November 24, 2025 • 44 mins
What if the delay you dread is actually protection you can’t see yet? We open Exodus 23:23–33 and trace God’s promise to guide His people into the land “little by little.” That one phrase reframes the impatience we feel when life moves slower than our plans, revealing a wiser pace that builds capacity, character, and courage for what’s ahead.
We walk through the backstory of Israel’s journey and draw a straight line to modern pressures: careers that won’t accelerate on command, health battles that stretch longer than expected, and prayers that seem to linger unanswered. Along the way, we get practical about faith. Hebrews 11 defines it as assurance and conviction, not vague optimism. James 1 teaches joy in trial because steadfastness is formed there. Together, they invite us to thank God for what He has done, notice what He is doing, and trust what He will do—whether or not it looks like our version of the plan.
A moving personal story of walking through a parent’s cancer grounds the theme: sometimes the strongest sermon is lived in a hospital room. We talk about inviting God into impatience, recognizing spiritual battles we can’t see, and shifting focus from outcomes to formation. And because the holidays can amplify stress and grief, we share five simple practices to stay anchored: find a support group, keep one life-giving activity, set realistic expectations, use deep breathing to reset, and carve out a few minutes daily for something meaningful.
If you’re craving a calmer heart and a clearer path, this conversation offers both theology and tools. Press play to rediscover gratitude for God’s quiet work, learn how to wait without wasting the wait, and find hope that grows “little by little.” If this encouraged you, subscribe, share with a friend, and leave a review to help others find the show.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
SPEAKER_09 (00:00):
Hello everyone and welcome back to the Journey Out
Podcast.
Happy holidays.
SPEAKER_03 (00:05):
Yes, yes, yes.
SPEAKER_09 (00:07):
It is the holiday season.
We're super excited to be withyou guys for the holiday season
and talk about something that wefeel is going to be super
impactful for this Thanksgivingseason.
SPEAKER_04 (00:18):
So And not on Thanksgiving.
SPEAKER_09 (00:20):
But the holidays are looking for what are you
thankful for?
SPEAKER_04 (00:25):
Well, what what are you thankful for?
SPEAKER_09 (00:27):
All right, let's find out.
SPEAKER_02 (00:30):
I know some people tried to add it hard yet, but I
was good.
I didn't know it was on my momand daddy on the show.
(01:19):
Journey Out, Journey OutPodcast.
Welcome to the Journey OutPodcast.
SPEAKER_09 (01:26):
So I know today we wanted to talk about gratitude
for God's work behind thescenes.
Yes.
And we thought it fittingbecause we talk about a lot of
different things on this podcastthat we go through on a
day-to-day basis, that we knowfamilies and caregivers and all
these people go through on aday-to-day basis.
(01:46):
And I think it was justimportant for us to talk about
gratitude for God's work when wedon't necessarily see what He's
doing.
Right.
Right?
Exactly.
And so we have an anchorscripture for that, okay?
So it is Exodus 23, verses 23through 33.
So 10 verses, okay?
I'm gonna read them to you.
All right.
So stay with me, okay, as we goas we go through this.
(02:08):
All right, so it says, When myangel goes before you and brings
you to the Amorites and theHittites and the Perizzites and
the Canaanites, the Hivites andthe Jebusites, and I blot them
out, you shall not bow down totheir gods, nor serve them, nor
do as they do, but you shallutterly overthrow them and break
(02:28):
their pillars in pieces.
You shall serve the Lord yourGod, and he will bless your
bread and your water, and hewill take sickness away from
among you.
None shall miscarry or be barrenin your land.
I will fulfill the number ofyour days, I will send my terror
before you, and I will throwinto confusion all the people
against whom you shall come, andI will make all your enemies
(02:51):
turn their backs to you, and Iwill send hornets before you,
which shall drive out theHivites, the Canaanites, and the
Hittites from before you.
I will not drive them out beforeyou in one year, lest the land
become desolate and the wildbeasts multiply against you.
Little by little I will drivethem out from before you until
you have increased and possessedthe land, and I will set your
(03:14):
border from the Red Sea to theSea of the Philistines, and from
the wilderness to the Euphrates,for I will give the inhabitants
of the land into your hand, andyou shall drive them out before
you.
You shall make no covenant withthem and their gods.
They shall not dwell in yourland, lest they make you sin
against me.
For if you serve their gods, itwill surely be a snare to you.
(03:38):
Okay, so that was a lot.
So let me just give you guys alittle backstory of what we're
talking about here as we'regoing through Exodus.
Again, this is Exodus 23.
So just a recap from Exodus 1 to22, right?
The first thing is theIsraelites are slaves in Egypt
under Pharaoh, right?
God then raises up Moses to leadthem out of bondage.
(04:01):
Uh through ten plagues, Godshows his power and delivers the
Israelites from Egypt.
Then, because of that, thatmarks Passover as their freedom,
and the Red Sea is parted fortheir escape.
In the wilderness, God providesmanna, quill, and water for
their survival.
The Israelites face their firstbattle against the Amalekites,
(04:25):
which is a hostile nomadic tribethat attacked them from behind,
and they win as Moses holds uphis hands in prayer.
Then at Mount Sinai, God givesthe Ten Commandments to Moses
and the laws for holy living andhow the Israelites should live,
right?
And then lastly, God beginsshaping Israel into his covenant
people, setting them apart towalk in his ways.
(04:47):
So in chapter 23, he's kind ofgoing over the laws with them,
telling them how uh, you know,they should live holy now that
they have been uh saved fromPharaoh in Egypt, right?
And so in this piece, he'stalking about taking them to the
promised land, right?
And what is going to be like forthem to get to the promised
(05:07):
land, what they should do,right?
SPEAKER_04 (05:09):
And so So let me ask you.
SPEAKER_09 (05:12):
Yeah.
SPEAKER_04 (05:12):
Okay.
So when you read Exodus 23, 23through 33, what stands out to
you most about God's promisesand the way he chooses to
fulfill them?
SPEAKER_09 (05:24):
I think the biggest thing that I see here is his
intentionality and his patience.
And I don't think it's reallypatience in him fulfilling all
of these things.
I think I see his patience andhis intentionality with us.
Right.
Because if we know that if forthose who may not know the
(05:46):
story, it took the Israelites 40years to get to get to the
promised land.
God laid out everything thatthey needed to do to get to the
promised land.
SPEAKER_04 (05:58):
So he was he was intentional?
Intentional and instructions,his instructions and his
protection through that wholetime.
Exactly.
Right?
Uh so he's he's, I guess youcould say, deliberate on his
promises and how he wanted tobe.
SPEAKER_09 (06:15):
Very much so, very much so deliberate.
And we all we we know now thatit actually could have taken, I
think they say about seven daysor so, it could have taken them
to get to the promised land, butit took them 40 years, which is
in those 40 years, he wasintentional and molding and
shaping them to be who theyneeded to be to withstand and be
(06:37):
able to thrive in the promisedland.
And I think we see, I think whatI see most is his intentionality
and his his patience.
SPEAKER_04 (06:46):
Right.
And so even though they wantedto get to the promised land and
they were complaining, and theyand and Moses had to deal with a
lot of things and trying to leadthe people promised land, uh God
knew, hey, if I give you thisland right now, you're not gonna
be ready for it.
SPEAKER_09 (07:02):
You're not gonna be ready for it.
SPEAKER_04 (07:03):
And you're not gonna be ready to defeat what's in the
land.
SPEAKER_09 (07:07):
Okay preach, preach.
All right, go ahead.
Okay, so to me, from this whatwe just read right now, how do
you think we learn to bethankful, even when God delays
what we think we're ready for?
SPEAKER_04 (07:23):
I think it's it's shifting your focus.
Shifting your focus what whatyou think is being withheld from
you to what God is working outin you.
Because again, just like wesaid, when you think you're
ready for something, right?
God already knows that, hey, ifI give you this, oh yeah, you
(07:46):
want a Fortune 500 company.
SPEAKER_06 (07:47):
Right.
SPEAKER_04 (07:49):
I can give you that Fortune 500 company tomorrow,
right now if I want to.
SPEAKER_06 (07:53):
Yeah.
SPEAKER_04 (07:54):
But giving you that right now, you're not capable to
withstand that.
You're not capable to capable tomaintain that.
SPEAKER_03 (08:01):
Right.
SPEAKER_04 (08:01):
It probably is gonna even do you more harm than good
at this point.
SPEAKER_03 (08:05):
Yeah.
SPEAKER_04 (08:06):
Until I mold you, shape you.
SPEAKER_09 (08:11):
The pruning.
SPEAKER_04 (08:12):
And take you from where you are now to who I
called you to be.
SPEAKER_09 (08:16):
Yeah.
SPEAKER_04 (08:17):
So that's that's that's that's one of those
things to where uh uh a delay isnot a no.
SPEAKER_09 (08:25):
Right, right.
Right.
And I think I think we can learnto be thankful in those delays
when we understand that we don'tsee the big picture.
SPEAKER_04 (08:35):
Right, right.
SPEAKER_09 (08:35):
You know what I'm saying?
SPEAKER_04 (08:36):
Like we can't see the big picture.
SPEAKER_09 (08:38):
We we can't.
Like we we serve a God who isall-knowing and all-seeing.
We only we only know fiveminutes ago.
SPEAKER_04 (08:46):
Right.
SPEAKER_09 (08:46):
We we I don't know five minutes from now.
SPEAKER_04 (08:48):
I mean, and then I know we can plan and we can use
analytics to forecast.
SPEAKER_09 (08:53):
And that's good.
SPEAKER_04 (08:54):
That's great.
SPEAKER_09 (08:55):
That's good as we should.
We should plan and we shouldwork the plan always, but we
have to understand that we areworking according to his will.
And we have to see understandthat we don't see the big
picture.
So, like, even he mentioned inthe scriptures, uh, he says that
uh, and I will send the hornetsbefore you, which shall drive
(09:15):
out the Hivites, the Canaanites,and the Hittites from before
you.
SPEAKER_04 (09:18):
But hold on.
Before you go to that, did thedid the Israelites know that
there was hornets in the land?
SPEAKER_09 (09:24):
No, he's saying there's people in the land.
SPEAKER_04 (09:26):
Right, but right, but I'm saying, but did the
Israelites know that?
SPEAKER_09 (09:29):
That there is people in the land?
SPEAKER_04 (09:31):
Right.
SPEAKER_09 (09:31):
No, so they don't, so the Israelites don't know
what they're coming to at thispoint.
Right.
They don't know what thepromised land is looking like,
where where they're going.
All they know is God is going togo there.
But he's t God is gonna takethem there.
Right.
But he's telling them there arethese people, the Canaanites,
the Hittites, Hittites, thesepeople are in this land.
And I'll say one of the people.
(09:53):
I have to remove these peoplefrom this land in order for you
to gradually take it over.
But here's the thing there's somany of them, and not so many of
you.
