1 00:00:05,600 --> 00:00:07,920 S1: If you could choose someone in the Bible other than 2 00:00:07,920 --> 00:00:11,360 S1: Jesus to sit down and share some life lessons with 3 00:00:11,360 --> 00:00:20,480 S1: you today, who would it be? Who would you choose? Moses. Joseph. David. Peter. Maybe. Paul. 4 00:00:21,480 --> 00:00:24,680 S1: Today at the radio. Backyard fence. Life lessons from a 5 00:00:24,680 --> 00:00:28,440 S1: man on the run are pursued. Saint who was rough 6 00:00:28,440 --> 00:00:32,199 S1: around the edges. Who didn't live by opinion polls. He 7 00:00:32,200 --> 00:00:38,640 S1: lived under intense persecution, tension all around him depressed, discouraged, 8 00:00:39,040 --> 00:00:43,920 S1: struggling with the chaos and the culture and the anxiety within. 9 00:00:43,960 --> 00:00:46,080 S1: That sounds a little bit like your life and mine, 10 00:00:46,080 --> 00:00:48,920 S1: doesn't it? We're going to talk about that person today 11 00:00:48,920 --> 00:00:52,040 S1: with Max. That's the only name you really need. He 12 00:00:52,040 --> 00:00:55,600 S1: is America's pastor. Best selling author speaker Max Lucado is 13 00:00:55,600 --> 00:00:59,320 S1: standing by. His new book is about staying steady or 14 00:00:59,490 --> 00:01:05,050 S1: steadfast in unsteady days, and we are smack dab in 15 00:01:05,050 --> 00:01:07,729 S1: the middle of them, aren't we? Who is this biblical 16 00:01:07,730 --> 00:01:10,209 S1: friend who wants to speak into our lives? Find out 17 00:01:10,209 --> 00:01:12,090 S1: straight ahead on the program. From the heart to the 18 00:01:12,090 --> 00:01:15,810 S1: heart for the heart. Online at Chris Fabry live.org. Let 19 00:01:15,810 --> 00:01:18,090 S1: me thank our team behind the scenes. Ryan McConaughey doing 20 00:01:18,090 --> 00:01:20,770 S1: all things technical. Tricia is in the chair today. Our 21 00:01:20,770 --> 00:01:23,690 S1: producer Lisa's helping out. Josh will be answering your calls. 22 00:01:23,690 --> 00:01:26,850 S1: If you want to talk to Max Lucado, who is 23 00:01:26,850 --> 00:01:30,649 S1: America's best selling inspirational author. He's known as America's Pastor, 24 00:01:30,650 --> 00:01:34,450 S1: entered ministry in 1978. Boy, that's a long time ago. 25 00:01:34,930 --> 00:01:38,930 S1: Served in Miami, Florida. Went to Rio de Janeiro in Brazil, 26 00:01:38,930 --> 00:01:43,290 S1: San Antonio, Texas, where he is now living with his wife, 27 00:01:43,290 --> 00:01:47,450 S1: Dina Lynn, teaching ministry at Oak Hills Church in San Antonio. 28 00:01:47,850 --> 00:01:52,970 S1: And his latest book comes out tomorrow. It's titled Unbreakable Courage. 29 00:01:53,490 --> 00:01:55,490 S1: Max Lucado, how you doing today. 30 00:01:56,170 --> 00:02:00,330 S2: Chris? I'm doing great. It's so, so good to hear 31 00:02:00,330 --> 00:02:05,970 S2: your voice. Uh, deeply appreciate the opportunity to have a conversation. 32 00:02:06,490 --> 00:02:08,730 S1: Same here. And you and I have chats in some 33 00:02:08,770 --> 00:02:12,450 S1: tough life struggles, flooding of the Guadalupe or the pandemic. 34 00:02:12,770 --> 00:02:17,210 S1: But this seems, you know, the struggle of life. That 35 00:02:17,210 --> 00:02:19,930 S1: seems to be the lane that you are made for. 36 00:02:20,090 --> 00:02:20,889 S1: Is that true? 37 00:02:22,530 --> 00:02:28,050 S2: I enjoy, um, being an encouragement to people and I 38 00:02:28,090 --> 00:02:33,970 S2: love to, uh, create messages that would help somebody just 39 00:02:33,970 --> 00:02:38,770 S2: navigate the current storm. Now, as to how effective I 40 00:02:38,770 --> 00:02:41,570 S2: am at that, Chris, I don't know, but I feel 41 00:02:41,570 --> 00:02:44,610 S2: my heart drawn toward people when they're in the midst 42 00:02:44,610 --> 00:02:47,970 S2: of a, of a personal challenge. And I appreciate the 43 00:02:47,970 --> 00:02:51,210 S2: opportunity to, to just lift their spirits and give them 44 00:02:51,210 --> 00:02:52,170 S2: a word of hope. 45 00:02:52,730 --> 00:02:55,610 S1: You know, you're writing, as I've read you through the 46 00:02:55,610 --> 00:03:00,460 S1: years is a lot like, uh, sorry for the comparison, 47 00:03:00,460 --> 00:03:02,780 S1: but a lot like John Grisham. It's like, I'll read 48 00:03:02,780 --> 00:03:04,940 S1: Grisham and Grisham has written some good books and some 49 00:03:04,940 --> 00:03:07,180 S1: not so good books, but I'll get into a Grisham 50 00:03:07,180 --> 00:03:09,579 S1: novel and it's like, how does he do this? How 51 00:03:09,620 --> 00:03:12,060 S1: does he tell this story? Because I'm reading along. It 52 00:03:12,060 --> 00:03:15,340 S1: just pulls me in. And when I got into this, 53 00:03:15,340 --> 00:03:18,060 S1: this book, this new one, Unbreakable Courage, it was the 54 00:03:18,060 --> 00:03:20,980 S1: same way. It's like you're, you're dealing with a person 55 00:03:20,980 --> 00:03:24,139 S1: from the Bible and then you're saying, you know, you 56 00:03:24,139 --> 00:03:26,500 S1: and your wife went down the rapids together in this 57 00:03:26,500 --> 00:03:29,579 S1: kayak and you're telling this funny story. It's like it 58 00:03:29,580 --> 00:03:32,220 S1: all weaves together. How in the world do you do that? 59 00:03:32,220 --> 00:03:34,260 S1: Or how did you learn how to do that? 60 00:03:35,180 --> 00:03:39,180 S2: Well, I agree about John Grisham. I love his books. Uh, 61 00:03:39,540 --> 00:03:41,260 S2: in fact, just the other day I was thinking, I 62 00:03:41,260 --> 00:03:44,580 S2: need to pull down his newest one and and give 63 00:03:44,580 --> 00:03:50,180 S2: it a look. Um. Extraordinary writer. Uh, I've always loved writing. I, 64 00:03:50,460 --> 00:03:55,220 S2: I never have considered myself a great writer, but I 65 00:03:55,700 --> 00:04:00,020 S2: can put thoughts together and I love working with words. 66 00:04:00,340 --> 00:04:04,100 S2: I love to self edit. Um, I am a bit 67 00:04:04,100 --> 00:04:08,660 S2: of an introvert which plays well, uh, as one who 68 00:04:08,660 --> 00:04:13,220 S2: spends a lot of time staring at a computer screen. Uh, 69 00:04:13,700 --> 00:04:16,740 S2: and I love, I love the idea of writing. I 70 00:04:16,740 --> 00:04:21,380 S2: love writing something that will long outlive me and that 71 00:04:21,380 --> 00:04:25,140 S2: will speak to people in a very personal and tender 72 00:04:25,180 --> 00:04:30,540 S2: moment in their lives. Uh, everything about writing I really enjoy. 73 00:04:30,940 --> 00:04:34,060 S2: I don't like the copyediting part, so I don't do 74 00:04:34,060 --> 00:04:37,700 S2: much of that. If I get in, if I have, uh, 75 00:04:37,740 --> 00:04:43,380 S2: punctuation mistakes, it's not my fault. But, uh, otherwise, I 76 00:04:43,420 --> 00:04:46,860 S2: love every aspect of the, of the writing world. 77 00:04:46,980 --> 00:04:50,900 S1: I could tell. And, and when you are moved by words, 78 00:04:50,980 --> 00:04:54,470 S1: the were moved by the word to want to do 79 00:04:54,470 --> 00:04:57,510 S1: that same thing for somebody else makes an awful lot 80 00:04:57,550 --> 00:05:00,510 S1: of sense to me when when you've been changed by it. Right? 81 00:05:01,310 --> 00:05:04,870 S2: Mhm. It really does. It really does. When when you 82 00:05:04,870 --> 00:05:08,910 S2: have gone through an experience, uh, it, it can, it 83 00:05:08,950 --> 00:05:12,310 S2: can be of great asset to you. You know, there's 84 00:05:12,310 --> 00:05:15,870 S2: a scripture that says that we can comfort others with 85 00:05:15,870 --> 00:05:19,750 S2: the same comfort that God used to comfort us. And 86 00:05:19,750 --> 00:05:24,310 S2: when we go through an experience, a challenging experience, it's 87 00:05:24,310 --> 00:05:27,550 S2: wise for us to think, okay, God is allowing this 88 00:05:27,550 --> 00:05:31,310 S2: to happen to me, to shape me, and also to 89 00:05:31,390 --> 00:05:35,029 S2: equip me so that someday when I'm talking to someone 90 00:05:35,029 --> 00:05:38,510 S2: who's going through this very same challenge, I will have 91 00:05:38,510 --> 00:05:42,190 S2: a word to say. There's nothing more powerful than for 92 00:05:42,190 --> 00:05:45,549 S2: somebody to hear. You know, I went through the same thing. 