274 00:30:59.025 --> 00:31:01.645 My name's Clay and I'm one of the pastors here at Hope. 275 00:31:01.745 --> 00:31:03.485 And if you're walking in for the first time, 276 00:31:04.025 --> 00:31:07.365 we are wrapping up a series that we've called trust Issues. 277 00:31:08.125 --> 00:31:11.685 'cause what we've said is this, that that we all have trust issues. 278 00:31:12.255 --> 00:31:15.645 We've all been disappointed or let down maybe by an organization, 279 00:31:15.705 --> 00:31:19.045 an institution, whether it's the church, a government or a school, 280 00:31:19.225 --> 00:31:22.805 or we've been disappointed or let down by someone, 281 00:31:23.255 --> 00:31:25.645 maybe a family member, maybe a coworker, 282 00:31:26.135 --> 00:31:29.805 maybe somebody in the neighborhood or we've been let down by 283 00:31:31.245 --> 00:31:35.245 something. So someone or something. And in the something department, 284 00:31:35.885 --> 00:31:40.485 let me tell you about a story that I experienced this summer. Um, 285 00:31:41.905 --> 00:31:46.245 it involves my dad's temperamental riding lawn mower. 286 00:31:48.965 --> 00:31:53.645 And, and by temperamental, I mean it's old and it breaks down a lot. 287 00:31:54.865 --> 00:31:58.245 And on a typical mowing day, on a typical mowing day, I reach out to my dad, 288 00:31:58.285 --> 00:32:01.125 I send him a text and say, Hey, I'm thinking about mowing today. 289 00:32:02.065 --> 00:32:07.005 And so this starts the process of him prepping the mower to 290 00:32:07.105 --> 00:32:09.085 see if it's gonna be a live option. 291 00:32:09.865 --> 00:32:13.045 And that usually means charging the battery and pumping up one of the front 292 00:32:13.046 --> 00:32:16.165 tires that has this seemingly perpetual leak. 293 00:32:17.585 --> 00:32:21.365 And then I drive over and I take the mower and I go to my house and I mow my 294 00:32:21.366 --> 00:32:23.965 yard, and then I come back in and then I mow his yard. 295 00:32:25.145 --> 00:32:27.125 And that's what it looks like on a typical day, 296 00:32:27.126 --> 00:32:29.565 on the day that I want to tell you about this particular day. 297 00:32:29.655 --> 00:32:33.965 Everything seems to be going okay. It, 298 00:32:34.025 --> 00:32:36.245 it seems to be going according to plan. 299 00:32:36.385 --> 00:32:39.085 And I'm mowing in the front yard and I'm mowing near the ditch. So there's, 300 00:32:39.165 --> 00:32:44.125 there's a little bit of an angle and then all of a sudden I come to a grinding 301 00:32:44.475 --> 00:32:49.285 halt and the front tire rolls in front of me into the 302 00:32:49.286 --> 00:32:54.155 ditch. Fortunately, 303 00:32:56.195 --> 00:32:58.355 I had a friend from small group, 304 00:32:58.375 --> 00:33:00.715 so you should be in small group for just such an occasion. 305 00:33:01.555 --> 00:33:02.755 I had a friend in small group, 306 00:33:02.775 --> 00:33:05.835 he had a six inch pry bar I had borrowed for a different project. 307 00:33:06.775 --> 00:33:08.435 And so I can't do it by myself. 308 00:33:08.455 --> 00:33:11.115 So I get my wife to come down and she's gonna give me a hand. 309 00:33:11.295 --> 00:33:13.995 So I'm prying right in the front yard, 310 00:33:14.055 --> 00:33:16.155 in front of God and Jesus and all the neighbors. 311 00:33:16.695 --> 00:33:20.595 And I'm prying this thing up and she's trying to push the wheel back in place 312 00:33:20.895 --> 00:33:23.715 and it's just not working. And I say, what I need you to do, 313 00:33:23.775 --> 00:33:25.915 you need to sit down, just, just get on your, 314 00:33:25.975 --> 00:33:29.475 on your rear end and kick it with both feet. 315 00:33:30.535 --> 00:33:32.675 And so she's sitting down and I'm prying, 316 00:33:32.695 --> 00:33:35.555 and then she's kicking and it looks like it's not gonna go well. 317 00:33:35.695 --> 00:33:39.675 And then it goes on. And then there's the problem. See, 318 00:33:39.755 --> 00:33:42.875 I don't have one of those carter pins that goes in place that you bend around 319 00:33:43.055 --> 00:33:44.595 and holds that holds it in place. 320 00:33:44.895 --> 00:33:47.155 So what I find is a nail that I think will work, 321 00:33:47.156 --> 00:33:51.075 and I jam that in there and I bend it. Now, 322 00:33:52.135 --> 00:33:53.425 welcome to Harnett County. 323 00:33:55.285 --> 00:33:59.185 But if you're thinking that he's probably in good shape at this point, if he's, 324 00:33:59.245 --> 00:34:02.785 you know, he's got it together and this is gonna go well, you, 325 00:34:02.845 --> 00:34:06.265 you would be wrong. So a few minutes later, 326 00:34:06.385 --> 00:34:08.425 I make a turn at the top of the driveway. 327 00:34:09.905 --> 00:34:13.425 I make the turn at the top of the driveway, which resulted in this loud, 328 00:34:13.594 --> 00:34:15.985 unpleasant screeching noise. 329 00:34:18.165 --> 00:34:22.385 And that same wheel has come off and it is rolling down the driveway at a good 330 00:34:22.386 --> 00:34:24.905 rate of speed. . Now my wife, 331 00:34:24.965 --> 00:34:27.705 who has previously helpful is not being helpful in this moment. 332 00:34:28.965 --> 00:34:30.745 And you can imagine what she is doing. 333 00:34:30.885 --> 00:34:35.625 She is laughing at me and the situation in the middle of me having 334 00:34:35.635 --> 00:34:40.305 trust issues with this mower. Now, 335 00:34:42.185 --> 00:34:42.666 this, this, this, 336 00:34:42.666 --> 00:34:47.505 this is funny and it's fixable in the greater 337 00:34:47.506 --> 00:34:50.625 scheme of life, most of us, you and I, most of us, 338 00:34:50.765 --> 00:34:54.065 we can navigate circumstances and situations like this 339 00:34:55.735 --> 00:34:59.625 without losing our mind. And by not losing our mind, 340 00:34:59.705 --> 00:35:02.785 I mean we don't do something extra stupid, we can handle this. 341 00:35:03.605 --> 00:35:05.185 But the question that I want to ask you, 342 00:35:05.205 --> 00:35:08.145 and the question that I want us to wrestle to the ground today is this. 343 00:35:08.445 --> 00:35:09.905 But what about when it gets serious? 