1 00:00:02,720 --> 00:00:03,640 Speaker 1: Life Audio. 2 00:00:04,080 --> 00:00:08,239 Speaker 2: Hey friends, Jennifer Slattery popping in to hopefully clear up 3 00:00:08,280 --> 00:00:13,280 Speaker 2: some confusion for those of you following our relationship series, 4 00:00:13,360 --> 00:00:17,160 Speaker 2: you may remember that we have one more episode in 5 00:00:17,200 --> 00:00:20,360 Speaker 2: that series planned. It was supposed to drop today. I 6 00:00:20,560 --> 00:00:24,919 Speaker 2: messed up that episode with doctor Michelle Bankston. Will drop 7 00:00:25,320 --> 00:00:29,479 Speaker 2: next Tuesday, a week from today, and it is a 8 00:00:29,520 --> 00:00:31,760 Speaker 2: great one. You're gonna want to listen and make sure 9 00:00:31,760 --> 00:00:32,360 Speaker 2: to come back. 10 00:00:32,600 --> 00:00:35,279 Speaker 3: But when we are living in a situation where it 11 00:00:35,360 --> 00:00:38,320 Speaker 3: feels like chaos, were in a hard, hard place, a 12 00:00:38,400 --> 00:00:40,800 Speaker 3: place of suffering, we don't know what the outcome is 13 00:00:40,840 --> 00:00:41,239 Speaker 3: going to be. 14 00:00:41,560 --> 00:00:42,640 Speaker 1: We just know it hurts. 15 00:00:42,880 --> 00:00:46,160 Speaker 3: We can know that the spirit of God is hovering there, 16 00:00:46,360 --> 00:00:49,120 Speaker 3: our hard place doesn't scare him away. 17 00:00:49,360 --> 00:00:51,599 Speaker 2: Welcome to the Faith over for your podcast, where we 18 00:00:51,680 --> 00:00:56,160 Speaker 2: discussed powerful truths to quiet anxiety and fear big and small. 19 00:00:56,320 --> 00:00:57,920 Speaker 4: I'm Jennifer Slattery. 20 00:00:57,560 --> 00:01:01,640 Speaker 2: And I imagine we've all had time when the task 21 00:01:01,840 --> 00:01:06,160 Speaker 2: we send God inviting us into felt far beyond our ability. 22 00:01:06,480 --> 00:01:10,440 Speaker 2: Maybe it's a conversation we've avoided, or a season that 23 00:01:10,520 --> 00:01:13,319 Speaker 2: just feels really heavy and won't let up, a dream 24 00:01:13,480 --> 00:01:17,240 Speaker 2: that feels far too big, or a step of obedience 25 00:01:17,319 --> 00:01:21,559 Speaker 2: that seems impossible, and as we face that difficult, if 26 00:01:21,840 --> 00:01:28,080 Speaker 2: not overwhelming opportunity or responsibility, our fear often whisper this 27 00:01:28,319 --> 00:01:31,800 Speaker 2: lie that it is all up to us and we don't. 28 00:01:31,400 --> 00:01:33,880 Speaker 4: Have what it takes to succeed. Well. 29 00:01:33,920 --> 00:01:37,800 Speaker 2: Today we're talking about how God strengthens us for the 30 00:01:37,840 --> 00:01:43,240 Speaker 2: assignment he gives, not by making us necessarily feel more fearless, 31 00:01:43,319 --> 00:01:44,600 Speaker 2: but by revealing. 32 00:01:44,160 --> 00:01:45,440 Speaker 4: More wook he is. 33 00:01:45,760 --> 00:01:49,080 Speaker 2: We'll explore four names of God that remind us that 34 00:01:49,160 --> 00:01:53,040 Speaker 2: He never sends us where his presence, power, and faithfulness 35 00:01:53,080 --> 00:01:56,120 Speaker 2: can't sustain us. And I pray by the end of 36 00:01:56,160 --> 00:02:01,160 Speaker 2: this conversation you'll leave with renewed confidence to take your 37 00:02:01,320 --> 00:02:05,919 Speaker 2: next step, however small. I've invited my sweet friend Grace 38 00:02:06,000 --> 00:02:10,000 Speaker 2: Bock back with me to discuss what she's learned exploring 39 00:02:10,040 --> 00:02:13,760 Speaker 2: this topic in her powerful devotional Bible study series on 40 00:02:13,840 --> 00:02:17,440 Speaker 2: the Names of God, including the one that evoked today's episode, 41 00:02:17,760 --> 00:02:19,840 Speaker 2: Names of God, Growing Strong. 42 00:02:20,080 --> 00:02:22,919 Speaker 4: Grace, thank you so much for joining. 43 00:02:22,720 --> 00:02:23,880 Speaker 1: Us, Thank you for having me. 44 00:02:23,960 --> 00:02:28,000 Speaker 2: Jennifer Grace Fox is the award winning author of sixteen 45 00:02:28,240 --> 00:02:33,079 Speaker 2: books whose passion is to inspire hope, courage, and personal 46 00:02:33,120 --> 00:02:37,480 Speaker 2: transformation through God's Word with a dash of Adventure. She's 47 00:02:37,600 --> 00:02:40,919 Speaker 2: a member of the first five Bible Study writing team, 48 00:02:41,000 --> 00:02:44,320 Speaker 2: and her blog is listed among the top one hundred 49 00:02:44,400 --> 00:02:47,679 Speaker 2: Christian women's blogs to read in twenty twenty six. 50 00:02:47,760 --> 00:02:49,280 Speaker 4: I didn't know that that's exciting. 51 00:02:49,520 --> 00:02:53,440 Speaker 2: A career missionary for more than three decades, she's taught 52 00:02:53,480 --> 00:02:58,919 Speaker 2: God's word in countries including Romania, Nepal, India, Egypt, and Lebanon. 53 00:02:59,240 --> 00:03:03,040 Speaker 2: She lives We're Vancouver, British Columbia, where she just moved 54 00:03:03,120 --> 00:03:08,280 Speaker 2: back to shore after living aboard a sailboat full time 55 00:03:08,560 --> 00:03:13,639 Speaker 2: for eight years. And Grace, I know you have experienced 56 00:03:13,680 --> 00:03:18,160 Speaker 2: a lot of wonderful and I assume challenging assignments in 57 00:03:18,240 --> 00:03:22,320 Speaker 2: that thirty plus years of ministry and really your life 58 00:03:22,320 --> 00:03:26,239 Speaker 2: of following Christ. As you're contemplating some of the adventures 59 00:03:26,360 --> 00:03:28,480 Speaker 2: God took you on, were there any of that felt 60 00:03:28,639 --> 00:03:31,160 Speaker 2: particularly hard or frightening? 61 00:03:31,560 --> 00:03:34,360 Speaker 3: Jennifer, When I thought about this question, I thought of 62 00:03:34,840 --> 00:03:37,000 Speaker 3: an incident that happened when my husband and I were 63 00:03:37,040 --> 00:03:40,160 Speaker 3: working on a little island called Quadra Island off the 64 00:03:40,200 --> 00:03:43,520 Speaker 3: coast of British Columbia. So we were at a Christian 65 00:03:43,560 --> 00:03:47,280 Speaker 3: camp there for eleven years. That's where my writing began, 66 00:03:47,520 --> 00:03:49,560 Speaker 3: and when my first book came out, it was called 67 00:03:49,600 --> 00:03:53,640 Speaker 3: ten minute timeouts for months. So the publisher decided to 68 00:03:53,680 --> 00:03:56,080 Speaker 3: send me on a media tour. Well, you need to 69 00:03:56,160 --> 00:03:59,640 Speaker 3: understand that I'm directionally challenged, so I joke and I 70 00:03:59,720 --> 00:04:02,360 Speaker 3: say I can go into a Culi sack and get lost. 71 00:04:02,600 --> 00:04:04,080 Speaker 1: That's not too far from the truth. 