1 00:00:00,680 --> 00:00:03,880 Speaker 1: You're ready for a comeback, and with Purdue Global you 2 00:00:03,920 --> 00:00:07,080 Speaker 1: can do more than take classes. You can take charge 3 00:00:07,400 --> 00:00:11,440 Speaker 1: of your story, of your career, of your life, Earn 4 00:00:11,480 --> 00:00:13,480 Speaker 1: a degree you can be proud of, and get an 5 00:00:13,600 --> 00:00:18,439 Speaker 1: education employer's respect. It's time, your time, not just to 6 00:00:18,480 --> 00:00:20,880 Speaker 1: go back to school, but to come back and move 7 00:00:20,960 --> 00:00:25,760 Speaker 1: forward with Purdue Global, produce online university for working adults. 8 00:00:26,360 --> 00:00:29,840 Speaker 1: Start your comeback at Purdueglobal dot edu. 9 00:00:30,360 --> 00:00:33,080 Speaker 2: No one likes to talk about money. Am I saving enough? 10 00:00:33,159 --> 00:00:35,199 Speaker 2: Can I buy a house? Am I paying too much 11 00:00:35,240 --> 00:00:37,959 Speaker 2: in taxes? Will I be able to retire? What if 12 00:00:37,960 --> 00:00:40,559 Speaker 2: you could unlock insights about your finances in less than 13 00:00:40,560 --> 00:00:43,040 Speaker 2: five minutes, with a clear picture of where you stand 14 00:00:43,080 --> 00:00:45,879 Speaker 2: today and where your money can work harder. Now you 15 00:00:45,960 --> 00:00:48,960 Speaker 2: can visit facet dot com to take the free quiz 16 00:00:49,000 --> 00:00:53,600 Speaker 2: and get your financial wellness score today. That's faceet dot com. 17 00:00:53,600 --> 00:00:55,560 Speaker 2: This ad is sponsored by Facet. Fast Wealth in Corporated 18 00:00:55,640 --> 00:00:57,480 Speaker 2: is an sec registered investment advisor. This is not an 19 00:00:57,520 --> 00:00:58,920 Speaker 2: offer to buy your self securities sn or is it 20 00:00:58,960 --> 00:01:00,000 Speaker 2: investment legal or tax fives. 21 00:01:00,320 --> 00:01:02,240 Speaker 3: He'll forget about the video game you gave him on 22 00:01:02,280 --> 00:01:02,840 Speaker 3: his birthday. 23 00:01:03,160 --> 00:01:05,039 Speaker 4: Wow, thanks Grandpa. 24 00:01:04,880 --> 00:01:07,280 Speaker 3: But He'll never forget how you invested in his future 25 00:01:07,319 --> 00:01:08,280 Speaker 3: with the units stapp. 26 00:01:08,800 --> 00:01:10,480 Speaker 5: Wow. Thanks Grandpa. 27 00:01:11,080 --> 00:01:13,600 Speaker 3: The units stap makes it easy for grandparents and family 28 00:01:13,640 --> 00:01:16,319 Speaker 3: friends to give funds to a child's investment account for 29 00:01:16,360 --> 00:01:18,760 Speaker 3: a limited time. Download the uns stap and use the 30 00:01:18,800 --> 00:01:20,840 Speaker 3: code I heeart fifty at sign up to receive a 31 00:01:20,880 --> 00:01:23,400 Speaker 3: fifty dollars bonus when you fund your account. That's code 32 00:01:23,400 --> 00:01:26,400 Speaker 3: iHeart fifty when you sign up at unest dot co 33 00:01:26,760 --> 00:01:29,319 Speaker 3: for a fifty dollars bonus. See terms and conditions at 34 00:01:29,440 --> 00:01:30,120 Speaker 3: UNEs dot co. 35 00:01:31,120 --> 00:01:34,880 Speaker 5: Hi, this is Joel and Victoria. Thanks for downloading our podcast. 36 00:01:35,120 --> 00:01:37,959 Speaker 5: We enjoy spending this time with you. I hope you'll 37 00:01:38,000 --> 00:01:41,360 Speaker 5: leave Inspire. Make sure you subscribe to get new messages 38 00:01:41,400 --> 00:01:44,440 Speaker 5: every week. We appreciate your support. It helps keep the 39 00:01:44,480 --> 00:01:45,280 Speaker 5: ministry going. 40 00:01:45,680 --> 00:01:57,600 Speaker 4: Enjoy the message. 41 00:01:58,480 --> 00:02:01,520 Speaker 5: Well, God bless you. It's always a joy to come 42 00:02:01,560 --> 00:02:04,480 Speaker 5: into your homes. We love you. We know God has 43 00:02:04,560 --> 00:02:07,280 Speaker 5: great things in store. And if you're ever in our area, 44 00:02:07,680 --> 00:02:09,640 Speaker 5: I hope you'll stop by and be a part of 45 00:02:09,680 --> 00:02:12,120 Speaker 5: one of our services. I promise you we'll make you 46 00:02:12,160 --> 00:02:14,200 Speaker 5: feel right at home. But thank you so much for 47 00:02:14,280 --> 00:02:17,480 Speaker 5: tuning in. Thanks again for coming out today. I like 48 00:02:17,560 --> 00:02:19,800 Speaker 5: to start with something funny, and I heard about this 49 00:02:19,880 --> 00:02:23,480 Speaker 5: man that was very stingy with his money. Just before 50 00:02:23,520 --> 00:02:26,880 Speaker 5: his death, he made his wife promise that she would 51 00:02:26,919 --> 00:02:30,280 Speaker 5: have him buried with the fifty thousand dollars he had saved. 52 00:02:30,840 --> 00:02:34,480 Speaker 5: The wife reluctantly agreed. At the funeral, just before they 53 00:02:34,600 --> 00:02:37,720 Speaker 5: closed the casket, she slipped in a small wooden box. 54 00:02:38,200 --> 00:02:41,320 Speaker 5: Her friend said, surely you didn't just bury the money, 55 00:02:41,320 --> 00:02:44,000 Speaker 5: did you. The wife said, of course I did. I'm 56 00:02:44,040 --> 00:02:47,239 Speaker 5: a Christian. I can't lie. I promised him I would 57 00:02:47,280 --> 00:02:49,400 Speaker 5: do it, So I did it. She said, you mean 58 00:02:49,440 --> 00:02:52,959 Speaker 5: you just buried fifty thousand dollars. The wife said, yes, 59 00:02:53,040 --> 00:02:54,480 Speaker 5: I did. I wrote a check. 60 00:02:56,760 --> 00:02:59,840 Speaker 6: Hold up your Bible, say it like you mean it. This, 61 00:03:00,000 --> 00:03:02,799 Speaker 6: this says my Bible. I am what it says I am. 62 00:03:03,320 --> 00:03:05,800 Speaker 6: I have what it says I have. I can do 63 00:03:05,919 --> 00:03:08,480 Speaker 6: what it says I can do. Today I will be 64 00:03:08,560 --> 00:03:12,560 Speaker 6: taught the word of God. I boldly confess. My mind 65 00:03:12,680 --> 00:03:16,080 Speaker 6: is alert, my heart is receptive. I will never be 66 00:03:16,200 --> 00:03:19,440 Speaker 6: the same. In Jesus' name, God bless you. 67 00:03:20,520 --> 00:03:23,280 Speaker 5: I want to talk to you today about how God 68 00:03:23,360 --> 00:03:27,840 Speaker 5: can speak to us even in our doubts. Sometimes we 69 00:03:27,880 --> 00:03:31,360 Speaker 5: think we're supposed to have a perfect faith, where we 70 00:03:31,440 --> 00:03:35,480 Speaker 5: never doubt, we never have a question, we never get discouraged, 71 00:03:35,520 --> 00:03:38,920 Speaker 5: we never wonder why something has happened. If we waver 