WEBVTT 1 00:00:01.520 --> 00:00:05.759 This is Pastor Rick's Daily Hope, the audio broadcast ministry 2 00:00:05.799 --> 00:00:09.560 of Pastor Rick Warren. Today we continue in our series 3 00:00:09.599 --> 00:00:14.560 called Strategies for Stressful Times. In these lessons, Rick SHARE's 4 00:00:14.599 --> 00:00:19.120 biblical wisdom for navigating difficult and stressful times so that 5 00:00:19.239 --> 00:00:24.600 you can experience God's peace and thrive in any situation. Now, 6 00:00:24.600 --> 00:00:26.760 in just a bit, we're going to tell you how 7 00:00:26.800 --> 00:00:29.960 you can get a very special copy of Pastor Rick's 8 00:00:30.039 --> 00:00:33.399 number one selling book, The Purpose Driven Life, with a 9 00:00:33.479 --> 00:00:37.640 classic leather cover. As you journey through this book, you'll 10 00:00:37.640 --> 00:00:41.719 discover the purposes you were created for and begin living 11 00:00:41.759 --> 00:00:44.920 the life of significance you were meant to live. This 12 00:00:45.119 --> 00:00:48.359 is a limited time offer, so go to pastorick dot 13 00:00:48.399 --> 00:00:51.560 com right now to find out more, or text the 14 00:00:51.560 --> 00:00:56.000 word Hope to eight hundred, six hundred five thousand and four. 15 00:00:56.719 --> 00:00:59.960 Now here's Pastor Rick Warren with part two of a messa. 16 00:01:00.119 --> 00:01:03.200 It's called how to Be Happy No Matter what happened. 17 00:01:07.000 --> 00:01:12.840 While Paul was in prison, there were people who criticized 18 00:01:12.920 --> 00:01:16.640 his ministry. While he's down, they're kicking him all he's down. 19 00:01:16.799 --> 00:01:20.400 They slandered Paul, they judged Paul, they criticized There were 20 00:01:20.439 --> 00:01:23.120 those who were his friends, who supported his ministry, they 21 00:01:23.120 --> 00:01:26.920 were companions and friends. There were those who competed with 22 00:01:27.000 --> 00:01:30.000 his ministry while he's in prison, taking advantage that he's 23 00:01:30.400 --> 00:01:34.519 off out of circulation. And there were those who undermined 24 00:01:34.519 --> 00:01:37.640 his ministry. They actually attacked him and tried to destroy 25 00:01:37.719 --> 00:01:41.760 him while he was in prison. And if Philippians Chapter one, 26 00:01:41.840 --> 00:01:44.640 the next couple of verses, verses fifteen, sixteen to seventeen, 27 00:01:45.040 --> 00:01:48.840 Paul describes four kinds of people. Three of these four 28 00:01:48.920 --> 00:01:51.040 kinds of people are killed. Joyce and guess what. You're 29 00:01:51.079 --> 00:01:53.760 going to have all four of these hope in your life. 30 00:01:53.760 --> 00:01:56.879 Hopefully you're gonna have companions. But there are critics, there 31 00:01:56.920 --> 00:02:01.840 are companions, there are competitors, and there are challengers. You're 32 00:02:01.879 --> 00:02:03.760 going to have all four of these in your life, 33 00:02:03.840 --> 00:02:06.000 and if you don't know how to deal with them, 34 00:02:06.319 --> 00:02:07.560 you're not going to be happy. 35 00:02:07.359 --> 00:02:08.280 Much of your life. 36 00:02:08.560 --> 00:02:12.360 Verse and verse fifteen Paul had critics, and he says this, 37 00:02:12.520 --> 00:02:16.840 it's true that some people preach Christ because they're jealous 38 00:02:17.000 --> 00:02:20.280 of us, and they like to argue. 39 00:02:21.080 --> 00:02:22.000 They're jealous of us. 40 00:02:22.039 --> 00:02:24.639 They like to argue, you know the word they're eras 41 00:02:24.639 --> 00:02:27.919 in Greek means they love to argue, they love conflict, 42 00:02:28.000 --> 00:02:32.120 they enjoy creating controversy. These people hang out on social media. 43 00:02:32.199 --> 00:02:36.439 They're contentious, they're divisive, they're critical, they love conflict, they 44 00:02:36.919 --> 00:02:41.240 love debate people in the controversy. They're on social media 45 00:02:41.319 --> 00:02:43.840 all the time. They've ever heard a preacher on the 46 00:02:43.960 --> 00:02:48.080 radio or the television like that? He bates everybody by 47 00:02:48.120 --> 00:02:52.080 being provocative and being critical of somebody else. Ever read 48 00:02:52.120 --> 00:02:56.879 a blogger or someone in social media like that? Notice that, 49 00:02:56.919 --> 00:03:01.759 Paul says, the critics motives are often jealousy, and they 50 00:03:01.840 --> 00:03:04.520 want to have the influence you've got, and so they start. 