WEBVTT 1 00:00:01.600 --> 00:00:05.839 This is Pastor Rick's Daily Hope, the audio broadcast ministry 2 00:00:05.879 --> 00:00:09.480 of Pastor Rick Warren. Today we continue with a series 3 00:00:09.560 --> 00:00:12.880 called how to Get Through what You're going Through. In 4 00:00:12.919 --> 00:00:16.839 this study, Pastor Rick and Kay Warren share biblical wisdom 5 00:00:17.039 --> 00:00:20.879 and their life experiences to help you find God's path 6 00:00:20.960 --> 00:00:25.719 to peace in even the most difficult seasons of life. First, 7 00:00:26.239 --> 00:00:29.879 if you are someone you know needs some powerful Bible 8 00:00:29.920 --> 00:00:33.560 based encouragement, then stay with us because in a few 9 00:00:33.679 --> 00:00:36.479 minutes we're going to tell you about the Journey Toward 10 00:00:36.640 --> 00:00:42.439 Hope guided Bible study. It's full of encouraging Bible verses, exercises, 11 00:00:42.679 --> 00:00:46.399 and journaling pages to help you draw close to God 12 00:00:46.600 --> 00:00:49.640 and renew your sense of hope. You can find out 13 00:00:49.679 --> 00:00:53.320 more by going to Pastorick dot com while you listen 14 00:00:53.439 --> 00:00:57.679 to today's message, or just text the word Daily to eight 15 00:00:57.759 --> 00:01:02.960 hundred six hundred five thousand and four. That's pastorrig dot com. 16 00:01:03.079 --> 00:01:06.719 Or just text the word Daily to eight hundred six 17 00:01:06.840 --> 00:01:11.319 hundred five thousand and four. Right now, here's Pastor Rick 18 00:01:11.439 --> 00:01:15.079 with part one of a message called how We're Getting Through. 19 00:01:15.920 --> 00:01:21.840 Since mental illness took Matthew's life, one of the passages 20 00:01:21.879 --> 00:01:25.799 of the bible that has encouraged me the most, the 21 00:01:25.879 --> 00:01:29.040 Second Corinthians, Chapter one. I want to begin with it today. 22 00:01:29.599 --> 00:01:36.200 It's there in your outline Verses three to eleven. Praise 23 00:01:36.280 --> 00:01:40.000 be to the God and Father of our Lord, Jesus Christ, 24 00:01:40.879 --> 00:01:46.640 the father of all compassion and the God of all comfort, 25 00:01:48.319 --> 00:01:56.000 who comforts us in our troubles, so that we can 26 00:01:56.040 --> 00:02:01.400 comfort others with the same comfort that we've received from God. 27 00:02:01.920 --> 00:02:04.840 In other words, we go through problems, God comforts us, 28 00:02:04.840 --> 00:02:09.159 and then we pass it on. For just as the 29 00:02:09.199 --> 00:02:16.360 sufferings of Christ flow over into our lives, so also 30 00:02:16.439 --> 00:02:24.400 through Christ, our comfort overflows. If we're distressed, it's for 31 00:02:24.479 --> 00:02:30.199 your salvation, and if we're comforted, it's for your comfort. 32 00:02:32.080 --> 00:02:34.000 Our hope. Now, I want you to notice a sentence. 33 00:02:34.439 --> 00:02:40.800 Our hope for you is firm because we know we're. 34 00:02:40.639 --> 00:02:41.520 Going to come back to that. 35 00:02:41.759 --> 00:02:45.560 Our hope is firm because we know our hope for 36 00:02:45.639 --> 00:02:49.039 you is firm, because we know that just as you 37 00:02:49.159 --> 00:02:54.800 have shared in our sufferings, so also you will share 38 00:02:54.840 --> 00:02:59.400 in our comfort. Now, we don't want you to be uninformed, 39 00:02:59.400 --> 00:03:02.400 brothers and says about the hardships that we have suffered. 40 00:03:05.439 --> 00:03:10.840 We were under great pressure far beyond our ability to endure. 41 00:03:10.879 --> 00:03:14.719 This is Paul talking here far beyond our ability to dure, 42 00:03:15.479 --> 00:03:21.159 so that we despaired even of life itself. In other words, 43 00:03:21.800 --> 00:03:24.759 I'm so depressed. I'm ready to kick the bucket. I'm 44 00:03:24.800 --> 00:03:27.120 ready to throw in the towel. I'm ready to give 45 00:03:27.199 --> 00:03:33.280 up and die. That's depression. We despaired even of life itself. Indeed, 46 00:03:33.599 --> 00:03:40.759 in our hearts we felt the sentence of death. But 47 00:03:40.759 --> 00:03:45.759 but but this happened so that we might not rely 48 00:03:45.960 --> 00:03:52.719 on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead, and 49 00:03:52.800 --> 00:03:57.319 he has delivered us, and we've set our hope on him, 50 00:03:57.439 --> 00:04:01.199 that he will continue. 