when 649 00:34:47,360 --> 00:34:50,920 Speaker 2: we are aligned with the Jesus Christ, so much better. 650 00:34:51,440 --> 00:34:55,399 Speaker 2: This has been a lovely conversation. Thank you so much 651 00:34:55,440 --> 00:34:56,719 Speaker 2: for joining us, Tara. 652 00:34:56,840 --> 00:35:00,520 Speaker 1: I have so enjoyed being here. Many blessing to you 653 00:35:00,560 --> 00:35:02,200 Speaker 1: and all of your listeners. 654 00:35:02,560 --> 00:35:05,640 Speaker 2: To our listeners, thank you for listening. If you haven't 655 00:35:05,640 --> 00:35:08,080 Speaker 2: already done so, I encourage you to subscribe to this 656 00:35:08,160 --> 00:35:10,600 Speaker 2: podcast then you want miss a single episode one and 657 00:35:10,719 --> 00:35:13,640 Speaker 2: until next time, may you live as one who truly 658 00:35:14,120 --> 00:35:15,360 Speaker 2: has been set free.