Right.
If I sit send you to this land,you won't succeed at this point.
But also, you probably are notprepared for the battle that
they're gonna bring forthtowards you.
SPEAKER_04 (10:10):
Because you're not ready.
SPEAKER_09 (10:11):
Ready.
SPEAKER_04 (10:12):
You're not ready and believe.
SPEAKER_09 (10:14):
We have to see the bigger picture.
The bigger picture is he wantsus, he first and foremost, he
wants what is done uh through usto glorify him.
Him, right.
That is first and foremost.
We can't glorify him in asituation that we ain't even
called to yet.
SPEAKER_04 (10:30):
So being not being ready mentally, physically,
emotionally, spiritually.
SPEAKER_09 (10:35):
Exactly.
SPEAKER_04 (10:36):
Right?
So you he put you in that placeand you're not ready to handle
what comes with that.
SPEAKER_09 (10:42):
Yeah.
Yeah.
SPEAKER_04 (10:43):
Wow.
SPEAKER_09 (10:43):
And it goes to this.
So in verse 30, God talks aboutlittle by little, I will drive
them out before you.
I kinda as we read it, you know,we kind of get a good
understanding.
But what do you think God, whydo you think he works in that
little by little way sometimes?
Why not just give it all to us?
(11:04):
Why do you think he works likethat?
SPEAKER_04 (11:06):
Well, again, just like we said, we're not ready,
right?
And that's pruning, that'sshaping, that's molding.
Uh um, giving it to us could bedangerous.
SPEAKER_09 (11:20):
Yeah.
SPEAKER_04 (11:20):
And I'ma flip that.
Why do you think he used to usby little by little?
SPEAKER_09 (11:24):
Well, two things.
To I think to show his wisdomand to show that he cares for
us.
Wow.
But because again, us as humans,we think we know what's right
for us.
But again, we don't see the bigpicture and we don't know the
plan.
We're moving according to how wefeel, not what we know.
(11:47):
And so his wisdom and his lovefor us, he presents things
little by little so we don'tharm ourselves.
SPEAKER_04 (11:56):
So as a parent, as a parent taking care of their
child, yeah, we want nothing butgood for our child.
Right?
Sometimes our children think asthey grow up and be teenagers,
that they know it all, that theygot it all figured out.
Right.
But the parent is there saying,no, don't go this way.
(12:17):
Let's try it this way.
SPEAKER_05 (12:18):
Right.
SPEAKER_04 (12:19):
But the child already, teenager in their mind,
no, I'm just gonna go this waybecause that's what it is.
SPEAKER_05 (12:25):
Right.
SPEAKER_04 (12:26):
So as our father, God, is that that is in heaven,
he knows what's best for us.
SPEAKER_05 (12:31):
Right.
SPEAKER_04 (12:32):
He knows, he knows that we're we are immature.
We're not mature enough tohandle this right now.
SPEAKER_06 (12:41):
Yeah.
SPEAKER_04 (12:42):
You know, hey, uh, I can give you a car right now,
um, sweet 16, oh, you want acar?
Ah, Daddy, no.
Daddy's saying I don't think youneed a car.
SPEAKER_05 (12:50):
Right.
SPEAKER_04 (12:50):
But you, I want a car.
My friends got a car, theydriving, uh, but I don't think
you need a car.
You decide to drive yourfriend's car and you wreck your
friend's car.
Because you weren't patientenough and you thought that you
had the maturity.
SPEAKER_09 (13:09):
But but just think about that.
Just think about what you'resaying.
Because even you or parents ingeneral, as human beings,
because you've been throughteenage years, you've been
through adolescent years, you'vebeen through those years, you're
able to have the wisdom enoughto be able to say, I've been
(13:32):
here, this is what got, this iswhat happened to me.
I don't want you to go throughthat.
Let's try this lane.
Right.
Even you as a human, and you'renot perfect.
SPEAKER_04 (13:40):
I'm not perfect.
No, no.
Parents aren't perfect.
SPEAKER_09 (13:43):
Right?
SPEAKER_04 (13:43):
It's no, it's no, it's no uh how-to book when it
comes to raising a kid.
SPEAKER_09 (13:49):
Exactly.
It's not.
And so even, and there's there'sscripture on that.
Where it's even as if you ashumans can give your child good
things, how much more, right?
There's scripture that's basedon that.
So if even we know that as wegrow older, we're seasoned and
there's wisdom, just think aboutour our father who created us.
(14:09):
How much more wisdom and loveand care that he has for us.
And so he presents things littleby little.
So that way, let me tell yousomething.
SPEAKER_04 (14:16):
So he presents things little by little because
he wants us to prosper.
SPEAKER_09 (14:21):
And if we got it too soon, God forbid, it would be
detrimental to our health, toour mindset, because again,
remember, we're born with sinnature.
Pride is a thing, right?
Greed is a thing, like there'sso many things that we're
dealing with.
Right.
And so I I love that.
But I think essentially that itjust shows his wisdom and it
doesn't care for us.
(14:42):
Right.
But how can essentially we shiftour perspective?
Because that delay, we'reimpatient.
We we like, okay, I'm ready forit now.
I think I can do it now.
How can we shift our perspectivefrom impatience to gratitude
when things aren't happening asfast as we think they should?
SPEAKER_04 (15:04):
Um, let's say, let's acknowledge what you feel.
SPEAKER_09 (15:08):
Yeah, okay.
SPEAKER_04 (15:09):
Acknowledge what you feel in in that time and in that
moment.
But invite God into it.
SPEAKER_08 (15:17):
I love that.
SPEAKER_04 (15:18):
All right, so I'm gonna read this.
Impatience often comes fromdisappointment, fear, or a sense
of being forgotten.
Invite God into your situation.
SPEAKER_08 (15:27):
Yeah.
SPEAKER_04 (15:28):
God doesn't reject those prayers, He meets us in
them.
So, with whatever situationyou're going through, whatever
you feel that you've beenimpatient about, and I know I'm
not a patient person.
I'm not a patient, no, I'm not apatient person.
(15:49):
But I I have learned to practicepatience.
SPEAKER_08 (15:53):
Yeah.
SPEAKER_04 (15:54):
Because just because I can do it at the drop of a
dime, that don't mean it's theright time.
Yeah.
That don't mean it's God'stiming.
SPEAKER_09 (16:05):
Yeah.
SPEAKER_04 (16:06):
So I have learned in though in being patient in
whatever situation I'm going toto seek God in prayer.
SPEAKER_09 (16:12):
Right.
Right.
Right.
SPEAKER_04 (16:13):
And help and let Him come into that situation to
figure it out.
SPEAKER_09 (16:18):
Yeah.
And I think, I think it's easiersaid than done, right?
Yes, it is.
Because again, we are only, wewant the best for ourselves as
well.
SPEAKER_07 (16:28):
Right.
SPEAKER_09 (16:29):
We are only human.
However, I think it's importantfor us to remember that we
aren't the authors of our ownlives.
And I feel like when we takethat seat, when we take take
that pen and start trying towrite our own story, I think the
impatience comes because we'renot aligned to the wheel.
SPEAKER_04 (16:49):
So so thank you for saying aligned to the wheel.
So that we're taking over thewheel.
So when we start doing itourselves because we're
impatient, we we drive in thecar.
SPEAKER_09 (17:03):
Right.
SPEAKER_04 (17:03):
But guess what happens?
We go as far as we can.
SPEAKER_09 (17:07):
And we get the case.
SPEAKER_04 (17:09):
And we stop.
Yeah.
And now we're in this situationto like, oh wait, God, I need
you to take the wheel.
I need you to drive this.
Yeah.
Because we get in the situation.
SPEAKER_09 (17:19):
Right.
Honestly, feel like we are theauthors.
Okay.
Okay.
I think.
Okay, so let's just think aboutthis passage that we just read,
right?
Right, right.
Literally, God was the GPSsystem.
SPEAKER_04 (17:39):
He is.
SPEAKER_09 (17:41):
But I'm talking about even to the Israelites at
the time.
Right, right.
Yes, he is all the time.
He we sometimes, it just itdepends, right?
I don't always know where God isguiding me.
I don't always know.
SPEAKER_04 (17:54):
Why are you saying that, okay?
You don't know.
And I think that's why peopletake the wheel.
SPEAKER_03 (17:59):
Right.
SPEAKER_04 (18:00):
Because when God has a purpose for your life and that
passion that's in you to do whatGod is calling you to do.
SPEAKER_06 (18:11):
Right.
SPEAKER_04 (18:13):
He's not gonna give you the step by step to go like
that.
What he wants you to do is walkout on faith.
SPEAKER_09 (18:27):
Exactly.
Okay.
SPEAKER_04 (18:29):
Trust him.
SPEAKER_09 (18:30):
And just think about this.
He literally broke the wholething down for them.
Wow.
He broke the whole thing downfor the Israelites to the I'ma
take these people out, I'm gonnado these people out.
I'm gonna, I'm not gonna do itin a year's time, so don't
expect it within a year, expectit after that time, but I'm
gonna drive these people out,I'm gonna send some hornets,
y'all ain't gonna miscarry nochildren no more.
(18:51):
We're not gonna do it.
Like he literally told you thewhole game plan.
And so even the Israelites whogot the whole plan, who knew the
whole plan, could not followthrough.
SPEAKER_04 (19:04):
Wow.
SPEAKER_09 (19:04):
How much harder is it is for us today?
SPEAKER_04 (19:06):
So, so wow.
So do you think today, and Iknow we probably getting off a
little bit, but do you thinktoday, if God gave us the plan,
told us what was gonna happenstep by step, the trials that
we're gonna go through, theadversity, the the mountains
(19:29):
that we're gonna have to climb.
So-and-so may stab you in theback, a person that you love is
gonna die.
Do you think we will sign up forthat?
SPEAKER_09 (19:41):
No.
But see, that's why he doesthings little by little, the
wisdom and the care.
Because he because he knows ifwe knew the plan and what it
took to get to the plan, wewould back out right now.
SPEAKER_04 (19:54):
All right, thank God.
I love you.
SPEAKER_09 (19:57):
We would back out right now because we mentally in
our minds, we feel this is toohard, this is too much.
But we gotta remember we'regoing through things so he can
equip us.
He is building up our characterand our steadfastness to be able
to get through this to go to thenext.
SPEAKER_04 (20:13):
But with that, he's building our faith.
SPEAKER_09 (20:17):
Come on.
Come on.
SPEAKER_04 (20:19):
He's building our faith, he's building our walk to
trust him.
And I know through my journey,the things that we have gone
through in the business and inlife, period.
SPEAKER_08 (20:32):
Right.
SPEAKER_04 (20:33):
I know I couldn't made it.
SPEAKER_08 (20:35):
No other way.
SPEAKER_04 (20:36):
No other way.
No other way.
But God.
SPEAKER_08 (20:38):
No other way.