51 00:03:04.240 --> 00:03:05.319 Trying to tear you down. 52 00:03:06.599 --> 00:03:08.520 Now, there are few things in life that cause you 53 00:03:08.599 --> 00:03:11.560 to lose your happiness faster than criticism. 54 00:03:12.080 --> 00:03:13.639 I mean, we all want people to. 55 00:03:13.800 --> 00:03:19.280 Like us, Okay, But here is an important principle you 56 00:03:19.319 --> 00:03:21.039 need to remember if you're going to be happy life. 57 00:03:21.639 --> 00:03:25.479 You don't need other people's approval or permission to be happy. 58 00:03:25.639 --> 00:03:29.000 You don't need other people's approval to be happy. You 59 00:03:29.039 --> 00:03:32.240 don't need other people's permission to be a happy. Happiness 60 00:03:32.280 --> 00:03:34.080 is a choice. You're happy as you choose to be. 61 00:03:34.479 --> 00:03:34.599 So. 62 00:03:34.639 --> 00:03:37.280 He deals with critics in verse fifteen. Then in sixteen 63 00:03:37.360 --> 00:03:39.680 he talks about his companions. Now, these are the good people. 64 00:03:39.719 --> 00:03:42.280 You want these people in your life, he says. Other 65 00:03:42.319 --> 00:03:45.719 people preach from genuine goodwill, and they do so out 66 00:03:45.800 --> 00:03:48.840 of love, and they know that God has given me 67 00:03:49.039 --> 00:03:51.280 the work of defending the Gospel. You want to have 68 00:03:51.560 --> 00:03:53.360 some friends in your life. You don't need a lot, 69 00:03:53.400 --> 00:03:55.599 but you need a couple really good friends. That's why 70 00:03:55.800 --> 00:03:58.360 we always talk about being in a small group. If 71 00:03:58.360 --> 00:04:01.080 you're not in a small group, you need to get 72 00:04:01.080 --> 00:04:03.479 in a small group. You need a group of companions 73 00:04:03.520 --> 00:04:05.759 who will help you through the tough times in your life. 74 00:04:06.400 --> 00:04:08.240 A small group I'm in right now, I've been in 75 00:04:08.360 --> 00:04:11.560 I think over twenty years, and it has helped me 76 00:04:11.680 --> 00:04:15.960 many times. They are a source of encouragement and happiness 77 00:04:15.960 --> 00:04:18.720 for me. In the next verse, Paul says, you know 78 00:04:18.759 --> 00:04:21.279 you're gonna have competitors in life. And he says this, 79 00:04:21.439 --> 00:04:26.480 other people preach christ insincerely from a spirit of selfish ambition. 80 00:04:27.399 --> 00:04:29.040 You know there're gonna be people in your life you help. 81 00:04:29.079 --> 00:04:31.319 You're gonna have competitors, people who want to compete with you. 82 00:04:31.800 --> 00:04:34.759 They're ego driven, and one of the things they do 83 00:04:34.959 --> 00:04:37.360 you can tell them that they're competitive. Is they put 84 00:04:37.439 --> 00:04:42.360 down others in an attempt to make themselves look good. Now, 85 00:04:42.439 --> 00:04:44.439 let me just say this, whether you're a business person, 86 00:04:45.120 --> 00:04:50.240 or you're a teenager, or you're a homemaker, whatever, competitors 87 00:04:50.839 --> 00:04:52.920 who are trying to look like they're trying to compete 88 00:04:52.959 --> 00:04:56.279 with you over what your house looks like, or what 89 00:04:56.360 --> 00:04:59.959 your job is, or who's your best friend at school. 90 00:05:00.319 --> 00:05:05.279 Competitors will rob your happiness if you let them. But 91 00:05:05.360 --> 00:05:09.319 you can't. Happiness is a choice. Then, the second part 92 00:05:09.360 --> 00:05:11.800 of her seventeen, he says they're challengers. There are people 93 00:05:11.839 --> 00:05:14.680 out there who really just don't like you, their enemies. 94 00:05:15.040 --> 00:05:17.439 And he says, others want to stir up more trouble 95 00:05:17.439 --> 00:05:17.680 for me. 96 00:05:18.800 --> 00:05:19.360 What a thing? 