72 00:03:39,160 --> 00:03:42,760 Speaker 5: at all, something must be wrong with us. Surely God 73 00:03:42,840 --> 00:03:46,320 Speaker 5: couldn't do anything. I talked to a gentleman that had 74 00:03:46,320 --> 00:03:49,080 Speaker 5: worked for a company for thirty six years. He was 75 00:03:49,120 --> 00:03:52,520 Speaker 5: in the banking industry, just a few months from retirement, 76 00:03:52,840 --> 00:03:57,440 Speaker 5: and the bank soul. The new owners restructured everything to 77 00:03:57,480 --> 00:04:00,880 Speaker 5: where they didn't need his position anymore. He not only 78 00:04:01,000 --> 00:04:04,160 Speaker 5: lost his job, but he lost all of his retirement 79 00:04:04,600 --> 00:04:08,600 Speaker 5: all of his benefits. He's in his late fifties. He said, Joel, 80 00:04:08,960 --> 00:04:13,040 Speaker 5: I just don't understand how God could let this happen 81 00:04:13,080 --> 00:04:15,840 Speaker 5: to me. Of course, I went into my two minute 82 00:04:15,880 --> 00:04:18,720 Speaker 5: pep talk about how God is in control and he's 83 00:04:18,760 --> 00:04:21,839 Speaker 5: going to open up another door. Then he said something 84 00:04:21,960 --> 00:04:25,120 Speaker 5: that stuck with me. He said, I want to believe. 85 00:04:25,839 --> 00:04:29,520 Speaker 5: I just wish I didn't have all these doubts. He 86 00:04:29,600 --> 00:04:33,000 Speaker 5: said it almost like he was apologizing, like he felt 87 00:04:33,040 --> 00:04:36,320 Speaker 5: so badly for thinking that way. Here's what I want 88 00:04:36,320 --> 00:04:40,520 Speaker 5: to tell you. It's okay to have questions. It's okay 89 00:04:40,600 --> 00:04:45,240 Speaker 5: to wonder why something has happened. God doesn't expect us 90 00:04:45,680 --> 00:04:49,320 Speaker 5: to be mister and missus super believer that never has 91 00:04:49,360 --> 00:04:53,599 Speaker 5: a doubt, never gets discouraged, never has a question that's 92 00:04:53,680 --> 00:04:58,520 Speaker 5: not reality. I heard somebody say the presence of faith 93 00:04:59,160 --> 00:05:03,160 Speaker 5: doesn't mean the absence of doubt. In other words, we 94 00:05:03,240 --> 00:05:06,680 Speaker 5: may have doubt up here in our head, in our thinking, 95 00:05:07,160 --> 00:05:10,680 Speaker 5: but down here in our hearts, where it counts, we 96 00:05:10,760 --> 00:05:13,719 Speaker 5: know God is still in control. We know God is 97 00:05:13,800 --> 00:05:17,600 Speaker 5: good even though something bad may have happened. Now I 98 00:05:17,680 --> 00:05:21,520 Speaker 5: want to take the pressure off. God understands what it's 99 00:05:21,640 --> 00:05:24,800 Speaker 5: like to be wronged. He knows what it's like to 100 00:05:24,880 --> 00:05:28,280 Speaker 5: have someone walk out of a relationship. He knows how 101 00:05:28,320 --> 00:05:31,520 Speaker 5: it feels to pray and pray, but your loved one 102 00:05:31,760 --> 00:05:35,279 Speaker 5: didn't make it. And God doesn't right us off and say, 103 00:05:35,279 --> 00:05:38,760 Speaker 5: look at them, they're down, they're doubting. I thought they 104 00:05:38,800 --> 00:05:42,719 Speaker 5: trusted me. See if I ever do anything for them. No, 105 00:05:42,800 --> 00:05:46,280 Speaker 5: it's just the opposite. God is moved by our faith, 106 00:05:46,839 --> 00:05:51,000 Speaker 5: but sometimes it's our doubt that will actually draw God 107 00:05:51,040 --> 00:05:54,839 Speaker 5: to us. When Jesus rose from the dead, he appeared 108 00:05:54,839 --> 00:05:57,919 Speaker 5: to Mary and Martha at the garden tomb. He said 109 00:05:57,920 --> 00:06:02,159 Speaker 5: go tell my disciples. Quickly got out that Jesus was alive. 110 00:06:02,680 --> 00:06:07,080 Speaker 5: Everyone was so excited. There was great joy among all 111 00:06:07,160 --> 00:06:12,239 Speaker 5: the disciples. All that is, except one person. Thomas said, 112 00:06:12,520 --> 00:06:16,520 Speaker 5: Wait a minute, guys, I'm a believer. I love Jesus. 113 00:06:17,000 --> 00:06:20,240 Speaker 5: I know he promised that he would come back to life. Yes, 114 00:06:20,320 --> 00:06:23,560 Speaker 5: I understand those women said that they've seen him. But 115 00:06:23,720 --> 00:06:27,719 Speaker 5: unless I see him with my own eyes, unless I 116 00:06:27,800 --> 00:06:31,119 Speaker 5: feel the nail prints in his hands, unless I touched 117 00:06:31,160 --> 00:06:33,919 Speaker 5: the scars in his side, that I'm not going to 118 00:06:33,960 --> 00:06:38,120 Speaker 5: believe here. Thomas had spent just as much time with 119 00:06:38,240 --> 00:06:41,760 Speaker 5: Jesus as the other believers. You might say. He grew 120 00:06:41,839 --> 00:06:45,120 Speaker 5: up in church, he went to vacation Bible school, he 121 00:06:45,200 --> 00:06:48,839 Speaker 5: knew all the scriptures. Deep down, he wanted to believe, 122 00:06:49,400 --> 00:06:52,479 Speaker 5: but in his mind it was filled with doubts. A 123 00:06:52,520 --> 00:06:56,000 Speaker 5: few days later, the disciples were in a room together. 124 00:06:56,839 --> 00:07:00,279 Speaker 5: All of a sudden, Jesus came walking through the door. 125 00:07:00,760 --> 00:07:03,479 Speaker 5: They thought it was a ghost, and soon they recognized 126 00:07:03,560 --> 00:07:08,360 Speaker 5: it was Jesus. What's interesting is Jesus didn't go over 127 00:07:08,440 --> 00:07:11,600 Speaker 5: to Peter and say hello. He didn't go over to 128 00:07:11,680 --> 00:07:14,600 Speaker 5: Matthew and give him a big hug. He didn't go 129 00:07:14,640 --> 00:07:17,000 Speaker 5: over to John and say, hey, I'm back. It's great 130 00:07:17,040 --> 00:07:21,960 Speaker 5: to see you. Know, Jesus headed straight toward Thomas. He 131 00:07:22,000 --> 00:07:25,240 Speaker 5: didn't go to the people that had faith. He went 132 00:07:25,280 --> 00:07:28,800 Speaker 5: to the one disciple that had doubt. He looked him 133 00:07:28,840 --> 00:07:31,720 Speaker 5: in the eyes and said, Thomas, I've heard what you've 134 00:07:31,760 --> 00:07:36,000 Speaker 5: said about me. I've heard you don't believe, you have questions, 135 00:07:36,120 --> 00:07:39,880 Speaker 5: you have doubts, and you know what, Thomas, that's okay. 136 00:07:40,640 --> 00:07:43,920 Speaker 5: That's why I've come to you first. Now feel the 137 00:07:44,040 --> 00:07:47,840 Speaker 5: nail prints in my hands, touch the scars on my side. 138 00:07:48,080 --> 00:07:51,480 Speaker 5: Be assured of this, Thomas. I'm