72 00:04:04,200 --> 00:04:07,560 Speaker 3: So back then we didn't have phones with GPS's or 73 00:04:07,560 --> 00:04:09,720 Speaker 3: anything like that on and so I remember when the 74 00:04:09,720 --> 00:04:12,360 Speaker 3: publisher said you're going to go to Chicago. You'll fly 75 00:04:12,440 --> 00:04:15,600 Speaker 3: to Chicago and then we have a rental car waiting 76 00:04:15,640 --> 00:04:17,640 Speaker 3: for you there and you will get yourself from point 77 00:04:17,640 --> 00:04:22,760 Speaker 3: A to point B. I remember feeling absolutely panic, almost 78 00:04:22,880 --> 00:04:27,080 Speaker 3: nauseous because the island where I lived had maybe two 79 00:04:27,160 --> 00:04:30,400 Speaker 3: stop signs. It had one or two little credit union 80 00:04:30,480 --> 00:04:33,880 Speaker 3: banks and one gas station. So to go from there 81 00:04:33,960 --> 00:04:36,400 Speaker 3: to I had to drive down to Seattle, which was 82 00:04:36,440 --> 00:04:38,800 Speaker 3: about a twelve hour trip and two ferries just to 83 00:04:38,800 --> 00:04:41,360 Speaker 3: get to Seattle, fly to Chicago, and then do this 84 00:04:41,440 --> 00:04:44,760 Speaker 3: rental car. So I remember getting to the counter and 85 00:04:44,800 --> 00:04:47,400 Speaker 3: this young man saying, do you know where you're going? 86 00:04:47,520 --> 00:04:50,520 Speaker 3: And I just wanted to say absolutely not, But the 87 00:04:50,720 --> 00:04:54,599 Speaker 3: publicist had written me instructions on where to go to 88 00:04:54,720 --> 00:04:56,880 Speaker 3: the hotel, and then from the hotel to the first 89 00:04:56,880 --> 00:04:59,760 Speaker 3: station the next morning and so on. So I showed 90 00:04:59,839 --> 00:05:02,920 Speaker 3: him the first set of directions and he looked at 91 00:05:02,960 --> 00:05:04,000 Speaker 3: them and said, no. 92 00:05:04,160 --> 00:05:05,000 Speaker 1: You don't want to do that. 93 00:05:05,240 --> 00:05:07,760 Speaker 3: And I'm thinking, don't tell me anything different, because I 94 00:05:07,800 --> 00:05:10,240 Speaker 3: will get lost. I actually told him, if I don't 95 00:05:10,240 --> 00:05:12,440 Speaker 3: come back with the rental car, but you'll see my 96 00:05:12,480 --> 00:05:14,200 Speaker 3: face on the side of a milk cart and I 97 00:05:14,240 --> 00:05:15,800 Speaker 3: guarantee you as a missing person. 98 00:05:16,320 --> 00:05:18,560 Speaker 1: He was cracking up, but I said, it's not funny. 99 00:05:19,400 --> 00:05:23,320 Speaker 1: I'm scared. Anyways, he said, there's construction. 100 00:05:22,920 --> 00:05:25,520 Speaker 3: On that road and whoever gave you the directions doesn't 101 00:05:25,560 --> 00:05:28,159 Speaker 3: know that, so do this, and he gave me a 102 00:05:28,200 --> 00:05:31,520 Speaker 3: new set of instructions. So I follow that, and thankfully, 103 00:05:31,520 --> 00:05:33,880 Speaker 3: when I arrived it was a Sunday afternoon, so it 104 00:05:33,960 --> 00:05:37,320 Speaker 3: wasn't like middle of the week rush hour traffic, thank goodness. 105 00:05:37,760 --> 00:05:40,800 Speaker 1: But I remember reading those directions and. 106 00:05:40,839 --> 00:05:44,640 Speaker 3: Following them explicitly, and thankfully he got me where I 107 00:05:44,720 --> 00:05:45,360 Speaker 3: needed to go. 108 00:05:45,480 --> 00:05:48,200 Speaker 1: But I was almost sick with fear. 109 00:05:48,680 --> 00:05:52,200 Speaker 2: Yeah, And so we often talk about how our fears 110 00:05:52,240 --> 00:05:55,400 Speaker 2: lie to ask regarding who God is his power to 111 00:05:55,440 --> 00:05:58,600 Speaker 2: sustain us, his heart towards us. Were there lies that 112 00:05:58,640 --> 00:06:01,960 Speaker 2: you sensed during that experience that we're cropping up. 113 00:06:02,400 --> 00:06:04,640 Speaker 3: I'm sure there was a lie, but I didn't recognize 114 00:06:04,640 --> 00:06:06,400 Speaker 3: it as such. It was just, you know, thoughts in 115 00:06:06,480 --> 00:06:09,839 Speaker 3: my head. I didn't recognize them as lies at the time. 116 00:06:10,080 --> 00:06:12,560 Speaker 3: But the story that I was telling myself was that 117 00:06:12,640 --> 00:06:15,159 Speaker 3: I was going to get lost. And I think that's 118 00:06:15,160 --> 00:06:18,120 Speaker 3: where the fear came from, was that I had convinced 119 00:06:18,160 --> 00:06:20,280 Speaker 3: myself that I was going to mess up on this. 120 00:06:20,400 --> 00:06:23,000 Speaker 3: And it's when I look back now, I would say 121 00:06:23,000 --> 00:06:25,240 Speaker 3: that was definitely a lie, and I could take it 122 00:06:25,320 --> 00:06:27,359 Speaker 3: right back to the fear of God. 123 00:06:27,480 --> 00:06:28,159 Speaker 1: Isn't enough. 124 00:06:28,600 --> 00:06:31,760 Speaker 3: God isn't enough to get me through this experience and 125 00:06:31,800 --> 00:06:32,599 Speaker 3: bring me home. 126 00:06:32,440 --> 00:06:33,120 Speaker 1: In one piece. 127 00:06:33,640 --> 00:06:38,640 Speaker 2: Yeah, your statement it reminded me of something important in 128 00:06:38,720 --> 00:06:42,680 Speaker 2: our journey towards increased confidence and peace. When a situation 129 00:06:42,839 --> 00:06:44,919 Speaker 2: causes us to panic, or at least causes me to 130 00:06:44,960 --> 00:06:48,920 Speaker 2: panic for whatever reason, I don't typically pause and think, Hmm, 131 00:06:49,200 --> 00:06:51,320 Speaker 2: I wonder what's going on internally? 132 00:06:51,400 --> 00:06:54,480 Speaker 4: What lie am I listening to? Right now? What is 133 00:06:54,520 --> 00:06:57,159 Speaker 4: God's truth say regarding my fear? 134 00:06:57,279 --> 00:07:00,920 Speaker 2: Although we can learn to do that with practice and 135 00:07:01,120 --> 00:07:04,839 Speaker 2: intentionality and maybe the help of a therapist, but it's 136 00:07:04,880 --> 00:07:08,400 Speaker 2: helpful at least for me once I've calmed down enough 137 00:07:08,520 --> 00:07:12,120 Speaker 2: to think about the situation more logically and have the 138 00:07:12,160 --> 00:07:15,360 Speaker 2: time to do so, to process the situation and why 139 00:07:15,400 --> 00:07:19,080 Speaker 2: it triggered such fear, and often God will reveal something 140 00:07:19,120 --> 00:07:22,520 Speaker 2: we might miss otherwise, like how an unprocessed wound or 141 00:07:23,000 --> 00:07:27,480 Speaker 2: insecurity related to our past is coming into play. Otherwise, 142 00:07:27,800 --> 00:07:31,000 Speaker 2: we can easily become stuck in our interactions, but when 143 00:07:31,040 --> 00:07:35,560 Speaker 2: we invite Jesus, our Lord and Master, into our processing, 144 00:07:36,040 --> 00:07:39,840 Speaker 2: he steadily moves us towards increased confidence, peace, and strength. 