November 2, 2023 • 24 mins
Sometimes life just kicks us in the pants. And when it's not going as planned, these waves of uncertainty can been overwhelming. Ebony and I have a frank chat about the power of Grace in these times, in all times, and how to access peace within it.
Join us as we chart our journey through the stormy seas of strife, holding onto the lifebuoy of grace and peace we discover in the teachings of Philippians 4. As we reflect on our own experiences with conflict, hurt, disappointment, and confusion, we share our insights on maintaining serenity even when the storm rages on.
We're taught to lean into a peace that surpasses understanding, , and that's easy to quote and we delve into how to live in it when you're conflicted and confused and upset.
Ever wondered - How do you search for it? How do you identify it? How do you fall into it? When you get a little bit of it, how do you keep it? And is the presence of peace the absence of all the other stuff, or can they coexist?
We discuss the transformative power of prayer, not to change our circumstances, but to find peace within them. Discover how recognizing God's grace in our life can be an anchor during trying times. So, hoist your sails and embark on this voyage with us, exploring the steps to maintaining peace no matter the storm.
Become your own witness - you already have evidence. Don't look for the Everest, find the extraordinary in the ordinary.
Ask for it.
Ask for it with gratitude.
Be prepared to accept the blessing you can't understand.
Want to know more, listen in!
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:03):
Welcome to Grace Among Us, the podcast where we
unearth the many faces andplaces of grace and share
stories of the power of grace inour human lives.
Our desire is that this willinspire you to see grace in your
own life and share it withothers.
Hey.
Ebony Gilbert (00:21):
Hey Carri.
Carri Richard (00:23):
Hey Ebony.
Good afternoon.
Ebony Gilbert (00:26):
Same to you.
My name is Ebony Gilbert.
Here to talk about Grace todaywith Carri Richard.
Hey, Carri, you want tointroduce yourself or you want
to jump in?
Carri Richard (00:37):
I help people make space and enjoy the ride.
I love, love, love talkingabout all the different faces of
grace, many there are many -with my dear friend Ebony
Gilbert.
Ebony Gilbert (00:48):
(some buffer space here to align captions.
.
) Yeah, today, yeah, today feelsa little bit more challenging
then other days to talk aboutgrace when there's so much going
on in the world, our worlds,our individual worlds, our
collective world with Israel andwhat's happening with the
(01:09):
Palestinian people, and the waysyou show support when you don't
really, when you feelconflicted on both sides.
And then, on a more personallevel, we have some really dear
people in our life who areexperiencing some what feels to
be undeserved challenges, andwe've all been there where
you're like how does this happen?
(01:29):
Didn't see this coming.
How do I step in out of this?
How did I get into it?
So I'm thinking today, Carri,about peace.
How do you access this peacethat you have to find a way to
live in, dwell in, get to whenyou don't really understand, you
(01:52):
don't understand the parts youdo understand, you don't agree,
it feels unwarranted, it's notmerciful, it doesn't feel just,
but we're taught to lean into apeace that surpasses
understanding, goes beyondunderstanding, and that's easy
to quote.
Yeah, I don't think it's aseasy to live in when you're
(02:15):
conflicted and confused andupset, and upset about some
things.
And I want to ask you what'sbeen your experience with this
peace that we have to find andget to?
How do you search for it?
How do you identify it?
How do you fall into it?
When you get a little bit of it, how do you keep it?
And is the presence of peacethe absence of all the other
(02:41):
stuff, or can they coexist?
(Carri - Wow! Pick one.
Oh my gosh.
Carri Richard (02:50):
Woo, that was so good.
I was going to - before youeven ask the questions, I was
going to say Ebony, that is somejuicy, there is a lot there.
Yeah, that peace that surpassesall understanding and I love
that you said "it's easy toquote.
You're absolutely right.
It feels good to quote, like,oh my gosh, that's available to
(03:15):
me?
T he peace, that surpasses allunderstanding and often, if I'm
in the midst or I'm hurt orhurting, or afraid or
disconnected, it's like, "yeah,that's great.
How the heck do I get that,that peace, that peace that .
(03:48):
.
Sometimes I can equate it with, that feeling of safety, and
especially when my world feelslike it's falling apart, or
there's tragedy going on, it's areflection of a lot of what's
going on on the planet right now.
Ebony Gilbert (04:10):
We're part of a bigger system.
Carri Richard (04:12):
Yes, yes, co-regulation.
You asked the question.
So how do you get there?
How do you get there whenyou're in the midst?
Ebony Gilbert (04:26):
I want to read something to you before you
answer that.
So this peace that surpassesall understanding comes from the
Bible.
It's Philippians, chapter 4,starts in verse 6, but I want to
read you what it says in thetwo different versions, the
(04:48):
contemporary English version.
And then I'm going to read inthe good news translation the
contemporary English version isand the verse before this says
stop worrying about stuff.
Carri Richard (04:58):
Yes.
Ebony Gilbert (04:59):
Be anxious for nothing, stop worrying.
But then it goes on to give youa little more instruction on
how you do that.
So the contemporary Englishversion is "then you belong to
Christ Jesus.
God will bless you with peacethat no one can completely
understand, and this peace willcontrol the way you think and
feel.