SPEAKER_04 (20:39):
And my so when something comes up now, listen,
it's hey.
SPEAKER_09 (20:43):
Yeah.
Yeah.
SPEAKER_04 (20:44):
You know, my faith and my trust is in God.
Wow.
SPEAKER_09 (20:46):
So it brings up, okay, with you standing up
talking about faith, right?
Okay, it brings up the questionof him working behind the scenes
for me.
Because in this passage, he saysthings like, I will prepare the
way, I will block them out.
So what does that say about howinvolved God is in fighting for
(21:10):
us?
Which is often behind thescenes.
We don't see that.
But what does that say about Godreally fighting for us and
handling our battles?
SPEAKER_04 (21:21):
He got our back.
Plain and simple.
SPEAKER_09 (21:24):
Right.
And I think I think what it Ithink also too, we what we see
is okay, I'm gonna pray to Godabout this.
And because I believe and I havefaith, I know he's gonna hear
me, he gonna work it out.
Day one go, day five go, day tengo, 30 days, and you like he
(21:52):
didn't he ain't doing nothing.
But what we don't see is thatthere is a spiritual war going
on daily that we do not see.
It's kind of like uh us, right?
Right we have employ employeesthat work for us, right?
Employees and staff that workfor us.
We have like the the core officestaff team, right?
(22:14):
But then we have uh staff thatgoes out in the field and
they're seeing all theseclients, right?
Okay, we have equipped, trained,oriented, we've talked, signed
on, employed a bunch ofcaregivers, and we've sent them
out to go and do the do theirwork.
SPEAKER_04 (22:32):
Right to serve, yes.
SPEAKER_09 (22:34):
But on the backhand, they don't see what's going on.
All the calls we gotta make, allthe c all the things that go on
on a day-to-day basis, all theheadaches, all the the crying,
all the blood, sweat, and tearsthat is put in from the staff,
from us.
Like they don't see that.
All they know is I've been toldand equipped to go out and do
this, and that's what I'm doing.
It works the same exact way.
SPEAKER_04 (22:57):
It's like a movie.
SPEAKER_09 (22:58):
It is.
SPEAKER_04 (22:59):
When we go to the movies to see our favorite
movie, whatever that may be,you're seeing a finished,
polished product.
Always, but you're not seeingwhat went on behind the scenes
to create that finished,polished product.
SPEAKER_09 (23:15):
Right.
And so most times we have toremember we're only seeing the
outcome.
SPEAKER_04 (23:20):
Yes.
SPEAKER_09 (23:20):
We're not seeing the process.
Right.
And so the faith part is I'mgoing to pray and bring this to
you.
SPEAKER_04 (23:27):
Right.
And trust.
SPEAKER_09 (23:29):
And trust that I know my father in heaven is
going to take care of me.
SPEAKER_04 (23:33):
Whether I see it's happening today, tomorrow, or
not.
SPEAKER_09 (23:36):
And no matter when he gives it to me, I know that
he is fighting on my behalf.
SPEAKER_04 (23:42):
Yes.
SPEAKER_09 (23:43):
And he's doing things unseen.
SPEAKER_04 (23:46):
And he's working on me.
Through this process, I amlearning about more who I am.
SPEAKER_09 (23:56):
Yeah.
SPEAKER_04 (23:57):
And who God calls me to be.
SPEAKER_09 (23:58):
Right.
Wow.
So we're talking about faith.
SPEAKER_04 (24:02):
Okay.
SPEAKER_09 (24:03):
How can we express gratitude during those seasons
where we are facing a bunch ofobstacles or we have silence and
we're exercising that faith.
SPEAKER_04 (24:15):
Faith anchors us when circumstances don't make
sense.
SPEAKER_06 (24:20):
Right.
Right.
Right.
SPEAKER_04 (24:22):
And when everything feels certain around us.
That faith is the anchor for me.
SPEAKER_06 (24:27):
Yeah.
SPEAKER_04 (24:27):
When I'm uncertain, listen, I done did everything I
could do to try to figure thisproblem out.
SPEAKER_06 (24:33):
Right.
SPEAKER_04 (24:33):
And no matter which way I'm looking, because right
now I'm driving the wheel.
I can't find a way out of it,right?
Right.
So my faith in situations that Ihave been in is that, hey, God
is working behind this thing,He's doing this.
SPEAKER_05 (24:50):
Right.
SPEAKER_04 (24:52):
For me.
SPEAKER_05 (24:52):
Right.
SPEAKER_04 (24:53):
And for good.
Now, during that uncertaintimes, faith keeps us from being
swept away by what is visible.
So, example, what's going on inthe news today?
Right?
What's visible?
What's visible?
We talked about snap benefits.
SPEAKER_09 (25:12):
Government shutdown.
SPEAKER_04 (25:13):
Government shutdown.
We talk about people gettinglaid off, all these companies
laying off people, right?
So that is visible right now.
SPEAKER_06 (25:23):
Right.
SPEAKER_04 (25:23):
So let's change my focus.
What is God doing behind thescenes?
SPEAKER_06 (25:30):
Right.
SPEAKER_04 (25:32):
So my faith can waver in what is being seen.
SPEAKER_06 (25:37):
Right.
SPEAKER_04 (25:39):
Man, these people doing this time that's being
laid off still have to providefor their family.
unknown (25:45):
Yeah.
SPEAKER_06 (25:46):
Right.
Yeah.
SPEAKER_04 (25:47):
Thanksgiving coming up.
SPEAKER_06 (25:48):
Yeah.
SPEAKER_04 (25:49):
The snap benefits that's been cut.
SPEAKER_08 (25:52):
Some people are going hungry.
SPEAKER_04 (25:54):
Or going hungry.
SPEAKER_06 (25:55):
Yeah.
SPEAKER_04 (25:56):
So my faith and my trust in God is what's keeping
me from not being swept awayfrom what I visibly see.
Because I know he's working.
SPEAKER_09 (26:11):
I think, I think, too, we have to really
understand what faith is.
Break it down.
Because I think sometimes wekind of confuse, confuse faith
with just with hope, really.
Because we hope God will dothis.
But that is different fromfaith.
Right.
And so the scripture that I lovewhen I'm when we're talking
about faith and like reallytrying to understand what it is,
(26:32):
Hebrews 11 breaks it downtremendously.
I'll read that for us.
Hebrews 11, 1.
Now faith is the assurance ofthings hoped for, the conviction
of things not seen.
It goes on to say, by faith, weunderstand that the universe was
created by the word of God, sothat what is seen was not made
(26:52):
out of things that are visible.
Then it goes on later to say,and without faith it is
impossible to please him, forwhoever would draw near to near
to God must believe that heexists and that he rewards those
who seek him.
SPEAKER_07 (27:12):
Yes.
SPEAKER_09 (27:13):
It's assured, it's done.
It's assured.
Faith is knowing that the thingsthat are not seen is happening,
right?
It's assuring that God is doingwhat he said he will do.
That is faith.
SPEAKER_04 (27:29):
Because his word can't come back void.
SPEAKER_09 (27:30):
It can't come back void.
So that's faith.
It's knowing that God's gonna doit.
And it's saying, okay, because Iknow that he's gonna do it, I'm
gonna understand that I'm notgonna be able to see what he's
doing.
SPEAKER_04 (27:42):
Matter of fact, it probably gets worse before it
gets better.
SPEAKER_09 (27:45):
Right.
And it's it's just knowingthrough it all, it's gonna get
better.
I might have some hard times,but it is assured that it will
happen.
I just won't see it.
And that is, we don't normallysee it till after the fact.
Right.
Usually.
If we are remembering what we'repraying for and what we're
(28:05):
believing for, I'm I'm gonnashare this real quick.
SPEAKER_04 (28:08):
It's probably a little off subject, but my mom
was diagnosed with cancer.
What a year ago or something.
SPEAKER_01 (28:14):
Yeah.
SPEAKER_04 (28:15):
And my faith was hit hard, man.
It was hit hard.
We got the diagnosis, and I, youknow, this is saying how we say
it's easier said than done.
When when trouble, whencircumstances, when life start
(28:39):
life and in me I knew what todo.
Hey, I'm finna pray.
I'm gonna give it to God.
But I couldn't speak it.
SPEAKER_08 (28:56):
Yeah.
SPEAKER_04 (28:57):
I couldn't.
I couldn't do it.
SPEAKER_08 (29:03):
Yeah, yeah.
SPEAKER_04 (29:05):
And I know better than anybody what I think what
to do, right?
Yeah.
So I mean, I'm it's coming to myhead.
You need to pray.
You need to do this.
And I just couldn't yeah, Icouldn't get it out.
Yeah.
I couldn't, I wasn't feeling itper se.
I wasn't there, even though myspirit was saying, so I went to
(29:30):
visit her.
She stayed some months in thehospital doing chemo.
And I was visiting her.
And as I go visit her, I meanI'm crying at home and
everything.
And I go visit her, so I'm like,okay, I got to keep a strong
face.
And she's happy.
SPEAKER_08 (29:50):
Yeah.
SPEAKER_04 (29:50):
She's reading the word, she's devotional.
SPEAKER_08 (29:54):
Yeah.
SPEAKER_04 (29:54):
She's in there by herself pretty much, and I'm
visiting her.
SPEAKER_06 (29:59):
Yeah.
SPEAKER_04 (30:01):
And she's keeping me going.
Probably she's not aware of it.
But her faith had to itstrengthen my faith to start
praying.
SPEAKER_09 (30:15):
Because what's likely stopped you is the fear
of what if he don't.
SPEAKER_03 (30:25):
And you know what?
And that's the fear of the notyet, right?
I can I can I can I can you knowwhat I I can take I accept that.
But I I don't I don't know.
You know what I'm saying?
SPEAKER_09 (30:37):
Because guess what?
Because guess what?
There's nothing, there's nothingmore telling than how we react
when he doesn't do what weasked.
And let me tell you something.
That's because we are not theauthors of our life.
(30:57):
If if you prayed and you did,right?
SPEAKER_04 (31:03):
But eventually.
SPEAKER_09 (31:04):
Right.
Yes.
But what if you prayed and hedidn't do it?
How do you stay strong andencourage doing those things?
SPEAKER_04 (31:13):
Let me tell you.
If if I prayed and he didn't dowhat he did, that didn't mean
that he can do what he did.
SPEAKER_09 (31:28):
Come on.
SPEAKER_04 (31:29):
That don't mean that he couldn't do it.
That means his will be done.
SPEAKER_09 (31:36):
So and I think I mean I mean I think that it just
goes back, that's how we anchorour hope and our thankfulness in
that not yet, or that delay, orthat not right now, or that you
we have to understand everythingis not a coincidence.
(31:57):
Right.
Everything happens because hewills it to happen.
Though it's hard to love someoneand be there and watch them go
through chemo or watch them gothrough cancer.
SPEAKER_07 (32:10):
Oh, you're Alzheimer's.