97 00:05:19.720 --> 00:05:22.120 People actually want to stir up trouble for other people? Yeah, 98 00:05:22.160 --> 00:05:25.480 they do, and they find their value in creating trouble 99 00:05:25.480 --> 00:05:29.920 for other people. I heard about somebody in a neighborhood 100 00:05:29.920 --> 00:05:33.000 once and they said she's only happy when she's making 101 00:05:33.040 --> 00:05:36.399 trouble for the neighbors. He says, others just want to 102 00:05:36.439 --> 00:05:38.439 stir up more trouble for me and add pain while 103 00:05:38.480 --> 00:05:41.279 I'm in prison. Now, these are the trouble makers. And 104 00:05:41.319 --> 00:05:43.480 the crazy makers of life. And you know what their 105 00:05:43.519 --> 00:05:45.639 primary tool is gossip. 106 00:05:46.519 --> 00:05:47.000 Gossip. 107 00:05:47.800 --> 00:05:51.600 Gossip can ruin your happiness very quickly too, just like 108 00:05:51.680 --> 00:05:54.279 criticism can. Now you're going to have all four of 109 00:05:54.279 --> 00:05:59.000 these in your life. Critics and you know, companions and 110 00:05:59.839 --> 00:06:02.439 the people who compete with you, and then they're these 111 00:06:02.519 --> 00:06:07.160 crazy makers or they're always just trying to tear you down. Now, 112 00:06:07.480 --> 00:06:10.279 regardless of the people in your life, people of the 113 00:06:10.319 --> 00:06:13.759 second kill joy in your life. Look at Paul's attitude. 114 00:06:14.160 --> 00:06:19.600 It's the next verse Philippians, Chapter one, verse eighteen, and 115 00:06:19.639 --> 00:06:21.959 Paul says, this, you know what other people do all 116 00:06:21.959 --> 00:06:26.240 these four he just mentioned, what others do doesn't really matter. 117 00:06:26.360 --> 00:06:29.519 This is the Bible. What others do doesn't really matter. 118 00:06:29.720 --> 00:06:32.720 The important thing is that in every way, whether for 119 00:06:32.879 --> 00:06:36.160 right or wrong reasons, the message of crisis being shared. 120 00:06:36.279 --> 00:06:41.920 So circle this, I am happy. Circle that I am happy, 121 00:06:42.160 --> 00:06:44.839 and I will continue to be happy. 122 00:06:44.920 --> 00:06:45.399 Circle that. 123 00:06:46.920 --> 00:06:49.600 What is Paul modeling here? He's saying, I'm not going 124 00:06:49.680 --> 00:06:53.720 to let anybody, whether it's a critic or a companion, 125 00:06:53.879 --> 00:06:57.319 or a competitor or a crazy maker, or it's an 126 00:06:57.439 --> 00:06:59.839 enemy whatever, he says, I'm just not I'm not gonna 127 00:06:59.879 --> 00:07:01.839 let anybody steal my happiness. 128 00:07:03.480 --> 00:07:06.879 Not only could Payne not take it away, people can't 129 00:07:06.920 --> 00:07:07.480 take it away. 130 00:07:10.839 --> 00:07:14.000 You're listening to Pastor Rick's Daily Hope. Rick will be 131 00:07:14.079 --> 00:07:16.920 back in just a moment with the rest of today's lesson. 132 00:07:17.360 --> 00:07:20.079 If you've missed any part of today's teaching, you can 133 00:07:20.120 --> 00:07:26.240 listen online anytime at pastorick dot com. That's pastorick dot com. 134 00:07:26.279 --> 00:07:29.319 Do you ever wonder if your life really matters? Or 135 00:07:29.399 --> 00:07:32.120 what on earth are you here for? Pastor Rick says 136 00:07:32.360 --> 00:07:35.199 God has a good plan and purpose for your life, 137 00:07:35.360 --> 00:07:38.439 and in his best selling book, The Purpose Driven Life, 138 00:07:38.519 --> 00:07:41.199 he lays out an easy to follow roadmap for your 139 00:07:41.199 --> 00:07:45.480 spiritual journey, a journey that will transform your life. As 140 00:07:45.519 --> 00:07:48.600 you go through this book, you'll discover that real meaning 141 00:07:48.720 --> 00:07:53.120 and significance come from understanding and fulfilling God's purpose for 142 00:07:53.199 --> 00:07:56.160 you here on earth, and how living out the purpose 143 00:07:56.240 --> 00:07:59.680 you are created for moves you beyond mere survival and 144 00:08:00.000 --> 00:08:03.920 access to a life of significance, the life you were 145 00:08:03.959 --> 00:08:06.879 meant to live. 