a faithful God, and 139 00:07:51,560 --> 00:07:54,440 Speaker 5: I will do what I've promised. What am I say? 140 00:07:56,280 --> 00:08:01,560 Speaker 5: Our doubts don't drive God away. He doesn't write us 141 00:08:01,640 --> 00:08:05,880 Speaker 5: off and close the door. God is so merciful. Those 142 00:08:06,040 --> 00:08:10,240 Speaker 5: doubts can actually draw God to us. When we go 143 00:08:10,280 --> 00:08:15,080 Speaker 5: through things we don't understand. Somebody does us wrong. We prayed, 144 00:08:15,120 --> 00:08:18,000 Speaker 5: and our loved one didn't make it. Our child is 145 00:08:18,080 --> 00:08:22,400 Speaker 5: born with special needs. So often we think we're supposed 146 00:08:22,440 --> 00:08:26,880 Speaker 5: to be superman, superwoman and never shed a tear, never 147 00:08:26,920 --> 00:08:31,520 Speaker 5: get discouraged, never have a doubt. That's not true. It's okay. 148 00:08:31,560 --> 00:08:35,680 Speaker 5: To say, God, I prayed and it didn't work out. God, 149 00:08:35,720 --> 00:08:39,600 Speaker 5: I don't understand it. I'm hurting. I have these doubts. 150 00:08:39,840 --> 00:08:44,600 Speaker 5: I'm wondering where you are. The scripture says God is 151 00:08:44,800 --> 00:08:49,920 Speaker 5: touched by the feelings of our infirmities. That means when 152 00:08:49,960 --> 00:08:54,679 Speaker 5: you hurt, God hurts. When you're disappointed, God feels your 153 00:08:54,679 --> 00:08:59,319 Speaker 5: pain when you're discouraged. God knows what it's like. He's 154 00:08:59,360 --> 00:09:03,040 Speaker 5: been there. When Jesus was in the garden of Gsimone 155 00:09:03,440 --> 00:09:07,199 Speaker 5: about to be crucified, he was so depressed that he 156 00:09:07,320 --> 00:09:11,680 Speaker 5: swept great drops of blood on the cross. He cried out, 157 00:09:12,080 --> 00:09:17,640 Speaker 5: my God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Even Jesus, 158 00:09:17,960 --> 00:09:21,520 Speaker 5: the son of God, a man that never sinned, a 159 00:09:21,559 --> 00:09:25,600 Speaker 5: man that had perfect faith, he even got so discouraged 160 00:09:25,880 --> 00:09:30,840 Speaker 5: and so despondent that he questioned his father. God didn't say, Jesus, 161 00:09:31,120 --> 00:09:33,480 Speaker 5: you know I haven't forsaken you. You know I'm still 162 00:09:33,520 --> 00:09:35,880 Speaker 5: on the throne. You know you're going to rise again. 163 00:09:36,320 --> 00:09:39,280 Speaker 5: Now you need to quit thinking like that. No. God 164 00:09:39,360 --> 00:09:42,800 Speaker 5: knew that he was human. God knew that he had feelings, 165 00:09:43,000 --> 00:09:46,600 Speaker 5: he had emotions. In the same way, it's okay to 166 00:09:46,679 --> 00:09:50,720 Speaker 5: feel disappointed it's okay to say, God, I feel like 167 00:09:50,800 --> 00:09:54,080 Speaker 5: you forsaken me. I don't know where you are. I 168 00:09:54,160 --> 00:09:57,080 Speaker 5: want to believe, but God, I have all these doubts. 169 00:09:58,040 --> 00:10:01,720 Speaker 5: God is more pleased when we we are open and honest, 170 00:10:02,160 --> 00:10:06,320 Speaker 5: and we come before him even with our doubts, our questions, 171 00:10:06,440 --> 00:10:10,240 Speaker 5: the things we don't understand. He'll respond to that quicker 172 00:10:10,840 --> 00:10:13,280 Speaker 5: than when we try to hide all these things that 173 00:10:13,360 --> 00:10:16,120 Speaker 5: he already knows, and we try to act like we're 174 00:10:16,120 --> 00:10:20,000 Speaker 5: this perfect display of faith that's never been discouraged, never 175 00:10:20,080 --> 00:10:23,440 Speaker 5: had a doubt, never had a question. When Jesus was 176 00:10:23,480 --> 00:10:26,559 Speaker 5: on his way to be crucified, they made him carry 177 00:10:26,600 --> 00:10:29,920 Speaker 5: his own cross. He had been so beaten down and 178 00:10:30,040 --> 00:10:34,080 Speaker 5: so mistreated he couldn't carry it the whole way. He 179 00:10:34,200 --> 00:10:37,960 Speaker 5: fell down under the weight of his cross. Don't you 180 00:10:38,080 --> 00:10:41,640 Speaker 5: know God could have strengthened him to finish the journey. 181 00:10:42,280 --> 00:10:45,160 Speaker 5: God could have given him a second wind, so he 182 00:10:45,160 --> 00:10:48,920 Speaker 5: wouldn't have fallen down and looked weak and defeated. Now 183 00:10:49,040 --> 00:10:52,640 Speaker 5: God was sending this message, you don't have to be 184 00:10:52,720 --> 00:10:56,800 Speaker 5: strong one hundred percent of the time. It's okay to 185 00:10:56,880 --> 00:11:00,240 Speaker 5: fall down. It's okay to have a doubt, it's to 186 00:11:00,240 --> 00:11:04,400 Speaker 5: say God, I can't take this anymore. Sometimes the cross 187 00:11:04,440 --> 00:11:08,240 Speaker 5: we're carrying can get heavy. We think I can't raise 188 00:11:08,280 --> 00:11:11,800 Speaker 5: this child, I can't stay in this marriage, I can't 189 00:11:11,840 --> 00:11:16,319 Speaker 5: deal with this legal situation another day, And those accusing 190 00:11:16,600 --> 00:11:20,160 Speaker 5: voices will come and try to convince us that if 191 00:11:20,200 --> 00:11:23,359 Speaker 5: we've ever had a doubt, if we've ever gotten discouraged, 192 00:11:23,600 --> 00:11:26,600 Speaker 5: if we've ever fallen, then God's not going to do 193 00:11:26,640 --> 00:11:29,959 Speaker 5: anything for you. Man. Look, you're weak, you're on the ground. 194 00:11:30,000 --> 00:11:33,640 Speaker 5: You're letting life get the best of you. No. Always remember, 195 00:11:34,160 --> 00:11:37,959 Speaker 5: even Jesus couldn't carry the weight of his own cross. 196 00:11:38,920 --> 00:11:42,480 Speaker 5: Notice what happened when he fell down. God didn't leave 197 00:11:42,520 --> 00:11:45,640 Speaker 5: him there. God didn't say too bad, Jesus, you should 198 00:11:45,640 --> 00:11:48,400 Speaker 5: have had more faith. I told you not to doubt me. No, 199 00:11:48,559 --> 00:11:52,800 Speaker 5: God immediately sent another man across his path by the 200 00:11:52,880 --> 00:11:56,319 Speaker 5: name of Simon, and Simon carried the cross for him. 201 00:11:56,679 --> 00:12:00,240 Speaker 5: Here's the point. When you're down, when you have doubt, 202 00:12:00,760 --> 00:12:05,240 Speaker 5: when you're discouraged, God will always send somebody to help 203 00:12:05,280 --> 00:12:08,800 Speaker 5: you back up, somebody to encourage you, somebody to tell 204 00:12:08,840 --> 00:12:11,840 Speaker 5: you that you're going to make it. It may be 205 00:12:12,000 --> 00:12:16,280 Speaker 5: my voice today letting you know that it's okay to fall, 206 00:12:16,720 --> 00:12:21,760 Speaker 5: just get back up again. It's okay to have doubts, 207 00:12:22,160 --> 00:12:25,800 Speaker 5: just don't stay there. It's ok to be disappointed. Just 208 00:12:25,920 --> 00:12:30,880 Speaker 5: realize that disappointment is not the end. It's a new beginning. 