WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:02.940 Spirit, lead me where my trust is without borders. 00:00:04.660 --> 00:00:08.800 Let me walk upon the waters, wherever you would call me. 00:00:10.220 --> 00:00:13.060 Take me deeper than my feet could ever wander, 00:00:14.400 --> 00:00:20.859 and my faith will be made stronger in the presence of our Savior. 00:00:23.780 --> 00:00:26.080 I don't know how you feel when you read those words. 00:00:30.000 --> 00:00:32.939 I don't know where you're at in your journey with God. 00:00:33.799 --> 00:00:38.240 I realize that sometimes when we speak on trials and tribulations, 00:00:38.439 --> 00:00:41.820 it's very difficult because we know that people come in 00:00:41.820 --> 00:00:43.439 and are different places in their life. 00:00:44.219 --> 00:00:47.019 They're dealing with things that are heavy and beyond their control, 00:00:47.140 --> 00:00:49.200 and some people have been in the pit for a long time, 00:00:49.679 --> 00:00:51.640 and they're just wanting to get out of the pit, 00:00:52.400 --> 00:00:56.140 and they're wondering if God knows them, 00:00:57.539 --> 00:00:58.939 is listening to them, 00:00:58.939 --> 00:01:02.399 is aware of what's happening in their life. 00:01:03.839 --> 00:01:05.359 It was 1990, 00:01:06.899 --> 00:01:07.620 and I had just, 00:01:08.219 --> 00:01:10.079 we're going to get some wind up here, 00:01:10.900 --> 00:01:12.599 I just arrived in northern China, 00:01:13.099 --> 00:01:15.739 and I was there to teach the local Christians. 00:01:17.039 --> 00:01:19.700 You know, I'd heard about the tough times the Christians were going through, 00:01:20.500 --> 00:01:22.599 and I'd been praying for them for a long, 00:01:22.599 --> 00:01:25.259 long time in the States. 00:01:25.260 --> 00:01:29.240 I prayed for the tribulations and the trials, 00:01:29.540 --> 00:01:31.439 and that they would make it through it, 00:01:31.540 --> 00:01:32.680 that they would stop. 00:01:34.300 --> 00:01:38.200 And it was not long until I got in the north part in my university 00:01:38.200 --> 00:01:39.420 that I heard a story. 00:01:40.540 --> 00:01:42.700 The story had happened a couple months before I got there, 00:01:43.100 --> 00:01:45.200 but it was still fresh in everybody's mind. 00:01:45.200 --> 00:01:49.159 Three men, three students, 00:01:49.219 --> 00:01:52.480 had been caught smuggling Bibles into the university, 00:01:52.680 --> 00:01:53.820 into their part of the town, 00:01:53.820 --> 00:01:57.240 and they were arrested by the authorities, 00:01:57.840 --> 00:02:02.040 and they were put in prison for a month without food. 00:02:02.040 --> 00:02:04.700 At the end of the month, 00:02:05.220 --> 00:02:07.800 the authorities wanting to make an example of them 00:02:07.800 --> 00:02:10.360 and to teach everybody else in the community and the university 00:02:10.360 --> 00:02:11.780 not to do that anymore, 00:02:12.580 --> 00:02:15.120 brought them out in front of the students and the faculty 00:02:15.120 --> 00:02:16.939 and the university at that part of the town 00:02:16.939 --> 00:02:17.960 and put them on display. 00:02:18.939 --> 00:02:20.640 There was a table full of food. 00:02:20.719 --> 00:02:22.740 It was the best food that they could have at that time. 00:02:24.259 --> 00:02:26.439 To them, after 30 days of not eating, 00:02:26.520 --> 00:02:29.180 it must have looked like this amazing, amazing banquet. 00:02:29.180 --> 00:02:33.040 There was a table with the Bibles piled up in front of it. 00:02:34.099 --> 00:02:35.140 And then there was a third table. 00:02:35.219 --> 00:02:37.040 There was a table filled with these containers 00:02:37.040 --> 00:02:43.760 full of waste and excrement and filth. 00:02:45.020 --> 00:02:46.560 And they brought the three young men out, 00:02:46.620 --> 00:02:48.240 and they asked them in front of everybody, 00:02:49.000 --> 00:02:52.140 they said, if you deny Christ, you're going to be set free. 00:02:53.219 --> 00:02:54.920 You'll be allowed to eat from this banquet. 00:02:55.140 --> 00:02:56.260 We won't bother you anymore. 00:02:56.259 --> 00:03:02.539 But if you don't, it'll be more torture and struggles, 00:03:02.799 --> 00:03:04.239 and life is going to be very difficult. 00:03:05.019 --> 00:03:05.939 And right here and right now, 00:03:06.000 --> 00:03:10.259 we're going to force you to drink these three containers of crap. 00:03:12.819 --> 00:03:14.459 I was told that without a hesitation, 00:03:14.659 --> 00:03:15.659 the three men went over, 00:03:16.519 --> 00:03:18.439 and they grabbed the containers of sewage, 00:03:19.019 --> 00:03:20.579 and they just started guzzling it. 00:03:20.580 --> 00:03:25.500 The crowd that was watching them went crazy. 00:03:25.620 --> 00:03:26.400 It went berserk. 00:03:26.900 --> 00:03:28.200 I mean, there was total chaos. 00:03:29.180 --> 00:03:31.840 Teachers and students rushed the table, 00:03:32.160 --> 00:03:33.420 and they grabbed the Bibles, 00:03:33.540 --> 00:03:35.640 and before the authorities could do anything, 00:03:36.300 --> 00:03:37.640 they ran off with the Bibles. 00:03:38.780 --> 00:03:40.280 And the authorities just sat there going, 00:03:40.820 --> 00:03:44.200 they couldn't believe what they'd just seen and what happened. 00:03:44.199 --> 00:03:47.699 A little later on, 00:03:47.759 --> 00:03:50.359 we were able to talk to some of those people who rushed the table. 00:03:51.839 --> 00:03:53.419 And we asked them, why did you do that? 00:03:53.439 --> 00:03:54.500 What was that all about? 00:03:55.819 --> 00:03:57.060 And they said there was something. 00:03:58.599 --> 00:04:00.639 There must have been something in that book 00:04:00.639 --> 00:04:02.919 that was very special, 00:04:03.919 --> 00:04:05.780 that was very precious, 00:04:06.319 --> 00:04:08.579 to make those young men do that, 00:04:09.879 --> 00:04:11.199 to stand up to the tribulation, 00:04:11.319 --> 00:04:12.319 to stand up to the trials. 00:04:12.319 --> 00:04:14.639 There must have been something incredible in those books, 00:04:14.859 --> 00:04:15.840 and we want that. 00:04:17.159 --> 00:04:17.939 We want it. 00:04:22.079 --> 00:04:24.420 I remember after my first time to go home, 00:04:25.639 --> 00:04:27.659 I went to one of the leaders of the house church. 00:04:29.379 --> 00:04:30.819 I said, I'm about to go back to America, 00:04:31.019 --> 00:04:31.939 and I want to pray for you. 00:04:31.980 --> 00:04:32.939 How do I pray for you? 00:04:33.639 --> 00:04:35.240 What do I tell the people in America? 00:04:36.539 --> 00:04:38.259 Do I tell them to stop praying for tribulation? 00:04:38.360 --> 00:04:39.819 Do I tell them to stop praying for trials? 00:04:40.120 --> 00:04:41.439 Do I tell them to stop praying for heartache? 00:04:42.319 --> 00:04:44.240 And he looked at me kind of in surprise, 00:04:44.339 --> 00:04:45.099 and he said, Tobin. 00:04:45.659 --> 00:04:46.879 He used my Chinese name, 00:04:47.500 --> 00:04:47.920 Mi Taoping. 00:04:48.519 --> 00:04:51.219 He said, in 1949, 00:04:51.599 --> 00:04:52.879 when all the missionaries left here, 00:04:52.939 --> 00:04:55.240 there were about 800,000 Christians in our country. 00:04:56.759 --> 00:04:57.980 And now, 30 years later, 00:04:58.019 --> 00:04:59.159 because of what God is doing, 00:05:00.560 --> 00:05:01.860 there are 40 million of us. 00:05:01.860 --> 00:05:06.580 How can you pray for the persecution to stop? 00:05:08.720 --> 00:05:10.960 How can you pray for our trials to stop? 00:05:12.379 --> 00:05:14.199 Please just pray instead 00:05:14.199 --> 00:05:16.560 that we'd be faithful, 00:05:17.879 --> 00:05:20.439 that we'd be strong. 00:05:20.439 --> 00:05:25.100 I went home to Montgomery, Alabama, 00:05:25.219 --> 00:05:26.740 to my massive mega church, 00:05:27.279 --> 00:05:31.319 where people were living very, very comfortable lives. 00:05:33.079 --> 00:05:34.000 And they asked me, 00:05:34.019 --> 00:05:36.180 well, how can we pray for the people in China? 00:05:38.540 --> 00:05:40.319 And in my mind, I was thinking, 00:05:40.659 --> 00:05:45.279 how can I pray for the people in Montgomery, Alabama? 00:05:45.279 --> 00:05:49.639 Maybe I should be praying for tribulations. 00:05:51.099 --> 00:05:53.039 Maybe I should be praying for trials. 00:05:54.539 --> 00:05:57.159 Maybe I should be praying for difficulties. 00:05:59.039 --> 00:06:00.179 We're in the book of Romans. 00:06:01.739 --> 00:06:04.239 Paul has been teaching the book of Romans now, 00:06:04.639 --> 00:06:05.859 and we've been in it for about eight weeks, 00:06:05.919 --> 00:06:07.579 but he's been teaching it through five chapters. 00:06:08.479 --> 00:06:09.639 Remember, in the first couple chapters, 00:06:09.759 --> 00:06:11.299 he's been arguing, and he's been defending. 00:06:11.699 --> 00:06:12.599 He's been this lawyer. 00:06:12.739 --> 00:06:14.199 He's presenting his brief, his case. 00:06:14.199 --> 00:06:16.459 He wants everybody to know that he's right. 00:06:16.979 --> 00:06:17.839 He's truthful. 00:06:18.180 --> 00:06:18.959 It's logical. 00:06:19.519 --> 00:06:20.879 And you have to believe. 00:06:22.079 --> 00:06:23.800 But now, in chapter five, 00:06:23.839 --> 00:06:25.199 he just starts teaching with confidence. 00:06:26.480 --> 00:06:27.980 He's not trying to persuade anybody. 00:06:28.139 --> 00:06:29.300 He's trying to show people, 00:06:30.519 --> 00:06:31.319 this is true. 00:06:31.500 --> 00:06:32.680 This is what's happened to me. 00:06:32.759 --> 00:06:34.240 This is my experience. 00:06:36.879 --> 00:06:38.219 This is my experience. 00:06:39.240 --> 00:06:41.759 Remember, up to this point in chapters one and two, 00:06:41.839 --> 00:06:42.879 the people have been kind of 00:06:42.879 --> 00:06:44.659 wandering away from God. 00:06:45.860 --> 00:06:47.459 I mean, they think they're with God. 00:06:48.480 --> 00:06:50.040 They thought that they were close to God. 00:06:50.120 --> 00:06:51.779 They thought that they were 51% good, 00:06:51.839 --> 00:06:52.839 that things were going well, 00:06:53.100 --> 00:06:55.100 and as long as they were more good than they were bad, 00:06:55.159 --> 00:06:57.399 as long as they didn't do anything too bad, 00:06:58.360 --> 00:07:00.259 as long as they could fix themselves, 00:07:01.540 --> 00:07:02.740 they'd be okay. 00:07:02.740 --> 00:07:07.579 But Paul says something very different there. 00:07:08.360 --> 00:07:09.560 He says, you know, guys, 00:07:09.740 --> 00:07:12.540 we are under God's wrath. 00:07:14.120 --> 00:07:16.460 We are not at peace with God. 00:07:17.800 --> 00:07:20.079 51% is not going to hack it. 00:07:20.740 --> 00:07:23.879 In fact, we are so bad off in our slavery, 00:07:24.100 --> 00:07:25.420 in our selfishness, in our sin, 00:07:25.560 --> 00:07:28.860 that we're in bondage to our lives. 00:07:28.860 --> 00:07:31.600 We think that we're free, 00:07:32.600 --> 00:07:35.759 but we're slaves. 00:07:37.600 --> 00:07:41.000 But God, chapter 3 and 4, 00:07:42.160 --> 00:07:43.000 sends his son. 00:07:44.319 --> 00:07:46.060 And he sends his son into this world 00:07:46.060 --> 00:07:47.199 and into our lives 00:07:47.199 --> 00:07:49.400 to make all things new through Jesus. 00:07:50.460 --> 00:07:52.840 Now he's given us his free gift of grace. 