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Or you can call it eight hundred six 156 00:08:41.799 --> 00:08:45.000 hundred five zero zero four. That's eight hundred at six 157 00:08:45.080 --> 00:08:48.399 hundred five zero zero four. Thank you so much for 158 00:08:48.480 --> 00:08:50.720 your support, and don't forget to tell us that you 159 00:08:50.799 --> 00:08:57.039 listen to Daily Hope on the radio. 160 00:08:57.840 --> 00:09:02.039 Now back to More from God's Word with Pastor Rick Warren. 161 00:09:02.480 --> 00:09:04.720 Now, the fact is the more blessed you are in life, 162 00:09:04.799 --> 00:09:08.000 the more you're going to be attacked. Sometimes I'm asked 163 00:09:08.039 --> 00:09:11.799 by people about the people who criticize me, and my 164 00:09:11.879 --> 00:09:14.919 response is, always, what is this? What other people think 165 00:09:14.960 --> 00:09:18.840 of me in no way controls what I think of them, 166 00:09:19.279 --> 00:09:21.080 and I don't have to worry about it. You know, 167 00:09:21.120 --> 00:09:23.000 a lot of times you're worried about what other people think. 168 00:09:23.159 --> 00:09:24.919 Let me tell you something. They're not thinking about you 169 00:09:25.000 --> 00:09:27.919 most of the time, they're thinking about themselves, So why 170 00:09:28.000 --> 00:09:32.440 worry about it? Philippians, Chapter one, verse twenty eight, verse 171 00:09:32.440 --> 00:09:36.759 twenty eight, in the same chapters as this, be fearless, 172 00:09:37.440 --> 00:09:41.039 Be fearless, no matter who opposes you, it will be 173 00:09:41.080 --> 00:09:43.159 assigned to them of their downfall, and that God is 174 00:09:43.200 --> 00:09:47.200 with you and that He's going to save you. You know, 175 00:09:47.320 --> 00:09:52.240 I can identify with this. After Matthew died, we were subjected, 176 00:09:52.320 --> 00:09:57.159 can I, to the most vile accusations and things and 177 00:09:57.240 --> 00:10:03.559 criticisms and armchair psychology, and people used Matthew's death to 178 00:10:03.679 --> 00:10:06.960 really try to harm us, and they said some of 179 00:10:06.960 --> 00:10:09.399 the most mean spirited things, and yet we made it through. 180 00:10:09.440 --> 00:10:12.399 And then I actually, after we went through that gauntlet 181 00:10:12.480 --> 00:10:17.120 of months, six months of it, I really thought, is 182 00:10:17.159 --> 00:10:20.080 that all you got? Is that the worst thing you 183 00:10:20.120 --> 00:10:24.120 can say? And I remember telling Kay one time, after 184 00:10:24.240 --> 00:10:28.840 going through all of the criticism after Matthew's death, was 185 00:10:28.879 --> 00:10:31.799 to honestly, I said to her, Kay, Honestly, I feel fearless. 186 00:10:32.799 --> 00:10:35.799 I feel like I've been through the worst possible situation 187 00:10:36.360 --> 00:10:39.960 and the worst criticisms and attacks you can imagine, and 188 00:10:40.000 --> 00:10:42.960 I'm still standing by God's grace and by the power 189 00:10:42.960 --> 00:10:44.240 of the Holy Spirit, and. 190 00:10:44.159 --> 00:10:48.039 I feel fearless. What more can they do? 191 00:10:49.279 --> 00:10:52.360 And it almost it didn't completely cure me, but it 192 00:10:52.399 --> 00:10:55.720 almost cured me of caring about what other people think. 193 00:10:56.080 --> 00:10:59.039 Jesus said it like this when he gave the Beatitudes 194 00:10:59.080 --> 00:11:00.799 and the Sermon on the Mouth in Matthew five. 195 00:11:01.120 --> 00:11:02.399 He said, blessed are you. 196 00:11:02.600 --> 00:11:05.759 When men shall revile you and persecute you, and say 197 00:11:05.840 --> 00:11:08.799 all manner of evil against you falsely. For my sake, 198 00:11:09.159 --> 00:11:12.440 he said, rejoice and be exceeding glad, for great is 199 00:11:12.480 --> 00:11:15.720 your reward in Heaven, for so persecuted they the prophets 200 00:11:15.720 --> 00:11:19.360 who we are before you. In other words, don't worry, 201 00:11:19.759 --> 00:11:25.080 be happy now. Paul explains why you can be happy 202 00:11:25.559 --> 00:11:29.200 no matter what. In verse twenty nine and thirty of 203 00:11:29.240 --> 00:11:33.320 the Philippians, Chapter one, he says this, for you have 204 00:11:33.399 --> 00:11:38.240 been given, you Christians, You have been given not only 205 00:11:38.320 --> 00:11:44.279 the privilege of trusting in Christ, but also the privilege 206 00:11:44.440 --> 00:11:46.639 of suffering for him. Did you know that's part of 207 00:11:46.639 --> 00:11:49.919 being a Christian, The privilege of trusting Christ, the privilege 208 00:11:49.960 --> 00:11:53.360 of suffering for Christ. We are in this fight together. 