1 00:00:00,210 --> 00:00:03,150 Speaker 1: Welcome to the Love Offering Podcast. I'm your host, Rachel Adams, 2 00:00:03,230 --> 00:00:05,950 Speaker 1: author of Everyday Prayers for Love, Learning to Love God, Others, 3 00:00:06,070 --> 00:00:09,750 Speaker 1: and Even Yourself. Each week, we dive into meaningful conversations 4 00:00:09,789 --> 00:00:12,390 Speaker 1: about how to live out the greatest commandment, loving God 5 00:00:12,440 --> 00:00:14,520 Speaker 1: with all of our heart, soul, mind, and strength, and 6 00:00:14,550 --> 00:00:19,020 Speaker 1: loving our neighbors as ourselves. Whether through inspiring stories, practical wisdom, 7 00:00:19,140 --> 00:00:21,560 Speaker 1: or biblical truth, my hope is to encourage you to 8 00:00:21,640 --> 00:00:24,920 Speaker 1: love boldly, live faithfully, and reflect God's love in your 9 00:00:24,960 --> 00:00:28,290 Speaker 1: everyday life. Today, I'm honored to welcome Nicole Jacobsmeyer to 10 00:00:28,310 --> 00:00:30,950 Speaker 1: the show. Nicole is an author and speaker who is 11 00:00:31,010 --> 00:00:36,180 Speaker 1: no stranger to suffering. Through experiences including cancer, miscarriage, depression, insecurity, 12 00:00:36,220 --> 00:00:38,960 Speaker 1: and rejection, she has discovered the presence and hope of 13 00:00:39,040 --> 00:00:41,790 Speaker 1: God in the midst of deep pain. In her book, 14 00:00:41,830 --> 00:00:44,470 Speaker 1: Something Good Will Grow, Nicole uses the beautiful imagery of 15 00:00:44,530 --> 00:00:46,690 Speaker 1: flowers that bloom in the dark to remind us that 16 00:00:46,729 --> 00:00:49,400 Speaker 1: God is still at work. even when life feels like 17 00:00:49,450 --> 00:00:51,919 Speaker 1: more than we can handle. Through biblical truth and her 18 00:00:52,020 --> 00:00:55,100 Speaker 1: own vulnerable story, she equips us to place our pain 19 00:00:55,280 --> 00:00:59,139 Speaker 1: in God's hands, persevere through difficult seasons, and trust that 20 00:00:59,180 --> 00:01:02,820 Speaker 1: He can bring something beautiful from our suffering. Well, hello. 21 00:01:03,430 --> 00:01:06,250 Speaker 2: Friend and welcome back to the Love Offering Podcast. I'm 22 00:01:06,300 --> 00:01:07,220 Speaker 2: so happy to have you again. 23 00:01:07,240 --> 00:01:09,280 Speaker 3: Yay. Thank you so much for having me. 24 00:01:09,480 --> 00:01:11,840 Speaker 2: So it's been a long time. I'm trying to think. 25 00:01:11,880 --> 00:01:14,679 Speaker 1: So when it was Take Back Your Joy and that was, 26 00:01:14,780 --> 00:01:16,900 Speaker 1: we were both launching a book the same time. Yes. 27 00:01:17,160 --> 00:01:17,420 Speaker 3: Yes. 28 00:01:17,480 --> 00:01:18,910 Speaker 2: And we did not know each other. 29 00:01:18,920 --> 00:01:22,450 Speaker 1: No. Right. And then after that interview, I don't know 30 00:01:22,470 --> 00:01:24,649 Speaker 1: what happened. We just like, I feel like we just 31 00:01:24,670 --> 00:01:25,570 Speaker 1: fell in love with you. 32 00:01:25,670 --> 00:01:27,950 Speaker 3: We just became like author besties. Yeah. 33 00:01:28,910 --> 00:01:30,110 Speaker 2: It was like immediate. 34 00:01:30,130 --> 00:01:31,080 Speaker 3: This is forever. 35 00:01:31,090 --> 00:01:35,400 Speaker 2: It was true. Like it was an immediate friendship. 36 00:01:35,000 --> 00:01:36,080 Speaker 3: And we just stayed in touch. 37 00:01:36,380 --> 00:01:39,819 Speaker 1: You ended up coming to Somerset to speak at my church. 38 00:01:39,880 --> 00:01:41,810 Speaker 1: Like it just like you have been such a gift. 39 00:01:41,830 --> 00:01:43,270 Speaker 1: That was 2022 and here we are 2026. 40 00:01:43,250 --> 00:01:43,750 Speaker 3: I love that. 41 00:01:43,810 --> 00:01:46,470 Speaker 2: So four years of sweet friendship with you. 42 00:01:46,490 --> 00:01:46,950 Speaker 1: I know. 43 00:01:46,990 --> 00:01:47,590 Speaker 3: What a blessing. 44 00:01:47,590 --> 00:01:47,710 Speaker 1: 40 more. 45 00:01:47,850 --> 00:01:52,620 Speaker 3: Yes. That's right. Well, so, okay. 46 00:01:52,760 --> 00:01:54,660 Speaker 1: So everybody needs to go back and listen to that 47 00:01:54,700 --> 00:01:57,460 Speaker 1: episode four years ago about Take Back Your Joy. So 48 00:01:57,940 --> 00:02:01,620 Speaker 1: we won't rehash that. But a lot has changed in 49 00:02:01,670 --> 00:02:05,130 Speaker 1: those four years. Like you've moved to the faithful homestead. 50 00:02:05,150 --> 00:02:07,810 Speaker 1: So tell us about, for those that don't know you, 51 00:02:07,830 --> 00:02:10,369 Speaker 1: tell us about like a little snippet of what life 52 00:02:10,410 --> 00:02:12,010 Speaker 1: was like then versus. 53 00:02:11,590 --> 00:02:12,929 Speaker 2: What it is like now. 54 00:02:13,030 --> 00:02:17,130 Speaker 3: Oh my goodness. So We were suburb living. We were 55 00:02:17,830 --> 00:02:21,500 Speaker 3: doing private Christian school. We were so busy. I was 56 00:02:21,540 --> 00:02:25,520 Speaker 3: doing the whole author crazy life, as you know, with 57 00:02:25,560 --> 00:02:28,020 Speaker 3: putting a book out into the world. I was speaking 58 00:02:28,060 --> 00:02:31,870 Speaker 3: all over the country. My husband was finishing up his residency, 59 00:02:32,150 --> 00:02:36,370 Speaker 3: his pediatric residency. And so we were so busy. busy 60 00:02:36,470 --> 00:02:39,940 Speaker 3: just constantly. And then I had kind of like a 61 00:02:40,060 --> 00:02:43,960 Speaker 3: cancer reoccurrence scare. I got real sick towards the end 62 00:02:43,980 --> 00:02:47,880 Speaker 3: of 2023. And then that kind of made me pause 63 00:02:48,260 --> 00:02:52,330 Speaker 3: and cancel everything and just focus on my health and 64 00:02:52,370 --> 00:02:57,010 Speaker 3: my family and kind of thinking that this author writing 65 00:02:57,350 --> 00:03:01,049 Speaker 3: world speaking was over for me And then shortly after, 66 00:03:01,090 --> 00:03:03,430 Speaker 3: my husband got a job in a small town of 67 00:03:03,430 --> 00:03:07,680 Speaker 3: 600 people. And so we moved to this little farm 68 00:03:07,840 --> 00:03:11,519 Speaker 3: on almost 30 acres. And we started homeschooling. And it 69 00:03:11,540 --> 00:03:17,610 Speaker 3: has just been the most crazy transition. And It has 70 00:03:17,690 --> 00:03:23,220 Speaker 3: been everything that I never knew I needed. And God 71 00:03:23,280 --> 00:03:27,019 Speaker 3: has met me here in so many ways that I 72 00:03:27,040 --> 00:03:31,420 Speaker 3: don't think I would have ever learned or understood otherwise 73 00:03:31,520 --> 00:03:35,310 Speaker 3: because getting out in nature and peace and quiet and 74 00:03:35,370 --> 00:03:39,410 Speaker 3: stillness with no one around except for animals and just 75 00:03:39,770 --> 00:03:42,570 Speaker 3: the peace of the Lord, it has been amazing. it 76 00:03:42,610 --> 00:03:45,470 Speaker 3: has honestly been transforming. And so I was kind of 77 00:03:45,490 --> 00:03:50,970 Speaker 3: just doing the homeschooling, homesteading life. And then Moody Publishers 78 00:03:51,030 --> 00:03:56,680 Speaker 3: reached out and was like, hey, would you consider writing again? 