1 00:00:00,420 --> 00:00:03,500 Speaker 1: Welcome to Hope for the Journey, the podcast for women 2 00:00:03,700 --> 00:00:08,100 Speaker 1: over 40 who are ready to rise, rebuild, and reclaim 3 00:00:08,260 --> 00:00:12,420 Speaker 1: their story. I'm your host, Monica, and each week you'll 4 00:00:12,500 --> 00:00:17,390 Speaker 1: hear real, raw, comeback stories from women who have walked 5 00:00:17,410 --> 00:00:20,550 Speaker 1: through the fire and found purpose on the other side. 6 00:00:21,170 --> 00:00:25,650 Speaker 1: If you're navigating change, chasing a dream, or simply searching 7 00:00:25,710 --> 00:00:29,170 Speaker 1: for your next step, you're not alone. This is your 8 00:00:29,250 --> 00:00:33,980 Speaker 1: place for courage and community, and the reminder that it's never. 9 00:00:33,780 --> 00:00:35,880 Speaker 2: Too late to rewrite the ending. 10 00:00:38,840 --> 00:00:41,250 Speaker 1: So today on Hope for the Journey, we will talk 11 00:00:41,310 --> 00:00:45,330 Speaker 1: about a question that we have all probably asked. Where 12 00:00:45,550 --> 00:00:47,839 Speaker 1: are you now, God? I'll be back in just a 13 00:00:47,880 --> 00:00:52,460 Speaker 1: moment with Tammy Trent. Tammy, so good to see you 14 00:00:52,500 --> 00:00:54,280 Speaker 1: again and have you here on Hope for the Journey. 15 00:00:54,480 --> 00:00:56,220 Speaker 2: I'm so glad to be with you. It's been a while, 16 00:00:56,260 --> 00:00:59,320 Speaker 2: but every time I'm with you, there's always something special 17 00:00:59,340 --> 00:01:01,410 Speaker 2: that happens in our conversations. Thank you. 18 00:01:01,510 --> 00:01:04,010 Speaker 1: I feel the same, and I love this book and 19 00:01:04,050 --> 00:01:07,410 Speaker 1: the title. Tammy, as I said, this is a question 20 00:01:07,450 --> 00:01:10,670 Speaker 1: that we have all asked at every stage, age in 21 00:01:10,709 --> 00:01:13,770 Speaker 1: our lives. Where are you now, God? We go through 22 00:01:13,790 --> 00:01:17,150 Speaker 1: these seasons, and we don't know where He is, what 23 00:01:17,230 --> 00:01:20,330 Speaker 1: He's doing. Tell me why you wrote the book. 24 00:01:20,780 --> 00:01:23,100 Speaker 2: Yeah, I mean, I think you nailed it right there. Honestly, 25 00:01:23,380 --> 00:01:26,810 Speaker 2: it's so spot on with the fact that if we 26 00:01:26,850 --> 00:01:30,170 Speaker 2: haven't even walked into that impact moment in our lives 27 00:01:30,209 --> 00:01:34,630 Speaker 2: that changed everything, it's not a matter of if we're 28 00:01:34,650 --> 00:01:36,010 Speaker 2: going to, I think it's a matter of when. I 29 00:01:36,250 --> 00:01:38,880 Speaker 2: think we're all going to walk through something, some moment 30 00:01:38,920 --> 00:01:42,700 Speaker 2: that changed and shifted everything in our lives. And for me, 31 00:01:43,680 --> 00:01:46,740 Speaker 2: my deepest wound really took me back to that moment 32 00:01:46,780 --> 00:01:49,700 Speaker 2: standing on the edge of the water when Everything changed 33 00:01:49,740 --> 00:01:52,760 Speaker 2: for me. Everything shifted. It was, in so many ways, 34 00:01:52,840 --> 00:01:56,680 Speaker 2: my words were, it was gone. Everything felt gone. I'd 35 00:01:56,720 --> 00:01:58,080 Speaker 2: met this kid in my youth group when I was 36 00:01:58,080 --> 00:02:01,250 Speaker 2: 15 years old, and we dated for seven and a 37 00:02:01,290 --> 00:02:03,530 Speaker 2: half years. I went off to Bible college, came back. 38 00:02:03,610 --> 00:02:06,630 Speaker 2: We were the best of friends, and I was so 39 00:02:06,690 --> 00:02:08,270 Speaker 2: in love at that moment. I felt like I can't 40 00:02:08,310 --> 00:02:11,169 Speaker 2: live without this guy. So we got married. We're married 41 00:02:11,190 --> 00:02:16,190 Speaker 2: for 11 years. We moved here to Nashville in 1999. 42 00:02:16,190 --> 00:02:18,000 Speaker 2: In the middle of that, I had just signed a 43 00:02:18,030 --> 00:02:20,419 Speaker 2: new record deal. It was my third deal at the time, 44 00:02:21,200 --> 00:02:24,040 Speaker 2: third album at the time. And so all things were 45 00:02:24,080 --> 00:02:27,280 Speaker 2: going well. You know, our family back home in Michigan 46 00:02:27,300 --> 00:02:30,760 Speaker 2: was growing. They were doing fantastic. We were coming to Nashville, 47 00:02:30,780 --> 00:02:32,660 Speaker 2: and we were starting to say, what about our family? 48 00:02:32,680 --> 00:02:34,920 Speaker 2: What about you and I? So we were in that 49 00:02:34,980 --> 00:02:37,639 Speaker 2: season of our lives after 11 years of marriage thinking, well, 50 00:02:37,800 --> 00:02:40,260 Speaker 2: maybe that's what God has next for us. So we 51 00:02:40,280 --> 00:02:42,580 Speaker 2: had a lot of hopes. We had a lot of dreams. 52 00:02:43,160 --> 00:02:45,850 Speaker 2: Things were going great for me musically. All the dreams 53 00:02:45,870 --> 00:02:47,829 Speaker 2: had come true for me. All that stuff. You know, 54 00:02:47,850 --> 00:02:53,770 Speaker 2: when everything feels right until it's not. And we took 55 00:02:53,850 --> 00:02:56,770 Speaker 2: off on a mission trip to Jamaica. And I'll never 56 00:02:56,830 --> 00:02:59,850 Speaker 2: forget standing on the edge of the water one afternoon. 57 00:02:59,930 --> 00:03:03,350 Speaker 2: And my husband said, I'll be gone for 15 minutes. 58 00:03:03,389 --> 00:03:05,630 Speaker 2: And when I get back, we'll go do something you 59 00:03:05,669 --> 00:03:08,109 Speaker 2: want to do. And I said, okay. And I waited 60 00:03:08,150 --> 00:03:10,609 Speaker 2: on the edge of the water for him to come back. 61 00:03:11,600 --> 00:03:14,540 Speaker 2: He was freediving that afternoon in a blue lagoon, holding 62 00:03:14,580 --> 00:03:19,970 Speaker 2: his breath, freediving. And 15 minutes went by, turned into 30, 63 00:03:19,970 --> 00:03:23,190 Speaker 2: into 45, and I realized I hadn't seen him. So 64 00:03:23,210 --> 00:03:24,530 Speaker 2: I got close to the edge of the water, and 65 00:03:24,550 --> 00:03:26,750 Speaker 2: I looked out into the water, and I knew I'd 66 00:03:26,770 --> 00:03:28,940 Speaker 2: have to see him every few moments coming up for breath, 67 00:03:29,000 --> 00:03:33,600 Speaker 2: and I still saw nothing. And fear gripped every part 68 00:03:33,620 --> 00:03:35,580 Speaker 2: of me, Monica. At that moment, I think I felt, 69 00:03:35,720 --> 00:03:38,920 Speaker 2: for the first time in my life, truly