WEBVTT 1 00:00:03.080 --> 00:00:06.559 Hello, and thanks for joining us here on Pastor Rick's 2 00:00:06.599 --> 00:00:10.880 Daily Hope, the audio broadcast ministry of Pastor Rick Warren. 3 00:00:11.320 --> 00:00:15.919 Today we continue a teaching series called Uncommon Courage. In 4 00:00:15.960 --> 00:00:19.679 these lessons, Rick is going to share biblical inspiration that 5 00:00:19.800 --> 00:00:22.760 will help you get the courage you need to follow 6 00:00:22.839 --> 00:00:26.359 God's calling for your life. If you'd love to help 7 00:00:26.399 --> 00:00:29.760 the kids you know learn God's work, then stay with 8 00:00:29.960 --> 00:00:32.960 us because in just a few minutes we're going to 9 00:00:33.000 --> 00:00:36.640 tell you about God's big plans for me and easy 10 00:00:36.719 --> 00:00:40.799 to understand storybook Bible by Pastor Rick Warren. You can 11 00:00:40.840 --> 00:00:43.920 take a sneak peek right now by going to Pastorick 12 00:00:44.000 --> 00:00:47.479 dot com while you listen to today's message, or if 13 00:00:47.520 --> 00:00:50.039 you want, you can just text the word daily to 14 00:00:50.240 --> 00:00:54.439 eight hundred six hundred five thousand and four. That's the 15 00:00:54.479 --> 00:00:59.039 word Daily to eight hundred six hundred five thousand and four. 16 00:00:59.640 --> 00:00:59.960 Right now. 17 00:01:00.439 --> 00:01:03.560 Here's Pastor Rick Wood part one of a message called 18 00:01:03.799 --> 00:01:05.640 the Courage to Keep Going. 19 00:01:06.879 --> 00:01:11.120 You know, I've discovered something very profound. Life is hard, 20 00:01:14.439 --> 00:01:19.400 it's often disappointing, and the fact is life doesn't always 21 00:01:19.439 --> 00:01:23.120 cooperate with my plans. Have you noticed that, in fact, 22 00:01:23.200 --> 00:01:25.599 my plans rarely turn out the way I plan them to. 23 00:01:26.400 --> 00:01:32.920 Things fall apart, things go wrong, people disappoint plans don't happen, 24 00:01:34.519 --> 00:01:37.840 even the things we pray for. A lot of things 25 00:01:37.879 --> 00:01:39.879 we pray for, things we wanted to happen a certain way, 26 00:01:40.040 --> 00:01:42.319 and it doesn't end up happening that way, and our 27 00:01:42.359 --> 00:01:45.480 prayers aren't answered the way we want it. You know, 28 00:01:45.560 --> 00:01:48.159 a lot of people after a major loss or a 29 00:01:48.159 --> 00:01:52.519 major failure, they just pull into a shell. They kind 30 00:01:52.519 --> 00:01:54.959 of isolate themselves and they just basically say, Okay, my 31 00:01:54.959 --> 00:02:00.760 life's over, and they basically stop living and just aren't existing. 32 00:02:02.359 --> 00:02:04.840 They're kind of putting in the time and waiting for uh, 33 00:02:05.120 --> 00:02:08.599 waiting for a tall end. They're not really living anymore. 34 00:02:10.479 --> 00:02:12.439 On the other hand, there's some people that no matter 35 00:02:12.479 --> 00:02:14.560 what life throws out them, they just get back up 36 00:02:14.599 --> 00:02:18.879 and get right back into the game. They have amazing resilience. 37 00:02:19.319 --> 00:02:21.120 You knock them down, they get back up. You knock 38 00:02:21.159 --> 00:02:22.759 them down, they get back up. You knock them down, 39 00:02:22.759 --> 00:02:24.879 They get back up and do better than they did before. 40 00:02:26.599 --> 00:02:28.599 Paul was a guy like that in the Bible. Saint 41 00:02:28.680 --> 00:02:32.400 Paul had amazing resilience. He had an amazing ability to 42 00:02:32.520 --> 00:02:35.560 keep on keeping on when everybody else felt like giving up. 43 00:02:37.000 --> 00:02:39.360 The Bible says this in verse eight and nine and 44 00:02:39.400 --> 00:02:44.520 second Corinthians four. Paul said, we're pressed on every side 45 00:02:44.560 --> 00:02:49.719 by troubles, but we're not crushed and broken. We're perplexed, 46 00:02:50.680 --> 00:02:54.000 but we don't give up and quit. We're hunted down, 47 00:02:55.080 --> 00:02:58.520 but God never abandons this. We get knocked down, but 48 00:02:58.680 --> 00:03:02.719 we get up again and keep going. Now, where do 49 00:03:02.759 --> 00:03:06.599 you get that kind of resilience? I want that kind 50 00:03:06.639 --> 00:03:08.879 of resilience. I want you to have that kind of resilience. 