00:07:53.720 --> 00:07:55.879 Now we have a new relationship with God. 00:07:55.879 --> 00:07:58.879 Now we can never be taken away from God. 00:07:58.980 --> 00:08:01.040 Now we can never lose God. 00:08:01.139 --> 00:08:02.360 Once we're made right with God, 00:08:02.420 --> 00:08:04.240 we're always right with God. 00:08:04.800 --> 00:08:06.540 Paul says that on the cross, 00:08:07.000 --> 00:08:08.219 Jesus hung there, 00:08:08.579 --> 00:08:10.420 and God took all of our badness, 00:08:10.500 --> 00:08:11.920 all the things we messed up with, 00:08:12.139 --> 00:08:13.279 all of our bad thoughts, 00:08:13.379 --> 00:08:14.339 all of our bad actions, 00:08:14.639 --> 00:08:15.740 all of the things we should have done, 00:08:15.779 --> 00:08:16.300 but we didn't do, 00:08:16.519 --> 00:08:18.620 all of these things that separate us from him. 00:08:18.860 --> 00:08:19.899 He took all of those things 00:08:19.899 --> 00:08:21.000 and he placed them on Jesus. 00:08:21.000 --> 00:08:25.600 And his wrath was poured out 00:08:25.600 --> 00:08:26.420 and Jesus died. 00:08:28.000 --> 00:08:28.639 And on us, 00:08:28.800 --> 00:08:31.279 he took all of God's and Christ's good things. 00:08:31.480 --> 00:08:33.720 He laid all of the perfections of Jesus, 00:08:33.919 --> 00:08:35.639 all the things that Christ did right 00:08:35.639 --> 00:08:37.120 because he did everything right, 00:08:37.279 --> 00:08:38.480 he lays them on us. 00:08:38.639 --> 00:08:39.759 And now it's a gift. 00:08:39.879 --> 00:08:40.820 And now you and I, 00:08:40.899 --> 00:08:41.720 as a gift, 00:08:42.879 --> 00:08:45.419 are made perfect. 00:08:45.419 --> 00:08:49.099 And we get to this place in chapter five 00:08:49.099 --> 00:08:50.919 where Paul wants to teach us 00:08:50.919 --> 00:08:52.179 what it means to be made perfect. 00:08:54.519 --> 00:08:55.439 He wants to teach us 00:08:55.439 --> 00:08:57.199 what it means to be made right in God's eyes. 00:08:58.339 --> 00:09:00.000 And in these verses one through 11, 00:09:00.219 --> 00:09:02.719 he's gonna talk about five or six different things, 00:09:02.979 --> 00:09:05.199 but today I just wanna talk about one thing, 00:09:05.360 --> 00:09:07.179 one truth, one idea. 00:09:07.519 --> 00:09:08.419 I know it's the beginning, 00:09:08.579 --> 00:09:09.159 it's a journey. 00:09:09.299 --> 00:09:10.259 We're gonna start off. 00:09:10.599 --> 00:09:11.059 Some of us, 00:09:11.099 --> 00:09:12.459 it's gonna be the first time we're gonna hear it, 00:09:12.459 --> 00:09:13.819 but we need to hear this 00:09:13.819 --> 00:09:15.139 if we're God's people 00:09:15.139 --> 00:09:17.519 he's gonna talk about this idea of suffering, 00:09:18.939 --> 00:09:19.399 pain, 00:09:20.720 --> 00:09:21.340 trials, 00:09:22.259 --> 00:09:23.039 and tribulations 00:09:23.039 --> 00:09:25.899 that we're gonna face as God's people. 00:09:27.419 --> 00:09:28.639 I mean, when you read the passage, 00:09:28.799 --> 00:09:29.679 verses three through five, 00:09:29.840 --> 00:09:31.039 it's almost as if 00:09:31.039 --> 00:09:33.659 Paul is anticipating the question 00:09:33.659 --> 00:09:34.559 that's gonna be answered 00:09:34.559 --> 00:09:36.159 after you read verses one and two. 00:09:37.000 --> 00:09:38.720 I mean, after you read verses one and two 00:09:38.720 --> 00:09:40.659 and you read things like verse one, 00:09:40.659 --> 00:09:43.340 we have peace with God. 00:09:43.340 --> 00:09:47.879 The idea is there that we're no longer at war with God. 00:09:48.000 --> 00:09:50.000 We're no longer combatants with God. 00:09:50.080 --> 00:09:51.820 We're no longer hostile to God. 00:09:52.160 --> 00:09:54.139 Now we are with him. 00:09:55.600 --> 00:09:56.840 And this peace is forever. 00:09:58.700 --> 00:10:00.420 When he talks to the words in chapter two, 00:10:00.600 --> 00:10:02.860 we have total and free access to God. 00:10:03.120 --> 00:10:05.480 Now, it was this idea that would have been revolutionary 00:10:05.480 --> 00:10:07.200 because before when you worship God, 00:10:07.300 --> 00:10:08.500 you had to go to the temple 00:10:08.500 --> 00:10:11.060 and you entered in through these certain numbers of doors. 00:10:11.059 --> 00:10:13.079 And at this door, the Gentiles got stopped. 00:10:13.179 --> 00:10:14.859 And at this door, the Jewish women got stopped. 00:10:15.039 --> 00:10:16.679 And at this door, all the Jews got stopped. 00:10:16.899 --> 00:10:19.119 And only one person could go through the final door. 00:10:19.500 --> 00:10:20.379 And it was the high priest 00:10:20.379 --> 00:10:21.859 and he could only do it once a year 00:10:21.859 --> 00:10:25.879 to make atonement for God's people. 00:10:27.399 --> 00:10:28.599 But in verse two, he says, 00:10:28.719 --> 00:10:30.019 now we have total access. 00:10:30.159 --> 00:10:31.119 We have free access. 00:10:31.339 --> 00:10:32.959 That all those walls are torn down. 00:10:33.219 --> 00:10:34.599 All those curtains are destroyed. 00:10:34.799 --> 00:10:36.799 That you and I every day 00:10:36.799 --> 00:10:38.519 can come to God 00:10:38.519 --> 00:10:40.539 and talk to him 00:10:40.539 --> 00:10:43.079 and worship him. 00:10:44.120 --> 00:10:45.979 And you don't need a priest going before you. 00:10:47.059 --> 00:10:48.259 I mean, I love praying for people. 00:10:49.620 --> 00:10:50.519 And people come up and ask me 00:10:50.519 --> 00:10:51.579 to pray for them all the time. 00:10:52.839 --> 00:10:54.519 But my prayers are no more special 00:10:54.519 --> 00:10:56.939 than your prayers as God's children. 00:10:58.899 --> 00:11:00.079 That's what Paul's saying. 00:11:01.079 --> 00:11:03.099 You have total access to him. 00:11:04.100 --> 00:11:05.100 In verse two, he says, 00:11:05.180 --> 00:11:06.240 you have a sure hope. 00:11:07.159 --> 00:11:08.759 And it's not hope like we talk about, 00:11:08.820 --> 00:11:09.840 like I hope this happens. 00:11:10.040 --> 00:11:11.100 But in Hebrew and Greek, 00:11:11.159 --> 00:11:12.680 it means it's a certainty. 00:11:12.879 --> 00:11:13.620 It's for sure. 00:11:13.899 --> 00:11:15.100 It's never going to change. 00:11:15.300 --> 00:11:16.659 We have this hope in the future. 00:11:16.940 --> 00:11:18.019 It's never going to change. 00:11:18.139 --> 00:11:19.720 It's because of what Christ did on the cross. 00:11:19.980 --> 00:11:21.800 And this hope is that we're going to be with God. 00:11:21.940 --> 00:11:22.840 And in the end, 00:11:23.060 --> 00:11:24.580 no matter what we're going through right now, 00:11:24.580 --> 00:11:25.680 no matter what happens, 00:11:26.080 --> 00:11:27.840 it's going to be okay. 00:11:27.840 --> 00:11:33.940 And then someone asked this question. 00:11:35.000 --> 00:11:35.940 Well, that's what it seems like 00:11:35.940 --> 00:11:36.940 when you read Paul's writing. 00:11:37.820 --> 00:11:39.000 And the question is this. 00:11:39.700 --> 00:11:40.740 Well, that sounds really good. 00:11:41.480 --> 00:11:43.000 It sounds really good that we have heaven. 00:11:43.080 --> 00:11:44.220 It sounds really good that we're justified. 00:11:44.360 --> 00:11:45.639 It sounds really good we can talk to God. 00:11:45.879 --> 00:11:46.879 It sounds really good that ultimately 00:11:46.879 --> 00:11:47.800 everything's going to be okay 00:11:47.800 --> 00:11:48.519 and we're going to be okay 00:11:48.519 --> 00:11:49.379 and we're going to be there in the end. 00:11:49.620 --> 00:11:50.399 That sounds really good. 00:11:50.420 --> 00:11:51.280 But what about here and now? 00:11:53.060 --> 00:11:53.940 What about now? 00:11:53.940 --> 00:11:57.560 I mean, right now, life is difficult. 00:11:59.460 --> 00:12:01.260 Right now, life is hard. 00:12:01.380 --> 00:12:03.160 Right now, I am in pain. 00:12:03.280 --> 00:12:04.660 Right now, there's tribulation. 00:12:04.820 --> 00:12:07.340 Right now, there's incredible pressure. 00:12:09.360 --> 00:12:10.640 How does all this talk about 00:12:10.640 --> 00:12:13.380 chapters 1, chapters 2, chapters 3, chapters 4, 00:12:13.660 --> 00:12:14.620 future, future, future? 00:12:14.800 --> 00:12:16.180 What does it mean to me right now? 00:12:20.320 --> 00:12:21.840 And Paul talks about that. 00:12:21.840 --> 00:12:25.080 And so today, what I want to talk about 00:12:25.080 --> 00:12:25.879 really briefly 00:12:25.879 --> 00:12:28.320 is I want to talk about tribulation. 00:12:29.899 --> 00:12:31.280 I want to talk about trials. 00:12:32.220 --> 00:12:33.379 I want to talk about pain. 00:12:33.480 --> 00:12:34.379 I want to talk about suffering. 00:12:34.600 --> 00:12:35.500 It's going to be the beginning. 00:12:36.620 --> 00:12:38.240 So don't expect it all to come here, 00:12:38.280 --> 00:12:40.379 but my hope is that we start to think about this 00:12:40.379 --> 00:12:42.320 and dialogue this as a church family. 00:12:43.639 --> 00:12:45.100 That if you're in your community group, 00:12:45.120 --> 00:12:46.500 you're going to be talking about it this week. 00:12:47.600 --> 00:12:49.100 In your lunch times after work 00:12:49.100 --> 00:12:50.660 with your other fellow brothers and sisters, 00:12:50.659 --> 00:12:52.120 you're going to be talking about this week. 00:12:53.100 --> 00:12:54.779 What does it mean for me to be a Christian 00:12:54.779 --> 00:12:55.919 and go through tribulation? 00:12:57.019 --> 00:12:59.179 What does it mean for me to be a follower of God 00:12:59.179 --> 00:13:01.079 and be stuck in all the mess 00:13:01.079 --> 00:13:04.779 that is here right now? 00:13:06.519 --> 00:13:07.519 So I want to talk about 00:13:07.519 --> 00:13:08.959 how we should think of tribulation. 00:13:09.399 --> 00:13:10.500 What is tribulation? 00:13:10.899 --> 00:13:12.500 And what we can learn about it? 00:13:12.559 --> 00:13:13.740 What can we learn from it? 00:13:13.740 --> 00:13:16.299 Now in Paul's day, 00:13:16.399 --> 00:13:17.680 there was two schools of thought 00:13:17.680 --> 00:13:19.840 about pain, suffering, and tribulation. 00:13:19.940 --> 00:13:22.419 These two schools of thought ruled everything. 00:13:23.220 --> 00:13:25.279 The first school of thought was the Epicureans. 00:13:26.279 --> 00:13:27.600 It was started by this Greek philosopher. 00:13:27.820 --> 00:13:29.259 The Greeks, didn't they have all the fun? 00:13:29.320 --> 00:13:30.240 They just sit around and think, 00:13:30.299 --> 00:13:30.960 and no one worked, 00:13:31.060 --> 00:13:33.100 and what a great life. 00:13:33.340 --> 00:13:34.500 And so this guy's Epicurious, 00:13:34.620 --> 00:13:35.740 about 340 B.C., 00:13:35.740 --> 00:13:38.799 thought through this philosophy of life 00:13:38.799 --> 00:13:40.299 on how to deal with pain and suffering, 00:13:40.299 --> 00:13:41.219 and he said this. 00:13:41.899 --> 00:13:42.179 He said, 00:13:42.240 --> 00:13:43.379 we're always going to have pain. 00:13:44.699 --> 00:13:46.219 We're always going to have suffering. 00:13:47.120 --> 00:13:49.019 There's no way we can get rid of it. 00:13:49.419 --> 00:13:51.699 So the key to life 00:13:51.699 --> 00:13:54.000 is to have more good things 00:13:54.000 --> 00:13:55.559 than bad things. 00:13:56.799 --> 00:13:58.339 Fill your life with pleasures. 00:13:58.639 --> 00:14:00.019 Fill your life with great things. 00:14:00.359 --> 00:14:01.839 Fill your life with fun experiences. 