hopeless, like 70 00:03:39,100 --> 00:03:42,410 Speaker 2: everything had shifted. I knew something was wrong. I knew 71 00:03:42,530 --> 00:03:45,460 Speaker 2: something had changed, and I couldn't change it. I couldn't 72 00:03:45,510 --> 00:03:48,380 Speaker 2: make it right. And I remember calling in a dive 73 00:03:48,400 --> 00:03:50,420 Speaker 2: team that began to search for him. They searched through 74 00:03:50,440 --> 00:03:52,260 Speaker 2: the night. They had to call the search off, couldn't 75 00:03:52,320 --> 00:03:54,640 Speaker 2: find him. The next morning, I woke up in a 76 00:03:54,700 --> 00:03:57,060 Speaker 2: home of two strangers that said, come and look at 77 00:03:57,080 --> 00:04:00,640 Speaker 2: the television quick, Tammy. And I walked into that room 78 00:04:02,040 --> 00:04:05,600 Speaker 2: the morning of September 11, 2001, as the second plane 79 00:04:05,660 --> 00:04:08,800 Speaker 2: plowed into the Twin Towers in New York City. And 80 00:04:08,820 --> 00:04:11,640 Speaker 2: I'm staring at the television. I'm watching America falling apart. 81 00:04:11,680 --> 00:04:14,030 Speaker 2: I'm in a foreign country knowing my own world is 82 00:04:14,050 --> 00:04:17,530 Speaker 2: falling apart. And I'm asking God, where are you? Where 83 00:04:17,630 --> 00:04:23,050 Speaker 2: are you in this? I'm trying to find you. I'm 84 00:04:23,089 --> 00:04:26,539 Speaker 2: trying to feel you, your presence. But where are you 85 00:04:26,580 --> 00:04:28,440 Speaker 2: in this? And how could this be good for my life? 86 00:04:28,460 --> 00:04:30,740 Speaker 2: How could this change? How could living without Trent, the 87 00:04:30,779 --> 00:04:34,020 Speaker 2: greatest spiritual covering in my life as a husband and 88 00:04:34,460 --> 00:04:36,930 Speaker 2: as a friend, all the things that my heart had 89 00:04:36,960 --> 00:04:39,450 Speaker 2: longed for as a young girl that had gone through 90 00:04:39,930 --> 00:04:43,789 Speaker 2: trauma as a child, divorce in my family, all the 91 00:04:43,830 --> 00:04:46,610 Speaker 2: things that I've carried leading up to this moment of 92 00:04:47,089 --> 00:04:49,849 Speaker 2: it's now gone. And what do I do with this? 93 00:04:49,930 --> 00:04:53,549 Speaker 2: And how do I find God when he feels distant 94 00:04:54,050 --> 00:04:58,109 Speaker 2: and when he feels silent? And that began my journey 95 00:04:59,370 --> 00:05:03,040 Speaker 2: of healing and of hope. It started at that moment. 96 00:05:03,320 --> 00:05:06,650 Speaker 2: And here I am sitting with you now, 25 years later. 97 00:05:07,210 --> 00:05:08,690 Speaker 2: And do I still feel the ache? 98 00:05:08,890 --> 00:05:09,250 Speaker 1: Yes. 99 00:05:09,610 --> 00:05:11,370 Speaker 2: I think you'll always hear it in my voice. You'll 100 00:05:11,410 --> 00:05:14,490 Speaker 2: see it in my eyes. You'll feel it from my 101 00:05:14,550 --> 00:05:18,450 Speaker 2: heart because it's a big loss in my life. And 102 00:05:18,510 --> 00:05:22,680 Speaker 2: yet God has brought tremendous healing. I've had to choose 103 00:05:22,720 --> 00:05:25,680 Speaker 2: to stay. I've had to choose to trust. When my 104 00:05:25,740 --> 00:05:29,039 Speaker 2: faith has been fragile, I've had to choose to walk 105 00:05:29,220 --> 00:05:31,830 Speaker 2: out my faith, even when things were unclear and I 106 00:05:31,870 --> 00:05:34,770 Speaker 2: didn't understand. Because I think that I felt the bigger 107 00:05:34,850 --> 00:05:39,010 Speaker 2: picture was that if I believed in his promises, that 108 00:05:39,190 --> 00:05:42,740 Speaker 2: somehow I would find him. That he wasn't hiding, but 109 00:05:42,779 --> 00:05:45,340 Speaker 2: I'd find him. But that would begin the next journey 110 00:05:45,380 --> 00:05:48,060 Speaker 2: of my life, was finding God in the worst moment 111 00:05:48,080 --> 00:05:51,599 Speaker 2: of my life, and probably not the last worst moment 112 00:05:51,660 --> 00:05:52,159 Speaker 2: in my life. 113 00:05:52,180 --> 00:05:55,190 Speaker 1: Right. Because that's the whole thing. This is a question 114 00:05:55,230 --> 00:05:58,430 Speaker 1: for most of us that we ask many times throughout 115 00:05:58,470 --> 00:06:01,230 Speaker 1: the course of our life. Certainly the story that you 116 00:06:01,270 --> 00:06:05,580 Speaker 1: shared about Trent, still so young, right? All of that. 117 00:06:05,720 --> 00:06:08,760 Speaker 1: And to think about the Twin Towers and that going 118 00:06:08,820 --> 00:06:11,100 Speaker 1: on at the same time that you're in Jamaica, like 119 00:06:11,339 --> 00:06:14,419 Speaker 1: just the amount of confusion and chaos in the world 120 00:06:14,560 --> 00:06:17,730 Speaker 1: and in your heart personally. Yeah. And I think, Tammy, 121 00:06:17,760 --> 00:06:19,409 Speaker 1: we all have the thought, you know, if I'm just 122 00:06:19,450 --> 00:06:22,690 Speaker 1: serving Jesus, I'm on this mission trip to Jamaica, I'm 123 00:06:22,750 --> 00:06:26,890 Speaker 1: doing music for the Lord, why would this happen, right? 124 00:06:27,290 --> 00:06:29,589 Speaker 1: This is not the way it's supposed to be for 125 00:06:29,610 --> 00:06:32,630 Speaker 1: a nice Christian girl, a nice Christian guy who got married. 126 00:06:32,680 --> 00:06:35,620 Speaker 1: And so you've got to face all of those questions. 127 00:06:35,680 --> 00:06:39,700 Speaker 1: Yet you're saying 25 years later, God has met you 128 00:06:39,900 --> 00:06:41,360 Speaker 1: and met you and met you. 129 00:06:41,480 --> 00:06:43,880 Speaker 2: And that's the story, right, for all of us women? 