" So, in that version, God'sgoing to bless you with it, no
(05:24):
one's going to understand it,and that will guide your
perspective, your thoughts andfeelings going forth.
And then there's the good newstranslation, which is "and God's
peace, which is far beyondhuman understanding".
So it's not like you're waitingto understand it, it's beyond
our capacity.
God's peace, which goes beyondanything we can imagine, far
(05:50):
beyond human understanding, willkeep your hearts and minds safe
in union with Christ Jesus".
So it's talking about thecloseness there has to be, the
close to the safety of thatcloseness that gets you there.
Now, having said that, how doyou find it?
Carri Richard (06:06):
Oh my gosh, now it's even oh, okay, and we're
done.
No, I'm done, I'm just.
I'm just kidding.
But you, you talked about theconnection.
So for me, when I am in fear, orI'm afraid to lose something,
or I'm afraid I'm not going toget something, or I'm hurt by
(06:30):
someone, something, somesituation.
When I'm in that place, I amnot connected.
So the first thing I need to dois I need to pause.
I gotta have the faith to stop,take a deep breath, say a
(07:01):
prayer.
Lord, I don't know what to dowith this Lord.
I'm hurting.
Lord, I can't see a solutionLike.
I have to stop.
And what I've found is someother things that are helpful.
For me is to remember that Ihave a very short view, I have a
(07:23):
very small view or a limitedview, and when I'm in that place
of being in reaction to what'sgoing on, I have an even smaller
view and I have to rememberthat God's got a much bigger
view and is working for my good,even if I don't believe it.
I don't even have to believe itin that moment.
(07:43):
I just you know, I just have tobe open to it.
Ebony Gilbert (07:50):
I love that.
I love that you mentioned theconnection in prayer, because
the prior verse, verse 6 inPhilippians, chapter 4, which I
did not read first intentionallybefore you can get to that
peace, that's beyond humancomprehension.
There's a verse before thatthat says and this is in the
good news translation don'tworry about anything, but all
(08:13):
your prayers ask God for whatyou need.
So if you need help with yourunbelief, that's the time to ask
.
If you need that peace and youcan't find it, that's the time
to ask.
But always ask him for what youneed and ask him with a
thankful heart, absolutely.
That's the supplication part.
(08:37):
It's you know go ahead.
Carri Richard (08:40):
When I ask for something thankful, like when I
hear that asked with a thankfulheart, it's with with the faith
that it's coming.
You know, the beginning of myjourney, the journey that's got
me here, was probably 17, 18years ago and I've touched on it
in other podcasts.
(09:01):
You know, my life kind of likefell apart and a friend gave me
something I wrote down and itwas like I choose joy.
I may not see it, but Godprovides it, so I choose it, and
that changed everything for me.
It didn't change it overnight,I guarantee, you know, but every
(09:22):
time I was in that place oflike oh my God, I don't know
what to do, I can't do, I can'tdo this Like I, you know, I
would pull that note out of mypocket and it's like I choose it
.
I can't see it, I don't feel it, and it's the same thing we're
talking about right now.
It's like God provides thatpeace, but I gotta be willing to
(09:47):
ask for it.
Ebony Gilbert (09:49):
Try to be willing .
I've talked about this beforeand thank you for saying it took
some years, over a decade.
This was the continuous.
It wasn't like you get a wholetruckload of peace and it just
falls at your door.
You know the pile adds on eachtime.
There's a little bit more toget a little bit more.
I talked about this before,probably not from this
(10:11):
perspective, I remember the dayI got peace.
Carri Richard (10:15):
I can tell you the specific day.
Ebony Gilbert (10:18):
I was with you and we were at a mountain
retreat and I asked for foreverhealing prayers and I didn't
believe it.
I wanted it, but I was thankfulthat I had this opportunity to
have friends with me who wouldagree with me and pray for this
and who believed probably somemore so than I did.
I was grateful for that moment.
(10:40):
We prayed with gratitude andthankfulness and with sincere
petition and being humble.
I went home and I didn't sleepwell that night because I was
overwhelmed by the day.
But from that day forward Ihave slept every night, barring,
(11:00):
major whatever.
But I have not had a sleeplessnight, due to a lack of peace.
Now let me say this my situationdid not change.
That day I came home to thesame problems.
Matter of fact, there was nosolution on the horizon for a
good another two months.
I didn't get an answer or aphone call the next day about oh
(11:22):
,.
At the time I was in the throesof stomach cancer, there was no
real solution.
There was no help recovery plan.
Nothing happened immediately inmy tangible environment to
spark this.
It was absolutely a blessing,it was a gift.
It was handed to me.
We asked for it and I got it.
(11:43):
And I received it and said I'mnot letting go.
Now, that doesn't mean I haven'thad moments that weren't
peaceful, it doesn't mean Ihaven't had problems or other
issues, but I can tell you thatsomething about that day and the
way we prayed and the way webelieved was a miracle for me,
(12:04):
and I have navigated lifecompletely different since then.
It changed my perspective.
It changed how I see things,how I think about things, and I
remember it.
Now I have to get refills andgo back up to the Phillips
station and get more peace hereand there, all that kind of
stuff.
But you know I have to rechargeand plug into the outlet every
now and then I get that unionand that connection back.