51 00:03:59.759 --> 00:04:00.840 To deliver us. 52 00:04:02.240 --> 00:04:07.319 As you help us, As you help us by your prayers. 53 00:04:08.479 --> 00:04:13.400 Then Paul says, many will give thanks to God for 54 00:04:13.479 --> 00:04:19.000 the gracious favor granted to us an answer to your 55 00:04:19.040 --> 00:04:19.759 many prayers. 56 00:04:21.040 --> 00:04:22.240 I love that last sentence. 57 00:04:24.519 --> 00:04:26.920 Then many will give thanks to God for the gracious 58 00:04:26.959 --> 00:04:30.639 favor granted to us in answer to your many prayers. 59 00:04:33.480 --> 00:04:35.160 Now let's go back to the text. Look at that 60 00:04:35.240 --> 00:04:38.720 on your outline, and I want you to circle three phrases. 61 00:04:38.879 --> 00:04:43.360 I put them in caps. Our hope is firm because 62 00:04:43.399 --> 00:04:47.279 we know would you circle those Our hope is firm 63 00:04:48.360 --> 00:04:53.439 because we know. What I want to say is that 64 00:04:53.560 --> 00:04:57.399 what you know is what you get what gets you 65 00:04:57.480 --> 00:04:59.720 through in life. You might write that down. What you 66 00:05:00.120 --> 00:05:03.600 know is what gets you through. If you don't know 67 00:05:03.920 --> 00:05:06.480 the right things, when the rogue winds of life come 68 00:05:06.759 --> 00:05:10.000 and the tsunamis of life come, you're gonna fall over, 69 00:05:10.120 --> 00:05:13.519 You're gonna cave, you're gonna crumble, And when the great 70 00:05:13.639 --> 00:05:17.600 tragedies and the losses of life, which are inevitable. 71 00:05:17.439 --> 00:05:18.199 Come into your life. 72 00:05:18.399 --> 00:05:22.759 If you don't know the right truths, you're not gonna 73 00:05:22.800 --> 00:05:24.000 stand spiritually strong. 74 00:05:25.639 --> 00:05:28.480 What you know is what gets you through. 75 00:05:29.519 --> 00:05:31.399 Probably the question I've been asked more than the other 76 00:05:31.480 --> 00:05:35.199 question is how is your family getting through this? 77 00:05:35.839 --> 00:05:37.720 And the answer is it's because of what we know. 78 00:05:39.560 --> 00:05:42.399 Because our lives are not built on the shifting sands 79 00:05:42.399 --> 00:05:44.600 of popularity and popular culture. 80 00:05:44.319 --> 00:05:46.360 Which changes every month. 81 00:05:47.279 --> 00:05:50.639 But our lives are built on rock solid bedrock truth 82 00:05:51.519 --> 00:05:55.160 of the Bible, so that no matter what hits us, 83 00:05:55.519 --> 00:06:01.160 we have a solid foundation. We know some unchanged Today, 84 00:06:01.199 --> 00:06:04.160 I want to just mention three of those truths if 85 00:06:04.199 --> 00:06:05.720 ever you need it to take notes. 86 00:06:05.800 --> 00:06:06.839 It's this week. 87 00:06:09.959 --> 00:06:13.120 You're listening to pastor Rick's Daily Hope rip will be 88 00:06:13.160 --> 00:06:16.000 back in just a moment with the rest of today's lesson. 89 00:06:16.480 --> 00:06:19.160 If you've missed any part of today's teaching, you can 90 00:06:19.240 --> 00:06:25.120 listen online anytime at pastorick dot com. That's pastorick dot com. 91 00:06:25.680 --> 00:06:30.360 Life can sometimes be challenging, isolating, and painful. Do you 92 00:06:30.600 --> 00:06:33.959 or someone you know need some powerful encouragement right now, 93 00:06:34.319 --> 00:06:36.680 then let me tell you about the Journey Toward Hope. 94 00:06:37.120 --> 00:06:39.839 This guided Bible study book takes you on a journey 95 00:06:39.920 --> 00:06:43.560 to discover the five truths about who you are. You 96 00:06:43.759 --> 00:06:48.360 are loved, you have a purpose, you belong, you have 97 00:06:48.399 --> 00:06:52.759 a choice, and you are needed. This full color, vegan 98 00:06:52.839 --> 00:06:58.279 leather study tool is filled with scriptures, prayers, exercises, spaces 99 00:06:58.279 --> 00:07:01.560 to journal, and a personal stories to help you uncover 100 00:07:01.680 --> 00:07:04.839 the hidden reasons you may lose hope and teach you 101 00:07:04.920 --> 00:07:08.480 how to maintain and bolster that hope for a lifetime. 