145 00:07:40,040 --> 00:07:44,280 Speaker 2: Speaking of growth journeys, let's talk about one of the 146 00:07:44,360 --> 00:07:47,840 Speaker 2: characters you discuss in your book, Abraham and the day 147 00:07:47,880 --> 00:07:51,240 Speaker 2: he acknowledged God as Lord and Master. But first, for 148 00:07:51,320 --> 00:07:55,600 Speaker 2: those unfamiliar with Biblical history, here's the context. We first 149 00:07:55,640 --> 00:07:58,160 Speaker 2: meet Abraham when the Lord calls him to leave a 150 00:07:58,280 --> 00:08:02,440 Speaker 2: pagan environment to head to an undisclosed land, with a 151 00:08:02,480 --> 00:08:05,840 Speaker 2: promise that the Lord would make nations come from him, 152 00:08:05,880 --> 00:08:10,240 Speaker 2: which obviously means he'll have descendants. By the time we 153 00:08:10,280 --> 00:08:15,000 Speaker 2: reach Genesis fifteen, some ten to fifteen years later, there's 154 00:08:15,040 --> 00:08:17,560 Speaker 2: still no baby. 155 00:08:18,120 --> 00:08:19,840 Speaker 3: He was old enough to be a great grandfather at 156 00:08:19,840 --> 00:08:22,200 Speaker 3: this time, and his wife was old and barren, so 157 00:08:22,720 --> 00:08:26,680 Speaker 3: humanly speaking, this was an impossible situation. But when he 158 00:08:26,760 --> 00:08:29,720 Speaker 3: poured out his heart to God about that, he used 159 00:08:29,920 --> 00:08:33,880 Speaker 3: the term adenai, which would mean master. And that is 160 00:08:34,120 --> 00:08:36,880 Speaker 3: an amazing term when you think about the context of 161 00:08:36,920 --> 00:08:40,240 Speaker 3: how he used that, because what he's basically saying is 162 00:08:40,840 --> 00:08:44,280 Speaker 3: You've given me this promise or this assignment that I'm 163 00:08:44,280 --> 00:08:46,440 Speaker 3: going to be the father of many descendants, but it's 164 00:08:46,480 --> 00:08:49,440 Speaker 3: not happening. So what he's saying by using that term 165 00:08:49,480 --> 00:08:54,199 Speaker 3: adenai back in that cultural context, a master would give 166 00:08:54,360 --> 00:08:57,000 Speaker 3: his servants a task to do, but he was a 167 00:08:57,080 --> 00:09:00,200 Speaker 3: caring master, not a cruel and harsh This master, sure 168 00:09:00,440 --> 00:09:02,640 Speaker 3: in those times, would be one who'd care for his 169 00:09:02,760 --> 00:09:05,559 Speaker 3: servant and equip them with everything he needed to accomplish 170 00:09:05,600 --> 00:09:07,960 Speaker 3: a task for which he was called. So he would 171 00:09:07,960 --> 00:09:10,719 Speaker 3: provide him with housing, with food, with clothing, with the 172 00:09:10,760 --> 00:09:14,360 Speaker 3: tools and the training that he needed. And Abraham's basically 173 00:09:14,400 --> 00:09:18,000 Speaker 3: calling God ad ani or master, I'm your servant, you're 174 00:09:18,040 --> 00:09:20,480 Speaker 3: my master. If you're my master, then you need to 175 00:09:21,080 --> 00:09:24,720 Speaker 3: do and give me what I need in order to 176 00:09:24,760 --> 00:09:27,720 Speaker 3: fulfill what you said I'm going to do. That's quite 177 00:09:27,760 --> 00:09:32,000 Speaker 3: an acknowledgment. So when we understand God as our ad 178 00:09:32,040 --> 00:09:35,560 Speaker 3: Ani master, then that takes a lot of fear out 179 00:09:35,559 --> 00:09:38,720 Speaker 3: of those tasks that feel impossible at the outset. 180 00:09:38,960 --> 00:09:43,240 Speaker 2: As you were speaking, I was thinking of Jesus's parable 181 00:09:43,480 --> 00:09:47,720 Speaker 2: about the tenants for those unfamiliar with this parable. In short, 182 00:09:47,880 --> 00:09:51,200 Speaker 2: Jesus told a story about a rich man with three servants, 183 00:09:51,280 --> 00:09:53,680 Speaker 2: or maybe you could think of them as state manager, 184 00:09:53,760 --> 00:09:56,560 Speaker 2: and he told them, hey, I'm about to go on 185 00:09:56,920 --> 00:10:00,320 Speaker 2: this trip. Take care of this money while I'm gone, 186 00:10:00,360 --> 00:10:03,480 Speaker 2: And he gives three of his servants a certain amount 187 00:10:03,480 --> 00:10:06,679 Speaker 2: of money. Two of them they invest the funds well 188 00:10:06,760 --> 00:10:10,559 Speaker 2: and make it grow. But one servants hides the money 189 00:10:10,559 --> 00:10:14,400 Speaker 2: in the ground out of fear because he didn't understand 190 00:10:14,559 --> 00:10:16,760 Speaker 2: the master, his hard his character. 191 00:10:16,920 --> 00:10:20,679 Speaker 4: He thought his master was cruel and harsh. 192 00:10:20,760 --> 00:10:23,520 Speaker 2: And so I wonder if, and maybe we don't realize it, 193 00:10:23,960 --> 00:10:27,960 Speaker 2: but when God gives us these really big assignments and 194 00:10:28,080 --> 00:10:30,559 Speaker 2: we wrestle with fear, I wonder if any of that 195 00:10:30,600 --> 00:10:35,880 Speaker 2: fear might be related to subconsciously we're not certain that 196 00:10:35,920 --> 00:10:38,840 Speaker 2: he's really good or that he really has good plan 197 00:10:38,960 --> 00:10:41,720 Speaker 2: for us, and That's why I really appreciate, grace your 198 00:10:41,760 --> 00:10:46,160 Speaker 2: emphasis on knowing that God is a kind and loving 199 00:10:46,280 --> 00:10:51,000 Speaker 2: and faithful master. Otherwise, all we can see in that 200 00:10:51,160 --> 00:10:54,560 Speaker 2: space are the hard and the frightening aspects of whatever 201 00:10:54,600 --> 00:10:59,080 Speaker 2: he's calling us too, without considering the possible blessings on 202 00:10:59,360 --> 00:11:04,160 Speaker 2: the other side, the greatest of which is increased intimacy 203 00:11:04,600 --> 00:11:06,120 Speaker 2: with Jesus Christ. 204 00:11:06,360 --> 00:11:09,600 Speaker 3: Glad you brought up that parable, because that is really true, 205 00:11:09,679 --> 00:11:12,280 Speaker 3: and it's interesting in that story too that with the 206 00:11:12,320 --> 00:11:13,800 Speaker 3: other ones that did fulfill it. 207 00:11:14,080 --> 00:11:16,600 Speaker 1: He talked to them about entering into the joy of 208 00:11:16,640 --> 00:11:20,040 Speaker 1: the Lord. When we understand. 