209 00:12:31,240 --> 00:12:35,760 Speaker 5: God still has something great in your future. Several years ago, 210 00:12:36,120 --> 00:12:39,360 Speaker 5: some friends called from another state and they were expecting 211 00:12:39,400 --> 00:12:42,840 Speaker 5: their second child and so excited about it. But when 212 00:12:42,920 --> 00:12:46,280 Speaker 5: the baby was born, they discovered that she had special 213 00:12:46,400 --> 00:12:49,520 Speaker 5: needs and was going to require a lot of extra care. 214 00:12:50,080 --> 00:12:53,760 Speaker 5: This couple were strong believers. They had grown up in church, 215 00:12:54,160 --> 00:12:57,520 Speaker 5: they knew all the scriptures, but this baby being born 216 00:12:57,640 --> 00:13:00,960 Speaker 5: like that really rocked their faith. They begin to have 217 00:13:01,080 --> 00:13:05,280 Speaker 5: these questions and things that they didn't understand, things like 218 00:13:05,800 --> 00:13:08,560 Speaker 5: if God loved us so much, how could he let 219 00:13:08,640 --> 00:13:11,600 Speaker 5: this happen. We're good people. Why didn't we have a 220 00:13:11,600 --> 00:13:15,880 Speaker 5: healthy baby? They said, Joel, we want to believe, we 221 00:13:16,040 --> 00:13:19,600 Speaker 5: know the right thing, but we're so disappointed. We're hurting 222 00:13:19,679 --> 00:13:24,520 Speaker 5: so badly. We're wondering where God is. They were expecting 223 00:13:24,559 --> 00:13:27,880 Speaker 5: some great explanation from me, but I told them just 224 00:13:27,920 --> 00:13:31,320 Speaker 5: what I'm telling you. It's okay to feel disappointed. It's 225 00:13:31,360 --> 00:13:36,120 Speaker 5: okay to have questions. Faith is not about hiding everything 226 00:13:36,720 --> 00:13:40,480 Speaker 5: and trying to act like we're superhuman. Faith is about 227 00:13:40,520 --> 00:13:44,439 Speaker 5: being real, like Jesus on the cross. There's nothing wrong 228 00:13:44,480 --> 00:13:48,480 Speaker 5: with saying, God, why have you forsaken me? God? I'm heartbroken, 229 00:13:48,800 --> 00:13:52,480 Speaker 5: I'm lonely. God, I don't understand why this has happened. 230 00:13:53,440 --> 00:13:56,880 Speaker 5: When you are real with God and you're honest enough 231 00:13:56,920 --> 00:14:01,079 Speaker 5: to even express your doubts, those doubts will not drive 232 00:14:01,160 --> 00:14:04,400 Speaker 5: God away. It'll do just the opposite. It'll draw God 233 00:14:04,440 --> 00:14:05,199 Speaker 5: closer to you. 234 00:14:06,040 --> 00:14:06,120 Speaker 4: Now. 235 00:14:06,160 --> 00:14:09,000 Speaker 5: I went on to tell this couple that baby being 236 00:14:09,080 --> 00:14:12,360 Speaker 5: born to your family is not a mistake. It's not 237 00:14:12,440 --> 00:14:16,840 Speaker 5: an accident. God chose you because He trusted you to 238 00:14:16,960 --> 00:14:21,000 Speaker 5: raise this child. She has special needs, but God knows 239 00:14:21,160 --> 00:14:24,920 Speaker 5: you have special gifts. She's going to take extraordinary care, 240 00:14:25,200 --> 00:14:28,520 Speaker 5: but God knows both of you are extraordinary people. You're 241 00:14:28,560 --> 00:14:32,080 Speaker 5: not being punished. God is not telling you you've done 242 00:14:32,080 --> 00:14:35,680 Speaker 5: something wrong. No, this is just another chapter in your 243 00:14:35,760 --> 00:14:40,200 Speaker 5: life that God has already equipped you for. And sometimes 244 00:14:40,760 --> 00:14:44,360 Speaker 5: on the way to our divine destiny, the weight of 245 00:14:44,400 --> 00:14:47,760 Speaker 5: the cross gets so heavy that we fall down. We 246 00:14:47,840 --> 00:14:51,680 Speaker 5: don't know why somebody walked out of a relationship for 247 00:14:51,880 --> 00:14:55,120 Speaker 5: like a man I mentioned why he got laid off 248 00:14:55,240 --> 00:14:58,880 Speaker 5: so close to retirement, or why we prayed and prayed 249 00:14:58,960 --> 00:15:01,760 Speaker 5: but our loved one didn't make it. You may have 250 00:15:01,880 --> 00:15:06,000 Speaker 5: questions things you don't understand. You wonder where God is. 251 00:15:06,360 --> 00:15:09,760 Speaker 5: But the good news is God is not just with 252 00:15:09,840 --> 00:15:12,520 Speaker 5: us in our times of faith, but He is with 253 00:15:12,600 --> 00:15:16,040 Speaker 5: us even in our times of doubt. He is not 254 00:15:16,160 --> 00:15:19,840 Speaker 5: a fair, weathered God there for us when we're perfect, 255 00:15:20,200 --> 00:15:23,280 Speaker 5: and gone when we're not. He doesn't just speak to 256 00:15:23,360 --> 00:15:26,600 Speaker 5: us when we're on the mountaintop singing you are good, 257 00:15:27,200 --> 00:15:31,480 Speaker 5: reading your best life Now. No, God says, I'll speak 258 00:15:31,520 --> 00:15:35,160 Speaker 5: to you just as much when you're alone and discouraged. 259 00:15:35,600 --> 00:15:38,600 Speaker 5: I'll talk to you when you're upset and you feel 260 00:15:38,640 --> 00:15:42,640 Speaker 5: like I've left you. I'll show up not just because 261 00:15:42,680 --> 00:15:46,480 Speaker 5: of your faith, but I'm so merciful, I'll even show 262 00:15:46,560 --> 00:15:49,400 Speaker 5: up because of your doubt. I want us to take 263 00:15:49,400 --> 00:15:52,960 Speaker 5: the pressure off. We don't have to go around acting 264 00:15:53,040 --> 00:15:55,680 Speaker 5: like we've got it all figured out. We never have 265 00:15:55,760 --> 00:15:58,640 Speaker 5: a doubt, we never think a wrong thought, we never 266 00:15:58,680 --> 00:16:04,240 Speaker 5: get discouraged. No, even Jesus fell down. Even Jesus said, God, 267 00:16:04,640 --> 00:16:06,560 Speaker 5: I don't want to go this route. Let me go 268 00:16:06,640 --> 00:16:10,240 Speaker 5: another way. God, why have you forsaken me? What am 269 00:16:10,280 --> 00:16:13,280 Speaker 5: I doing up here on the cross? In other words, God, 270 00:16:13,680 --> 00:16:16,720 Speaker 5: why did this situation not work