344 00:35:10.255 --> 00:35:14.585 What about when it gets beyond our ability to control the outcome 345 00:35:16.405 --> 00:35:18.415 when it, when it is, it is no longer funny. 346 00:35:18.645 --> 00:35:22.655 There's not a pry bar big enough to pry what you, you found yourself in. 347 00:35:23.355 --> 00:35:25.815 And just to give you a glimpse, this is what my summer looked like. 348 00:35:26.515 --> 00:35:29.215 My summer looked like I was on vacation and, 349 00:35:29.235 --> 00:35:32.415 and my sister was part of the vacation and she left for a doctor's appointment. 350 00:35:32.416 --> 00:35:36.895 And then she came back and let us know that she has been diagnosed with stage 351 00:35:37.320 --> 00:35:38.153 four cancer. 352 00:35:40.045 --> 00:35:44.895 This is coming on the heels of my mom who has this rare autoimmune disease 353 00:35:45.005 --> 00:35:49.715 that has put her in the bed. And then after that, 354 00:35:49.975 --> 00:35:52.635 we find out my dad has been dealing with AFib 355 00:35:54.855 --> 00:35:56.995 and is struggling with some other heart issues. 356 00:35:58.775 --> 00:36:01.075 And in moments like that, I don't know about you, 357 00:36:02.495 --> 00:36:03.915 but in moments like that, 358 00:36:04.395 --> 00:36:07.675 I can't help but start looking around and asking the question, 359 00:36:07.985 --> 00:36:12.235 what the heck is going on here? And, and, and then even beyond that, I said, 360 00:36:12.236 --> 00:36:17.035 have I done something that has resulted in this situation? 361 00:36:18.275 --> 00:36:21.495 And I don't know if you've ever been there in that type of thing. You, you, 362 00:36:21.496 --> 00:36:24.175 things start happening and they start cascading. You're looking around, 363 00:36:24.235 --> 00:36:28.975 did I do something to do this? I'm dealing with uncontrollable unknowns. 364 00:36:29.125 --> 00:36:30.935 I've got the, there's a level of tension here. 365 00:36:31.594 --> 00:36:34.295 I'm dealing with anxiety and there are doubts. 366 00:36:37.155 --> 00:36:40.295 Now, this is what you need to know about me. I, I grew up in a, 367 00:36:40.315 --> 00:36:43.455 in a Christian home. I grew up in a Christian home in the South. 368 00:36:43.525 --> 00:36:46.295 I've been following Jesus for uh, a while. 369 00:36:47.675 --> 00:36:50.455 And what that means in the south is, and you need to understand this, 370 00:36:51.285 --> 00:36:52.695 this is what it means in the south. 371 00:36:52.715 --> 00:36:54.255 It means you went to church on Sunday morning, 372 00:36:54.275 --> 00:36:55.575 you went to church on Sunday night, 373 00:36:55.576 --> 00:36:58.655 you went on Wednesday night and you went to revival maybe twice a year. 374 00:36:59.315 --> 00:37:03.015 And if you're not sure what revival means, well what revival, first of all, 375 00:37:03.016 --> 00:37:06.135 you have to say revival. You can't just say revival. It's revival. 376 00:37:06.355 --> 00:37:07.335 And you say it that way. 377 00:37:07.355 --> 00:37:10.535 And then what you do is you go to church every night in a week. 378 00:37:11.114 --> 00:37:13.495 So it's pretty intense. And so that's what I grew up. 379 00:37:13.655 --> 00:37:18.015 And we also had what was called a life verse. Now I get it. 380 00:37:18.016 --> 00:37:20.495 If you're walking in here and you're checking out church for the first time, 381 00:37:20.496 --> 00:37:24.695 you're probably thinking church people. Y but we, 382 00:37:24.795 --> 00:37:29.055 we called it a life verse. Anybody, life verse life verse, yeah. A life, 383 00:37:29.135 --> 00:37:33.094 a life verse. The earliest life verse that I can remember is Proverbs three, 384 00:37:33.165 --> 00:37:36.015 five and six. This is the earliest one I can remember. 385 00:37:36.175 --> 00:37:38.375 And a life verse is like a verse that gives you guidance and comfort. 386 00:37:38.715 --> 00:37:40.015 And it's sort of, uh, you know, 387 00:37:40.016 --> 00:37:44.415 framework for how you live your life in a season. And so in Proverbs three, 388 00:37:44.965 --> 00:37:46.895 beginning with verse five, this is what it says, 389 00:37:47.745 --> 00:37:52.415 trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not lean on your own 390 00:37:52.416 --> 00:37:54.895 understanding. In all your ways, 391 00:37:54.896 --> 00:37:56.855 acknowledge him and he will make straight your past. 392 00:37:57.114 --> 00:37:59.175 So as a church person who grew up in church, 393 00:37:59.176 --> 00:38:02.614 and I've been to church a long time, I know what I'm supposed to do. 394 00:38:03.515 --> 00:38:07.895 I'm supposed to trust. In fact, I even know who I'm supposed to trust. 395 00:38:08.435 --> 00:38:09.815 I'm supposed to trust God. 396 00:38:10.114 --> 00:38:14.655 But what about when trusting doesn't seem right? 397 00:38:14.835 --> 00:38:17.175 It doesn't seem natural, it doesn't come easy, 398 00:38:18.395 --> 00:38:21.655 it doesn't seem based on your circumstances warranted or justified. 399 00:38:21.844 --> 00:38:26.495 What do you do then? Now I get it. As a follower of Christ, 400 00:38:26.715 --> 00:38:29.935 we begin to wonder having trust issues with god's, we begin to wonder, 401 00:38:30.395 --> 00:38:34.055 is having trust issues with God something that we can even talk about? 402 00:38:34.665 --> 00:38:38.285 Maybe you're thinking, is that even allowed? Can you not trust God? 403 00:38:38.825 --> 00:38:40.565 Can you have trust issues with God? 404 00:38:41.235 --> 00:38:44.805 Because in your circumstance and in your situation and how you're living and 405 00:38:44.965 --> 00:38:46.605 carrying yourself, you're searching hard, 406 00:38:46.625 --> 00:38:51.364 but you're struggling to locate any evidence that would make a case 407 00:38:51.825 --> 00:38:56.085 for trust in anyone or in anything 408 00:38:56.625 --> 00:38:57.565 or even God. 409 00:39:01.025 --> 00:39:04.364 In fact, if you're honest and you look into it, 410 00:39:04.945 --> 00:39:08.285 it seems like the opposite. It seems like the opposite. 411 00:39:08.286 --> 00:39:10.364 If you look at your situation trusting, 412 00:39:10.605 --> 00:39:15.045 trusting could be viewed as irresponsible, it could be viewed as irresponsible. 