SPEAKER_09 (32:12):
Right.
Alzheimer's disease.
Or you're dealing with someonewho has autism, or you though it
is hard, we have to one,remember that he's working, but
we have to remember this isaccording to his will.
Because we also have toremember, he said a lot in this
scripture, right?
He said, I will blot them out in2323.
(32:33):
He says, When my angel goesbefore you in 2323, I will take
sickness away in 2325.
I will fulfill the number ofdays 2326, and I will send
hornets 2328.
Little by little, I will drivethem out 2330.
SPEAKER_04 (32:50):
Yes.
SPEAKER_09 (32:51):
We have to understand that He is
controlling all things.
SPEAKER_04 (32:58):
Not my will, God, but your will be done.
SPEAKER_09 (33:00):
He is controlling all things.
And we have to remember thatagain, that bigger picture.
God, let me while while I havethis chance, let me steward what
you have given me.
How can I bring glory throughthis through this cancer?
How can I glorify you?
My grandmother strengthen yourfaith because she stays strong.
(33:23):
She glorified him in your eye.
SPEAKER_04 (33:26):
Yes.
SPEAKER_09 (33:26):
Like, hey, can pop if she's good, I'm good.
SPEAKER_04 (33:29):
So so You know what I'm saying?
So do this.
SPEAKER_09 (33:33):
Yeah.
SPEAKER_06 (33:34):
That's a good idea.
SPEAKER_04 (33:36):
With a family member dealing with cancer,
Alzheimer's, uh surgery,passing.
Yes, it's horrible.
Yes, it's hurtful.
Yes, we probably won'tunderstand it in that moment.
But remember this.
Let's shift your focus.
SPEAKER_01 (33:57):
Yeah.
SPEAKER_04 (33:59):
To his will and what he's working in you.
SPEAKER_01 (34:02):
Yeah.
SPEAKER_04 (34:03):
And it don't feel good.
SPEAKER_09 (34:05):
Yeah.
SPEAKER_04 (34:08):
But he's our father.
SPEAKER_09 (34:10):
Right.
SPEAKER_04 (34:10):
And and he wants what's best for us.
SPEAKER_09 (34:12):
And we have to remember his truths and his
promises.
We have to lean on those whenthings aren't going according to
how we feel they should go.
Or when we want deliverance fromsomething and it's not coming as
soon as we want it to come,right?
Right.
So we have to remember that.
SPEAKER_04 (34:28):
But let's go here.
SPEAKER_09 (34:30):
Okay.
SPEAKER_04 (34:30):
All right.
As we celebrate Thanksgiving.
SPEAKER_06 (34:33):
Right.
SPEAKER_04 (34:33):
How can we cultivate a deeper, more lasting
gratitude?
Not just for the blessings wecan see, but for God's
sovereignty, protection, andperfect timing.
SPEAKER_09 (34:47):
I think most of what helps me cultivate kind of a
deeper, more lasting gratitude,is keeping my eyes focused on
eternity.
Because if I remember that allof this is fleeting, that there
will be no hunger, there will beno sickness, there will be no
(35:10):
depression, there will be a timewhere we are joined with him
without all of these things, ithelps me to remember like God,
even though you are still God.
You know what I'm saying?
So if when I keep my eyes oneternity, keep my eyes fixed on
him and his truths and hispromises, I'm more grateful for
(35:30):
what I have.
Again, I'll cherish thesemoments and my and the people
that are close to me morebecause I understand it won't
always be like this.
You know what I mean?
And so I think that's alwaysimportant just to remember what
he's doing behind the scenes.
SPEAKER_04 (35:45):
And cherish this.
Yep, for sure.
Cherish this, yes.
Uh the wealth, we are here justfor a moment in time, right?
Uh we are here to do God's willon earth.
SPEAKER_05 (35:57):
Right.
SPEAKER_04 (35:57):
Serve his people, love his people, right?
SPEAKER_05 (36:00):
Right.
SPEAKER_04 (36:00):
And praise and worship him.
Right.
Right.
Uh so this holiday season, whatwe want to do is cherish these
moments.
Be thankful for these moments.
Uh some people that are dealingwith not having family members
this holiday season.
SPEAKER_05 (36:18):
Right.
SPEAKER_04 (36:18):
Uh, you now you have with the flights and
cancellations and things that'sgoing on, people won't be able
to be with their family.
So let's cherish the momentsthat we do have for our family.
Right.
And I'm gonna I'm gonna do this,say this also.
Why is it important to thank Godnot only for what he's done, but
also for what he is doing andwill do, even if we can't see it
(36:40):
yet?
SPEAKER_09 (36:45):
Because I think he exercises your faith.
Because if you're thankful forwhat he's already done, but
you're praying and hoping forsomething to to be delivered
from something, right?
You thanking him in advance isshowing that you are assured
that he's going to do whatyou've prayed for, right?
(37:09):
It's essentially it'sessentially like the scripture,
faith without works is dead.
Thanking him is part of thework.
Right.
Right?
And then it's acting and movingaccording to I know he's going
to provide this.
And we have to also becomfortable with it not looking
the way we want it to look whenhe provided.
SPEAKER_04 (37:29):
Well, I listen, I have Wow Starting a business, I
have a vision of what I think itshould be or what I want it to
be.
SPEAKER_06 (37:47):
Yeah.
SPEAKER_04 (37:48):
In that process, everything I thought so far,
it's not how I envisioned it.
SPEAKER_06 (37:57):
Yeah.
SPEAKER_04 (37:58):
But it's perfect.
SPEAKER_06 (38:01):
Yeah.
SPEAKER_04 (38:02):
My vision that I thought it was was perfect.
Right.
Right.
But the way God delivered it iseven better.
That's wow.
SPEAKER_09 (38:08):
And and and and I think also, too, when we say
like he like he will provide,it's assured that he's doing
something, right?
Doesn't always mean it's gonnabe it's gonna feel good when he
with whatever he delivers.
You can pray for peace, and thatmight mean people in your life
(38:29):
fall away.
SPEAKER_04 (38:32):
Well, I guess that means it probably be a storm
before the peace.
SPEAKER_09 (38:36):
Exactly.
And so we gotta understand thatit's not gonna always feel good.
Right, but he still answeredthat prayer.
And it didn't come in thepackage you want.
Right.
It didn't feel like you wantedit to feel.
It probably was not as excitingand it could have been.
But again, we have to understandthat he sees the bigger picture.
SPEAKER_04 (38:56):
So, why is it important to thank God not only
for what he's done, but also forwhat he's doing and will do.
Thanking God for the past buildstrust.
SPEAKER_06 (39:09):
Yeah.
Yeah.
SPEAKER_04 (39:10):
Thanking God for the presence builds awareness.
SPEAKER_06 (39:15):
Mm-hmm.
SPEAKER_04 (39:16):
Thanking him for the future builds hope.
SPEAKER_09 (39:20):
Oh, I love that.
Oh, you aware that you can't doit.
You need him.
You get what I'm saying?
And it's trusting that he doneit before he'll do it again.
SPEAKER_04 (39:30):
Yes.
SPEAKER_09 (39:31):
And it's hoping that when I ask for it in the future,
it's gonna be delivered.
I love, I love that you saythat.
And I was flipping through thethrough my Bible because I kind
of want to close.
I want to close with thisbecause at the same, at the same
time, I think it's importantthat we that we understand this.
And so what I'm gonna read isJames, uh, James 1, verses 2
(39:52):
through like four or so.
But it says the the title, whichis so good of this, it says
testing of your faith.
It says, Count it all joy, mybrothers, when you meet trials
of various kinds.
For you know that the testing ofyour faith produces
steadfastness, and letsteadfastness have its full
(40:13):
effect that you may be perfectand complete, lacking nothing.
If any of you lacks wisdom, lethim ask God, who gives
generously to all withoutreproach, and it will be given
him.
But let him ask in faith with nodoubting, for the one who doubts
is like a wave of the sea thatis driven and tossed by the
(40:35):
wind.
For that person must not supposethat he will receive anything
from the Lord.
He is a double-minded man,unstable in all his ways.
Again, faith is having theassurance that he will do it
even when you don't see it.
And when we are going throughtrials and tribulations, when we
want to be delivered fromsomething, we have to know and
(40:56):
remember that he is workingbehind the scenes.
And we have faith in that.
Don't doubt him.
Because when you doubt him, youlike the raise of the sea.
You don't know what's coming.
He says, but ask me, and it willbe given unto you.
And so I think we have toremember that we just have to
put forth the effort and havefaith and ask God for what we
(41:19):
need.
But remember, he is working itout behind the scenes.
So regardless of the time frame,regardless of how it looks.
SPEAKER_04 (41:26):
So be thankful for the circumstance.
SPEAKER_09 (41:31):
Yeah.
SPEAKER_04 (41:31):
Be thankful for the situation.
Cut it all joy and havegratitude when that time comes
that you know God is workingbehind the scenes.
SPEAKER_00 (41:42):
Yes.
It's the holiday season rightnow.
Um, not that you have to waittill the holidays, but we have
five tips to help manage stressduring the holidays, and we've
kind of wanted to share thatwith you.
SPEAKER_01 (41:55):
Uh, the most important thing is to reach out
to a support group.
Find others that are goingthrough the same issues so that
you can feel like it's not justme, and also to discuss the
different areas of the grief,whatever you're going through,
because that grief looksdifferent for everybody.
(42:16):
It's not the same.
And then two, is to continuewith the activity that brings
you happiness.
If it's walking, if it'sreading, if it's uh a playing
the board game, whatever it is,continue to do that.
SPEAKER_00 (42:33):
Some other techniques, thank you so much,
Ruby, that we also uh want tomention is set realistic
expectations.
You are not superman orsuperwoman, and you don't have
to save the world.
Do something small, just onestep forward per day, and that
just might be getting up andgetting dressed for the day.
So make a realistic expectationfor yourself.
(42:55):
Another one that people dismissall the time, and this is, you
know, we do it when we havechildren as women, it's
breathing, a breathingtechnique.
Sometimes you can feel in yourentire body when you're
stressed.
Everything tenses up and youstart to have shallow breathing.
But taking the deep breath inthrough your nose, blowing it
out through your mouth, as sillyas that might sound, can help to
(43:16):
decrease your stressimmediately, help to reduce
blood pressure.
Um, and then you can kind ofthink better.
And also, we also always say, dolike Ruby said, do an activity
that you enjoy some kind of way.
Carve out five minutes, twominutes, three minutes if you
have to go into a restroom andclose the door to do something
you like.
That might be listen to one ofyour favorite songs, that might
(43:39):
be watch a funny video, thatmight be take a power nap for
five minutes if it's possible.
But make sure that sometimethroughout the day, every day,
you carve out at least fiveminutes to do something that's
meaningful to you.
SPEAKER_09 (43:58):
Well, I hope this episode blessed you guys.
It blessed me out at least I'm acrybaby, as y'all know.