209 00:11:19,480 --> 00:11:23,439 Speaker 3: Who God is, we have that freedom to do what 210 00:11:23,559 --> 00:11:26,040 Speaker 3: He's asked us to do, even if sometimes I think 211 00:11:26,080 --> 00:11:28,480 Speaker 3: we need to do it afraid. You mentioned early on 212 00:11:28,520 --> 00:11:30,720 Speaker 3: when you first started, we don't always have a life 213 00:11:30,760 --> 00:11:34,280 Speaker 3: without fear. I don't know that that's even possible, but 214 00:11:34,440 --> 00:11:36,880 Speaker 3: to be able to do it afraid because we can 215 00:11:36,960 --> 00:11:40,760 Speaker 3: trust the Master who's got our back, and there's joy 216 00:11:40,920 --> 00:11:43,600 Speaker 3: in doing that, and there's joy in the outcome and 217 00:11:43,760 --> 00:11:46,800 Speaker 3: just even knowing that we've been faithful to him. 218 00:11:47,240 --> 00:11:48,920 Speaker 4: Yeah. Well, I'm curious too. 219 00:11:49,120 --> 00:11:52,959 Speaker 2: In your opening story, finding your way, it wasn't something 220 00:11:53,000 --> 00:11:55,160 Speaker 2: you could do on your own right. You didn't have maps, 221 00:11:55,200 --> 00:11:58,720 Speaker 2: and I think they didn't have cell phones back then either. 222 00:11:59,120 --> 00:12:02,360 Speaker 2: On the other side of the obedience, was there a 223 00:12:02,440 --> 00:12:06,319 Speaker 2: sense of Okay, God got me, Jennifer. 224 00:12:06,640 --> 00:12:07,240 Speaker 1: Let me tell you. 225 00:12:07,320 --> 00:12:10,959 Speaker 3: When I got into that rental car before I went anywhere, 226 00:12:11,080 --> 00:12:13,640 Speaker 3: I started it, but I looked over at the passenger's 227 00:12:13,640 --> 00:12:18,040 Speaker 3: seat beside me, and I patted it and I said, Okay, Jesus, 228 00:12:18,080 --> 00:12:23,000 Speaker 3: it's just you and me night. Please please keep me 229 00:12:23,080 --> 00:12:24,640 Speaker 3: safe and help me get there. 230 00:12:24,800 --> 00:12:25,040 Speaker 2: Yeah. 231 00:12:25,160 --> 00:12:28,280 Speaker 1: Please. I remember driving out from that place. 232 00:12:28,480 --> 00:12:31,679 Speaker 3: Oh, in some places they have those great, big what 233 00:12:31,720 --> 00:12:34,160 Speaker 3: would you call it? They're almost like giant nails sticking 234 00:12:34,160 --> 00:12:36,400 Speaker 3: out of the ground, and they say, once you go forward, 235 00:12:36,440 --> 00:12:38,480 Speaker 3: don't back up, or you're going to puncture the tires. 236 00:12:39,000 --> 00:12:40,960 Speaker 1: I had never seen that before. 237 00:12:40,920 --> 00:12:43,280 Speaker 3: But I remember looking at them and going, oh, my goodness, 238 00:12:43,320 --> 00:12:47,360 Speaker 3: there is no turning back. But recall the faithfulness of 239 00:12:47,400 --> 00:12:50,120 Speaker 3: God in one again, that young man at the counter, 240 00:12:50,240 --> 00:12:54,679 Speaker 3: recognizing that the directions I had were not relevant. 241 00:12:54,200 --> 00:12:56,560 Speaker 1: Because of the construction on the road. That was God 242 00:12:56,760 --> 00:12:57,520 Speaker 1: looking out for me. 243 00:12:57,640 --> 00:12:57,960 Speaker 4: Amen. 244 00:12:58,760 --> 00:13:01,600 Speaker 3: The other one was on my way back from my 245 00:13:01,679 --> 00:13:04,119 Speaker 3: first interview, I had to drive into South Bend, Indiana, 246 00:13:04,200 --> 00:13:07,160 Speaker 3: and then come back and it was close to noon. 247 00:13:07,240 --> 00:13:09,720 Speaker 1: If I remember correctly, I remember having. 248 00:13:09,520 --> 00:13:11,679 Speaker 3: Written directions in front of me, kind of holding them 249 00:13:11,679 --> 00:13:15,040 Speaker 3: against the steering wheel, and wearing reading glasses from the 250 00:13:15,040 --> 00:13:17,280 Speaker 3: dollar store at that time, and so I got my 251 00:13:17,320 --> 00:13:19,280 Speaker 3: glasses down on the tip of my nose and I'm 252 00:13:19,280 --> 00:13:21,640 Speaker 3: trying to see where I'm going and read directions all 253 00:13:21,679 --> 00:13:22,520 Speaker 3: at the same time. 254 00:13:22,840 --> 00:13:24,760 Speaker 1: But maybe there was an accident or something on the 255 00:13:24,840 --> 00:13:25,280 Speaker 1: road ahead. 256 00:13:25,320 --> 00:13:28,600 Speaker 3: I don't know, but it slowed down for about a mile, 257 00:13:29,000 --> 00:13:32,840 Speaker 3: and that slowed down was right before I needed to 258 00:13:32,840 --> 00:13:35,600 Speaker 3: get off the highway, so there was an exit that 259 00:13:35,679 --> 00:13:36,439 Speaker 3: I needed. 260 00:13:36,160 --> 00:13:39,120 Speaker 1: To take on my right. But because the traffic was going. 261 00:13:39,000 --> 00:13:42,080 Speaker 3: At a snails pace, I know that that was God 262 00:13:42,120 --> 00:13:44,000 Speaker 3: looking out for me too, because it gave me a 263 00:13:44,080 --> 00:13:46,240 Speaker 3: chance to read those directions and get a handle on 264 00:13:46,280 --> 00:13:47,840 Speaker 3: where I was, and then I needed to take that 265 00:13:47,960 --> 00:13:50,640 Speaker 3: exit and work my way over without having to do 266 00:13:50,679 --> 00:13:54,560 Speaker 3: it in fast moving traffic and unfamiliar territory. That sounds 267 00:13:54,600 --> 00:13:56,920 Speaker 3: like a simple thing, but I know that that was 268 00:13:57,360 --> 00:13:59,480 Speaker 3: the Master looking out for me. 269 00:14:00,120 --> 00:14:00,720 Speaker 1: The servants. 270 00:14:01,520 --> 00:14:04,240 Speaker 2: Yeah, Well, and for those of you who've never traveled 271 00:14:04,400 --> 00:14:07,600 Speaker 2: in Chicago traffic, for those who are listening in other countries. 272 00:14:07,679 --> 00:14:11,320 Speaker 2: Chicago's one of the larger cities in the United States, 273 00:14:11,360 --> 00:14:13,880 Speaker 2: and you've got freeways coming and going and people going 274 00:14:13,960 --> 00:14:18,319 Speaker 2: really fast, and so yeah, I can understand that. And 275 00:14:18,800 --> 00:14:21,880 Speaker 2: to our listener, I'm going to encourage what has God 276 00:14:22,240 --> 00:14:25,440 Speaker 2: asked you to do today? So that's a question that 277 00:14:25,480 --> 00:14:29,160 Speaker 2: you can ask yourself, and then connected to that, what 278 00:14:29,320 --> 00:14:33,720 Speaker 2: belongs to God instead of me? And what is my 279 00:14:33,880 --> 00:14:39,160 Speaker 2: next obedient step? God supply strength one step. He gives guidance, 280 00:14:39,320 --> 00:14:41,280 Speaker 2: one step at a time. We need to take a 281 00:14:41,320 --> 00:14:43,960 Speaker 2: brief break to hear from our sponsors. When we return, 282 00:14:44,120 --> 00:14:47,880 Speaker 2: we'll talk about how God heals those things in us 283 00:14:48,320 --> 00:14:51,680 Speaker 2: that otherwise might hold us back, and how He provides 284 00:14:51,800 --> 00:15:06,240 Speaker 2: strength in life's chaos. We're back, and now we're going 285 00:15:06,360 --> 00:15:10,560 Speaker 2: to talk about what often is a necessary component to 286 00:15:10,640 --> 00:15:14,960 Speaker 2: us really pursuing our God given assignments, particularly the ones 287 00:15:15,000 --> 00:15:18,080 Speaker 2: I feel really weighty, pursuing them well. 288 00:15:18,200 --> 00:15:20,920 Speaker 4: And that often involves healing. 