413 00:39:15.265 --> 00:39:19.045 And maybe it's not that bad for you, but you're in the situation and you're not, 414 00:39:19.145 --> 00:39:22.085 not trusting, but you're trying to trust. 415 00:39:22.385 --> 00:39:26.364 And even in the space where you're trying to trust, it's massively challenging. 416 00:39:27.765 --> 00:39:30.935 Come on, have you been in that spot? Have you lived in that place 417 00:39:32.945 --> 00:39:35.635 that trying to trust seems so hard? 418 00:39:38.185 --> 00:39:42.445 And so today I want us to look at a story from the Old Testament about the life 419 00:39:42.446 --> 00:39:45.815 of David, about the life of David. 420 00:39:45.885 --> 00:39:49.455 This is the David that famously defeated Goliath. And one day he'll be king, 421 00:39:49.835 --> 00:39:53.295 but he's not king yet. So if you have your bible, your electronic device, 422 00:39:53.594 --> 00:39:57.535 go ahead and grab that. And if you'll meet me in first Samuel chapter 30, 423 00:39:57.815 --> 00:40:01.215 first Samuel chapter 30, we'll get the verses on a screen near you as well. 424 00:40:02.155 --> 00:40:04.015 And while you're looking there and getting there, 425 00:40:04.114 --> 00:40:08.135 let me give you a little bit of context about what's going on in this situation. 426 00:40:08.635 --> 00:40:09.535 In this situation. 427 00:40:09.536 --> 00:40:13.895 David is on the run from King Saul and the reason he's on the run is because 428 00:40:13.925 --> 00:40:17.695 King Saul is trying to kill him. Yes, there's a lot of drama. 429 00:40:17.725 --> 00:40:21.415 This is good stuff in the Bible. You should read it. Uh, so there's, 430 00:40:21.416 --> 00:40:23.815 and the great prophet Samuel has died. 431 00:40:23.875 --> 00:40:26.735 So this doesn't help bring stability to the situation. 432 00:40:26.736 --> 00:40:28.055 This doesn't stabilize things. 433 00:40:28.395 --> 00:40:33.335 And the Lord has seemingly pulled his divine support from Saul. 434 00:40:33.555 --> 00:40:38.455 And Saul fears David because it looks like the hand of God is on David. 435 00:40:38.955 --> 00:40:42.455 And everything that he is touching is turning to gold. 436 00:40:42.755 --> 00:40:45.495 It looks like he's experiencing God favor, God's favor. 437 00:40:45.835 --> 00:40:48.735 And that is upsetting to Saul. And now Saul, 438 00:40:48.736 --> 00:40:52.815 because of his disconnection with God, this is what he's done. He's turned to, 439 00:40:53.285 --> 00:40:58.015 what we see in the Bible is called a medium, a medium like a fortune teller. 440 00:40:58.125 --> 00:41:01.295 Someone you would go to to tell your fortune and what's gonna happen. 441 00:41:02.155 --> 00:41:04.255 Now here's the thing, now Saul, 442 00:41:04.455 --> 00:41:08.775 as king has made a law that this occupation is illegal. 443 00:41:09.795 --> 00:41:12.815 You can't have this job. And in fact, if you get found out, 444 00:41:14.155 --> 00:41:18.614 the punishment is death. Nonetheless, that's where he's going. Meanwhile, 445 00:41:19.005 --> 00:41:21.975 meanwhile, David has cozied up to the Philistines. 446 00:41:22.475 --> 00:41:27.055 Now the Philistines are the arch nemesis or one of the enemies of Israel. 447 00:41:27.475 --> 00:41:31.215 So there's a lot of things going on here that seem and feel pretty sketchy. 448 00:41:32.325 --> 00:41:35.685 There's a lot of drama going on, political intrigue. 449 00:41:35.825 --> 00:41:38.885 And so David is with the Philistines, and on the eve of a battle, 450 00:41:39.355 --> 00:41:40.885 he's gonna fight with the Philistines. 451 00:41:41.344 --> 00:41:46.205 The Philistine commanders decide that they have trust issues with David and 452 00:41:46.206 --> 00:41:47.445 his men. They fear. 453 00:41:47.594 --> 00:41:52.165 They fear that they are going to turn in the middle of the battle and fight 454 00:41:52.166 --> 00:41:52.999 against them. 455 00:41:53.545 --> 00:41:57.245 And their fear is so great that they decide we would rather that you guys would 456 00:41:57.265 --> 00:42:01.695 go home. You don't have to fight with us, you just go home. 457 00:42:01.915 --> 00:42:06.495 So David and his roughly 600 men are released to go back to their family. 458 00:42:06.715 --> 00:42:09.815 And so that's all the background to bring us to where I want us to get to today. 459 00:42:10.165 --> 00:42:14.855 This is where we pick up our story. David and his army are, are away from home, 460 00:42:14.875 --> 00:42:18.215 but they're on the move and they're making good time. So they're on their way. 461 00:42:18.795 --> 00:42:22.614 And as we work through this story to, as we work through this story today, 462 00:42:22.775 --> 00:42:24.614 I want you to see three traps. 463 00:42:24.785 --> 00:42:27.935 Three traps that can prevent you from trusting God. 464 00:42:28.305 --> 00:42:31.575 Three traps that can prevent you from trusting God. I want us, 465 00:42:32.055 --> 00:42:32.888 I want this for you, 466 00:42:32.965 --> 00:42:37.655 that we would be able to recognize and avoid these traps because the problem is 467 00:42:37.685 --> 00:42:42.015 they will derail your faith journey with God. And I don't want that for you, 468 00:42:42.075 --> 00:42:45.215 and I don't want that for me. I don't want our faith journey derailed. 469 00:42:45.515 --> 00:42:46.935 So can we recognize, 470 00:42:47.075 --> 00:42:50.735 can we identify these traps and learn how to avoid 'em? 471 00:42:50.795 --> 00:42:53.895 So if you're at first Samuel, let's dive in there beginning with verse one. 472 00:42:53.896 --> 00:42:54.855 It says, and now, 473 00:42:55.805 --> 00:43:00.695 when David and his men came to Ziklag on the third day, 474 00:43:00.875 --> 00:43:05.495 the Amalekites had made a raid against the naab and against Ziklag. 475 00:43:06.445 --> 00:43:11.175 They had overcome ziklag and burned it with fire and taken captive the women 476 00:43:12.925 --> 00:43:15.125 and all who were in it, both small and great. 477 00:43:15.235 --> 00:43:19.885 They killed no one but carried them off and went their way. 478 00:43:21.305 --> 00:43:25.205 And David, and when David and his men came to the city, 479 00:43:25.715 --> 00:43:30.325 they found it burned with fire and their wives and their sons 480 00:43:30.705 --> 00:43:33.775 and daughters taking captive. 