93 00:05:45,790 --> 00:05:49,429 S2: Here's what I learned. It was tough, but I made 94 00:05:49,430 --> 00:05:51,750 S2: it for for you to be able to say that 95 00:05:51,750 --> 00:05:55,230 S2: to someone else. That is a true treasure. 96 00:05:55,630 --> 00:05:58,790 S1: Yeah, I think that's the power of what you do, Max. 97 00:05:58,790 --> 00:06:01,190 S1: And that is when I read you. When I hear 98 00:06:01,190 --> 00:06:03,270 S1: you too, when I hear your voice, it's like you're 99 00:06:03,270 --> 00:06:06,270 S1: putting an arm around me and saying, okay, I know 100 00:06:06,270 --> 00:06:08,750 S1: that this is a struggle. If things are going to 101 00:06:08,750 --> 00:06:10,390 S1: be okay, this is going to be all right. You're 102 00:06:10,390 --> 00:06:13,469 S1: going to get through this. And that's what you've done. 103 00:06:13,470 --> 00:06:17,830 S1: But you've used a someone that I wasn't expecting from 104 00:06:17,830 --> 00:06:21,950 S1: the Old Testament, a man named Elijah. I don't remember 105 00:06:21,950 --> 00:06:26,869 S1: you talking about calling down fire on the on Mount 106 00:06:26,870 --> 00:06:30,390 S1: Carmel or wherever that was. I don't remember you doing 107 00:06:30,390 --> 00:06:33,190 S1: that or prophesying that it's not going to rain for 108 00:06:33,190 --> 00:06:35,630 S1: a certain amount of time there in Texas. So you 109 00:06:35,630 --> 00:06:39,190 S1: didn't go through exactly what Elijah went through the same. 110 00:06:39,710 --> 00:06:44,349 S2: Do you think Elijah's well known in in our generation? 111 00:06:44,350 --> 00:06:47,710 S2: Is he is he right up there with other, you know, 112 00:06:48,070 --> 00:06:51,839 S2: Peter and Paul or Mary or do you feel he's 113 00:06:51,839 --> 00:06:55,440 S2: a character that needs to be rediscovered? 114 00:06:55,480 --> 00:06:58,719 S1: I think he needs to be rediscovered because I think 115 00:06:58,760 --> 00:07:00,480 S1: of the first thing I thought of when I knew 116 00:07:00,520 --> 00:07:03,599 S1: it was Elijah. I thought of John the Baptist, and 117 00:07:03,600 --> 00:07:07,279 S1: then I thought about Jesus on the cross and them saying, oh, 118 00:07:07,320 --> 00:07:11,280 S1: he's calling Elijah, you know, and then thinking about the 119 00:07:11,280 --> 00:07:13,560 S1: Mount of Transfiguration, all this you write. 120 00:07:13,560 --> 00:07:14,240 S2: Exactly. 121 00:07:14,360 --> 00:07:18,480 S1: Why. Why was it Moses and Elijah that came to 122 00:07:18,520 --> 00:07:22,000 S1: speak with Jesus? And why did Jesus allow his three 123 00:07:22,360 --> 00:07:26,120 S1: closest friends to see that? So I think you're on 124 00:07:26,160 --> 00:07:27,040 S1: to something here. 125 00:07:28,120 --> 00:07:34,480 S2: I don't hear Elijah discussed a lot. Um, I can't 126 00:07:34,480 --> 00:07:38,040 S2: say that I have been a student of Elijah my 127 00:07:38,040 --> 00:07:44,440 S2: entire life, but I got interested in his, um, journey 128 00:07:44,840 --> 00:07:49,080 S2: about ten years ago, uh, just prior to Covid. Uh, 129 00:07:49,400 --> 00:07:54,720 S2: Because there. That's when we began hearing so many people 130 00:07:54,760 --> 00:07:58,920 S2: talk about the mental health issues. Uh, probably there was 131 00:07:58,920 --> 00:08:04,440 S2: lots of conversation before that, but that's when I tuned in. And, um, I, 132 00:08:04,480 --> 00:08:09,800 S2: I was looking for a character in scripture who would 133 00:08:09,800 --> 00:08:13,640 S2: relate to the world in which we live. And of course, 134 00:08:13,640 --> 00:08:20,640 S2: there are so many, but Elijah came to mind because Elijah, uh, 135 00:08:20,720 --> 00:08:26,280 S2: was actually outnumbered. He didn't just feel outnumbered, but he 136 00:08:26,280 --> 00:08:33,600 S2: was outnumbered. He had a miraculous power that, uh, was 137 00:08:33,600 --> 00:08:36,880 S2: used to rescue the children of Israel. And then he 138 00:08:36,880 --> 00:08:43,599 S2: had times of the deepest and darkest despondency, a depression 139 00:08:43,760 --> 00:08:48,320 S2: of sorts. And then, uh, he is recognized in the 140 00:08:48,320 --> 00:08:52,970 S2: New Testament, as you pointed out, as a truly important person, 141 00:08:52,970 --> 00:08:57,130 S2: because he appears with Moses on the Mount of Transfiguration. 142 00:08:57,370 --> 00:09:02,449 S2: And when James talks about the prophet Elijah and uses 143 00:09:02,450 --> 00:09:06,850 S2: him as an illustration of one who prayed. He points out, remember, 144 00:09:06,850 --> 00:09:09,130 S2: he was human, just as we are. He was a 145 00:09:09,130 --> 00:09:12,849 S2: man just as we are. And so there's this concerted 146 00:09:12,850 --> 00:09:17,850 S2: effort in Scripture to present a person who was truly outnumbered, 147 00:09:18,330 --> 00:09:21,610 S2: yet experienced the power of God, yet had some really 148 00:09:21,610 --> 00:09:25,010 S2: tough times. And he was human, just as we are 149 00:09:25,370 --> 00:09:29,770 S2: in his world, is so marked by miracles, by divine interventions, 150 00:09:29,770 --> 00:09:35,650 S2: by extraordinary events, uh, that that he brings hope to 151 00:09:35,690 --> 00:09:37,850 S2: us in the day in which we live. 152 00:09:38,170 --> 00:09:41,610 S1: And even in those downtimes, even in the real depressing 153 00:09:41,650 --> 00:09:45,450 S1: times when everything was against him to let go of 154 00:09:45,450 --> 00:09:51,530 S1: his hold on, on God. He. He held steadfastly. He held. 155 00:09:51,530 --> 00:09:54,130 S1: Or God held him, or both were going at the 156 00:09:54,130 --> 00:09:57,570 S1: same time. I think there is something here. Max Lucado 157 00:09:57,610 --> 00:10:00,970 S1: is with us. He has written a new book, Unbreakable 158 00:10:00,970 --> 00:10:06,730 S1: Courage Strong Faith in an Age of Anxiety, chaos and Exhaustion. 159 00:10:06,730 --> 00:10:08,890 S1: Is that where you are now? I'd like to hear 160 00:10:08,890 --> 00:10:12,890 S1: from you. What's your story? Go to the website, chris.org. 161 00:10:13,210 --> 00:10:29,689 S1: You'll see our featured resource, our numbers (877) 548-3675. Max Lucado 162 00:10:29,730 --> 00:10:32,809 S1: wants you and me to consider the life of faith, 163 00:10:33,650 --> 00:10:36,929 S1: the courage of Elijah. And we're going to do that 164 00:10:36,929 --> 00:10:38,770 S1: today at the Radio Backyard fence. If you go to 165 00:10:38,770 --> 00:10:43,609 S1: Chris Fabry live.org, you'll see Unbreakable Courage, the new book 166 00:10:43,610 --> 00:10:48,540 S1: by Max that releases Tomorrow she go to Chris Fabry live.org. 167 00:10:48,940 --> 00:10:54,980 S1: One of the lessons of Elijah is the silence, the solitude. 168 00:10:55,900 --> 00:11:00,220 S1: Max says the prophet needed to grow comfortable in isolation. 169 00:11:00,460 --> 00:11:06,580 S1: Purposeful silence and solitude are basic courses in Unbreakable Courage 101. 170 00:11:07,140 --> 00:11:12,059 S1: But in our modern world, we often avoid the stillness. Headphones. Earbuds. 