(12:24):
But that day and it startedwith prayer changed my life, my
peace life, and that is grace.
I don't understand it.
I still don't understand it.
I can't really explain it toyou.
I don't know if there was somedifference.
Carri Richard (12:40):
Here's the great thing.
Nor do you have to, and I havefriends who say, " and I can't,
I can't, I can't.
Ebony Gilbert (12:48):
It was the least likely place with the least
likely people Tell you moreabout that later.
Yeah, I remember the day and toyour point about it taking 17
years or so, this didn't happenon that day.
Let's be real, this was.
(13:08):
I'm at the end of my rope.
Carri Richard (13:10):
Yeah.
Ebony Gilbert (13:12):
And I don't know what else to do Now.
It probably could have happenedearlier, but I wasn't in a
place to pray from that placebefore that day.
It's almost like saying well, Igraduated on blah, blah, blah
day.
No, you took you 12 years toget through school, to graduate.
You know?
Yeah, go ahead.
Carri Richard (13:33):
Yeah, no, it's such a so, what a beautiful
example, and you're, it's thatOK.
So I this is, I'm trying to getthe words around it, You're?
You're absolutely right.
It didn't happen like when Igot that note and it was like I
(13:56):
choose joy, like I didn't.
I didn't feel that joy forquite some time.
However, I see God in my rearview mirror and I can tell you
that that was a major turningpoint in my life, and so it's.
How do you continue to walk thepath?
(14:17):
And sometimes, for me, by youknow, by God's grace, I have
some evidence, just like thestory you just told and your
experience that you just told.
I have some evidence.
So if I'm in the midst of onething, I can also pause and step
back and go "OK, how has Godblessed me before?
(14:39):
Because what I, what I'velearned about God, is like God
is the Constant.
(Ebony - He'll do it again).
Exactly Us humans.
We do one thing one way one day, and then we do one thing one
way the other day.
Right, it's different, Likewe'd, where, I' ll speak for
myself.
I am not great with beingconstant.
I change my mind, although Idon't understand all of how God
(15:05):
works, I don't think he changesit up.
No, yeah, so that is that helpsme to be like you know what
it's worked before and I don'tknow when I'm not.
It's not my timeline, but if Ikeep putting feet on my faith.
Ebony Gilbert (15:26):
Because he's faithful.
The chief example of whatfaithfulness looks like.
Right, yes, he's going to keephis word.
And if He did it for me thattime, so you become your own
witness?
Oh, beautifully said, you'reabsolutely.
Carrie is her star witness.
Carri Richard (15:43):
I'd like to call Carrie Richard to.
Ebony Gilbert (15:46):
I'm going to testify on my own behalf.
I can see it in your life, yeah, but I know what He did for me.
Carri Richard (15:56):
Exactly, exactly and to the same point.
If you, if you are listening tothis and you do not have a lot
of evidence, please talk tosomebody who does.
We're here, we're happy toprovide evidence.
Ebony Gilbert (16:16):
I used to be jealous when old people would
say things like oh, I've seenthem do it or he did a miracle,
and I thought, how do I have tobe before?
(Carri - "Where's mine?
Like, is this an AARP thing?
Like what you mean to tell me?
I got to wait till I'm 65 tofeel God's presence.
You know, seriously, just beingtotally transparent, used to
get really frustrated Likewhen's it my turn?
(16:38):
And to your point about seeinghim in the rear view mirror.
There were plenty examples.
Yeah, you know, I was waiting onMount Everest, but if you've
ever done any amount of hiking,you can hike up a good hill and
feel the burn the next day.
It doesn't lessen your height,because it wasn't Everest.
I was waiting for this Everestblessing or this Everest miracle
, or this Everest peace, and Igot it that day.
(17:00):
But there was so many otherthings.
So to your point, if you're outthere and you're thinking I
haven't had my Everest, Ihaven't had my moment, (Carri -
my burning bush), my burningbush, that hasn't happened yet
Somebody has.
And you can trust that Goddoesn't have this favorites game
(17:21):
he plays with people.
Ask for it.
So verse six ask for it.
Ask for it with gratitude, witha thankful heart and verse
seven be prepared to accept theblessing that you can't
comprehend.
Carri Richard (17:38):
That's the other, that's the big one.
That's the big one because youknow, again, this is personal
opinion when I ask it's done,it's done and I got to catch up
to it, I get it, either You'llreject it if you're not careful,
exactly.
I have to be open to it becauseit doesn't come Again.
(18:01):
Here we are back to I don'tunderstand.
I don't have all theinformation, I'll never have all
the information.
So if I want it, I'm no, I don't, I don't.
And if I'm looking for it in aspecific packaging I'm screwed,
because again, this hindsight,it comes.
(18:26):
It doesn't come the way that Ieven think it would come, so I
stop thinking.
Ebony Gilbert (18:34):
You save yourself some worry.
Carri Richard (18:36):
Yeah, yeah.
Ebony Gilbert (18:37):
That's in that, verse 6, too.
Stop worrying.
Carri Richard (18:40):
Yeah, do not be anxious.
Ebony Gilbert (18:43):
Stop worrying.
You know, I heard something afew years ago.
This is one of the first Bibleverses I memorized in Sunday
school and I used to feel likegosh, I worry a lot.