102 00:07:08.879 --> 00:07:11.800 Will send you your very own copy of Journey Toward 103 00:07:11.839 --> 00:07:14.279 Hope when you give a gift today to Daily Hope 104 00:07:14.480 --> 00:07:17.560 to take the Hope of Jesus to a hurting world. 105 00:07:18.079 --> 00:07:20.759 Just go to Pastororik dot com right now to get 106 00:07:20.759 --> 00:07:23.839 your copy, or you can call eight hundred, six hundred 107 00:07:23.920 --> 00:07:27.360 at five zero zero four. That's Pastorick dot com. Or 108 00:07:27.399 --> 00:07:30.399 call eight hundred at six hundred five zero zero four 109 00:07:30.680 --> 00:07:32.680 and be sure to let us know the call letters 110 00:07:32.720 --> 00:07:37.720 of this station. Thank you so much for your support. 111 00:07:40.959 --> 00:07:44.959 Now back to more from God's Word with Pastor Rick Warren. 112 00:07:45.439 --> 00:07:47.199 Now, I don't like to say this is your pastor 113 00:07:47.240 --> 00:07:49.560 because I love you, but you're gonna go through tough 114 00:07:49.600 --> 00:07:53.959 times and you too will experience major losses in life. 115 00:07:54.759 --> 00:07:57.360 There is no growth without change. There is no change 116 00:07:57.399 --> 00:07:59.720 without loss. There is no loss without pain, and there 117 00:07:59.759 --> 00:08:02.279 is no pain without grief. You're going to go through 118 00:08:02.319 --> 00:08:06.079 losses in life, and you need to know these things 119 00:08:06.079 --> 00:08:07.879 that we're going to talk about this morning, and you 120 00:08:08.000 --> 00:08:12.199 need to remember them to make it through. How do 121 00:08:12.240 --> 00:08:14.879 you get through what you're going through? Let's get right 122 00:08:14.920 --> 00:08:15.160 into it. 123 00:08:15.240 --> 00:08:15.639 Number one. 124 00:08:16.399 --> 00:08:20.439 The first thing we know is this. We know that 125 00:08:20.920 --> 00:08:24.920 life doesn't make sense. We know that life doesn't make sense, 126 00:08:25.199 --> 00:08:29.360 but we know we can have peace because we know 127 00:08:30.160 --> 00:08:32.639 God is with us and he loves us. 128 00:08:34.039 --> 00:08:35.120 Life doesn't make. 129 00:08:34.960 --> 00:08:37.399 Sense, but we can still have peace because we know 130 00:08:37.879 --> 00:08:42.399 God is with us and God loves us. Now you 131 00:08:42.519 --> 00:08:46.240 have noticed, I'm sure that life is often confusing. There 132 00:08:46.240 --> 00:08:48.480 are a lot more questions and answers, and there are 133 00:08:48.480 --> 00:08:50.039 a lot of unanswered questions. 134 00:08:51.000 --> 00:08:52.159 And the truth is. 135 00:08:52.240 --> 00:08:56.000 We simply don't know why things happen the way they do, 136 00:08:56.159 --> 00:08:57.240 and we're not gonna know. 137 00:08:57.600 --> 00:08:58.879 But we're always asking the. 138 00:08:58.960 --> 00:09:02.559 Question, why, why is this happening? Why is this happening now? 139 00:09:02.679 --> 00:09:03.840 Why is this happening to me? 140 00:09:04.639 --> 00:09:05.480 Why? Why? 141 00:09:05.600 --> 00:09:08.679 Why did my husband walk out on me? Why did 142 00:09:08.720 --> 00:09:11.320 my wife die of cancer? Why did I lose my job? 143 00:09:11.480 --> 00:09:14.840 Why didn't I get that promotion? Why was my baby 144 00:09:14.879 --> 00:09:19.759 born with mental illness? And we're not going to know 145 00:09:19.919 --> 00:09:22.679 on this side of eternity the answer to those white questions, 146 00:09:22.720 --> 00:09:26.159 You're just not going to know. Life does not make 147 00:09:26.279 --> 00:09:31.000 sense when you just look at it. Bad people prosper, 148 00:09:31.120 --> 00:09:33.720 good people suffer, and all kinds of different things happen. 