171 00:11:12,059 --> 00:11:17,020 S1: Social media. Society has a constant chatter to it, yet 172 00:11:17,059 --> 00:11:21,740 S1: God's invitation is compelling. Be still and know that I 173 00:11:21,740 --> 00:11:26,140 S1: am God. The message translates this command step out of 174 00:11:26,140 --> 00:11:29,940 S1: the traffic. Take a long, loving look at me, your 175 00:11:29,940 --> 00:11:34,140 S1: high God. And that's shades of A.W. Tozer who said, 176 00:11:34,140 --> 00:11:36,540 S1: get out of the world's parade. Step out of the 177 00:11:36,540 --> 00:11:41,740 S1: world's parade. So, Max, why is that so important for 178 00:11:41,740 --> 00:11:44,020 S1: us today to catch a vision of. 179 00:11:44,910 --> 00:11:50,190 S2: Yeah. Great question. Great question Chris. Um, just in case 180 00:11:50,190 --> 00:11:55,150 S2: somebody has forgotten the context of Elijah, uh, it takes 181 00:11:55,150 --> 00:12:02,070 S2: place in, uh, eight, eight century BC, uh, ancient Israel. 182 00:12:02,710 --> 00:12:06,110 S2: And it is one of the darkest eras in the 183 00:12:06,110 --> 00:12:09,670 S2: history of Israel. Uh, the children of Israel have long 184 00:12:09,670 --> 00:12:14,990 S2: since abandoned the God of Moses, the God of Abraham, 185 00:12:14,990 --> 00:12:18,150 S2: the God of David. And it's tragic because it was 186 00:12:18,150 --> 00:12:21,510 S2: just a hundred years earlier that they built the temple, 187 00:12:21,830 --> 00:12:25,310 S2: a golden era of faith in the history of the 188 00:12:25,309 --> 00:12:30,790 S2: Hebrew people. And yet, as it can happen, uh, the 189 00:12:30,790 --> 00:12:34,910 S2: faith was not transmitted from generation to generation. And there 190 00:12:34,910 --> 00:12:38,510 S2: is a series of scriptures in the book of first 191 00:12:38,510 --> 00:12:45,670 S2: Kings that describe the kings themselves And each one, uh, 192 00:12:46,070 --> 00:12:51,110 S2: is their story. The paragraph is concluded with a line. 193 00:12:51,550 --> 00:12:56,350 S2: He was more evil. He was more evil than the 194 00:12:56,350 --> 00:12:59,310 S2: king before him. Or he was more evil than there 195 00:12:59,309 --> 00:13:01,870 S2: had ever been of a king in it. It was 196 00:13:01,870 --> 00:13:08,670 S2: just one sad, sorry epitaph after another. And this went 197 00:13:08,670 --> 00:13:14,030 S2: on for decades. And by the time Elijah appears, the 198 00:13:14,030 --> 00:13:19,350 S2: children of Israel have turned away from the one true God, 199 00:13:19,950 --> 00:13:24,710 S2: the God of Moses, Abraham, David. They have turned instead 200 00:13:24,990 --> 00:13:33,750 S2: to worship Baal BAAL and Asherah a SHERAHN. Tragedy upon 201 00:13:33,750 --> 00:13:37,750 S2: tragedy comes upon the children of Israel. They are not 202 00:13:37,750 --> 00:13:47,079 S2: only worshipping false gods, but they are engaging in child sacrifice, 203 00:13:47,120 --> 00:13:51,640 S2: in temple prostitution, all in the name of religion. It 204 00:13:51,640 --> 00:13:56,000 S2: is a dark, dark time in the nation of Israel. Well, 205 00:13:56,000 --> 00:13:59,760 S2: how does God respond to this time? Well, he responds 206 00:13:59,760 --> 00:14:03,080 S2: in the form of a man by the name of Elijah. 207 00:14:03,880 --> 00:14:07,320 S2: He just seems to appear out of nowhere. Chris, we 208 00:14:07,320 --> 00:14:09,600 S2: don't know his background. We don't know how he came 209 00:14:09,600 --> 00:14:14,800 S2: to have this deep faith, but he appears, uh, on 210 00:14:14,800 --> 00:14:18,640 S2: the pages of Scripture as he walks into the throne 211 00:14:18,640 --> 00:14:23,239 S2: room of the vilest of the vile kings and queens, 212 00:14:23,280 --> 00:14:27,360 S2: Ahab and Jezebel. You know, there's a reason we don't 213 00:14:27,400 --> 00:14:31,800 S2: name our kids Ahab and Jezebel. These were terrible people. 214 00:14:32,280 --> 00:14:39,320 S2: And they sponsored 850 prophets, false prophets. They paid their salaries. 215 00:14:39,320 --> 00:14:43,320 S2: They put food on their tables. So this is why 216 00:14:43,720 --> 00:14:47,840 S2: we can see that Elijah is much like the world 217 00:14:47,840 --> 00:14:51,960 S2: in which we live today. He was outnumbered. He was surrounded, 218 00:14:52,280 --> 00:14:57,160 S2: surrounded everywhere he went. There were false prophets. We feel 219 00:14:57,160 --> 00:15:01,680 S2: like that sometimes today. Everywhere we turn, we see challenges 220 00:15:01,680 --> 00:15:06,120 S2: and issues and struggles. So Elijah was God's answer to 221 00:15:06,160 --> 00:15:10,120 S2: this difficult time and part of the way God trained 222 00:15:10,120 --> 00:15:16,840 S2: Elijah was isolation. Uh, after after he was, he confronted 223 00:15:16,840 --> 00:15:21,520 S2: Ahab and Jezebel after he declared a drought. Uh, God 224 00:15:21,520 --> 00:15:31,080 S2: sent him into, um, uh, a remote ravine called Cherith. KERITAKERITH. 225 00:15:32,120 --> 00:15:36,920 S2: And there he was, alone in isolation for what seems 226 00:15:36,920 --> 00:15:41,250 S2: to be about a year, And God provided for him 227 00:15:41,570 --> 00:15:47,250 S2: by bringing food to him, uh, delivered by ravens. Uh, 228 00:15:47,250 --> 00:15:51,730 S2: you talk about a DoorDash of an earlier version and 229 00:15:51,730 --> 00:15:54,850 S2: he drank water out of a creek. And this was 230 00:15:54,850 --> 00:15:58,850 S2: God's way of preparing Elijah for the work that God 231 00:15:58,890 --> 00:16:01,290 S2: had for him to do. And I'd love to tell 232 00:16:01,290 --> 00:16:05,050 S2: that story because many times we feel like we're isolated, 233 00:16:05,050 --> 00:16:07,970 S2: we're cut off, we're distant from everybody, or we're the 234 00:16:07,970 --> 00:16:11,570 S2: only one nobody else understands. God may have you in 235 00:16:11,570 --> 00:16:15,930 S2: a period of isolation because he's equipping you for the 236 00:16:15,970 --> 00:16:17,810 S2: work he has for you to do. 237 00:16:19,170 --> 00:16:25,330 S1: And the the antidote to the despair, then, is not 238 00:16:25,330 --> 00:16:29,090 S1: just to be still and think good thoughts, but to 239 00:16:29,130 --> 00:16:32,890 S1: be still and look up to know that I am God. 240 00:16:32,890 --> 00:16:36,290 S1: I'm the one who's direct. I'm the one who's allowing 241 00:16:36,290 --> 00:16:39,330 S1: these really negative things to happen in your life and 242 00:16:39,330 --> 00:16:42,130 S1: all these people who are against you, right? 243 00:16:42,410 --> 00:16:46,810 S2: Yeah. We tend to our theology is off balance when 244 00:16:46,810 --> 00:16:50,410 S2: we say, I'm having a bad time, God must be 245 00:16:50,410 --> 00:16:55,330 S2: upset with me. Well, it could be that our bad 246 00:16:55,330 --> 00:16:59,610 S2: season is a consequence of bad living. That's true. It 247 00:16:59,610 --> 00:17:02,930 S2: could be that our bad season is a consequence of 248 00:17:02,930 --> 00:17:08,010 S2: God's training. Elijah had not done anything wrong. Joseph had 249 00:17:08,010 --> 00:17:11,090 S2: not done anything wrong, and yet he was sent to prison. 250 00:17:11,450 --> 00:17:14,570 S2: David had not done anything wrong. He had been anointed 251 00:17:14,570 --> 00:17:18,570 S2: king and yet was sent out to care for the sheep. Uh, really? 252 00:17:18,570 --> 00:17:22,570 S2: Moses had not done anything wrong. He had defended a 253 00:17:22,570 --> 00:17:26,770 S2: countryman and that resulted in bloodshed. That's terrible, of course. 254 00:17:27,530 --> 00:17:31,290 S2: But he then spent 40 years in the wilderness. There 255 00:17:31,290 --> 00:17:35,530 S2: are those seasons in life that we are isolated. We 256 00:17:35,530 --> 00:17:39,340 S2: feel like we're in the wilderness. Uh, and yet it 257 00:17:39,340 --> 00:17:44,140 S2: is during these times that God is shaping our character. 