79 00:03:56,700 --> 00:03:59,920 Speaker 3: And I just was floored. I was absolutely floored because 80 00:03:59,980 --> 00:04:02,760 Speaker 3: I thought, you know what, I'm just going to stay 81 00:04:02,820 --> 00:04:05,780 Speaker 3: here and be a homeschooling, homesteading mom, and I'm never 82 00:04:05,800 --> 00:04:08,930 Speaker 3: going to write or speak again. And so here we are, 83 00:04:09,040 --> 00:04:13,360 Speaker 3: second book, and my scan came back clear. And that 84 00:04:13,520 --> 00:04:16,200 Speaker 3: darkness that was kind of looming over me was lifted. 85 00:04:16,540 --> 00:04:20,310 Speaker 3: And I'm now going to be an author again. And 86 00:04:20,810 --> 00:04:23,789 Speaker 3: it's crazy. It's just wild. I kind of can't even 87 00:04:23,830 --> 00:04:26,410 Speaker 3: believe this is the last four years have just been 88 00:04:26,589 --> 00:04:27,510 Speaker 3: very transformative. 89 00:04:27,720 --> 00:04:31,119 Speaker 1: Well, I've been fortunate to have a passenger seat, I guess, 90 00:04:31,320 --> 00:04:33,740 Speaker 1: view of all of this, the behind the scenes. And 91 00:04:33,779 --> 00:04:36,120 Speaker 1: it's been really sweet to see how the Lord has 92 00:04:36,170 --> 00:04:38,900 Speaker 1: continued to work. And I've read the entire book and 93 00:04:38,960 --> 00:04:42,349 Speaker 1: it really is so good and was able to endorse it. 94 00:04:42,370 --> 00:04:44,770 Speaker 1: So I'm really excited to share more about you and 95 00:04:44,810 --> 00:04:47,390 Speaker 1: your story with everybody. But we're going to take a 96 00:04:47,670 --> 00:04:49,490 Speaker 1: brief break to hear a word from today's sponsor. And 97 00:04:49,570 --> 00:04:51,750 Speaker 1: when we come back, we'll talk about trusting God when 98 00:04:51,790 --> 00:04:53,370 Speaker 1: life feels like more than we can handle. 99 00:04:56,260 --> 00:04:56,740 Speaker 3: Welcome back. 100 00:04:56,820 --> 00:04:59,960 Speaker 1: I'm talking with Nicole Jacobsmeyer about her book, Something Good 101 00:05:00,060 --> 00:05:02,219 Speaker 1: Will Grow. So your book is rooted in the truth 102 00:05:02,279 --> 00:05:04,980 Speaker 1: that the more pain, the more grace. And so before 103 00:05:05,020 --> 00:05:07,109 Speaker 1: we talk about what has grown from your suffering, will 104 00:05:07,120 --> 00:05:09,610 Speaker 1: you take us back to some of the painful experiences 105 00:05:09,650 --> 00:05:10,570 Speaker 1: that shaped this message? 106 00:05:10,810 --> 00:05:14,590 Speaker 3: Goodness. You know, it's kind of hard to do like 107 00:05:14,630 --> 00:05:18,390 Speaker 3: a bullet list point because I feel like anybody that's 108 00:05:18,430 --> 00:05:23,270 Speaker 3: walked through suffering, which is everybody that's listening, It's like 109 00:05:23,560 --> 00:05:26,880 Speaker 3: we hate rehashing things, you know, because we want to 110 00:05:26,900 --> 00:05:28,760 Speaker 3: get out of the pain. We want to walk in 111 00:05:28,800 --> 00:05:33,060 Speaker 3: victory and abundance. But it is important to be able 112 00:05:33,140 --> 00:05:35,420 Speaker 3: to relate to people. And I think that that is 113 00:05:35,460 --> 00:05:37,580 Speaker 3: what I have seen. And so I do have. 114 00:05:39,290 --> 00:05:41,850 Speaker 3: A lot of pain that I have walked through like 115 00:05:41,890 --> 00:05:44,609 Speaker 3: everybody else. But cancer is a part of my story. 116 00:05:44,890 --> 00:05:48,010 Speaker 3: Clinical depression is a part of my story. We lost 117 00:05:48,089 --> 00:05:51,500 Speaker 3: a baby due to miscarriage, just a lot of emotional 118 00:05:51,920 --> 00:05:56,099 Speaker 3: manipulation and abuse. And I've had sexual abuse. And so 119 00:05:56,480 --> 00:06:01,310 Speaker 3: it's just And that's just like the big traumas in life. 120 00:06:01,370 --> 00:06:04,849 Speaker 3: We all have rejection. We all have loneliness. We all 121 00:06:04,870 --> 00:06:09,810 Speaker 3: have insecurities. We all have doubts. And those are all 122 00:06:09,870 --> 00:06:14,600 Speaker 3: the things that I have experienced. And So it's been 123 00:06:14,640 --> 00:06:20,620 Speaker 3: a very difficult road to reframe my understanding and relearn 124 00:06:20,800 --> 00:06:24,540 Speaker 3: what I believed about God and then what I know 125 00:06:24,640 --> 00:06:27,380 Speaker 3: to be true now because of all that I have 126 00:06:27,460 --> 00:06:29,660 Speaker 3: walked through. So it's definitely been a journey. 127 00:06:29,900 --> 00:06:33,700 Speaker 1: Compare suffering to flowers that bloom at night, quietly opening 128 00:06:33,740 --> 00:06:35,720 Speaker 1: in the darkness when no one is watching. What does 129 00:06:35,740 --> 00:06:37,900 Speaker 1: this imagery teach us about the ways that God works 130 00:06:38,060 --> 00:06:39,630 Speaker 1: in our hidden and painful seasons? 131 00:06:39,890 --> 00:06:43,740 Speaker 3: Yeah, that was so interesting to me because I love 132 00:06:43,750 --> 00:06:47,220 Speaker 3: these new words at the beginning of the year or 133 00:06:47,240 --> 00:06:49,880 Speaker 3: I pray for a new verse or just something to 134 00:06:49,920 --> 00:06:52,599 Speaker 3: be meditating on for that coming year. And I really 135 00:06:52,640 --> 00:06:55,729 Speaker 3: felt the Lord impress upon my heart that Bloom was 136 00:06:55,760 --> 00:06:58,130 Speaker 3: going to be a part of that year. And so, 137 00:06:58,150 --> 00:07:00,770 Speaker 3: of course, what do I think? I think, oh, my goodness, 138 00:07:00,850 --> 00:07:03,430 Speaker 3: it's going to be amazing. I'm going to have blessings 139 00:07:03,470 --> 00:07:06,630 Speaker 3: and abundance and it's going to be prosperous. And as 140 00:07:06,670 --> 00:07:09,409 Speaker 3: the year went on, that is not at all how 141 00:07:09,670 --> 00:07:12,560 Speaker 3: my year was looking. And in fact, it was quite 142 00:07:12,600 --> 00:07:16,780 Speaker 3: the opposite. And so I remember one morning the Lord said, 143 00:07:17,450 --> 00:07:19,800 Speaker 3: I felt the Lord prompt me to look up flowers 144 00:07:19,860 --> 00:07:23,040 Speaker 3: that bloom at night. And I didn't know anything about this. 145 00:07:23,220 --> 00:07:26,260 Speaker 3: I'm not a gardener. Well, now I am a gardener. 146 00:07:26,340 --> 00:07:29,520 Speaker 3: I will say that. But I looked this up and 147 00:07:29,720 --> 00:07:33,560 Speaker 3: what I found was beautiful because there are these night-blooming 148 00:07:33,640 --> 00:07:37,780 Speaker 3: flowers that bloom for really no one. No one's looking. 