51 00:03:09.280 --> 00:03:11.639 Where do you get the kind of courage to keep 52 00:03:11.719 --> 00:03:16.439 ongoing when every bone in your body wants to give up, 53 00:03:17.199 --> 00:03:19.120 wants to throw in the towel, said, Okay, I've just 54 00:03:19.199 --> 00:03:22.520 been hurt too many times. Forget it no more. I'm 55 00:03:22.560 --> 00:03:24.520 going to build a wall around my life. The problem 56 00:03:24.560 --> 00:03:27.680 is when you build a wall to keep the pain out, 57 00:03:27.800 --> 00:03:32.639 you also keep the love out and you end up existing, 58 00:03:32.759 --> 00:03:36.599 not living. This morning, I want us to look at 59 00:03:36.680 --> 00:03:40.520 how do you have the courage to keep going? And specifically, 60 00:03:40.560 --> 00:03:42.879 I want us to look at what do you do 61 00:03:43.080 --> 00:03:47.800 when you feel like giving up? Now? The classic passage 62 00:03:47.840 --> 00:03:50.479 on this in the Bible is the book of Job. 63 00:03:51.000 --> 00:03:53.120 Job is the oldest book in the Bible, you know, 64 00:03:53.199 --> 00:03:56.800 the story of Job. Job was the wealthiest man in 65 00:03:56.840 --> 00:03:59.919 the world in his day. He was the most prominent 66 00:04:00.120 --> 00:04:02.759 man in the world. And he was the most influential 67 00:04:02.800 --> 00:04:05.599 man in the world. And on one day, in a 68 00:04:05.680 --> 00:04:10.000 twenty four hour period, his entire life fell completely apart. 69 00:04:11.680 --> 00:04:16.040 First place, he lost his entire wealth, all of his flocks, 70 00:04:16.240 --> 00:04:20.160 all of his cattle, all of his goats, his farms, 71 00:04:20.199 --> 00:04:24.759 everything was destroyed on one day. All of his children 72 00:04:24.879 --> 00:04:29.680 were murdered by terrorists. The same day. And also in 73 00:04:29.720 --> 00:04:34.759 that same period of time, he contracted a terribly painful, 74 00:04:35.279 --> 00:04:40.160 chronic and terminal illness. Now you think you've had a 75 00:04:40.199 --> 00:04:45.600 bad day, I mean Job had a PhD in pain. 76 00:04:46.839 --> 00:04:50.600 He had a PhD in loss. He had a PhD 77 00:04:50.839 --> 00:04:53.839 in handling a crisis of life. And I want to 78 00:04:53.879 --> 00:04:55.800 tell you that no matter what you go through, and 79 00:04:55.839 --> 00:04:59.319 I'm not downgrading or belittling what you're going through, it's 80 00:04:59.360 --> 00:05:01.720 nothing compared married to what Job did in one twenty 81 00:05:01.759 --> 00:05:06.639 four hour period. And yet from his life we learn 82 00:05:06.920 --> 00:05:10.439 some things to do when you feel like giving up, 83 00:05:10.879 --> 00:05:12.839 when you feel like I don't have the energy to 84 00:05:12.879 --> 00:05:16.040 go one more step. I'm just gonna chuck it. I'm 85 00:05:16.040 --> 00:05:17.759 going to give up on my marriage, I'm going to 86 00:05:17.839 --> 00:05:19.600 give up on my job. I'm going to give up 87 00:05:19.639 --> 00:05:21.639 on my dream. I'm going to give up on my health. 88 00:05:21.759 --> 00:05:27.040 It's over. I'm done. Finished. If you'll do what Job did, 89 00:05:27.800 --> 00:05:30.959 you'll make it through. So let's look at it. Let's 90 00:05:30.959 --> 00:05:33.879 get right into it. Six things that Job did in 91 00:05:33.920 --> 00:05:36.600 his life on how to have the courage to keep 92 00:05:36.639 --> 00:05:40.439 going when you feel like giving up. Number one, When 93 00:05:40.439 --> 00:05:42.360 you've had a major loss, the first thing you need 94 00:05:42.399 --> 00:05:46.480 to do is this, tell God exactly how you feel. 95 00:05:48.120 --> 00:05:52.040 Just vent, just get it all out, all that frustration. 96 00:05:52.439 --> 00:05:55.079 You just need to tell it to God. You unload 97 00:05:55.120 --> 00:06:00.360 all your feelings, you release all your frustrations. Maybe you 98 00:06:00.360 --> 00:06:02.639 don't realize this, but when you trust God with your 99 00:06:02.680 --> 00:06:07.399 negative emotions, that's actually an act of worship. In the 100 00:06:07.480 --> 00:06:10.240 very first chapter of Job, after everything fell apart in 101 00:06:10.240 --> 00:06:14.839 his life, Job says this verse twenty. Job stood up, 102 00:06:15.519 --> 00:06:19.759 tore his robe in grief, shaved his head. Then he 103 00:06:19.879 --> 00:06:22.480 fell to the ground, and he worshiped. Now what's he 104 00:06:22.519 --> 00:06:27.240 doing here? He is physically visibly expressing his pain to God. 105 00:06:28.120 --> 00:06:30.319 He stands up he tears his robe. You've got to 106 00:06:30.319 --> 00:06:32.519 be pretty mad to start tearing your own clothes off. 107 00:06:33.519 --> 00:06:36.120 He tore his robe in grief, shaves his head. That's 108 00:06:36.160 --> 00:06:39.959 an act of humility, falls to the ground and worships. 