258 00:17:44,140 --> 00:17:48,380 S2: So if I'm speaking to somebody, you feel like you 259 00:17:48,380 --> 00:17:51,379 S2: have a call on your life, but you're your life 260 00:17:51,380 --> 00:17:56,780 S2: is on pause. Nothing is moving. Maybe the funding is 261 00:17:56,780 --> 00:18:01,859 S2: not coming. Maybe you're not being accepted, uh, for any 262 00:18:01,859 --> 00:18:07,780 S2: job interviews. Maybe the university application came back unopened. Who 263 00:18:07,780 --> 00:18:10,500 S2: knows what it is. But maybe you feel like your 264 00:18:10,500 --> 00:18:12,459 S2: life is just not moving. Maybe you want to be 265 00:18:12,460 --> 00:18:15,379 S2: married and you're single. Maybe you want to solve the 266 00:18:15,380 --> 00:18:19,100 S2: problems of your marriage and you're stuck. I urge you, 267 00:18:19,260 --> 00:18:23,700 S2: be faithful. Just hang in there one day at a time. 268 00:18:24,020 --> 00:18:29,139 S2: God's measurement of time is not ours. He lives outside 269 00:18:29,140 --> 00:18:34,020 S2: of time. He's already in every every bit as much 270 00:18:34,060 --> 00:18:38,580 S2: in tomorrow as he is today. It's a huge job. 271 00:18:38,780 --> 00:18:42,420 S2: Let him provide. Let him care. Trust him and at 272 00:18:42,420 --> 00:18:45,540 S2: the right time and in the right way. If it's 273 00:18:45,540 --> 00:18:49,420 S2: his will, he will call you into the next chapter 274 00:18:49,420 --> 00:18:50,340 S2: of your life. 275 00:18:51,420 --> 00:18:55,380 S1: But there are so many people who feel like the 276 00:18:55,380 --> 00:18:58,340 S1: life of faith that I have been called to live. 277 00:18:58,740 --> 00:19:01,660 S1: I didn't sign up for this, and my guess is 278 00:19:01,660 --> 00:19:05,300 S1: Elijah probably felt that way at times. This doesn't seem fair. 279 00:19:05,540 --> 00:19:07,939 S1: Why would you put me through this? Why do I 280 00:19:07,940 --> 00:19:12,740 S1: have to be here? And like you say, we our circumstances, 281 00:19:12,740 --> 00:19:15,820 S1: we think, well, God, God is against us. Or he's 282 00:19:15,820 --> 00:19:19,300 S1: he's doesn't see what what's going on in our lives. 283 00:19:19,300 --> 00:19:21,300 S1: How do you deal with that? I didn't sign up 284 00:19:21,300 --> 00:19:22,300 S1: for this feeling. 285 00:19:23,619 --> 00:19:30,619 S2: Well, uh, Chuck Swindoll, a hero of mine, uh, is 286 00:19:30,619 --> 00:19:35,070 S2: famously quoted as the one who said God is not 287 00:19:35,070 --> 00:19:40,790 S2: sometimes sovereign, is not sometimes sovereign. He either is sovereign 288 00:19:40,790 --> 00:19:43,990 S2: or he's not at all. So everything that comes into 289 00:19:43,990 --> 00:19:48,629 S2: our world is somehow going to be used according to 290 00:19:48,670 --> 00:19:53,190 S2: his plan. It's a challenging conversation to say, what does 291 00:19:53,190 --> 00:19:56,750 S2: God plan and what does God just permit the facet. 292 00:19:56,790 --> 00:19:58,510 S2: The fact of the matter is we live in a 293 00:19:58,510 --> 00:20:01,670 S2: fallen world. The fact of the matter is God could 294 00:20:01,670 --> 00:20:07,429 S2: prevent everything, uh, from happening to us. That is, uh, 295 00:20:07,750 --> 00:20:11,629 S2: that is a challenge. He could prevent us from having 296 00:20:11,630 --> 00:20:15,030 S2: a noisy neighbor, cranky boss, or even a bad habit. 297 00:20:15,070 --> 00:20:18,550 S2: He could prevent that. But we live in a world 298 00:20:18,550 --> 00:20:21,590 S2: that is messed up. It is just messed up. It 299 00:20:21,590 --> 00:20:26,390 S2: is upside down. It is screwed up. And the fact 300 00:20:26,390 --> 00:20:29,629 S2: that we live in this dark world means that we're 301 00:20:29,630 --> 00:20:34,270 S2: going to feel the consequences of not just our bad choices, 302 00:20:34,270 --> 00:20:38,670 S2: but the choices of others. Now God's solution to this 303 00:20:38,950 --> 00:20:42,510 S2: is that he will redeem it. What is intended is evil. 304 00:20:42,550 --> 00:20:45,870 S2: God will use for good. He will. He will turn 305 00:20:45,910 --> 00:20:52,870 S2: things upside down. He will send an Esther, uh into captivity. 306 00:20:53,109 --> 00:20:56,390 S2: And she will then become the queen that will save 307 00:20:56,390 --> 00:21:01,350 S2: the entire Jewish people. There's one story after another of 308 00:21:01,350 --> 00:21:04,550 S2: how God takes the mess of the world, and yet 309 00:21:04,590 --> 00:21:07,270 S2: he puts the right person in the right place and 310 00:21:07,270 --> 00:21:11,110 S2: at the right time, empowers them to do something that 311 00:21:11,109 --> 00:21:14,510 S2: makes a difference. And that's the story of Elijah. And 312 00:21:14,510 --> 00:21:17,470 S2: never in the history of Israel had the people gotten 313 00:21:17,470 --> 00:21:21,630 S2: so far from God. And yet his first announcement, the 314 00:21:21,630 --> 00:21:26,150 S2: Lord God of Israel lives. And then that's the context, 315 00:21:26,190 --> 00:21:29,790 S2: the explanation behind the huge moment of his life on 316 00:21:29,790 --> 00:21:34,639 S2: Mount Carmel when he challenged those 850 prophets to a 317 00:21:34,640 --> 00:21:39,280 S2: spiritual showdown, and hundreds of thousands, if not a million 318 00:21:39,280 --> 00:21:44,400 S2: people showed up to witness Elijah go against 850 prophets. 319 00:21:44,760 --> 00:21:48,680 S2: The 850 prophets of Baal and Asherah tried to call 320 00:21:48,680 --> 00:21:52,240 S2: down fire from heaven on the altar, but their God 321 00:21:52,240 --> 00:21:58,320 S2: was silent. Elijah, I mean, he barely cleared his throat. 322 00:21:58,560 --> 00:22:01,240 S2: Just he just. He prayed, Lord, show them that I 323 00:22:01,280 --> 00:22:04,680 S2: am who you say I am. And fire fell from heaven. 324 00:22:05,040 --> 00:22:09,160 S2: One of the greatest miracles in all of Scripture. Uh, 325 00:22:09,160 --> 00:22:12,000 S2: because he had the faith, he had the courage to 326 00:22:12,040 --> 00:22:15,880 S2: stay faithful in a very difficult time. Now, I hope 327 00:22:15,880 --> 00:22:18,520 S2: you'll give me the opportunity in this same broadcast to 328 00:22:18,560 --> 00:22:22,440 S2: talk about what happened next, because the guy Elijah, who 329 00:22:22,440 --> 00:22:26,639 S2: had seen so much, becomes a guy who can't bear 330 00:22:26,640 --> 00:22:32,560 S2: up under anything, and he enters into a time of dejection, discouragement, yes. 331 00:22:32,560 --> 00:22:33,600 S2: Even depression. 332 00:22:34,560 --> 00:22:37,920 S1: Oh, absolutely. Because because I want you to speak into 333 00:22:37,960 --> 00:22:41,040 S1: because that the mountaintop experience is like, that's what I 334 00:22:41,040 --> 00:22:43,239 S1: want to hear. That's what I want to experience. I 335 00:22:43,280 --> 00:22:46,400 S1: don't want what's down on the on the other side 336 00:22:46,400 --> 00:22:48,760 S1: of that, I want what's down in the valley. And 337 00:22:48,760 --> 00:22:53,200 S1: it reminds me of Jonah, you know, and how God isolated. 338 00:22:53,240 --> 00:22:56,800 S1: He runs from God and, and God. I don't want 339 00:22:56,840 --> 00:22:59,920 S1: to mix prophets here, but it just seems like the 340 00:22:59,960 --> 00:23:04,160 S1: same kind of story. God isolated him and taught him 341 00:23:04,160 --> 00:23:08,320 S1: something in that place where he thought God was going 342 00:23:08,359 --> 00:23:12,520 S1: to pounce on the Ninevites. And no, he showed him 343 00:23:12,520 --> 00:23:17,240 S1: his love for the Ninevites. So all of that goes together, 344 00:23:17,280 --> 00:23:17,840 S1: doesn't it? 345 00:23:18,520 --> 00:23:22,440 S2: It really does. It really does. You know, somebody ought 346 00:23:22,480 --> 00:23:25,400 S2: to write a book just about life in the wilderness, 347 00:23:25,760 --> 00:23:29,290 S2: because that's what we all go through at one time 348 00:23:29,290 --> 00:23:33,050 S2: or another gratefully. I don't know very many. I don't 349 00:23:33,050 --> 00:23:35,609 S2: think I've ever met anyone who spent their whole life 350 00:23:35,850 --> 00:23:40,450 S2: in a wilderness in a barren wasteland. Um, but all 351 00:23:40,450 --> 00:23:44,610 S2: of us find ourselves there one time or another, uh, 352 00:23:44,650 --> 00:23:50,570 S2: for one reason or another. Even Jesus, or especially Jesus. 