149 00:09:35.000 --> 00:09:39.320 You know, in my grieving, I'm not just grieving, but 150 00:09:39.440 --> 00:09:43.000 I'm observing my own grief because I'm a teacher. And 151 00:09:43.039 --> 00:09:45.440 as I looked at what I was going through, I 152 00:09:45.440 --> 00:09:51.399 could see six discernible stages of reaction to loss. You 153 00:09:51.480 --> 00:09:53.000 might to write these down because you're going to go 154 00:09:53.000 --> 00:09:56.200 through them, and you can go through them all at once, and. 155 00:09:56.159 --> 00:09:57.279 You can go back and forth. 156 00:09:57.480 --> 00:10:00.600 But here are the stages, what I call the six 157 00:10:00.919 --> 00:10:05.919 stages of loss. Now, the first one is shock, shock, 158 00:10:06.679 --> 00:10:09.080 and your world has just thrown upside down. You lose 159 00:10:09.080 --> 00:10:13.399 your job, you're in shock. A loved one dies, you're 160 00:10:13.399 --> 00:10:17.840 in shock. The shock over Matthew's suicide lasted not days, 161 00:10:17.960 --> 00:10:20.519 It lasted at least a month. In my life, at 162 00:10:20.600 --> 00:10:24.000 least a month, and I was in shock for a month. 163 00:10:25.000 --> 00:10:27.840 But then you move to stage two, which I call sorrow. 164 00:10:28.639 --> 00:10:31.200 You move from shock to sorrow, and now you begin 165 00:10:31.279 --> 00:10:36.360 to grieve. Now, sorrow is a godly emotion. Shock is 166 00:10:36.399 --> 00:10:39.000 a purely human emotion. God has never shocked because God 167 00:10:39.080 --> 00:10:40.960 knows everything, so God never goes wow. 168 00:10:41.000 --> 00:10:44.320 I didn't see that one coming. So God has never shocked. 169 00:10:44.320 --> 00:10:47.279 That's a human emotion. But sorrow is a godly emotion. 170 00:10:47.679 --> 00:10:51.039 The Bible says God grieves. The only reason you're able 171 00:10:51.039 --> 00:10:53.080 to grieve is because you're made in the image of God. 172 00:10:53.320 --> 00:10:56.440 The Bible says, Jesus wept. The Bible says Jesus was 173 00:10:56.480 --> 00:11:01.279 a man acquainted with sorrows. He understood sorrow. Grieving is 174 00:11:01.279 --> 00:11:03.159 a good thing. Grieving is the way we get through 175 00:11:03.159 --> 00:11:07.759 the transitions of life. Then you move from shock to sorrow. 176 00:11:07.759 --> 00:11:12.320 And the third stage is struggle now, and struggle is 177 00:11:12.320 --> 00:11:14.679 where you ask the why questions, Why? 178 00:11:15.320 --> 00:11:18.159 Why? Why me? Why now? Why this? 179 00:11:18.600 --> 00:11:22.840 Why did this happen? And not now? You're not going 180 00:11:22.919 --> 00:11:24.320 to get the answers. 181 00:11:23.879 --> 00:11:26.440 To the wise, but it's still okay to ask them. 182 00:11:28.320 --> 00:11:33.279 Even Jesus asked why. On the cross, Jesus cries out, 183 00:11:33.600 --> 00:11:39.080 my God, my God, why, Even Jesus asked the why 184 00:11:39.200 --> 00:11:43.480 question because we don't always know what's going on in 185 00:11:43.559 --> 00:11:46.759 that moment. So it's okay to ask why. But the 186 00:11:46.799 --> 00:11:48.960 test of your faith is what do you do when 187 00:11:49.000 --> 00:11:50.919 you don't get the answer, because you're not going to 188 00:11:50.960 --> 00:11:56.399 get it. The fourth phrase is if you want to 189 00:11:56.440 --> 00:11:59.399 get out of the struggle into peace, you've got to 190 00:11:59.440 --> 00:12:03.480 go to stage which I call surrender. And in surrender, 191 00:12:03.519 --> 00:12:08.000 it's where you just stop asking and start submitting and 192 00:12:08.039 --> 00:12:13.879 start surrendering and start accepting. Surrender is the only path 193 00:12:14.200 --> 00:12:18.080 to peace. It is the only path to peace. And 194 00:12:18.120 --> 00:12:20.559 you just say, you know what I'm gonna I'm gonna 195 00:12:20.559 --> 00:12:24.399 give it up. I'm gonna give it up. Then you 196 00:12:24.440 --> 00:12:27.440 come to stage five. This is a big Bible word, 197 00:12:28.440 --> 00:12:33.759 but it's the word sanctification. Sanctification is when God starts 198 00:12:33.799 --> 00:12:37.799 bringing good out of bad, When God starts making changes 199 00:12:37.919 --> 00:12:41.440 in you, when your personality, when your character starts being 200 00:12:41.639 --> 00:12:45.159 transformed like the metamorphosis of a caterpillar into a butterfly. 