This isn't the first time.
Um, but I hope this episodeblessed you guys.
And I hope this holiday seasonyou're able to find gratitude in
the things that normally youdon't feel too thankful for.
Right.
Circumstances that you don'tfeel too thankful for.
And then I pray, pray, pray thatyou're able to thank God even in
(44:21):
the midst of it.
Yes.
And you're able to anchor intoHim this holiday season, have
your family around, give themthis episode, share this episode
with somebody that you know thatmay be going through with
something that kind of needsthat extra pull to say, hey, God
got you.
And he does.
It does.
And so I thank you guys forlistening.
Please like, share, subscribe,and join us back for the next
(44:43):
season of the Journey OutPodcast.
Happy holidays, and we love youguys.
Yeah.
Hello everyone and welcome back to the Journey Out
Podcast.
Happy holidays.
SPEAKER_03 (00:05):
Yes, yes, yes.
SPEAKER_09 (00:07):
It is the holiday season.
We're super excited to be withyou guys for the holiday season
and talk about something that wefeel is going to be super
impactful for this Thanksgivingseason.
SPEAKER_04 (00:18):
So And not on Thanksgiving.
SPEAKER_09 (00:20):
But the holidays are looking for what are you
thankful for?
SPEAKER_04 (00:25):
Well, what what are you thankful for?
SPEAKER_09 (00:27):
All right, let's find out.
SPEAKER_02 (00:30):
I know some people tried to add it hard yet, but I
was good.
I didn't know it was on my momand daddy on the show.
(01:19):
Journey Out, Journey OutPodcast.
Welcome to the Journey OutPodcast.
SPEAKER_09 (01:26):
So I know today we wanted to talk about gratitude
for God's work behind thescenes.
Yes.
And we thought it fittingbecause we talk about a lot of
different things on this podcastthat we go through on a
day-to-day basis, that we knowfamilies and caregivers and all
these people go through on aday-to-day basis.
(01:46):
And I think it was justimportant for us to talk about
gratitude for God's work when wedon't necessarily see what He's
doing.
Right.
Right?
Exactly.
And so we have an anchorscripture for that, okay?
So it is Exodus 23, verses 23through 33.
So 10 verses, okay?
I'm gonna read them to you.
All right.
So stay with me, okay, as we goas we go through this.
(02:08):
All right, so it says, When myangel goes before you and brings
you to the Amorites and theHittites and the Perizzites and
the Canaanites, the Hivites andthe Jebusites, and I blot them
out, you shall not bow down totheir gods, nor serve them, nor
do as they do, but you shallutterly overthrow them and break
(02:28):
their pillars in pieces.
You shall serve the Lord yourGod, and he will bless your
bread and your water, and hewill take sickness away from
among you.
None shall miscarry or be barrenin your land.
I will fulfill the number ofyour days, I will send my terror
before you, and I will throwinto confusion all the people
against whom you shall come, andI will make all your enemies
(02:51):
turn their backs to you, and Iwill send hornets before you,
which shall drive out theHivites, the Canaanites, and the
Hittites from before you.
I will not drive them out beforeyou in one year, lest the land
become desolate and the wildbeasts multiply against you.
Little by little I will drivethem out from before you until
you have increased and possessedthe land, and I will set your
(03:14):
border from the Red Sea to theSea of the Philistines, and from
the wilderness to the Euphrates,for I will give the inhabitants
of the land into your hand, andyou shall drive them out before
you.
You shall make no covenant withthem and their gods.
They shall not dwell in yourland, lest they make you sin
against me.
For if you serve their gods, itwill surely be a snare to you.
(03:38):
Okay, so that was a lot.
So let me just give you guys alittle backstory of what we're
talking about here as we'regoing through Exodus.
Again, this is Exodus 23.
So just a recap from Exodus 1 to22, right?
The first thing is theIsraelites are slaves in Egypt
under Pharaoh, right?
God then raises up Moses to leadthem out of bondage.
(04:01):
Uh through ten plagues, Godshows his power and delivers the
Israelites from Egypt.
Then, because of that, thatmarks Passover as their freedom,
and the Red Sea is parted fortheir escape.
In the wilderness, God providesmanna, quill, and water for
their survival.
The Israelites face their firstbattle against the Amalekites,
(04:25):
which is a hostile nomadic tribethat attacked them from behind,
and they win as Moses holds uphis hands in prayer.
Then at Mount Sinai, God givesthe Ten Commandments to Moses
and the laws for holy living andhow the Israelites should live,
right?
And then lastly, God beginsshaping Israel into his covenant
people, setting them apart towalk in his ways.
(04:47):
So in chapter 23, he's kind ofgoing over the laws with them,
telling them how uh, you know,they should live holy now that
they have been uh saved fromPharaoh in Egypt, right?
And so in this piece, he'stalking about taking them to the
promised land, right?
And what is going to be like forthem to get to the promised
(05:07):
land, what they should do,right?
SPEAKER_04 (05:09):
And so So let me ask you.
SPEAKER_09 (05:12):
Yeah.
SPEAKER_04 (05:12):
Okay.
So when you read Exodus 23, 23through 33, what stands out to
you most about God's promisesand the way he chooses to
fulfill them?
SPEAKER_09 (05:24):
I think the biggest thing that I see here is his
intentionality and his patience.
And I don't think it's reallypatience in him fulfilling all
of these things.
I think I see his patience andhis intentionality with us.
Right.
Because if we know that if forthose who may not know the
(05:46):
story, it took the Israelites 40years to get to get to the
promised land.
God laid out everything thatthey needed to do to get to the
promised land.
SPEAKER_04 (05:58):
So he was he was intentional?
Intentional and instructions,his instructions and his
protection through that wholetime.
Exactly.
Right?
Uh so he's he's, I guess youcould say, deliberate on his
promises and how he wanted tobe.
SPEAKER_09 (06:15):
Very much so, very much so deliberate.
And we all we we know now thatit actually could have taken, I
think they say about seven daysor so, it could have taken them
to get to the promised land, butit took them 40 years, which is
in those 40 years, he wasintentional and molding and
shaping them to be who theyneeded to be to withstand and be
(06:37):
able to thrive in the promisedland.
And I think we see, I think whatI see most is his intentionality
and his his patience.
SPEAKER_04 (06:46):
Right.
And so even though they wantedto get to the promised land and
they were complaining, and theyand and Moses had to deal with a
lot of things and trying to leadthe people promised land, uh God
knew, hey, if I give you thisland right now, you're not gonna
be ready for it.
SPEAKER_09 (07:02):
You're not gonna be ready for it.
SPEAKER_04 (07:03):
And you're not gonna be ready to defeat what's in the
land.
SPEAKER_09 (07:07):
Okay preach, preach.
All right, go ahead.
Okay, so to me, from this whatwe just read right now, how do
you think we learn to bethankful, even when God delays
what we think we're ready for?
SPEAKER_04 (07:23):
I think it's it's shifting your focus.
Shifting your focus what whatyou think is being withheld from
you to what God is working outin you.
Because again, just like wesaid, when you think you're
ready for something, right?
God already knows that, hey, ifI give you this, oh yeah, you
(07:46):
want a Fortune 500 company.
SPEAKER_06 (07:47):
Right.
SPEAKER_04 (07:49):
I can give you that Fortune 500 company tomorrow,
right now if I want to.
SPEAKER_06 (07:53):
Yeah.
SPEAKER_04 (07:54):
But giving you that right now, you're not capable to
withstand that.
You're not capable to capable tomaintain that.
SPEAKER_03 (08:01):
Right.
SPEAKER_04 (08:01):
It probably is gonna even do you more harm than good
at this point.
SPEAKER_03 (08:05):
Yeah.
SPEAKER_04 (08:06):
Until I mold you, shape you.
SPEAKER_09 (08:11):
The pruning.
SPEAKER_04 (08:12):
And take you from where you are now to who I
called you to be.
SPEAKER_09 (08:16):
Yeah.
SPEAKER_04 (08:17):
So that's that's that's that's one of those
things to where uh uh a delay isnot a no.
SPEAKER_09 (08:25):
Right, right.
Right.
And I think I think we can learnto be thankful in those delays
when we understand that we don'tsee the big picture.
SPEAKER_04 (08:35):
Right, right.
SPEAKER_09 (08:35):
You know what I'm saying?
SPEAKER_04 (08:36):
Like we can't see the big picture.
SPEAKER_09 (08:38):
We we can't.
Like we we serve a God who isall-knowing and all-seeing.
We only we only know fiveminutes ago.
SPEAKER_04 (08:46):
Right.
SPEAKER_09 (08:46):
We we I don't know five minutes from now.
SPEAKER_04 (08:48):
I mean, and then I know we can plan and we can use
analytics to forecast.
SPEAKER_09 (08:53):
And that's good.
SPEAKER_04 (08:54):
That's great.
SPEAKER_09 (08:55):
That's good as we should.
We should plan and we shouldwork the plan always, but we
have to understand that we areworking according to his will.
And we have to see understandthat we don't see the big
picture.
So, like, even he mentioned inthe scriptures, uh, he says that
uh, and I will send the hornetsbefore you, which shall drive
(09:15):
out the Hivites, the Canaanites,and the Hittites from before
you.
SPEAKER_04 (09:18):
But hold on.
Before you go to that, did thedid the Israelites know that
there was hornets in the land?
SPEAKER_09 (09:24):
No, he's saying there's people in the land.
SPEAKER_04 (09:26):
Right, but right, but I'm saying, but did the
Israelites know that?
SPEAKER_09 (09:29):
That there is people in the land?
SPEAKER_04 (09:31):
Right.
SPEAKER_09 (09:31):
No, so they don't, so the Israelites don't know
what they're coming to at thispoint.
Right.
They don't know what thepromised land is looking like,
where where they're going.
All they know is God is going togo there.
But he's t God is gonna takethem there.
Right.
But he's telling them there arethese people, the Canaanites,
the Hittites, Hittites, thesepeople are in this land.
And I'll say one of the people.
(09:53):
I have to remove these peoplefrom this land in order for you
to gradually take it over.
But here's the thing there's somany of them, and not so many of
you.
Right.
If I sit send you to this land,you won't succeed at this point.
But also, you probably are notprepared for the battle that
they're gonna bring forthtowards you.
SPEAKER_04 (10:10):
Because you're not ready.
SPEAKER_09 (10:11):
Ready.
SPEAKER_04 (10:12):
You're not ready and believe.
SPEAKER_09 (10:14):
We have to see the bigger picture.
The bigger picture is he wantsus, he first and foremost, he
wants what is done uh through usto glorify him.
Him, right.
That is first and foremost.
We can't glorify him in asituation that we ain't even
called to yet.
SPEAKER_04 (10:30):
So being not being ready mentally, physically,
emotionally, spiritually.
SPEAKER_09 (10:35):
Exactly.
SPEAKER_04 (10:36):
Right?