353 00:23:50,570 --> 00:23:54,250 S2: The fact that the Son of God on earth, God 354 00:23:54,770 --> 00:23:59,530 S2: on earth, allowed himself to be led into the wilderness 355 00:23:59,850 --> 00:24:02,570 S2: so he could be tempted by the devil. We all 356 00:24:02,570 --> 00:24:06,250 S2: go through these times. And Elijah is a picture of 357 00:24:06,250 --> 00:24:10,570 S2: somebody who, though he struggled during those times, he was faithful. 358 00:24:11,090 --> 00:24:12,970 S2: Is this a good time for us to talk about 359 00:24:12,970 --> 00:24:14,530 S2: what happened after Mount Carmel? 360 00:24:14,570 --> 00:24:17,649 S1: Chris, let's do that after we take a break. We 361 00:24:17,650 --> 00:24:19,450 S1: got got a minute and a half here. Let me 362 00:24:19,450 --> 00:24:23,090 S1: tell you, friend Max Lucado is with us today. Unbreakable 363 00:24:23,090 --> 00:24:26,929 S1: courage is his latest book. It comes out tomorrow. Strong 364 00:24:27,060 --> 00:24:31,820 S1: faith in an age of anxiety, chaos and exhaustion. When 365 00:24:31,820 --> 00:24:34,260 S1: I hear Max's voice, does this happen to you and 366 00:24:34,260 --> 00:24:37,020 S1: you hear his voice? Or when I read something that 367 00:24:37,020 --> 00:24:41,060 S1: he's written, there's just this sense of calm and peace 368 00:24:41,420 --> 00:24:43,900 S1: that comes over me. I don't know what it is. 369 00:24:43,900 --> 00:24:47,340 S1: I think it's it's what you're talking about, Max. And 370 00:24:47,340 --> 00:24:53,260 S1: that is the same God that calmed Elijah's depression and struggle. 371 00:24:53,260 --> 00:24:55,900 S1: And in the middle of his chaos is the same 372 00:24:55,900 --> 00:24:58,580 S1: God who was alive today and can do the same thing. 373 00:24:58,820 --> 00:25:00,700 S1: So I'll call a time out. We'll come back from 374 00:25:00,700 --> 00:25:03,140 S1: the break, and I want you to tell us the 375 00:25:03,180 --> 00:25:05,820 S1: rest of the story. As Paul Harvey used to say, 376 00:25:06,020 --> 00:25:11,740 S1: Unbreakable Courage is our featured resource at Chris fabry.org. Strong 377 00:25:11,780 --> 00:25:15,700 S1: faith in an age of anxiety, chaos, and exhaustion. We 378 00:25:15,700 --> 00:25:17,739 S1: have Max for about 20 more minutes, and if you 379 00:25:17,740 --> 00:25:20,260 S1: want to talk with him, maybe that's where you are today. 380 00:25:20,260 --> 00:25:23,300 S1: You are right there in the valley and you're struggling 381 00:25:23,340 --> 00:25:26,060 S1: to hang on to God and you feel like he's 382 00:25:26,060 --> 00:25:30,820 S1: a million miles away. Eight. Seven. Seven. Five. Four. Eight. Three. Six. 383 00:25:30,859 --> 00:25:39,740 S1: Seven five. Z. Number (877) 548-3675. Go over to the website chris.org. 384 00:25:39,780 --> 00:25:42,580 S1: You'll not only see our today's featured resource, you'll see 385 00:25:42,580 --> 00:25:45,420 S1: how you can support the program and a lot of 386 00:25:45,420 --> 00:25:49,540 S1: links that we have for you there. Chris Fabry live.org. 387 00:25:49,580 --> 00:26:04,899 S1: More straight ahead on Moody Radio. What a treat to 388 00:26:04,900 --> 00:26:07,980 S1: have Max Lucado back again on Chris Fabry live. His 389 00:26:07,980 --> 00:26:12,300 S1: latest comes out tomorrow. Unbreakable courage. Strong Faith in an 390 00:26:12,300 --> 00:26:15,980 S1: Age of Anxiety, chaos and exhaustion. Featured resource at the 391 00:26:15,980 --> 00:26:23,139 S1: website Chris Fabry live.org. Chris fabriclive.org. Okay, so Elijah prays. 392 00:26:23,300 --> 00:26:27,790 S1: Mount Carmel Fire Falls. There is a great victory won 393 00:26:27,790 --> 00:26:30,750 S1: for God. Then what happened, Max? 394 00:26:31,750 --> 00:26:35,670 S2: And then there's even another miracle. Uh, Elijah prays for 395 00:26:35,670 --> 00:26:39,190 S2: the rain to return, and the rain returns. It's so 396 00:26:39,190 --> 00:26:41,790 S2: stormy that he tells Ahab, you better get back. You're 397 00:26:41,790 --> 00:26:43,670 S2: going to get washed out. I mean, it's just one 398 00:26:43,670 --> 00:26:49,590 S2: miracle after another, Chris. But then he gets word. Elijah 399 00:26:49,630 --> 00:26:55,190 S2: gets word that Jezebel is out to get him. Now, 400 00:26:55,190 --> 00:26:58,550 S2: we'd expect him to take a stand against her. We'd 401 00:26:58,550 --> 00:27:01,949 S2: expect him to, you know, rise up and say, I 402 00:27:01,990 --> 00:27:05,510 S2: just dealt with 850 prophets. You think you can do 403 00:27:05,510 --> 00:27:09,430 S2: anything to hurt me? But he doesn't. He. He re-entered 404 00:27:09,430 --> 00:27:13,630 S2: the driving storm, and he trudged his way a hundred 405 00:27:13,630 --> 00:27:18,270 S2: miles across the hills of Samaria. He was so scared 406 00:27:18,270 --> 00:27:21,750 S2: he made a run for it. He stopped and left 407 00:27:21,750 --> 00:27:25,710 S2: his servant in and Beersheba. Then he plunged even further, 408 00:27:25,710 --> 00:27:30,510 S2: another day into the wilderness and he collapsed. He was exhausted. 409 00:27:30,630 --> 00:27:35,310 S2: He had weary limbs, blistered feet. He despaired of life itself. 410 00:27:35,670 --> 00:27:38,830 S2: And he said, I'm reading right now from First Kings, 411 00:27:39,670 --> 00:27:45,070 S2: chapter nine. He said, enough of this, God, take my life. 412 00:27:46,109 --> 00:27:50,870 S2: I'm ready to join my ancestors in the grave. Exhausted, 413 00:27:50,869 --> 00:27:57,910 S2: he fell asleep underneath the lone broom brush. So he ran. 414 00:27:58,150 --> 00:28:02,070 S2: He ran until he was so exhausted that he spoke 415 00:28:02,070 --> 00:28:07,750 S2: words that sound suicidal. You know, I think this story 416 00:28:07,790 --> 00:28:09,950 S2: has so much to say for us. Did you know 417 00:28:09,950 --> 00:28:14,310 S2: that 1 in 3 people in America battled to one 418 00:28:14,310 --> 00:28:19,270 S2: degree or another with depression? 1 in 3 people. You know, 419 00:28:19,310 --> 00:28:22,760 S2: if you and I saw in a grocery store, one 420 00:28:22,760 --> 00:28:26,040 S2: out of three people wearing a cast over their right arm. 421 00:28:26,040 --> 00:28:29,640 S2: We would think something is wrong. There's a pandemic against 422 00:28:29,680 --> 00:28:33,440 S2: right arms. Well, the fact is, one out of three 423 00:28:33,440 --> 00:28:37,760 S2: people you see in a grocery store, shopping mall, traffic jam, 424 00:28:37,960 --> 00:28:41,160 S2: one out of three of them is battling this, this 425 00:28:41,640 --> 00:28:47,600 S2: pervasive sense of gloom and doom. So what does this 426 00:28:47,600 --> 00:28:51,320 S2: story tell us? Well, it tells us how God responds 427 00:28:51,320 --> 00:28:56,400 S2: when we are facing a tough day. The scripture says that, uh, 428 00:28:56,440 --> 00:29:01,200 S2: Elijah sat down under the bush and he fell asleep. 429 00:29:01,760 --> 00:29:05,280 S2: An angel awoke him and told him to eat. And 430 00:29:05,280 --> 00:29:07,640 S2: and he looked over and there was food provided by 431 00:29:07,640 --> 00:29:10,640 S2: the angels. Then he, he drank and he lay down again. 432 00:29:10,640 --> 00:29:13,640 S2: And he, he took another nap. And then the Lord said, 433 00:29:13,640 --> 00:29:16,360 S2: get up and go. The journey is too much for you. 434 00:29:16,520 --> 00:29:20,280 S2: This is one of the most tender moments in all 435 00:29:20,400 --> 00:29:24,440 S2: of Scripture, God could have easily and understandably said, what 436 00:29:24,440 --> 00:29:28,880 S2: does it take to convince you, Elijah? But he didn't. 437 00:29:28,880 --> 00:29:32,240 S2: He did. He did not have any words of of reprimand. 