out? God? Why did 271 00:16:16,760 --> 00:16:20,240 Speaker 5: these people treat me wrong? It's okay to be human 272 00:16:20,640 --> 00:16:23,640 Speaker 5: because that doubt is not in your heart. It's up 273 00:16:23,720 --> 00:16:27,480 Speaker 5: here in your head. And God has the amazing ability 274 00:16:27,800 --> 00:16:30,640 Speaker 5: to look past the doubt and to see the faith 275 00:16:30,680 --> 00:16:34,520 Speaker 5: that's on the inside. For some people, that doubt is 276 00:16:34,560 --> 00:16:38,440 Speaker 5: a mile high. They've had things happen. They don't understand 277 00:16:38,880 --> 00:16:42,120 Speaker 5: things that were not fair. Maybe they weren't raised in 278 00:16:42,160 --> 00:16:45,160 Speaker 5: a believing environment. But I love this. It says that 279 00:16:45,240 --> 00:16:49,560 Speaker 5: God has put a measure of faith on the inside 280 00:16:49,600 --> 00:16:53,560 Speaker 5: of every person. That means people that don't give God 281 00:16:53,640 --> 00:16:57,800 Speaker 5: the time of day, they don't believe, they're cynical. They 282 00:16:57,840 --> 00:17:00,480 Speaker 5: look like they're full of doubt. But what they don't 283 00:17:00,520 --> 00:17:04,919 Speaker 5: realize is on the inside, deep down, the creator of 284 00:17:04,960 --> 00:17:09,280 Speaker 5: the universe has placed a mustard seed of faith. This 285 00:17:09,400 --> 00:17:12,840 Speaker 5: is why it's so important to never write anybody off. 286 00:17:13,600 --> 00:17:17,800 Speaker 5: That person at the office that's sarcastic, makes fun of 287 00:17:17,840 --> 00:17:20,440 Speaker 5: you for going to church, gives you a hard time 288 00:17:20,480 --> 00:17:23,280 Speaker 5: for staying on the high road. It may seem like 289 00:17:23,320 --> 00:17:26,679 Speaker 5: they are full of doubt. Surely God wouldn't have anything 290 00:17:26,720 --> 00:17:30,720 Speaker 5: to do with them. Now, God says, there's another Thomas. 291 00:17:31,119 --> 00:17:33,040 Speaker 5: I'll get to you people full of faith in just 292 00:17:33,080 --> 00:17:36,399 Speaker 5: a moment. Right now, I'm going after them. It doesn't 293 00:17:36,440 --> 00:17:40,640 Speaker 5: always make sense to our theology, but sometimes God will 294 00:17:40,680 --> 00:17:43,760 Speaker 5: bypass the people of faith so he can go after 295 00:17:43,880 --> 00:17:47,320 Speaker 5: one person that's filled with doubt. I had a lady 296 00:17:47,359 --> 00:17:50,440 Speaker 5: tell me how her whole life she had been an atheist. 297 00:17:50,760 --> 00:17:54,640 Speaker 5: She didn't believe in God, wasn't raised in a religious environment, 298 00:17:54,840 --> 00:17:57,800 Speaker 5: really didn't even give God the time of day. But 299 00:17:57,960 --> 00:18:01,600 Speaker 5: one morning, her daughter, she was in her early twenties, 300 00:18:01,840 --> 00:18:05,879 Speaker 5: was involved in a serious car accident. This mother rushed 301 00:18:05,880 --> 00:18:10,160 Speaker 5: to the hospital. So stressed and so worried she got 302 00:18:10,160 --> 00:18:12,919 Speaker 5: the news that her daughter probably would not make it. 303 00:18:13,400 --> 00:18:16,160 Speaker 5: She stayed by her side day after day, wouldn't leave 304 00:18:16,200 --> 00:18:20,640 Speaker 5: the hospital. Unfortunately, the doctors told her that the injuries 305 00:18:20,640 --> 00:18:24,320 Speaker 5: were too great and her daughter had died. She drove home, 306 00:18:24,520 --> 00:18:27,280 Speaker 5: pulled in the garage. While she was still sitting in 307 00:18:27,320 --> 00:18:31,840 Speaker 5: her car, she screamed out to the top of her lungs. God, 308 00:18:32,240 --> 00:18:36,680 Speaker 5: I hate you, I hate you, I hate you. She said. 309 00:18:36,720 --> 00:18:40,840 Speaker 5: She heard a voice. It was the kindest, most gentle 310 00:18:41,000 --> 00:18:44,919 Speaker 5: voice you could ever imagine. It said, that was the 311 00:18:44,960 --> 00:18:48,040 Speaker 5: first time you've ever spoken to me, and I want 312 00:18:48,080 --> 00:18:51,720 Speaker 5: to tell you how much I loved you. She said, 313 00:18:52,400 --> 00:18:55,520 Speaker 5: I never believed in God before, but at that moment, 314 00:18:55,680 --> 00:18:58,800 Speaker 5: there was no doubt in my mind that God was real. 315 00:18:59,280 --> 00:19:02,760 Speaker 5: I felt a that I never felt before. I knew 316 00:19:02,960 --> 00:19:06,000 Speaker 5: it was the presence of the creator of the universe. 317 00:19:07,480 --> 00:19:11,600 Speaker 5: That was God looking beyond years and years of doubt 318 00:19:11,840 --> 00:19:15,600 Speaker 5: to that one small seed of faith. We all know 319 00:19:15,800 --> 00:19:18,480 Speaker 5: that God is moved by our faith. That's the best 320 00:19:18,520 --> 00:19:22,040 Speaker 5: place to live. But what I'm saying today is God 321 00:19:22,119 --> 00:19:25,720 Speaker 5: can even be moved by our doubt. In those times 322 00:19:25,720 --> 00:19:29,639 Speaker 5: that we don't understand it, we have questions, we feel 323 00:19:29,680 --> 00:19:33,159 Speaker 5: alone and abandoned. That's when God has a way of 324 00:19:33,240 --> 00:19:37,200 Speaker 5: showing up and doing something amazing in our life. That's 325 00:19:37,320 --> 00:19:39,880 Speaker 5: just what happened to Thomas in the midst of all 326 00:19:39,960 --> 00:19:44,959 Speaker 5: those believers. Jesus went to Thomas first, the one doubter, 327 00:19:45,480 --> 00:19:48,560 Speaker 5: and said, Thomas, take a look at my nailed, scarred hands. 328 00:19:49,320 --> 00:19:53,000 Speaker 5: The reason Jesus shows up in those times of doubt 329 00:19:53,240 --> 00:19:57,040 Speaker 5: is so that our faith will be restored. He could 330 00:19:57,040 --> 00:20:00,080 Speaker 5: have said to that lady. Too bad. That's what you 331 00:20:00,080 --> 00:20:01,880 Speaker 5: you get for not giving me the time of day. 332 00:20:02,359 --> 00:20:05,560 Speaker 5: Scream all you want to. It's payback time. No, God 333 00:20:05,760 --> 00:20:09,040 Speaker 5: is full of mercy. He knows what it's like to 334 00:20:09,119 --> 00:20:13,240 Speaker 5: lose a child. He lost his only son. And God 335 00:20:13,359 --> 00:20:16,840 Speaker 5: is not in the business of giving us what we deserve. 