Like, am I just constantly overhere sinning?
And then I heard something.
(Carri - I'm worrying aboutworrying).
I'm worried about worrying, andI heard something a couple of
(19:03):
years ago that kind of gave me alittle bit of freedom.
It talks specifically about thatverse which says be anxious for
nothing, but in all things withprayer and supplication, with
thanksgiving, make your requestknown to God.
I heard something and itreframed that for me.
It said hey, this guy's notsaying that you're not going to
worry.
He knows how we're wired, heknows who we are.
(19:24):
He's saying when you come to me, when you come to me to ask me
for these things, you can't beworried about whether or not I
can do it.
Yeah, you can't come doubtingand questioning whether or not
you're going to get the blessingyou're asking for.
Come believing, stop worryingabout all that stuff in the
world, and show up at mydoorstep and say, "hey, God, I
(19:45):
need you, big guy, and these arethe things I need.
And now I'm going to take peaceand I'm going to take a little
bit of sanctuary in the factthat you're going to bless me
with what I need, even if Idon't understand it, and I
probably won't.
So I thank you for it right now.
Right now.
I'm thanking you now for whatyou're already doing that I
(20:07):
might not actually see in thephysical until whenever.
Carri Richard (20:12):
Yeah.
Ebony Gilbert (20:12):
But I'm going to sleep in it, Literally.
I'm going to have some peaceand sleep in it.
Carri Richard (20:16):
Yes.
Ebony Gilbert (20:17):
Right now.
Carri Richard (20:18):
Yes.
Ebony Gilbert (20:19):
That encourages my soul.
Carri Richard (20:21):
Me too.
Me too, I like images and Ihave this image of, like you
know, god standing there and Iam like I am running around in
circles in worry, like lookingeverywhere, but.
God for the answer, lookingwithin myself, somebody else.
(20:44):
If they'd just change, if thiswould just be different, if
these people wouldn't likebelieve what they believe, then
this would all not be happening.
Blah, blah, blah, blah, right,and it's like.
Then, all of a sudden, Ifinally stop and like tug on His
robe or God's robe, whateveryou guys create your own image,
(21:05):
but it's like I have to stop andthen I have to ask for help.
Ebony Gilbert (21:10):
Yeah, and say that lady in the Bible is like I
want to touch to him of hisgarment.
Yeah, he already knew it waswrong before she even opened her
mouth, just from the touch.
Carri Richard (21:20):
Yeah.
Ebony Gilbert (21:21):
If I could just get close enough to have that
union, that connection, you know, that reach are just to touch.
Carri Richard (21:27):
Yeah, and I don't have to be anything but what I
am and who I am in this moment.
I don't have to get ready forit, I don't have to be extra for
it.
I just got to slow down enoughto ask and be thankful.
Ebony Gilbert (21:45):
So we thank God for the peace.
Yes, that is beyond humancomprehension, that surpasses
all understanding, and we'regoing to continuously go to him
in prayer with gratitude,already expecting and believing
it.
And you get to define what thispeace looks like for you.
For me is sleeping at night.
For me it's laugh.
(22:05):
I'll go even more granular forme is laughing at silly stuff,
because there was a point in mytime where I couldn't be silly
because I was so riddled withworry and anxiety.
Carri Richard (22:14):
Yeah.
Ebony Gilbert (22:16):
If I could take a minute to laugh at a commercial
, I'm like, oh that's.
That's a little bit of whatpeace looks like for me, I love
that.
Not So uptight, you know.
So I thank Him for the peace, Ithank Him for you and for
everyone listening, and I amalways more than happy to share
my Everest moment.
But I thank him for the hillsand the mountains along the way
(22:37):
as well.
Carri Richard (22:38):
And the little bumps along the road.
Ebony Gilbert (22:40):
The speed bumps.
Carri Richard (22:41):
Yes.
Ebony Gilbert (22:42):
The rug in my hallway that I trip over every
time I walk past it.
Carri Richard (22:46):
It's perfecting my balance.
I'm going to send you some tape.
I love that.
I just, I just want tocelebrate and give glory for you
know, the peace Sleeping atnight for sure and also just
(23:10):
that space in me that can walkoutside and look at the leaves
and the wind blowing in theleaves and just have pure joy,
get ambushed by joy.
I can't make it happen, but,man, sometimes it just shows up,
just like in this moment,getting to talk to you.
(23:33):
All that came about, I just, myheart is full.
Ebony Gilbert (23:40):
A s is mine.
It's such a beautiful time ofyear, get outside, get outside.
There's a tree in my front yardthat's red right now.
How the heck did that happen?
I don't understand it.
The good Lord ran it this time,but it's just a little reminder
.
In the morning when I openedthe blinds, hey, that guy turned
.
Carri Richard (23:59):
He turned anything else in my life
Absolutely beautiful with theseason is right.
Ebony Gilbert (24:07):
All right, Carri.
All right, you got somethingelse.
You want to close this out?
You're good to go.
Carri Richard (24:12):
No, that was just .
That was so good, I'm all done.
Ebony Gilbert (24:17):
Thank you, friend , thank you to grace out, grace
up.
Speaker 1 (24:24):
Thank you so much for joining us.
If you enjoyed this episode,please let us know.
We love to hear from you andshare it with a friend.