438 00:29:32,520 --> 00:29:36,840 S2: And I think that anybody listening today who's passing through 439 00:29:36,840 --> 00:29:40,800 S2: a discouraging time, one of those challenges is you need 440 00:29:40,800 --> 00:29:44,840 S2: to believe that God still loves you. He's not cut himself, 441 00:29:44,880 --> 00:29:49,000 S2: cut you off. He's not angry. He's not frustrated with you. 442 00:29:49,120 --> 00:29:51,560 S2: He may be telling you what he told Elijah, and 443 00:29:51,560 --> 00:29:55,479 S2: that is get some rest. Be refreshed. You know, we 444 00:29:55,480 --> 00:29:58,760 S2: tend to live in a day without margins. It seems 445 00:29:58,760 --> 00:30:01,560 S2: like our attention span is sold to the to the 446 00:30:01,560 --> 00:30:06,360 S2: highest bidder. We never stop and rest. Elijah had for 447 00:30:06,360 --> 00:30:12,720 S2: six weeks trudged across the wilderness. He was exhausted. And 448 00:30:12,720 --> 00:30:17,040 S2: so God told him to rest. Finally, he reached Mount Horeb. 449 00:30:17,160 --> 00:30:20,650 S2: There he went into a cave. and the word of 450 00:30:20,650 --> 00:30:22,770 S2: the Lord came to him in a cave and said, 451 00:30:22,770 --> 00:30:26,210 S2: what are you doing in here? Now that that's practical, Chris, 452 00:30:26,490 --> 00:30:30,090 S2: because when we're discouraged or depressed, we want to go 453 00:30:30,090 --> 00:30:32,450 S2: into a cave, or we want to go under into 454 00:30:32,450 --> 00:30:36,370 S2: our bedroom when a crawl under our blankets. But God 455 00:30:36,370 --> 00:30:40,130 S2: called him out of the cave. And that's important. Get 456 00:30:40,130 --> 00:30:43,890 S2: into community. Find some friends. At least get on a 457 00:30:43,890 --> 00:30:48,010 S2: Zoom call. Call a therapist. Call a pastor. Call your mom. 458 00:30:48,250 --> 00:30:55,130 S2: Don't isolate yourself. Get into circulation. And then. Just one 459 00:30:55,130 --> 00:30:58,250 S2: other thing. But it is the most beautiful thing. God 460 00:30:58,250 --> 00:31:02,330 S2: spoke to him. He spoke to him. He didn't speak 461 00:31:02,330 --> 00:31:05,570 S2: to him through a fire. Didn't speak to him through 462 00:31:05,570 --> 00:31:10,090 S2: the wind. He spoke to him, came to him in 463 00:31:10,490 --> 00:31:14,690 S2: a still, small voice. It was kind of like a 464 00:31:14,690 --> 00:31:17,290 S2: low whisper. It was. It was the sound of a 465 00:31:17,490 --> 00:31:21,010 S2: gentle blowing. There is no critique, no firm sermon, no 466 00:31:21,010 --> 00:31:24,930 S2: finger pointing. God came in the shadows. And he will 467 00:31:24,930 --> 00:31:29,250 S2: come to you, my friend. This is tender restoration. Maybe 468 00:31:29,290 --> 00:31:33,930 S2: God is whispering to you to help you to stay strong. 469 00:31:34,570 --> 00:31:39,610 S2: And after Elijah heard the voice of God, he found strength. 470 00:31:39,610 --> 00:31:42,610 S2: He found strength, and God sent him back into the game. 471 00:31:42,770 --> 00:31:46,250 S2: God actually asked him in First Kings chapter 19 and 472 00:31:46,250 --> 00:31:49,729 S2: verse 13. So Elijah, now tell me, what are you 473 00:31:49,730 --> 00:31:54,530 S2: doing here? What are you doing here? And Elijah filed 474 00:31:54,530 --> 00:31:57,250 S2: his complaint again. He said, I've done all the good work. 475 00:31:57,250 --> 00:32:01,530 S2: Nobody cares for me. But God responds and urges him 476 00:32:01,530 --> 00:32:04,969 S2: to get back in the game. There are times in 477 00:32:04,970 --> 00:32:07,090 S2: which we just need to get back in the game. 478 00:32:07,410 --> 00:32:09,690 S2: I think one of the most practical things we can 479 00:32:09,690 --> 00:32:13,209 S2: do when we're discouraged is to help someone else to 480 00:32:13,250 --> 00:32:17,140 S2: go across the street, find a neighbor who needs encouragement 481 00:32:17,140 --> 00:32:20,740 S2: and be that encouragement. God will help us. He helped 482 00:32:20,740 --> 00:32:22,780 S2: Elijah and he will help us still. 483 00:32:23,980 --> 00:32:27,700 S1: That's Max Lucado you just mentioned. First Kings 19 and 484 00:32:27,700 --> 00:32:30,540 S1: Jan has a question in Colorado. Jan, why did you 485 00:32:30,580 --> 00:32:31,260 S1: call today? 486 00:32:31,700 --> 00:32:34,700 S3: Oh, yes. Thank you for taking my call. I've been 487 00:32:34,700 --> 00:32:39,140 S3: pondering this for a long time. And and, um, Mr. Lucado, 488 00:32:39,220 --> 00:32:43,500 S3: you partially answered my question by saying this might be 489 00:32:43,500 --> 00:32:47,459 S3: for a season, but I'm wondering, from the point of 490 00:32:47,460 --> 00:32:52,460 S3: view of the 7000 believers that is later mentioned in 491 00:32:52,460 --> 00:32:55,580 S3: the Scripture, you know, God says, I have 7000 who 492 00:32:55,580 --> 00:32:59,300 S3: have not bowed their knee to Baal. So my question 493 00:32:59,300 --> 00:33:04,980 S3: is trying to bring Elijah into, you know, our world today. 494 00:33:05,220 --> 00:33:10,420 S3: So how do these believers, um, relate to Elijah? I mean, 495 00:33:10,460 --> 00:33:13,660 S3: they weren't even part of his life. So he didn't 496 00:33:13,660 --> 00:33:18,020 S3: have the security or the support of those people. And 497 00:33:18,020 --> 00:33:22,260 S3: so are they at fault in not supporting him or 498 00:33:22,260 --> 00:33:23,180 S3: where were they? 499 00:33:23,860 --> 00:33:27,860 S2: That is a question. We're just we're not given given 500 00:33:27,860 --> 00:33:30,980 S2: the answer to that question, all we can do is speculate. 501 00:33:31,340 --> 00:33:36,580 S2: My hunch is you have an evil king and queen. 502 00:33:37,180 --> 00:33:42,180 S2: You have 850 false prophets. You have an entire army 503 00:33:42,420 --> 00:33:46,940 S2: at your fingertips if you're a king, Ahab and Jezebel. 504 00:33:47,540 --> 00:33:55,020 S2: And I believe those 7000 good prophets had gotten scared. 505 00:33:55,500 --> 00:33:57,180 S2: That's what I think. I think they just kind of 506 00:33:57,220 --> 00:34:01,979 S2: went underground. Elijah came and he was a person of faith, 507 00:34:02,020 --> 00:34:05,540 S2: a person of courage. You're right. Why did they take 508 00:34:05,540 --> 00:34:08,859 S2: so long to appear in the story? I believe that 509 00:34:08,860 --> 00:34:12,859 S2: they were just living under a cloud of fear. Now, 510 00:34:12,900 --> 00:34:16,790 S2: as you know, the story of Elijah ends with him 511 00:34:16,790 --> 00:34:20,030 S2: heading up a school of prophets or having actually several 512 00:34:20,030 --> 00:34:25,270 S2: locations where he's training prophets. And I'm confident those 7000 513 00:34:25,310 --> 00:34:28,430 S2: came out of hiding. But there was a time in 514 00:34:28,430 --> 00:34:32,310 S2: which they had gone underground for fear of their own lives. 515 00:34:32,750 --> 00:34:36,750 S2: And the example of courage of, of, of Elijah's courage 516 00:34:36,790 --> 00:34:38,350 S2: gave them courage to come out. 517 00:34:38,910 --> 00:34:41,830 S1: Mhm. Jan, I'm glad you called today. And I want 518 00:34:41,870 --> 00:34:45,390 S1: to give, uh, let Max talk with Cathy. She needs 519 00:34:45,390 --> 00:34:47,469 S1: a little bit of encouragement today, but let's take our 520 00:34:47,469 --> 00:34:50,469 S1: final break. Max Lucado is with us today at the 521 00:34:50,469 --> 00:34:55,310 S1: back fence. Unbreakable courage. Strong faith in an age of anxiety, 522 00:34:55,350 --> 00:34:59,350 S1: chaos and exhaustion are featured resource. Just go to Chris 523 00:34:59,390 --> 00:35:02,830 S1: Fabry live.org. You can find out more about him and 524 00:35:02,830 --> 00:35:08,629 S1: the new book there. Chris Fabry live.org. More encouragement from 525 00:35:08,630 --> 00:35:23,040 S1: Max is straight ahead on Moody Radio. Our remaining moments 526 00:35:23,040 --> 00:35:27,680 S1: with America's pastor, Max Lucado, who has written a new book, 527 00:35:27,680 --> 00:35:32,320 S1: Unbreakable Courage Strong Faith in an Age of Anxiety, Chaos 528 00:35:32,320 --> 00:35:37,239 S1: and Exhaustion, featured resource at Chris Fabry, live.org. Cathy is 529 00:35:37,239 --> 00:35:39,360 S1: in New Hampshire, and I want to get her connected 530 00:35:39,360 --> 00:35:42,160 S1: with your heart today. Max. Cathy. Go right ahead. 