00:14:02.279 --> 00:14:04.159 Do as many good things as you can do 00:14:04.159 --> 00:14:06.279 to counterweight the bad things 00:14:06.279 --> 00:14:06.979 that happen to you. 00:14:07.240 --> 00:14:07.919 And in the end, 00:14:08.039 --> 00:14:09.240 hopefully your good experiences 00:14:09.240 --> 00:14:10.700 will outweigh your bad experiences, 00:14:10.860 --> 00:14:12.759 and you'll be said to have had a good life. 00:14:15.060 --> 00:14:15.680 I mean, it's kind of like 00:14:15.680 --> 00:14:17.519 the expat lifestyle in Hong Kong, isn't it? 00:14:18.680 --> 00:14:19.980 You work incredibly hard, 00:14:20.019 --> 00:14:20.940 and you play really hard. 00:14:21.399 --> 00:14:22.620 You work incredibly hard, 00:14:22.680 --> 00:14:23.500 and you play really hard. 00:14:24.080 --> 00:14:25.240 You work incredibly hard, 00:14:25.279 --> 00:14:26.200 and you buy a lot of stuff. 00:14:27.100 --> 00:14:28.779 I mean, we're Epicureans, right? 00:14:29.460 --> 00:14:31.379 We're trying to outweigh the bad 00:14:31.379 --> 00:14:32.560 with the good. 00:14:33.480 --> 00:14:35.139 Now, there's another group of philosophers 00:14:35.139 --> 00:14:36.940 in Paul's day, 00:14:36.940 --> 00:14:38.799 and they were guys called the Stoics. 00:14:40.240 --> 00:14:41.860 They were started by this guy named Zeno. 00:14:42.399 --> 00:14:43.000 I don't know, again, 00:14:43.100 --> 00:14:44.460 the Greeks have the greatest names, 00:14:44.560 --> 00:14:46.080 so Zeno, what a fun name. 00:14:46.560 --> 00:14:47.940 And so Zeno, basically, 00:14:48.139 --> 00:14:49.440 he expounded this idea. 00:14:49.519 --> 00:14:51.120 This is how you handle pain. 00:14:51.240 --> 00:14:52.700 This is how you handle suffering. 00:14:53.539 --> 00:14:55.379 You know, the Stoics were kind of like, 00:14:56.700 --> 00:14:58.560 they're kind of like the British people 00:14:58.560 --> 00:14:59.620 of Paul's day. 00:15:01.539 --> 00:15:03.019 Now, I know I usually pick on Australians 00:15:03.019 --> 00:15:04.480 and South Africans, 00:15:04.759 --> 00:15:06.299 but I'm going to pick on the British today. 00:15:06.919 --> 00:15:08.439 The Stoics were kind of like the Brits. 00:15:08.539 --> 00:15:09.500 You know, the Brits are just, 00:15:09.899 --> 00:15:11.459 you know, bad stuff comes your way, 00:15:12.219 --> 00:15:13.419 keep a stiff upper lip. 00:15:14.620 --> 00:15:15.879 I mean, bad stuff comes your way, 00:15:15.959 --> 00:15:16.979 and you're like that guard, 00:15:17.279 --> 00:15:18.819 guarding everybody in Buckingham Palace. 00:15:18.939 --> 00:15:19.659 You don't move. 00:15:19.719 --> 00:15:20.399 You don't think. 00:15:20.459 --> 00:15:22.099 You're just there. 00:15:22.240 --> 00:15:23.219 You're stoic. 00:15:23.620 --> 00:15:25.279 I mean, when bad stuff comes away, 00:15:25.399 --> 00:15:26.579 you know, hey, who cares? 00:15:26.759 --> 00:15:27.459 Stay calm. 00:15:28.379 --> 00:15:28.819 Carry on. 00:15:28.820 --> 00:15:32.379 If you stay calm and carry on, 00:15:32.720 --> 00:15:33.760 everything's going to go away. 00:15:34.540 --> 00:15:36.640 So bad things in life really, 00:15:36.760 --> 00:15:38.440 really don't matter 00:15:38.440 --> 00:15:39.820 because you're a rock. 00:15:41.320 --> 00:15:42.180 You're a Brit. 00:15:43.540 --> 00:15:44.820 Nothing can move you. 00:15:45.660 --> 00:15:47.300 Now, I will say that is not totally true 00:15:47.300 --> 00:15:50.260 because this last Sunday at the Rugby Sevens, 00:15:50.340 --> 00:15:52.720 I saw a lot of British people totally moved. 00:15:52.720 --> 00:15:58.139 I think it was probably the first time 00:15:58.139 --> 00:15:59.100 since the university 00:15:59.100 --> 00:16:00.700 that I had somebody cuss at me. 00:16:02.000 --> 00:16:03.759 I thought it was great. 00:16:03.980 --> 00:16:05.160 I mean, he didn't know what I did, 00:16:05.220 --> 00:16:06.139 and we're walking around, 00:16:06.200 --> 00:16:07.160 we're talking about rugby, 00:16:07.440 --> 00:16:09.220 and I'm holding my Diet Coke. 00:16:10.500 --> 00:16:11.240 And he's like, 00:16:11.320 --> 00:16:13.379 what the are you doing drinking a Diet Coke? 00:16:13.460 --> 00:16:14.620 Why aren't you drinking a beer? 00:16:16.019 --> 00:16:18.240 Here, have some of this bloody lemon pie and eat it. 00:16:19.580 --> 00:16:21.100 I was like, wow, that's kind of refreshing. 00:16:21.100 --> 00:16:24.100 So I realized that to get a British person un-Stoic, 00:16:24.740 --> 00:16:26.379 you just give them a couple beers, 00:16:26.600 --> 00:16:28.379 and they'll be speaking. 00:16:28.779 --> 00:16:29.639 But in Paul's day, 00:16:29.700 --> 00:16:31.340 they didn't have that opportunity, 00:16:31.980 --> 00:16:34.460 and so they had these guys called Stoics, 00:16:34.540 --> 00:16:37.320 and they just stay calm, carry on, 00:16:37.800 --> 00:16:38.779 everything's going to be okay. 00:16:39.420 --> 00:16:40.840 But all of a sudden in this passage, 00:16:41.019 --> 00:16:42.399 Paul says something radical. 00:16:44.139 --> 00:16:46.160 I mean, we don't realize it when we read this, 00:16:47.180 --> 00:16:50.200 but this is the first time in human history 00:16:50.200 --> 00:16:53.420 people would have heard words like this. 00:16:54.980 --> 00:16:59.200 Paul says that when plans, pain, and tribulation 00:16:59.200 --> 00:17:00.520 come into our lives, 00:17:02.379 --> 00:17:03.440 that God's in control. 00:17:06.680 --> 00:17:08.539 That God has allowed these things 00:17:08.539 --> 00:17:10.600 to come in there. 00:17:12.200 --> 00:17:14.400 That there's nothing that's happening to you right now 00:17:14.400 --> 00:17:15.240 as God's children 00:17:15.240 --> 00:17:18.040 that surprises God. 00:17:19.600 --> 00:17:22.860 That God is using these things 00:17:22.860 --> 00:17:26.340 to put pressure on you. 00:17:27.620 --> 00:17:29.560 The word tribulation, 00:17:30.259 --> 00:17:31.120 and I looked around, 00:17:31.200 --> 00:17:32.460 I couldn't find an example of it, 00:17:32.740 --> 00:17:34.240 but it's the word tribulum. 00:17:34.440 --> 00:17:36.300 It's like a big, big rake, 00:17:37.259 --> 00:17:39.200 a big piece of wooden wood, 00:17:39.200 --> 00:17:42.580 and it has these wooden spikes sticking out of it. 00:17:43.360 --> 00:17:44.759 And the tribulum was this rake, 00:17:45.019 --> 00:17:47.480 and you just kind of threw it down on the grain, 00:17:47.559 --> 00:17:48.460 and when it hit the grain, 00:17:48.539 --> 00:17:49.420 it put pressure on it, 00:17:49.600 --> 00:17:51.940 and it broke the grain and the chaff, 00:17:51.980 --> 00:17:53.059 and it separated those things. 00:17:53.420 --> 00:17:54.799 The tribulum was this pressure, 00:17:55.039 --> 00:17:56.539 and you threw it down on the grapes, 00:17:56.900 --> 00:17:58.019 and you hit it in the grapes, 00:17:58.100 --> 00:17:58.980 and you hit it in the grapes, 00:17:59.140 --> 00:18:02.440 and it separated the bad from the good 00:18:02.440 --> 00:18:05.059 in the grapes. 00:18:05.059 --> 00:18:07.799 And for the first time ever, 00:18:08.399 --> 00:18:12.659 Paul is saying that God knows what's going on. 00:18:14.319 --> 00:18:17.200 He knows the tribulum is coming into our life. 00:18:17.480 --> 00:18:20.339 He knows that the pain and suffering are happening, 00:18:21.460 --> 00:18:23.319 and he has a plan for it. 00:18:26.000 --> 00:18:27.519 He has a plan for it. 00:18:28.980 --> 00:18:31.099 The word tribulum, 00:18:32.240 --> 00:18:33.119 or tribulation, 00:18:33.899 --> 00:18:34.639 or trial, 00:18:35.819 --> 00:18:36.659 in Greek means, 00:18:36.740 --> 00:18:37.960 and I'm just going to use this as a definition. 00:18:38.099 --> 00:18:39.359 We're going to use it for the next couple weeks 00:18:39.359 --> 00:18:40.440 or whenever we talk about it. 00:18:41.200 --> 00:18:43.559 It means anything that comes into your life 00:18:43.559 --> 00:18:46.299 that's going to bring you to a point 00:18:46.299 --> 00:18:48.759 of making the decision, 00:18:50.039 --> 00:18:51.000 are you going to trust God, 00:18:51.859 --> 00:18:53.679 or are you not going to trust God? 00:18:55.559 --> 00:18:56.339 A trial, 00:18:58.200 --> 00:18:58.980 a tribulum, 00:18:59.980 --> 00:19:01.779 is anything that comes into your life 00:19:01.779 --> 00:19:04.240 that's going to bring you to a decision, 00:19:04.240 --> 00:19:05.220 or point of decision, 00:19:05.220 --> 00:19:07.440 or are you going to trust God, 00:19:07.839 --> 00:19:09.500 or are you not going to trust God? 00:19:10.460 --> 00:19:11.480 A tribulum can be anything. 00:19:11.620 --> 00:19:12.740 It can be an event 00:19:12.740 --> 00:19:14.059 that makes your life out of control. 00:19:14.220 --> 00:19:15.480 It can be your health issues. 00:19:15.700 --> 00:19:17.140 It can be relationship issues. 00:19:17.240 --> 00:19:18.180 It can be work issues. 00:19:18.460 --> 00:19:19.680 It can be financial issues. 00:19:19.839 --> 00:19:20.700 It can be anything 00:19:20.700 --> 00:19:21.740 that makes life harder, 00:19:22.140 --> 00:19:23.599 anything that threatens your faith 00:19:23.599 --> 00:19:24.640 in God's faithfulness, 00:19:25.000 --> 00:19:26.079 anything that threatens your faith 00:19:26.079 --> 00:19:26.819 in God's goodness, 00:19:27.240 --> 00:19:28.319 anything that threatens your faith 00:19:28.319 --> 00:19:29.120 in God's power, 00:19:29.500 --> 00:19:30.819 anything that threatens your faith 00:19:30.819 --> 00:19:31.819 that God is in control. 00:19:32.240 --> 00:19:39.839 A tribulation, Paul says, is anything that comes into your life and threatens your thought that God is good and that he loves you as his children. 00:19:41.939 --> 00:19:46.079 And Paul says, by the way, those things are going to come. 00:19:48.220 --> 00:19:51.939 If you live like you don't want them to, if you live like you're not expecting them to, 00:19:51.939 --> 00:19:56.460 if you live like when they come and they hit you and you go, oh, I wasn't expecting that. 00:19:56.460 --> 00:20:04.980 But Paul says, you've lost the story of what God wants to do in your life. 00:20:07.180 --> 00:20:08.460 I've thought about this a lot. 00:20:11.460 --> 00:20:13.980 I thought about it a lot when I went back to Montgomery, Alabama, 00:20:14.100 --> 00:20:16.720 to talk to the people about what was going on in the church there. 00:20:19.240 --> 00:20:21.799 I know I'm going to offend most of us. 00:20:21.799 --> 00:20:28.899 Because I think in this point, God's word can be very offensive. 00:20:30.839 --> 00:20:33.680 But I think most of us think that trials are bad. 00:20:37.500 --> 00:20:40.460 I think most of us think that tribulation is terrible. 00:20:42.059 --> 00:20:45.159 I think that most of us run from trials and tribulations 00:20:45.159 --> 00:20:50.139 and that most of us spend most of our time avoiding discomfort. 00:20:50.140 --> 00:20:55.759 I think most of us, and I'm talking to myself, 00:20:56.980 --> 00:20:59.200 our main goal in life 00:20:59.200 --> 00:21:03.380 is to be happy 00:21:03.380 --> 00:21:06.640 and to feel good about ourselves. 00:21:10.160 --> 00:21:12.020 I think that most of us, 00:21:12.580 --> 00:21:15.020 our main goal in our life 00:21:15.020 --> 00:21:17.980 is to be happy 00:21:17.980 --> 00:21:21.460 and to feel good about ourselves. 00:21:23.640 --> 00:21:25.539 We do that by we control things. 00:21:25.640 --> 00:21:27.240 We try to control our circumstances. 00:21:27.599 --> 00:21:29.259 We try to control our living conditions. 00:21:29.380 --> 00:21:30.960 We try to control our food intake. 