289 00:15:21,080 --> 00:15:23,760 Speaker 2: And as we experience that healing, that's another way that 290 00:15:23,800 --> 00:15:28,240 Speaker 2: God can strengthen us to pursue everything He has for us. 291 00:15:28,320 --> 00:15:32,760 Speaker 2: And I'm thinking of another character you discuss in your book, 292 00:15:33,040 --> 00:15:37,040 Speaker 2: Grace and one story that I find really convicting, and 293 00:15:37,080 --> 00:15:40,520 Speaker 2: it's the story of Naman. And so again for our listeners, 294 00:15:40,560 --> 00:15:44,200 Speaker 2: I want to give some context. Naman was a high 295 00:15:44,280 --> 00:15:47,280 Speaker 2: ranking official in the army and army who happened to 296 00:15:47,360 --> 00:15:51,480 Speaker 2: be ancient Israel's enemies, and his wife had a Hebrew 297 00:15:51,480 --> 00:15:55,680 Speaker 2: slave who knew about a prophet named Elijah and the 298 00:15:55,720 --> 00:15:59,040 Speaker 2: God empowered miracles that he often performed in So one 299 00:15:59,120 --> 00:16:06,360 Speaker 2: day acquired a devastating infection, leprosy, and so, Grace, I 300 00:16:06,400 --> 00:16:09,600 Speaker 2: would love if you would help us understand how obedience 301 00:16:09,720 --> 00:16:13,280 Speaker 2: in these situations, particularly when what God is asking us 302 00:16:13,360 --> 00:16:18,480 Speaker 2: to do doesn't make sense, how that actually works for 303 00:16:18,640 --> 00:16:19,400 Speaker 2: our good. 304 00:16:20,000 --> 00:16:21,040 Speaker 1: So no cure for. 305 00:16:21,040 --> 00:16:24,560 Speaker 3: The disease, right and now considered unclean. So this guy 306 00:16:24,600 --> 00:16:26,280 Speaker 3: would have not been able to be with his family, 307 00:16:26,600 --> 00:16:28,680 Speaker 3: He wouldn't be able to be doing his job. He 308 00:16:28,720 --> 00:16:32,200 Speaker 3: would be away from people. But there's a young woman 309 00:16:32,600 --> 00:16:36,120 Speaker 3: who said to her mistress, Naman's wife, you know what, 310 00:16:36,200 --> 00:16:39,000 Speaker 3: if he goes to see the prophet, the prophet will 311 00:16:39,000 --> 00:16:40,120 Speaker 3: be able to help him with this. 312 00:16:40,920 --> 00:16:45,160 Speaker 2: So he wasn't even a follower of creator God, right. 313 00:16:45,320 --> 00:16:49,320 Speaker 1: True, And so he long story short, he goes to 314 00:16:49,520 --> 00:16:53,480 Speaker 1: the prophet's house with he had soldiers around him that 315 00:16:53,640 --> 00:16:55,480 Speaker 1: traveled with him, and the king had sent a whole 316 00:16:55,480 --> 00:16:58,640 Speaker 1: lot of gifts along for the prophet. But Naman shows up. 317 00:16:58,680 --> 00:17:02,440 Speaker 3: And he expects the prophet to come out and probably 318 00:17:02,520 --> 00:17:03,960 Speaker 3: just snap the singers and make him well. 319 00:17:04,000 --> 00:17:05,000 Speaker 1: But that doesn't happen. 320 00:17:05,160 --> 00:17:08,200 Speaker 3: The prophet says, go and wash yourself seven times in 321 00:17:08,240 --> 00:17:09,000 Speaker 3: the Jordan river. 322 00:17:09,520 --> 00:17:12,640 Speaker 1: The Jordan River was not a clean river to be in. 323 00:17:12,720 --> 00:17:17,280 Speaker 3: And here Nayman was annoyed, like he got really angry 324 00:17:17,760 --> 00:17:19,879 Speaker 3: and he would rather have stayed a leper than do 325 00:17:19,960 --> 00:17:21,959 Speaker 3: what he said, because to him, go and washing them 326 00:17:21,960 --> 00:17:24,840 Speaker 3: the Jordan river was beneath his dignity, we'll say. 327 00:17:25,320 --> 00:17:27,280 Speaker 1: So there was a lot of pride involved there. 328 00:17:27,680 --> 00:17:30,760 Speaker 3: But his men talked him down and said, Nayman, why 329 00:17:30,760 --> 00:17:33,040 Speaker 3: don't you do this, this is what he's asking. 330 00:17:32,720 --> 00:17:33,040 Speaker 4: You to do. 331 00:17:33,200 --> 00:17:34,280 Speaker 1: Come on, just do it. 332 00:17:34,800 --> 00:17:37,399 Speaker 3: And so he did, and he was cleansed, and he 333 00:17:37,440 --> 00:17:40,280 Speaker 3: did become a follower of the True God after that 334 00:17:40,359 --> 00:17:43,520 Speaker 3: when he saw what happened. But in this case, it 335 00:17:43,640 --> 00:17:47,040 Speaker 3: was that pride that could have prevented him from being 336 00:17:47,119 --> 00:17:51,120 Speaker 3: healed from his physical disease. And isn't that true for us? 337 00:17:51,160 --> 00:17:55,280 Speaker 3: To in, say, emotional people that were in emotional wounds 338 00:17:55,280 --> 00:17:58,760 Speaker 3: that we have. Sometimes there's a pride involved that we 339 00:17:58,760 --> 00:18:00,399 Speaker 3: don't want to let go of that because we have 340 00:18:00,440 --> 00:18:03,000 Speaker 3: a right to be hurt because that person said some 341 00:18:03,040 --> 00:18:04,040 Speaker 3: really unkind things. 342 00:18:04,040 --> 00:18:07,320 Speaker 1: So that person did something really harmful to me. Therefore 343 00:18:07,880 --> 00:18:10,680 Speaker 1: it's my right to be angry. 344 00:18:10,720 --> 00:18:13,560 Speaker 3: And if I give in and I say that I'm 345 00:18:13,560 --> 00:18:16,320 Speaker 3: going to forgive, then that's putting a stamp of approval 346 00:18:16,320 --> 00:18:18,359 Speaker 3: on what that person did. Those things are not true, 347 00:18:18,800 --> 00:18:20,720 Speaker 3: but again those would be the stories that we tell 348 00:18:20,760 --> 00:18:21,920 Speaker 3: ourselves and lies. 349 00:18:21,720 --> 00:18:24,800 Speaker 1: That we believe. But there's so much involved to the 350 00:18:24,880 --> 00:18:30,479 Speaker 1: healing that y'ahwegh Rofka wants to accomplish in our lives, 351 00:18:30,480 --> 00:18:32,440 Speaker 1: but he asks for our participation. 352 00:18:33,640 --> 00:18:33,880 Speaker 4: Yeah. 353 00:18:33,920 --> 00:18:36,280 Speaker 2: Well, in your book you talk about how sometimes our 354 00:18:36,359 --> 00:18:41,600 Speaker 2: expectations can get in the way, and I'm thinking, you know, 355 00:18:41,640 --> 00:18:46,000 Speaker 2: for listeners who are maybe they have a pastor that says, hey, 356 00:18:46,600 --> 00:18:49,479 Speaker 2: I really think this would be good for you, and 357 00:18:49,520 --> 00:18:51,800 Speaker 2: their mind is like, no, I think healing comes a 358 00:18:51,800 --> 00:18:56,320 Speaker 2: different way. And so being open if God redirects us 359 00:18:56,359 --> 00:18:59,760 Speaker 2: in a certain way, because he knows precisely what he's 360 00:18:59,800 --> 00:19:03,080 Speaker 2: doing our soul and why I think a lot of 361 00:19:03,119 --> 00:19:07,080 Speaker 2: times we want to control the healing journey, or at 362 00:19:07,160 --> 00:19:10,879 Speaker 2: least feel like we want to know where it's going, 363 00:19:11,680 --> 00:19:17,960 Speaker 2: and we don't always get that final step revelation. Sometimes 364 00:19:18,000 --> 00:19:19,640 Speaker 2: God's just like, Okay, you got to dip in the river. 