201 00:12:45.600 --> 00:12:49.159 Sanctification is when God makes you more godly. Now you're 202 00:12:49.200 --> 00:12:52.000 never gonna be God. You're never gonna be a God, 203 00:12:52.120 --> 00:12:54.000 not even a little God. You'll say, you know, a 204 00:12:54.000 --> 00:12:56.279 New Age movement says you're a god. Oh really, if 205 00:12:56.279 --> 00:12:57.960 you're a God, why don't you solve all the world's problems. 206 00:12:57.960 --> 00:12:59.679 You can't even solve your own. You're not a God, 207 00:12:59.679 --> 00:13:03.159 You're not even a mini me God. But you can 208 00:13:03.320 --> 00:13:09.960 become godly where you become more like God in love, joy, peace, patience, gentleness, goodness, faithful. 209 00:13:10.000 --> 00:13:14.960 That's all those qualities the fruit of the spirit. And 210 00:13:15.000 --> 00:13:17.759 then once you get into the sanctification where God is 211 00:13:17.799 --> 00:13:20.879 working on you, then you come to stage six, which 212 00:13:20.919 --> 00:13:25.120 is service. And it's this God wants to take your 213 00:13:25.159 --> 00:13:29.960 greatest pain and turn it into your life message. He 214 00:13:30.000 --> 00:13:34.279 wants to use your mess for a message. He wants 215 00:13:34.320 --> 00:13:37.200 to use your test for a testimony. He wants to 216 00:13:37.279 --> 00:13:39.919 take the thing that you're most embarrassed about, that you're 217 00:13:39.960 --> 00:13:42.840 most ashamed of, that you most regret hadn't happened, and 218 00:13:42.879 --> 00:13:44.639 He wants to use it for good in the lives 219 00:13:44.639 --> 00:13:48.120 of others. Who can better help someone parents of a 220 00:13:48.120 --> 00:13:52.120 down syndrome child than parents who had a down syndrome child, 221 00:13:52.960 --> 00:13:55.759 Who could better help somebody struggling with an addiction than 222 00:13:55.799 --> 00:13:58.960 somebody who struggled with an addiction. The very thing you 223 00:13:59.000 --> 00:14:01.080 want to least talk about is the very thing God 224 00:14:01.080 --> 00:14:03.440 wants to use most in your life to help other people. 225 00:14:04.639 --> 00:14:12.559 Your ministry comes out of your pain. Now we're in the. 226 00:14:12.519 --> 00:14:13.399 Next six weeks. 227 00:14:13.480 --> 00:14:16.120 We're going to look at each of these stages individually 228 00:14:16.279 --> 00:14:19.399 in detail. But what I want you to get today 229 00:14:19.600 --> 00:14:22.480 is this one concept. No matter what stage you're in, 230 00:14:23.320 --> 00:14:27.279 you're not in it by yourself. You're not alone. God 231 00:14:27.360 --> 00:14:30.159 is with you, and God loves you. And that's why 232 00:14:30.200 --> 00:14:32.759 we can have peace even when life doesn't make sense 233 00:14:32.919 --> 00:14:36.000 because God is with me and God loves me. You're 234 00:14:36.000 --> 00:14:38.320 not going to go through any of these stages on 235 00:14:38.360 --> 00:14:42.039 your own. There are over six thousand promises in the Bible. 236 00:14:42.120 --> 00:14:43.480 Let me just show you a few of them. The 237 00:14:43.480 --> 00:14:47.200 first one is Isaiah chapter forty three, Verse two. God 238 00:14:47.200 --> 00:14:51.919 says this, when you go through deep waters, I will 239 00:14:51.960 --> 00:14:55.320 be with you. When you pass through rivers of difficulty, 240 00:14:56.200 --> 00:14:59.360 you will not drown. When you walk through the fire, 241 00:15:00.360 --> 00:15:04.399 you will not be burned up. It will not consume you. 242 00:15:05.799 --> 00:15:08.919 Somebody asked Kay about two weeks after Matthew died, how 243 00:15:08.960 --> 00:15:11.600 are you doing? She said, We're devastated, but not destroyed. 244 00:15:14.600 --> 00:15:18.200 It will not consume you. It will not consume you. 245 00:15:18.240 --> 00:15:18.360 Know. 246 00:15:19.559 --> 00:15:23.120 For twenty seven years, I prayed every day that God 247 00:15:23.200 --> 00:15:27.360 would heal the mental illness of my son because he 248 00:15:27.440 --> 00:15:31.919 lived a very tortured, painful life. His life was not 249 00:15:31.960 --> 00:15:36.240 a happy life. It was a painful life. And yet 250 00:15:36.320 --> 00:15:39.000 that prayer was never answered, and. 251 00:15:38.960 --> 00:15:40.200 It didn't make sense. 