00:21:31.319 --> 00:21:32.599 We try to control our safety. 00:21:32.740 --> 00:21:33.880 We try to control our health. 00:21:34.220 --> 00:21:35.460 We try to control our sleep. 00:21:35.559 --> 00:21:36.720 We try to control our relationships. 00:21:37.099 --> 00:21:38.559 We can try to control our work. 00:21:39.500 --> 00:21:42.360 But the minute we lose control of those things, 00:21:42.359 --> 00:21:46.699 the minute life comes unglued or unraveled or out of control, 00:21:46.859 --> 00:21:48.319 the minute those things happen, 00:21:48.399 --> 00:21:49.279 I get unhappy. 00:21:51.379 --> 00:21:52.500 I get unhappy. 00:21:54.839 --> 00:21:57.479 And I spend a lot of effort and a lot of time 00:21:57.479 --> 00:21:59.599 trying to grab my control back. 00:21:59.599 --> 00:22:02.599 But Paul says, 00:22:02.779 --> 00:22:04.879 Tobin, if you live your life like this, 00:22:05.579 --> 00:22:09.719 if you live your life trying to avoid the tribulations 00:22:09.719 --> 00:22:11.019 and trying to avoid the pain, 00:22:11.339 --> 00:22:12.379 trying to avoid the suffering, 00:22:12.519 --> 00:22:13.480 trying to avoid the trials, 00:22:13.719 --> 00:22:14.819 if you live your life like this, 00:22:14.859 --> 00:22:16.059 you're always going to be disappointed. 00:22:16.379 --> 00:22:17.500 You're always going to be unhappy 00:22:17.500 --> 00:22:20.199 because life as a child of God 00:22:20.199 --> 00:22:22.779 is always going to be full of those things. 00:22:22.779 --> 00:22:31.559 I asked somebody who I know in our congregation 00:22:31.559 --> 00:22:33.899 who's had a couple trials and tribulations 00:22:33.899 --> 00:22:37.240 to come up and share a little bit of their story. 00:22:38.559 --> 00:22:41.180 And so I want to just introduce my wife. 00:22:42.079 --> 00:22:42.899 But don't laugh 00:22:42.899 --> 00:22:46.680 because her tribulation and trial isn't marrying me, 00:22:47.139 --> 00:22:47.879 though it might be. 00:22:48.720 --> 00:22:50.119 And so I've asked Christina to come up 00:22:50.119 --> 00:22:52.559 and just share a little bit about what God's been doing in her life. 00:22:52.779 --> 00:22:58.399 So Christina, 00:22:58.980 --> 00:23:00.220 you're right there. 00:23:01.839 --> 00:23:02.559 So Christina, 00:23:02.819 --> 00:23:04.720 before we were talking last night and this morning, 00:23:04.799 --> 00:23:05.059 she goes, 00:23:05.160 --> 00:23:06.160 wow, I'm going to be a little nervous, 00:23:06.359 --> 00:23:09.539 so can you do something to relax me up 00:23:09.539 --> 00:23:11.379 and make me feel not so nervous? 00:23:11.579 --> 00:23:12.720 So I thought I'd just get up here 00:23:12.720 --> 00:23:14.539 and we can just talk about sex. 00:23:16.240 --> 00:23:18.279 So we want to talk about our sex life and sex. 00:23:18.359 --> 00:23:19.799 That probably relax everything. 00:23:20.279 --> 00:23:21.019 Okay, you did it. 00:23:21.059 --> 00:23:21.420 You did it. 00:23:21.460 --> 00:23:21.839 I'm fine. 00:23:22.000 --> 00:23:22.299 I'm fine. 00:23:22.299 --> 00:23:23.539 I don't want to talk to you anymore. 00:23:25.319 --> 00:23:26.259 But I thought, 00:23:26.919 --> 00:23:31.000 so Christina is one of my heroes. 00:23:32.419 --> 00:23:35.299 And it's really neat to be a husband 00:23:35.299 --> 00:23:36.779 and be married to one of your heroes. 00:23:37.759 --> 00:23:42.779 And so I thought that I wanted just you to share a little bit 00:23:42.779 --> 00:23:47.700 about one of the trials and tribulations that you have gone through in your life. 00:23:49.480 --> 00:23:49.799 Okay. 00:23:51.240 --> 00:23:51.639 Well, 00:23:52.599 --> 00:23:57.079 maybe one of my trials is living with my husband. 00:23:59.200 --> 00:24:00.319 Or should I say, 00:24:00.399 --> 00:24:00.559 no, 00:24:00.599 --> 00:24:01.759 it's a pure joy. 00:24:01.759 --> 00:24:08.839 Tobin wanted me to share one of the first trials, 00:24:08.839 --> 00:24:11.579 big trials in my life when I was younger. 00:24:11.579 --> 00:24:16.279 So when I was about 21 or 22 in university, 00:24:16.279 --> 00:24:17.879 I was in the U.S. 00:24:17.879 --> 00:24:19.299 And my parents were back. 00:24:19.619 --> 00:24:21.659 My father was working in Malaysia at the time. 00:24:21.919 --> 00:24:24.699 So we were halfway across the world from each other. 00:24:24.700 --> 00:24:28.259 And I had my wrist. 00:24:28.380 --> 00:24:29.779 My wrist was hurting me. 00:24:30.180 --> 00:24:30.980 And so I said, 00:24:31.080 --> 00:24:31.460 okay, 00:24:31.740 --> 00:24:33.720 I have tendinitis in my wrist. 00:24:33.860 --> 00:24:34.200 And so I was like, 00:24:34.240 --> 00:24:34.360 okay, 00:24:34.400 --> 00:24:37.819 I'll just go to the medical clinic at my university 00:24:37.819 --> 00:24:40.200 and see if there's anything they can do about it. 00:24:40.460 --> 00:24:42.439 So I went in and they took some blood tests. 00:24:42.559 --> 00:24:43.379 And it was a Friday. 00:24:43.899 --> 00:24:44.159 No, 00:24:44.179 --> 00:24:44.279 no, 00:24:44.439 --> 00:24:45.099 it was a, 00:24:45.740 --> 00:24:46.720 must have been a Thursday. 00:24:46.879 --> 00:24:47.319 So they come back, 00:24:47.339 --> 00:24:47.460 say, 00:24:47.539 --> 00:24:48.359 come back tomorrow, 00:24:48.519 --> 00:24:48.799 Friday. 00:24:50.220 --> 00:24:51.240 And we'll, 00:24:51.299 --> 00:24:52.359 you know, 00:24:52.419 --> 00:24:53.539 tell you what we find out. 00:24:53.679 --> 00:24:55.179 So I go, 00:24:55.319 --> 00:24:57.439 I walk into the medical clinic at my school 00:24:57.439 --> 00:24:59.700 and all the nurses are saying, 00:25:00.259 --> 00:25:01.879 that one right there, 00:25:02.059 --> 00:25:03.460 that one right there. 00:25:03.460 --> 00:25:04.359 And I was like, 00:25:04.819 --> 00:25:05.039 okay, 00:25:05.059 --> 00:25:05.960 that's a bit weird, 00:25:06.220 --> 00:25:07.200 a bit strange, 00:25:07.200 --> 00:25:07.960 a little bit, 00:25:08.080 --> 00:25:08.559 you know, 00:25:09.220 --> 00:25:10.640 uneasy feeling. 00:25:11.620 --> 00:25:12.660 And then they, 00:25:12.660 --> 00:25:14.440 they take me back into the room 00:25:14.440 --> 00:25:14.779 and the, 00:25:14.819 --> 00:25:16.559 and the doctor says, 00:25:16.700 --> 00:25:16.940 well, 00:25:17.420 --> 00:25:20.019 we don't know what's wrong with you, 00:25:20.299 --> 00:25:23.120 but you have low platelets in your body 00:25:23.120 --> 00:25:25.200 and forget about your hand. 00:25:25.299 --> 00:25:26.519 Let's deal with your blood. 00:25:26.840 --> 00:25:29.279 And so to this day, 00:25:29.340 --> 00:25:31.279 nobody's ever addressed my hand again. 00:25:31.880 --> 00:25:33.539 It's no longer priority. 00:25:34.160 --> 00:25:36.420 But they said, 00:25:36.420 --> 00:25:38.100 we don't know you might have cancer. 00:25:38.380 --> 00:25:39.600 You might have leukemia. 00:25:40.000 --> 00:25:41.220 We don't know what you have. 00:25:41.580 --> 00:25:44.720 So we think you need to go to a real doctor, 00:25:44.920 --> 00:25:46.180 go and go to the hospital. 00:25:46.720 --> 00:25:48.060 So have a nice weekend. 00:25:48.279 --> 00:25:48.880 And we'll, 00:25:49.039 --> 00:25:49.279 you know, 00:25:49.279 --> 00:25:49.940 talk to you later. 00:25:49.940 --> 00:25:51.880 I was like, 00:25:52.519 --> 00:25:53.519 okay, 00:25:53.720 --> 00:25:54.279 oh my gosh. 00:25:54.360 --> 00:25:55.580 So I started, 00:25:55.799 --> 00:25:57.400 like a normal person would do, 00:25:57.500 --> 00:25:58.539 started freaking out. 00:25:59.059 --> 00:25:59.940 And I ran, 00:25:59.940 --> 00:26:01.120 ran home to my roommate 00:26:01.120 --> 00:26:03.220 and told her what the doctor said 00:26:03.220 --> 00:26:04.500 and started freaking out 00:26:04.500 --> 00:26:05.500 and started going, 00:26:05.660 --> 00:26:06.360 oh my gosh, 00:26:06.640 --> 00:26:06.980 you know, 00:26:07.039 --> 00:26:08.320 maybe I'm going to die tomorrow, 00:26:08.480 --> 00:26:08.820 you know. 00:26:09.420 --> 00:26:10.200 And so, 00:26:10.320 --> 00:26:11.059 of course, 00:26:11.100 --> 00:26:12.140 it was always on a weekend. 00:26:12.259 --> 00:26:13.880 You always get news on the, 00:26:14.039 --> 00:26:14.220 on, 00:26:14.380 --> 00:26:14.680 you know, 00:26:14.920 --> 00:26:16.259 then you have to wait the whole weekend. 00:26:16.400 --> 00:26:17.279 Doesn't it seem like that? 00:26:17.279 --> 00:26:18.359 Always seems like that to me. 00:26:18.720 --> 00:26:19.440 So I had to wait 00:26:19.440 --> 00:26:19.980 and to go, 00:26:20.259 --> 00:26:23.059 go back on Monday to the doctor 00:26:23.059 --> 00:26:23.720 and, 00:26:24.139 --> 00:26:26.259 which started a series of tests. 00:26:26.500 --> 00:26:27.440 And basically, 00:26:27.440 --> 00:26:30.579 I have low platelets. 00:26:30.680 --> 00:26:31.200 In your blood, 00:26:31.339 --> 00:26:32.299 there are three things. 00:26:32.480 --> 00:26:34.720 There are red blood cells, 00:26:34.859 --> 00:26:35.500 white blood cells, 00:26:35.559 --> 00:26:36.019 and platelets. 00:26:36.180 --> 00:26:37.960 And platelets is what makes your blood clot. 00:26:38.399 --> 00:26:41.079 So they weren't so concerned about my, 00:26:41.079 --> 00:26:44.639 breaking an arm. 00:26:44.720 --> 00:26:45.460 You see that. 00:26:45.460 --> 00:26:47.440 You see the brokenness or the, 00:26:47.440 --> 00:26:49.660 the blood or how much blood you're losing. 00:26:49.740 --> 00:26:51.559 They're more concerned about internal bleeding 00:26:51.559 --> 00:26:54.240 and more specifically hemorrhaging to the brain, 00:26:54.299 --> 00:26:54.519 right? 00:26:54.840 --> 00:26:56.559 So I would, 00:26:56.740 --> 00:26:57.579 they said, 00:26:57.980 --> 00:26:58.900 so I went to the doctor 00:26:58.900 --> 00:26:59.880 and week after week, 00:26:59.960 --> 00:27:01.440 I went back for more tests 00:27:01.440 --> 00:27:02.799 and more checking my blood. 00:27:03.039 --> 00:27:03.980 And my platelets, 00:27:04.079 --> 00:27:06.720 you're supposed to be 150,000 00:27:06.720 --> 00:27:10.259 to 300,000 of platelets in your blood, 00:27:10.920 --> 00:27:11.840 in your body. 00:27:12.360 --> 00:27:12.860 I was, 00:27:13.059 --> 00:27:14.440 I had gone down to 50. 00:27:14.440 --> 00:27:15.279 30,000. 00:27:15.279 --> 00:27:16.059 And then, 00:27:16.160 --> 00:27:16.759 50,000. 00:27:17.299 --> 00:27:18.140 And then, 00:27:18.259 --> 00:27:21.120 it went down to 40,000. 00:27:21.240 --> 00:27:22.340 And then 30,000. 00:27:22.460 --> 00:27:23.680 And then 20,000. 00:27:23.940 --> 00:27:25.880 And the lowest my platelets got down to 00:27:25.880 --> 00:27:27.019 was 19,000. 