130 00:06:43,900 --> 00:06:43,969 Speaker 1: Yes. 131 00:06:44,210 --> 00:06:45,890 Speaker 2: He's going to meet us and meet us and meet us. 132 00:06:46,070 --> 00:06:49,650 Speaker 2: That's right. Exactly. And it's like, and meet me, but 133 00:06:49,810 --> 00:06:55,619 Speaker 2: also like the unshakable knowing that his presence is so 134 00:06:55,779 --> 00:06:58,820 Speaker 2: very real in my life. How have I found that? 135 00:06:58,860 --> 00:07:01,070 Speaker 2: I think it's, I have to go back to being 136 00:07:01,110 --> 00:07:04,110 Speaker 2: a teenager growing up in my youth group and really 137 00:07:04,170 --> 00:07:06,409 Speaker 2: being engaged in my youth group and the things of 138 00:07:06,450 --> 00:07:09,510 Speaker 2: God and caring about them and being taught the Word 139 00:07:09,550 --> 00:07:11,470 Speaker 2: of God and going off to Bible college and all 140 00:07:11,510 --> 00:07:14,050 Speaker 2: the things. And there's certainly things that I didn't spend 141 00:07:14,090 --> 00:07:16,890 Speaker 2: time on, but there's certainly things that literally locked onto 142 00:07:16,940 --> 00:07:19,980 Speaker 2: my heart and stuck with me, which was knowing about 143 00:07:20,020 --> 00:07:22,880 Speaker 2: a relationship with Jesus. I know plenty of religion. We 144 00:07:22,920 --> 00:07:27,190 Speaker 2: all do, right? but there's something different about also having 145 00:07:27,230 --> 00:07:30,750 Speaker 2: a true relationship with Jesus. And I think that is 146 00:07:30,830 --> 00:07:33,880 Speaker 2: the thing that steadied and anchored me through all of it, 147 00:07:33,950 --> 00:07:37,450 Speaker 2: because knowing that relationship, I also knew his presence, just 148 00:07:37,470 --> 00:07:39,430 Speaker 2: like my parents. I have a great relationship with my parents. 149 00:07:39,670 --> 00:07:42,930 Speaker 2: When they walk into a room, the atmosphere shifts. I 150 00:07:42,970 --> 00:07:44,810 Speaker 2: know my parents are here. I know they love me. 151 00:07:44,890 --> 00:07:46,980 Speaker 2: I know they're for me. I know all of the things, 152 00:07:47,380 --> 00:07:49,210 Speaker 2: but it's because I know them. I know their hearts. 153 00:07:49,360 --> 00:07:52,530 Speaker 2: I know their character. So One of the greatest gifts 154 00:07:52,550 --> 00:07:56,190 Speaker 2: you'll ever invest in your life is really getting to 155 00:07:56,250 --> 00:08:01,660 Speaker 2: know who God is, not just knowing about him, but 156 00:08:01,700 --> 00:08:04,680 Speaker 2: knowing who he is. Because if you are ever in 157 00:08:04,720 --> 00:08:07,060 Speaker 2: a place where you're standing on the edge of the water, 158 00:08:07,360 --> 00:08:10,230 Speaker 2: I promise you, you will need to know that God 159 00:08:10,310 --> 00:08:14,550 Speaker 2: is real, that he will carry you through anything. And 160 00:08:14,570 --> 00:08:16,410 Speaker 2: you'll even need to know some nuggets of the word 161 00:08:16,470 --> 00:08:19,710 Speaker 2: of God to lean on, which are so many promises 162 00:08:19,770 --> 00:08:24,150 Speaker 2: for me at that moment. Psalms 34, 18 says, The 163 00:08:24,190 --> 00:08:26,430 Speaker 2: Lord is near to the brokenhearted, and he saves those 164 00:08:26,470 --> 00:08:29,680 Speaker 2: whose spirits are crushed. And I turn to Matthew 28, 165 00:08:29,680 --> 00:08:33,170 Speaker 2: 20 that says, Surely, surely, surely, I say to you, 166 00:08:34,120 --> 00:08:36,500 Speaker 2: I will be with you always to the end of 167 00:08:36,520 --> 00:08:43,100 Speaker 2: the age. These are not just words. They're hope. You 168 00:08:43,120 --> 00:08:47,850 Speaker 2: can anchor your whole life on scriptures like this. For 169 00:08:47,870 --> 00:08:51,090 Speaker 2: the time when your hope failed you, your hope failed you. 170 00:08:52,100 --> 00:08:55,620 Speaker 2: when the time when disappointment knocked you out, when the 171 00:08:55,760 --> 00:09:00,609 Speaker 2: unmet expectation took a turn, when the silent prayers are just, 172 00:09:00,630 --> 00:09:03,410 Speaker 2: you're exhausted from saying the same prayer over and over 173 00:09:03,470 --> 00:09:06,390 Speaker 2: and over again. You're just exhausted and you just, man, 174 00:09:06,429 --> 00:09:08,910 Speaker 2: even you're sticking to your faith, but you're just tired. 175 00:09:09,750 --> 00:09:11,869 Speaker 2: So I think for me, this book came out of 176 00:09:11,929 --> 00:09:14,839 Speaker 2: that season of being in full-time ministry for 31 years 177 00:09:14,900 --> 00:09:18,940 Speaker 2: and especially with women's ministry and hearing over and over 178 00:09:18,980 --> 00:09:20,800 Speaker 2: and over again, like, Tammy, how did you do it? 179 00:09:21,309 --> 00:09:23,950 Speaker 2: How did you find joy again? How are you here today? 180 00:09:23,990 --> 00:09:26,820 Speaker 2: How are you surviving? How are you overcoming? And so 181 00:09:26,840 --> 00:09:28,560 Speaker 2: I thought, I'm going to sit down and write a book. 182 00:09:28,920 --> 00:09:30,160 Speaker 2: I'm going to write a book for the one that's 183 00:09:30,240 --> 00:09:33,460 Speaker 2: walked away that says, I'm out because the promise didn't 184 00:09:33,500 --> 00:09:35,920 Speaker 2: work for me. Or write a book for the one 185 00:09:35,940 --> 00:09:40,340 Speaker 2: that says, hey, I'm still here, but I'm tired. And exhausted. 186 00:09:40,440 --> 00:09:41,079 Speaker 1: Yes. Right? 187 00:09:41,260 --> 00:09:41,920 Speaker 2: And crying. 188 00:09:42,059 --> 00:09:44,600 Speaker 1: And I love that you said, tired of praying the 189 00:09:44,640 --> 00:09:47,620 Speaker 1: same prayer over and over. And you think, how long, God? 190 00:09:47,679 --> 00:09:50,100 Speaker 1: And why, God? And when, God? And in this book, 191 00:09:50,200 --> 00:09:54,110 Speaker 1: you really walk us through that unshakable truth that we 192 00:09:54,150 --> 00:09:54,950 Speaker 1: are never alone. 193 00:09:55,150 --> 00:09:55,410 Speaker 2: Yes. 194 00:09:55,530 --> 00:09:58,309 Speaker 1: You know, and that our hope can wear out. You know, 195 00:09:58,429 --> 00:10:00,100 Speaker 1: this is the Hope for the Journey podcast podcast. but 196 00:10:00,140 --> 00:10:02,980 Speaker 1: it's not our hope. It's the hope in Christ that 197 00:10:03,020 --> 00:10:07,110 Speaker 1: he promises. And our relationship with him is not intellectual. 198 00:10:07,150 --> 00:10:11,310 Speaker 1: Like we can know about him, but knowing him really 199 00:10:11,370 --> 00:10:14,329 Speaker 1: is something entirely different. And I found Tammy in my 200 00:10:14,390 --> 00:10:17,550 Speaker 1: life when I'm at the place where are you, God? 201 00:10:18,420 --> 00:10:20,640 Speaker 1: That's when I really want to lean in and trust 202 00:10:20,679 --> 00:10:23,300 Speaker 1: his character and know who he is. I wish I 203 00:10:23,340 --> 00:10:27,260 Speaker 1: could say it comes about another way, but it doesn't. 204 00:10:28,200 --> 00:10:31,320 Speaker 1: It comes about in that way when we trust him, 205 00:10:31,800 --> 00:10:33,620 Speaker 1: even though it looks like he's nowhere. 206 00:10:33,980 --> 00:10:37,540 Speaker 2: That's exactly right. And it's not a sign that your 207 00:10:37,620 --> 00:10:39,850 Speaker 2: faith has failed when you ask the questions. I think 208 00:10:39,910 --> 00:10:44,890 Speaker 2: it's an invitation to actually grow your faith. Because you 209 00:10:44,910 --> 00:10:47,730 Speaker 2: get to have those conversations with God and some hard conversations. 