Working for the Long Goal

Today’s message is really about taking the long view. 

The human attention span is short, like really, really short. Between the world wars, Winston Churchill warned Europe that Hitler was a threat to the continent at least, but people ignored him. And then when the Nazis turned violent, the people turned to Churchill as their prime minister. 

Having led the country through another costly war to preserve freedom, Churchill was defeated for reelection in the last days of World War II. It’s like the people had forgotten his priceless contribution to world peace. He knew the war would take a long time and that it would be costly, and the people wanted to avoid thinking about it, and even later wanted it over quickly. And that’s rarely how life works. Churchill returned as Prime Minister in the 1950s, but his experiences show that people mostly want short-term solutions. 

Working for the long goal is rarely popular. 

Jeremiah 15:15 says, “Lord, you understand. Remember me and care for me, avenge me on my persecutors. You are longsuffering. Do not take me away. Think of how I suffer reproach for your sake.” 

Here God is reminding us that often, we’re required to stay in it for the long haul. Nowhere is this more true than in the pursuits of peace and contentment. That kind of thing is not built quickly, and not surprisingly too many people don’t stay with it, and they stumble along looking for solutions in the wrong places.

If you’re in a bad place today, you’re going to have to start with basic steps. Talk to Jesus and tell Him you’re struggling. Maybe you have a vague sense of depression and just can’t locate the direct cause. Take the example of people who did understand the source of true happiness, and were committed to seeing it through no matter how long it took. 

Abraham knew the value of prayer, and he waited for decades to have a son. Hannah was also unable to have children, but she prayed and stayed faithful, and eventually, God gave her a child and she felt fulfilled. Joseph spent years in exile in prison because of his brothers’ actions, but his faith didn’t waver. He actually found his contentment in the middle of these trials, and eventually, God restored his family, and all he had lost.  

If you’re depressed or ground down from money worries, or facing some other huge challenge—go to God right now and tell Him you need peace for your soul. Tell him you fully trust Him and will wait with as much patience and faith as you can. It’s then you start the clock ticking on your difficult circumstances, and while you wait, your heart will be at rest. 

Let’s pray. 

Father, thank you for the good gifts that we already have. Help us be grateful for those things that sustain life. We fully trust you to bring about our delivery from life’s circumstances at precisely the moment you have chosen. Sustain our spirits on this journey, Lord. In Jesus’ name, amen. 

 

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Welcome to the Caruso Daily Devotional, a resource to
equip, encourage and challengeyou to live a life that shares
the good news of Jesus.

Speaker 2 (00:09):
As we continue in our series on finding contentment,
today's message is really abouttaking the long view.
The human attention span isshort, like really really short
Between the World Wars, winstonChurchill warned Europe that
Hitler was a threat to thecontinent.
Really short Between the worldwars.
Winston Churchill warned Europethat Hitler was a threat to the
continent at least, but peopleignored him.

(00:30):
And then, when the Nazis turnedviolent, the people turned to
Churchill as their primeminister.
Having led the country throughanother costly war to preserve
freedom, churchill was defeatedfor re-election in the last days
of World War II.
It's like the people hadforgotten his priceless
contribution to world peace.
He knew the war would take along time and that it would be

(00:52):
costly, and the people wanted toavoid thinking about it and,
even later, wanted it overquickly.
And that's rarely how lifeworks.
Churchill returned as primeminister in the 1950s, but his
experiences show that peoplemostly want short-term solutions
.
Working for the long goal israrely popular.
Jeremiah 1515 says Lord, youunderstand, remember me and care

(01:17):
for me.
Avenge me on my persecutors.
You are long suffering.
Do not take me away.
Think of how I suffer, reproachfor your sake.
Here God is reminding us thatoften we're required to stay in
it for the long haul.
Nowhere is this more true thanin the pursuits of peace and
contentment.
That kind of thing is just.

(01:40):
It's not built quickly, and notsurprisingly, too many people
don't stay with it and theystumble along looking for
solutions in the wrong places.
If you're in a bad place today,you're going to have to start
with basic steps.
Talk to Jesus and tell himyou're struggling.
Maybe you have a vague sense ofdepression and just can't

(02:01):
locate the direct cause.
Take the example of people whodid understand the source of
true happiness and werecommitted to seeing it through,
no matter how long it took.
Abraham knew the value ofprayer and he waited for decades
to have a son.
Hannah was also unable to havechildren, but she prayed and
stayed faithful.

(02:21):
Eventually, god gave her achild and she felt fulfilled.
Joseph spent years in exile andprison because of his brother's
actions, but his faith didn'twaver.
He actually found hiscontentment in the middle of
these trials and eventually Godrestored his family and all he
had lost.
If you're depressed or grounddown from money worries or

(02:44):
facing some other huge challenge, go to God right now and tell
him you need peace for your soul.
Tell him you fully trust himand will wait with as much
patience and faith as you can.
It's then you start the clockticking on your difficult
circumstances and while you wait, your heart will be at rest.

(03:05):
Let's pray, father, thank youfor the good gifts that we
already have.
Help us be grateful for thosethings that sustain life.
We fully trust you to bringabout our delivery from life's
circumstances precisely themoment you have chosen.

Speaker 1 (03:36):
Sustain our spirits on this journey, lord, in Jesus'
name.
Amen, apparel and gifts withinspirational messages that
share the good news of Jesus.
Learn more at Carusocom, that'sK-E-R-U-S-S-O dot com.