109 00:06:40.720 --> 00:06:43.199 Anytime you go through a major loss in life or 110 00:06:43.199 --> 00:06:46.720 a major disappointment, you're going to experience four emotions. The 111 00:06:46.759 --> 00:06:51.480 first is anger, Why is this happening to me? Why 112 00:06:51.600 --> 00:06:53.879 is this happened to me? That's the natural action anger. 113 00:06:54.160 --> 00:06:56.199 The second you're going to have is grief. What have 114 00:06:56.319 --> 00:06:59.839 I lost? What have I lost? The third you're gonna 115 00:06:59.879 --> 00:07:04.199 have is shock? What do I do now? I can't 116 00:07:04.199 --> 00:07:08.480 believe this is happening. I just can't believe it. And 117 00:07:08.519 --> 00:07:13.240 the fourth is fear? What's going to happen next? When 118 00:07:13.279 --> 00:07:17.000 you have these four things anger and grief and shock 119 00:07:17.519 --> 00:07:19.680 and fear, what am I supposed to do with them? 120 00:07:21.079 --> 00:07:24.800 You express them to God. That's the first thing you 121 00:07:24.839 --> 00:07:29.240 need to do. You don't suppress it. You don't repress it. 122 00:07:30.000 --> 00:07:33.480 You don't express it. You know, vomit it on somebody else. 123 00:07:33.720 --> 00:07:38.680 You confess it. You tell God how ticked off you are. 124 00:07:38.920 --> 00:07:40.800 And you know what, here's a little surprise for you. 125 00:07:41.079 --> 00:07:45.879 God can handle your anger. God can handle your frustration. 126 00:07:46.439 --> 00:07:48.680 He can handle your emotions. You know why God can 127 00:07:48.720 --> 00:07:51.959 handle your emotions because He gave them to you. The 128 00:07:52.000 --> 00:07:54.439 only reason you have emotions is because you're made in 129 00:07:54.480 --> 00:07:57.399 the image of God, and God is an emotional God. 130 00:07:58.360 --> 00:08:01.680 God has feelings. Did you know that God has feelings. 131 00:08:02.519 --> 00:08:05.120 The only reason you get sadness because God has sadness. 132 00:08:06.399 --> 00:08:08.160 The only reason you can get angry is because God 133 00:08:08.240 --> 00:08:14.279 gets angry. God gets frustrated. God's patience is tested. God 134 00:08:14.360 --> 00:08:18.040 understands all of these things because God is an emotional God, 135 00:08:18.319 --> 00:08:22.319 and God can handle your anger. It's like a little 136 00:08:22.360 --> 00:08:24.920 two year old having a temper tantrum beating on the 137 00:08:25.000 --> 00:08:28.800 knees of a parent. A parent can handle that. And 138 00:08:28.879 --> 00:08:32.360 God is bigger than your emotion. So it's okay to 139 00:08:32.440 --> 00:08:36.120 tell God exactly how you feel. And when you've prayed 140 00:08:36.120 --> 00:08:41.120 for a promotion and it didn't happen, and when a 141 00:08:41.159 --> 00:08:43.799 loved one walks out of your life, and you've been 142 00:08:43.840 --> 00:08:48.279 betrayed and you've been rejected, when you've been laid off, 143 00:08:49.240 --> 00:08:52.480 when you get the dreaded call it's cancer and all, 144 00:08:52.679 --> 00:08:56.159 it's okay to tell God, God, I'm mad, I'm upset, 145 00:08:56.440 --> 00:09:01.000 I'm sick, I'm frustrated, I'm ticked off. I doubt God 146 00:09:01.039 --> 00:09:03.879 can handle your complaints. He can handle your questions, he 147 00:09:03.919 --> 00:09:06.559 can handle your fear, he can handle your doubt. He 148 00:09:06.639 --> 00:09:10.559 can handle your grief because God's love for you is 149 00:09:10.600 --> 00:09:12.000 bigger than all your emotions. 150 00:09:15.279 --> 00:09:18.440 You're listening to Pastor Rick's Daily Hope. Rick will be 151 00:09:18.519 --> 00:09:21.360 back in just a moment with the rest of today's lesson. 