Also, please be sure tosubscribe so you're notified
when a new episode is posted.
We hope you're leaving withanother pointer to grace, a new
perspective that will light itup in your own life.
Until next time, be well, bebold, be kind to yourself and be
(24:46):
on the lookout.
Welcome to Grace Among Us, the podcast where we
unearth the many faces andplaces of grace and share
stories of the power of grace inour human lives.
Our desire is that this willinspire you to see grace in your
own life and share it withothers.
Hey.
Ebony Gilbert (00:21):
Hey Carri.
Carri Richard (00:23):
Hey Ebony.
Good afternoon.
Ebony Gilbert (00:26):
Same to you.
My name is Ebony Gilbert.
Here to talk about Grace todaywith Carri Richard.
Hey, Carri, you want tointroduce yourself or you want
to jump in?
Carri Richard (00:37):
I help people make space and enjoy the ride.
I love, love, love talkingabout all the different faces of
grace, many there are many -with my dear friend Ebony
Gilbert.
Ebony Gilbert (00:48):
(some buffer space here to align captions.
.
) Yeah, today, yeah, today feelsa little bit more challenging
then other days to talk aboutgrace when there's so much going
on in the world, our worlds,our individual worlds, our
collective world with Israel andwhat's happening with the
(01:09):
Palestinian people, and the waysyou show support when you don't
really, when you feelconflicted on both sides.
And then, on a more personallevel, we have some really dear
people in our life who areexperiencing some what feels to
be undeserved challenges, andwe've all been there where
you're like how does this happen?
(01:29):
Didn't see this coming.
How do I step in out of this?
How did I get into it?
So I'm thinking today, Carri,about peace.
How do you access this peacethat you have to find a way to
live in, dwell in, get to whenyou don't really understand, you
(01:52):
don't understand the parts youdo understand, you don't agree,
it feels unwarranted, it's notmerciful, it doesn't feel just,
but we're taught to lean into apeace that surpasses
understanding, goes beyondunderstanding, and that's easy
to quote.
Yeah, I don't think it's aseasy to live in when you're
(02:15):
conflicted and confused andupset, and upset about some
things.
And I want to ask you what'sbeen your experience with this
peace that we have to find andget to?
How do you search for it?
How do you identify it?
How do you fall into it?
When you get a little bit of it, how do you keep it?
And is the presence of peacethe absence of all the other
(02:41):
stuff, or can they coexist?
(Carri - Wow! Pick one.
Oh my gosh.
Carri Richard (02:50):
Woo, that was so good.
I was going to - before youeven ask the questions, I was
going to say Ebony, that is somejuicy, there is a lot there.
Yeah, that peace that surpassesall understanding and I love
that you said "it's easy toquote.
You're absolutely right.
It feels good to quote, like,oh my gosh, that's available to
(03:15):
me?
T he peace, that surpasses allunderstanding and often, if I'm
in the midst or I'm hurt orhurting, or afraid or
disconnected, it's like, "yeah,that's great.
How the heck do I get that,that peace, that peace that .
(03:48):
.
Sometimes I can equate it with, that feeling of safety, and
especially when my world feelslike it's falling apart, or
there's tragedy going on, it's areflection of a lot of what's
going on on the planet right now.
Ebony Gilbert (04:10):
We're part of a bigger system.
Carri Richard (04:12):
Yes, yes, co-regulation.
You asked the question.
So how do you get there?
How do you get there whenyou're in the midst?
Ebony Gilbert (04:26):
I want to read something to you before you
answer that.
So this peace that surpassesall understanding comes from the
Bible.
It's Philippians, chapter 4,starts in verse 6, but I want to
read you what it says in thetwo different versions, the
(04:48):
contemporary English version.
And then I'm going to read inthe good news translation the
contemporary English version isand the verse before this says
stop worrying about stuff.
Carri Richard (04:58):
Yes.
Ebony Gilbert (04:59):
Be anxious for nothing, stop worrying.
But then it goes on to give youa little more instruction on
how you do that.
So the contemporary Englishversion is "then you belong to
Christ Jesus.
God will bless you with peacethat no one can completely
understand, and this peace willcontrol the way you think and
feel.
" So, in that version, God'sgoing to bless you with it, no
(05:24):
one's going to understand it,and that will guide your
perspective, your thoughts andfeelings going forth.
And then there's the good newstranslation, which is "and God's
peace, which is far beyondhuman understanding".
So it's not like you're waitingto understand it, it's beyond
our capacity.
God's peace, which goes beyondanything we can imagine, far
(05:50):
beyond human understanding, willkeep your hearts and minds safe
in union with Christ Jesus".
So it's talking about thecloseness there has to be, the
close to the safety of thatcloseness that gets you there.
Now, having said that, how doyou find it?
Carri Richard (06:06):
Oh my gosh, now it's even oh, okay, and we're
done.
No, I'm done, I'm just.
I'm just kidding.
But you, you talked about theconnection.
So for me, when I am in fear, orI'm afraid to lose something,
or I'm afraid I'm not going toget something, or I'm hurt by
(06:30):
someone, something, somesituation.
When I'm in that place, I amnot connected.
So the first thing I need to dois I need to pause.
I gotta have the faith to stop,take a deep breath, say a
(07:01):
prayer.