252 00:15:41.600 --> 00:15:44.679 We went to the best doctors in the nation. We 253 00:15:44.720 --> 00:15:49.360 had the best medications, we had the best therapies, we 254 00:15:49.399 --> 00:15:55.279 had prayer, we had healing, we had thousands, tens of 255 00:15:55.320 --> 00:15:58.919 thousands of people praying, and just. 256 00:15:59.159 --> 00:16:01.080 It didn't make sense. 257 00:16:01.840 --> 00:16:06.759 We had an incredibly strong family, deeply loving, supportive, full 258 00:16:06.759 --> 00:16:08.919 of faith, strong family. 259 00:16:09.159 --> 00:16:11.240 It just didn't make sense. 260 00:16:14.600 --> 00:16:17.799 And I remember after Matthew died, writing in my journal, 261 00:16:19.440 --> 00:16:22.320 I would rather walk with God with none of my 262 00:16:22.399 --> 00:16:26.840 questions answered, and to walk through life without him and 263 00:16:26.919 --> 00:16:34.120 know all the answers why, Because when in pain, explanations 264 00:16:34.200 --> 00:16:34.919 don't help. 265 00:16:36.480 --> 00:16:38.399 They don't help you. 266 00:16:38.440 --> 00:16:41.399 See, whenever you have a major loss, your tendency is 267 00:16:41.399 --> 00:16:44.320 to immediately look for cause, a reason, or an explanation. 268 00:16:44.399 --> 00:16:46.399 You go why, I gotta figure this out? Why did 269 00:16:46.480 --> 00:16:49.120 she leave me? Why did I lose my job? Why 270 00:16:49.159 --> 00:16:50.080 did I get cancer? 271 00:16:50.360 --> 00:16:50.480 Why? 272 00:16:50.559 --> 00:16:50.720 Why? 273 00:16:50.960 --> 00:16:54.320 And you're looking for explanation of friends. Explanations don't help. 274 00:16:55.799 --> 00:17:00.679 You don't need an explanation. You need God, the comfort 275 00:17:00.720 --> 00:17:04.000 of God. You need the presence of God. If K 276 00:17:04.119 --> 00:17:06.559 were to drop dead tomorrow and I knew the reason, 277 00:17:06.680 --> 00:17:09.559 it wouldn't lessen the pain any bit. So stop looking 278 00:17:09.599 --> 00:17:12.119 for an explanation, Stop looking for the why. 279 00:17:12.160 --> 00:17:13.160 It's not gonna make. 280 00:17:13.079 --> 00:17:16.319 You feel any better. You don't need an explanation. 281 00:17:16.720 --> 00:17:18.240 You need God. 282 00:17:18.960 --> 00:17:22.559 You need his presence. Now. 283 00:17:22.559 --> 00:17:24.640 One day you're going to understand why everything happens. But 284 00:17:24.759 --> 00:17:28.759 right now your brain isn't big enough, and neither is mine. 285 00:17:29.079 --> 00:17:31.279 God has not promised to give you an explanation for 286 00:17:31.359 --> 00:17:34.400 why everything happens in the world, but he has promised 287 00:17:34.599 --> 00:17:36.319 You're not going to go through anything on your own. 288 00:17:36.759 --> 00:17:40.319 Look at this next verse Hebrews thirteen to five. I 289 00:17:40.640 --> 00:17:44.400 this is God talking. I will never leave you, and 290 00:17:44.599 --> 00:17:48.319 I will never abandon you. He says this over and 291 00:17:48.400 --> 00:17:51.039 over and over again, from Genesis to the end of 292 00:17:51.039 --> 00:17:55.119 the Bible, all scriptures. God says, I will never abandon you. Now, 293 00:17:55.160 --> 00:17:59.240 you may have been abandoned in life by a spouse 294 00:17:59.559 --> 00:18:04.160 or parent, You maybe have been rejected, but God's never 295 00:18:04.200 --> 00:18:08.519 going to abandon you. God is never going to reject you. 296 00:18:08.519 --> 00:18:10.640 You See, when we're going through intense pain, like the 297 00:18:10.680 --> 00:18:14.559 pain I've been in, we are tempted to think that 298 00:18:14.640 --> 00:18:19.000 God has forgotten us. It is impossible for God to 299 00:18:19.079 --> 00:18:22.759 forget you. He created you as an object of his love. 300 00:18:23.000 --> 00:18:25.039 You were made to be loved by God. In fact, 301 00:18:25.079 --> 00:18:28.519 here's what the Bible says. Isaiah forty nine, verse fifteen. 