So you he put you in that placeand you're not ready to handle
what comes with that.
SPEAKER_09 (10:42):
Yeah.
Yeah.
SPEAKER_04 (10:43):
Wow.
SPEAKER_09 (10:43):
And it goes to this.
So in verse 30, God talks aboutlittle by little, I will drive
them out before you.
I kinda as we read it, you know,we kind of get a good
understanding.
But what do you think God, whydo you think he works in that
little by little way sometimes?
Why not just give it all to us?
(11:04):
Why do you think he works likethat?
SPEAKER_04 (11:06):
Well, again, just like we said, we're not ready,
right?
And that's pruning, that'sshaping, that's molding.
Uh um, giving it to us could bedangerous.
SPEAKER_09 (11:20):
Yeah.
SPEAKER_04 (11:20):
And I'ma flip that.
Why do you think he used to usby little by little?
SPEAKER_09 (11:24):
Well, two things.
To I think to show his wisdomand to show that he cares for
us.
Wow.
But because again, us as humans,we think we know what's right
for us.
But again, we don't see the bigpicture and we don't know the
plan.
We're moving according to how wefeel, not what we know.
(11:47):
And so his wisdom and his lovefor us, he presents things
little by little so we don'tharm ourselves.
SPEAKER_04 (11:56):
So as a parent, as a parent taking care of their
child, yeah, we want nothing butgood for our child.
Right?
Sometimes our children think asthey grow up and be teenagers,
that they know it all, that theygot it all figured out.
Right.
But the parent is there saying,no, don't go this way.
(12:17):
Let's try it this way.
SPEAKER_05 (12:18):
Right.
SPEAKER_04 (12:19):
But the child already, teenager in their mind,
no, I'm just gonna go this waybecause that's what it is.
SPEAKER_05 (12:25):
Right.
SPEAKER_04 (12:26):
So as our father, God, is that that is in heaven,
he knows what's best for us.
SPEAKER_05 (12:31):
Right.
SPEAKER_04 (12:32):
He knows, he knows that we're we are immature.
We're not mature enough tohandle this right now.
SPEAKER_06 (12:41):
Yeah.
SPEAKER_04 (12:42):
You know, hey, uh, I can give you a car right now,
um, sweet 16, oh, you want acar?
Ah, Daddy, no.
Daddy's saying I don't think youneed a car.
SPEAKER_05 (12:50):
Right.
SPEAKER_04 (12:50):
But you, I want a car.
My friends got a car, theydriving, uh, but I don't think
you need a car.
You decide to drive yourfriend's car and you wreck your
friend's car.
Because you weren't patientenough and you thought that you
had the maturity.
SPEAKER_09 (13:09):
But but just think about that.
Just think about what you'resaying.
Because even you or parents ingeneral, as human beings,
because you've been throughteenage years, you've been
through adolescent years, you'vebeen through those years, you're
able to have the wisdom enoughto be able to say, I've been
(13:32):
here, this is what got, this iswhat happened to me.
I don't want you to go throughthat.
Let's try this lane.
Right.
Even you as a human, and you'renot perfect.
SPEAKER_04 (13:40):
I'm not perfect.
No, no.
Parents aren't perfect.
SPEAKER_09 (13:43):
Right?
SPEAKER_04 (13:43):
It's no, it's no, it's no uh how-to book when it
comes to raising a kid.
SPEAKER_09 (13:49):
Exactly.
It's not.
And so even, and there's there'sscripture on that.
Where it's even as if you ashumans can give your child good
things, how much more, right?
There's scripture that's basedon that.
So if even we know that as wegrow older, we're seasoned and
there's wisdom, just think aboutour our father who created us.
(14:09):
How much more wisdom and loveand care that he has for us.
And so he presents things littleby little.
So that way, let me tell yousomething.
SPEAKER_04 (14:16):
So he presents things little by little because
he wants us to prosper.
SPEAKER_09 (14:21):
And if we got it too soon, God forbid, it would be
detrimental to our health, toour mindset, because again,
remember, we're born with sinnature.
Pride is a thing, right?
Greed is a thing, like there'sso many things that we're
dealing with.
Right.
And so I I love that.
But I think essentially that itjust shows his wisdom and it
doesn't care for us.
(14:42):
Right.
But how can essentially we shiftour perspective?
Because that delay, we'reimpatient.
We we like, okay, I'm ready forit now.
I think I can do it now.
How can we shift our perspectivefrom impatience to gratitude
when things aren't happening asfast as we think they should?
SPEAKER_04 (15:04):
Um, let's say, let's acknowledge what you feel.
SPEAKER_09 (15:08):
Yeah, okay.
SPEAKER_04 (15:09):
Acknowledge what you feel in in that time and in that
moment.
But invite God into it.
SPEAKER_08 (15:17):
I love that.
SPEAKER_04 (15:18):
All right, so I'm gonna read this.
Impatience often comes fromdisappointment, fear, or a sense
of being forgotten.
Invite God into your situation.
SPEAKER_08 (15:27):
Yeah.
SPEAKER_04 (15:28):
God doesn't reject those prayers, He meets us in
them.
So, with whatever situationyou're going through, whatever
you feel that you've beenimpatient about, and I know I'm
not a patient person.
I'm not a patient, no, I'm not apatient person.
(15:49):
But I I have learned to practicepatience.
SPEAKER_08 (15:53):
Yeah.
SPEAKER_04 (15:54):
Because just because I can do it at the drop of a
dime, that don't mean it's theright time.
Yeah.
That don't mean it's God'stiming.
SPEAKER_09 (16:05):
Yeah.
SPEAKER_04 (16:06):
So I have learned in though in being patient in
whatever situation I'm going toto seek God in prayer.
SPEAKER_09 (16:12):
Right.
Right.
Right.
SPEAKER_04 (16:13):
And help and let Him come into that situation to
figure it out.
SPEAKER_09 (16:18):
Yeah.
And I think, I think it's easiersaid than done, right?
Yes, it is.
Because again, we are only, wewant the best for ourselves as
well.
SPEAKER_07 (16:28):
Right.
SPEAKER_09 (16:29):
We are only human.
However, I think it's importantfor us to remember that we
aren't the authors of our ownlives.
And I feel like when we takethat seat, when we take take
that pen and start trying towrite our own story, I think the
impatience comes because we'renot aligned to the wheel.
SPEAKER_04 (16:49):
So so thank you for saying aligned to the wheel.
So that we're taking over thewheel.
So when we start doing itourselves because we're
impatient, we we drive in thecar.
SPEAKER_09 (17:03):
Right.
SPEAKER_04 (17:03):
But guess what happens?
We go as far as we can.
SPEAKER_09 (17:07):
And we get the case.
SPEAKER_04 (17:09):
And we stop.
Yeah.
And now we're in this situationto like, oh wait, God, I need
you to take the wheel.
I need you to drive this.
Yeah.
Because we get in the situation.
SPEAKER_09 (17:19):
Right.
Honestly, feel like we are theauthors.
Okay.
Okay.
I think.
Okay, so let's just think aboutthis passage that we just read,
right?
Right, right.
Literally, God was the GPSsystem.
SPEAKER_04 (17:39):
He is.
SPEAKER_09 (17:41):
But I'm talking about even to the Israelites at
the time.
Right, right.
Yes, he is all the time.
He we sometimes, it just itdepends, right?
I don't always know where God isguiding me.
I don't always know.
SPEAKER_04 (17:54):
Why are you saying that, okay?
You don't know.
And I think that's why peopletake the wheel.
SPEAKER_03 (17:59):
Right.
SPEAKER_04 (18:00):
Because when God has a purpose for your life and that
passion that's in you to do whatGod is calling you to do.
SPEAKER_06 (18:11):
Right.
SPEAKER_04 (18:13):
He's not gonna give you the step by step to go like
that.
What he wants you to do is walkout on faith.
SPEAKER_09 (18:27):
Exactly.
Okay.
SPEAKER_04 (18:29):
Trust him.
SPEAKER_09 (18:30):
And just think about this.
He literally broke the wholething down for them.
Wow.
He broke the whole thing downfor the Israelites to the I'ma
take these people out, I'm gonnado these people out.
I'm gonna, I'm not gonna do itin a year's time, so don't
expect it within a year, expectit after that time, but I'm
gonna drive these people out,I'm gonna send some hornets,
y'all ain't gonna miscarry nochildren no more.
(18:51):
We're not gonna do it.
Like he literally told you thewhole game plan.
And so even the Israelites whogot the whole plan, who knew the
whole plan, could not followthrough.
SPEAKER_04 (19:04):
Wow.
SPEAKER_09 (19:04):
How much harder is it is for us today?
SPEAKER_04 (19:06):
So, so wow.
So do you think today, and Iknow we probably getting off a
little bit, but do you thinktoday, if God gave us the plan,
told us what was gonna happenstep by step, the trials that
we're gonna go through, theadversity, the the mountains
(19:29):
that we're gonna have to climb.
So-and-so may stab you in theback, a person that you love is
gonna die.
Do you think we will sign up forthat?
SPEAKER_09 (19:41):
No.
But see, that's why he doesthings little by little, the
wisdom and the care.
Because he because he knows ifwe knew the plan and what it
took to get to the plan, wewould back out right now.
SPEAKER_04 (19:54):
All right, thank God.
I love you.
SPEAKER_09 (19:57):
We would back out right now because we mentally in
our minds, we feel this is toohard, this is too much.
But we gotta remember we'regoing through things so he can
equip us.
He is building up our characterand our steadfastness to be able
to get through this to go to thenext.
SPEAKER_04 (20:13):
But with that, he's building our faith.
SPEAKER_09 (20:17):
Come on.
Come on.
SPEAKER_04 (20:19):
He's building our faith, he's building our walk to
trust him.
And I know through my journey,the things that we have gone
through in the business and inlife, period.
SPEAKER_08 (20:32):
Right.
SPEAKER_04 (20:33):
I know I couldn't made it.
SPEAKER_08 (20:35):
No other way.
SPEAKER_04 (20:36):
No other way.
No other way.
But God.
SPEAKER_08 (20:38):
No other way.
SPEAKER_04 (20:39):
And my so when something comes up now, listen,
it's hey.
SPEAKER_09 (20:43):
Yeah.
Yeah.
SPEAKER_04 (20:44):
You know, my faith and my trust is in God.
Wow.
SPEAKER_09 (20:46):
So it brings up, okay, with you standing up
talking about faith, right?
Okay, it brings up the questionof him working behind the scenes
for me.
Because in this passage, he saysthings like, I will prepare the
way, I will block them out.
So what does that say about howinvolved God is in fighting for
(21:10):
us?
Which is often behind thescenes.
We don't see that.
But what does that say about Godreally fighting for us and
handling our battles?
SPEAKER_04 (21:21):
He got our back.
Plain and simple.
SPEAKER_09 (21:24):
Right.