152 00:09:21.799 --> 00:09:24.519 If you've missed any part of today's teaching, you can 153 00:09:24.600 --> 00:09:30.480 listen online anytime at pastorick dot com. That's pastorick dot com. 154 00:09:30.799 --> 00:09:33.799 The Bible says children are a gift from the Lord. 155 00:09:34.200 --> 00:09:38.399 Do you have kids, grandkids, nieces, nephews, or kids in 156 00:09:38.440 --> 00:09:41.320 your neighborhood that need to know God loves them and 157 00:09:41.480 --> 00:09:44.240 has a good plan for their lives. You can help 158 00:09:44.279 --> 00:09:47.279 them get closer to God by encouraging them to read 159 00:09:47.320 --> 00:09:50.080 His word. That's why we're so excited to tell you 160 00:09:50.120 --> 00:09:54.480 about a very special resource just for kids called God's 161 00:09:54.519 --> 00:09:57.720 Big Plans for Me. It's a storybook Bible by Pastor 162 00:09:57.840 --> 00:10:01.399 Rick Warren. This two hundred and twenty three page hardcovered 163 00:10:01.440 --> 00:10:05.440 children's book includes forty well loved Bible stories to help 164 00:10:05.559 --> 00:10:09.440 kids engage with God's word. Each Bible story has an 165 00:10:09.480 --> 00:10:13.519 introduction from Pastor Rick that helps young readers understand the 166 00:10:13.559 --> 00:10:16.360 Word of God and has a closing thought with a 167 00:10:16.399 --> 00:10:20.320 practical step boys and girls can take to discover God's 168 00:10:20.440 --> 00:10:23.639 Big Plans for them. Their eyes will light up as 169 00:10:23.639 --> 00:10:27.320 they turn the beautifully illustrated pages and really start to 170 00:10:27.399 --> 00:10:30.240 get what God wants to say to their young hearts 171 00:10:30.240 --> 00:10:33.480 and minds. God's Big Plans for Me is so much 172 00:10:33.480 --> 00:10:36.200 more than just a book filled with cute pictures of 173 00:10:36.240 --> 00:10:40.039 Bible characters. It's a fun and effective way to introduce 174 00:10:40.120 --> 00:10:44.919 children to God's everlasting truth. This book makes a great gift. 175 00:10:45.240 --> 00:10:47.519 You'll want to get a copy for every child in 176 00:10:47.559 --> 00:10:50.279 your life. And today, when you give a gift to 177 00:10:50.320 --> 00:10:53.600 help Pastor Rick's daily hope take the certain hope of 178 00:10:53.679 --> 00:10:57.080 Jesus Christ around the world, We'll send you a copy 179 00:10:57.200 --> 00:11:00.960 of God's Big Plans for Me Storybook Bible to say thanks. 180 00:11:01.399 --> 00:11:04.320 To get your copy of this great resource, just call 181 00:11:04.480 --> 00:11:07.919 eight hundred six hundred five zero zero four or go 182 00:11:08.000 --> 00:11:11.360 to Pastorick dot com to get yours. That's eight hundred 183 00:11:11.559 --> 00:11:15.919 six hundred five zero zero four or Pastorick dot com. 184 00:11:15.960 --> 00:11:19.039 Thanks in advance for your support your gift to Daily 185 00:11:19.120 --> 00:11:22.799 Hope pulpsa shared the hope of Christ with people around 186 00:11:22.879 --> 00:11:26.039 the world. There's only two days left to get God's 187 00:11:26.080 --> 00:11:29.200 Big plans for me storybook Bible, So don't wait. 188 00:11:29.480 --> 00:11:33.559 You're listening to Pastor Rick's Daily Hope once again. Here's 189 00:11:33.639 --> 00:11:34.840 Pastor Rick Warren. 190 00:11:37.200 --> 00:11:39.559 Another thing I love about Job is he's flat out 191 00:11:39.600 --> 00:11:44.759 brutally honest. He doesn't mens around with words Job Chapter seven, 192 00:11:44.840 --> 00:11:47.279 verse eleven, Job says when he had lost it all 193 00:11:47.360 --> 00:11:51.639 in one day, he says, I can't be quiet. I'm angry, 194 00:11:52.080 --> 00:11:55.720 I'm bitter. I have to speak. In other words, if 195 00:11:55.720 --> 00:11:59.440 I don't speak, I'm gonna pop. You see, when you 196 00:11:59.480 --> 00:12:02.879 have nagad emotions in your life, if you swallow your emotions, 197 00:12:02.919 --> 00:12:06.279 your stomach keeps score. If you don't talk it out 198 00:12:06.320 --> 00:12:08.320 to God, you're going to take it out on your 199 00:12:08.360 --> 00:12:11.639 body and to have all the emotions like you just 200 00:12:11.720 --> 00:12:14.679 had a major disappointment. You spent all your money building 201 00:12:14.679 --> 00:12:17.639 a business and it went bankrupt. And you go, wait 202 00:12:17.639 --> 00:12:19.279 a minute, I prayed for this and I ask God 203 00:12:19.320 --> 00:12:22.000 to bless it. What's going on here? And you're angry 204 00:12:22.000 --> 00:12:25.440 and you're upset. That's like shaking up a coke bottle. 