Ep. 15- Finding God in Hard Times

Raw vulnerability meets practical faith in this powerful episode where I share the shocking news of losing my job while facing imminent home foreclosure. With just 10 days to come up with $2,200 before foreclosure proceedings begin, this episode captures the real-time intersection of financial crisis and unwavering faith.

Despite these challenges—or perhaps because of them—I offer a structured approach to engaging with God's Word when life feels overwhelming. From preparing your heart by visualizing your burdens at the foot of the cross to unpacking scripture through thoughtful analysis and practical application, these steps provide a lifeline to God's presence in difficult seasons. Psalm 119:114 becomes our anchor: "You are my refuge and my shield; I have put my hope in your word."

The episode weaves together biblical encouragement from Joshua 1:9, James 1:12, and 1 Peter 5:7 with personal testimony about God's faithfulness in directing our paths. Even when circumstances suggest otherwise, we're reminded that God strategically places us where we need to be and removes us from where we don't belong. The podcast concludes with worship and heartfelt prayer, creating a sanctuary for listeners facing their own storms.

Whether you're experiencing job loss, financial hardship, relationship struggles, or any other challenge, this episode reminds you that God meets you exactly where you are. No cleansing or preparation needed—just come with faith. If this message resonates with you, consider supporting the podcast through Venmo (@B-rob-717) or visiting berobmusic.com as we navigate this financial challenge together.

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Hey guys, it's B-Rob, it's the Food for Thought
Faithcast, and today is Saturday, july 19th, and today we're
going to talk about practicalways to prioritize God's Word In

(00:21):
the midst of long seasons andchallenging negative.
But I drove 30 minutes to workjust to get let go and drove
right back home today, and I'mnot going to get into any
details, but Um, just note that,uh, some people paint a green

(00:46):
pasture only to find weeds onthe other side.
In the midst of long seasonsand challenging circumstances,
god still invites you to come tohim, and one of the best ways
to draw closer to God is byspending time in his word.
His word connects our heartswith the truth and reminds us of

(01:11):
his faithfulness.
So here's some good steps thatyou could take right now to help
you pause, rest and place yourhope in God every day, even in
the storm, even in the negativeones.
You praise him in the lion'sden.
You praise him when you'refacing the giant.

(01:31):
You even praise him when you'rethrown into the.
Prepare your heart.
Psalm 119, verse 114, says youare my refuge and my shield.
I have put my heart in yourword.

(01:52):
Start your quiet time byreciting this verse and then
write out your concerns andworries.
Visualize putting everythingthat's competing for your
attention into a box and thenjust give it to God, just put it
at the foot of the cross.
Ask God to speak to you beforeyou dive into scripture.

(02:15):
Ask God to help you tounderstand it, to show you how
to apply it, scripture correctly.
Apply it straight to your life.
He promises to give us hiswisdom when we ask for it.
Next, unpack the message.
When was the passage written?

(02:38):
Who was the intended audience?
What is the main theme of thepassage or the verses that you
read?
Are there any repetitive wordsor phrases?
If so, why?
What does the passage show youabout God and other people?
Read through the passageseveral times, each time

(02:58):
answering a different question.
Pay attention to any phrasesand ideas that continue to stand
out to you.
Then summarize the scripture.
Spend several minutes askingGod how to show you the truths
in his word.
Then write down one to threekey takeaways from the passage.
This will help you process theinsights that God shows you.

(03:23):
You process the insights thatGod shows you and last, you want
to exercise the application.
Write out two to three ways youwant to practically apply the
scriptures you've studied.
Then regularly check yourprogress.
You can even turn your goalsinto prayers and set reminders

(03:44):
to pray Once you finishmeditating on the scripture.
Spend a few minutes.
Spend just a few minutes insilent reflection.
Spend just a few minutes insilent reflection.
Then, throughout your day,reflect on all that you've
processed.
That's some good words.
God wants to be a refuge and ashield for you and others.

(04:09):
Good thing you can do isencourage those you care about
to go to God's word for comfort,to run to him for protection.
You are my refuge and my shield.
I have put my hope in your wordOnce again.

(04:32):
That's Psalms 119, 114.
So good God is speaking, sogood today.
Joshua 1.9.
He says have I not commandedyou the strong and courageous Do
not be afraid, do not bediscouraged, for the Lord, your
God, will be with you whereveryou go.

(04:54):
I called Brother Neil Broach onthe way home after getting let
go today and he gave me thatverse and I appreciate him and
his prayers and everything hedoes, because it's hard, but
you've got to trust God evenwhen it's hard.
Let's say that again Trust Godeven when it's hard.