365 00:19:19,760 --> 00:19:21,560 Speaker 2: Oh you got to do it again. Oh you got 366 00:19:21,560 --> 00:19:23,560 Speaker 2: to do it again. You're like, why are you making 367 00:19:23,560 --> 00:19:24,840 Speaker 2: me do all of these things? 368 00:19:24,880 --> 00:19:28,160 Speaker 3: I think sometimes we want it fast because if we 369 00:19:28,200 --> 00:19:29,680 Speaker 3: are burying a wound of. 370 00:19:29,680 --> 00:19:31,480 Speaker 1: Some sort, it hurts. 371 00:19:32,000 --> 00:19:34,800 Speaker 3: A human bent doesn't like pain. We want to escape 372 00:19:34,840 --> 00:19:37,439 Speaker 3: the pain as fast as we can. But sometimes, in 373 00:19:37,520 --> 00:19:41,720 Speaker 3: God's wisdom and timing and ways, he asks us to 374 00:19:41,800 --> 00:19:44,920 Speaker 3: sit in that for a while and to work through 375 00:19:45,000 --> 00:19:47,760 Speaker 3: some of these things layer by layer. So we need 376 00:19:47,800 --> 00:19:51,919 Speaker 3: to trust his timing and be patient, give ourselves grace 377 00:19:51,960 --> 00:19:54,000 Speaker 3: as well to if we have to sit in it 378 00:19:54,040 --> 00:19:55,440 Speaker 3: for a bit to figure things out. 379 00:19:55,680 --> 00:19:58,080 Speaker 1: Let's sit in it. Let's not be afraid of what 380 00:19:58,200 --> 00:20:00,160 Speaker 1: God is doing or moving. 381 00:20:00,240 --> 00:20:03,439 Speaker 3: That attitude of distrust because we think it should be 382 00:20:03,440 --> 00:20:07,399 Speaker 3: done now when really it needs to take time. Yeah. 383 00:20:07,600 --> 00:20:10,280 Speaker 2: Maybe one of the reasons we can resist that healing 384 00:20:10,400 --> 00:20:14,320 Speaker 2: journey is shame, and so we like to think that 385 00:20:14,760 --> 00:20:18,359 Speaker 2: we're reacting because so and so did X, Y and Z, 386 00:20:18,640 --> 00:20:21,879 Speaker 2: and we can get stuck in it's everybody else's fault. 387 00:20:21,960 --> 00:20:24,520 Speaker 2: And if everything would go well, if I wasn't so stressed, 388 00:20:24,560 --> 00:20:27,280 Speaker 2: or if I wasn't so busy, but that just keeps 389 00:20:27,359 --> 00:20:32,200 Speaker 2: us stuck, and it will hinder our leadership, our calling, 390 00:20:32,480 --> 00:20:37,119 Speaker 2: our parenting, whatever cask God is bringing us to. But 391 00:20:37,240 --> 00:20:40,360 Speaker 2: like you said, it does take courage to say, first, 392 00:20:40,640 --> 00:20:43,000 Speaker 2: why am I feeling resistant? So like, if we're in 393 00:20:43,080 --> 00:20:46,880 Speaker 2: Naman's situation, why am I resistant to going into this river? 394 00:20:47,119 --> 00:20:49,159 Speaker 2: Was he afraid he'd look like a fool to the 395 00:20:49,240 --> 00:20:52,359 Speaker 2: other men? I don't know, but to ask ourselves and 396 00:20:52,400 --> 00:20:56,760 Speaker 2: then inviting God into that instead of just shutting it 397 00:20:56,920 --> 00:20:58,640 Speaker 2: down and pushing forward. 398 00:20:59,160 --> 00:21:01,520 Speaker 1: Yeah, and I think too, Jennifer. 399 00:21:02,000 --> 00:21:03,960 Speaker 3: I've interviewed a lot of people in the past for 400 00:21:04,000 --> 00:21:07,720 Speaker 3: different magazine articles for their hard stories, and one woman 401 00:21:08,000 --> 00:21:11,879 Speaker 3: told me about her situation that she'd been through where 402 00:21:12,000 --> 00:21:14,520 Speaker 3: she had had an abortion when she was nineteen years old, 403 00:21:15,080 --> 00:21:18,520 Speaker 3: and she hid it until she was in her mid thirties, 404 00:21:18,640 --> 00:21:20,880 Speaker 3: when finally circumstances came to a head that made her 405 00:21:20,880 --> 00:21:23,080 Speaker 3: realize she needed to talk to somebody. 406 00:21:23,080 --> 00:21:25,000 Speaker 1: She needed to tell her husband what she had done 407 00:21:25,000 --> 00:21:25,480 Speaker 1: when she was. 408 00:21:25,520 --> 00:21:28,560 Speaker 3: Nineteen, She needed to tell her children, and she thought 409 00:21:28,600 --> 00:21:30,840 Speaker 3: she was even going to lose her ministry as a 410 00:21:30,880 --> 00:21:33,119 Speaker 3: result of it if she came clean. And so it 411 00:21:33,200 --> 00:21:35,960 Speaker 3: was fear of rejection that had held her back from 412 00:21:36,000 --> 00:21:39,240 Speaker 3: healing for all those years. But I remember one thing 413 00:21:39,320 --> 00:21:41,639 Speaker 3: she said in that interview, and she said the key 414 00:21:42,240 --> 00:21:45,359 Speaker 3: to healing for her, and she believed it was for 415 00:21:45,440 --> 00:21:48,040 Speaker 3: others as well, was to admit. 416 00:21:47,960 --> 00:21:51,760 Speaker 1: What had happened to her or what she had done. 417 00:21:52,080 --> 00:21:53,680 Speaker 1: So we can say that for ourselves. 418 00:21:53,720 --> 00:21:57,280 Speaker 3: Let's say we admit what's happened to us or what 419 00:21:57,359 --> 00:22:01,199 Speaker 3: we've done and how that affected us. And when we 420 00:22:01,280 --> 00:22:05,520 Speaker 3: start addressing those questions and be honest about those, that's 421 00:22:05,560 --> 00:22:09,840 Speaker 3: when true healing from that emotional woundedness is. You know 422 00:22:09,840 --> 00:22:12,800 Speaker 3: that we're trying to bury. We can start healing from. 423 00:22:12,640 --> 00:22:16,560 Speaker 2: That, yeah, because I mean that invites God's grace in 424 00:22:16,720 --> 00:22:19,760 Speaker 2: when we're in hiding. It's like we're putting walls up 425 00:22:20,119 --> 00:22:23,560 Speaker 2: to receiving his grace, and that creates all this inner chaos, 426 00:22:23,640 --> 00:22:27,000 Speaker 2: which leads to another name of God. I don't let 427 00:22:27,040 --> 00:22:30,480 Speaker 2: you do all of the pronunciations you talk about strength 428 00:22:30,640 --> 00:22:35,760 Speaker 2: in the chaos. I know so many people are feeling 429 00:22:35,920 --> 00:22:38,520 Speaker 2: the chaos of life, whether it's at their work situation, 430 00:22:38,560 --> 00:22:42,080 Speaker 2: they've got projects lining up, or they've got kids they're 431 00:22:42,160 --> 00:22:48,120 Speaker 2: launching into college, or a thousand other things. So how 432 00:22:48,359 --> 00:22:51,960 Speaker 2: can we experience God's strength in chaos? 