205 00:12:26.000 --> 00:12:29.000 If you don't express it to God, it's going to 206 00:12:29.080 --> 00:12:32.000 come out sideways in some weird behavior six months down 207 00:12:32.039 --> 00:12:35.000 the road, in a compulsion and an addiction, in an affair, 208 00:12:35.240 --> 00:12:38.360 and some other self destructive behavior. It will express itself 209 00:12:38.360 --> 00:12:40.799 one way or the other. You need to get it out. 210 00:12:42.120 --> 00:12:44.519 So Job says, I can't be quiet. I'm angry and bitter. 211 00:12:44.559 --> 00:12:47.279 I got to speak. And if you study the book 212 00:12:47.320 --> 00:12:50.360 of Job, Job starts off with confusion, why is this 213 00:12:50.480 --> 00:12:53.600 happening to me? And then he goes to complaining I 214 00:12:53.600 --> 00:12:56.639 don't like what's happening to me. It finally starts making 215 00:12:56.679 --> 00:13:00.000 bold accusations of God. God, you're not a nice God, 216 00:13:02.039 --> 00:13:05.080 and God just takes it all. He handles it. You see. 217 00:13:05.519 --> 00:13:13.320 The right response to unexplained tragedy is not grin and barrett. 218 00:13:13.919 --> 00:13:16.840 Some people think everything happened goes wrong in your life. 219 00:13:16.879 --> 00:13:21.159 You're just supposed to say, well, praise the Lord. Now, 220 00:13:21.559 --> 00:13:25.919 that's insincere, that's fake, that's phony, that's fault. God wants 221 00:13:25.960 --> 00:13:28.559 you to be authentic with him. God's not looking for 222 00:13:28.600 --> 00:13:34.759 pious platitudes, but he's honestly interested in your honest struggles 223 00:13:34.879 --> 00:13:37.639 with him. Now, I know what I'm going to tell 224 00:13:37.639 --> 00:13:40.519 you next is going to shock you. I have three children, 225 00:13:41.000 --> 00:13:45.840 and this surprise you. But sometimes they question my judgment. 226 00:13:48.879 --> 00:13:53.600 Can you believe that they question my judgment? Now? My 227 00:13:53.759 --> 00:13:56.840 kids never doubt that I love them. They know I 228 00:13:56.840 --> 00:14:00.399 love them, and they never doubt that I've been on 229 00:14:00.440 --> 00:14:04.360 this planet longer than they have, and they never doubt 230 00:14:04.480 --> 00:14:08.519 that I've had more experience than they have. But sometimes 231 00:14:08.559 --> 00:14:13.279 they do question my wisdom. And you know what, I'd 232 00:14:13.399 --> 00:14:16.879 rather have an honest, gut level conversation with them than 233 00:14:16.879 --> 00:14:22.440 have them stuff it. And so would God. God would 234 00:14:22.519 --> 00:14:25.679 rather have you wrestle with him in anger than walk 235 00:14:25.720 --> 00:14:31.679 away in detached apathy. Wrestling is a contact sport in 236 00:14:31.720 --> 00:14:35.799 the Bible. When Jacob wrestles with God, God doesn't mind 237 00:14:35.840 --> 00:14:39.600 that because wrestling you're up front, you're in close contact, 238 00:14:39.639 --> 00:14:44.279 you're up there together. God would rather have you voicing 239 00:14:44.279 --> 00:14:46.320 your doubts and fears and being up close to him 240 00:14:46.480 --> 00:14:49.600 then walk away and be the silent person and be 241 00:14:49.639 --> 00:14:54.080 apathetic and just detached. Lamentations Chapter two, verse nineteen says, 242 00:14:54.120 --> 00:15:00.360 this cry out in the night, pour out your heart 243 00:15:01.080 --> 00:15:04.879 like water poured out like water in prayer to the Lord. 244 00:15:04.960 --> 00:15:06.840 When was the last time you cried out in the night. 