149 00:07:37,880 --> 00:07:41,520 Speaker 3: No one's there. Everybody's asleep. It's dark outside. It's cold. 150 00:07:41,900 --> 00:07:46,140 Speaker 3: The soil is colder. But these flowers that God has 151 00:07:46,220 --> 00:07:49,260 Speaker 3: created for these... these night blooming flowers are some of 152 00:07:49,280 --> 00:07:52,460 Speaker 3: the most fragrant and some of the most like white, 153 00:07:52,680 --> 00:07:56,540 Speaker 3: bright colored, and they reflect the moon and glow throughout 154 00:07:56,600 --> 00:07:59,930 Speaker 3: the entire garden. And to me, it was just this, 155 00:08:00,610 --> 00:08:04,650 Speaker 3: oh my word, aha moment where I realized that is 156 00:08:04,750 --> 00:08:08,720 Speaker 3: so us as Christians, that Sometimes we are planted in 157 00:08:08,760 --> 00:08:11,850 Speaker 3: that cold soil and we don't feel water. We don't 158 00:08:11,910 --> 00:08:15,610 Speaker 3: see light. We are just struggling while everybody around us 159 00:08:15,690 --> 00:08:18,670 Speaker 3: is blooming and the sun's out and everything's happy and 160 00:08:18,730 --> 00:08:23,270 Speaker 3: beautiful and there's birds and all these gorgeous flowers. And 161 00:08:23,370 --> 00:08:27,040 Speaker 3: I'm like in the soil, no one sees me, hating 162 00:08:27,070 --> 00:08:31,280 Speaker 3: my life, dealing with suffering. What is God doing? But 163 00:08:31,480 --> 00:08:35,140 Speaker 3: really what he has taught me is this cultivation of 164 00:08:35,240 --> 00:08:39,290 Speaker 3: deep roots and this hidden faithfulness that I was learning 165 00:08:39,309 --> 00:08:43,220 Speaker 3: these trials by fire. But in that moment and in 166 00:08:43,250 --> 00:08:46,579 Speaker 3: those times, He was creating in me these times of 167 00:08:46,660 --> 00:08:50,540 Speaker 3: forgiveness and these times of obedience and learning how to 168 00:08:50,640 --> 00:08:55,360 Speaker 3: serve others when I maybe felt lonely and healing and growing, 169 00:08:55,720 --> 00:08:57,740 Speaker 3: even though it doesn't look like it from the world. 170 00:08:58,120 --> 00:09:01,160 Speaker 3: But at night, like that's what I'm doing. I am 171 00:09:01,220 --> 00:09:04,679 Speaker 3: blooming for an audience of one that the whole point 172 00:09:04,900 --> 00:09:08,350 Speaker 3: is to be a fragrant offering to the Lord and 173 00:09:08,380 --> 00:09:11,469 Speaker 3: to others around me. But I don't need that applause 174 00:09:11,510 --> 00:09:14,370 Speaker 3: in the daylight. I don't need those gold stars and 175 00:09:14,410 --> 00:09:17,970 Speaker 3: high fives and affirmations only from the Lord. That's what 176 00:09:18,030 --> 00:09:21,050 Speaker 3: I need. And so it was like a reframing of, 177 00:09:21,470 --> 00:09:24,810 Speaker 3: my sufferings, and also what it's all for and what 178 00:09:24,870 --> 00:09:28,880 Speaker 3: blessings really are. Because the blessings are the good things 179 00:09:28,980 --> 00:09:31,740 Speaker 3: that God uses in our lives to sanctify us and 180 00:09:31,780 --> 00:09:34,280 Speaker 3: grow us closer to Him. And that's what He was doing. 181 00:09:34,740 --> 00:09:37,260 Speaker 3: I just couldn't see it that way. So that imagery 182 00:09:37,280 --> 00:09:39,710 Speaker 3: just helped me understand more of His heart. 183 00:09:39,950 --> 00:09:41,790 Speaker 2: It really is beautiful to think about. 184 00:09:41,870 --> 00:09:45,630 Speaker 1: So talk to us more about The blessings that we 185 00:09:45,730 --> 00:09:49,830 Speaker 1: think in our earthly perspective versus what maybe God's actual 186 00:09:49,910 --> 00:09:50,630 Speaker 1: blessings are. 187 00:09:50,650 --> 00:09:52,070 Speaker 2: Does that question make sense? 188 00:09:52,429 --> 00:09:54,609 Speaker 3: Oh, yeah. You know, and I still, I mean, I 189 00:09:54,630 --> 00:09:56,830 Speaker 3: think we all in our human mind, we all think 190 00:09:57,070 --> 00:09:59,230 Speaker 3: the same thing. A lot of times where it's blessing, 191 00:09:59,270 --> 00:10:01,870 Speaker 3: it's like, oh, my God. my health is great. Praise 192 00:10:01,890 --> 00:10:03,870 Speaker 3: the Lord. You know, all my kids are perfect and 193 00:10:03,910 --> 00:10:06,410 Speaker 3: great and we're living in a comfortable house and maybe 194 00:10:06,470 --> 00:10:09,240 Speaker 3: it's large and we have all the things we need 195 00:10:09,540 --> 00:10:13,059 Speaker 3: and we have the materialistic things. And not even that, 196 00:10:13,200 --> 00:10:16,840 Speaker 3: our relationships are great. Our hair is not falling out 197 00:10:16,940 --> 00:10:20,650 Speaker 3: after 40 and we're feeling great about life and ourselves 198 00:10:20,670 --> 00:10:23,770 Speaker 3: and our families and friends. That's all to us. That 199 00:10:23,809 --> 00:10:28,000 Speaker 3: would be great, this balance of life. And that's not 200 00:10:28,040 --> 00:10:29,900 Speaker 3: to say that God doesn't think any of those things 201 00:10:29,960 --> 00:10:35,250 Speaker 3: are great, obviously. But in the blessing is what is sanctifying? 202 00:10:35,490 --> 00:10:38,370 Speaker 3: What is going to bring us closer to God's heart? 203 00:10:38,550 --> 00:10:42,750 Speaker 3: What is going to conform us to Christlikeness? What are 204 00:10:42,790 --> 00:10:46,930 Speaker 3: those things? And I would love to offer that I 205 00:10:46,970 --> 00:10:49,310 Speaker 3: think it's anything that brings us to our knees. It's 206 00:10:49,410 --> 00:10:53,569 Speaker 3: anything that makes us before the throne and says, I 207 00:10:53,970 --> 00:10:57,470 Speaker 3: need you, Lord. I surrender. I trust. I humbly come. 208 00:10:57,490 --> 00:11:01,430 Speaker 3: And you... get to let your will be done in 209 00:11:01,450 --> 00:11:03,910 Speaker 3: and through my life. And a lot of times that's 210 00:11:03,970 --> 00:11:07,189 Speaker 3: not when we are on that mountaintop with all these 211 00:11:07,230 --> 00:11:09,750 Speaker 3: great things. A lot of times it is when we 212 00:11:09,790 --> 00:11:14,040 Speaker 3: are struggling with that child or in a relationship or 213 00:11:14,220 --> 00:11:17,280 Speaker 3: our health or those things that are kind of those 214 00:11:17,360 --> 00:11:21,200 Speaker 3: thorns in our side. Those things are actually what keep 215 00:11:21,280 --> 00:11:24,500 Speaker 3: us humble, that keep us going to the Lord. Because 216 00:11:24,540 --> 00:11:27,620 Speaker 3: a lot of times when we think we have everything together, 217 00:11:28,260 --> 00:11:30,710 Speaker 3: We're kind of like, oh, yeah. And I praise you, Lord. 218 00:11:30,760 --> 00:11:32,890 Speaker 3: Thank you for all these blessings in my life. But 219 00:11:33,410 --> 00:11:36,290 Speaker 3: I have learned that it's actually in those seasons of 220 00:11:36,370 --> 00:11:40,030 Speaker 3: wrestle and those hardships that I am so much closer 221 00:11:40,070 --> 00:11:43,660 Speaker 3: to the Lord because sanctification is like a spiritual surgery 222 00:11:43,860 --> 00:11:46,290 Speaker 3: and it's going to be hard. but that it's good 223 00:11:46,309 --> 00:11:46,890 Speaker 3: in the long run. 224 00:11:47,010 --> 00:11:49,210 Speaker 1: Yeah, I have found that to be true in my 225 00:11:49,270 --> 00:11:51,870 Speaker 1: own life too. Let's talk about the wrestling. I think 226 00:11:51,890 --> 00:11:54,900 Speaker 1: questions and doubts often arise when we suffer naturally. How 227 00:11:54,940 --> 00:11:58,280 Speaker 1: can we bring those honestly before God without feeling ashamed 228 00:11:58,340 --> 00:12:00,160 Speaker 1: or believing that our faith is failing? 