00:27:27.340 --> 00:27:29.140 And at 15,000, 00:27:29.240 --> 00:27:29.680 they say, 00:27:29.820 --> 00:27:30.120 we better, 00:27:30.380 --> 00:27:32.360 we need to put you in the hospital 00:27:32.360 --> 00:27:33.460 and you need to be bedridden 00:27:33.460 --> 00:27:35.940 because we're concerned about your, 00:27:36.059 --> 00:27:36.299 you know, 00:27:36.460 --> 00:27:36.720 walk. 00:27:36.779 --> 00:27:38.200 So I'd walk along the street 00:27:38.200 --> 00:27:39.700 in university in the sidewalk 00:27:39.700 --> 00:27:41.160 and see a crack 00:27:41.160 --> 00:27:41.600 and go, 00:27:41.799 --> 00:27:42.259 oh my gosh, 00:27:42.319 --> 00:27:43.180 I better be really careful 00:27:43.180 --> 00:27:43.740 with this crack 00:27:43.740 --> 00:27:44.700 because if I fell down, 00:27:44.759 --> 00:27:45.620 I could have internal bleeding 00:27:45.620 --> 00:27:46.299 and not know it 00:27:46.299 --> 00:27:46.460 and, 00:27:46.799 --> 00:27:46.960 you know, 00:27:47.019 --> 00:27:47.440 all of it. 00:27:47.759 --> 00:27:50.299 And then I did intramural sports, 00:27:50.299 --> 00:27:51.140 basketball, 00:27:51.460 --> 00:27:52.000 and I was like, 00:27:52.080 --> 00:27:52.240 okay, 00:27:52.299 --> 00:27:53.360 I guess I better not do that. 00:27:53.420 --> 00:27:54.420 That's just not safe. 00:27:54.980 --> 00:27:58.080 I found myself studying for finals 00:27:58.080 --> 00:27:59.320 in a hospital bed, 00:28:00.140 --> 00:28:01.400 just hooked up to IV 00:28:01.400 --> 00:28:02.480 just to get medicine 00:28:02.480 --> 00:28:03.660 to coat my platelets 00:28:03.660 --> 00:28:04.900 so I can keep going out 00:28:04.900 --> 00:28:06.420 and doing what I needed to do. 00:28:09.180 --> 00:28:11.500 So how it all ended up, 00:28:11.519 --> 00:28:12.920 this went on for about a year. 00:28:13.400 --> 00:28:14.259 This whole process 00:28:14.259 --> 00:28:15.620 was probably about a year 00:28:15.620 --> 00:28:17.039 worth of my life. 00:28:17.740 --> 00:28:18.380 And what, 00:28:18.620 --> 00:28:20.180 in the end, 00:28:20.279 --> 00:28:21.840 I had a surgery 00:28:21.840 --> 00:28:23.480 at the end of this 00:28:23.480 --> 00:28:24.779 particular trial. 00:28:24.900 --> 00:28:25.680 I had a surgery 00:28:25.680 --> 00:28:28.079 and they said that 00:28:28.079 --> 00:28:30.460 80% of the time 00:28:30.460 --> 00:28:32.339 when you take out 00:28:32.339 --> 00:28:33.380 your spleen, 00:28:33.819 --> 00:28:35.319 your spleen is seeing 00:28:35.319 --> 00:28:37.299 your platelets as bad 00:28:37.299 --> 00:28:38.279 and it's destroying them. 00:28:38.360 --> 00:28:39.259 So you take out your spleen 00:28:39.259 --> 00:28:40.839 and it solves the problem. 00:28:41.079 --> 00:28:42.000 Your platelets go back up 00:28:42.000 --> 00:28:42.819 to a normal level. 00:28:43.200 --> 00:28:44.599 So I had my spleen taken out 00:28:44.599 --> 00:28:45.759 and I have a lovely scar 00:28:45.759 --> 00:28:46.980 across my whole stomach 00:28:46.980 --> 00:28:48.039 to prove, 00:28:48.519 --> 00:28:49.079 to, 00:28:49.160 --> 00:28:49.680 you know, 00:28:49.740 --> 00:28:50.180 show my, 00:28:50.779 --> 00:28:51.779 that I had this surgery. 00:28:52.460 --> 00:28:52.759 And, 00:28:52.759 --> 00:28:54.319 and my platelets 00:28:54.319 --> 00:28:54.940 went back up 00:28:54.940 --> 00:28:55.920 to a normal level 00:28:55.920 --> 00:28:57.140 of 100 for me, 00:28:57.200 --> 00:28:57.759 100,000, 00:28:57.839 --> 00:28:58.779 which is great for me. 00:28:59.460 --> 00:29:00.299 So today, 00:29:00.480 --> 00:29:00.859 and today, 00:29:00.980 --> 00:29:02.059 how does that affect me? 00:29:02.140 --> 00:29:03.180 The only side effect 00:29:03.180 --> 00:29:04.379 it has for my life today 00:29:04.379 --> 00:29:05.379 is when I'm pregnant. 00:29:06.259 --> 00:29:07.859 And for some reason, 00:29:07.960 --> 00:29:08.599 when I'm pregnant, 00:29:08.859 --> 00:29:09.519 my platelets 00:29:09.519 --> 00:29:10.819 dropped back down again. 00:29:11.359 --> 00:29:12.400 And so, 00:29:12.779 --> 00:29:14.200 when my first pregnancy, 00:29:14.200 --> 00:29:15.480 we didn't know 00:29:15.480 --> 00:29:16.660 what, 00:29:16.799 --> 00:29:18.940 what we had in store, 00:29:19.099 --> 00:29:19.259 what, 00:29:19.259 --> 00:29:19.799 how, 00:29:19.799 --> 00:29:21.559 how it would affect 00:29:21.559 --> 00:29:22.759 my delivery 00:29:22.759 --> 00:29:23.480 and how much blood 00:29:23.480 --> 00:29:23.960 I would make, 00:29:24.079 --> 00:29:24.480 how much blood 00:29:24.480 --> 00:29:25.160 I would lose 00:29:25.160 --> 00:29:25.420 and, 00:29:25.480 --> 00:29:27.240 and could I handle 00:29:27.240 --> 00:29:28.960 a delivery or not. 00:29:29.079 --> 00:29:30.460 But that's another trial, 00:29:30.680 --> 00:29:31.599 another whole story 00:29:31.599 --> 00:29:32.359 for another day. 00:29:32.460 --> 00:29:33.519 I won't go into that one. 00:29:33.779 --> 00:29:33.980 Okay. 00:29:34.339 --> 00:29:34.740 That's good. 00:29:35.400 --> 00:29:36.319 And we're glad 00:29:36.319 --> 00:29:36.980 you're here. 00:29:37.480 --> 00:29:38.079 Thank you. 00:29:38.079 --> 00:29:38.799 What did you, 00:29:39.059 --> 00:29:40.460 what was God teaching you 00:29:40.460 --> 00:29:41.279 during this time? 00:29:41.539 --> 00:29:42.480 What were you learning? 00:29:44.359 --> 00:29:44.819 Well, 00:29:44.939 --> 00:29:46.039 soon I learned 00:29:46.039 --> 00:29:46.899 very quickly 00:29:46.899 --> 00:29:47.839 that I wouldn't, 00:29:47.960 --> 00:29:48.259 I was, 00:29:48.359 --> 00:29:49.399 there was no way 00:29:49.399 --> 00:29:51.159 I could live 00:29:51.159 --> 00:29:52.339 week to week 00:29:52.339 --> 00:29:53.279 depending upon 00:29:53.279 --> 00:29:54.740 my blood level count. 00:29:55.240 --> 00:29:56.619 That if my blood level 00:29:56.619 --> 00:29:57.539 count was high, 00:29:57.740 --> 00:29:58.720 I was high. 00:29:58.859 --> 00:29:59.679 If my blood level 00:29:59.679 --> 00:30:00.519 count was low, 00:30:00.639 --> 00:30:01.259 I was low. 00:30:01.359 --> 00:30:01.919 So I was living 00:30:01.919 --> 00:30:03.619 this emotional roller coaster 00:30:03.619 --> 00:30:04.759 and I realized 00:30:04.759 --> 00:30:05.319 very quickly 00:30:05.319 --> 00:30:06.220 there's no way 00:30:06.220 --> 00:30:06.960 I can do this. 00:30:06.960 --> 00:30:07.440 I, you know, 00:30:07.500 --> 00:30:08.200 I'm going to be a wreck. 00:30:08.319 --> 00:30:09.259 I'm going to be emotional, 00:30:09.480 --> 00:30:10.840 a physical wreck 00:30:10.840 --> 00:30:11.579 doing this. 00:30:12.000 --> 00:30:12.680 And so, 00:30:12.840 --> 00:30:14.279 the first thing I did 00:30:14.279 --> 00:30:16.200 was I started to pray. 00:30:16.400 --> 00:30:17.340 I started to say, 00:30:17.420 --> 00:30:17.700 Lord, 00:30:18.259 --> 00:30:19.740 help me take this away. 00:30:20.440 --> 00:30:21.440 What do I do? 00:30:21.519 --> 00:30:22.200 Help, help, help. 00:30:22.319 --> 00:30:22.600 You know, 00:30:23.120 --> 00:30:24.860 this is beyond me. 00:30:25.140 --> 00:30:25.579 Help me. 00:30:25.880 --> 00:30:27.519 And this, 00:30:27.680 --> 00:30:28.720 this is what started 00:30:28.720 --> 00:30:29.740 probably a lot 00:30:29.740 --> 00:30:30.319 of the questions 00:30:30.319 --> 00:30:31.460 I started to have 00:30:31.460 --> 00:30:32.420 because God 00:30:32.420 --> 00:30:33.380 didn't take it away. 00:30:33.500 --> 00:30:34.960 It kept week after week. 00:30:34.960 --> 00:30:35.960 It still stayed 00:30:35.960 --> 00:30:38.100 and it would go 00:30:38.100 --> 00:30:39.000 lower and lower. 00:30:39.539 --> 00:30:40.720 And so, 00:30:41.039 --> 00:30:42.200 I started questioning, 00:30:42.700 --> 00:30:44.840 did I not have 00:30:44.840 --> 00:30:45.559 enough faith? 00:30:46.259 --> 00:30:46.960 Was my faith 00:30:46.960 --> 00:30:47.500 not enough? 00:30:47.579 --> 00:30:47.960 Is that why 00:30:47.960 --> 00:30:48.779 my prayers 00:30:48.779 --> 00:30:49.680 weren't being answered? 00:30:50.160 --> 00:30:50.600 Is that why 00:30:50.600 --> 00:30:51.700 this wasn't going away? 00:30:51.900 --> 00:30:52.900 Or did I do 00:30:52.900 --> 00:30:53.819 something wrong 00:30:53.819 --> 00:30:55.100 and the Lord 00:30:55.100 --> 00:30:55.559 was trying to 00:30:55.559 --> 00:30:56.360 discipline me 00:30:56.360 --> 00:30:57.440 and this is why 00:30:57.440 --> 00:30:58.360 this is happening to me? 00:30:58.400 --> 00:30:59.180 I didn't understand 00:30:59.180 --> 00:31:00.220 why this was happening 00:31:00.220 --> 00:31:00.900 to me, right? 00:31:00.900 --> 00:31:02.500 I had plans 00:31:02.500 --> 00:31:03.160 for my life, 00:31:03.220 --> 00:31:03.380 you know? 00:31:03.440 --> 00:31:04.280 I was in university. 00:31:04.580 --> 00:31:05.440 I was going places. 00:31:05.580 --> 00:31:06.780 I had lots to do 00:31:06.780 --> 00:31:07.940 and lots of plans 00:31:07.940 --> 00:31:09.240 and the Lord stopped. 00:31:09.380 --> 00:31:09.900 It all came 00:31:09.900 --> 00:31:10.840 to a complete stop 00:31:10.840 --> 00:31:11.120 and said, 00:31:11.200 --> 00:31:12.740 no, stop right here. 00:31:13.580 --> 00:31:14.820 And I spent more days 00:31:14.820 --> 00:31:15.340 in the hospital 00:31:15.340 --> 00:31:16.140 than I did, 00:31:16.180 --> 00:31:16.560 you know, 00:31:16.640 --> 00:31:17.360 at school. 00:31:19.080 --> 00:31:20.280 This really drew me 00:31:20.280 --> 00:31:21.580 to seek the Lord 00:31:21.580 --> 00:31:22.400 more and more 00:31:22.400 --> 00:31:23.640 and learn more 00:31:23.640 --> 00:31:24.620 about who he was 00:31:24.620 --> 00:31:25.360 and his character 00:31:25.359 --> 00:31:26.759 and I was like, 00:31:27.019 --> 00:31:27.939 I have to know 00:31:27.939 --> 00:31:29.639 why and what 00:31:29.639 --> 00:31:30.699 about God. 00:31:30.819 --> 00:31:31.479 Why is this happening 00:31:31.479 --> 00:31:32.179 in my life? 00:31:33.099 --> 00:31:34.379 And I looked, 00:31:34.619 --> 00:31:35.359 I started reading 00:31:35.359 --> 00:31:36.639 verse after verse. 00:31:36.839 --> 00:31:38.079 I did a whole, 00:31:38.159 --> 00:31:39.119 somebody challenged me 00:31:39.119 --> 00:31:40.699 to do a whole study 00:31:40.699 --> 00:31:41.799 on the word blood 00:31:41.799 --> 00:31:42.959 since that was my issue 00:31:42.959 --> 00:31:44.099 and so I did a whole study 00:31:44.099 --> 00:31:44.559 on blood 00:31:44.559 --> 00:31:45.419 which, you know, 00:31:45.500 --> 00:31:46.279 Jesus can relate 00:31:46.279 --> 00:31:46.879 to blood, right? 00:31:48.519 --> 00:31:48.959 So, 00:31:49.259 --> 00:31:50.000 but one of them 00:31:50.000 --> 00:31:50.740 was like Mark, 00:31:51.159 --> 00:31:52.039 in Mark 9, 00:31:52.159 --> 00:31:53.319 there's a man 00:31:53.319 --> 00:31:55.279 who brings his son 00:31:55.279 --> 00:31:55.859 to Jesus 00:31:55.859 --> 00:31:56.879 because his son 00:31:56.879 --> 00:31:57.399 is ill 00:31:57.399 --> 00:31:59.359 and his comment 00:31:59.359 --> 00:32:00.000 to Jesus 00:32:00.000 --> 00:32:02.799 is help me believe 00:32:02.799 --> 00:32:04.720 within my unbelief 00:32:04.720 --> 00:32:07.099 and that gave me 00:32:07.099 --> 00:32:08.420 so much encouragement 00:32:08.420 --> 00:32:10.720 that it was God's job 00:32:10.720 --> 00:32:11.960 to give him the belief 00:32:11.960 --> 00:32:12.899 that he didn't have 00:32:12.899 --> 00:32:13.359 the belief, 00:32:13.500 --> 00:32:14.440 he didn't have the faith 00:32:14.440 --> 00:32:15.599 but he was asking 00:32:15.599 --> 00:32:16.039 the Lord 00:32:16.039 --> 00:32:17.119 to give him the faith 00:32:17.119 --> 00:32:17.859 that he needed 00:32:17.859 --> 00:32:19.139 to get through this 00:32:19.139 --> 00:32:21.740 and also in James 5, 00:32:21.920 --> 00:32:25.119 talks about prayer 00:32:25.119 --> 00:32:25.739 and the prayer 00:32:25.739 --> 00:32:25.759 and the prayer 00:32:25.759 --> 00:32:26.879 of a righteous man 00:32:26.879 --> 00:32:27.619 is powerful 00:32:27.619 --> 00:32:28.359 and effective 00:32:28.359 --> 00:32:29.919 and I didn't know, 00:32:30.019 --> 00:32:30.779 I didn't understand 00:32:30.779 --> 00:32:31.599 but I just was like 00:32:31.599 --> 00:32:32.299 I'm going to trust 00:32:32.299 --> 00:32:32.939 and I'm going to obey 00:32:32.939 --> 00:32:34.799 and I'm going to keep praying 00:32:34.799 --> 