245 00:15:06.879 --> 00:15:08.720 When was the last time you poured out your heart 246 00:15:09.080 --> 00:15:12.360 like water to God? You know, in the Bible there 247 00:15:12.360 --> 00:15:16.120 are many, many examples of godly people who expressed their 248 00:15:16.120 --> 00:15:19.759 frustration to God and God handled it. It's okay, God 249 00:15:19.759 --> 00:15:24.320 can handle it. One time, Jeremiah says, God, you deceived me. 250 00:15:24.399 --> 00:15:27.200 I think you lied to me. I think you promised this, 251 00:15:27.320 --> 00:15:29.840 but this happened here. I think you deceived me. God, 252 00:15:30.759 --> 00:15:34.399 God handled it. Naomi once time said one times said 253 00:15:34.639 --> 00:15:38.440 call me bitter, because God has made my life bitter. Yes, 254 00:15:38.480 --> 00:15:41.840 she got around, she came around, but in that moment, 255 00:15:41.879 --> 00:15:45.879 that's the way she felt. One time, David said, I've 256 00:15:45.919 --> 00:15:48.200 taken the worst you can hand out God, and I'm 257 00:15:48.200 --> 00:15:53.919 fed up. That's it. But he always came back. And 258 00:15:53.919 --> 00:15:58.559 the same thing with Job. Although Job questioned God's wisdom 259 00:15:58.799 --> 00:16:01.360 and wonders what's going on on and he's spouting off 260 00:16:01.399 --> 00:16:04.200 and he's admitting all his frustrations, he's still in the 261 00:16:04.320 --> 00:16:08.399 root of his life. Trust God. But that's the first step. 262 00:16:08.519 --> 00:16:12.600 You got to get it out. Step number two. Second 263 00:16:12.600 --> 00:16:14.960 thing you do when you feel like giving up, and 264 00:16:15.000 --> 00:16:17.200 you need the power and the courage keep on is 265 00:16:17.559 --> 00:16:22.039 accept help from others. That's the second thing Job does. 266 00:16:22.480 --> 00:16:27.279 You need to accept help from others because God doesn't 267 00:16:27.320 --> 00:16:30.279 intend for you to handle all the pain, or all 268 00:16:30.320 --> 00:16:33.159 the loss, or all the stress in your life by yourself. 269 00:16:33.480 --> 00:16:36.080 We were wired for each other, We need each other. 270 00:16:36.159 --> 00:16:39.320 We are social beings. The first thing God said in 271 00:16:39.320 --> 00:16:41.919 the Garden of edenus it's not good for men to 272 00:16:41.960 --> 00:16:47.600 be alone. We're made to be in relationships. Here's the problem. 273 00:16:48.080 --> 00:16:50.399 When you go through a major disappointment, you don't want 274 00:16:50.440 --> 00:16:53.919 to tell anybody about it. When you go through a 275 00:16:53.960 --> 00:16:57.559 major loss, the natural human reaction is to pull back, 276 00:16:57.799 --> 00:17:00.360 to isolate it. I'll handle it by myself. I don't 277 00:17:00.399 --> 00:17:02.639 need anybody else. I'll answer you want to keep it 278 00:17:02.679 --> 00:17:05.519 a secret. When you've had a loss, a failure, a mistake, 279 00:17:06.799 --> 00:17:11.400 a crisis, you typically pull in and isolate. Bad idea, 280 00:17:12.359 --> 00:17:16.640 bad idea. The natural reaction is withdrawal. When God says no, no, 281 00:17:16.759 --> 00:17:21.079 you need friends in your life at that point. Job 282 00:17:21.200 --> 00:17:27.119 chapter six says this verse fourteen. When desperate people give 283 00:17:27.200 --> 00:17:31.400 up on God Almighty, their friends at least should stick 284 00:17:31.440 --> 00:17:35.720 with them. I love that verse, God says, even if 285 00:17:35.759 --> 00:17:37.880 you don't believe in God at that point, you still 286 00:17:37.920 --> 00:17:41.119 need good friends to stick with you. A friend walks 287 00:17:41.119 --> 00:17:45.279 in when everybody else walks out, and you need people 288 00:17:45.279 --> 00:17:49.079 in your life. The new International version says, even a 289 00:17:49.160 --> 00:17:53.559 despairing man deserves the devotion of his friends, even if 290 00:17:53.599 --> 00:17:57.119 he forsakes Almighty God the fear of their minds. In 291 00:17:57.160 --> 00:17:59.720 other words, there will be times in your life when 292 00:17:59.759 --> 00:18:02.960 you are in so much pain you go, I don't 293 00:18:02.960 --> 00:18:05.079 even believe in God right now. Okay, you need to 294 00:18:05.119 --> 00:18:07.319 have some friends to say, that's all right, we'll believe 295 00:18:07.359 --> 00:18:10.799 God for you right now. There are gonna be times, 296 00:18:10.880 --> 00:18:13.160 you know, I say I don't have any faith right now, 297 00:18:13.359 --> 00:18:15.640 I'm just full of doubt. I don't have any faith. 298 00:18:17.440 --> 00:18:20.240 That's when you need people. Go that's okay, we will 299 00:18:20.279 --> 00:18:22.359 have faith for you. We will trust God for you 300 00:18:22.400 --> 00:18:24.759 in this moment. This is why you need a small group. 