302 00:18:29.359 --> 00:18:33.000 God says, this, can a mother forget the baby at 303 00:18:33.000 --> 00:18:37.039 her breast or with child that she has borne? 304 00:18:37.359 --> 00:18:39.000 The answer is obviously no. 305 00:18:39.000 --> 00:18:41.240 No woman could not be nursing a baby and forget 306 00:18:41.279 --> 00:18:42.400 the baby at the same time. 307 00:18:43.400 --> 00:18:44.119 Obviously not. 308 00:18:44.440 --> 00:18:48.640 He said, even if that were possible, I will never 309 00:18:48.920 --> 00:18:54.440 forget you. Look, I have engraved you on the palms 310 00:18:54.799 --> 00:18:57.559 of my hands and look up here. God says, I 311 00:18:57.680 --> 00:19:01.720 have engraved you on the palms of my hands, so 312 00:19:01.759 --> 00:19:04.200 I can't forget you. A lot of people get tattoos 313 00:19:04.279 --> 00:19:09.200 to remember somebody they love. God has a tattoo of you. 314 00:19:11.200 --> 00:19:14.599 I have engraved you on the palms of my hands. 315 00:19:15.519 --> 00:19:19.640 Where did he get that tattoo? On the cross? 316 00:19:21.359 --> 00:19:25.000 With nails pierced hands outstretched arms, He said, this is 317 00:19:25.039 --> 00:19:27.519 how much I love you. I love you this much. 318 00:19:27.680 --> 00:19:29.720 I love you so much it hurts. I love you 319 00:19:29.799 --> 00:19:32.039 so much. I'd rather die than live without you. I 320 00:19:32.079 --> 00:19:36.960 love you so much. This is how much sacrifice in heaven. 321 00:19:37.519 --> 00:19:41.039 No one's going to have any scars except Jesus, and 322 00:19:41.119 --> 00:19:42.960 he's going to have the hands, the feet, the. 323 00:19:43.000 --> 00:19:43.960 Side, the head. 324 00:19:44.119 --> 00:19:47.599 Why because he wants to always remember this is how 325 00:19:47.640 --> 00:19:51.480 much I love you. It is impossible for God to 326 00:19:51.559 --> 00:19:54.119 forget how much he loves you. And so we know 327 00:19:54.160 --> 00:19:57.440 that no matter how we don't understand what's going on 328 00:19:57.480 --> 00:20:00.480 in our lives, we do know this. I don't have 329 00:20:00.519 --> 00:20:02.480 the solutions, I don't have the answers, I don't have 330 00:20:02.480 --> 00:20:04.880 the reasons, I don't have the explanations, but I do 331 00:20:04.960 --> 00:20:06.039 have the presence of God. 332 00:20:07.720 --> 00:20:10.160 And I do have his love in my life. 333 00:20:13.200 --> 00:20:16.759 This is Pastor Rick's Daily Hope. If you've missed any 334 00:20:16.839 --> 00:20:19.720 part of this message, or you'd like to find out 335 00:20:19.759 --> 00:20:23.799 more about Pastor Rick Warren and this ministry, just visit 336 00:20:23.920 --> 00:20:28.400 Pastorick dot com where you can listen online anytime. That's 337 00:20:28.519 --> 00:20:31.839 Pastor Rick with two Rs in the Middle dot com, 338 00:20:32.079 --> 00:20:34.680 and be sure to sign up for ricks free daily 339 00:20:34.799 --> 00:20:38.200 email devotional. While you're there. Rick will be back to 340 00:20:38.240 --> 00:20:42.599 close out our time today. But first life can sometimes 341 00:20:42.640 --> 00:20:47.079 be challenging, isolating, and painful. Do you or someone you 342 00:20:47.200 --> 00:20:50.559 know need a powerful encouragement right now, then let me 343 00:20:50.680 --> 00:20:54.519 tell you about the journey toward hope. This guided Bible 344 00:20:54.559 --> 00:20:57.359 study book takes you on a journey to discover the 345 00:20:57.519 --> 00:21:01.519 five truths about who you are. You are loved, you 346 00:21:01.720 --> 00:21:06.000 have a purpose, you belong, you have a choice, and 347 00:21:06.160 --> 00:21:10.200 you are needed. This full color, vegan leather study tool 348 00:21:10.480 --> 00:21:15.880 is filled with scriptures, prayers, exercises, spaces to journal, and 349 00:21:16.039 --> 00:21:19.880 personal stories to help you uncover the hidden reasons you 350 00:21:19.960 --> 00:21:23.200 may lose hope and teach you how to maintain and 351 00:21:23.480 --> 00:21:27.039 bolster that hope for a lifetime. We'll send you your 352 00:21:27.160 --> 