209 00:11:53.559 --> 00:11:56.639 The Bible says, you have seen me suffer Paul's talking. 210 00:11:56.919 --> 00:11:59.240 You have seen me suffer for him. Remember he's in 211 00:11:59.279 --> 00:12:03.200 prison as he's these words. You've seen me suffer for 212 00:12:03.279 --> 00:12:05.240 him in the past, and you know that I am 213 00:12:05.320 --> 00:12:09.559 still in the midst of a great struggle. I'd say, 214 00:12:10.399 --> 00:12:12.919 what do I want to say on this second point? 215 00:12:13.279 --> 00:12:17.320 Summed up is this, if you live for the approval 216 00:12:17.480 --> 00:12:20.360 of other people, you get your happiness from the approval 217 00:12:20.399 --> 00:12:24.240 of other people, whether it's likes on your Facebook page 218 00:12:24.399 --> 00:12:26.840 or how many people give you a thumbs up on 219 00:12:26.879 --> 00:12:30.159 your Instagram or whatever. If you live for the approval 220 00:12:30.200 --> 00:12:37.480 of others, you will die by their disapproval. Okay, that's 221 00:12:37.519 --> 00:12:41.159 the wrong way to find happiness. You have to learn 222 00:12:41.600 --> 00:12:45.960 you don't need anybody else's approval to be happy. You 223 00:12:46.000 --> 00:12:49.639 were as happy as you choose to be first Thatsalonians 224 00:12:49.679 --> 00:12:53.200 five eighteen. No matter what happens, That's the theme of 225 00:12:53.240 --> 00:12:58.120 this message. No matter what happens, always be thankful for 226 00:12:58.240 --> 00:13:02.240 this is God's will for you who belong to Jesus Christ. 227 00:13:02.320 --> 00:13:04.399 Notice this is God's will. You want to be in 228 00:13:04.399 --> 00:13:07.600 the center of God's will. Always be grateful and thankful, 229 00:13:07.720 --> 00:13:10.399 even no matter what happens. No matter what other people say, 230 00:13:10.399 --> 00:13:14.039 what other people do. Okay, now let's review. I've already 231 00:13:14.039 --> 00:13:18.519 given you two principles. You can be happy no matter 232 00:13:18.559 --> 00:13:20.960 what happens in your life if you choose to do 233 00:13:21.039 --> 00:13:24.600 two things. The first, remember that God can bring good 234 00:13:24.600 --> 00:13:28.679 out of anything. That's Romans eight twenty eight. And so 235 00:13:28.840 --> 00:13:32.840 you look at the situation with faith not fear. Just 236 00:13:32.879 --> 00:13:34.720 start saying, God, help me to look at everything that 237 00:13:34.799 --> 00:13:38.480 happens in my life with faith not fear. Look at problems, 238 00:13:38.559 --> 00:13:42.320 look at pain, look at people, look at pressure with 239 00:13:42.480 --> 00:13:46.799 faith not fear. And then number two, never let what 240 00:13:47.000 --> 00:13:51.720 other people say, oh what other people do control your attitude. 241 00:13:53.080 --> 00:13:55.399 These are powerful. We could just stop right there, but 242 00:13:55.480 --> 00:13:59.600 Paul has two more keys to being happy in life 243 00:13:59.600 --> 00:14:02.960 no matter what happens. Third number three, I can be 244 00:14:03.120 --> 00:14:08.399 happy no matter what happens. If I choose to write 245 00:14:08.399 --> 00:14:13.399 this down, trust God to always work things out. 246 00:14:14.039 --> 00:14:14.960 That's the third key. 247 00:14:15.519 --> 00:14:20.320 I must trust God to always work things out, whether 248 00:14:20.360 --> 00:14:23.879 it's pain or pressure, or problems or people. This is 249 00:14:23.919 --> 00:14:28.799 the third faith factor in happiness. You're gonna either worry 250 00:14:29.399 --> 00:14:32.080 about what's happening in your life, or you're gonna worship. 