229 00:12:00,380 --> 00:12:03,320 Speaker 3: Right. And I think that starts with just being honest 230 00:12:03,340 --> 00:12:06,220 Speaker 3: with those around you too. If we're surrounding ourselves with 231 00:12:06,260 --> 00:12:09,980 Speaker 3: people who are self-righteous and think that we all have 232 00:12:10,000 --> 00:12:13,720 Speaker 3: to have everything together and there's no grace for failure 233 00:12:13,740 --> 00:12:17,490 Speaker 3: and all of these things, it's really hard to not 234 00:12:17,590 --> 00:12:20,490 Speaker 3: just go along with that as well and not feel like, well, 235 00:12:20,550 --> 00:12:22,929 Speaker 3: if I can't be honest with the closest person to 236 00:12:22,970 --> 00:12:24,290 Speaker 3: me on earth, then how am I going to be 237 00:12:24,330 --> 00:12:28,630 Speaker 3: honest with God? And I think What we should obviously 238 00:12:28,710 --> 00:12:31,120 Speaker 3: do is be able to go to the Lord in 239 00:12:31,280 --> 00:12:36,800 Speaker 3: all humility, in all questions, boldly before the throne, telling 240 00:12:36,880 --> 00:12:40,180 Speaker 3: him honestly, because he already knows how we're feeling, what's 241 00:12:40,200 --> 00:12:43,170 Speaker 3: going on, the questions that we have. the hardships that 242 00:12:43,190 --> 00:12:46,950 Speaker 3: we're walking through. He already knows it, and He wants 243 00:12:46,990 --> 00:12:49,350 Speaker 3: to walk us through it. He's the only one that 244 00:12:49,390 --> 00:12:53,010 Speaker 3: can do something with the mess that we're in or 245 00:12:53,050 --> 00:12:56,390 Speaker 3: the heartache that we're facing, you know? And I think 246 00:12:56,450 --> 00:12:59,010 Speaker 3: that we so easily want to go to find the 247 00:12:59,050 --> 00:13:02,490 Speaker 3: comfort from people when really the wrestle needs to be 248 00:13:02,550 --> 00:13:04,620 Speaker 3: with the Lord, because He's the only one that can 249 00:13:04,700 --> 00:13:09,010 Speaker 3: actually do something in our spiritual sanctification. Yeah. Yeah. 250 00:13:09,080 --> 00:13:11,020 Speaker 2: I mean, He doesn't want us to carry it alone. 251 00:13:11,080 --> 00:13:12,400 Speaker 2: He is with us through it all. 252 00:13:12,740 --> 00:13:15,640 Speaker 1: And I think sometimes the waiting is really difficult for 253 00:13:15,760 --> 00:13:19,540 Speaker 1: us because God can feel absent, especially when things that 254 00:13:19,580 --> 00:13:22,689 Speaker 1: we have prayed for don't change and nothing really transpires. 255 00:13:22,730 --> 00:13:25,110 Speaker 1: So what has helped you to remain faithful during prolonged 256 00:13:25,170 --> 00:13:26,890 Speaker 1: seasons of waiting? Yes. 257 00:13:27,150 --> 00:13:29,050 Speaker 3: I think no one is good at waiting. 258 00:13:29,950 --> 00:13:30,130 Speaker 1: No. 259 00:13:31,110 --> 00:13:34,130 Speaker 3: I mean, I'm sure there's people out there, but... The 260 00:13:34,370 --> 00:13:39,330 Speaker 3: idea of sitting and waiting for the Lord to either answer, 261 00:13:39,410 --> 00:13:43,050 Speaker 3: to move, to reveal, to show us. I think that, 262 00:13:43,390 --> 00:13:45,210 Speaker 3: first of all, we have to shift kind of our 263 00:13:45,250 --> 00:13:49,860 Speaker 3: mindset to it's a joy to be able to wait 264 00:13:50,000 --> 00:13:53,360 Speaker 3: on the Lord because He is all-knowing. He is sovereign. 265 00:13:53,460 --> 00:13:56,420 Speaker 3: He is good. He is faithful. And so to wait 266 00:13:56,559 --> 00:14:01,080 Speaker 3: on Him, it shouldn't be this difficult task, this chore 267 00:14:01,200 --> 00:14:04,730 Speaker 3: that we have to do. I'm trying to reframe my 268 00:14:04,790 --> 00:14:07,890 Speaker 3: mind in the waiting of he knows what's best. He 269 00:14:07,990 --> 00:14:11,950 Speaker 3: wants good things for his kids. And he's not like, 270 00:14:11,970 --> 00:14:15,170 Speaker 3: he's not how we think he is in a human 271 00:14:15,250 --> 00:14:19,359 Speaker 3: form of dangling an answer over us. Or if you 272 00:14:19,440 --> 00:14:23,360 Speaker 3: do this, then I'll do this. Or waiting for us 273 00:14:23,440 --> 00:14:26,760 Speaker 3: to prove ourselves for him to show his love. I mean, 274 00:14:26,940 --> 00:14:30,540 Speaker 3: if we understand God's character, it helps in the waiting 275 00:14:30,620 --> 00:14:34,220 Speaker 3: to know, okay, The answer right now is maybe nothing. 276 00:14:34,260 --> 00:14:36,320 Speaker 3: Maybe I'm not hearing anything from the Lord right now. 277 00:14:36,400 --> 00:14:39,660 Speaker 3: Maybe I'm just sitting and waiting and I have no 278 00:14:39,740 --> 00:14:43,400 Speaker 3: idea what to do. In those moments, God hasn't forgotten you. 279 00:14:43,540 --> 00:14:46,520 Speaker 3: He's not too busy with the other girl and dealing 280 00:14:46,540 --> 00:14:50,950 Speaker 3: with her problems and questions. He is there. And sometimes 281 00:14:51,190 --> 00:14:54,730 Speaker 3: we just have to open the word. And there's our answer. 282 00:14:54,810 --> 00:14:57,710 Speaker 3: There's Him speaking to us. Or maybe it's going to 283 00:14:57,750 --> 00:15:02,770 Speaker 3: come through a friend or something. he's going to do something. 284 00:15:02,850 --> 00:15:05,710 Speaker 3: It's just in that moment, in that season of waiting, 285 00:15:05,770 --> 00:15:08,210 Speaker 3: we feel like that's forever. But it's not. And we 286 00:15:08,250 --> 00:15:10,050 Speaker 3: know it's not because all we have to do is 287 00:15:10,070 --> 00:15:13,290 Speaker 3: look back on our life. Anytime that I've waited, it 288 00:15:13,910 --> 00:15:17,200 Speaker 3: hasn't lasted forever. That season does come to an end. 289 00:15:17,320 --> 00:15:20,280 Speaker 3: And so knowing that it will pass, knowing that he 290 00:15:20,360 --> 00:15:23,830 Speaker 3: will answer in his perfect timing for your good, It's 291 00:15:23,870 --> 00:15:26,150 Speaker 3: going to be for your good, but his glory will 292 00:15:26,230 --> 00:15:31,120 Speaker 3: also prevail. Those truths bring us to that mature faith 293 00:15:31,480 --> 00:15:34,500 Speaker 3: instead of that like whiny faith. You know what I mean? 294 00:15:34,520 --> 00:15:36,300 Speaker 3: Because we've all been there. Let's be honest. 