531 00:35:43,760 --> 00:35:47,879 S4: Well, thank you for taking my call. Um. Thank you Max. Um, 532 00:35:47,880 --> 00:35:54,040 S4: I have read several of your gazillions of books, and, um, 533 00:35:54,200 --> 00:35:58,880 S4: I'm a longtime Christian. I am in my 70s. My, um, 534 00:35:59,120 --> 00:36:02,120 S4: husband has been in a nursing home for six years. 535 00:36:02,640 --> 00:36:07,040 S4: And for five years it was in Colorado. But the 536 00:36:07,040 --> 00:36:09,960 S4: Lord led me to bring him home to New Hampshire 537 00:36:10,160 --> 00:36:15,480 S4: to be near Our grown sons. And I have found, uh, 538 00:36:15,520 --> 00:36:17,239 S4: we've been here a year and a half, and he 539 00:36:17,239 --> 00:36:21,279 S4: got settled into a beautiful, uh, veteran's home. But I 540 00:36:21,320 --> 00:36:24,880 S4: have found over 14 months that I cannot find housing, 541 00:36:25,120 --> 00:36:28,919 S4: affordable housing for me, and I have to make some 542 00:36:28,920 --> 00:36:33,680 S4: heavy decisions. And, um, I'm not going to move him. 543 00:36:33,680 --> 00:36:38,560 S4: I have already decided he is happy where he is. And, um, 544 00:36:38,560 --> 00:36:41,960 S4: I always, I have always tried. We've just celebrated our 545 00:36:41,960 --> 00:36:45,400 S4: 50th anniversary. I've always tried to do what is best 546 00:36:45,400 --> 00:36:49,880 S4: for Gary and, uh, but I have to really reevaluate 547 00:36:49,880 --> 00:36:54,239 S4: and make some important decisions. And it's, it's while the, 548 00:36:54,280 --> 00:36:59,200 S4: while you're waiting on God to answer your prayers that, uh, 549 00:36:59,200 --> 00:37:03,720 S4: you can have some anxiety, chaos and, and even exhaustion. 550 00:37:04,040 --> 00:37:08,520 S1: Uh, that's real life. That is real. Oh, Kathy. I'm. 551 00:37:08,930 --> 00:37:12,009 S1: And I love your love for your husband that you 552 00:37:12,050 --> 00:37:16,049 S1: just described there. So thank you for sharing that. Maxwell, 553 00:37:16,050 --> 00:37:17,210 S1: what would you say to Kathy? 554 00:37:17,650 --> 00:37:20,890 S2: Well, I would say what you just said, Chris, that 555 00:37:20,930 --> 00:37:26,009 S2: that all husbands should have someone like Kathy in their 556 00:37:26,010 --> 00:37:31,850 S2: lives to bring encouragement and provide provide that support. Is 557 00:37:31,850 --> 00:37:35,410 S2: your husband in in bad health, Kathy? Is he have 558 00:37:35,410 --> 00:37:38,170 S2: any cognitive issues or physical issues? 559 00:37:39,450 --> 00:37:44,170 S4: Oh, he's got late stage Parkinson's. He has he doesn't 560 00:37:44,170 --> 00:37:48,170 S4: have cognitive issues but doesn't walk or talk much. 561 00:37:49,410 --> 00:37:53,650 S2: It must be really difficult. It must. Well, I think 562 00:37:53,650 --> 00:37:57,930 S2: if if the Elijah story, if there's one event in 563 00:37:57,930 --> 00:38:01,650 S2: his life that really struck me, it's it has to 564 00:38:01,650 --> 00:38:07,690 S2: do with a widow in a town called Zarephath. A 565 00:38:07,770 --> 00:38:13,090 S2: Zarephath was a Gentile village. It was actually the area 566 00:38:13,090 --> 00:38:19,370 S2: where many of the evil people came from. Uh, some 567 00:38:19,450 --> 00:38:24,210 S2: some of the, uh, the Zera. I'm sorry. I got 568 00:38:24,210 --> 00:38:29,770 S2: my names confused. Ahab and Jezebel. Jezebel's, uh, grew up 569 00:38:29,770 --> 00:38:34,770 S2: in Zarephath, so this was her hometown. So Elijah must 570 00:38:34,770 --> 00:38:39,290 S2: have wondered why God would send him to the hometown 571 00:38:39,330 --> 00:38:45,090 S2: of Zarephath. And if that wasn't enough, God told Elijah 572 00:38:45,090 --> 00:38:48,890 S2: that a widow in the town of Zarephath would care 573 00:38:48,890 --> 00:38:53,050 S2: for him. Apparently, the widow didn't get the memo because 574 00:38:53,050 --> 00:38:56,370 S2: when Elijah said, you're to take care of me, she said, 575 00:38:56,370 --> 00:38:59,370 S2: I don't have enough food for my son and myself. 576 00:38:59,450 --> 00:39:01,569 S2: We're going to have one last meal and then we're 577 00:39:01,570 --> 00:39:07,060 S2: going to die. So that seemed to be no Resources. 578 00:39:07,219 --> 00:39:10,500 S2: None at all. She was destitute. She was down to 579 00:39:10,500 --> 00:39:16,020 S2: her last batch of flour. She had an empty pantry, 580 00:39:16,180 --> 00:39:18,820 S2: and she and her son feared that they were about 581 00:39:18,820 --> 00:39:23,020 S2: to die. But God had told Elijah, Go to Zarephath. 582 00:39:23,260 --> 00:39:27,740 S2: I've commanded a widow there to take care of you. 583 00:39:28,140 --> 00:39:32,500 S2: So again, this question surfaces would. Would God give Elijah 584 00:39:32,700 --> 00:39:36,220 S2: an assignment and not the provision? Or would God give 585 00:39:36,260 --> 00:39:41,340 S2: Kathy the assignment and not the provision? I mean, the 586 00:39:41,380 --> 00:39:44,700 S2: widow in Elijah's story was was penniless and she felt 587 00:39:44,700 --> 00:39:49,060 S2: like she was nearly dead. But Elijah spoke to her. 588 00:39:49,460 --> 00:39:52,819 S2: He spoke to her and urged her to not be 589 00:39:52,820 --> 00:39:57,819 S2: afraid to go home, take a small loaf of bread 590 00:39:58,900 --> 00:40:02,299 S2: and take what resources you have, and make a small 591 00:40:02,300 --> 00:40:06,060 S2: loaf of bread in the jar of flour will not 592 00:40:06,060 --> 00:40:08,980 S2: be used up in the jug of oil will not 593 00:40:08,980 --> 00:40:12,299 S2: run dry. He urged her to take a step of 594 00:40:12,300 --> 00:40:16,819 S2: obedience and said that God is going to take care 595 00:40:17,020 --> 00:40:21,060 S2: of you. We all wish that God would provide everything 596 00:40:21,060 --> 00:40:23,180 S2: we need for the rest of our lives in one 597 00:40:23,180 --> 00:40:26,500 S2: fell swoop. But the fact is, he calls upon us 598 00:40:26,500 --> 00:40:29,740 S2: to take just one step at a time. Live one 599 00:40:29,739 --> 00:40:34,060 S2: day at a time. Give us this day our daily bread. 