00:32:35.619 and the power 00:32:35.619 --> 00:32:37.379 of a righteous man 00:32:37.379 --> 00:32:38.000 is powerful 00:32:38.000 --> 00:32:38.619 and effective 00:32:38.619 --> 00:32:39.419 and I'm going to stand 00:32:39.419 --> 00:32:39.959 on that. 00:32:39.960 --> 00:32:41.860 I said, 00:32:41.940 --> 00:32:42.500 I'm going to stand 00:32:42.500 --> 00:32:43.500 on your promises Lord, 00:32:43.579 --> 00:32:44.140 I'm going to stand 00:32:44.140 --> 00:32:44.880 to things I know 00:32:44.880 --> 00:32:45.980 is true about you 00:32:45.980 --> 00:32:47.380 that he gives, 00:32:47.539 --> 00:32:48.920 he gives our faith 00:32:48.920 --> 00:32:50.000 for that time of need 00:32:50.000 --> 00:32:52.960 that he is the giver of life 00:32:52.960 --> 00:32:53.840 that it's free 00:32:53.840 --> 00:32:54.880 for him to give 00:32:54.880 --> 00:32:56.180 and for him to take away. 00:32:56.299 --> 00:32:57.720 I need to accept that 00:32:57.720 --> 00:32:59.539 and be content 00:32:59.539 --> 00:33:01.600 and learn to be content in that 00:33:01.600 --> 00:33:04.299 and that one other thing 00:33:04.299 --> 00:33:07.519 was that wherever my body is, 00:33:07.519 --> 00:33:08.960 my physical body is, 00:33:09.299 --> 00:33:10.779 that's where he wants me 00:33:10.779 --> 00:33:12.660 because he knows, 00:33:13.160 --> 00:33:14.299 he enabled me 00:33:14.299 --> 00:33:15.299 to be like this 00:33:15.299 --> 00:33:16.319 in this situation 00:33:16.319 --> 00:33:19.220 and so if my only place 00:33:19.220 --> 00:33:20.339 that my body can be 00:33:20.339 --> 00:33:21.180 is in a hospital, 00:33:21.319 --> 00:33:22.339 that's where he wants me. 00:33:22.420 --> 00:33:23.059 If it's at home, 00:33:23.139 --> 00:33:23.920 that's where he wants me. 00:33:24.000 --> 00:33:25.420 If I'm able to go out, 00:33:25.500 --> 00:33:26.579 that's where he wants me 00:33:26.579 --> 00:33:28.799 and so to accept 00:33:28.799 --> 00:33:31.460 and yield my self 00:33:31.460 --> 00:33:34.000 to his will for my life 00:33:34.000 --> 00:33:35.619 and what he wants for me 00:33:35.619 --> 00:33:37.480 and my motto started 00:33:37.480 --> 00:33:38.599 to be in my life, 00:33:39.160 --> 00:33:40.940 I am not going to allow 00:33:40.940 --> 00:33:43.059 anyone or anything 00:33:43.059 --> 00:33:45.640 to rob me of the joy 00:33:45.640 --> 00:33:47.019 that the Lord has for me. 00:33:49.860 --> 00:33:50.720 How does this, 00:33:51.299 --> 00:33:52.140 if you think about that, 00:33:52.220 --> 00:33:52.980 where you've been 00:33:52.980 --> 00:33:54.240 and the transition 00:33:54.240 --> 00:33:54.740 of those things, 00:33:54.779 --> 00:33:55.860 how does that affect you today 00:33:55.860 --> 00:33:57.279 like where you're at right now? 00:33:57.519 --> 00:33:57.799 Okay. 00:33:59.019 --> 00:34:00.220 Because I know you never imagined 00:34:00.220 --> 00:34:01.599 being married to such a 00:34:01.599 --> 00:34:03.120 handsome husband 00:34:03.120 --> 00:34:05.039 or those type of things, 00:34:05.200 --> 00:34:06.799 so how does that affect you now? 00:34:06.799 --> 00:34:08.440 Humility is not a problem, 00:34:08.539 --> 00:34:08.900 is it? 00:34:12.840 --> 00:34:13.860 Okay, thank you. 00:34:18.059 --> 00:34:19.519 Actually, just after Tobin 00:34:19.519 --> 00:34:22.920 asked me to talk about this, 00:34:23.579 --> 00:34:24.320 I've talked about a lot 00:34:24.320 --> 00:34:25.320 of other trials in my life, 00:34:25.380 --> 00:34:26.079 but not this one, 00:34:26.179 --> 00:34:27.079 and so it really made me 00:34:27.079 --> 00:34:28.659 look back at this 00:34:28.659 --> 00:34:29.960 because it was like 00:34:29.960 --> 00:34:31.059 when I was 21 or 22, 00:34:31.059 --> 00:34:33.099 and I realized, 00:34:33.579 --> 00:34:33.940 wow, 00:34:34.199 --> 00:34:36.739 that really has shaped 00:34:36.739 --> 00:34:38.420 that incident 00:34:38.420 --> 00:34:40.619 and those things I learned then 00:34:40.619 --> 00:34:43.039 really shaped the trials 00:34:43.039 --> 00:34:44.000 that I go through today 00:34:44.000 --> 00:34:45.279 and how I've handled them, 00:34:45.739 --> 00:34:47.320 and it's shaped who I am, 00:34:47.380 --> 00:34:48.759 who I've become today, 00:34:49.559 --> 00:34:52.639 and how I view hardships, 00:34:53.179 --> 00:34:54.599 and so that's pretty amazing. 00:34:54.599 --> 00:34:57.960 I think it was always role modeled 00:34:57.960 --> 00:34:59.099 in my family, 00:34:59.619 --> 00:35:01.079 in my parents. 00:35:01.339 --> 00:35:02.239 It was always, 00:35:03.059 --> 00:35:04.599 it was modeled to me 00:35:04.599 --> 00:35:06.299 to have a thankful heart, 00:35:06.960 --> 00:35:08.599 to be thankful in all circumstances, 00:35:09.319 --> 00:35:11.000 regardless of your circumstances. 00:35:12.000 --> 00:35:15.299 My grandfather was a medical doctor, 00:35:16.099 --> 00:35:18.559 and so he had a verse up 00:35:18.559 --> 00:35:20.639 that cheerfulness is the best medicine, 00:35:20.639 --> 00:35:22.099 and he would go around 00:35:22.099 --> 00:35:23.500 telling people jokes all the time, 00:35:24.279 --> 00:35:25.339 and when he got older, 00:35:25.440 --> 00:35:26.920 the same jokes all the time, 00:35:27.359 --> 00:35:30.159 and then my father 00:35:30.159 --> 00:35:32.519 had a severely handicapped brother, 00:35:33.019 --> 00:35:36.759 and those people in our lives 00:35:36.759 --> 00:35:38.339 are such a blessing to us, 00:35:38.400 --> 00:35:41.059 and they bring special appreciation 00:35:41.059 --> 00:35:42.279 in our lives, 00:35:42.539 --> 00:35:45.779 and so I saw that in my father 00:35:45.779 --> 00:35:47.900 and in my extended family 00:35:47.900 --> 00:35:49.779 and just appreciating life 00:35:49.780 --> 00:35:50.680 and what we had, 00:35:51.640 --> 00:35:52.560 but even, 00:35:52.680 --> 00:35:53.380 and even today, 00:35:53.460 --> 00:35:54.160 with my parents, 00:35:54.240 --> 00:35:55.420 my parents are going through 00:35:55.420 --> 00:35:56.519 health issues, 00:35:57.060 --> 00:35:59.300 and with their struggles, 00:35:59.440 --> 00:36:02.460 they still have such a thankful heart, 00:36:02.780 --> 00:36:03.980 and they go around, 00:36:04.400 --> 00:36:07.019 they go around saying, 00:36:07.120 --> 00:36:07.880 praise the Lord, 00:36:08.019 --> 00:36:08.360 you know, 00:36:08.560 --> 00:36:09.740 so that's wonderful, 00:36:10.660 --> 00:36:11.180 so, 00:36:12.800 --> 00:36:13.280 but even, 00:36:13.420 --> 00:36:14.320 even seeing, 00:36:14.460 --> 00:36:15.660 even seeing that role modeled 00:36:15.660 --> 00:36:16.560 in my family, 00:36:16.559 --> 00:36:21.340 I realized that it didn't really, 00:36:22.159 --> 00:36:25.199 it took me experiencing my own struggles 00:36:25.199 --> 00:36:27.920 to truly learn, 00:36:28.019 --> 00:36:28.739 to choose, 00:36:28.920 --> 00:36:31.380 and to be thankful to the Lord, 00:36:31.900 --> 00:36:35.400 and that's what brings real joy 00:36:35.400 --> 00:36:36.960 in my life to the Lord 00:36:36.960 --> 00:36:39.099 is through those things. 00:36:39.099 --> 00:36:42.139 I think I learned from this 00:36:42.139 --> 00:36:43.639 to be more, 00:36:43.799 --> 00:36:44.659 to have empathy 00:36:44.659 --> 00:36:46.039 and more sympathy with people. 00:36:46.400 --> 00:36:48.400 I truly enjoy going 00:36:48.400 --> 00:36:49.839 to the waiting room now 00:36:49.839 --> 00:36:52.139 and sitting with the person waiting 00:36:52.139 --> 00:36:53.920 for somebody who's having surgery 00:36:53.920 --> 00:36:54.839 and praying for them, 00:36:54.960 --> 00:36:55.420 talking, 00:36:55.980 --> 00:36:57.259 making jokes, 00:36:57.480 --> 00:36:57.779 you know, 00:36:57.900 --> 00:36:59.239 I truly enjoy that 00:36:59.239 --> 00:37:00.259 because I've been there 00:37:00.259 --> 00:37:00.759 and I, 00:37:00.880 --> 00:37:04.279 and I see that 00:37:04.279 --> 00:37:05.739 when I was needy, 00:37:05.839 --> 00:37:06.880 when I had that need, 00:37:06.880 --> 00:37:08.980 someone was there for me 00:37:08.980 --> 00:37:09.980 and I, 00:37:10.039 --> 00:37:11.240 so I truly enjoy that. 00:37:13.360 --> 00:37:14.140 And through my, 00:37:14.300 --> 00:37:15.599 some of my other struggles, 00:37:15.599 --> 00:37:17.619 like when I had an ectopic pregnancy 00:37:17.619 --> 00:37:18.660 and had miscarriage 00:37:18.660 --> 00:37:20.180 and when Tobin had his heart attack, 00:37:20.519 --> 00:37:21.539 I see that, 00:37:22.000 --> 00:37:23.340 that I was able to be 00:37:23.340 --> 00:37:24.579 more thankful 00:37:24.579 --> 00:37:28.860 and not so in despair 00:37:28.860 --> 00:37:29.960 about the situation. 00:37:32.039 --> 00:37:33.720 I still deal with fears. 00:37:34.800 --> 00:37:35.519 I think those, 00:37:35.519 --> 00:37:37.219 some of it did create 00:37:37.219 --> 00:37:38.159 some different fears 00:37:38.159 --> 00:37:39.719 that maybe I wouldn't have today. 00:37:41.800 --> 00:37:43.380 Some of them irrationally. 00:37:43.980 --> 00:37:45.940 I think that I went through 00:37:45.940 --> 00:37:47.280 a lot of questions 00:37:47.280 --> 00:37:48.440 about life and death 00:37:48.440 --> 00:37:49.420 and our mortality. 00:37:50.199 --> 00:37:50.719 And so, 00:37:51.059 --> 00:37:51.420 like, 00:37:51.820 --> 00:37:53.599 one irrational fear 00:37:53.599 --> 00:37:54.460 that got transferred 00:37:54.460 --> 00:37:55.800 to flying on an airplane. 00:37:56.480 --> 00:37:57.139 And so, 00:37:57.219 --> 00:37:58.340 which is not very helpful 00:37:58.340 --> 00:37:59.960 since we live on an island, 00:38:00.139 --> 00:38:00.440 you know. 00:38:00.440 --> 00:38:01.440 but, 00:38:02.159 --> 00:38:05.480 but whenever I get on an airplane now, 00:38:06.000 --> 00:38:06.300 you know, 00:38:06.380 --> 00:38:06.840 I have to, 00:38:06.900 --> 00:38:07.360 I recite, 00:38:07.559 --> 00:38:08.639 I recite the verse 00:38:08.639 --> 00:38:09.440 to myself. 00:38:09.599 --> 00:38:10.240 Do not fear 00:38:10.240 --> 00:38:11.280 of sudden disaster 00:38:11.280 --> 00:38:12.599 for the Lord 00:38:12.599 --> 00:38:13.380 will be your confidence. 00:38:13.579 --> 00:38:14.260 Do not fear 00:38:14.260 --> 00:38:15.039 of sudden disaster. 00:38:15.159 --> 00:38:16.280 The Lord will be your confidence 00:38:16.280 --> 00:38:17.039 and there I go, 00:38:17.139 --> 00:38:17.440 you know. 00:38:17.720 --> 00:38:18.720 And I'm like, 00:38:18.760 --> 00:38:19.679 I'm going to trust the Lord. 00:38:20.179 --> 00:38:21.420 I wish it was something else. 00:38:21.500 --> 00:38:22.280 There's other dangers 00:38:22.280 --> 00:38:22.780 in the world 00:38:22.780 --> 00:38:23.579 besides flying 00:38:23.579 --> 00:38:24.179 and I wish 00:38:24.179 --> 00:38:25.039 it was that one 00:38:25.039 --> 00:38:25.500 but it's not. 00:38:25.579 --> 00:38:25.880 So anyway. 00:38:25.880 --> 00:38:28.360 And every time, 00:38:28.440 --> 00:38:28.960 I always have, 00:38:28.960 --> 00:38:30.059 I also have to ask him 00:38:30.059 --> 00:38:31.500 to take my mind captive 00:38:31.500 --> 00:38:32.860 to his, 00:38:32.960 --> 00:38:34.180 to his thoughts 00:38:34.180 --> 00:38:34.760 and his word 00:38:34.760 --> 00:38:35.400 and ask, 00:38:35.640 --> 00:38:36.760 and every time 00:38:36.760 --> 00:38:38.360 I have a little panic moment, 00:38:38.619 --> 00:38:38.980 you know, 00:38:39.099 --> 00:38:40.320 what if something happened 00:38:40.320 --> 00:38:40.920 to Tobin 00:38:40.920 --> 00:38:42.000 or something like that 00:38:42.000 --> 00:38:43.000 then I would say, 00:38:43.140 --> 00:38:44.420 you know, 00:38:44.460 --> 00:38:44.740 Lord, 00:38:44.860 --> 00:38:45.619 I've seen 00:38:45.619 --> 00:38:46.119 that you, 00:38:46.180 --> 00:38:47.340 you are going to take care of me 00:38:47.340 --> 00:38:47.680 and I, 00:38:47.740 --> 00:38:48.980 and I ask him 00:38:48.980 --> 00:38:50.140 to take those thoughts captive 00:38:50.140 --> 00:38:51.440 and not go there 00:38:51.440 --> 00:38:52.360 with those thoughts. 