210 00:10:47,790 --> 00:10:50,010 Speaker 2: And I think some of us have grown up in 211 00:10:50,050 --> 00:10:54,140 Speaker 2: churches where we were taught, you cannot ask God a question. 212 00:10:54,500 --> 00:10:57,739 Speaker 2: You're not allowed to ask God. He's sovereign. He's almighty. 213 00:10:58,140 --> 00:11:00,280 Speaker 2: He knows the way. And you just need to trust him. 214 00:11:00,320 --> 00:11:02,339 Speaker 2: So you don't get to talk to him. You don't 215 00:11:02,380 --> 00:11:05,600 Speaker 2: get to question him. You just take what he says 216 00:11:05,760 --> 00:11:08,090 Speaker 2: and move on. And I think people, they sit in 217 00:11:08,120 --> 00:11:11,870 Speaker 2: this place of just, oh, they start to, the bitterness grows, 218 00:11:11,950 --> 00:11:14,840 Speaker 2: the anger grows at God. All the things because you 219 00:11:14,880 --> 00:11:16,579 Speaker 2: feel so bound up that you can't even have a 220 00:11:16,620 --> 00:11:19,720 Speaker 2: conversation with them. You feel limitless. And I don't know 221 00:11:19,780 --> 00:11:23,990 Speaker 2: who taught you that. I don't know who taught me that. 222 00:11:24,850 --> 00:11:27,750 Speaker 2: But when I go back through scripture, I go back 223 00:11:27,790 --> 00:11:29,610 Speaker 2: to the time when Jesus was on the cross and 224 00:11:29,650 --> 00:11:35,199 Speaker 2: he said, my God. My God, why have you forsaken me? 225 00:11:35,720 --> 00:11:39,449 Speaker 2: So if Jesus can ask the questions and many other 226 00:11:39,990 --> 00:11:43,530 Speaker 2: people throughout the Bible, real people, real stories that went 227 00:11:43,550 --> 00:11:46,189 Speaker 2: through hard times, that asked him hard questions, if they 228 00:11:46,210 --> 00:11:48,290 Speaker 2: could ask him questions and Jesus sat with them, he 229 00:11:48,330 --> 00:11:51,730 Speaker 2: wasn't offended by their questions, he wasn't put off by 230 00:11:51,750 --> 00:11:55,820 Speaker 2: their questions, then you can ask him the questions because 231 00:11:55,860 --> 00:11:59,040 Speaker 2: he's not a bystander to your pain. He's walking it 232 00:11:59,500 --> 00:12:03,459 Speaker 2: out with you step by step, helping you piece by 233 00:12:03,520 --> 00:12:08,260 Speaker 2: piece to understand maybe why he's allowed these things to 234 00:12:08,300 --> 00:12:11,000 Speaker 2: happen in your life. I don't think Trent was taken 235 00:12:11,040 --> 00:12:13,179 Speaker 2: from me. I don't think God said, you know what? 236 00:12:13,220 --> 00:12:15,450 Speaker 2: We could use another one up here. We're just not 237 00:12:15,520 --> 00:12:19,110 Speaker 2: busy enough. Like that language never resonated with me. Like 238 00:12:19,190 --> 00:12:22,429 Speaker 2: God took Trent. He needed Trent. I think the thing 239 00:12:22,490 --> 00:12:25,890 Speaker 2: for me that resonated more was that God is a 240 00:12:25,929 --> 00:12:29,230 Speaker 2: God of increase. He's a God who gives. So he's 241 00:12:29,270 --> 00:12:32,350 Speaker 2: not a God who takes. So if I don't believe 242 00:12:32,370 --> 00:12:36,430 Speaker 2: he took Trent, then I must believe then that he 243 00:12:36,490 --> 00:12:40,130 Speaker 2: allowed this to happen. And so if God allowed this 244 00:12:40,170 --> 00:12:42,080 Speaker 2: to happen in my life, even as hard as it 245 00:12:42,120 --> 00:12:45,600 Speaker 2: was for my life, and still is today, I have 246 00:12:45,640 --> 00:12:47,880 Speaker 2: to believe that he saw that it would serve a 247 00:12:47,920 --> 00:12:51,560 Speaker 2: greater purpose, even beyond my purpose. So then it became 248 00:12:52,320 --> 00:12:55,429 Speaker 2: the quest of stepping into a new plan in my life? 249 00:12:55,510 --> 00:12:58,970 Speaker 2: As hard as it was, am I capable of stepping 250 00:12:59,030 --> 00:13:02,230 Speaker 2: into this new plan with God and trusting him even 251 00:13:02,270 --> 00:13:05,860 Speaker 2: in the hard? Tammy, you can do hard things. Monica, 252 00:13:06,360 --> 00:13:09,339 Speaker 2: you can do hard things. Who's ever listening? You can 253 00:13:09,400 --> 00:13:12,720 Speaker 2: do hard things because you have strength that comes from 254 00:13:12,900 --> 00:13:16,840 Speaker 2: Christ alone and you are equipped to You have authority. 255 00:13:17,179 --> 00:13:19,220 Speaker 2: So even in the hard days, you can push through. 256 00:13:19,300 --> 00:13:21,339 Speaker 2: You do not have to listen to the lie of 257 00:13:21,380 --> 00:13:24,350 Speaker 2: the enemy that says there's guilt over your life. There's 258 00:13:24,410 --> 00:13:26,810 Speaker 2: shame over your life. You're a horrible Christian because you 259 00:13:26,830 --> 00:13:29,329 Speaker 2: have the questions. You're a horrible Christian because you're struggling 260 00:13:29,350 --> 00:13:32,380 Speaker 2: with this. It is an absolute lie. And it keeps 261 00:13:32,500 --> 00:13:36,089 Speaker 2: us from growing. In a relationship, a healthy relationship with God. 262 00:13:36,570 --> 00:13:38,929 Speaker 2: So for me, I think this book, it's a joy. 263 00:13:39,429 --> 00:13:42,330 Speaker 2: It's a fight. I'm fighting with you. I'm your biggest cheerleader. 264 00:13:42,730 --> 00:13:44,550 Speaker 2: But I'm going to walk you through the pages of 265 00:13:44,590 --> 00:13:48,170 Speaker 2: this book and help guide you to find where God 266 00:13:48,270 --> 00:13:50,660 Speaker 2: is in your story so that you can have an 267 00:13:50,700 --> 00:13:53,380 Speaker 2: encounter with God. I have had one. And you'll get 268 00:13:53,420 --> 00:13:55,700 Speaker 2: to hear about that. But you get to put yourself 269 00:13:55,740 --> 00:13:57,840 Speaker 2: in the pages of my book and find an encounter 270 00:13:57,860 --> 00:14:00,420 Speaker 2: with God. Find your own story and to know that 271 00:14:00,440 --> 00:14:02,900 Speaker 2: your story's not over. God's still writing it. He's still 272 00:14:02,990 --> 00:14:06,370 Speaker 2: in it. If you're breathing, you still got a purpose today. 273 00:14:06,390 --> 00:14:10,410 Speaker 2: And so there's so much more to discover in the question, 274 00:14:10,470 --> 00:14:14,010 Speaker 2: where is God now? Where is he in this? Where 275 00:14:14,070 --> 00:14:17,050 Speaker 2: is he in the diagnosis? Where is he in the disappointment? 