Lord, I don't know what to dowith this Lord.
I'm hurting.
Lord, I can't see a solutionLike.
I have to stop.
And what I've found is someother things that are helpful.
For me is to remember that Ihave a very short view, I have a
(07:23):
very small view or a limitedview, and when I'm in that place
of being in reaction to what'sgoing on, I have an even smaller
view and I have to rememberthat God's got a much bigger
view and is working for my good,even if I don't believe it.
I don't even have to believe itin that moment.
(07:43):
I just you know, I just have tobe open to it.
Ebony Gilbert (07:50):
I love that.
I love that you mentioned theconnection in prayer, because
the prior verse, verse 6 inPhilippians, chapter 4, which I
did not read first intentionallybefore you can get to that
peace, that's beyond humancomprehension.
There's a verse before thatthat says and this is in the
good news translation don'tworry about anything, but all
(08:13):
your prayers ask God for whatyou need.
So if you need help with yourunbelief, that's the time to ask
.
If you need that peace and youcan't find it, that's the time
to ask.
But always ask him for what youneed and ask him with a
thankful heart, absolutely.
That's the supplication part.
(08:37):
It's you know go ahead.
Carri Richard (08:40):
When I ask for something thankful, like when I
hear that asked with a thankfulheart, it's with with the faith
that it's coming.
You know, the beginning of myjourney, the journey that's got
me here, was probably 17, 18years ago and I've touched on it
in other podcasts.
(09:01):
You know, my life kind of likefell apart and a friend gave me
something I wrote down and itwas like I choose joy.
I may not see it, but Godprovides it, so I choose it, and
that changed everything for me.
It didn't change it overnight,I guarantee, you know, but every
(09:22):
time I was in that place oflike oh my God, I don't know
what to do, I can't do, I can'tdo this Like I, you know, I
would pull that note out of mypocket and it's like I choose it
.
I can't see it, I don't feel it, and it's the same thing we're
talking about right now.
It's like God provides thatpeace, but I gotta be willing to
(09:47):
ask for it.
Ebony Gilbert (09:49):
Try to be willing .
I've talked about this beforeand thank you for saying it took
some years, over a decade.
This was the continuous.
It wasn't like you get a wholetruckload of peace and it just
falls at your door.
You know the pile adds on eachtime.
There's a little bit more toget a little bit more.
I talked about this before,probably not from this
(10:11):
perspective, I remember the dayI got peace.
Carri Richard (10:15):
I can tell you the specific day.
Ebony Gilbert (10:18):
I was with you and we were at a mountain
retreat and I asked for foreverhealing prayers and I didn't
believe it.
I wanted it, but I was thankfulthat I had this opportunity to
have friends with me who wouldagree with me and pray for this
and who believed probably somemore so than I did.
I was grateful for that moment.
(10:40):
We prayed with gratitude andthankfulness and with sincere
petition and being humble.
I went home and I didn't sleepwell that night because I was
overwhelmed by the day.
But from that day forward Ihave slept every night, barring,
(11:00):
major whatever.
But I have not had a sleeplessnight, due to a lack of peace.
Now let me say this my situationdid not change.
That day I came home to thesame problems.
Matter of fact, there was nosolution on the horizon for a
good another two months.
I didn't get an answer or aphone call the next day about oh
(11:22):
,.
At the time I was in the throesof stomach cancer, there was no
real solution.
There was no help recovery plan.
Nothing happened immediately inmy tangible environment to
spark this.
It was absolutely a blessing,it was a gift.
It was handed to me.
We asked for it and I got it.
(11:43):
And I received it and said I'mnot letting go.
Now, that doesn't mean I haven'thad moments that weren't
peaceful, it doesn't mean Ihaven't had problems or other
issues, but I can tell you thatsomething about that day and the
way we prayed and the way webelieved was a miracle for me,
(12:04):
and I have navigated lifecompletely different since then.
It changed my perspective.
It changed how I see things,how I think about things, and I
remember it.
Now I have to get refills andgo back up to the Phillips
station and get more peace hereand there, all that kind of
stuff.
But you know I have to rechargeand plug into the outlet every
now and then I get that unionand that connection back.
(12:24):
But that day and it startedwith prayer changed my life, my
peace life, and that is grace.
I don't understand it.
I still don't understand it.
I can't really explain it toyou.
I don't know if there was somedifference.
Carri Richard (12:40):
Here's the great thing.
Nor do you have to, and I havefriends who say, " and I can't,
I can't, I can't.
Ebony Gilbert (12:48):
It was the least likely place with the least
likely people Tell you moreabout that later.
Yeah, I remember the day and toyour point about it taking 17
years or so, this didn't happenon that day.
Let's be real, this was.
(13:08):
I'm at the end of my rope.
Carri Richard (13:10):
Yeah.
Ebony Gilbert (13:12):
And I don't know what else to do Now.
It probably could have happenedearlier, but I wasn't in a
place to pray from that placebefore that day.
It's almost like saying well, Igraduated on blah, blah, blah
day.
No, you took you 12 years toget through school, to graduate.
You know?
Yeah, go ahead.
Carri Richard (13:33):
Yeah, no, it's such a so, what a beautiful
example, and you're, it's thatOK.