481 00:43:34.445 --> 00:43:37.695 This is the first trap that can prevent us from trusting God. 482 00:43:37.915 --> 00:43:39.055 And it's our circumstances. 483 00:43:39.875 --> 00:43:43.935 The first trap is our circumstances because we find ourselves in a situation and 484 00:43:43.936 --> 00:43:48.495 we begin to question and wonder, why did God allow this to happen? How did we, 485 00:43:48.675 --> 00:43:53.015 how did I get in this situation, in this predicament? This doesn't seem right. 486 00:43:53.035 --> 00:43:55.575 It doesn't feel right. If God is a loving God, 487 00:43:55.755 --> 00:44:00.135 why would he allow me to experience this? And I then you begin to think, 488 00:44:00.235 --> 00:44:01.094 you begin to question, 489 00:44:01.815 --> 00:44:06.255 I can't trust God because of the circumstances that he has allowed 490 00:44:07.555 --> 00:44:12.015 to happen to me. So while David and his men are away, 491 00:44:12.016 --> 00:44:16.094 things haven't gone as planned. And when they arrive back to their base, 492 00:44:17.325 --> 00:44:19.375 what they arrive to is a big mess. 493 00:44:19.685 --> 00:44:22.614 What they arrive to is a scene of utter devastation. 494 00:44:24.475 --> 00:44:28.255 The place that they come to is burned out. It's a deserted, ruined, 495 00:44:28.885 --> 00:44:29.855 it's a ghost town. 496 00:44:31.065 --> 00:44:35.844 Now the Lucites are this nomadic group of people who can trace 497 00:44:35.845 --> 00:44:37.364 their lines back to Esau. 498 00:44:38.355 --> 00:44:41.485 What they have done is they've taken advantage of the fact that David and his 499 00:44:41.486 --> 00:44:45.565 army are away. There's this opportunistic, um, 500 00:44:47.844 --> 00:44:52.125 situation for them and they take advantage of it. They take advantage of it. 501 00:44:52.265 --> 00:44:56.285 And what we see in verse two is that they've taken the David and the men's 502 00:44:56.525 --> 00:44:57.358 families from them. 503 00:44:57.715 --> 00:45:00.765 They've taken captive the women and everyone that who was in it, 504 00:45:01.225 --> 00:45:03.965 but the absence of the bodies that there are no bodies. 505 00:45:04.205 --> 00:45:06.565 It says they didn't kill anyone. So there have been no deaths. 506 00:45:07.285 --> 00:45:09.125 The people were taken and they weren't killed. 507 00:45:09.705 --> 00:45:12.325 And while at first glance we may think, 508 00:45:12.355 --> 00:45:16.485 well that seems like a kindness that seems like, uh, 509 00:45:16.885 --> 00:45:21.085 it okay, this is less comprehensive in the negative way than it could have been. 510 00:45:22.225 --> 00:45:26.005 But what we need to understand is that the amyloids are the bad guys and their 511 00:45:26.205 --> 00:45:30.005 likely intention was to take their prisoners and sell them into slavery. 512 00:45:31.225 --> 00:45:32.058 But even so, 513 00:45:32.535 --> 00:45:36.445 maybe the restraint that we see here is an indicator or a hint 514 00:45:37.594 --> 00:45:42.364 that God in his providence as is at work and the the severity 515 00:45:42.425 --> 00:45:46.165 of this trial is not as great as it could be. 516 00:45:46.295 --> 00:45:50.885 Maybe there's a limit to it. Clearly the situation is bad, 517 00:45:52.105 --> 00:45:57.035 but maybe just, maybe it's not irreversible. Verse three, and David is men. 518 00:45:57.065 --> 00:46:00.195 They come to the city and that's when they find it's just a disaster. 519 00:46:00.445 --> 00:46:04.155 Their world has literally been burnt to the ground. 520 00:46:05.605 --> 00:46:07.915 Everything they know has is gone. 521 00:46:08.015 --> 00:46:11.675 And the fact that it says they showed up and they found it conveys the idea of 522 00:46:11.955 --> 00:46:14.995 surprise and shock. This was not part of the plan. 523 00:46:15.255 --> 00:46:17.315 As they take in this scene before 'em, the un, 524 00:46:17.635 --> 00:46:19.995 the upbeat mood during their travel, 525 00:46:21.344 --> 00:46:24.755 singing the songs and looking forward with great excitement to see in their 526 00:46:24.756 --> 00:46:27.555 family and hanging out with their friends and doing, uh, 527 00:46:27.594 --> 00:46:32.315 cookouts in the backyard, that's gone. That's gone. 528 00:46:32.415 --> 00:46:35.635 It quickly vans. And here's the thing. This is not the dream. 529 00:46:36.105 --> 00:46:39.075 This is not the dream. This is not the plan. And when reality, 530 00:46:39.265 --> 00:46:42.195 when reality sets in and it's less than our dream, 531 00:46:42.614 --> 00:46:47.395 that's when our trust can be rattled because we have expectations of things that 532 00:46:47.415 --> 00:46:50.155 we think God will do for us and that he should do for us. 533 00:46:50.575 --> 00:46:52.675 And when it turns out to be different than that, 534 00:46:53.015 --> 00:46:57.745 we begin to look at God and it's like, hmm hmm. 535 00:47:01.305 --> 00:47:02.565 So David and his men, 536 00:47:02.795 --> 00:47:07.565 they're upset and they're devastated because of their circumstances. 537 00:47:09.645 --> 00:47:10.705 That's the first trap. 538 00:47:10.805 --> 00:47:14.665 The second trap that that can prevent us from trusting God 539 00:47:16.085 --> 00:47:16.945 is our pain 540 00:47:18.655 --> 00:47:23.545 when they show up the shock and s of smoldering rubble and the loss 541 00:47:23.565 --> 00:47:28.465 of wives and children has created an unbearable pain, 542 00:47:31.435 --> 00:47:33.675 a pain that we don't know what to do with, 543 00:47:33.945 --> 00:47:38.835 it's overwhelming and it can only be expressed through 544 00:47:39.075 --> 00:47:40.355 wailing. Look at verse four. 545 00:47:42.185 --> 00:47:46.844 It says that David and the people who were with him raised their voices and 546 00:47:47.395 --> 00:47:51.965 wept until they had no more strength to weep. 547 00:47:53.015 --> 00:47:57.864 They prayed it all out. They exhausted themself in grief. 