600 00:40:34,460 --> 00:40:38,500 S2: To the widow's credit, she did, and to the widow's surprise, 601 00:40:38,700 --> 00:40:42,700 S2: she learned that Elijah's promise was true, and that every 602 00:40:42,739 --> 00:40:46,219 S2: day there was ample provision. So, father, I want to 603 00:40:46,219 --> 00:40:48,580 S2: pray right now for Kathie. I want to pray that 604 00:40:48,580 --> 00:40:53,339 S2: you meet this need. Uh, she sensed you telling her 605 00:40:53,340 --> 00:40:56,900 S2: to move to New Hampshire. But now the pantry. The 606 00:40:56,900 --> 00:41:02,620 S2: pantry looks bare, barren. It looks like she's out of resources. But, father, 607 00:41:02,620 --> 00:41:07,110 S2: you're not out of resources. You have solutions, you have provisions, 608 00:41:07,110 --> 00:41:11,190 S2: you have answers, and you will bless her. I pray 609 00:41:11,190 --> 00:41:13,870 S2: Heavenly Father and Chris joins this prayer. All of us 610 00:41:13,870 --> 00:41:18,070 S2: join our prayers. We pray for Kathy, asking that you 611 00:41:18,230 --> 00:41:22,790 S2: would show a way for her to find affordable housing 612 00:41:23,110 --> 00:41:26,310 S2: so that she can care for her husband in the 613 00:41:26,310 --> 00:41:29,350 S2: way that you have placed it on her heart to 614 00:41:29,390 --> 00:41:32,950 S2: do so. We know that you will hear this prayer, 615 00:41:33,150 --> 00:41:37,709 S2: strengthen her and bless her and open doors. Please, in 616 00:41:37,710 --> 00:41:40,029 S2: the name of Christ, Amen. 617 00:41:41,110 --> 00:41:44,270 S1: And for all the other Kathy's who are in the 618 00:41:44,270 --> 00:41:47,430 S1: same kind of situation and asking God, what do I 619 00:41:47,469 --> 00:41:51,870 S1: do here? Uh, listen to that prayer. More than that, 620 00:41:51,870 --> 00:41:57,270 S1: look up and look at the God of Israel, the 621 00:41:57,310 --> 00:42:01,350 S1: God who still is alive today. Kathy. Hang on. I 622 00:42:01,350 --> 00:42:03,270 S1: want to send you a copy. Make sure that we 623 00:42:03,270 --> 00:42:06,589 S1: get your copy of this book, Unbreakable Courage. It comes 624 00:42:06,590 --> 00:42:09,710 S1: out tomorrow. Max, you're a real treasure. I say it 625 00:42:09,710 --> 00:42:11,790 S1: to you every time, and I mean it every time. 626 00:42:11,950 --> 00:42:14,509 S1: Thank you for sharing your heart in your books, but 627 00:42:14,510 --> 00:42:16,710 S1: also with us here at the back fence today. 628 00:42:17,510 --> 00:42:20,950 S2: It's been my treat. Chris, thank you for the opportunity. 629 00:42:21,150 --> 00:42:23,230 S2: I hope you have a great rest of the day. 630 00:42:23,510 --> 00:42:24,070 S5: You too. 631 00:42:24,750 --> 00:42:28,070 S1: Max Lucado. Again, if you go to Chris fabry.org, click 632 00:42:28,070 --> 00:42:32,430 S1: through today's information. You'll see that book, Unbreakable Courage strong 633 00:42:32,469 --> 00:42:37,390 S1: Faith in an Age of Anxiety, chaos, and Exhaustion toward 634 00:42:37,390 --> 00:42:40,270 S1: the back of the book. He. He does exactly what 635 00:42:40,270 --> 00:42:43,670 S1: he was talking about with Cathy, and that is okay. 636 00:42:43,710 --> 00:42:46,870 S1: What is your outlook going to be? Are you going 637 00:42:46,910 --> 00:42:48,830 S1: to look at your circumstances, or are you going to 638 00:42:48,830 --> 00:42:52,350 S1: look at the great God that you have? And here's 639 00:42:52,350 --> 00:42:57,590 S1: what Max writes. Elijah had his difficulties, but he landed 640 00:42:57,590 --> 00:43:00,549 S1: on his feet. He was a godly person in a 641 00:43:00,590 --> 00:43:06,319 S1: godless society steadfast in faith. Isn't that what we desire? 642 00:43:06,680 --> 00:43:10,520 S1: To move forward with? Unbreakable courage that refuses to budge 643 00:43:10,520 --> 00:43:14,839 S1: or compromise, to keep swimming upstream, to stay in the 644 00:43:14,840 --> 00:43:19,800 S1: race and finish the course? How can we? By knowing 645 00:43:19,840 --> 00:43:24,799 S1: what Elijah knew. By believing what he believed. The God 646 00:43:24,800 --> 00:43:28,960 S1: of Israel lives. The monarchy is a mess, but the 647 00:43:29,000 --> 00:43:33,160 S1: God of Israel lives. I'm all alone in my belief, 648 00:43:33,160 --> 00:43:36,480 S1: but the God of Israel lives. The faith of my 649 00:43:36,480 --> 00:43:39,600 S1: forefathers has been turned upside down. But the God of 650 00:43:39,600 --> 00:43:44,759 S1: Israel lives. Or put it in our day, the companies 651 00:43:44,760 --> 00:43:48,839 S1: laying off workers. But the God of Israel lives. The 652 00:43:48,840 --> 00:43:54,000 S1: world is changing so fast, but the God of Israel lives. 653 00:43:54,560 --> 00:43:58,920 S1: My health is declining. My body is aging. But the 654 00:43:58,920 --> 00:44:03,319 S1: Lord God of Israel lives. Elijah gripped this belief and 655 00:44:03,320 --> 00:44:06,320 S1: held on with both hands. The God of Israel lives. 656 00:44:06,480 --> 00:44:09,759 S1: Won't you do the same? Faith in this living and 657 00:44:09,760 --> 00:44:15,319 S1: loving God changes everything. We do not need smaller problems. 658 00:44:15,840 --> 00:44:20,239 S1: We need a stalwart faith in our great big God. 659 00:44:20,960 --> 00:44:26,840 S1: He still makes princes out of prisoners, counselors out of captives, 660 00:44:27,360 --> 00:44:33,600 S1: and Sundays out of Fridays. King David once posed this question. 661 00:44:33,920 --> 00:44:36,759 S1: When all that is good falls apart, what can good 662 00:44:36,760 --> 00:44:41,160 S1: people do when evil seems to win? When disease ravages 663 00:44:41,160 --> 00:44:44,080 S1: our bodies and death knocks at the door? What are 664 00:44:44,080 --> 00:44:47,480 S1: we to do? What is the good and godly response 665 00:44:47,760 --> 00:44:52,480 S1: to a fragile and vile world? David doesn't answer his 666 00:44:52,480 --> 00:44:55,480 S1: question with an answer. He answers it with a declaration. 667 00:44:55,480 --> 00:44:58,520 S1: The Lord is in his holy temple. The Lord is 668 00:44:58,610 --> 00:45:03,850 S1: on his throne in heaven. Psalm 11, verse four. His 669 00:45:03,850 --> 00:45:08,529 S1: point is unmistakable. God is unaffected by the storms of 670 00:45:08,530 --> 00:45:12,250 S1: this world. He is undeterred by the chaos of my life. 671 00:45:12,410 --> 00:45:16,569 S1: He is unfrightened by the problems that frighten me. He 672 00:45:16,570 --> 00:45:18,770 S1: is in his holy temple. He is on his throne 673 00:45:18,770 --> 00:45:21,810 S1: in heaven, and he sees you, and he hears you. 674 00:45:21,810 --> 00:45:25,570 S1: And he knows what you and I are going through. 675 00:45:26,330 --> 00:45:29,890 S1: What an encouragement today from Max Lucado. I hope this 676 00:45:30,290 --> 00:45:33,089 S1: I hope you didn't need this program today, but my 677 00:45:33,130 --> 00:45:38,730 S1: guess is you probably did. Unbreakable courage. Max Lucado is 678 00:45:38,730 --> 00:45:44,089 S1: our featured resource at Chris fabry.org. Maybe the chaos in 679 00:45:44,090 --> 00:45:46,650 S1: your life is what we talked about on Friday. Doctor 680 00:45:46,650 --> 00:45:49,690 S1: Kathy Cook was with us and I haven't been able 681 00:45:49,690 --> 00:45:51,810 S1: to get out of my mind. The call from one 682 00:45:51,810 --> 00:45:55,810 S1: mom whose adult daughter was hospitalized, and it sounded like 683 00:45:55,850 --> 00:46:00,330 S1: it was pretty serious. And the mom said that they 684 00:46:00,330 --> 00:46:03,090 S1: could talk about the Chicago Cubs. They had that in common, 685 00:46:03,090 --> 00:46:06,129 S1: but her daughter didn't want to hear anything about Jesus. 686 00:46:06,450 --> 00:46:09,049 S1: And that is such a helpless place to be as 687 00:46:09,050 --> 00:46:11,170 S1: a mom, because you want your daughter to know the 688 00:46:11,170 --> 00:46:14,930 S1: peace and the comfort that comes from a relationship with 689 00:46:15,250 --> 00:46:20,290 S1: the good Shepherd. So our featured resource, or thank you 690 00:46:20,290 --> 00:46:22,529 S1: this month is the book that we talked about with 691 00:46:22,530 --> 00:46:26,169 S1: Doctor Cathy Cook, resolve conflict and find peace and hope 692 00:46:26,170 --> 00:46:30,129 S1: with adult children. If that's something that would encourage you 693 00:46:30,130 --> 00:46:32,730 S1: and I know it will, just go to the website. 694 00:46:32,730 --> 00:46:36,009 S1: Chris Fabry live.org. Scroll down, you'll see how you can 695 00:46:36,050 --> 00:46:38,330 S1: be a friend or a partner with us and receive 696 00:46:38,330 --> 00:46:42,130 S1: that as our thank you. Go to Chris Fabry live.org. 697 00:46:43,330 --> 00:46:45,450 S1: And thanks for listening. Our program is a production of 698 00:46:45,489 --> 00:46:48,770 S1: Moody Radio, a Ministry of Moody Bible Institute.