00:38:52.360 --> 00:38:56.140 But the most of the thing 00:38:56.140 --> 00:38:57.000 I think I do 00:38:57.000 --> 00:38:57.840 is I just, 00:38:57.960 --> 00:38:59.340 is I cling to his promises 00:38:59.340 --> 00:39:00.860 and I say, 00:39:01.380 --> 00:39:01.579 I'm, 00:39:01.579 --> 00:39:02.640 I'm counting on you, 00:39:02.720 --> 00:39:02.880 God, 00:39:02.920 --> 00:39:03.539 to come through 00:39:03.539 --> 00:39:04.260 with these promises 00:39:04.260 --> 00:39:05.620 for me in my life 00:39:05.620 --> 00:39:07.340 that he will never, 00:39:07.559 --> 00:39:08.160 ever leave me 00:39:08.160 --> 00:39:09.140 nor forsake me, 00:39:09.920 --> 00:39:11.980 that he has his perfect timing 00:39:11.980 --> 00:39:12.460 for me 00:39:12.460 --> 00:39:13.300 and I've seen it 00:39:13.300 --> 00:39:14.360 in my past 00:39:14.360 --> 00:39:15.480 and I know it 00:39:15.480 --> 00:39:16.160 for my future, 00:39:16.260 --> 00:39:16.700 I believe it 00:39:16.700 --> 00:39:17.420 for my future, 00:39:17.599 --> 00:39:18.519 that his angels 00:39:18.519 --> 00:39:19.960 are watching over me, 00:39:20.099 --> 00:39:20.820 all of us, 00:39:20.880 --> 00:39:21.680 which is an amazing 00:39:21.679 --> 00:39:23.699 concept to think about 00:39:23.699 --> 00:39:27.259 and that ultimately 00:39:27.259 --> 00:39:28.960 in 2 Corinthians, 00:39:29.519 --> 00:39:30.319 it says, 00:39:30.460 --> 00:39:30.699 you know, 00:39:30.799 --> 00:39:30.940 we, 00:39:31.039 --> 00:39:32.239 we may feel pressed, 00:39:32.519 --> 00:39:33.440 we may be pressed, 00:39:33.839 --> 00:39:34.919 but we're not going 00:39:34.919 --> 00:39:35.599 to be crushed. 00:39:35.919 --> 00:39:37.480 We may be perplexed, 00:39:37.480 --> 00:39:37.980 but we will, 00:39:38.099 --> 00:39:39.000 we don't have to be 00:39:39.000 --> 00:39:39.639 in despair 00:39:39.639 --> 00:39:41.099 and I think 00:39:41.099 --> 00:39:41.960 the way, 00:39:42.079 --> 00:39:42.579 the reason 00:39:42.579 --> 00:39:43.879 that God can tell us 00:39:43.879 --> 00:39:45.119 that is because 00:39:45.119 --> 00:39:46.239 that's what Jesus, 00:39:47.239 --> 00:39:48.440 when he died for me, 00:39:48.579 --> 00:39:49.619 that's what he did, 00:39:50.019 --> 00:39:51.319 that I might be sad 00:39:51.320 --> 00:39:51.920 in life, 00:39:52.019 --> 00:39:52.980 but I don't have 00:39:52.980 --> 00:39:53.660 to despair 00:39:53.660 --> 00:39:54.400 because I have 00:39:54.400 --> 00:39:55.480 the hope in God 00:39:55.480 --> 00:39:56.860 and in the Lord. 00:39:59.059 --> 00:39:59.600 Thanks, honey. 00:39:59.599 --> 00:40:09.860 So I'll get in trouble 00:40:09.860 --> 00:40:11.039 tonight when we go home 00:40:11.039 --> 00:40:12.239 about the sex comment 00:40:12.239 --> 00:40:13.239 so you can pray for me 00:40:13.239 --> 00:40:13.860 in the trials 00:40:13.860 --> 00:40:14.460 and tribulations 00:40:14.460 --> 00:40:15.319 that I will face 00:40:15.319 --> 00:40:16.500 later on. 00:40:19.019 --> 00:40:20.500 In verses 3 through 5, 00:40:20.619 --> 00:40:21.319 for the first time 00:40:21.319 --> 00:40:22.099 in human history, 00:40:22.360 --> 00:40:23.819 Paul says something 00:40:23.819 --> 00:40:24.819 that the Epicureans 00:40:24.819 --> 00:40:25.579 and the Stoics 00:40:25.579 --> 00:40:26.579 never heard. 00:40:26.579 --> 00:40:28.799 He says that as Christians 00:40:28.799 --> 00:40:30.119 we can actually rest. 00:40:31.380 --> 00:40:32.340 He says as Christians 00:40:32.340 --> 00:40:33.960 we can actually have peace. 00:40:34.360 --> 00:40:35.360 He says as Christians 00:40:35.360 --> 00:40:37.819 we can actually have joy 00:40:37.819 --> 00:40:39.840 as we go through trials 00:40:39.840 --> 00:40:40.480 and tribulations. 00:40:40.579 --> 00:40:41.500 He says that the tribulations 00:40:41.500 --> 00:40:42.239 are proof 00:40:42.239 --> 00:40:44.539 that God is with us, 00:40:44.579 --> 00:40:45.400 that God is doing something 00:40:45.400 --> 00:40:45.900 in our lives, 00:40:45.960 --> 00:40:47.860 that God loves us too much 00:40:47.860 --> 00:40:49.179 to have us where we are. 00:40:50.340 --> 00:40:51.219 He says that trials 00:40:51.219 --> 00:40:51.960 and tribulations 00:40:51.960 --> 00:40:53.980 are God's ultimate 00:40:53.980 --> 00:40:56.179 development plan 00:40:56.179 --> 00:40:58.000 in our life. 00:40:59.240 --> 00:41:00.240 And the question is 00:41:00.240 --> 00:41:01.300 are we going to accept 00:41:01.300 --> 00:41:03.500 God developing us? 00:41:04.519 --> 00:41:05.079 Verse 3, 00:41:05.220 --> 00:41:06.440 the sufferings help us 00:41:06.440 --> 00:41:07.199 to focus. 00:41:08.579 --> 00:41:09.740 They help change 00:41:09.740 --> 00:41:10.599 our focus. 00:41:11.099 --> 00:41:11.659 They help us 00:41:11.659 --> 00:41:12.800 to become single-minded. 00:41:12.960 --> 00:41:14.019 They help us to align 00:41:14.019 --> 00:41:15.480 to think of what God 00:41:15.480 --> 00:41:16.300 is thinking of. 00:41:17.199 --> 00:41:18.559 Here's a question for you. 00:41:19.780 --> 00:41:20.840 Where's your focus? 00:41:20.840 --> 00:41:24.900 As you're sitting 00:41:24.900 --> 00:41:25.519 through the day 00:41:25.519 --> 00:41:27.000 what are you focusing on? 00:41:29.380 --> 00:41:30.640 What is the hope 00:41:30.640 --> 00:41:32.559 that brings you 00:41:32.559 --> 00:41:33.400 through that day? 00:41:35.440 --> 00:41:36.480 What is the hope 00:41:36.480 --> 00:41:37.660 that you focus on 00:41:37.660 --> 00:41:38.880 that takes you 00:41:38.880 --> 00:41:39.460 through the trials 00:41:39.460 --> 00:41:40.260 and tribulations? 00:41:42.100 --> 00:41:43.180 Paul says that God 00:41:43.180 --> 00:41:44.220 is using those things 00:41:44.220 --> 00:41:45.460 to take our mind 00:41:45.460 --> 00:41:46.160 off the things 00:41:46.160 --> 00:41:47.079 that bother us 00:41:47.079 --> 00:41:47.960 and distract us 00:41:47.960 --> 00:41:48.920 and to put them 00:41:48.920 --> 00:41:50.360 on to God. 00:41:50.840 --> 00:41:52.260 It actually says 00:41:52.260 --> 00:41:53.460 that these tribulations 00:41:53.460 --> 00:41:54.720 are going to bring us 00:41:54.720 --> 00:41:56.420 patient endurance. 00:41:57.640 --> 00:41:58.440 Verse 4, 00:41:58.539 --> 00:41:58.820 he says, 00:41:58.900 --> 00:41:59.660 this perseverance 00:41:59.660 --> 00:42:02.140 leads to a tested character. 00:42:03.400 --> 00:42:03.960 He says that 00:42:03.960 --> 00:42:05.019 as we go through 00:42:05.019 --> 00:42:05.980 these sufferings 00:42:05.980 --> 00:42:06.640 and these trials 00:42:06.640 --> 00:42:07.640 that our character 00:42:07.640 --> 00:42:08.360 is tested, 00:42:08.740 --> 00:42:09.539 it's refined, 00:42:09.900 --> 00:42:11.120 it's made strong, 00:42:11.420 --> 00:42:12.240 and that we don't have 00:42:12.240 --> 00:42:12.820 to doubt 00:42:12.820 --> 00:42:14.019 God's faithfulness. 00:42:15.620 --> 00:42:16.000 Ultimately, 00:42:16.120 --> 00:42:16.500 he says, 00:42:16.559 --> 00:42:18.120 you always go to the cross 00:42:18.119 --> 00:42:19.679 if you lose your way 00:42:19.679 --> 00:42:21.699 and you work your way 00:42:21.699 --> 00:42:22.440 from the cross, 00:42:22.500 --> 00:42:23.679 which is the ultimate symbol 00:42:23.679 --> 00:42:24.900 of God's faithfulness 00:42:24.900 --> 00:42:26.480 to your life 00:42:26.480 --> 00:42:27.339 here and now. 00:42:28.819 --> 00:42:30.259 The trials and tribulations 00:42:30.259 --> 00:42:31.339 bring about perseverance. 00:42:31.539 --> 00:42:31.980 The perseverance 00:42:31.980 --> 00:42:33.819 brings about proven character. 00:42:34.420 --> 00:42:35.400 And all of these things 00:42:35.400 --> 00:42:36.279 kind of cascade 00:42:36.279 --> 00:42:37.159 like a waterfall 00:42:37.159 --> 00:42:38.159 into verse 5 00:42:38.159 --> 00:42:39.079 where he says, 00:42:39.319 --> 00:42:40.179 all of these things 00:42:40.179 --> 00:42:41.739 bring about hope. 00:42:41.739 --> 00:42:44.819 And it's not just a hope 00:42:44.819 --> 00:42:45.819 in the future, 00:42:46.879 --> 00:42:48.379 but it's a hope 00:42:48.379 --> 00:42:49.479 here and now. 00:42:50.739 --> 00:42:51.519 And it's not just a hope, 00:42:51.619 --> 00:42:53.099 I hope I get this promotion 00:42:53.099 --> 00:42:55.039 or I hope this works out well, 00:42:56.079 --> 00:42:57.839 but it's a certainty 00:42:57.839 --> 00:43:01.019 that wherever we are at 00:43:01.019 --> 00:43:02.099 as God's people, 00:43:03.099 --> 00:43:05.000 he's there. 00:43:06.739 --> 00:43:07.799 And he's working 00:43:07.799 --> 00:43:08.819 through the trials 00:43:08.819 --> 00:43:09.799 and the tribulation 00:43:09.800 --> 00:43:11.280 in the difficult times 00:43:11.280 --> 00:43:12.060 in our life. 00:43:13.320 --> 00:43:14.420 The problem, I think, 00:43:14.480 --> 00:43:15.039 comes when we come 00:43:15.039 --> 00:43:15.780 into trials. 00:43:17.080 --> 00:43:18.240 And after a period of time, 00:43:18.300 --> 00:43:19.039 we start to doubt 00:43:19.039 --> 00:43:19.900 God's goodness. 00:43:21.860 --> 00:43:22.820 We start to doubt 00:43:22.820 --> 00:43:24.140 God's faithfulness. 00:43:25.280 --> 00:43:26.500 We become angry. 00:43:28.160 --> 00:43:29.140 And Paul says 00:43:29.140 --> 00:43:30.160 throughout the first part 00:43:30.160 --> 00:43:30.660 of Romans 00:43:30.660 --> 00:43:33.039 that if that's our reaction, 00:43:34.500 --> 00:43:35.500 we're still living 00:43:35.500 --> 00:43:36.760 in Romans 1 and 2. 00:43:36.760 --> 00:43:39.780 We're trying to work out 00:43:39.780 --> 00:43:40.500 our justification. 00:43:40.880 --> 00:43:42.060 We're trying to be good people. 00:43:42.180 --> 00:43:42.820 We're trying to make 00:43:42.820 --> 00:43:43.840 our life good. 00:43:44.200 --> 00:43:45.420 And when things don't happen 00:43:45.420 --> 00:43:46.580 that we want to have happen, 00:43:46.740 --> 00:43:47.680 we become angry 00:43:47.680 --> 00:43:48.260 because we think 00:43:48.260 --> 00:43:49.200 we deserve better. 00:43:53.140 --> 00:43:54.460 But that's not grace. 00:43:58.320 --> 00:43:59.360 That's not grace. 00:44:01.580 --> 00:44:02.180 Paul says 00:44:02.180 --> 00:44:03.180 when we understand 00:44:03.179 --> 00:44:04.779 that we've been bought 00:44:04.779 --> 00:44:05.819 by God, 00:44:06.799 --> 00:44:07.819 when we understand 00:44:07.819 --> 00:44:09.079 that he paid the price 00:44:09.079 --> 00:44:09.859 of his son, 00:44:11.119 --> 00:44:11.859 when we understand 00:44:11.859 --> 00:44:12.799 Romans 3 00:44:12.799 --> 00:44:14.819 and 4 00:44:14.819 --> 00:44:16.719 and 5 00:44:16.719 --> 00:44:18.019 and 6 00:44:18.019 --> 00:44:18.639 and 7, 00:44:19.519 --> 00:44:20.399 that when those trials 00:44:20.399 --> 00:44:21.139 and tribulations 00:44:21.139 --> 00:44:21.980 and temptations 00:44:21.980 --> 00:44:22.899 and difficult times 00:44:22.899 --> 00:44:23.960 come into our life, 00:44:24.919 --> 00:44:26.719 we know that it's because 00:44:26.719 --> 00:44:28.039 God wants to do 00:44:28.039 --> 00:44:28.879 something in us. 00:44:28.880 --> 00:44:32.059 We know that it's because 00:44:32.059 --> 00:44:33.360 God is in control. 