And I think I think what it Ithink also too, we what we see
is okay, I'm gonna pray to Godabout this.
And because I believe and I havefaith, I know he's gonna hear
me, he gonna work it out.
Day one go, day five go, day tengo, 30 days, and you like he
(21:52):
didn't he ain't doing nothing.
But what we don't see is thatthere is a spiritual war going
on daily that we do not see.
It's kind of like uh us, right?
Right we have employ employeesthat work for us, right?
Employees and staff that workfor us.
We have like the the core officestaff team, right?
(22:14):
But then we have uh staff thatgoes out in the field and
they're seeing all theseclients, right?
Okay, we have equipped, trained,oriented, we've talked, signed
on, employed a bunch ofcaregivers, and we've sent them
out to go and do the do theirwork.
SPEAKER_04 (22:32):
Right to serve, yes.
SPEAKER_09 (22:34):
But on the backhand, they don't see what's going on.
All the calls we gotta make, allthe c all the things that go on
on a day-to-day basis, all theheadaches, all the the crying,
all the blood, sweat, and tearsthat is put in from the staff,
from us.
Like they don't see that.
All they know is I've been toldand equipped to go out and do
this, and that's what I'm doing.
It works the same exact way.
SPEAKER_04 (22:57):
It's like a movie.
SPEAKER_09 (22:58):
It is.
SPEAKER_04 (22:59):
When we go to the movies to see our favorite
movie, whatever that may be,you're seeing a finished,
polished product.
Always, but you're not seeingwhat went on behind the scenes
to create that finished,polished product.
SPEAKER_09 (23:15):
Right.
And so most times we have toremember we're only seeing the
outcome.
SPEAKER_04 (23:20):
Yes.
SPEAKER_09 (23:20):
We're not seeing the process.
Right.
And so the faith part is I'mgoing to pray and bring this to
you.
SPEAKER_04 (23:27):
Right.
And trust.
SPEAKER_09 (23:29):
And trust that I know my father in heaven is
going to take care of me.
SPEAKER_04 (23:33):
Whether I see it's happening today, tomorrow, or
not.
SPEAKER_09 (23:36):
And no matter when he gives it to me, I know that
he is fighting on my behalf.
SPEAKER_04 (23:42):
Yes.
SPEAKER_09 (23:43):
And he's doing things unseen.
SPEAKER_04 (23:46):
And he's working on me.
Through this process, I amlearning about more who I am.
SPEAKER_09 (23:56):
Yeah.
SPEAKER_04 (23:57):
And who God calls me to be.
SPEAKER_09 (23:58):
Right.
Wow.
So we're talking about faith.
SPEAKER_04 (24:02):
Okay.
SPEAKER_09 (24:03):
How can we express gratitude during those seasons
where we are facing a bunch ofobstacles or we have silence and
we're exercising that faith.
SPEAKER_04 (24:15):
Faith anchors us when circumstances don't make
sense.
SPEAKER_06 (24:20):
Right.
Right.
Right.
SPEAKER_04 (24:22):
And when everything feels certain around us.
That faith is the anchor for me.
SPEAKER_06 (24:27):
Yeah.
SPEAKER_04 (24:27):
When I'm uncertain, listen, I done did everything I
could do to try to figure thisproblem out.
SPEAKER_06 (24:33):
Right.
SPEAKER_04 (24:33):
And no matter which way I'm looking, because right
now I'm driving the wheel.
I can't find a way out of it,right?
Right.
So my faith in situations that Ihave been in is that, hey, God
is working behind this thing,He's doing this.
SPEAKER_05 (24:50):
Right.
SPEAKER_04 (24:52):
For me.
SPEAKER_05 (24:52):
Right.
SPEAKER_04 (24:53):
And for good.
Now, during that uncertaintimes, faith keeps us from being
swept away by what is visible.
So, example, what's going on inthe news today?
Right?
What's visible?
What's visible?
We talked about snap benefits.
SPEAKER_09 (25:12):
Government shutdown.
SPEAKER_04 (25:13):
Government shutdown.
We talk about people gettinglaid off, all these companies
laying off people, right?
So that is visible right now.
SPEAKER_06 (25:23):
Right.
SPEAKER_04 (25:23):
So let's change my focus.
What is God doing behind thescenes?
SPEAKER_06 (25:30):
Right.
SPEAKER_04 (25:32):
So my faith can waver in what is being seen.
SPEAKER_06 (25:37):
Right.
SPEAKER_04 (25:39):
Man, these people doing this time that's being
laid off still have to providefor their family.
unknown (25:45):
Yeah.
SPEAKER_06 (25:46):
Right.
Yeah.
SPEAKER_04 (25:47):
Thanksgiving coming up.
SPEAKER_06 (25:48):
Yeah.
SPEAKER_04 (25:49):
The snap benefits that's been cut.
SPEAKER_08 (25:52):
Some people are going hungry.
SPEAKER_04 (25:54):
Or going hungry.
SPEAKER_06 (25:55):
Yeah.
SPEAKER_04 (25:56):
So my faith and my trust in God is what's keeping
me from not being swept awayfrom what I visibly see.
Because I know he's working.
SPEAKER_09 (26:11):
I think, I think, too, we have to really
understand what faith is.
Break it down.
Because I think sometimes wekind of confuse, confuse faith
with just with hope, really.
Because we hope God will dothis.
But that is different fromfaith.
Right.
And so the scripture that I lovewhen I'm when we're talking
about faith and like reallytrying to understand what it is,
(26:32):
Hebrews 11 breaks it downtremendously.
I'll read that for us.
Hebrews 11, 1.
Now faith is the assurance ofthings hoped for, the conviction
of things not seen.
It goes on to say, by faith, weunderstand that the universe was
created by the word of God, sothat what is seen was not made
(26:52):
out of things that are visible.
Then it goes on later to say,and without faith it is
impossible to please him, forwhoever would draw near to near
to God must believe that heexists and that he rewards those
who seek him.
SPEAKER_07 (27:12):
Yes.
SPEAKER_09 (27:13):
It's assured, it's done.
It's assured.
Faith is knowing that the thingsthat are not seen is happening,
right?
It's assuring that God is doingwhat he said he will do.
That is faith.
SPEAKER_04 (27:29):
Because his word can't come back void.
SPEAKER_09 (27:30):
It can't come back void.
So that's faith.
It's knowing that God's gonna doit.
And it's saying, okay, because Iknow that he's gonna do it, I'm
gonna understand that I'm notgonna be able to see what he's
doing.
SPEAKER_04 (27:42):
Matter of fact, it probably gets worse before it
gets better.
SPEAKER_09 (27:45):
Right.
And it's it's just knowingthrough it all, it's gonna get
better.
I might have some hard times,but it is assured that it will
happen.
I just won't see it.
And that is, we don't normallysee it till after the fact.
Right.
Usually.
If we are remembering what we'repraying for and what we're
(28:05):
believing for, I'm I'm gonnashare this real quick.
SPEAKER_04 (28:08):
It's probably a little off subject, but my mom
was diagnosed with cancer.
What a year ago or something.
SPEAKER_01 (28:14):
Yeah.
SPEAKER_04 (28:15):
And my faith was hit hard, man.
It was hit hard.
We got the diagnosis, and I, youknow, this is saying how we say
it's easier said than done.
When when trouble, whencircumstances, when life start
(28:39):
life and in me I knew what todo.
Hey, I'm finna pray.
I'm gonna give it to God.
But I couldn't speak it.
SPEAKER_08 (28:56):
Yeah.
SPEAKER_04 (28:57):
I couldn't.
I couldn't do it.
SPEAKER_08 (29:03):
Yeah, yeah.
SPEAKER_04 (29:05):
And I know better than anybody what I think what
to do, right?
Yeah.
So I mean, I'm it's coming to myhead.
You need to pray.
You need to do this.
And I just couldn't yeah, Icouldn't get it out.
Yeah.
I couldn't, I wasn't feeling itper se.
I wasn't there, even though myspirit was saying, so I went to
(29:30):
visit her.
She stayed some months in thehospital doing chemo.
And I was visiting her.
And as I go visit her, I meanI'm crying at home and
everything.
And I go visit her, so I'm like,okay, I got to keep a strong
face.
And she's happy.
SPEAKER_08 (29:50):
Yeah.
SPEAKER_04 (29:50):
She's reading the word, she's devotional.
SPEAKER_08 (29:54):
Yeah.
SPEAKER_04 (29:54):
She's in there by herself pretty much, and I'm
visiting her.
SPEAKER_06 (29:59):
Yeah.
SPEAKER_04 (30:01):
And she's keeping me going.
Probably she's not aware of it.
But her faith had to itstrengthen my faith to start
praying.
SPEAKER_09 (30:15):
Because what's likely stopped you is the fear
of what if he don't.
SPEAKER_03 (30:25):
And you know what?
And that's the fear of the notyet, right?
I can I can I can I can you knowwhat I I can take I accept that.
But I I don't I don't know.
You know what I'm saying?
SPEAKER_09 (30:37):
Because guess what?
Because guess what?
There's nothing, there's nothingmore telling than how we react
when he doesn't do what weasked.
And let me tell you something.
That's because we are not theauthors of our life.
(30:57):
If if you prayed and you did,right?
SPEAKER_04 (31:03):
But eventually.
SPEAKER_09 (31:04):
Right.
Yes.
But what if you prayed and hedidn't do it?
How do you stay strong andencourage doing those things?
SPEAKER_04 (31:13):
Let me tell you.
If if I prayed and he didn't dowhat he did, that didn't mean
that he can do what he did.
SPEAKER_09 (31:28):
Come on.
SPEAKER_04 (31:29):
That don't mean that he couldn't do it.
That means his will be done.
SPEAKER_09 (31:36):
So and I think I mean I mean I think that it just
goes back, that's how we anchorour hope and our thankfulness in
that not yet, or that delay, orthat not right now, or that you
we have to understand everythingis not a coincidence.
(31:57):
Right.
Everything happens because hewills it to happen.
Though it's hard to love someoneand be there and watch them go
through chemo or watch them gothrough cancer.
SPEAKER_07 (32:10):
Oh, you're Alzheimer's.
SPEAKER_09 (32:12):
Right.
Alzheimer's disease.
Or you're dealing with someonewho has autism, or you though it
is hard, we have to one,remember that he's working, but
we have to remember this isaccording to his will.
Because we also have toremember, he said a lot in this
scripture, right?
He said, I will blot them out in2323.
(32:33):
He says, When my angel goesbefore you in 2323, I will take
sickness away in 2325.
I will fulfill the number ofdays 2326, and I will send
hornets 2328.
Little by little, I will drivethem out 2330.
SPEAKER_04 (32:50):
Yes.
SPEAKER_09 (32:51):
We have to understand that He is
controlling all things.
SPEAKER_04 (32:58):
Not my will, God, but your will be done.
SPEAKER_09 (33:00):
He is controlling all things.