336 00:20:17,600 --> 00:20:20,480 Speaker 5: If that was the case, Thomas wouldn't have had a chance, 337 00:20:20,920 --> 00:20:23,160 Speaker 5: or he wouldn't have let this lady feel his love. 338 00:20:23,720 --> 00:20:27,680 Speaker 5: God is in the business of restoring our faith. He's 339 00:20:27,680 --> 00:20:30,800 Speaker 5: in the business of getting us back on track so 340 00:20:30,880 --> 00:20:35,920 Speaker 5: we can live as a believer and experience his abundant life. 341 00:20:35,960 --> 00:20:39,080 Speaker 5: And some of you today you have questions, things that 342 00:20:39,160 --> 00:20:42,159 Speaker 5: you don't understand, and you feel badly because you're not 343 00:20:42,240 --> 00:20:45,120 Speaker 5: in faith one hundred percent of the time. But God 344 00:20:45,160 --> 00:20:49,439 Speaker 5: is saying that's okay. You're a human. You don't have 345 00:20:49,560 --> 00:20:53,280 Speaker 5: to have a perfect faith. There's nothing wrong with saying God, 346 00:20:53,320 --> 00:20:58,520 Speaker 5: I just don't understand it. Like Thomas, those questions that 347 00:20:59,000 --> 00:21:02,600 Speaker 5: seemingly doubt is not going to keep God away. It's 348 00:21:02,640 --> 00:21:05,480 Speaker 5: going to draw God to you. He is not going 349 00:21:05,520 --> 00:21:10,480 Speaker 5: to leave you wondering, confused, discouraged. He's going to show 350 00:21:10,600 --> 00:21:14,520 Speaker 5: up so that your faith will be restored. I heard 351 00:21:14,560 --> 00:21:17,800 Speaker 5: Jensen Franklin tell something that happened to him. Jensen is 352 00:21:17,840 --> 00:21:21,040 Speaker 5: a good friend and a great minister. He's the pastor 353 00:21:21,080 --> 00:21:25,280 Speaker 5: of Free Chapel in Atlanta. When his daughters were much younger, 354 00:21:25,560 --> 00:21:28,280 Speaker 5: he and his wife Charise decided to go to Sea 355 00:21:28,359 --> 00:21:31,960 Speaker 5: World in Florida. He had already made arrangements to leave 356 00:21:32,000 --> 00:21:35,040 Speaker 5: on Monday and they would be at the park on Tuesday, 357 00:21:35,560 --> 00:21:38,920 Speaker 5: but for some reason, Cherise really wanted to leave Sunday 358 00:21:38,960 --> 00:21:42,520 Speaker 5: after church. Jensen said, well, I've already made the flight 359 00:21:42,680 --> 00:21:46,199 Speaker 5: reservations and the hotel reservations. I'd have to change everything. 360 00:21:46,680 --> 00:21:49,760 Speaker 5: She felt so strongly about it. He made the changes. 361 00:21:50,040 --> 00:21:52,960 Speaker 5: They left Sunday and went to the park on Monday 362 00:21:53,280 --> 00:21:56,520 Speaker 5: instead of Tuesday, and at one point they were at 363 00:21:56,520 --> 00:21:59,760 Speaker 5: this outdoor arena waiting for the dolphins show to begin. 364 00:22:00,160 --> 00:22:03,520 Speaker 5: It's a perfectly beautiful sunny day. All of a sudden, 365 00:22:03,600 --> 00:22:07,160 Speaker 5: out of nowhere, there was this huge clap of thunder. 366 00:22:07,720 --> 00:22:11,400 Speaker 5: It was so loud everyone practically jumped out of their seats, 367 00:22:11,920 --> 00:22:14,119 Speaker 5: and a few moments before they knew it, it was 368 00:22:14,160 --> 00:22:18,040 Speaker 5: pouring down rain and lightning like nothing they'd ever imagined 369 00:22:18,200 --> 00:22:21,639 Speaker 5: of course, everyone ran for cover. While they were underneath 370 00:22:21,680 --> 00:22:26,160 Speaker 5: the bleachers, there was another very loud clap of thunder. 371 00:22:26,840 --> 00:22:30,600 Speaker 5: Jensen and Cherisa's little three year old daughter got very scared, 372 00:22:31,119 --> 00:22:34,159 Speaker 5: and instead of turning to their parents, she ran to 373 00:22:34,240 --> 00:22:37,040 Speaker 5: a twenty five year old girl that they had never 374 00:22:37,080 --> 00:22:40,199 Speaker 5: seen before about fifteen feet away, and gave her a 375 00:22:40,240 --> 00:22:43,480 Speaker 5: big hug and held on to her and wouldn't let 376 00:22:43,480 --> 00:22:46,800 Speaker 5: her go. Jensen and Cherise looked at each other. It 377 00:22:46,920 --> 00:22:49,680 Speaker 5: was the strangest thing. They didn't know who the young 378 00:22:49,760 --> 00:22:54,160 Speaker 5: lady was and why their daughter would be drawn to her. Normally, 379 00:22:54,200 --> 00:22:56,960 Speaker 5: their daughter would never go to a stranger like that. 380 00:22:57,600 --> 00:23:00,439 Speaker 5: They went over very politely and tried to get the 381 00:23:00,520 --> 00:23:03,880 Speaker 5: daughter away, but she just wouldn't let go. The young 382 00:23:03,960 --> 00:23:08,240 Speaker 5: lady begin weeping. Her parents were there. They started weeping 383 00:23:08,320 --> 00:23:12,240 Speaker 5: as well. Come to find out that young lady had 384 00:23:12,280 --> 00:23:15,240 Speaker 5: a three year old daughter that was born with congestive 385 00:23:15,320 --> 00:23:19,639 Speaker 5: heart failure, and just six weeks earlier her daughter had died. 386 00:23:20,359 --> 00:23:22,160 Speaker 5: She had not been out of the house in those 387 00:23:22,200 --> 00:23:26,400 Speaker 5: six weeks because she was so depressed. That day, her 388 00:23:26,400 --> 00:23:30,040 Speaker 5: parents talked her into going to the park. She said, later, 389 00:23:30,320 --> 00:23:33,440 Speaker 5: when your little daughter was hugging me. The whole time, 390 00:23:33,760 --> 00:23:37,439 Speaker 5: I could feel healing being poured into me. God was 391 00:23:37,520 --> 00:23:39,920 Speaker 5: letting me know that my little girl is up there 392 00:23:39,920 --> 00:23:42,560 Speaker 5: in heaven and I can move forward with my life. 393 00:23:44,600 --> 00:23:48,520 Speaker 5: That was God speaking to her, not in her faith, 394 00:23:49,040 --> 00:23:52,040 Speaker 5: but in her doubts. You know what Jensen's little three 395 00:23:52,119 --> 00:23:55,440 Speaker 5: year old daughter was. She was a simon helping her 396 00:23:55,480 --> 00:23:59,520 Speaker 5: to carry her cross. Sometimes God knows we go through 397 00:23:59,560 --> 00:24:03,520 Speaker 5: things we don't understand in our mind. In our head, 398 00:24:03,600 --> 00:24:06,600 Speaker 5: we think, God, how could this happen? God, where are you? 399 00:24:07,359 --> 00:24:10,720 Speaker 5: But in our hearts, God can see those seeds of 400 00:24:10,800 --> 00:24:14,520 Speaker 5: faith that he's planted on the inside. Like this young lady. 401 00:24:14,880 --> 00:24:19,240 Speaker 5: God will never abandon us. He'll never say we're too bad. 402 00:24:19,320 --> 00:24:22,000 Speaker 5: You should be stronger, you should have more faith. No, 403 00:24:22,160 --> 00:24:26,000 Speaker 5: God will always show up and help to restore our faith. 