301 00:18:25.680 --> 00:18:29.240 Small group is a safety net in this church. Thirty 302 00:18:29.279 --> 00:18:31.799 two thousand people in this church are in small groups. 303 00:18:32.559 --> 00:18:34.920 I don't worry about them. I worry about those of 304 00:18:34.920 --> 00:18:37.440 you who aren't in a small group, because when the 305 00:18:37.519 --> 00:18:42.119 crisis comes, who's going to pull you through You See, 306 00:18:42.119 --> 00:18:44.599 you haven't helped anybody else through their crisis, So who's 307 00:18:44.640 --> 00:18:47.920 going to help you? This is why we need each other. 308 00:18:48.440 --> 00:18:53.279 The Bible says in one Thessalonians five eleven, encourage each 309 00:18:53.359 --> 00:18:57.640 other and give each other strength. Now that's a command 310 00:18:58.039 --> 00:19:01.640 God commands us to bear each there's burdens. I'm supposed 311 00:19:01.680 --> 00:19:04.039 to help you when you're going through your losses and 312 00:19:04.119 --> 00:19:07.119 tough times, and you're supposed to help me when I 313 00:19:07.200 --> 00:19:09.720 go through my losses and help in tough times. And 314 00:19:09.759 --> 00:19:13.000 that's why we need small groups. Now, I've been in 315 00:19:13.039 --> 00:19:15.920 the group i'm in for many, many years. But I'll 316 00:19:15.920 --> 00:19:18.440 be honest with you. Sometimes I don't want to go 317 00:19:18.480 --> 00:19:22.279 to a small group. I don't feel like going to 318 00:19:22.359 --> 00:19:27.960 small group. Now you never felt that, I know. But 319 00:19:28.079 --> 00:19:31.519 sometimes I am so tired. I'd like to just lay 320 00:19:31.519 --> 00:19:35.480 on the couch and watch TV tonight. And I don't 321 00:19:35.480 --> 00:19:38.079 always feel like going to group. But you know what, 322 00:19:38.319 --> 00:19:41.000 I have never been to a group that I didn't go. 323 00:19:41.440 --> 00:19:44.000 I got something out of that I needed that. And 324 00:19:44.079 --> 00:19:45.920 usually when I don't want to go, when I need 325 00:19:45.960 --> 00:19:49.720 it the most. We are to encourage each other. Look 326 00:19:49.759 --> 00:19:52.880 at the next verse. By helping each other with your troubles. 327 00:19:53.440 --> 00:19:56.880 You obey the law of Christ. What is the law 328 00:19:56.880 --> 00:20:01.039 of Christ. It's this love your neighbor as yourself. That's 329 00:20:01.079 --> 00:20:03.599 the law of Christ mentioned about seven times in the Bible. 330 00:20:06.079 --> 00:20:09.519 This is Pastor Rick's daily hope. We're so thankful that 331 00:20:09.599 --> 00:20:12.519 you've chosen to spend some time with us. If you've 332 00:20:12.519 --> 00:20:16.240 missed any part of this broadcast, including portions we didn't 333 00:20:16.279 --> 00:20:20.279 have time for today, just go to Pastorick dot com 334 00:20:20.400 --> 00:20:23.599 and listen online anytime. Rick will be back to close 335 00:20:23.640 --> 00:20:28.000 out our time today. But first, the Bible says children 336 00:20:28.039 --> 00:20:33.039 are a gift from the Lord. Do you have kids, grandkids, nieces, nephews, 337 00:20:33.160 --> 00:20:36.319 or kids in your neighborhood that need to know God 338 00:20:36.440 --> 00:20:39.599 loves them and has a good plan for their lives. 339 00:20:39.839 --> 00:20:42.880 You can help them get closer to God by encouraging 340 00:20:42.920 --> 00:20:46.279 them to read God's Word. That's why we're so excited 341 00:20:46.319 --> 00:20:49.319 to tell you about a very special resource just for 342 00:20:49.480 --> 00:20:53.680 kids called God's Big Plans for Me. It's a storybook 343 00:20:53.720 --> 00:20:57.319 Bible by Pastor Rick Warren. This two hundred and twenty 344 00:20:57.359 --> 00:21:02.240 three page hardcovered children's book includes forty well loved Bible 345 00:21:02.279 --> 00:21:06.279 stories to help kids engage with God's Word. Each Bible 346 00:21:06.359 --> 00:21:10.039 story has an introduction from Pastor Rick that helps young 347 00:21:10.119 --> 00:21:13.799 readers understand the Word of God and a closing thought 348 00:21:13.920 --> 00:21:17.039 with a practical step boys and girls can take to 349 00:21:17.119 --> 00:21:21.039 discover God's Big Plans for them. Their eyes will light 350 00:21:21.160 --> 00:21:25.359 up as they turn the beautifully illustrated pages and really 351 00:21:25.400 --> 00:21:28.599 