548 00:47:59.165 --> 00:48:02.665 But come on here, the the, the reality is, and it's hard, 549 00:48:02.745 --> 00:48:06.025 I know this is gonna be harsh, but the reality is that you got life, 550 00:48:06.405 --> 00:48:10.185 you got problems, you got, you got life, you got problems. 551 00:48:10.285 --> 00:48:14.465 Yet pain always seems to sneak up on us and catch us off guard. 552 00:48:15.245 --> 00:48:18.145 We tend to think that pain is for someone else. Some uh, 553 00:48:18.425 --> 00:48:21.145 somebody else will deal with that. That's someone else's family issue. 554 00:48:21.245 --> 00:48:25.465 It will not hit me. So it sneaks up on us and catches us off guard. 555 00:48:25.805 --> 00:48:28.864 And in that place, that's where we begin to question God, 556 00:48:28.865 --> 00:48:32.344 whether we're questioning his power or whether we're questioning his kindness, 557 00:48:34.495 --> 00:48:35.594 can he be trusted? 558 00:48:35.595 --> 00:48:39.755 Because this doesn't seem right or this doesn't seem fair. 559 00:48:41.175 --> 00:48:45.515 It makes me think of Jesus's statement that John captures when he says this. 560 00:48:45.535 --> 00:48:48.355 He says, in this world you will have tribulation. 561 00:48:48.895 --> 00:48:52.715 Not that you might have tribulation. He says you will have tribulation. 562 00:48:54.175 --> 00:48:57.195 But he goes on to say, but take heart. I have overcome the world. 563 00:48:57.415 --> 00:49:00.915 And why is it our tendency to lock in on the first part of that verse and 564 00:49:01.235 --> 00:49:02.355 overlook the second part? 565 00:49:03.295 --> 00:49:07.475 We lock in on the tribulations and we grumble about it and we blame God about 566 00:49:07.476 --> 00:49:11.915 it. But with eager expectation, we don't look forward to the overcoming of it. 567 00:49:12.545 --> 00:49:14.675 Because in our mindset, when we're in it, 568 00:49:15.145 --> 00:49:17.755 pain seems so random and so unfair. 569 00:49:18.915 --> 00:49:22.415 But this is what we do know about pain. It always, always, always, 570 00:49:22.515 --> 00:49:27.015 always gets our attention. It always gets our attention 571 00:49:29.145 --> 00:49:31.325 and it always demands a response. 572 00:49:31.745 --> 00:49:35.085 So we see him grieving in verse four and they weep until they can't weep 573 00:49:35.485 --> 00:49:35.745 anymore. 574 00:49:35.745 --> 00:49:39.165 And then verse five lets us know that David doesn't go through this unscathed. 575 00:49:39.166 --> 00:49:40.405 We learn in verse five that his, 576 00:49:40.705 --> 00:49:43.565 his wives are mentioned and they are taken as well. 577 00:49:43.785 --> 00:49:45.844 So this is a blow to him personally. 578 00:49:47.245 --> 00:49:50.205 Everyone has been affected by this situation. 579 00:49:50.965 --> 00:49:53.605 Everyone is in pain because of this circumstance. 580 00:49:55.344 --> 00:49:58.605 But now what? Now what do you do? What do you do? 581 00:49:58.606 --> 00:50:01.885 Because this wasn't part of the plan. You've been traveling, you're excited, 582 00:50:01.945 --> 00:50:06.815 you get home. And then what? Where do you start? 583 00:50:06.925 --> 00:50:10.775 Have you ever been in a mess that was so messy and so big that you didn't even 584 00:50:10.776 --> 00:50:12.975 know where to start? You didn't even know where to begin? 585 00:50:14.235 --> 00:50:16.175 Is there a broom big enough for this? 586 00:50:17.755 --> 00:50:20.935 We see in verse six that David was greatly distressed. 587 00:50:21.745 --> 00:50:25.895 David was greatly distressed. But this statement is not about his feelings. 588 00:50:26.445 --> 00:50:29.364 This is about the precarious situation that he's in. 589 00:50:30.485 --> 00:50:31.705 You're not gonna believe this 590 00:50:33.844 --> 00:50:36.785 for the people spoke of stoning him. 591 00:50:37.605 --> 00:50:41.425 And what that means is they wanted to throw rocks at him and kill him. 592 00:50:45.675 --> 00:50:49.255 People in pain, I mean come on. We know this by experience. 593 00:50:50.835 --> 00:50:53.695 People in pain will not only be a pain, 594 00:50:54.235 --> 00:50:58.455 but they'll look for someone to blame because pain 595 00:50:58.925 --> 00:51:03.055 demands a response. And come on, we are people. We are people 596 00:51:05.594 --> 00:51:10.015 and people are fickle. We are fickle. We have mood swings. 597 00:51:10.265 --> 00:51:15.175 David and his men have turned swiftly and completely against 598 00:51:15.275 --> 00:51:18.335 him. Their bitterness has turned to anger. 599 00:51:18.715 --> 00:51:22.055 And David is in the crosshairs. He is the target. 600 00:51:23.005 --> 00:51:25.094 This is your fault. Come on. 601 00:51:25.114 --> 00:51:28.935 You imagine yourself in that group and you're looking to David, David, 602 00:51:29.155 --> 00:51:31.695 you are the one. We should do something with you. 603 00:51:33.005 --> 00:51:35.864 So the situation is very serious, it's very tense. 604 00:51:36.605 --> 00:51:39.425 And David is isolated and David is threatened. 605 00:51:39.525 --> 00:51:42.945 His once loyal men are no longer his faithful supporters. 606 00:51:43.925 --> 00:51:44.945 That's all gone. 607 00:51:46.085 --> 00:51:50.185 No happy little car ride on the way to Ziklag that's passed. 608 00:51:51.665 --> 00:51:54.445 But what is David gonna do? Look at the end of verse six. 609 00:51:55.114 --> 00:51:56.725 Look at the end of verse six. It says, 610 00:51:56.726 --> 00:52:00.085 but David strengthened himself in the Lord his God. 611 00:52:01.255 --> 00:52:03.725 David strengthened himself in the Lord his God. 612 00:52:03.785 --> 00:52:06.005 And let's just pause there a minute. What does that even mean? 613 00:52:07.075 --> 00:52:09.085 What does that even mean? And how do you do it? 614 00:52:09.086 --> 00:52:11.125 Because I feel like that's something that we should know. 615 00:52:12.785 --> 00:52:15.885 So David turned to God because he doesn't have anywhere to turn. 616 00:52:16.945 --> 00:52:18.885 He turned to God, he didn't have anywhere to turn. 617 00:52:18.985 --> 00:52:22.805 And it's like Dwayne mentioned last week when we talk about the poor in spirit, 618 00:52:22.815 --> 00:52:24.085 David is poor in spirit. 