295 00:15:37,370 --> 00:15:39,570 Speaker 1: It's the truth. It's so much easier to see it 296 00:15:39,710 --> 00:15:42,070 Speaker 1: in hindsight. Like, okay, God, I see what you were 297 00:15:42,090 --> 00:15:44,370 Speaker 1: doing there. I see what you were growing in me 298 00:15:44,490 --> 00:15:46,360 Speaker 1: and in my spouse and in my children and my 299 00:15:46,380 --> 00:15:47,360 Speaker 1: family and all the things. 300 00:15:47,420 --> 00:15:49,940 Speaker 2: Like it does make sense in hindsight, but in the 301 00:15:49,980 --> 00:15:51,520 Speaker 2: midst of it, it is really difficult. 302 00:15:51,540 --> 00:15:54,540 Speaker 3: Which is why I think journaling and going back to 303 00:15:54,580 --> 00:15:58,970 Speaker 3: God's character, like, but journaling things out and not everybody's 304 00:15:59,000 --> 00:16:00,990 Speaker 3: a journaler, but I mean, even just write a note 305 00:16:01,030 --> 00:16:03,330 Speaker 3: in your phone if you're not a journaler, but just 306 00:16:03,370 --> 00:16:06,010 Speaker 3: to be able to say, hey, I am waiting right 307 00:16:06,050 --> 00:16:09,760 Speaker 3: now And I don't know what's going on. But then 308 00:16:09,860 --> 00:16:12,720 Speaker 3: coming back to that and saying, this is how God 309 00:16:12,800 --> 00:16:16,160 Speaker 3: answered it and keeping this like record of in your 310 00:16:16,300 --> 00:16:19,690 Speaker 3: own life of how God is always faithful and always 311 00:16:19,750 --> 00:16:23,370 Speaker 3: good and always shows up. He's I mean, it's always 312 00:16:23,790 --> 00:16:28,170 Speaker 3: his promises always happen, you know, and I just think 313 00:16:28,530 --> 00:16:31,600 Speaker 3: for me, I need those reminders because then it's like, oh, 314 00:16:31,620 --> 00:16:33,900 Speaker 3: my gosh. how many times do I have to learn this? 315 00:16:34,000 --> 00:16:36,180 Speaker 3: How many times do I have to, you know? And 316 00:16:36,220 --> 00:16:38,920 Speaker 3: it's like, wow, we are so silly and so dumb 317 00:16:39,020 --> 00:16:42,300 Speaker 3: sometimes where we do need those reminders. And we have 318 00:16:42,350 --> 00:16:44,950 Speaker 3: to recognize that in ourselves. Like, we're not going to 319 00:16:44,970 --> 00:16:47,670 Speaker 3: be perfect in this. We are going to struggle. But 320 00:16:48,030 --> 00:16:50,230 Speaker 3: let's go back to that little note that I wrote 321 00:16:50,310 --> 00:16:52,870 Speaker 3: two years ago and remember how God brought me through 322 00:16:52,970 --> 00:16:55,430 Speaker 3: because He did and He answered. And He answered then 323 00:16:55,510 --> 00:16:56,120 Speaker 3: and He will now. 324 00:16:56,320 --> 00:16:58,880 Speaker 1: Amen. Okay, we're going to take another brief break to 325 00:16:58,920 --> 00:17:00,780 Speaker 1: thank our sponsor. And when we come back, we'll talk 326 00:17:00,820 --> 00:17:04,689 Speaker 1: about persevering. through our disappointment in seasons when our efforts 327 00:17:04,830 --> 00:17:05,710 Speaker 1: seem fruitless. 328 00:17:08,070 --> 00:17:08,530 Speaker 3: Welcome back. 329 00:17:08,570 --> 00:17:11,879 Speaker 1: I'm talking with Nicole Jacobs-Meyer about something good will grow. 330 00:17:11,960 --> 00:17:15,020 Speaker 1: So let's talk about depression because I think it's sometimes 331 00:17:15,119 --> 00:17:19,970 Speaker 1: in suffering, depression is can naturally take root really quietly. 332 00:17:19,990 --> 00:17:22,050 Speaker 1: And so what encouragement would you offer to the woman 333 00:17:22,109 --> 00:17:24,470 Speaker 1: who is struggling emotionally and wondering whether she will feel 334 00:17:24,490 --> 00:17:25,250 Speaker 1: like herself again? 335 00:17:25,450 --> 00:17:30,070 Speaker 3: You know, I am not a psychologist or a therapist 336 00:17:30,170 --> 00:17:33,429 Speaker 3: or anything. And so there's a lot in depression and 337 00:17:33,470 --> 00:17:38,440 Speaker 3: anxiety that I cannot speak on. But from personal experience 338 00:17:38,859 --> 00:17:42,740 Speaker 3: as a Christian who has walked through clinical depression in 339 00:17:42,760 --> 00:17:43,710 Speaker 3: seasons of my life, I. 340 00:17:46,810 --> 00:17:49,229 Speaker 3: I just know, and this is so random because I 341 00:17:49,270 --> 00:17:51,490 Speaker 3: just heard this the other day on a podcast. Someone 342 00:17:51,530 --> 00:17:55,050 Speaker 3: said the opposite of depression is creation. And I was 343 00:17:55,150 --> 00:17:57,500 Speaker 3: really thinking about that the last 24 hours. This is 344 00:17:57,560 --> 00:17:59,540 Speaker 3: not in my book. This is not like, this is 345 00:17:59,580 --> 00:18:02,720 Speaker 3: just me off on a tangent because, or not even 346 00:18:02,760 --> 00:18:06,659 Speaker 3: a tangent. It's a good one. But thinking how creating 347 00:18:06,900 --> 00:18:12,490 Speaker 3: and working and even resting and doing things with your hands, 348 00:18:12,550 --> 00:18:14,850 Speaker 3: if you're out in your garden or you're on a 349 00:18:14,930 --> 00:18:19,090 Speaker 3: walk or you're, pouring into your kids or you're making dinner, 350 00:18:19,210 --> 00:18:23,940 Speaker 3: like those types of creation are truly things that helped 351 00:18:24,020 --> 00:18:26,600 Speaker 3: me out of my depression. And so I thought that 352 00:18:26,640 --> 00:18:29,610 Speaker 3: was so interesting because I do think it is true 353 00:18:29,660 --> 00:18:32,950 Speaker 3: in a sense where I'm getting your body moving or 354 00:18:33,030 --> 00:18:38,649 Speaker 3: working with your hands or serving or just doing something helps. 355 00:18:38,990 --> 00:18:42,219 Speaker 3: And I think that's why like maybe today you and 356 00:18:42,660 --> 00:18:44,300 Speaker 3: I say this in the book where it's like maybe 357 00:18:44,359 --> 00:18:47,179 Speaker 3: today you get up and you're you are able to shower. 358 00:18:47,540 --> 00:18:50,940 Speaker 3: Maybe tomorrow you are able to get up and make 359 00:18:50,960 --> 00:18:54,369 Speaker 3: your kids breakfast. Maybe the next day you make something 360 00:18:54,440 --> 00:18:59,530 Speaker 3: else like it's these slow steps of giving yourself that 361 00:18:59,609 --> 00:19:04,030 Speaker 3: grace to not rush things because healing is not linear. 362 00:19:04,490 --> 00:19:05,970 Speaker 3: I mean, I don't know about you, but I feel 363 00:19:05,990 --> 00:19:08,270 Speaker 3: like there's so many times where I've taken 10 steps 364 00:19:08,570 --> 00:19:11,990 Speaker 3: and I'm doing great. And then like one thing derails 365 00:19:12,050 --> 00:19:16,440 Speaker 3: me and I'm like back 45 steps. And that's not 366 00:19:16,500 --> 00:19:20,600 Speaker 3: to say that, you know, that's not everybody's story, but 367 00:19:20,680 --> 00:19:24,740 Speaker 3: everybody has that where healing is not this just constant upward. 