(05:18):
Casting all your care upon him,for he cares for you.
That's 1 Peter 5, verse 7.
Casting all your care upon him,for he cares for you.
So true, so true.
James 1, 12.

(05:39):
Blessed is the man who remainssteadfast under trial, for when
he has stood the test, he willreceive the crown of life.
So it tells you.
It tells you to stay steadfastin God even when bad things
happen or negative things happento you or your family.

(06:00):
And it's really hard becausewe're struggling and we're
struggling financially.
I had 11 days to come up with$2,200 to pay my mortgage before
they start a foreclosureprocess, and now I'm down to 10
days and I obviously I'm notgetting paid for today.

(06:24):
So, but God moves me, god putsme and puts me in places where I
need to be and takes me out ofplaces I don't need to be.
I'm a firm believer of that andhe's done that my whole life,
even though I haven't listened.
So I'm trying to listen, to doeverything that I need to do to

(07:01):
stay walking beside God.
It's very tough right nowfinancially and we're having
problems.
So, guys, if, if you feel led,please, I mean I would love a
gift, a love offering for thepodcast, if you appreciate what

(07:23):
I do.
My Venmo is at B, rob 717.
That's at B E R-R-O-B 717.
I have Apple Pay at706-691-1043.
And you can visit my website,wwwberobmusiccom.
That's B-E-R-O-B musiccom.

(07:48):
I feel like God's called me todo this podcast.
God's called me to change up toChristian music and honor him
by worship.
Psalms 115, verse 3.
Our God is in heaven.
He does whatever pleases him.
That is so true, guys, so true.

(08:13):
Just remember that.
And he is a good God, he is afaithful God, he is a almighty
heavenly father.
He is a healer, he bringspeople out of the darkness, and
I'm currently writing a songcalled Meet you when you Are,
and he will absolutely meet youwhere you are.

(08:33):
He brings the dark to light andhe will absolutely meet you in
the place that you are.
You don't have to be clean, youdon't have to come to the altar
, you don't have to.
All you have to do is havefaith in God and keep him front
and foremost.
And it's an amazing thing.

(08:56):
It's an amazing thing.
Well, guys, I pray for financialredemption, I pray for whatever
blessings that God is going tohave for me and my family, I

(09:18):
pray for healing and miracles,and I pray all these things in
Jesus' holy, holy, heavenly name.
Guys, I love you.
It's a short podcast, notfeeling much on talking, but I

(09:45):
did it anyway and, like I said,guys, we could use all the
prayers, we could use all theprayers.
And, like I said, guys, uh, wecould use all the prayers, we
could use all the prayers.
And, like I said, if you feellike you want to donate or offer
a love offering, that would,that would be a blessing to me

(10:05):
and Courtney.
Guys, I love you.
God bless you.
I'm no longer at the storehousein Lincolnton.
I don't know really whathappened or what changed, other
than I showed them with theirpay plan that 65,000 is not

(10:27):
going to happen and that's whatthey told me was going to be my
minimum.
65,000 is not going to happen,and that's what they told me was
going to be my minimum.
It looked more like 45,000 whenyou put the pin to it, but I'm
not going to fault anyone and Itried to make it work out and
unfortunately they had otherideas.

(10:48):
So I pray for them, I pray fortheir company and I hold nobody
at fault.
I hold nobody in chains.
God knows what he is doing andGod knows what he is doing in
your life too.
So if you're down in the dumpsor you've got some things going
on, god's going to take care ofit.

(11:08):
Just have faith, pray Walk.
Have faith, pray Walk besidehim and do his will.
I love you guys, god bless.

Speaker 2 (11:22):
I'll grant you everything.
I'll grant you.
I'll grant me, grant everybody,I'll grant you.
Grant me, I'll grant everything.
Oh, listen up, I'll fill theemotion.
You will come around Tellingyou tonight when will you go.

(11:47):
I will come back Telling youtonight it's a miracle, god is
going to hang it on my door.
Jesus said you are everything,you are everything, everything,

(12:09):
everything, everything.
I'm praying for you, I'mpraying for me.
I'm praying for everybody.
I'm praying for you.
I'm praying for me, I'm prayingfor everything.

(12:29):
I'm praying for you.
I'm praying for me.
I'm praying for everybody.
I'm praying for you.
I'm praying for me.
I'm praying for everything,everybody, everything, everybody
, everything real, everybody isreal, everybody is real,

(12:55):
everybody is real, everybody isreal.
I am living.
You are moving In me, you aremoving In me.

(13:28):
You are holding me in your handto me.
You are holding me in your handto me.

(13:48):
You are holy, you are holy.
Everything to me.
I'm praying, I'm praying, I'mpraying everybody.
I'm praying, I'm praying, I'mpraying everything.

(14:14):
Thank you.