433 00:22:52,080 --> 00:22:52,399 Speaker 1: Okay? 434 00:22:52,480 --> 00:22:56,119 Speaker 3: So this name of God is rurock Elohe, which means 435 00:22:56,160 --> 00:22:59,560 Speaker 3: Spirit of God. We meet him in the very first 436 00:22:59,640 --> 00:23:03,800 Speaker 3: versus Genesis where it tells us that he hovered over 437 00:23:03,960 --> 00:23:07,480 Speaker 3: the darkness over the earth. Wasn't even there, everything was 438 00:23:07,520 --> 00:23:10,840 Speaker 3: still dark, black and chaos, but he was hovering there. 439 00:23:11,280 --> 00:23:14,119 Speaker 3: And that means a light movement, like a little butterfly 440 00:23:14,440 --> 00:23:18,480 Speaker 3: wing movement, gentle and quiet, but he's still there, not 441 00:23:18,560 --> 00:23:21,720 Speaker 3: flitting in and out from the darkness. I take that 442 00:23:21,760 --> 00:23:24,199 Speaker 3: as such a huge encouragement when we are living in 443 00:23:24,240 --> 00:23:28,200 Speaker 3: a situation where it feels like chaos. Were in a hard, 444 00:23:28,320 --> 00:23:31,119 Speaker 3: hard place, a place of suffering. We don't know what 445 00:23:31,160 --> 00:23:33,840 Speaker 3: the outcome is going to be. We just know it hurts. 446 00:23:34,280 --> 00:23:38,120 Speaker 3: We can know that the Spirit of God is hovering there. 447 00:23:38,320 --> 00:23:41,240 Speaker 3: Our hard place doesn't scare him away. 448 00:23:41,880 --> 00:23:42,360 Speaker 4: Amen. 449 00:23:42,800 --> 00:23:48,160 Speaker 2: Fear predicts our weakness, but faith predicts God's power provision 450 00:23:48,440 --> 00:23:54,520 Speaker 2: and present to us. Everything feels high energy and he 451 00:23:54,560 --> 00:23:58,719 Speaker 2: comes in with this calming It's like it's okay, I 452 00:23:58,760 --> 00:24:03,280 Speaker 2: got this too, and so maybe something for our listeners 453 00:24:03,640 --> 00:24:06,520 Speaker 2: instead of asking can I finish this? Or can I 454 00:24:06,560 --> 00:24:10,760 Speaker 2: bring order out of this chaos, maybe simply asked, what 455 00:24:10,960 --> 00:24:16,000 Speaker 2: is one spirit led action I can take today? Because 456 00:24:16,040 --> 00:24:18,440 Speaker 2: I mean with creation he did one day at a time, 457 00:24:19,040 --> 00:24:21,280 Speaker 2: So maybe that's an invitation as I like what you 458 00:24:21,280 --> 00:24:22,040 Speaker 2: said too earlier. 459 00:24:22,080 --> 00:24:25,280 Speaker 4: Courage grows through obedience, not certainty. 460 00:24:25,520 --> 00:24:29,040 Speaker 2: We're going to take another pause when we return, will 461 00:24:29,240 --> 00:24:34,480 Speaker 2: end our conversation discussing how to gain comfort to move 462 00:24:34,560 --> 00:24:47,879 Speaker 2: forward through an increased awareness of God's faithfulness. 463 00:24:49,080 --> 00:24:51,160 Speaker 4: All right, we are back. 464 00:24:51,280 --> 00:24:55,159 Speaker 2: This is actually one of my favorite attributes of God. 465 00:24:55,240 --> 00:24:58,760 Speaker 2: With his mercy, love, and faithfulness are the three that 466 00:24:59,480 --> 00:25:03,080 Speaker 2: really anchor my soul. But why don't you start by 467 00:25:03,080 --> 00:25:08,200 Speaker 2: giving us his name that conveys this attribute? And then 468 00:25:08,560 --> 00:25:12,720 Speaker 2: I would particularly love in the book you discussed two 469 00:25:12,800 --> 00:25:16,800 Speaker 2: of the most beautiful verses in scripture from lamentations. I 470 00:25:16,800 --> 00:25:20,320 Speaker 2: would love if you could talk about not just those 471 00:25:20,440 --> 00:25:24,440 Speaker 2: verses in lamentations, but maybe at the time they were spoken, 472 00:25:25,240 --> 00:25:27,639 Speaker 2: and how that can be so comforting to us. 473 00:25:27,920 --> 00:25:31,359 Speaker 3: Okay, So the name is l mu Na, which means 474 00:25:31,400 --> 00:25:34,840 Speaker 3: the faithful God. And this verse of lamentations you're talking 475 00:25:34,880 --> 00:25:37,840 Speaker 3: about talks about how the faithfulness of God is new 476 00:25:38,040 --> 00:25:39,080 Speaker 3: every morning. 477 00:25:39,320 --> 00:25:40,760 Speaker 1: Great is thy faithfulness. 478 00:25:40,800 --> 00:25:43,240 Speaker 3: When I think of those verses, I think of a 479 00:25:43,320 --> 00:25:47,760 Speaker 3: big bucket filled with water, and every morning it's filled. 480 00:25:47,840 --> 00:25:50,480 Speaker 1: It can be used during the day. I can use the. 481 00:25:50,400 --> 00:25:53,240 Speaker 3: Water to sprinkle my flowers in the backyard or whatever. 482 00:25:53,280 --> 00:25:55,160 Speaker 3: But I come out the morning and it's full again. 483 00:25:55,440 --> 00:25:56,600 Speaker 1: It never runs dry. 484 00:25:56,720 --> 00:26:01,640 Speaker 3: And that's this beautiful picture of the great, unending, always 485 00:26:01,680 --> 00:26:03,359 Speaker 3: present faithfulness of God. 486 00:26:03,640 --> 00:26:05,280 Speaker 1: Now that verse. 487 00:26:05,119 --> 00:26:08,680 Speaker 3: Was within the context of God reminding his people that 488 00:26:09,160 --> 00:26:12,320 Speaker 3: despite their unfaithfulness, he would be faithful. 489 00:26:13,000 --> 00:26:14,320 Speaker 1: They would mess up. 490 00:26:14,320 --> 00:26:17,400 Speaker 3: They would turn their backs on him, but he would 491 00:26:17,480 --> 00:26:20,760 Speaker 3: be faithful to not turn his back on them. I 492 00:26:20,960 --> 00:26:24,080 Speaker 3: find such hope in that. So even if I mess up, 493 00:26:24,320 --> 00:26:27,840 Speaker 3: he is still there. It's like he's that father in 494 00:26:28,280 --> 00:26:32,679 Speaker 3: the New Testament story about the father who's waiting for 495 00:26:32,760 --> 00:26:35,480 Speaker 3: his son to come home, his prodigal who's made some 496 00:26:35,600 --> 00:26:39,639 Speaker 3: really bad choices and now he's ashamed of himself, but 497 00:26:39,760 --> 00:26:42,920 Speaker 3: he sees no other way except to return home. And 498 00:26:42,960 --> 00:26:45,920 Speaker 3: the father is there waiting for him with his arms 499 00:26:46,119 --> 00:26:49,919 Speaker 3: wide open to embrace him when he comes. That's the 500 00:26:49,960 --> 00:26:54,040 Speaker 3: picture of this faithful father, the faithfulness of God waiting 501 00:26:54,080 --> 00:26:56,960 Speaker 3: for us, even when we make choices that aren't so good. 502 00:26:57,640 --> 00:27:00,600 Speaker 2: When I love in that parable as well, the Father's 503 00:27:00,680 --> 00:27:03,040 Speaker 2: not like, hey, I told you if you did this, 504 00:27:03,040 --> 00:27:06,919 Speaker 2: this would happen, or hey, you brought the consequences on yourself, 505 00:27:07,000 --> 00:27:09,199 Speaker 2: or okay, I'll let you back in, but never do 506 00:27:09,320 --> 00:27:13,960 Speaker 2: that again. He just welcomes him home. That's such a 507 00:27:13,960 --> 00:27:17,480 Speaker 2: beautiful example. And like you said, God's faithfulness isn't dependent 508 00:27:17,840 --> 00:27:22,440 Speaker 2: on ours. Praise God, and his faithfulness is greater than 509 00:27:22,440 --> 00:27:25,879 Speaker 2: our insecurity, than our weakness, than any. 510 00:27:25,640 --> 00:27:28,400 Speaker 4: Obstacle that we have ahead of us. 511 00:27:28,960 --> 00:27:34,560 Speaker 2: Is there any closing encouragement you would give to listeners 512 00:27:34,600 --> 00:27:36,800 Speaker 2: who are looking at this task in front of them 513 00:27:37,359 --> 00:27:41,320 Speaker 2: and they're wanting to take that step forward, but they're 514 00:27:41,440 --> 00:27:42,320 Speaker 2: really struggling. 