251 00:14:32.440 --> 00:14:36.440 You're gonna panic, or you're going to pray. You're gonna 252 00:14:36.480 --> 00:14:40.080 have faith, or you're gonna have fear. This is verse 253 00:14:40.399 --> 00:14:45.840 nineteen in Philippians chapter one. He says this, I will 254 00:14:46.000 --> 00:14:48.960 continue to rejoice. Now circle again the word will. If 255 00:14:49.000 --> 00:14:52.320 you're taking notes on the outline, that's a choice. It's 256 00:14:52.360 --> 00:14:54.919 a choice of the will. It's a decision. I will 257 00:14:54.960 --> 00:14:59.519 continue to rejoice. Why for I know that as you 258 00:14:59.559 --> 00:15:03.039 pray for me, and as the Spirit of Jesus Christ 259 00:15:03.080 --> 00:15:07.960 helps me, all that happened will all turn out for 260 00:15:08.320 --> 00:15:12.759 my deliverance. Remember he's writing this from prison. He has 261 00:15:12.799 --> 00:15:16.080 no physical evidence of this. This is a statement of faith, 262 00:15:16.200 --> 00:15:19.679 not of fear. Now in that verse I just read. 263 00:15:19.720 --> 00:15:22.879 If you're looking at it still, Paul gives four sources 264 00:15:23.559 --> 00:15:27.159 of strength in tough times. I want you to circle 265 00:15:27.200 --> 00:15:31.480 these four sources. First, I have God's perspective on my problem. 266 00:15:31.960 --> 00:15:34.360 That helps me be happy. Notice it says, for I know, 267 00:15:34.600 --> 00:15:37.039 circle the word No, that's God's perspective. 268 00:15:37.120 --> 00:15:37.320 I know. 269 00:15:37.399 --> 00:15:39.759 I don't guess, I don't imagine, I don't hope, I 270 00:15:39.759 --> 00:15:40.320 don't think. 271 00:15:40.679 --> 00:15:41.120 I know. 272 00:15:42.000 --> 00:15:45.240 I have God's perspective. And I'm looking at my situation, 273 00:15:45.399 --> 00:15:48.360 the pain, the problems, the pressures the people. I'm looking 274 00:15:48.399 --> 00:15:50.080 at it from God's point of view. I have God's 275 00:15:50.080 --> 00:15:51.240 perspective of my problem. 276 00:15:51.440 --> 00:15:51.720 I know. 277 00:15:52.200 --> 00:15:55.559 Second, I have people praying for me. Did you notice 278 00:15:55.600 --> 00:15:58.799 that's circle the word pray. You're praying for me. That 279 00:15:59.279 --> 00:16:01.879 gives makes me hapy. Number three, I have the Holy 280 00:16:01.919 --> 00:16:05.000 Spirit helping me, he says, I've got the spirit of 281 00:16:05.000 --> 00:16:07.600 God in me. And then number four, he says, I 282 00:16:07.720 --> 00:16:11.320 have the faith that God will work it out for good. 283 00:16:12.039 --> 00:16:16.519 Therefore I choose to be happy. He says, I will. 284 00:16:16.600 --> 00:16:23.679 That's a choice. Now, trusting God. When you don't see 285 00:16:24.519 --> 00:16:26.600 the whole picture and you can't see the end of 286 00:16:26.600 --> 00:16:31.080 the story, Trusting God gives you hope, It gives you courage, 287 00:16:31.679 --> 00:16:35.360 and it gives you happiness. Look at the next verse 288 00:16:35.399 --> 00:16:39.159 there in Philippians, Chapter one, verse twenty. It is my 289 00:16:39.480 --> 00:16:44.159 eager expectation. That's faith and hope. That's hope. 290 00:16:44.639 --> 00:16:45.720 It's my eager. 291 00:16:45.480 --> 00:16:49.120 Expectation and hope that I will not be ashamed. Remember 292 00:16:49.159 --> 00:16:51.679 he's in prison as he's writing this, but that with 293 00:16:51.799 --> 00:16:57.919 full courage. Now, as always, Christ will be honored in 294 00:16:58.000 --> 00:17:01.759 my body, whether by life or by death. He goes, 295 00:17:01.799 --> 00:17:03.240 I don't know the end of my story. I don't 296 00:17:03.240 --> 00:17:04.599 know if I'm going to get out of this prison 297 00:17:04.880 --> 00:17:06.400 and be a free man again, or if they're going 298 00:17:06.480 --> 00:17:08.960 to feed me to the lions, or I'm going to 299 00:17:09.079 --> 00:17:13.599 be set in with gladiators or just be hung or crucified. 