And we have to remember thatagain, that bigger picture.
God, let me while while I havethis chance, let me steward what
you have given me.
How can I bring glory throughthis through this cancer?
How can I glorify you?
My grandmother strengthen yourfaith because she stays strong.
(33:23):
She glorified him in your eye.
SPEAKER_04 (33:26):
Yes.
SPEAKER_09 (33:26):
Like, hey, can pop if she's good, I'm good.
SPEAKER_04 (33:29):
So so You know what I'm saying?
So do this.
SPEAKER_09 (33:33):
Yeah.
SPEAKER_06 (33:34):
That's a good idea.
SPEAKER_04 (33:36):
With a family member dealing with cancer,
Alzheimer's, uh surgery,passing.
Yes, it's horrible.
Yes, it's hurtful.
Yes, we probably won'tunderstand it in that moment.
But remember this.
Let's shift your focus.
SPEAKER_01 (33:57):
Yeah.
SPEAKER_04 (33:59):
To his will and what he's working in you.
SPEAKER_01 (34:02):
Yeah.
SPEAKER_04 (34:03):
And it don't feel good.
SPEAKER_09 (34:05):
Yeah.
SPEAKER_04 (34:08):
But he's our father.
SPEAKER_09 (34:10):
Right.
SPEAKER_04 (34:10):
And and he wants what's best for us.
SPEAKER_09 (34:12):
And we have to remember his truths and his
promises.
We have to lean on those whenthings aren't going according to
how we feel they should go.
Or when we want deliverance fromsomething and it's not coming as
soon as we want it to come,right?
Right.
So we have to remember that.
SPEAKER_04 (34:28):
But let's go here.
SPEAKER_09 (34:30):
Okay.
SPEAKER_04 (34:30):
All right.
As we celebrate Thanksgiving.
SPEAKER_06 (34:33):
Right.
SPEAKER_04 (34:33):
How can we cultivate a deeper, more lasting
gratitude?
Not just for the blessings wecan see, but for God's
sovereignty, protection, andperfect timing.
SPEAKER_09 (34:47):
I think most of what helps me cultivate kind of a
deeper, more lasting gratitude,is keeping my eyes focused on
eternity.
Because if I remember that allof this is fleeting, that there
will be no hunger, there will beno sickness, there will be no
(35:10):
depression, there will be a timewhere we are joined with him
without all of these things, ithelps me to remember like God,
even though you are still God.
You know what I'm saying?
So if when I keep my eyes oneternity, keep my eyes fixed on
him and his truths and hispromises, I'm more grateful for
(35:30):
what I have.
Again, I'll cherish thesemoments and my and the people
that are close to me morebecause I understand it won't
always be like this.
You know what I mean?
And so I think that's alwaysimportant just to remember what
he's doing behind the scenes.
SPEAKER_04 (35:45):
And cherish this.
Yep, for sure.
Cherish this, yes.
Uh the wealth, we are here justfor a moment in time, right?
Uh we are here to do God's willon earth.
SPEAKER_05 (35:57):
Right.
SPEAKER_04 (35:57):
Serve his people, love his people, right?
SPEAKER_05 (36:00):
Right.
SPEAKER_04 (36:00):
And praise and worship him.
Right.
Right.
Uh so this holiday season, whatwe want to do is cherish these
moments.
Be thankful for these moments.
Uh some people that are dealingwith not having family members
this holiday season.
SPEAKER_05 (36:18):
Right.
SPEAKER_04 (36:18):
Uh, you now you have with the flights and
cancellations and things that'sgoing on, people won't be able
to be with their family.
So let's cherish the momentsthat we do have for our family.
Right.
And I'm gonna I'm gonna do this,say this also.
Why is it important to thank Godnot only for what he's done, but
also for what he is doing andwill do, even if we can't see it
(36:40):
yet?
SPEAKER_09 (36:45):
Because I think he exercises your faith.
Because if you're thankful forwhat he's already done, but
you're praying and hoping forsomething to to be delivered
from something, right?
You thanking him in advance isshowing that you are assured
that he's going to do whatyou've prayed for, right?
(37:09):
It's essentially it'sessentially like the scripture,
faith without works is dead.
Thanking him is part of thework.
Right.
Right?
And then it's acting and movingaccording to I know he's going
to provide this.
And we have to also becomfortable with it not looking
the way we want it to look whenhe provided.
SPEAKER_04 (37:29):
Well, I listen, I have Wow Starting a business, I
have a vision of what I think itshould be or what I want it to
be.
SPEAKER_06 (37:47):
Yeah.
SPEAKER_04 (37:48):
In that process, everything I thought so far,
it's not how I envisioned it.
SPEAKER_06 (37:57):
Yeah.
SPEAKER_04 (37:58):
But it's perfect.
SPEAKER_06 (38:01):
Yeah.
SPEAKER_04 (38:02):
My vision that I thought it was was perfect.
Right.
Right.
But the way God delivered it iseven better.
That's wow.
SPEAKER_09 (38:08):
And and and and I think also, too, when we say
like he like he will provide,it's assured that he's doing
something, right?
Doesn't always mean it's gonnabe it's gonna feel good when he
with whatever he delivers.
You can pray for peace, and thatmight mean people in your life
(38:29):
fall away.
SPEAKER_04 (38:32):
Well, I guess that means it probably be a storm
before the peace.
SPEAKER_09 (38:36):
Exactly.
And so we gotta understand thatit's not gonna always feel good.
Right, but he still answeredthat prayer.
And it didn't come in thepackage you want.
Right.
It didn't feel like you wantedit to feel.
It probably was not as excitingand it could have been.
But again, we have to understandthat he sees the bigger picture.
SPEAKER_04 (38:56):
So, why is it important to thank God not only
for what he's done, but also forwhat he's doing and will do.
Thanking God for the past buildstrust.
SPEAKER_06 (39:09):
Yeah.
Yeah.
SPEAKER_04 (39:10):
Thanking God for the presence builds awareness.
SPEAKER_06 (39:15):
Mm-hmm.
SPEAKER_04 (39:16):
Thanking him for the future builds hope.
SPEAKER_09 (39:20):
Oh, I love that.
Oh, you aware that you can't doit.
You need him.
You get what I'm saying?
And it's trusting that he doneit before he'll do it again.
SPEAKER_04 (39:30):
Yes.
SPEAKER_09 (39:31):
And it's hoping that when I ask for it in the future,
it's gonna be delivered.
I love, I love that you saythat.
And I was flipping through thethrough my Bible because I kind
of want to close.
I want to close with thisbecause at the same, at the same
time, I think it's importantthat we that we understand this.
And so what I'm gonna read isJames, uh, James 1, verses 2
(39:52):
through like four or so.
But it says the the title, whichis so good of this, it says
testing of your faith.
It says, Count it all joy, mybrothers, when you meet trials
of various kinds.
For you know that the testing ofyour faith produces
steadfastness, and letsteadfastness have its full
(40:13):
effect that you may be perfectand complete, lacking nothing.
If any of you lacks wisdom, lethim ask God, who gives
generously to all withoutreproach, and it will be given
him.
But let him ask in faith with nodoubting, for the one who doubts
is like a wave of the sea thatis driven and tossed by the
(40:35):
wind.
For that person must not supposethat he will receive anything
from the Lord.
He is a double-minded man,unstable in all his ways.
Again, faith is having theassurance that he will do it
even when you don't see it.
And when we are going throughtrials and tribulations, when we
want to be delivered fromsomething, we have to know and
(40:56):
remember that he is workingbehind the scenes.
And we have faith in that.
Don't doubt him.
Because when you doubt him, youlike the raise of the sea.
You don't know what's coming.
He says, but ask me, and it willbe given unto you.
And so I think we have toremember that we just have to
put forth the effort and havefaith and ask God for what we
(41:19):
need.
But remember, he is working itout behind the scenes.
So regardless of the time frame,regardless of how it looks.
SPEAKER_04 (41:26):
So be thankful for the circumstance.
SPEAKER_09 (41:31):
Yeah.
SPEAKER_04 (41:31):
Be thankful for the situation.
Cut it all joy and havegratitude when that time comes
that you know God is workingbehind the scenes.
SPEAKER_00 (41:42):
Yes.
It's the holiday season rightnow.
Um, not that you have to waittill the holidays, but we have
five tips to help manage stressduring the holidays, and we've
kind of wanted to share thatwith you.
SPEAKER_01 (41:55):
Uh, the most important thing is to reach out
to a support group.
Find others that are goingthrough the same issues so that
you can feel like it's not justme, and also to discuss the
different areas of the grief,whatever you're going through,
because that grief looksdifferent for everybody.
(42:16):
It's not the same.
And then two, is to continuewith the activity that brings
you happiness.
If it's walking, if it'sreading, if it's uh a playing
the board game, whatever it is,continue to do that.
SPEAKER_00 (42:33):
Some other techniques, thank you so much,
Ruby, that we also uh want tomention is set realistic
expectations.
You are not superman orsuperwoman, and you don't have
to save the world.
Do something small, just onestep forward per day, and that
just might be getting up andgetting dressed for the day.
So make a realistic expectationfor yourself.
(42:55):
Another one that people dismissall the time, and this is, you
know, we do it when we havechildren as women, it's
breathing, a breathingtechnique.
Sometimes you can feel in yourentire body when you're
stressed.
Everything tenses up and youstart to have shallow breathing.
But taking the deep breath inthrough your nose, blowing it
out through your mouth, as sillyas that might sound, can help to
(43:16):
decrease your stressimmediately, help to reduce
blood pressure.
Um, and then you can kind ofthink better.
And also, we also always say, dolike Ruby said, do an activity
that you enjoy some kind of way.
Carve out five minutes, twominutes, three minutes if you
have to go into a restroom andclose the door to do something
you like.
That might be listen to one ofyour favorite songs, that might
(43:39):
be watch a funny video, thatmight be take a power nap for
five minutes if it's possible.
But make sure that sometimethroughout the day, every day,
you carve out at least fiveminutes to do something that's
meaningful to you.
SPEAKER_09 (43:58):
Well, I hope this episode blessed you guys.
It blessed me out at least I'm acrybaby, as y'all know.
This isn't the first time.
Um, but I hope this episodeblessed you guys.
And I hope this holiday seasonyou're able to find gratitude in
the things that normally youdon't feel too thankful for.
Right.
Circumstances that you don'tfeel too thankful for.
And then I pray, pray, pray thatyou're able to thank God even in
(44:21):
the midst of it.
Yes.
And you're able to anchor intoHim this holiday season, have
your family around, give themthis episode, share this episode
with somebody that you know thatmay be going through with
something that kind of needsthat extra pull to say, hey, God
got you.
And he does.
It does.
And so I thank you guys forlistening.
Please like, share, subscribe,and join us back for the next
(44:43):
season of the Journey OutPodcast.
Happy holidays, and we love youguys.
Yeah.
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