404 00:24:26,760 --> 00:24:30,560 Speaker 5: In those difficult times we're like Jesus, the cross is 405 00:24:30,640 --> 00:24:34,720 Speaker 5: so heavy that we fall down, Or like Thomas, we 406 00:24:34,760 --> 00:24:37,320 Speaker 5: want to believe, we just can't until we see it 407 00:24:37,359 --> 00:24:40,480 Speaker 5: with our own eyes, or like this young lady, we're 408 00:24:40,520 --> 00:24:42,760 Speaker 5: so discouraged we don't even want to leave the house. 409 00:24:43,520 --> 00:24:47,040 Speaker 5: You can rest assured you are not alone. The God 410 00:24:47,119 --> 00:24:50,520 Speaker 5: we serve doesn't just show up in our times of faith. 411 00:24:51,040 --> 00:24:54,520 Speaker 5: He even shows up in our times of doubt. I 412 00:24:54,600 --> 00:24:58,800 Speaker 5: remember my father for more than forty years, he preached 413 00:24:58,840 --> 00:25:02,120 Speaker 5: to people about how God could heal you. He saw 414 00:25:02,160 --> 00:25:06,000 Speaker 5: my sister Lisa healed of something like cerebral palsy, a 415 00:25:06,000 --> 00:25:08,960 Speaker 5: birth injury, and of course he saw my mother healed 416 00:25:09,000 --> 00:25:12,000 Speaker 5: in nineteen eighty one of terminal cancer. And he prayed 417 00:25:12,000 --> 00:25:15,720 Speaker 5: for many other people and saw God do amazing things. 418 00:25:15,960 --> 00:25:20,160 Speaker 5: But one thing my father never fully understood. In spite 419 00:25:20,200 --> 00:25:24,160 Speaker 5: of all those other people being healed, his whole life, 420 00:25:24,560 --> 00:25:28,119 Speaker 5: he struggled with high blood pressure. In fact, that's what 421 00:25:28,280 --> 00:25:31,040 Speaker 5: caused his kidneys eventually to fail, where he had to 422 00:25:31,080 --> 00:25:34,520 Speaker 5: go on dialysis. And there were times he thought, God, 423 00:25:34,600 --> 00:25:37,359 Speaker 5: you're doing it for everybody else, why don't you do 424 00:25:37,400 --> 00:25:40,680 Speaker 5: it for me? God, this doesn't seem fair. Where are 425 00:25:40,720 --> 00:25:44,399 Speaker 5: you when I need you? There were times those thoughts 426 00:25:44,400 --> 00:25:47,480 Speaker 5: of doubt came and tried to keep him from moving forward. 427 00:25:48,119 --> 00:25:51,240 Speaker 5: My father was very open and honest. He never tried 428 00:25:51,240 --> 00:25:53,880 Speaker 5: to hide anything. Now I love the way he finished 429 00:25:53,880 --> 00:25:57,040 Speaker 5: his life. He was seventy seven years old and he 430 00:25:57,080 --> 00:25:59,720 Speaker 5: couldn't sleep. One night, he was sitting up in his 431 00:25:59,760 --> 00:26:03,600 Speaker 5: rooks around midnight, he called my brother in law Gary 432 00:26:03,720 --> 00:26:05,560 Speaker 5: to see if he'd come over and visit with him, 433 00:26:05,600 --> 00:26:08,520 Speaker 5: and they talked for a couple of hours, and at 434 00:26:08,520 --> 00:26:11,960 Speaker 5: one point Gary asked about suffering and what he was 435 00:26:12,000 --> 00:26:14,440 Speaker 5: going through and where is God and all of this. 436 00:26:15,080 --> 00:26:18,439 Speaker 5: My father said, Gary, I don't understand it all. I 437 00:26:18,520 --> 00:26:22,159 Speaker 5: have plenty of questions, but one thing I know is 438 00:26:22,240 --> 00:26:27,560 Speaker 5: God's mercy enders forever. He took one more breath, laid 439 00:26:27,600 --> 00:26:30,000 Speaker 5: back his head, and went to be with the Lord. 440 00:26:30,520 --> 00:26:34,000 Speaker 5: The last words he ever spoke were his mercy endoers forever. 441 00:26:34,600 --> 00:26:38,000 Speaker 5: But my father could have thought, I've been a pastor 442 00:26:38,160 --> 00:26:42,200 Speaker 5: all these years. I can't admit that I have questions, 443 00:26:42,400 --> 00:26:44,280 Speaker 5: that I have doubts, that I have things that I 444 00:26:44,280 --> 00:26:48,720 Speaker 5: don't understand. Nor my father was real. God is not 445 00:26:48,880 --> 00:26:52,600 Speaker 5: looking for mister super believer that has an answer to 446 00:26:52,640 --> 00:26:55,960 Speaker 5: every question and that never wonders why something has happened. 447 00:26:56,480 --> 00:26:59,640 Speaker 5: He's not looking for missus super believer that never gets 448 00:26:59,640 --> 00:27:03,680 Speaker 5: to discos, always acts like everything's okay, tries to hide 449 00:27:03,680 --> 00:27:07,879 Speaker 5: every doubt, every question. Now, God is looking for people 450 00:27:07,920 --> 00:27:11,199 Speaker 5: that are open and honest enough to say God, I 451 00:27:11,320 --> 00:27:15,000 Speaker 5: don't understand this, Lord, I want to believe, but I 452 00:27:15,080 --> 00:27:17,320 Speaker 5: have these doubts. God, I'm asking you to help me. 453 00:27:18,119 --> 00:27:21,680 Speaker 5: If we will have that kind of attitude, then like Thomas, 454 00:27:22,040 --> 00:27:25,520 Speaker 5: God will search you out and come restore your faith. 455 00:27:26,280 --> 00:27:29,000 Speaker 5: Why don't you take the pressure off. Some of you 456 00:27:29,040 --> 00:27:32,040 Speaker 5: are beating yourself up because you had a down week. 457 00:27:32,400 --> 00:27:35,879 Speaker 5: You got discouraged. You said, God, I can't take it anymore. Listen, 458 00:27:36,119 --> 00:27:39,119 Speaker 5: God knows what you're going through. He can feel the 459 00:27:39,160 --> 00:27:43,040 Speaker 5: weight of what you're carrying. He's saying today, I'm right 460 00:27:43,080 --> 00:27:46,000 Speaker 5: there with you. You're going to make it. You're not 461 00:27:46,080 --> 00:27:48,680 Speaker 5: only gonna come out, you're gonna come out better off 462 00:27:48,720 --> 00:27:53,960 Speaker 5: than you were before. Be encouraged today. The God we 463 00:27:54,080 --> 00:27:57,959 Speaker 5: serve is not just with us in our times of faith, 464 00:27:58,480 --> 00:28:02,080 Speaker 5: but he's even with us are times of doubt. Some 465 00:28:02,160 --> 00:28:04,359 Speaker 5: of you need to come back to that place of peace. 