619 00:52:24.344 --> 00:52:28.125 He doesn't have anything to offer anything to bring to the equation 620 00:52:29.195 --> 00:52:33.605 that will change anything in a positive way. But I wonder, 621 00:52:36.495 --> 00:52:40.515 but I wonder when we find ourselves in situations like this, 622 00:52:40.844 --> 00:52:44.915 could God be using the hardship? Let's leave it at David and not us. 623 00:52:46.364 --> 00:52:50.864 The hardship to remind David of his frailty and his 624 00:52:50.895 --> 00:52:53.025 inability to rescue himself. 625 00:52:55.965 --> 00:53:00.594 Maybe he's using the unpleasant situation to remind David that 626 00:53:00.745 --> 00:53:03.675 he's not the one who is all sufficient, 627 00:53:04.765 --> 00:53:08.875 that it's God who is all sufficient because sometimes 628 00:53:10.165 --> 00:53:10.998 we forget. 629 00:53:12.445 --> 00:53:17.065 So David is forced to abandon his own abilities and his own wisdom 630 00:53:17.565 --> 00:53:22.465 and he's forced to seek assistance from the only one who 631 00:53:22.485 --> 00:53:26.805 can truly provide and the only one who can truly 632 00:53:28.005 --> 00:53:28.838 deliver. 633 00:53:28.995 --> 00:53:33.775 And that brings us to the third trap and the third trap that can prevent us from 634 00:53:33.776 --> 00:53:37.775 trusting God. is our wisdom. 635 00:53:38.405 --> 00:53:40.935 It's our wisdom. When a crisis hits, I don't know about you, 636 00:53:41.035 --> 00:53:43.055 but this is true for me. When a crisis hits, 637 00:53:43.114 --> 00:53:47.415 our first reaction seems to seems to be to go into fix it mode. 638 00:53:47.965 --> 00:53:50.695 What can I do to clean this up? What can I do to tidy this up? 639 00:53:50.844 --> 00:53:54.135 What can I do to get this back? Come on back to normal. 640 00:53:54.475 --> 00:53:58.344 If we could only get back to normal, are you kidding me? 641 00:53:58.535 --> 00:54:01.625 When was the last time we had normal? And would we recognize normal, 642 00:54:01.765 --> 00:54:03.225 normal if it was here? 643 00:54:04.614 --> 00:54:07.035 But we're always on the search to get back to normal. 644 00:54:07.455 --> 00:54:11.035 So instead of turning upwards towards God and his ability, 645 00:54:11.695 --> 00:54:12.594 we are we, 646 00:54:12.655 --> 00:54:17.635 we tend to turn inward and try to apply our 647 00:54:17.636 --> 00:54:19.235 abilities to the situation. 648 00:54:24.995 --> 00:54:26.614 And as you've heard some of my stories, 649 00:54:26.715 --> 00:54:29.335 you know that when I bring my abilities to the equation, 650 00:54:30.594 --> 00:54:32.695 it doesn't always make it better. 651 00:54:35.844 --> 00:54:40.465 But let's look at what David did and understand that David is incredibly 652 00:54:40.685 --> 00:54:43.705 gifted and he is extremely smart. 653 00:54:44.805 --> 00:54:48.864 But what we see here in this story is that he didn't start by looking within. 654 00:54:49.375 --> 00:54:52.465 Look at verse seven. And David said, 655 00:54:53.075 --> 00:54:56.594 tohar the priest, he says to him, 656 00:54:56.725 --> 00:55:00.515 bring me the EOD and then look down to verse eight. 657 00:55:01.415 --> 00:55:03.955 And David inquired of the Lord. 658 00:55:07.275 --> 00:55:12.185 Lemme just push into your business a little bit. In times of crisis, 659 00:55:13.594 --> 00:55:14.775 in times of pain, 660 00:55:15.355 --> 00:55:19.575 in times when the circumstances of your life are not the ones that you hope for, 661 00:55:19.576 --> 00:55:22.575 dream for or plan for, where do you turn? 662 00:55:24.285 --> 00:55:29.035 Where do you turn when your circumstances and your pain make it difficult to 663 00:55:29.036 --> 00:55:33.235 trust anyone? Who will you trust? 664 00:55:35.015 --> 00:55:37.915 Who will you trust? 665 00:55:39.135 --> 00:55:43.795 Now I wanna speak to you if you're a follower of Christ for a minute because I 666 00:55:43.796 --> 00:55:47.114 want you to notice here that David called to the priest. 667 00:55:48.325 --> 00:55:51.955 David called to the priest to come to him as a follower of Christ. 668 00:55:51.975 --> 00:55:53.555 If you're a follower of Christ in the room, 669 00:55:53.815 --> 00:55:57.675 you have access to the great high priest, 670 00:55:59.094 --> 00:56:01.195 you have access to the great high priest. 671 00:56:01.385 --> 00:56:04.835 Look at how the writer of Hebrews capture this. He says, 672 00:56:05.285 --> 00:56:08.355 since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, 673 00:56:09.085 --> 00:56:12.795 Jesus the son of God, let us hold fast to our confession. 674 00:56:13.235 --> 00:56:16.795 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our 675 00:56:16.796 --> 00:56:19.825 weaknesses, where we fall short, 676 00:56:21.045 --> 00:56:25.645 but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are 677 00:56:26.145 --> 00:56:28.445 yet without sin. Let us, 678 00:56:28.864 --> 00:56:33.325 let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace that we 679 00:56:33.705 --> 00:56:37.844 may receive mercy and find grace to help 680 00:56:38.505 --> 00:56:40.685 in what? In what? What does it say? 681 00:56:41.245 --> 00:56:44.205 Class in our time of need. 682 00:56:45.695 --> 00:56:49.995 In your time of need, there is a place that you can go in your time of need. 683 00:56:49.996 --> 00:56:51.995 There is a place you can take your trust 684 00:56:53.735 --> 00:56:55.315 in this space and in this moment, 685 00:56:55.375 --> 00:57:00.275 it is no time to uselessly recount all the things that you 686 00:57:00.276 --> 00:57:02.635 don't know, all the things that you don't understand, 687 00:57:02.815 --> 00:57:04.635 all the things that are not fully clear. 