276 00:14:17,070 --> 00:14:20,220 Speaker 2: Where is he in the divorce? Where is he in 277 00:14:20,240 --> 00:14:23,610 Speaker 2: the finances I'm struggling with? Where is he in the 278 00:14:23,650 --> 00:14:27,330 Speaker 2: wayward child? Where is he in the rejection, the betrayal? 279 00:14:28,750 --> 00:14:32,110 Speaker 2: Where is he when I want to overcome? How do 280 00:14:32,170 --> 00:14:35,350 Speaker 2: I find the pieces to overcome well, to wait well? 281 00:14:36,310 --> 00:14:38,710 Speaker 2: And how do I realize that even in the delay, 282 00:14:38,730 --> 00:14:44,470 Speaker 2: it doesn't mean he's silent or he's absent. He's always 283 00:14:44,550 --> 00:14:46,750 Speaker 2: present in our lives. And he wants to be the 284 00:14:46,830 --> 00:14:49,890 Speaker 2: biggest voice in your life to help answer that question. 285 00:14:50,700 --> 00:14:52,600 Speaker 2: And if you're struggling with that today, don't know what 286 00:14:52,640 --> 00:14:54,940 Speaker 2: to say, pray, then I wrote the book again for 287 00:14:54,960 --> 00:14:57,380 Speaker 2: you because I'll help you do that. I'll form some 288 00:14:57,420 --> 00:14:59,920 Speaker 2: questions for you. I'll say, well, what about this? Think 289 00:14:59,960 --> 00:15:02,500 Speaker 2: about this and maybe this. I'll give you some things 290 00:15:02,560 --> 00:15:06,310 Speaker 2: to think about. We'll pause, we'll reflect, we'll pray. But 291 00:15:06,350 --> 00:15:07,770 Speaker 2: my hope is at the end of the book, when 292 00:15:07,790 --> 00:15:10,330 Speaker 2: you turn that page, you'll know beyond a shadow of 293 00:15:10,350 --> 00:15:12,190 Speaker 2: a doubt that you were never alone and that you 294 00:15:12,250 --> 00:15:15,880 Speaker 2: will get through this, not somehow, but triumphantly. And you'll 295 00:15:15,900 --> 00:15:17,080 Speaker 2: be stronger on the other side. 296 00:15:17,180 --> 00:15:19,840 Speaker 1: And that is such hope in Christ. Tammy, we've got 297 00:15:19,860 --> 00:15:22,340 Speaker 1: to take just a quick break. I want all of 298 00:15:22,400 --> 00:15:24,380 Speaker 1: you to stay with us for Hope for the Journey. 299 00:15:24,420 --> 00:15:26,870 Speaker 1: We're talking about the book, Where Are You Now, God? 300 00:15:27,190 --> 00:15:29,090 Speaker 1: We will be back in just a moment right after 301 00:15:29,130 --> 00:15:33,890 Speaker 1: a word from our sponsors. I'm so glad that all 302 00:15:33,910 --> 00:15:35,690 Speaker 1: of you are still with us. This is Hope for 303 00:15:35,710 --> 00:15:39,560 Speaker 1: the Journey, the podcast for women over 40. And Tammy 304 00:15:39,620 --> 00:15:42,530 Speaker 1: Trent and I are talking about the hard questions. The 305 00:15:42,620 --> 00:15:45,440 Speaker 1: questions that we might be afraid to ask, the questions 306 00:15:45,460 --> 00:15:47,100 Speaker 1: that maybe other people have said, you know, if you're 307 00:15:47,120 --> 00:15:50,920 Speaker 1: a Christian, you just trust God, you don't ask any questions, 308 00:15:51,240 --> 00:15:53,560 Speaker 1: or that you just pray a prayer and it's all over, 309 00:15:53,620 --> 00:15:56,930 Speaker 1: like everything is okay. And here's the thing. When we 310 00:15:56,990 --> 00:15:59,290 Speaker 1: pray and say amen, God has heard it, it does 311 00:15:59,330 --> 00:16:02,830 Speaker 1: not mean that everything changes that moment. And Tammy, that's 312 00:16:02,890 --> 00:16:04,730 Speaker 1: one of the things that you go over in your book. 313 00:16:05,070 --> 00:16:09,550 Speaker 1: This is a process. It's not a one-day process. Dear God, amen. 314 00:16:09,670 --> 00:16:11,690 Speaker 2: Correct? I wish it was. So do I. Don't you 315 00:16:11,710 --> 00:16:15,350 Speaker 2: like that? That would be so great. Yes, yes. Oh, 316 00:16:15,410 --> 00:16:17,770 Speaker 2: but you're right. It's not. It's so much more. And 317 00:16:17,790 --> 00:16:20,010 Speaker 2: I think it's on purpose. I really do. I think 318 00:16:20,070 --> 00:16:23,109 Speaker 2: it's like, man, if Jesus just like, okay, this is 319 00:16:23,150 --> 00:16:26,310 Speaker 2: what I need at 530, Lord, and if you could 320 00:16:26,330 --> 00:16:28,130 Speaker 2: do it this way and show up this way, that 321 00:16:28,170 --> 00:16:31,260 Speaker 2: would work for me. My goodness, if he did that 322 00:16:31,320 --> 00:16:33,140 Speaker 2: every day in our lives, I'd be like, awesome. Like, 323 00:16:33,400 --> 00:16:35,840 Speaker 2: I don't really need to learn to trust you because 324 00:16:35,860 --> 00:16:38,130 Speaker 2: you're just going to do everything I say and ask for. 325 00:16:38,210 --> 00:16:42,330 Speaker 2: So I think for me, it's on purpose because he's like, girl, 326 00:16:42,990 --> 00:16:46,150 Speaker 2: there is so much more about me that you don't know. 327 00:16:46,950 --> 00:16:50,090 Speaker 2: And once you discover those things, your mind is going 328 00:16:50,110 --> 00:16:52,740 Speaker 2: to be blown. You'll be able to see my fingerprints. 329 00:16:53,270 --> 00:16:56,160 Speaker 2: And if I moved in your life before, will I 330 00:16:56,220 --> 00:16:59,560 Speaker 2: not move again? Now, it might look different from before. 331 00:17:00,080 --> 00:17:02,580 Speaker 2: Before might have taken eight months to work through that heartache. 332 00:17:03,520 --> 00:17:07,500 Speaker 2: This time it might take a month or it might 333 00:17:07,560 --> 00:17:10,520 Speaker 2: take five years. But here's what I'm going to ask 334 00:17:10,540 --> 00:17:14,129 Speaker 2: you to do, Tammy, or who's ever listening. Whatever it 335 00:17:14,160 --> 00:17:17,930 Speaker 2: is you're carrying right now, one, you're not carrying alone. Two, 336 00:17:18,470 --> 00:17:21,370 Speaker 2: you will get through this. Three, God will give you 337 00:17:22,070 --> 00:17:26,200 Speaker 2: practical and biblical tools to to take the next step, 338 00:17:26,700 --> 00:17:31,120 Speaker 2: that somehow he'll help you sustain this, you'll be able 339 00:17:31,200 --> 00:17:34,320 Speaker 2: to endure, and you'll always come out on the other 340 00:17:34,400 --> 00:17:42,050 Speaker 2: side stronger, braver, more courageous, wiser than you were before 341 00:17:42,070 --> 00:17:44,389 Speaker 2: you stepped into it. And I can speak from experience. 