466 00:28:04,800 --> 00:28:08,560 Speaker 5: You're so down on yourself, thinking that you're not strong enough, 467 00:28:09,000 --> 00:28:13,160 Speaker 5: wondering why you have these questions. No, remember, the presence 468 00:28:13,200 --> 00:28:17,000 Speaker 5: of faith doesn't mean the absence of doubt. You don't 469 00:28:17,000 --> 00:28:19,680 Speaker 5: have to have a perfect faith in order for God 470 00:28:19,720 --> 00:28:23,560 Speaker 5: to do something great in your life. Besides, that doubt 471 00:28:23,640 --> 00:28:26,480 Speaker 5: is not in your heart, it's in your head. And 472 00:28:26,560 --> 00:28:28,919 Speaker 5: God is looking down here at your heart. And what 473 00:28:28,960 --> 00:28:32,560 Speaker 5: I'm saying today is it's okay to have questions. It's 474 00:28:32,600 --> 00:28:35,800 Speaker 5: okay to say God, I don't understand it. It's okay 475 00:28:35,920 --> 00:28:38,800 Speaker 5: to not be strong one hundred percent of the time. 476 00:28:39,200 --> 00:28:42,640 Speaker 5: If you'll give yourself permission to not have a perfect 477 00:28:42,640 --> 00:28:46,680 Speaker 5: faith and not feel bad if you have questions, some doubts, 478 00:28:46,760 --> 00:28:49,680 Speaker 5: some things you don't understand, then you will feel a 479 00:28:49,720 --> 00:28:53,240 Speaker 5: freedom that you haven't felt before, that weight of feeling 480 00:28:53,280 --> 00:28:55,480 Speaker 5: like God is not pleased with me. I'm just not 481 00:28:55,600 --> 00:28:58,600 Speaker 5: strong enough. I'm not measuring up. That'll lift off of you. 482 00:28:59,000 --> 00:29:01,360 Speaker 5: And what God did for Thomas, he'll do for you 483 00:29:01,720 --> 00:29:04,840 Speaker 5: in those times of doubt. Instead of running from you, 484 00:29:05,240 --> 00:29:08,680 Speaker 5: God will come running to you. He's promised he will 485 00:29:08,720 --> 00:29:12,000 Speaker 5: restore your faith so that you can move forward and 486 00:29:12,080 --> 00:29:15,240 Speaker 5: become everything He's created you to be and have everything 487 00:29:15,320 --> 00:29:17,520 Speaker 5: He's intended for you to have. Amen. Do you receive 488 00:29:17,600 --> 00:29:22,440 Speaker 5: that today? Well? We never like to close our broadcast 489 00:29:22,640 --> 00:29:25,520 Speaker 5: without giving you an opportunity to make Jesus the lord 490 00:29:25,560 --> 00:29:29,520 Speaker 5: of your life. Would you pray with me? Just say, Lord, Jesus, 491 00:29:30,480 --> 00:29:35,280 Speaker 5: I repent of my sins. Come into my heart. I 492 00:29:35,440 --> 00:29:38,960 Speaker 5: make you my Lord and Savior. Friends, if you prayed 493 00:29:38,960 --> 00:29:41,960 Speaker 5: that simple prayer, we believe you got born again. Get 494 00:29:41,960 --> 00:29:45,120 Speaker 5: in a good Bible based church. Keep God first place. 495 00:29:45,360 --> 00:29:47,920 Speaker 5: He's going to take your places that you've never dreamed of. 496 00:29:48,640 --> 00:29:52,080 Speaker 7: Thank you for listening to the Jolus Deine podcast. Help 497 00:29:52,160 --> 00:29:54,920 Speaker 7: us continue to share the message of hope with those 498 00:29:55,000 --> 00:29:58,600 Speaker 7: all over the world. Visit Jolus dein dot com slash 499 00:29:58,680 --> 00:30:00,680 Speaker 7: give Hope to give a GA today. 500 00:30:01,960 --> 00:30:04,880 Speaker 5: Thanks so much for listening to today's message. I hope 501 00:30:04,880 --> 00:30:08,240 Speaker 5: you'll subscribe so you can receive the latest podcast to 502 00:30:08,320 --> 00:30:11,520 Speaker 5: keep you inspired all through the week. We're praying for you. 503 00:30:11,720 --> 00:30:14,160 Speaker 5: I know God's best is still ahead. We'll see you 504 00:30:14,240 --> 00:30:14,800 Speaker 5: next time. 505 00:30:23,280 --> 00:30:25,800 Speaker 8: More than ever before, people are turning to the church 506 00:30:25,840 --> 00:30:29,400 Speaker 8: for their mental health struggles. Unfortunately, the church has largely 507 00:30:29,480 --> 00:30:32,560 Speaker 8: been ill equipped to help. That is until now. Join 508 00:30:32,640 --> 00:30:35,640 Speaker 8: nearly fifty thousand people just like you who've enrolled in 509 00:30:35,680 --> 00:30:38,560 Speaker 8: the Mental Health Coach training program and become equipped to 510 00:30:38,680 --> 00:30:41,800 Speaker 8: help for a limited time. Apply for a fultuition scholarship 511 00:30:41,840 --> 00:30:43,760 Speaker 8: and only pay a one time tech fee of fifty 512 00:30:43,840 --> 00:30:48,240 Speaker 8: four dollars if accepted. Apply now at mentalhealth Coach dot org. 513 00:30:48,400 --> 00:30:50,360 Speaker 8: That's Mentalhealthcoach dot. 514 00:30:50,240 --> 00:30:55,680 Speaker 9: Org nice buns, soft, fluffy and ultra low net carbs. 515 00:30:55,880 --> 00:30:59,840 Speaker 9: Discover hero Bread the delicious ultra low net carbread within 516 00:31:00,000 --> 00:31:03,360 Speaker 9: credible taste in texture. Hero Bread has zero grams of 517 00:31:03,400 --> 00:31:06,320 Speaker 9: sugar and is under one hundred calories per serving, plus 518 00:31:06,400 --> 00:31:08,800 Speaker 9: high end fiber and up to ten grams of protein 519 00:31:08,880 --> 00:31:12,280 Speaker 9: per serving. Available on Amazon dot com, Walmart dot com, 520 00:31:12,320 --> 00:31:15,160 Speaker 9: and Hero dot co. That's h ro O dot Co. 521 00:31:15,760 --> 00:31:18,880 Speaker 9: Order from Hero dot Co now and get ten percent 522 00:31:18,880 --> 00:31:21,440 Speaker 9: off your purchase with promo code IHM ten. 523 00:31:22,400 --> 00:31:24,400 Speaker 10: Summer is here and our sleep is just as important 524 00:31:24,400 --> 00:31:25,360 Speaker 10: as our weekend plans. 525 00:31:25,440 --> 00:31:27,440 Speaker 7: So get the sleep you deserve with Lisa for. 526 00:31:27,400 --> 00:31:29,400 Speaker 10: A limited time, save up to seven hundred dollars off 527 00:31:29,400 --> 00:31:32,440 Speaker 10: select mattresses plus two free pillows during our summer sale. 528 00:31:32,560 --> 00:31:34,880 Speaker 10: Check out our hybrid mattress designed to keep you cool 529 00:31:34,960 --> 00:31:37,840 Speaker 10: during those hot summer nights. Lisa also offers free shipping 530 00:31:37,960 --> 00:31:39,800 Speaker 10: and a risk free one hundred night trial. 531 00:31:40,000 --> 00:31:41,200 Speaker 8: Get the sleep you deserve. 532 00:31:41,440 --> 00:31:43,360 Speaker 10: Shop our summer sale now and save up to seven 533 00:31:43,400 --> 00:31:46,520 Speaker 10: hundred dollars off select mattresses plus two free pillows at 534 00:31:46,520 --> 00:31:49,640 Speaker 10: Lisa dot com. That's l e e s A dot Com. 535 00:31:49,800 --> 00:31:52,040 Speaker 10: Exclusions apply, Visit Lisa dot com for details.