368 00:19:24,800 --> 00:19:27,969 Speaker 3: We're perfect now. That's just not how it is. And 369 00:19:28,010 --> 00:19:31,649 Speaker 3: so I think that going back to that opposite of 370 00:19:31,710 --> 00:19:36,360 Speaker 3: depression is creation. It's just kind of interesting to think 371 00:19:36,440 --> 00:19:40,340 Speaker 3: that it's not a super spiritual answer and it's not 372 00:19:40,480 --> 00:19:43,660 Speaker 3: something that I've even really thought about until the last 373 00:19:43,660 --> 00:19:47,090 Speaker 3: 24 hours. But I do believe that when we are 374 00:19:47,250 --> 00:19:50,420 Speaker 3: in that place, even wrestling with the Lord is even 375 00:19:50,800 --> 00:19:56,180 Speaker 3: asking those hard questions, that is all like an active creation, right? 376 00:19:56,220 --> 00:19:59,919 Speaker 3: Like you are putting out these hard topics with the 377 00:19:59,960 --> 00:20:05,270 Speaker 3: Lord and these wrestling on hardships and your pain, right? 378 00:20:05,770 --> 00:20:09,270 Speaker 3: And even reading the word, that's an active, you know, 379 00:20:09,350 --> 00:20:13,270 Speaker 3: that's that's obedience in your own depression right there. So 380 00:20:13,630 --> 00:20:16,389 Speaker 3: I think it's it's obviously going back to the Lord. 381 00:20:16,590 --> 00:20:20,570 Speaker 3: It's obviously being honest, but it's also realizing that it's 382 00:20:20,650 --> 00:20:24,070 Speaker 3: not it's not linear. And you're going to have days 383 00:20:24,150 --> 00:20:27,230 Speaker 3: where you're feeling a lot better about things. And then 384 00:20:27,250 --> 00:20:29,410 Speaker 3: a couple of days later, you might take some steps 385 00:20:29,470 --> 00:20:32,609 Speaker 3: back and it's giving yourself that grace and trusting the 386 00:20:32,650 --> 00:20:33,490 Speaker 3: Lord every step. 387 00:20:33,710 --> 00:20:36,359 Speaker 1: Through everything that you've gone through thus far in your life, 388 00:20:36,680 --> 00:20:38,840 Speaker 1: what do you think God has grown that is good? 389 00:20:39,020 --> 00:20:43,750 Speaker 3: Well, when I read Romans 5, 3 through 5 multiple 390 00:20:43,810 --> 00:20:50,090 Speaker 3: times and studied that, that suffering produces character, endurance, and hope. 391 00:20:50,290 --> 00:20:54,440 Speaker 3: I would hope that my life and what God has 392 00:20:54,780 --> 00:20:58,980 Speaker 3: done with the suffering, when I surrendered it to Him, 393 00:20:59,000 --> 00:21:03,770 Speaker 3: that I was able to grow in my character and 394 00:21:03,950 --> 00:21:07,489 Speaker 3: mature in my faith and have that resilience and be 395 00:21:07,670 --> 00:21:11,350 Speaker 3: able to just be a woman of hope, knowing that 396 00:21:11,390 --> 00:21:14,649 Speaker 3: this is not forever here on earth and that I 397 00:21:14,690 --> 00:21:17,409 Speaker 3: can have the hope of what's to come. So biblically, 398 00:21:17,470 --> 00:21:20,720 Speaker 3: I hope that's what God has done. But I also 399 00:21:20,800 --> 00:21:23,540 Speaker 3: know that he has forged in me forgiveness and a 400 00:21:25,180 --> 00:21:29,440 Speaker 3: perseverance that I didn't know that I had. And honestly, 401 00:21:29,920 --> 00:21:32,580 Speaker 3: I would even say the last couple years, just like 402 00:21:32,660 --> 00:21:36,840 Speaker 3: a quietness and a peace in him, not on the 403 00:21:37,140 --> 00:21:39,800 Speaker 3: hamster wheel of doing all the things. 404 00:21:40,359 --> 00:21:43,500 Speaker 1: Just thinking about how this message and what you've lived 405 00:21:43,520 --> 00:21:47,359 Speaker 1: through has shaped now how you parent, how you are 406 00:21:47,400 --> 00:21:50,330 Speaker 1: a wife and a friend. As we are trying to 407 00:21:50,420 --> 00:21:53,189 Speaker 1: love others well in their seasons of suffering, you know, 408 00:21:53,210 --> 00:21:56,190 Speaker 1: we don't want to give trite answers like, oh, it's okay, 409 00:21:56,210 --> 00:21:57,470 Speaker 1: something is going to grow out of you. 410 00:21:58,430 --> 00:21:59,010 Speaker 3: It's true. 411 00:21:59,030 --> 00:22:01,570 Speaker 1: And I agree with everything you're saying, but how do 412 00:22:01,590 --> 00:22:03,170 Speaker 1: we love others well in. 413 00:22:03,130 --> 00:22:04,510 Speaker 3: Their seasons of suffering? 414 00:22:04,530 --> 00:22:06,990 Speaker 2: And like, how has that changed your relationships? 415 00:22:07,130 --> 00:22:10,800 Speaker 3: I mean, I definitely have more grace because I have 416 00:22:11,080 --> 00:22:14,440 Speaker 3: been there and I understand what it's like to be 417 00:22:14,640 --> 00:22:18,620 Speaker 3: completely broken and in a dark hole and not seeing 418 00:22:18,960 --> 00:22:22,709 Speaker 3: what the Lord is doing and questioning my faith and 419 00:22:23,320 --> 00:22:27,139 Speaker 3: really wrestling with the hardest topics as a Christian. And 420 00:22:27,300 --> 00:22:32,550 Speaker 3: so I, I seep to relate and understand, but I'm 421 00:22:32,750 --> 00:22:37,940 Speaker 3: also quick to say, don't stay there. because I know 422 00:22:38,020 --> 00:22:41,639 Speaker 3: that this abundant life that God offers all of us 423 00:22:42,020 --> 00:22:45,040 Speaker 3: in him is actually available to us when we don't 424 00:22:45,200 --> 00:22:48,530 Speaker 3: stay stuck, when we don't stay in the pain. And 425 00:22:48,590 --> 00:22:51,689 Speaker 3: so I want to relate to people and relate to 426 00:22:51,750 --> 00:22:54,170 Speaker 3: my kids and relate to friends and family and say, 427 00:22:54,270 --> 00:22:56,710 Speaker 3: I get it. That's hard. And we can sit there 428 00:22:56,750 --> 00:23:00,530 Speaker 3: a little bit. But then, you know, out of not 429 00:23:00,590 --> 00:23:04,730 Speaker 3: even just obedience, but for your for the life that 430 00:23:04,780 --> 00:23:07,320 Speaker 3: God has given you, for the joy, for the peace, 431 00:23:07,380 --> 00:23:10,560 Speaker 3: for his abundance and victory. Let's get out of that 432 00:23:10,900 --> 00:23:13,720 Speaker 3: and not stay stuck in the pain because I think 433 00:23:13,780 --> 00:23:16,419 Speaker 3: a lot of us can be defined by our pain. 434 00:23:16,440 --> 00:23:20,110 Speaker 3: And there's so many people who just play the victim 435 00:23:20,130 --> 00:23:23,429 Speaker 3: and are so stinking stuck in their own pain and 436 00:23:23,490 --> 00:23:26,669 Speaker 3: what has happened that they are blinded to what is 437 00:23:26,730 --> 00:23:29,720 Speaker 3: available to them in a relationship with Christ. You know, 438 00:23:29,820 --> 00:23:33,360 Speaker 3: he's not saying, I came and now you just all 439 00:23:33,420 --> 00:23:36,240 Speaker 3: have to live a horrible, horrible life where the worst 440 00:23:36,280 --> 00:23:38,720 Speaker 3: things happen to you. I mean, don't get me wrong. 