688 00:57:05.094 --> 00:57:09.475 All the things that you don't have answers for here in that moment is when you 689 00:57:09.545 --> 00:57:13.875 need to recall and pay attention to what we do know that God is on the throne, 690 00:57:14.065 --> 00:57:16.435 that he loves you and that he is for you. 691 00:57:20.645 --> 00:57:24.535 Look at the reminder that Jeremiah gives us. He says this, 692 00:57:24.536 --> 00:57:26.295 this is in 17 five. He says, 693 00:57:26.525 --> 00:57:31.415 thus sayeth the Lord cursed is the man who trust in man and makes 694 00:57:31.665 --> 00:57:32.895 flesh his strength, 695 00:57:33.785 --> 00:57:37.695 whose heart turns away from the Lord cursed. We don't want that. 696 00:57:38.075 --> 00:57:39.495 Two verses later he says, 697 00:57:39.675 --> 00:57:44.535 but blessed is a man who trust in the Lord whose trust is the Lord. 698 00:57:44.795 --> 00:57:46.735 And here's the big takeaway. I want you to get this. 699 00:57:46.925 --> 00:57:50.175 That trust can only be found in the one who has proven trustworthy. 700 00:57:50.705 --> 00:57:55.535 Trust can only be found in the one who can be proven trustworthy in our greatest 701 00:57:55.605 --> 00:57:59.775 need. God sent his son to rescue us from sin and death 702 00:58:00.745 --> 00:58:05.375 where we had no chance and no hope and no way out. He shows up. 703 00:58:05.555 --> 00:58:09.015 And the result is that we gain new life, that we have victory over death. 704 00:58:09.195 --> 00:58:10.775 We have freedom from sin. 705 00:58:11.585 --> 00:58:14.775 Everything has changed at the end of the day for us though, 706 00:58:14.776 --> 00:58:19.775 as we try to figure this out and live it out, faith is trust. 707 00:58:20.915 --> 00:58:25.735 So how do you put your faith into action so that you're 708 00:58:25.736 --> 00:58:30.695 displaying trust in how you carry yourself? How do we put our faith into action? 709 00:58:30.875 --> 00:58:32.535 How do we try to trust? 710 00:58:33.715 --> 00:58:36.615 How do we try to trust? 711 00:58:36.815 --> 00:58:39.855 I want to give you two actions that we can take, 712 00:58:40.485 --> 00:58:45.215 that we can take to try to trust, to display our trust in God. 713 00:58:46.715 --> 00:58:48.535 The first one is this, we trust God. 714 00:58:49.195 --> 00:58:52.015 We trust God by turning to him in prayer. 715 00:58:53.485 --> 00:58:56.705 We trust God by turning to him in prayer. When we do this, 716 00:58:56.765 --> 00:58:59.865 we are acknowledging that we can't fix it. When we do this, 717 00:58:59.925 --> 00:59:04.065 we are acknowledging that we need help. And when I say turn to him in prayer, 718 00:59:04.485 --> 00:59:07.905 I'm not talking about some little weak quick five second prayer. Lordy Lord, 719 00:59:08.025 --> 00:59:10.025 he help me, help me over now. Amen. No, 720 00:59:10.445 --> 00:59:14.625 I'm talking about a deliberate pounding on the doors of heaven with 721 00:59:14.775 --> 00:59:17.625 desperation, with persistence, 722 00:59:17.875 --> 00:59:20.905 doing it relentlessly because you need some help. 723 00:59:21.005 --> 00:59:25.205 Because on your own power and your own strength, you can't do it. 724 00:59:26.885 --> 00:59:29.845 I want to point out something going back to the story of David in seven and 725 00:59:29.846 --> 00:59:33.165 eight. So, so unlike Saul who sought answers, 726 00:59:35.305 --> 00:59:37.325 who sought answers from the fortune teller, 727 00:59:37.326 --> 00:59:42.175 David calls the priest to bring the the EOD so that he 728 00:59:42.225 --> 00:59:44.775 might gain divine guidance. 729 00:59:46.065 --> 00:59:49.255 David wants to hear from God. Who do you want to hear from? 730 00:59:50.185 --> 00:59:52.815 Where do you turn for wisdom and understanding? See, 731 00:59:52.816 --> 00:59:57.295 this eod was this ceremonial vestment worn by a high priest when they were going 732 00:59:57.385 --> 01:00:01.215 after getting a word from God when they were seeking divine guidance. 733 01:00:02.275 --> 01:00:04.535 And understand that David is not the hero here. 734 01:00:05.285 --> 01:00:10.255 It's the Lord in whom he put his trust and he has turned to God 735 01:00:10.256 --> 01:00:13.455 in prayer. Why? Because he desperately wants to hear from God. 736 01:00:16.195 --> 01:00:19.255 Do you desperately want to hear from God? 737 01:00:19.795 --> 01:00:22.335 Do you want to invite him into your situation? 738 01:00:22.336 --> 01:00:24.975 Because if you desire to strengthen yourself in the Lord, 739 01:00:25.155 --> 01:00:26.895 if you desire spiritual recovery, 740 01:00:27.195 --> 01:00:30.255 it starts with a connection with God. 741 01:00:30.675 --> 01:00:33.895 Prayer turns your perspective away from loss. It turns it away from guilt, 742 01:00:33.995 --> 01:00:35.895 it turns it away from shame, 743 01:00:36.755 --> 01:00:41.215 it turns it towards God who is the ultimate source of help and hope. 744 01:00:42.435 --> 01:00:43.655 And that's what we need. 745 01:00:44.715 --> 01:00:49.575 That's what we need as we navigate life through tricky circumstances and 746 01:00:49.576 --> 01:00:50.655 experiences of pain. 747 01:00:53.165 --> 01:00:57.735 Here we regain perspective and find strength and the courage to 748 01:00:58.055 --> 01:01:02.415 persevere in our time of need. 749 01:01:05.765 --> 01:01:10.535 Writing on prayer. Ronald roll Heiser points this out. He says, 750 01:01:10.595 --> 01:01:15.155 we cannot sustain ourselves all on our own. 751 01:01:16.175 --> 01:01:20.755 We cannot do it by ourselves. He says we need prayer. We need prayer. 752 01:01:20.895 --> 01:01:24.635 Not because God needs us to pray, but because if we do not pray, 753 01:01:24.735 --> 01:01:27.995 we will never find any steadiness in our lives. Come on. 754 01:01:28.085 --> 01:01:30.715 Who's hunting and looking for some steadiness in their life? 755 01:01:31.055 --> 01:01:33.235 If you're looking for nor something normal, 756 01:01:33.545 --> 01:01:35.435 it's gotta be something around being steady. 757 01:01:36.855 --> 01:01:40.475 We will never find any steadiness in our lives. Simply put, 758 01:01:40.476 --> 01:01:44.955 he writes without prayer, we will always be either too full of ourselves 759 01:01:47.295 --> 01:01:50.875 or too empty of energy, inflated or depressed. 760 01:01:52.245 --> 01:01:57.105 And so we see David cries out in Psalm 25. Turn to me and be gracious to me. 761 01:01:57.445 --> 01:01:59.705 For I am lonely and afflicted, 762 01:01:59.925 --> 01:02:02.505 the troubles of my heart are enlarged. 