342 00:17:44,710 --> 00:17:47,109 Speaker 2: These aren't just words. I hope that they're words that 343 00:17:47,130 --> 00:17:49,090 Speaker 2: you feel, even at the end of the book that 344 00:17:49,109 --> 00:17:51,149 Speaker 2: you're like, man, it's not just her words, but I 345 00:17:51,190 --> 00:17:54,720 Speaker 2: felt this for myself. And I think it's the greatest 346 00:17:54,740 --> 00:17:56,710 Speaker 2: gift for me to be that vulnerable to walk through 347 00:17:56,730 --> 00:17:58,629 Speaker 2: this with you and share the nuggets of my life. 348 00:17:59,310 --> 00:18:01,990 Speaker 2: To go, my goodness, that girl really went through it 349 00:18:02,090 --> 00:18:04,639 Speaker 2: in this story. And how did she get out of it? 350 00:18:05,490 --> 00:18:07,750 Speaker 2: And how can I align that with a biblical story? Monica, 351 00:18:07,770 --> 00:18:09,700 Speaker 2: that's what I've done throughout the whole book. So I'm 352 00:18:09,740 --> 00:18:11,660 Speaker 2: not a Bible teacher. I've got so many great friends 353 00:18:11,680 --> 00:18:14,060 Speaker 2: that are Bible teachers. I don't know. You're a Bible teacher. 354 00:18:14,080 --> 00:18:16,470 Speaker 2: I'm a Bible teacher. Yes, which I love. I love it. 355 00:18:16,540 --> 00:18:18,080 Speaker 2: And to me, you know, I went to Bible college, 356 00:18:18,100 --> 00:18:19,869 Speaker 2: but I was like, gosh, I don't know if I 357 00:18:19,880 --> 00:18:22,169 Speaker 2: would be a great Bible teacher. So I lean on 358 00:18:22,230 --> 00:18:24,480 Speaker 2: all my friends because, oh, I just soak it all up. 359 00:18:25,210 --> 00:18:27,889 Speaker 2: So what works for me is like telling a Bible 360 00:18:27,910 --> 00:18:32,430 Speaker 2: story like cinematically. Like put me right in the middle 361 00:18:32,450 --> 00:18:35,000 Speaker 2: of Mary and Martha. Put me on the road to 362 00:18:35,080 --> 00:18:39,320 Speaker 2: Emmaus with I almost want to say Cleopas or Cleopas. 363 00:18:39,640 --> 00:18:47,220 Speaker 2: Is it Cleopas? Bible teacher, I'm going to ask you. Cleopas. Cleopas. Okay. Cleopas. 364 00:18:47,280 --> 00:18:49,389 Speaker 2: There it is. That's why I probably can't be a 365 00:18:49,400 --> 00:18:52,370 Speaker 2: Bible teacher because I say all the names wrong. It's hilarious. 366 00:18:52,410 --> 00:18:55,370 Speaker 2: I pronounce them so funny. So Cleopas and the other 367 00:18:55,410 --> 00:18:58,189 Speaker 2: disciple that's with him, the road to Emmaus. It's like, 368 00:18:58,250 --> 00:19:01,619 Speaker 2: put me right on that road with the guys and 369 00:19:01,650 --> 00:19:04,480 Speaker 2: bring this story to life for somebody. Bring it to 370 00:19:04,540 --> 00:19:07,600 Speaker 2: life in a different way. And I think about that story. 371 00:19:08,320 --> 00:19:10,619 Speaker 2: And I think about the guys that, you know, they 372 00:19:10,660 --> 00:19:15,399 Speaker 2: just saw Jesus crucified. And they feel like, what just happened? Like, 373 00:19:15,460 --> 00:19:18,620 Speaker 2: we thought he was the one. He was the Messiah. 374 00:19:18,980 --> 00:19:21,240 Speaker 2: He was going to redeem Israel. He was going to, 375 00:19:21,619 --> 00:19:24,070 Speaker 2: you know, change this and turn this into a great nation, 376 00:19:24,109 --> 00:19:26,110 Speaker 2: all the problems that are going on. But he's dead now. 377 00:19:26,150 --> 00:19:28,189 Speaker 2: He died on the cross. Like, our hope is gone. Like, 378 00:19:28,210 --> 00:19:30,080 Speaker 2: we put all our hope in this and we missed it. 379 00:19:30,130 --> 00:19:33,510 Speaker 2: I'm so disappointed. These guys are walking this road, right? 380 00:19:33,550 --> 00:19:36,070 Speaker 2: And they're kicking up the dust and the sun is 381 00:19:36,540 --> 00:19:39,359 Speaker 2: shining on their face and they're exhausted and they're just 382 00:19:39,420 --> 00:19:42,680 Speaker 2: disappointed and the hope is gone and they just can't 383 00:19:42,760 --> 00:19:45,689 Speaker 2: understand it. And then this guy catches up to him 384 00:19:46,290 --> 00:19:50,010 Speaker 2: and he's talking to him. He's listening to them. He 385 00:19:50,070 --> 00:19:53,050 Speaker 2: asked them a few questions, which opens up a conversation 386 00:19:53,090 --> 00:19:55,949 Speaker 2: for them to share their disappointment with this guy. And 387 00:19:55,990 --> 00:19:58,450 Speaker 2: he's listening and he challenges them a little bit, gives 388 00:19:58,470 --> 00:20:00,250 Speaker 2: them a little bit of study from the word. And 389 00:20:00,290 --> 00:20:02,190 Speaker 2: they kind of think about it a little bit, but man, 390 00:20:02,530 --> 00:20:04,850 Speaker 2: they're so overwhelmed with their disappointment that they can't even 391 00:20:04,950 --> 00:20:08,889 Speaker 2: really see something or understand something beyond their disappointment. But 392 00:20:08,930 --> 00:20:11,810 Speaker 2: I love this guy because he's just in it with them, 393 00:20:12,390 --> 00:20:16,149 Speaker 2: listening mainly and talking and hearing the disappointment. So as 394 00:20:16,190 --> 00:20:18,440 Speaker 2: they're talking right there, They're kind of like, this guy's 395 00:20:18,480 --> 00:20:20,780 Speaker 2: pretty cool. This is my version. They get to the 396 00:20:20,820 --> 00:20:22,820 Speaker 2: house and they're thinking, man, it's getting dark. Let's invite 397 00:20:22,840 --> 00:20:24,520 Speaker 2: him in, stay for a while. He comes in and 398 00:20:24,540 --> 00:20:26,660 Speaker 2: they're sitting around the table about to have some dinner. 399 00:20:26,680 --> 00:20:28,280 Speaker 2: And all of a sudden, this guy grabs the bread 400 00:20:28,320 --> 00:20:31,139 Speaker 2: and he breaks the bread. And all of a sudden, 401 00:20:31,200 --> 00:20:34,109 Speaker 2: something changes. Like these guys, like their eyes are open. 402 00:20:34,130 --> 00:20:37,550 Speaker 2: And in that moment, they're watching this man break the bread. 403 00:20:37,590 --> 00:20:40,710 Speaker 2: And it's like he's revealed himself and they're seeing it. 404 00:20:41,040 --> 00:20:43,580 Speaker 2: And the understanding and their eyes are open in just 405 00:20:43,619 --> 00:20:47,460 Speaker 2: that moment. And they see that he is Jesus. He's 406 00:20:47,530 --> 00:20:51,590 Speaker 2: the one. He's alive. And just like that, Jesus is gone. 407 00:20:51,970 --> 00:20:54,050 Speaker 2: But what happens to them is just like, what in 408 00:20:54,090 --> 00:20:58,030 Speaker 2: the world? Like their eyes, everything that was over their 409 00:20:58,109 --> 00:21:01,859 Speaker 2: eyes was just fully removed. The understanding, they understood now 410 00:21:01,900 --> 00:21:05,420 Speaker 2: the disappointment, even the hope that their hope was gone. 411 00:21:05,780 --> 00:21:09,920 Speaker 2: But Jesus was doing something greater than they could even imagine. 