441 00:23:38,820 --> 00:23:42,940 Speaker 3: I've thought that. I have walked that road, but I'm 442 00:23:43,010 --> 00:23:44,790 Speaker 3: on the other side now. And so I want to 443 00:23:44,810 --> 00:23:47,890 Speaker 3: bring everybody else over here too and say, you don't 444 00:23:47,950 --> 00:23:51,190 Speaker 3: have to stay there. That's actually not the right view 445 00:23:51,270 --> 00:23:56,010 Speaker 3: of God. And as a Christian woman who is surrendered, 446 00:23:56,290 --> 00:23:58,500 Speaker 3: that's not what it has to look like. So let's 447 00:23:58,869 --> 00:24:00,889 Speaker 3: you know, pull you out and come on this side. 448 00:24:00,930 --> 00:24:06,740 Speaker 3: So it's like grace, but also like, let's go. Perseverance. Yeah. 449 00:24:06,920 --> 00:24:09,200 Speaker 2: Take back your joy because something good is going to grow. 450 00:24:09,460 --> 00:24:14,450 Speaker 1: Yeah. Yeah. Your messages truly do like compound and build 451 00:24:14,510 --> 00:24:15,109 Speaker 1: on each other. 452 00:24:15,130 --> 00:24:17,230 Speaker 3: And I love that. And I can attest. 453 00:24:17,680 --> 00:24:20,080 Speaker 1: That this isn't just word service. This is something that 454 00:24:20,119 --> 00:24:23,760 Speaker 1: she truly lives out because I know you personally. So, okay, 455 00:24:23,840 --> 00:24:27,360 Speaker 1: this season we have been talking about the greatest commandment 456 00:24:27,420 --> 00:24:30,220 Speaker 1: as usual. So is there a biblical concept of love 457 00:24:30,290 --> 00:24:32,200 Speaker 1: that you think applies to this topic today? 458 00:24:32,980 --> 00:24:35,530 Speaker 3: This is probably random and this is the first thing 459 00:24:35,550 --> 00:24:39,090 Speaker 3: that came to me, but when Mary and Martha were 460 00:24:39,350 --> 00:24:43,590 Speaker 3: telling Jesus that their brother Lazarus was sick and Jesus 461 00:24:43,690 --> 00:24:48,600 Speaker 3: waited and then came later, And then wept with them 462 00:24:48,619 --> 00:24:52,800 Speaker 3: and mourned with them and then healed Lazarus. And it 463 00:24:52,820 --> 00:24:56,050 Speaker 3: was like, yay! You know, it's like, wait, what? It's 464 00:24:56,090 --> 00:25:00,730 Speaker 3: like emotional whiplash. But I look at that now and 465 00:25:00,850 --> 00:25:05,680 Speaker 3: I see such love. because he was going to grow 466 00:25:05,760 --> 00:25:09,960 Speaker 3: something good, but he met them exactly where they were 467 00:25:09,980 --> 00:25:14,680 Speaker 3: in their not understanding, in their mourning and their grief 468 00:25:14,760 --> 00:25:19,250 Speaker 3: and their heart ripped out of your chest type of 469 00:25:20,020 --> 00:25:22,930 Speaker 3: ache that your body felt, you know, in that moment 470 00:25:22,970 --> 00:25:25,990 Speaker 3: of just being like, why didn't you come? My brother 471 00:25:26,070 --> 00:25:29,090 Speaker 3: is dead now. And like, I would be so mad 472 00:25:29,270 --> 00:25:30,990 Speaker 3: and I would be so hurt. And I thought we 473 00:25:31,010 --> 00:25:33,240 Speaker 3: were close. I thought you loved us. I thought you 474 00:25:33,260 --> 00:25:35,060 Speaker 3: were going to save him. You know, all these things. 475 00:25:35,400 --> 00:25:40,080 Speaker 3: Jesus was so intentional and is obviously, but he is 476 00:25:40,220 --> 00:25:44,770 Speaker 3: so intentional. And He is so loving and he's going 477 00:25:44,830 --> 00:25:47,930 Speaker 3: to do something in that. But that's not a in 478 00:25:47,970 --> 00:25:50,910 Speaker 3: your worst pain ever. And I want people to hear 479 00:25:50,950 --> 00:25:53,560 Speaker 3: this from my heart, that if you are in the 480 00:25:53,600 --> 00:25:56,320 Speaker 3: worst pain ever right now, we are not telling you 481 00:25:56,340 --> 00:25:59,140 Speaker 3: to just like be happy because God's going to grow 482 00:25:59,180 --> 00:26:02,119 Speaker 3: something good. That is absolutely not what this is about, 483 00:26:02,240 --> 00:26:04,820 Speaker 3: because I have been there and I hated it when 484 00:26:04,859 --> 00:26:07,430 Speaker 3: people told me that. You know, cause that doesn't help. 485 00:26:07,490 --> 00:26:10,150 Speaker 3: It's not helpful. But what I want you to think 486 00:26:10,210 --> 00:26:14,050 Speaker 3: about is going back to that story of you being 487 00:26:14,090 --> 00:26:16,810 Speaker 3: Mary and Martha right now. And you do not understand 488 00:26:17,190 --> 00:26:18,830 Speaker 3: what is going on in your life. And you do 489 00:26:18,869 --> 00:26:22,150 Speaker 3: not understand what Jesus is doing. And everything around you 490 00:26:22,190 --> 00:26:25,420 Speaker 3: looks dark and everything around you looks impossible. And you're 491 00:26:25,480 --> 00:26:27,580 Speaker 3: hurting and you're kind of mad. You're kind of mad 492 00:26:27,600 --> 00:26:30,080 Speaker 3: at Jesus. And you don't know, you want to trust 493 00:26:30,119 --> 00:26:32,580 Speaker 3: him and you love him, but it doesn't make sense. 494 00:26:32,940 --> 00:26:36,840 Speaker 3: That is exactly where, I have been and where so 495 00:26:36,880 --> 00:26:39,510 Speaker 3: many of us are. And I just want you to 496 00:26:39,750 --> 00:26:43,010 Speaker 3: peek into the story of what Jesus does. And it 497 00:26:43,070 --> 00:26:45,450 Speaker 3: wasn't on their timeline. And it's not what they thought. 498 00:26:45,790 --> 00:26:48,889 Speaker 3: And they had no idea. But that there's hope in 499 00:26:48,950 --> 00:26:52,480 Speaker 3: that moment, that there's hope in that heartache. And that's 500 00:26:52,500 --> 00:26:54,440 Speaker 3: what I want us to get to is we don't 501 00:26:54,480 --> 00:26:57,780 Speaker 3: have to pump each other up and give fluffy statements 502 00:26:57,859 --> 00:26:59,619 Speaker 3: and say, oh, it's going to be great because it 503 00:26:59,640 --> 00:27:01,720 Speaker 3: might not be. Like, let's be honest. It might not 504 00:27:01,760 --> 00:27:04,780 Speaker 3: be because we don't know when we do surrender what 505 00:27:04,800 --> 00:27:06,760 Speaker 3: the outcome is going to be. That's why we just 506 00:27:06,800 --> 00:27:09,920 Speaker 3: have to trust. And that is so, so difficult in 507 00:27:10,200 --> 00:27:14,310 Speaker 3: our hardships. But we can still have hope because we 508 00:27:14,369 --> 00:27:16,350 Speaker 3: know that he's faithful. We know that he's good. And 509 00:27:16,390 --> 00:27:18,909 Speaker 3: if we're clinging to him, he's the only sure foundation. 510 00:27:19,510 --> 00:27:22,330 Speaker 3: And so with him, regardless of the outcome, it will 511 00:27:22,369 --> 00:27:25,630 Speaker 3: be good. And good is not necessarily what we think 512 00:27:25,710 --> 00:27:28,159 Speaker 3: is good. And so we just trust and hold on 513 00:27:28,480 --> 00:27:31,240 Speaker 3: to that unwavering hope that is found in Christ. Yeah. 514 00:27:31,640 --> 00:27:31,820 Speaker 1: Yeah. 515 00:27:31,880 --> 00:27:33,699 Speaker 2: He's a good father and wants good things for us. 516 00:27:33,800 --> 00:27:38,340 Speaker 1: So, Nicole, tell us something that you are loving right now. Oh, man. 517 00:27:38,900 --> 00:27:41,240 Speaker 3: What do I love right now? I mean, I always 518 00:27:41,290 --> 00:27:41,850 Speaker 3: love baking. 