So I this is, I'm trying to getthe words around it, You're?
You're absolutely right.
It didn't happen like when Igot that note and it was like I
(13:56):
choose joy, like I didn't.
I didn't feel that joy forquite some time.
However, I see God in my rearview mirror and I can tell you
that that was a major turningpoint in my life, and so it's.
How do you continue to walk thepath?
(14:17):
And sometimes, for me, by youknow, by God's grace, I have
some evidence, just like thestory you just told and your
experience that you just told.
I have some evidence.
So if I'm in the midst of onething, I can also pause and step
back and go "OK, how has Godblessed me before?
(14:39):
Because what I, what I'velearned about God, is like God
is the Constant.
(Ebony - He'll do it again).
Exactly Us humans.
We do one thing one way one day, and then we do one thing one
way the other day.
Right, it's different, Likewe'd, where, I' ll speak for
myself.
I am not great with beingconstant.
I change my mind, although Idon't understand all of how God
(15:05):
works, I don't think he changesit up.
No, yeah, so that is that helpsme to be like you know what
it's worked before and I don'tknow when I'm not.
It's not my timeline, but if Ikeep putting feet on my faith.
Ebony Gilbert (15:26):
Because he's faithful.
The chief example of whatfaithfulness looks like.
Right, yes, he's going to keephis word.
And if He did it for me thattime, so you become your own
witness?
Oh, beautifully said, you'reabsolutely.
Carrie is her star witness.
Carri Richard (15:43):
I'd like to call Carrie Richard to.
Ebony Gilbert (15:46):
I'm going to testify on my own behalf.
I can see it in your life, yeah, but I know what He did for me.
Carri Richard (15:56):
Exactly, exactly and to the same point.
If you, if you are listening tothis and you do not have a lot
of evidence, please talk tosomebody who does.
We're here, we're happy toprovide evidence.
Ebony Gilbert (16:16):
I used to be jealous when old people would
say things like oh, I've seenthem do it or he did a miracle,
and I thought, how do I have tobe before?
(Carri - "Where's mine?
Like, is this an AARP thing?
Like what you mean to tell me?
I got to wait till I'm 65 tofeel God's presence.
You know, seriously, just beingtotally transparent, used to
get really frustrated Likewhen's it my turn?
(16:38):
And to your point about seeinghim in the rear view mirror.
There were plenty examples.
Yeah, you know, I was waiting onMount Everest, but if you've
ever done any amount of hiking,you can hike up a good hill and
feel the burn the next day.
It doesn't lessen your height,because it wasn't Everest.
I was waiting for this Everestblessing or this Everest miracle
, or this Everest peace, and Igot it that day.
(17:00):
But there was so many otherthings.
So to your point, if you're outthere and you're thinking I
haven't had my Everest, Ihaven't had my moment, (Carri -
my burning bush), my burningbush, that hasn't happened yet
Somebody has.
And you can trust that Goddoesn't have this favorites game
(17:21):
he plays with people.
Ask for it.
So verse six ask for it.
Ask for it with gratitude, witha thankful heart and verse
seven be prepared to accept theblessing that you can't
comprehend.
Carri Richard (17:38):
That's the other, that's the big one.
That's the big one because youknow, again, this is personal
opinion when I ask it's done,it's done and I got to catch up
to it, I get it, either You'llreject it if you're not careful,
exactly.
I have to be open to it becauseit doesn't come Again.
(18:01):
Here we are back to I don'tunderstand.
I don't have all theinformation, I'll never have all
the information.
So if I want it, I'm no, I don't, I don't.
And if I'm looking for it in aspecific packaging I'm screwed,
because again, this hindsight,it comes.
(18:26):
It doesn't come the way that Ieven think it would come, so I
stop thinking.
Ebony Gilbert (18:34):
You save yourself some worry.
Carri Richard (18:36):
Yeah, yeah.
Ebony Gilbert (18:37):
That's in that, verse 6, too.
Stop worrying.
Carri Richard (18:40):
Yeah, do not be anxious.
Ebony Gilbert (18:43):
Stop worrying.
You know, I heard something afew years ago.
This is one of the first Bibleverses I memorized in Sunday
school and I used to feel likegosh, I worry a lot.
Like, am I just constantly overhere sinning?
And then I heard something.
(Carri - I'm worrying aboutworrying).
I'm worried about worrying, andI heard something a couple of
(19:03):
years ago that kind of gave me alittle bit of freedom.
It talks specifically about thatverse which says be anxious for
nothing, but in all things withprayer and supplication, with
thanksgiving, make your requestknown to God.
I heard something and itreframed that for me.
It said hey, this guy's notsaying that you're not going to
worry.
He knows how we're wired, heknows who we are.
(19:24):
He's saying when you come to me, when you come to me to ask me
for these things, you can't beworried about whether or not I
can do it.
Yeah, you can't come doubtingand questioning whether or not
you're going to get the blessingyou're asking for.
Come believing, stop worryingabout all that stuff in the
world, and show up at mydoorstep and say, "hey, God, I
(19:45):
need you, big guy, and these arethe things I need.
And now I'm going to take peaceand I'm going to take a little
bit of sanctuary in the factthat you're going to bless me
with what I need, even if Idon't understand it, and I
probably won't.
So I thank you for it right now.