300 00:17:13.640 --> 00:17:15.519 He said, I don't know whether by life or death 301 00:17:15.880 --> 00:17:20.960 I am trusting God. I love this verse Hebrews ten 302 00:17:21.119 --> 00:17:23.240 thirty five. There on your outline, it says this in 303 00:17:23.279 --> 00:17:28.480 the Living Bible. Do not let your happy trust in 304 00:17:28.559 --> 00:17:34.039 the Lord die away. Do not let your happy trust 305 00:17:34.319 --> 00:17:36.759 in the Lord die away. Don't let it fall away 306 00:17:37.160 --> 00:17:42.200 no matter what happens. He says, remember your reward. That's 307 00:17:42.279 --> 00:17:45.119 long term perspective. Short term, I see all the problems 308 00:17:45.160 --> 00:17:47.640 in the pain and the pressures and the people. Long term, 309 00:17:47.839 --> 00:17:50.839 I see the reward. Don't let your happy trust circle 310 00:17:50.880 --> 00:17:57.240 the word phrase happy trust, happiness and trust go together. 311 00:17:58.240 --> 00:18:01.839 If you don't trust God, you're going to be fearful 312 00:18:02.200 --> 00:18:06.680 and unhappy for most of your life. You must choose 313 00:18:06.720 --> 00:18:09.359 to trust God, just like you have to choose to 314 00:18:09.400 --> 00:18:12.519 be happy, and no matter what it looks like. So 315 00:18:14.359 --> 00:18:17.680 let's just review now again. I can be happy no 316 00:18:17.720 --> 00:18:21.680 matter what happens in my life. If I one choose 317 00:18:21.799 --> 00:18:24.319 to remember that God can bring good out of bad, 318 00:18:24.559 --> 00:18:27.119 out of anything. God can bring good out anything. God 319 00:18:27.160 --> 00:18:30.799 specializes in that if I look at every situation with 320 00:18:30.880 --> 00:18:34.559 faith not fear. Would you start saying, God, help me 321 00:18:34.599 --> 00:18:38.079 to look at every situation with faith not fear. If 322 00:18:38.119 --> 00:18:41.519 I never let what other people say or do control 323 00:18:41.599 --> 00:18:47.279 my attitudes, and if I trust God to always work 324 00:18:47.440 --> 00:18:49.839 things out. I know this is not the end of 325 00:18:49.839 --> 00:18:52.680 the story. Some of you you're at the end of 326 00:18:52.720 --> 00:18:54.960 a chapter in your life, but you're not at the 327 00:18:55.039 --> 00:18:58.559 end of your story now. Finally, there is a fourth 328 00:18:58.680 --> 00:19:02.880 principle in Thislyppians Chapter one powerful passage on how to 329 00:19:02.880 --> 00:19:07.680 be happy. Finally, I can be happy no matter what 330 00:19:07.880 --> 00:19:11.160 happens in my life. If I choose to do this 331 00:19:11.200 --> 00:19:14.759 for a thing. Number four, write it down. Stay focused 332 00:19:15.559 --> 00:19:22.359 on my purpose, not my problem. 333 00:19:22.400 --> 00:19:25.720 You're listening to Pastor Rick's Daily Hope. If you've missed 334 00:19:25.759 --> 00:19:28.359 any part of this message or you'd like to find 335 00:19:28.400 --> 00:19:32.000 out more about Pastor Rick Warren in this ministry, just 336 00:19:32.240 --> 00:19:36.839 visit pastorick dot com, where you can listen online anytime. 337 00:19:37.079 --> 00:19:40.079 That's pastorick dot com and be sure to sign up 338 00:19:40.079 --> 00:19:43.960 for ris free daily email devotional While you're there, Rick 339 00:19:44.039 --> 00:19:47.160 will be back to close out our time today. But first, 340 00:19:47.640 --> 00:19:50.880 do you ever wonder if your life really matters? Or 341 00:19:50.880 --> 00:19:54.039 what on earth am I here for? Pastor Rick says 342 00:19:54.240 --> 00:19:57.319 God has a good plan and purpose for your life, 343 00:19:57.640 --> 00:20:01.079 and in his best selling book, The Purpose Driven Life, 344 00:20:01.200 --> 00:20:04.240 he lays out an easy to follow roadmap for your 345 00:20:04.279 --> 00:20:09.000 spiritual journey, a journey that will transform your life. As 346 00:20:09.039 --> 00:20:12.279 you go through this book, you'll discover that real meaning 347 00:20:12.359 --> 00:20:17.000 and significance come from understanding and fulfilling God's purpose for 348 00:20:17.160 --> 00:20:20.279 you here on earth, and how living out the purpose 349 00:20:20.359 --> 00:20:23.759 you were created for moves you beyond mere survival and 350 00:20:23.880 --> 00:20:27.759 success to a life of significance, the life you were 351 00:20:27.839 --> 00:20:31.240 meant to live. For a limited time, we're offering this 352 00:20:31.400 --> 00:20:36.279 timeless classic in a special leather