start to get what God wants to say to their 352 00:21:28.720 --> 00:21:32.319 young hearts and minds. God's Big Plans for Me is 353 00:21:32.440 --> 00:21:35.319 so much more than just a book filled with cute 354 00:21:35.359 --> 00:21:39.279 pictures of Bible characters. It's a fun and effective way 355 00:21:39.359 --> 00:21:43.680 to introduce children to God's ever lasting truth. This book 356 00:21:43.799 --> 00:21:46.519 makes a great gift. You'll want to get a copy 357 00:21:46.559 --> 00:21:49.599 for every child in your life. And today, when you 358 00:21:49.680 --> 00:21:52.519 give a gift to help Pastor Rick's daily hope take 359 00:21:52.599 --> 00:21:56.319 the certain hope of Jesus Christ around the world, will 360 00:21:56.359 --> 00:21:58.880 send you a copy of God's Big Plans for Me 361 00:21:59.079 --> 00:22:03.039 Storybook by b To say thanks. To get your copy 362 00:22:03.119 --> 00:22:07.319 of this great resource, just call eight hundred six hundred 363 00:22:07.440 --> 00:22:11.079 five thousand and four or go to Pastorick dot com 364 00:22:11.079 --> 00:22:15.279 to get yours. That's eight hundred six hundred five thousand 365 00:22:15.319 --> 00:22:19.519 and four or Pastorrick dot com. There's only two days 366 00:22:19.640 --> 00:22:23.000 left to get God's big plans for me storybook Bible, 367 00:22:23.240 --> 00:22:26.759 so don't wait. Here's Pastor Rick with a letter from 368 00:22:26.759 --> 00:22:27.920 one of our listeners. 369 00:22:28.279 --> 00:22:30.319 I want to say thanks to all of you who 370 00:22:30.359 --> 00:22:35.400 are supporting Daily Hope Ministry with your financial gifts and 371 00:22:35.720 --> 00:22:39.279 with your prayers. I know you appreciate these notes that 372 00:22:39.359 --> 00:22:41.279 I get from people around the world as much as 373 00:22:41.319 --> 00:22:43.440 I do. Let me just share one with you from 374 00:22:43.480 --> 00:22:47.480 a woman named Anna who is an elementary school principal, 375 00:22:47.640 --> 00:22:51.160 and she just wrote this. You're Pastor Rick. I became 376 00:22:51.200 --> 00:22:53.400 a principal in an elementary school at the age of 377 00:22:53.440 --> 00:22:58.160 twenty five. I'm now forty two. Now. We've had Rick 378 00:22:58.200 --> 00:23:01.880 Warren Bible Series and st at our church during the summers, 379 00:23:01.880 --> 00:23:04.440 and I always enjoyed them so much, and I've invited 380 00:23:04.640 --> 00:23:08.279 many friends and relatives to visit our church. A couple 381 00:23:08.359 --> 00:23:12.000 years ago, I began to share your devotion Daily Hope 382 00:23:12.160 --> 00:23:15.400 with all of my staff members each morning. See she's 383 00:23:15.440 --> 00:23:18.160 a principle, she's sharing this with her staff. She said. 384 00:23:18.160 --> 00:23:21.400 I've seen their growth in God. I've seen the transformation 385 00:23:21.519 --> 00:23:24.200 and their lives and characters over these past years, and 386 00:23:24.240 --> 00:23:27.839 I'm amazed at the Lord's love and mercy. That doesn't 387 00:23:27.839 --> 00:23:30.279 mean that we haven't struggled with issues such as death 388 00:23:30.759 --> 00:23:34.480 and depression and disappointments and illness things like that. However, 389 00:23:34.599 --> 00:23:37.599 we have had our eyes on God during all of 390 00:23:37.640 --> 00:23:40.640 the things that have come against us, and this has 391 00:23:40.640 --> 00:23:43.240 made a difference. I pray with them during our staff 392 00:23:43.319 --> 00:23:46.319 meetings to give thanks. So Pastor Rick, I just want 393 00:23:46.359 --> 00:23:49.640 to thank you for following God's calling. Even though you 394 00:23:50.200 --> 00:23:52.880 go through struggles and life problems just like we all do. 395 00:23:53.519 --> 00:23:56.400 God is with you. May the Lord continue to bless 396 00:23:56.440 --> 00:23:59.240 you and your beautiful family. May continue to bless you 397 00:23:59.279 --> 00:24:02.279 with wisdom and discernment so that you're able to share 398 00:24:02.319 --> 00:24:06.680 your gift with all of us. Blessings, Anna, Well, Anna, 399 00:24:07.079 --> 00:24:09.799 God bless you. Thanks for writing. I love getting these 400 00:24:09.880 --> 00:24:13.880 letters and you actually encouraged me. And I love the 401 00:24:13.920 --> 00:24:17.279