515 00:27:42,320 --> 00:27:43,240 Speaker 4: What would you suggest? 516 00:27:44,000 --> 00:27:47,560 Speaker 3: I would suggest, let me see putting this succinctly, God 517 00:27:48,680 --> 00:27:51,639 Speaker 3: will give us tasks that are always bigger than ourselves. 518 00:27:51,800 --> 00:27:54,800 Speaker 3: How we respond reveals what we believe to be true 519 00:27:54,800 --> 00:27:55,360 Speaker 3: about Him. 520 00:27:55,400 --> 00:27:56,800 Speaker 1: So that's not original with me. 521 00:27:57,040 --> 00:28:00,840 Speaker 3: That is from Henry Blackaby his book Experience God, and 522 00:28:01,560 --> 00:28:05,600 Speaker 3: that quote changed my life years ago, just knowing that. 523 00:28:05,600 --> 00:28:08,080 Speaker 1: If God steps in gives me an assignment that. 524 00:28:08,040 --> 00:28:11,760 Speaker 3: Feels so overwhelming, Yeah, that's probably true that it's from him, 525 00:28:11,840 --> 00:28:14,760 Speaker 3: because He's He likes to give us things that are 526 00:28:14,760 --> 00:28:17,280 Speaker 3: bigger than us, because it forces us to trust Him 527 00:28:17,320 --> 00:28:20,640 Speaker 3: in new ways. And when we get beyond our own selves, 528 00:28:20,680 --> 00:28:23,119 Speaker 3: that's when we get to experience Him, and he wants 529 00:28:23,200 --> 00:28:25,800 Speaker 3: us to experience him. Those tough things he asks us 530 00:28:25,880 --> 00:28:28,560 Speaker 3: to do, those are invitations to get to. 531 00:28:28,480 --> 00:28:31,480 Speaker 1: Know him better. So if you need to do it 532 00:28:31,520 --> 00:28:33,440 Speaker 1: afraid and trust that He's. 533 00:28:33,200 --> 00:28:36,480 Speaker 2: Got this, Yeah, I just focus on that next step, 534 00:28:36,520 --> 00:28:40,000 Speaker 2: don't look twenty years down on the road, and maybe 535 00:28:40,600 --> 00:28:46,640 Speaker 2: stop measuring today's assignment with today's strength and instead measure 536 00:28:46,680 --> 00:28:48,600 Speaker 2: it with God's faithfulness. 537 00:28:48,640 --> 00:28:51,280 Speaker 4: If you'd like additional support. 538 00:28:51,120 --> 00:28:54,560 Speaker 2: I encourage you to grab a copy of Grace's book 539 00:28:54,720 --> 00:28:58,680 Speaker 2: Names of God Growing Strong. Actually, all of your books 540 00:28:58,720 --> 00:29:01,080 Speaker 2: in this series are phenomen Let me tell you a 541 00:29:01,080 --> 00:29:04,400 Speaker 2: little more about it. Have the demands of life left 542 00:29:04,400 --> 00:29:08,560 Speaker 2: you weakened and wearied? Every day requires a fresh ghost 543 00:29:08,680 --> 00:29:11,240 Speaker 2: of inner strength. If we are to keep pressing on 544 00:29:11,640 --> 00:29:14,920 Speaker 2: Names of God Growing Strong explore seven names of God 545 00:29:15,240 --> 00:29:19,200 Speaker 2: that will fortify your faith. Featuring examples from scripture and 546 00:29:19,280 --> 00:29:23,400 Speaker 2: compelling life stories, Growing Strong illustrates how the meaning behind 547 00:29:23,440 --> 00:29:27,200 Speaker 2: these names can grow you and empower you in God's truth. 548 00:29:27,280 --> 00:29:30,480 Speaker 2: Each session includes steady questions and video access. 549 00:29:30,520 --> 00:29:32,680 Speaker 4: Now that's free. Correct the video right. 550 00:29:32,800 --> 00:29:35,320 Speaker 3: Every session has a QR code, so just in your 551 00:29:35,320 --> 00:29:35,959 Speaker 3: camera at it. 552 00:29:35,960 --> 00:29:40,360 Speaker 2: It's free, awesome, and it provides additional Those videos provide 553 00:29:40,440 --> 00:29:45,440 Speaker 2: additional insights. It's perfect for individual or small group study. 554 00:29:45,880 --> 00:29:50,560 Speaker 2: And as you wait for that wonderful resource to arrive, 555 00:29:51,400 --> 00:29:55,800 Speaker 2: I invite you to take one obedient step this week, 556 00:29:55,880 --> 00:29:59,680 Speaker 2: focusing less on your fear or even where your feet 557 00:29:59,840 --> 00:30:02,080 Speaker 2: will take you or where you think they might take you, 558 00:30:02,600 --> 00:30:06,920 Speaker 2: and more on your faithful, all powerful God, because, like 559 00:30:07,000 --> 00:30:10,840 Speaker 2: Grace said, every difficult assignment becomes an invitation to know 560 00:30:10,960 --> 00:30:15,720 Speaker 2: God more deeply and experience His strength perfected in our weakness. 561 00:30:15,760 --> 00:30:17,680 Speaker 4: Grace, thank you so much for joining us. 562 00:30:17,920 --> 00:30:20,240 Speaker 1: You're welcome. Thank you for having me to. 563 00:30:20,160 --> 00:30:21,760 Speaker 4: Our listeners, Thank you for listening. 564 00:30:21,920 --> 00:30:25,600 Speaker 2: May the truth discussed in today's episode replay through your 565 00:30:25,640 --> 00:30:28,760 Speaker 2: mind with a volume that's louder. 566 00:30:28,160 --> 00:30:30,880 Speaker 4: Than your fear. If you haven't already done. 567 00:30:30,920 --> 00:30:33,520 Speaker 2: So I encourage you to subscribe to this podcast then 568 00:30:33,520 --> 00:30:35,040 Speaker 2: you want miss a single episode. 569 00:30:35,320 --> 00:30:36,240 Speaker 4: Share this with. 570 00:30:36,120 --> 00:30:39,080 Speaker 2: Your family, your friends, your faith group as a way 571 00:30:39,200 --> 00:30:43,720 Speaker 2: to spur one another on toward good deeds as Hebrews 572 00:30:43,800 --> 00:30:45,680 Speaker 2: ten twenty four constructs. 573 00:30:45,840 --> 00:30:47,120 Speaker 4: And I'd love it if you'd rate it. 574 00:30:47,240 --> 00:30:49,880 Speaker 2: That encourages me and Carol, and it helps others to 575 00:30:49,960 --> 00:30:50,800 Speaker 2: find the show. 576 00:30:51,120 --> 00:30:54,080 Speaker 4: Until next time, may you live as one who truly 577 00:30:54,400 --> 00:30:56,160 Speaker 4: has been set free.