edition featuring gold foil 353 00:20:36.400 --> 00:20:40.160 cover art and gilded pages. It's a great addition to 354 00:20:40.240 --> 00:20:43.799 your personal library, and it also makes a wonderful gift 355 00:20:44.000 --> 00:20:48.319 with eternal benefits. Get your special edition of The Purpose 356 00:20:48.400 --> 00:20:52.240 Driven Life with a beautiful leather cover today as a 357 00:20:52.319 --> 00:20:54.799 thank you for your gift. To help take the hope 358 00:20:54.839 --> 00:20:58.559 of Jesus to people around the world through daily hope 359 00:20:58.880 --> 00:21:03.119 quantities are very limited, so act quickly. Go to Pastorick 360 00:21:03.200 --> 00:21:07.079 dot com right now to get your copy. That's Pastorick 361 00:21:07.240 --> 00:21:11.160 dot com. Or you can call eight hundred six hundred 362 00:21:11.359 --> 00:21:15.440 five thousand and four. That's eight hundred six hundred five 363 00:21:15.559 --> 00:21:18.720 thousand and four. Thank you so much for your support, 364 00:21:19.000 --> 00:21:21.720 and don't forget to tell us you listen to Daily 365 00:21:21.839 --> 00:21:25.319 Hope on the radio. Here's Pastor Rick with a letter 366 00:21:25.400 --> 00:21:26.759 from one of our listeners. 367 00:21:27.160 --> 00:21:29.319 Hello everybody, today, I want to share with you the 368 00:21:29.440 --> 00:21:32.799 story of Christine who wrote to me. She says she 369 00:21:32.920 --> 00:21:35.640 lost everything, but I want you to listen how God 370 00:21:35.759 --> 00:21:39.480 is working in her life now. Christine wrote this to me, 371 00:21:40.279 --> 00:21:42.960 Pastor Rick. Daily Hope has brought me out of some 372 00:21:43.000 --> 00:21:46.200 truly dark times. Three and a half years ago, my 373 00:21:46.359 --> 00:21:50.200 marriage of thirteen years ended. My husband was an atheist, 374 00:21:50.599 --> 00:21:53.240 and I decided early on in our relationship that he 375 00:21:53.359 --> 00:21:56.880 would be my number one priority, not God. And for 376 00:21:56.960 --> 00:22:00.680 thirteen years I tolerated being lied to and cheated on 377 00:22:01.400 --> 00:22:04.039 and told of, believing that God was stupid and foolish. 378 00:22:04.599 --> 00:22:07.400 And then he ended it all and I was left 379 00:22:07.440 --> 00:22:14.039 alone with nothing, no friends, no home, no family. And 380 00:22:14.079 --> 00:22:16.640 as I was facing a new life on my own. 381 00:22:16.960 --> 00:22:21.960 A coworker recommended that I listened to the Daily Hope podcast, 382 00:22:22.920 --> 00:22:25.759 and after a few weeks of listening, I got up 383 00:22:25.799 --> 00:22:28.319 the nerve to return to church for the first time 384 00:22:28.599 --> 00:22:33.279 in over thirteen years. It's been challenging starting my life 385 00:22:33.279 --> 00:22:37.680 all over again, and I still encounter obstacles almost daily, 386 00:22:37.799 --> 00:22:41.079 but I have also grown and I've healed a lot 387 00:22:41.319 --> 00:22:44.440 over the last three years. Now, I continue to listen 388 00:22:44.440 --> 00:22:47.559 to the Daily Hope podcast, and I just purchased your book, 389 00:22:47.559 --> 00:22:50.720 A Purpose Driven Life. I've been going to church steadily 390 00:22:50.799 --> 00:22:54.240 and I even sing now on our worship team. Had 391 00:22:54.279 --> 00:22:57.359 it not been for Daily Hope, I don't know if 392 00:22:57.400 --> 00:22:59.359 I would have ever returned to church or to God, 393 00:23:00.079 --> 00:23:04.599 but I'm so glad that I did. Thank you Daily Hope. Well, 394 00:23:04.599 --> 00:23:08.359 you know, thanks for writing Christine. Your story is a 395 00:23:08.400 --> 00:23:13.319 great reminder that God can use any pain in our 396 00:23:13.359 --> 00:23:16.440 lives to draw us closer to Him if we'll give 397 00:23:16.440 --> 00:23:19.559 it to him, and then He can bring good even 398 00:23:19.640 --> 00:23:24.799 out of all the bad, if we will just trust him. Now, 399 00:23:25.240 --> 00:23:28.319 notice that Christine found out about Daily Hope and the 400 00:23:28.359 --> 00:23:33.039 podcast because a coworker shared it when she was facing 401 00:23:33.440 --> 00:23:36.279