Right now.
I'm thanking you now for whatyou're already doing that I
(20:07):
might not actually see in thephysical until whenever.
Carri Richard (20:12):
Yeah.
Ebony Gilbert (20:12):
But I'm going to sleep in it, Literally.
I'm going to have some peaceand sleep in it.
Carri Richard (20:16):
Yes.
Ebony Gilbert (20:17):
Right now.
Carri Richard (20:18):
Yes.
Ebony Gilbert (20:19):
That encourages my soul.
Carri Richard (20:21):
Me too.
Me too, I like images and Ihave this image of, like you
know, god standing there and Iam like I am running around in
circles in worry, like lookingeverywhere, but.
God for the answer, lookingwithin myself, somebody else.
(20:44):
If they'd just change, if thiswould just be different, if
these people wouldn't likebelieve what they believe, then
this would all not be happening.
Blah, blah, blah, blah, right,and it's like.
Then, all of a sudden, Ifinally stop and like tug on His
robe or God's robe, whateveryou guys create your own image,
(21:05):
but it's like I have to stop andthen I have to ask for help.
Ebony Gilbert (21:10):
Yeah, and say that lady in the Bible is like I
want to touch to him of hisgarment.
Yeah, he already knew it waswrong before she even opened her
mouth, just from the touch.
Carri Richard (21:20):
Yeah.
Ebony Gilbert (21:21):
If I could just get close enough to have that
union, that connection, you know, that reach are just to touch.
Carri Richard (21:27):
Yeah, and I don't have to be anything but what I
am and who I am in this moment.
I don't have to get ready forit, I don't have to be extra for
it.
I just got to slow down enoughto ask and be thankful.
Ebony Gilbert (21:45):
So we thank God for the peace.
Yes, that is beyond humancomprehension, that surpasses
all understanding, and we'regoing to continuously go to him
in prayer with gratitude,already expecting and believing
it.
And you get to define what thispeace looks like for you.
For me is sleeping at night.
For me it's laugh.
(22:05):
I'll go even more granular forme is laughing at silly stuff,
because there was a point in mytime where I couldn't be silly
because I was so riddled withworry and anxiety.
Carri Richard (22:14):
Yeah.
Ebony Gilbert (22:16):
If I could take a minute to laugh at a commercial
, I'm like, oh that's.
That's a little bit of whatpeace looks like for me, I love
that.
Not So uptight, you know.
So I thank Him for the peace, Ithank Him for you and for
everyone listening, and I amalways more than happy to share
my Everest moment.
But I thank him for the hillsand the mountains along the way
(22:37):
as well.
Carri Richard (22:38):
And the little bumps along the road.
Ebony Gilbert (22:40):
The speed bumps.
Carri Richard (22:41):
Yes.
Ebony Gilbert (22:42):
The rug in my hallway that I trip over every
time I walk past it.
Carri Richard (22:46):
It's perfecting my balance.
I'm going to send you some tape.
I love that.
I just, I just want tocelebrate and give glory for you
know, the peace Sleeping atnight for sure and also just
(23:10):
that space in me that can walkoutside and look at the leaves
and the wind blowing in theleaves and just have pure joy,
get ambushed by joy.
I can't make it happen, but,man, sometimes it just shows up,
just like in this moment,getting to talk to you.
(23:33):
All that came about, I just, myheart is full.
Ebony Gilbert (23:40):
A s is mine.
It's such a beautiful time ofyear, get outside, get outside.
There's a tree in my front yardthat's red right now.
How the heck did that happen?
I don't understand it.
The good Lord ran it this time,but it's just a little reminder
.
In the morning when I openedthe blinds, hey, that guy turned
.
Carri Richard (23:59):
He turned anything else in my life
Absolutely beautiful with theseason is right.
Ebony Gilbert (24:07):
All right, Carri.
All right, you got somethingelse.
You want to close this out?
You're good to go.
Carri Richard (24:12):
No, that was just .
That was so good, I'm all done.
Ebony Gilbert (24:17):
Thank you, friend , thank you to grace out, grace
up.
Speaker 1 (24:24):
Thank you so much for joining us.
If you enjoyed this episode,please let us know.
We love to hear from you andshare it with a friend.
Also, please be sure tosubscribe so you're notified
when a new episode is posted.
We hope you're leaving withanother pointer to grace, a new
perspective that will light itup in your own life.
Until next time, be well, bebold, be kind to yourself and be
(24:46):
on the lookout.
Popular Podcasts
Crime Junkie
Does hearing about a true crime case always leave you scouring the internet for the truth behind the story? Dive into your next mystery with Crime Junkie. Every Monday, join your host Ashley Flowers as she unravels all the details of infamous and underreported true crime cases with her best friend Brit Prawat. From cold cases to missing persons and heroes in our community who seek justice, Crime Junkie is your destination for theories and stories you won’t hear anywhere else. Whether you're a seasoned true crime enthusiast or new to the genre, you'll find yourself on the edge of your seat awaiting a new episode every Monday. If you can never get enough true crime... Congratulations, you’ve found your people. Follow to join a community of Crime Junkies! Crime Junkie is presented by audiochuck Media Company.
24/7 News: The Latest
The latest news in 4 minutes updated every hour, every day.
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.