412 00:21:10,450 --> 00:21:12,150 Speaker 2: But it all came to him at that moment. They 413 00:21:12,230 --> 00:21:14,230 Speaker 2: pushed back the table and they're like, are you kidding? 414 00:21:14,670 --> 00:21:16,530 Speaker 2: It was him. You've got to be kidding. They run 415 00:21:16,590 --> 00:21:19,130 Speaker 2: back to Jerusalem because now they've got to tell everybody 416 00:21:19,190 --> 00:21:21,850 Speaker 2: what we have just experienced. But the point of the 417 00:21:21,910 --> 00:21:25,090 Speaker 2: story to me that means the most is that through 418 00:21:25,109 --> 00:21:28,890 Speaker 2: their disappointment, through the hope that didn't come for them 419 00:21:28,930 --> 00:21:32,550 Speaker 2: in that moment that they thought Jesus was walking right 420 00:21:32,630 --> 00:21:35,619 Speaker 2: with them and they had no idea it was him. 421 00:21:36,240 --> 00:21:38,899 Speaker 2: That blows me away enough to know that even if 422 00:21:38,920 --> 00:21:43,070 Speaker 2: you're listening today And you feel like Jesus is distant. 423 00:21:43,770 --> 00:21:46,250 Speaker 2: He is silent. He's not listening. I want to tell you, 424 00:21:46,330 --> 00:21:49,090 Speaker 2: go back and read in Luke. Read that story, The 425 00:21:49,170 --> 00:21:52,810 Speaker 2: Road to Emmaus. Read it and savor it because you 426 00:21:52,830 --> 00:21:55,000 Speaker 2: will find that if he was there for them, he 427 00:21:55,040 --> 00:21:56,919 Speaker 2: will be here for you now. He is right in 428 00:21:56,960 --> 00:22:00,359 Speaker 2: the middle. There's not any detail. He's overlooking about your 429 00:22:00,460 --> 00:22:05,330 Speaker 2: circumstances at this exact moment. Even if he feels distant 430 00:22:05,380 --> 00:22:07,270 Speaker 2: or silent, know that he's not. Yeah. 431 00:22:07,770 --> 00:22:10,050 Speaker 1: And that's one of the many things that I love 432 00:22:10,090 --> 00:22:13,540 Speaker 1: about your story, about your book, Where Are You Now, God? 433 00:22:13,760 --> 00:22:17,400 Speaker 1: Is that we can look at other Bible stories. We 434 00:22:17,420 --> 00:22:20,480 Speaker 1: can listen to your story and know that we can 435 00:22:20,520 --> 00:22:23,750 Speaker 1: put our names in there. And that same Jesus who 436 00:22:23,830 --> 00:22:27,109 Speaker 1: is walking with them on the road to Emmaus is 437 00:22:27,210 --> 00:22:30,570 Speaker 1: with us in our car, right? In the hotel room 438 00:22:30,630 --> 00:22:34,199 Speaker 1: where we're crying. Yes. In the restaurant, whatever that is, 439 00:22:34,300 --> 00:22:37,880 Speaker 1: even these modern day examples, he's with us. We may 440 00:22:37,940 --> 00:22:41,300 Speaker 1: not recognize it, but he's with us. And he will, 441 00:22:41,840 --> 00:22:44,520 Speaker 1: if we will continue to seek him, he will show 442 00:22:44,600 --> 00:22:48,460 Speaker 1: himself to us. And we will have that moment of, oh, 443 00:22:48,960 --> 00:22:51,400 Speaker 1: he was doing something. It was actually to bring good 444 00:22:51,440 --> 00:22:53,840 Speaker 1: to my life. Like I thought it was all ruined. 445 00:22:53,980 --> 00:22:56,780 Speaker 1: But with Jesus, it's not over. 446 00:22:56,980 --> 00:23:01,090 Speaker 2: With Jesus, there's always a reason. There's always a purpose. 447 00:23:01,130 --> 00:23:04,070 Speaker 2: You can go back in so many stories. Mary and Martha, right? 448 00:23:04,109 --> 00:23:06,860 Speaker 2: Their brothers die, and he's dead now, and they've called 449 00:23:06,920 --> 00:23:10,120 Speaker 2: on Jesus. But he doesn't come. He doesn't come right away. 450 00:23:10,460 --> 00:23:12,679 Speaker 2: And they're probably thinking, what in the world? Did we 451 00:23:12,740 --> 00:23:15,850 Speaker 2: miss something? He was our friend. There's so many other 452 00:23:15,900 --> 00:23:17,669 Speaker 2: miracles he's done for everybody else, but why not us? 453 00:23:17,690 --> 00:23:21,010 Speaker 2: We're friends. Why would not he show up? So even 454 00:23:21,070 --> 00:23:24,149 Speaker 2: in their ache at that moment of why, Jesus is 455 00:23:24,330 --> 00:23:27,459 Speaker 2: always up to something. right? So two days later, he 456 00:23:27,520 --> 00:23:31,700 Speaker 2: shows up, Lazarus is resurrected, but there's something greater that happened. Yeah, sure, 457 00:23:31,740 --> 00:23:33,939 Speaker 2: he could have done it two days before, but he 458 00:23:33,980 --> 00:23:37,200 Speaker 2: waited because I think it became an even greater miracle, right? 459 00:23:37,270 --> 00:23:40,550 Speaker 2: This guy wasn't just, I've only had 10 seconds to leave. Okay, 460 00:23:40,590 --> 00:23:43,790 Speaker 2: you're alive. No, he's gone for two days. And Jesus says, 461 00:23:43,950 --> 00:23:47,610 Speaker 2: watch what I will do. Amazing stuff in the Word 462 00:23:47,650 --> 00:23:47,990 Speaker 2: of God. 463 00:23:48,530 --> 00:23:51,740 Speaker 1: And the people, they even tell Jesus. It's been a 464 00:23:51,760 --> 00:23:52,419 Speaker 1: couple of days. 465 00:23:52,500 --> 00:23:53,880 Speaker 2: It's going to stink. Exactly. 466 00:23:53,940 --> 00:23:56,960 Speaker 1: Don't we get a message that just really stink, right? 467 00:23:57,000 --> 00:23:59,480 Speaker 1: And we think it's too late. Like, Jesus, you waited 468 00:23:59,580 --> 00:24:02,480 Speaker 1: too long to show up, like nothing you can do now. 469 00:24:02,580 --> 00:24:06,400 Speaker 1: But yet that story shows us it's not too late 470 00:24:06,440 --> 00:24:09,159 Speaker 1: with Jesus. He knew from the beginning he was on 471 00:24:09,200 --> 00:24:13,050 Speaker 1: his way. They didn't know. So of course they're disappointed 472 00:24:13,170 --> 00:24:15,690 Speaker 1: and sad and all of those things. And I think 473 00:24:15,750 --> 00:24:18,990 Speaker 1: that's another thing, Tammy, about your book, Where Are You Now, God, 474 00:24:19,030 --> 00:24:23,590 Speaker 1: is that It is okay to be disappointed, to cry. 475 00:24:23,690 --> 00:24:25,869 Speaker 2: We have emotions. Those are not evil. 476 00:24:25,890 --> 00:24:28,610 Speaker 1: It doesn't mean we don't have faith, but we do 477 00:24:28,650 --> 00:24:31,510 Speaker 1: have to process those with him by our side. 478 00:24:31,609 --> 00:24:36,109 Speaker 2: That's right. That's exactly right. And Jesus had emotions. He cried. 