519 00:27:43,770 --> 00:27:45,230 Speaker 2: What was the last thing you baked? 520 00:27:45,470 --> 00:27:50,510 Speaker 3: I baked blueberry muffins with our own farm fresh blueberries 521 00:27:50,750 --> 00:27:51,869 Speaker 3: from my blueberry bushes. 522 00:27:52,609 --> 00:27:53,570 Speaker 2: Now you're just showing off. 523 00:27:53,690 --> 00:27:57,210 Speaker 3: I know. I know, y'all. But that's always nice. And 524 00:27:57,250 --> 00:28:00,760 Speaker 3: then I've been making my homemade pizza. Like crust, like 525 00:28:00,800 --> 00:28:03,560 Speaker 3: doing the whole thing. And that's been so good. Because, 526 00:28:03,580 --> 00:28:07,600 Speaker 3: I mean, it's just... Baking is like my creative outlet. 527 00:28:07,820 --> 00:28:11,780 Speaker 3: And if I'm not like painting or doing something super artsy, 528 00:28:11,960 --> 00:28:14,540 Speaker 3: baking is where it's at. So that's something I love. 529 00:28:14,680 --> 00:28:16,490 Speaker 1: Well, you know, you talked about earlier, like to get 530 00:28:16,550 --> 00:28:19,969 Speaker 1: out of depression, create something. So maybe bake something, paint something. 531 00:28:20,090 --> 00:28:22,010 Speaker 1: You'll have to give us those recipes. Sounds good. 532 00:28:22,230 --> 00:28:23,510 Speaker 2: The pizza one specifically. 533 00:28:24,490 --> 00:28:27,359 Speaker 3: It's a good one. It really is. Yeah. Okay. 534 00:28:27,400 --> 00:28:29,490 Speaker 1: Well, so I know I want to stay connected with you. 535 00:28:29,540 --> 00:28:31,280 Speaker 1: I'm sure listeners are going to want to. So tell 536 00:28:31,320 --> 00:28:32,139 Speaker 1: us how we can best do that. 537 00:28:32,320 --> 00:28:38,080 Speaker 3: Just NicoleJacobsmeyer.com. And then my Instagram is NicoleJacobsmeyer. And wherever 538 00:28:38,200 --> 00:28:41,350 Speaker 3: books are sold, you can find my books. So yeah, 539 00:28:41,590 --> 00:28:43,570 Speaker 3: anywhere on there. And I have a newsletter that I 540 00:28:43,610 --> 00:28:47,250 Speaker 3: send out called Front Porch Letters. Kind of my farmy 541 00:28:47,430 --> 00:28:50,750 Speaker 3: encouragement to you all. So that's been so fun too. 542 00:28:50,830 --> 00:28:52,990 Speaker 3: But I don't spam. So I only send out like 543 00:28:53,010 --> 00:28:54,950 Speaker 3: a couple of months. I don't have time. 544 00:28:55,330 --> 00:28:58,990 Speaker 1: Well, and listen, her family is beautiful. Her animals are 545 00:28:59,030 --> 00:29:01,510 Speaker 1: so cute. So you need to go and follow along. 546 00:29:01,570 --> 00:29:04,500 Speaker 1: And she always has something good to say that is encouraging. 547 00:29:04,620 --> 00:29:07,020 Speaker 1: And so would you just pray for us as we 548 00:29:07,100 --> 00:29:07,620 Speaker 1: close today? 549 00:29:07,900 --> 00:29:10,560 Speaker 3: Yes. Lord, thank you so much that we even have 550 00:29:10,600 --> 00:29:12,560 Speaker 3: this time to talk about you. We do not take 551 00:29:12,600 --> 00:29:15,650 Speaker 3: that lightly. We do not take that for granted. I pray, Lord, 552 00:29:15,690 --> 00:29:18,850 Speaker 3: for everyone listening who is in that hard place and 553 00:29:18,910 --> 00:29:22,600 Speaker 3: doesn't understand what you are doing. They feel forgotten. They 554 00:29:22,620 --> 00:29:26,520 Speaker 3: feel lost. They feel just burdened by everything that's going 555 00:29:26,600 --> 00:29:29,580 Speaker 3: on around them. They're grieving. And Lord, I just pray 556 00:29:29,640 --> 00:29:32,060 Speaker 3: that maybe this isn't the day that you pluck them 557 00:29:32,180 --> 00:29:33,900 Speaker 3: out and show them all the answers and give them 558 00:29:33,940 --> 00:29:36,100 Speaker 3: all the blessings and abundance. But maybe this is the 559 00:29:36,130 --> 00:29:39,560 Speaker 3: moment that you just meet them where they are right now. Lord, 560 00:29:39,760 --> 00:29:42,880 Speaker 3: that they don't see what's ahead, but God, you do. 561 00:29:43,080 --> 00:29:44,959 Speaker 3: And so I pray that we would just place our 562 00:29:45,000 --> 00:29:48,340 Speaker 3: trust in you, that we would surrender our ideas of 563 00:29:48,420 --> 00:29:51,220 Speaker 3: what is good and what we want and what we need. 564 00:29:51,640 --> 00:29:53,370 Speaker 3: And ultimately, at the end of the day, that we 565 00:29:53,380 --> 00:29:55,950 Speaker 3: would be able to say, Lord, let your will be 566 00:29:55,990 --> 00:29:58,330 Speaker 3: done in our lives. We love you so much. Amen. 567 00:29:58,590 --> 00:29:58,990 Speaker 1: Amen. 568 00:29:59,210 --> 00:29:59,830 Speaker 2: Thank you, friend. 569 00:30:00,030 --> 00:30:02,770 Speaker 1: You're always a treat to get to talk to, but 570 00:30:02,810 --> 00:30:05,870 Speaker 1: I just appreciate you helping us to realize that something 571 00:30:05,890 --> 00:30:06,490 Speaker 1: good will grow. 572 00:30:06,690 --> 00:30:07,910 Speaker 3: Thank you so much for having me. 573 00:30:08,030 --> 00:30:11,280 Speaker 1: Thank you so much for listening to the Love Offering Podcast. 574 00:30:11,300 --> 00:30:13,700 Speaker 1: I hope today's conversation reminded you that even in the 575 00:30:13,740 --> 00:30:16,580 Speaker 1: darkest and most painful seasons, God has not abandoned you. 576 00:30:17,020 --> 00:30:18,820 Speaker 1: You may not see the growth yet, but you can 577 00:30:18,840 --> 00:30:21,120 Speaker 1: trust His heart, receive His grace, and believe that He 578 00:30:21,180 --> 00:30:23,720 Speaker 1: is able to bring forth something beautiful from your suffering. 579 00:30:24,220 --> 00:30:26,120 Speaker 1: If you enjoyed this episode, please share it with a 580 00:30:26,160 --> 00:30:27,920 Speaker 1: friend and leave a review. It helps others find the 581 00:30:27,940 --> 00:30:30,590 Speaker 1: show and spreads the message of love even further. To 582 00:30:30,630 --> 00:30:33,910 Speaker 1: connect with me, visit me on my website at rachelkadams.com, 583 00:30:33,970 --> 00:30:36,530 Speaker 1: where you can download the Love Always devotional, a free 584 00:30:36,590 --> 00:30:39,170 Speaker 1: resource to help you realize how beloved you already are. 585 00:30:39,190 --> 00:30:42,050 Speaker 1: Be sure to check out Something Good Will Grow by 586 00:30:42,110 --> 00:30:45,410 Speaker 1: Nicole Jacobs Meyer. A special thank you to Life Audio 587 00:30:45,430 --> 00:30:47,790 Speaker 1: for supporting this podcast and making it possible to find 588 00:30:47,830 --> 00:30:51,910 Speaker 1: more great podcasts. Visit lifeaudio.com. Until next time, let's make 589 00:30:52,030 --> 00:30:53,930 Speaker 1: our lives an offering of love.