00:21:30.279 very own copy of journey toward hope when you give 353 00:21:30.319 --> 00:21:33.640 a gift today to daily hope, to take the hope 354 00:21:33.680 --> 00:21:37.599 of Jesus to a hurting world. Just go to Pastorick 355 00:21:37.680 --> 00:21:41.160 dot com right now to get your copy, or you 356 00:21:41.200 --> 00:21:44.799 can call eight hundred six hundred five thousand and four. 357 00:21:45.200 --> 00:21:50.039 That's Pastorick dot com. Or call eight hundred six hundred 358 00:21:50.240 --> 00:21:53.200 five thousand and four and be sure to let us 359 00:21:53.240 --> 00:21:56.599 know what station you hurt us on. Thanks so much 360 00:21:56.680 --> 00:22:00.319 for your support. Here's Pastor Rick with a letter from 361 00:22:00.400 --> 00:22:02.160 one of our listeners today. 362 00:22:02.160 --> 00:22:04.880 I want to introduce you to David, who, despite living 363 00:22:04.920 --> 00:22:08.720 with depression, is learning to take his attention off himself 364 00:22:09.119 --> 00:22:11.920 and put it on others. David wrote me this, Hey, 365 00:22:11.960 --> 00:22:15.160 Pastor Rick, I've been listening to your sermons via podcast 366 00:22:15.240 --> 00:22:18.279 almost daily for three years now. I can't begin to 367 00:22:18.319 --> 00:22:20.440 tell you the growth that I've had in my spiritual 368 00:22:20.480 --> 00:22:23.920 life by you choosing a life of service. I hope 369 00:22:23.960 --> 00:22:26.839 my story will be an encouragement to you and others. 370 00:22:28.640 --> 00:22:31.880 I've struggled for years through depression. Yesterday I was feeling 371 00:22:31.920 --> 00:22:36.559 down after recently experiencing depression again and going through medication changes. 372 00:22:37.440 --> 00:22:41.319 Instead of choosing my go to late night TV show 373 00:22:41.359 --> 00:22:44.359 to drownd out my thoughts. I made a decision to 374 00:22:44.440 --> 00:22:48.079 turn to God. By watching your interview lessons from Pastor 375 00:22:48.160 --> 00:22:52.480 Rick's life. Your words made me realize how self centered 376 00:22:52.480 --> 00:22:54.480 my prayers in life have been for quite some time. 377 00:22:55.160 --> 00:22:58.000 I've been wasting the hurt of depression on myself by 378 00:22:58.039 --> 00:23:01.880 focusing on all my prayers and energy on me. I 379 00:23:01.960 --> 00:23:05.079 confess this, and I asked for forgiveness and the wisdom 380 00:23:05.119 --> 00:23:08.039 to recognize who needs help around me, and also having 381 00:23:08.119 --> 00:23:11.319 the courage to act. The next morning, I woke up 382 00:23:11.440 --> 00:23:13.079 to a text from an old friend who I had 383 00:23:13.160 --> 00:23:16.720 left behind in a haze of depression ten years ago. 384 00:23:16.920 --> 00:23:20.119 Now that text was confrontation. Unlike so many of people 385 00:23:20.160 --> 00:23:23.440 who are suffering from depression, they know it's easy to 386 00:23:23.480 --> 00:23:26.599 avoid these kind of things. Then everything I had prayed 387 00:23:26.599 --> 00:23:30.039 the night before hit me. I told him everything, and 388 00:23:30.079 --> 00:23:32.480 I asked for forgiveness and it was given, and he 389 00:23:32.559 --> 00:23:35.480 explained that he too suffers from depression and had thought 390 00:23:35.480 --> 00:23:38.599 about suicide. He thought he was all alone and no 391 00:23:38.640 --> 00:23:42.000 one cared. What started out as an angry text turned 392 00:23:42.000 --> 00:23:46.720 into a great hour long conversation. During our goodbyes, he 393 00:23:46.759 --> 00:23:49.960 expressed how talking with him meant the world. 394 00:23:50.880 --> 00:23:51.720 I even cried. 395 00:23:52.440 --> 00:23:54.640 Who thought a depressed guy who felt no emotion for 396 00:23:54.680 --> 00:23:56.480 so long good cried tears of joy. 397 00:23:57.000 --> 00:23:59.039 Not me. Rick. 398 00:23:59.119 --> 00:24:01.559 Your words about cur agent never wasting a hurt help 399 00:24:01.640 --> 00:24:04.480 me stand up to what I felt was a giant 400 00:24:04.559 --> 00:24:08.640 problem and turn it into an answered prayer. I won't 401 00:24:08.680 --> 00:24:11.279