763 01:02:03.115 --> 01:02:07.545 Bring me out of my distress. I need some help. 764 01:02:08.465 --> 01:02:13.385 I need some relief. When we, when we trust God, we turn to him in prayer. 765 01:02:13.386 --> 01:02:16.665 That's the first action. The second action is this, 766 01:02:16.765 --> 01:02:19.245 we trust God by waiting on his timing. 767 01:02:19.545 --> 01:02:24.005 Now this is problematic for us because this requires patience. 768 01:02:24.265 --> 01:02:28.045 Prayer is the place to start, but we can't rush back and say, you know, 769 01:02:28.046 --> 01:02:31.365 right after the amen, we can't rush right back into fix it mode. 770 01:02:31.625 --> 01:02:34.085 We got to leave some space for God to work, 771 01:02:35.215 --> 01:02:36.725 which requires waiting. 772 01:02:37.305 --> 01:02:41.525 And waiting is such a massive challenge when you don't have an answer and there 773 01:02:41.526 --> 01:02:43.565 does not appear to be an end in sight. 774 01:02:45.365 --> 01:02:49.245 Zach Aswin says it this way. He says, without patience, love is distorted, 775 01:02:49.375 --> 01:02:51.445 faith is not possible and hope fails. 776 01:02:53.975 --> 01:02:58.965 Impatience violates love hurries us into 777 01:02:58.966 --> 01:03:00.485 walking by sight 778 01:03:03.345 --> 01:03:07.765 and usurps God by putting the fulfillment of our hopes. 779 01:03:07.766 --> 01:03:12.525 Listen to me, by putting the fulfillment of our hopes into our own 780 01:03:13.655 --> 01:03:17.285 hands. Again, 781 01:03:18.035 --> 01:03:22.935 when I keep certain things in my hands, doesn't always go well. 782 01:03:24.245 --> 01:03:27.935 When we are find ourselves in difficult circumstances in a place of pain 783 01:03:29.515 --> 01:03:32.255 and we're tempted to use our own wisdom to navigate it. 784 01:03:33.245 --> 01:03:37.815 What if we put it in and left it in God's hands? You see, 785 01:03:37.816 --> 01:03:38.815 waiting on God, 786 01:03:38.816 --> 01:03:43.695 waiting on God is leaning into his pace and trusting him in that 787 01:03:43.705 --> 01:03:48.135 place. It's believing despite what you see, 788 01:03:48.845 --> 01:03:52.255 it's believing despite what you feel, 789 01:03:53.365 --> 01:03:56.535 that the result, his result 790 01:03:58.885 --> 01:04:03.715 Will be best. In seasons when we can't trust ourselves, 791 01:04:04.935 --> 01:04:08.435 we need to turn to the one who is proven to be trustworthy. 792 01:04:09.765 --> 01:04:14.235 David turns to God and chooses to trust him. 793 01:04:15.615 --> 01:04:19.555 He says this, when I'm afraid, I put my trust in you. 794 01:04:20.775 --> 01:04:24.995 In God whose word I praise in God, 795 01:04:25.995 --> 01:04:30.355 I trust I shall not be afraid. What can flesh do to me? 796 01:04:30.545 --> 01:04:33.155 What can the bad guys, what can the enemies do to me? 797 01:04:33.385 --> 01:04:36.355 What can my own men who are emotionally and upset right now, 798 01:04:36.356 --> 01:04:39.315 what can they do to me without you allowing it? 799 01:04:41.215 --> 01:04:44.595 So David turns to God and trusts him and then God guides 800 01:04:46.975 --> 01:04:50.515 and God restores. When you go down in chapter 30, 801 01:04:50.575 --> 01:04:53.555 you come to verse 18 and you come to verse 19. 802 01:04:53.575 --> 01:04:58.075 And what we discover there is that David recovered all that the amite had taken 803 01:04:59.895 --> 01:05:04.335 in verse 19. And it says, and nothing, nothing was missing. 804 01:05:07.675 --> 01:05:11.705 And that's a great end to a story. But here's the reality. 805 01:05:11.775 --> 01:05:16.385 This is what you and I know by experience that it doesn't always clean up so 806 01:05:16.386 --> 01:05:20.365 nicely. Sometimes our stories, 807 01:05:20.395 --> 01:05:21.765 they don't have a nice bow, 808 01:05:24.155 --> 01:05:27.725 They don't have a nice bow. What do we do then? 809 01:05:29.355 --> 01:05:33.285 What do we do then? This is my encouragement to you, 810 01:05:34.355 --> 01:05:38.205 that you would choose the trust. That you would choose the trust. 811 01:05:38.425 --> 01:05:41.365 The one who has proven to be trustworthy. 812 01:05:42.285 --> 01:05:45.485 Hear the words of the prophet Habakkuk. He says, 813 01:05:45.585 --> 01:05:48.365 though the fig tree should not blossom, 814 01:05:49.225 --> 01:05:51.045 nor the fruit be on the vines. 815 01:05:51.625 --> 01:05:56.325 The produce of the olive fail and the fields yield no 816 01:05:56.435 --> 01:05:57.268 food. 817 01:05:57.665 --> 01:06:02.605 The flock be cut off from the fold and there be no 818 01:06:02.915 --> 01:06:05.805 herd in the stalls. That's bleak. 819 01:06:06.795 --> 01:06:10.415 That's a bleak situation. But look at verse 18. Yet 820 01:06:12.155 --> 01:06:14.295 yet, I will rejoice in the Lord. 821 01:06:14.575 --> 01:06:17.335 I will take joy in the God of my salvation. 822 01:06:17.775 --> 01:06:20.775 I will remember who he is and what he's done for me. God, 823 01:06:20.776 --> 01:06:24.535 the Lord is my strength. He makes my feet like the deers. 824 01:06:24.835 --> 01:06:27.415 He makes me tread on high places. 825 01:06:28.075 --> 01:06:32.255 God is greater than your circumstances. God is greater than my circumstances. 826 01:06:33.235 --> 01:06:36.855 And in those places where it is uncomfortable and it's weird and it's painful, 827 01:06:40.005 --> 01:06:44.595 let's choose to trust him. Let's choose to trust him. Let me pray. 828 01:06:46.225 --> 01:06:47.058 Dear heavenly Father, 829 01:06:47.095 --> 01:06:52.035 we thank you again that you are a God that we have access to 830 01:06:53.265 --> 01:06:56.875 because of what your son Jesus did for us. Lord, 831 01:06:57.065 --> 01:07:00.675 help us to not be timid to come to you. 832 01:07:02.415 --> 01:07:04.355 You have made yourself available. Lord, 833 01:07:04.415 --> 01:07:09.195 let us use that and us come and bring our cares to you. 834 01:07:10.225 --> 01:07:11.595 Grow us in our trust. Lord, 835 01:07:12.145 --> 01:07:16.915 help us to navigate the pitfalls that would derail us from growing 836 01:07:17.095 --> 01:07:19.235 and thriving in our faith journey with you. 837 01:07:19.855 --> 01:07:23.075 And we pray all of this in the name of Jesus. Amen.