479 00:24:36,850 --> 00:24:40,609 Speaker 2: Jesus had emotions. So I think all of these things, yeah, 480 00:24:40,650 --> 00:24:44,540 Speaker 2: balance is an interesting word, but it's... you know, balancing 481 00:24:44,600 --> 00:24:46,639 Speaker 2: our emotions. I'm just going to say that probably therapists 482 00:24:46,660 --> 00:24:49,399 Speaker 2: would say, don't use the word balance, but I think 483 00:24:49,480 --> 00:24:52,330 Speaker 2: it's the word we all know of balancing our lives. 484 00:24:52,410 --> 00:24:55,429 Speaker 2: But yeah, your emotions are real. They're raw. And you 485 00:24:55,470 --> 00:24:59,290 Speaker 2: can bring them to Christ. You can bring your hurt 486 00:24:59,330 --> 00:25:02,470 Speaker 2: and disappointment to Christ. And as we were talking about 487 00:25:02,510 --> 00:25:04,230 Speaker 2: Mary Martha and I was, as you were sharing there, 488 00:25:04,250 --> 00:25:07,310 Speaker 2: I was thinking about the delay, right? There's always purpose 489 00:25:07,470 --> 00:25:10,169 Speaker 2: in the delay. So maybe the prayer today for you 490 00:25:10,250 --> 00:25:14,250 Speaker 2: is also, Father, help me wait well. Help me wait well. 491 00:25:14,310 --> 00:25:16,649 Speaker 2: And what does that look like? I've had to do 492 00:25:16,670 --> 00:25:18,570 Speaker 2: that in my own personal life in the last eight 493 00:25:18,630 --> 00:25:21,430 Speaker 2: months of walking through something I've grieved and had to 494 00:25:21,490 --> 00:25:24,960 Speaker 2: lay down out of obedience. And that's been teaching me 495 00:25:24,980 --> 00:25:27,620 Speaker 2: a lot about obedience, that even when you step out 496 00:25:27,720 --> 00:25:30,139 Speaker 2: and even when you're waiting, waiting, waiting on God, the 497 00:25:30,180 --> 00:25:31,900 Speaker 2: delay is there, the delay is there. But he says, 498 00:25:31,960 --> 00:25:34,609 Speaker 2: I promise, I promise this is going to turn out 499 00:25:34,730 --> 00:25:37,810 Speaker 2: for your good. Your good might look a little different 500 00:25:37,830 --> 00:25:39,709 Speaker 2: than my good, but it's going to turn out for 501 00:25:39,730 --> 00:25:42,439 Speaker 2: your good. What always happens even in the obedience is 502 00:25:42,480 --> 00:25:45,720 Speaker 2: the blessings always follow. So I'm beginning to walk in 503 00:25:45,760 --> 00:25:49,840 Speaker 2: a new blessing in my life and freedom as I've 504 00:25:49,880 --> 00:25:53,220 Speaker 2: learned how to listen to the voice of God, wait well, 505 00:25:53,780 --> 00:25:57,500 Speaker 2: trust the delay. And when I ever walk into that 506 00:25:57,560 --> 00:26:01,119 Speaker 2: moment again of asking God, where are you now? I 507 00:26:01,140 --> 00:26:02,929 Speaker 2: know that I can find him. I know that the 508 00:26:03,010 --> 00:26:06,109 Speaker 2: answer might be in the breath that I just took. 509 00:26:06,530 --> 00:26:10,610 Speaker 2: And that... might be the miracle you didn't even know 510 00:26:10,690 --> 00:26:11,189 Speaker 2: you needed. 511 00:26:11,970 --> 00:26:16,010 Speaker 1: Because he knows best. We've got just a minute left. 512 00:26:16,170 --> 00:26:18,570 Speaker 1: What is one last thing you would say to a 513 00:26:18,630 --> 00:26:22,060 Speaker 1: woman right now, Tammy, who's in the place? Where are 514 00:26:22,180 --> 00:26:23,820 Speaker 1: you now, God? 515 00:26:26,080 --> 00:26:30,080 Speaker 2: There is hope. And hope isn't wishful thinking. It's something 516 00:26:30,100 --> 00:26:33,640 Speaker 2: you can anchor your whole life on, knowing and expecting 517 00:26:34,200 --> 00:26:37,890 Speaker 2: that God will fulfill his promise in your life. that 518 00:26:37,950 --> 00:26:40,700 Speaker 2: you were born and made and created for an abundant 519 00:26:40,720 --> 00:26:46,540 Speaker 2: life filled with joy and purpose and life, life. So 520 00:26:46,560 --> 00:26:49,760 Speaker 2: whatever wound, whatever circumstance you're carrying today, it might not 521 00:26:49,820 --> 00:26:52,639 Speaker 2: be well, it might not feel well, but somehow it 522 00:26:52,700 --> 00:26:57,160 Speaker 2: can be well with your soul. So stay, stay another day, 523 00:26:57,859 --> 00:27:02,280 Speaker 2: trust another day, take another step. If you need to 524 00:27:02,320 --> 00:27:04,330 Speaker 2: pick up a book that might help you because you're 525 00:27:04,369 --> 00:27:06,850 Speaker 2: having a struggle right now, then I wrote this book 526 00:27:06,890 --> 00:27:10,730 Speaker 2: for you. Find it today. And I pray that it 527 00:27:10,790 --> 00:27:13,490 Speaker 2: encourages you on your walk and helps you have an 528 00:27:13,530 --> 00:27:16,040 Speaker 2: encounter with God so that when you ask the question, 529 00:27:16,440 --> 00:27:18,840 Speaker 2: you'll know the answer for yourself, that he's right here 530 00:27:19,020 --> 00:27:20,180 Speaker 2: in the middle of it all. 531 00:27:20,480 --> 00:27:22,300 Speaker 1: He is right in the middle of it all. Thank 532 00:27:22,320 --> 00:27:23,130 Speaker 1: you so much, Tammy. 533 00:27:23,150 --> 00:27:23,470 Speaker 2: You're welcome. 534 00:27:23,980 --> 00:27:26,020 Speaker 1: And thank you all who have been listening. If you 535 00:27:26,100 --> 00:27:27,859 Speaker 1: take a look in the show notes, I will have 536 00:27:27,900 --> 00:27:30,480 Speaker 1: the link to Tammy's book and all of that good stuff. 537 00:27:30,540 --> 00:27:34,320 Speaker 1: It's Where Are You Now, God? Discovering the Unshakable Truth 538 00:27:34,640 --> 00:27:37,600 Speaker 1: that You Are Never Alone. And Tammy has walked this 539 00:27:37,840 --> 00:27:41,439 Speaker 1: out and she shares from her life, from her personal story, 540 00:27:41,760 --> 00:27:45,100 Speaker 1: so that you and so that I can process these things. 541 00:27:45,780 --> 00:27:48,720 Speaker 1: Not that we won't ever have emotions where we're disappointed, 542 00:27:48,820 --> 00:27:52,560 Speaker 1: feel badly, but that we will trust him knowing his character, 543 00:27:52,600 --> 00:27:54,520 Speaker 1: and that he's going to work it all out for 544 00:27:54,619 --> 00:27:57,140 Speaker 1: our good. So I will see you again next time 545 00:27:57,240 --> 00:27:58,790 Speaker 1: with more hope for the journey.