Bryan Wade: Welcome back to the Sandals Church podcast. On this special episode, we're slowing down together. No rush. No agenda. Just a few minutes to meditate on God's word and sit in his presence.
We know life doesn't stop moving. It's busy, noisy, and often messy. But even in the middle of it all, God invites us to come close, to rest, to breathe, and to remember who he is. Wherever you find yourself today, know this. God's spirit is with you.
So take a deep breath, settle in, and allow his word to meet you right where you are.
Dani Crowley: As you reflect today, I want you to think back to a moment in your childhood. Can you remember a time when you really, really wanted something? Something? Perhaps it was something simple like a toy or a trip to an amusement park. Maybe you really wanted a pet or those cool pair of shoes that you just had to have.
Can you remember that feeling of wanting it so badly that in your little child's heart, it felt like a need? Maybe you asked for it. You begged and you pleaded. You felt the anticipation of waiting for the answer. Will you get what you long for?
What was the answer? Was it a no? Was your heart crushed? Did you feel angry or hurt? As you look back on that disappointment, allow yourself to just sit in that for a moment.
Does that disappointment feel familiar to you today? Did that childhood hope and all the waiting it required shape something in you that you still carry? Today, is there something that you need or that you want from God but are hesitant to ask for? Perhaps it's something that you have labeled as simply just a want and you don't want to bother your heavenly father about it. Or maybe you do recognize it as a need, but you're afraid to ask.
What if he says no? Maybe you've experienced his no before and to have it happen again would just be too painful. Whatever it is, a need, a want, a longing, take a moment and just share that with God now. Tell him about what your heart desires. God cares about every aspect of your life and every detail in your heart.
There's nothing too big or too small to ask Him for. You are safe with God in this moment and he loves you. Your willingness to open your heart to God reveals something beautiful, an expression of your faith. Talking to him, trusting him, opening up to Him, these are the signs of the faith that He has placed in your heart. He hears your prayers.
He hears your cries. He knows your frustrations. And he draws close to you in the midst of them. Maybe his answer will be yes today. Or maybe it's something different than you hoped for.
Regardless, thank God for his faithfulness, for his loving presence. Thank him for his promises, knowing that one day his answer will be an eternal yes.
Bryan Wade: As we close the guided part of this episode, we want to invite you to linger in this space a little longer if you can. Let God's word settle deep into your heart. At Sandals Church, we're passionate about helping people grow an authentic relationship with Jesus, and we believe that journey happens through small moments over time. If you'd like more content like this, the Sandals Church app is a great place to start. It's a simple way to keep creating space for God to move in your life every day.
We pray this time has blessed you and drawn you closer to Jesus. May his spirit continue to lead you, shape you, and form you into his image.