00:44:34.680 --> 00:44:36.079 We know that the only reason 00:44:36.079 --> 00:44:37.640 we're here right now anyway 00:44:37.640 --> 00:44:39.160 is not because we're so cool 00:44:39.160 --> 00:44:40.099 and we're so good 00:44:40.099 --> 00:44:41.860 and we so have our life together, 00:44:42.039 --> 00:44:42.940 but the only reason 00:44:42.940 --> 00:44:44.559 that we're here anyway 00:44:44.559 --> 00:44:47.119 is because God gave us 00:44:47.119 --> 00:44:47.860 this gift. 00:44:53.099 --> 00:44:54.140 And sometimes 00:44:54.140 --> 00:44:56.119 I forget that. 00:44:56.880 --> 00:44:57.200 I forget that. 00:44:58.880 --> 00:45:02.539 Sometimes when things get hard, 00:45:03.920 --> 00:45:06.119 I forget that. 00:45:08.840 --> 00:45:09.800 And the message 00:45:09.800 --> 00:45:10.780 of Romans 5, 00:45:10.880 --> 00:45:12.019 1 through 11 is 00:45:12.019 --> 00:45:14.440 don't you ever forget that. 00:45:16.760 --> 00:45:18.119 Because that's a truth 00:45:18.119 --> 00:45:19.940 that is true 00:45:19.940 --> 00:45:21.160 of all God's children. 00:45:22.840 --> 00:45:24.180 And God is with you 00:45:24.180 --> 00:45:25.119 wherever you're going 00:45:25.119 --> 00:45:27.740 and he's allowing 00:45:27.739 --> 00:45:28.859 those things to happen 00:45:28.859 --> 00:45:31.039 for a momentary time 00:45:31.039 --> 00:45:33.719 because he wants 00:45:33.719 --> 00:45:34.319 to do something 00:45:34.319 --> 00:45:35.459 incredibly special 00:45:35.459 --> 00:45:36.239 in your life. 00:45:39.319 --> 00:45:40.119 And the only way 00:45:40.119 --> 00:45:40.919 he can do that 00:45:40.919 --> 00:45:43.519 is like a little kid. 00:45:44.979 --> 00:45:46.399 You take your little kid 00:45:46.399 --> 00:45:46.979 who's looking 00:45:46.979 --> 00:45:48.000 at the wall socket 00:45:48.000 --> 00:45:49.419 and they want to stick 00:45:49.419 --> 00:45:49.899 their finger 00:45:49.899 --> 00:45:50.779 in the wall socket. 00:45:51.699 --> 00:45:52.699 And as a loving parent, 00:45:52.779 --> 00:45:53.679 you come over there 00:45:53.679 --> 00:45:54.899 and you take them 00:45:54.900 --> 00:45:56.380 and you move their head 00:45:56.380 --> 00:45:57.400 and you face them 00:45:57.400 --> 00:45:58.300 some other place. 00:45:58.800 --> 00:45:59.680 You take them, 00:45:59.800 --> 00:46:00.559 you move them head, 00:46:00.680 --> 00:46:01.139 you face them 00:46:01.139 --> 00:46:02.000 some other place. 00:46:02.639 --> 00:46:04.119 You eventually take them, 00:46:04.519 --> 00:46:05.559 you pick them up, 00:46:05.740 --> 00:46:06.099 trial, 00:46:06.260 --> 00:46:06.780 tribulation, 00:46:07.000 --> 00:46:07.360 difficulty, 00:46:07.360 --> 00:46:08.900 and you move them 00:46:08.900 --> 00:46:09.639 away from where 00:46:09.639 --> 00:46:10.500 they want to be. 00:46:13.380 --> 00:46:14.400 Because you know 00:46:14.400 --> 00:46:15.619 that if you don't move them 00:46:15.619 --> 00:46:16.660 out of that situation, 00:46:17.660 --> 00:46:19.740 they're never going to become 00:46:19.739 --> 00:46:22.119 whom they're supposed to be. 00:46:25.399 --> 00:46:26.279 That's the message 00:46:26.279 --> 00:46:27.339 of Romans 5, 00:46:28.539 --> 00:46:30.000 verses 1-8. 00:46:31.699 --> 00:46:32.719 Does that make sense? 00:46:35.219 --> 00:46:35.899 To me, 00:46:36.019 --> 00:46:37.919 that is the most amazing truth 00:46:37.919 --> 00:46:38.819 as I think about us 00:46:38.819 --> 00:46:39.639 walking with the Lord, 00:46:39.719 --> 00:46:40.839 that God is so committed 00:46:40.839 --> 00:46:41.859 to us in his grace. 00:46:42.839 --> 00:46:43.959 Three final thoughts, 00:46:44.979 --> 00:46:46.019 three final thoughts, 00:46:46.219 --> 00:46:46.959 and we're done. 00:46:46.960 --> 00:46:51.820 Often our first reaction 00:46:51.820 --> 00:46:52.720 to pressure, 00:46:53.059 --> 00:46:53.699 tribulations, 00:46:53.920 --> 00:46:54.619 the tribulum, 00:46:55.039 --> 00:46:55.699 the trials, 00:46:55.900 --> 00:46:56.460 the pain, 00:46:56.599 --> 00:46:57.139 the suffering, 00:46:57.460 --> 00:46:58.320 our first reaction 00:46:58.320 --> 00:46:59.039 is usually to say, 00:46:59.400 --> 00:47:00.300 God, I need you, 00:47:00.639 --> 00:47:01.220 help me, 00:47:01.519 --> 00:47:02.679 help me get out of this, 00:47:02.820 --> 00:47:03.699 Lord, I need you. 00:47:05.300 --> 00:47:06.460 But then after you've screamed 00:47:06.460 --> 00:47:08.079 that for about two days 00:47:08.079 --> 00:47:09.059 or three days, 00:47:10.059 --> 00:47:12.900 you start to become angry. 00:47:12.900 --> 00:47:16.619 And you start to become upset. 00:47:18.800 --> 00:47:19.940 And usually the first thing 00:47:19.940 --> 00:47:20.460 that we do, 00:47:20.539 --> 00:47:21.300 what Tobin does 00:47:21.300 --> 00:47:22.380 is he removes himself 00:47:22.380 --> 00:47:23.160 from God. 00:47:23.360 --> 00:47:24.660 He stops talking to God. 00:47:24.720 --> 00:47:25.840 He stops praying to God. 00:47:26.000 --> 00:47:27.260 He stops reading God's word. 00:47:27.500 --> 00:47:27.960 And the next thing 00:47:27.960 --> 00:47:28.559 that Tobin does 00:47:28.559 --> 00:47:30.019 is he removes himself 00:47:30.019 --> 00:47:31.220 from the people of God. 00:47:34.440 --> 00:47:35.340 Does that make sense? 00:47:36.320 --> 00:47:37.099 Trials, tribulations, 00:47:37.240 --> 00:47:37.440 pray, 00:47:37.599 --> 00:47:37.900 help me, 00:47:37.980 --> 00:47:38.800 it's not working. 00:47:39.200 --> 00:47:39.519 God, 00:47:39.559 --> 00:47:40.619 I'm so disappointed with you. 00:47:40.680 --> 00:47:41.639 I'm so angry with you. 00:47:41.639 --> 00:47:42.619 I stop reading, 00:47:42.759 --> 00:47:43.379 I stop praying, 00:47:43.659 --> 00:47:45.539 and I stop hanging out 00:47:45.539 --> 00:47:46.460 with other Christians. 00:47:48.639 --> 00:47:49.480 Don't do it. 00:47:51.400 --> 00:47:52.359 If you do it, 00:47:53.099 --> 00:47:54.559 you will never become 00:47:54.559 --> 00:47:56.400 whom God wants you to be. 00:47:58.239 --> 00:47:59.359 You need to be praying. 00:48:00.659 --> 00:48:02.279 You need to be reading God's word. 00:48:03.199 --> 00:48:04.039 You need to be accountable 00:48:04.039 --> 00:48:04.759 to other people. 00:48:04.859 --> 00:48:05.679 You need to be in fellowship. 00:48:08.819 --> 00:48:10.480 But often my first reaction 00:48:10.480 --> 00:48:12.800 after the suffering 00:48:12.800 --> 00:48:13.380 has gone on 00:48:13.380 --> 00:48:14.360 for more than a week 00:48:14.360 --> 00:48:17.199 is I start to doubt 00:48:17.199 --> 00:48:17.920 God's goodness. 00:48:19.940 --> 00:48:20.740 Second thing, 00:48:22.119 --> 00:48:23.539 you are never called 00:48:23.539 --> 00:48:25.320 to deny your pain, 00:48:26.300 --> 00:48:26.980 your hurt, 00:48:27.639 --> 00:48:28.480 or your feelings. 00:48:29.960 --> 00:48:31.019 Scripture never says, 00:48:31.880 --> 00:48:32.579 don't feel pain. 00:48:33.699 --> 00:48:34.380 Don't be a Brit. 00:48:35.519 --> 00:48:36.460 Scripture never says, 00:48:36.559 --> 00:48:37.240 be stoic. 00:48:37.760 --> 00:48:38.519 Scripture says, 00:48:38.519 --> 00:48:40.179 speak what you're feeling. 00:48:41.300 --> 00:48:42.500 Share it with the community. 00:48:42.840 --> 00:48:43.699 Share it with God. 00:48:43.980 --> 00:48:44.659 But do me a favor. 00:48:45.699 --> 00:48:46.380 Please don't go around 00:48:46.380 --> 00:48:46.599 going, 00:48:47.179 --> 00:48:48.219 I got cancer! 00:48:48.380 --> 00:48:49.139 Praise the Lord! 00:48:49.820 --> 00:48:50.539 Isn't that amazing? 00:48:50.679 --> 00:48:51.259 I got cancer! 00:48:51.360 --> 00:48:51.820 Praise the Lord! 00:48:52.360 --> 00:48:52.860 Praise the Lord! 00:48:54.380 --> 00:48:55.820 Because people who aren't 00:48:55.820 --> 00:48:56.699 in the family of God, 00:48:57.840 --> 00:48:59.360 they think you're weird. 00:49:01.820 --> 00:49:02.219 I mean, 00:49:02.239 --> 00:49:02.860 that's stupid. 00:49:03.860 --> 00:49:04.380 And you want me 00:49:04.380 --> 00:49:04.940 to tell you something? 00:49:04.940 --> 00:49:06.519 That is stupid. 00:49:08.920 --> 00:49:10.000 Because cancer 00:49:10.000 --> 00:49:11.740 is evil. 00:49:13.960 --> 00:49:15.280 Broken relationships 00:49:15.280 --> 00:49:17.579 is evil. 00:49:19.579 --> 00:49:20.820 Pain and suffering 00:49:20.820 --> 00:49:22.260 is evil. 00:49:23.539 --> 00:49:24.539 It's all because 00:49:24.539 --> 00:49:25.159 of the fall. 00:49:25.420 --> 00:49:25.940 It's all because 00:49:25.940 --> 00:49:26.940 we made poor choices. 00:49:28.119 --> 00:49:28.960 So instead, 00:49:29.240 --> 00:49:29.800 when you're going 00:49:29.800 --> 00:49:30.539 through that time, 00:49:31.019 --> 00:49:32.159 say something like this. 00:49:32.159 --> 00:49:33.099 God, 00:49:33.159 --> 00:49:33.980 in the craziness, 00:49:34.519 --> 00:49:35.199 I don't know 00:49:35.199 --> 00:49:36.079 what's going on, 00:49:37.239 --> 00:49:38.819 but I'm so thankful 00:49:38.819 --> 00:49:39.399 you're here. 00:49:42.940 --> 00:49:43.339 God, 00:49:43.420 --> 00:49:44.799 my life is out of control. 00:49:46.259 --> 00:49:46.599 I don't know 00:49:46.599 --> 00:49:47.559 where this is going to go. 00:49:47.659 --> 00:49:47.899 I don't know 00:49:47.899 --> 00:49:48.719 what's going to happen next. 00:49:48.759 --> 00:49:49.159 I've been praying 00:49:49.159 --> 00:49:50.059 for so long. 00:49:53.000 --> 00:49:53.899 But I'm so thankful 00:49:53.899 --> 00:49:54.420 you're here. 00:49:56.819 --> 00:49:57.799 And I trust you. 00:49:57.800 --> 00:50:01.360 Don't deny your feelings. 00:50:01.500 --> 00:50:02.440 Don't deny your pain. 00:50:02.820 --> 00:50:03.880 Don't deny your suffering. 00:50:04.620 --> 00:50:05.440 But realize 00:50:05.440 --> 00:50:06.080 that God 00:50:06.080 --> 00:50:07.200 is in the midst of that. 00:50:08.260 --> 00:50:08.960 And he's breaking 00:50:08.960 --> 00:50:10.260 that rake across you 00:50:10.260 --> 00:50:10.740 because there's 00:50:10.740 --> 00:50:12.300 a lot of things 00:50:12.300 --> 00:50:12.800 on you 00:50:12.800 --> 00:50:13.300 that he wants 00:50:13.300 --> 00:50:14.140 to separate 00:50:14.140 --> 00:50:15.680 and to tear apart 00:50:15.680 --> 00:50:17.780 because there's 00:50:17.780 --> 00:50:18.560 something amazing 00:50:18.560 --> 00:50:19.600 underneath there. 00:50:21.740 --> 00:50:22.760 And you can't be 00:50:22.760 --> 00:50:23.640 that type of person. 00:50:23.760 --> 00:50:24.480 You can't be 00:50:24.480 --> 00:50:25.480 that person 00:50:25.480 --> 00:50:26.220 that God wants you 00:50:26.220 --> 00:50:26.660 to be. 00:50:27.800 --> 00:50:29.160 until he runs 00:50:29.160 --> 00:50:30.200 that rake over you. 00:50:34.340 --> 00:50:34.860 Finally, 00:50:35.260 --> 00:50:36.720 this whole thing 00:50:36.720 --> 00:50:37.600 is a process. 00:50:40.640 --> 00:50:41.600 It's a journey. 00:50:43.080 --> 00:50:43.260 I mean, 00:50:43.300 --> 00:50:43.960 sometimes it is 00:50:43.960 --> 00:50:44.680 a hard journey. 00:50:44.800 --> 00:50:45.500 It doesn't happen 00:50:45.500 --> 00:50:46.060 instantly. 00:50:48.280 --> 00:50:49.920 It doesn't happen 00:50:49.920 --> 00:50:50.720 instantly. 00:50:54.000 --> 00:50:55.160 But it happens. 00:50:55.159 --> 00:50:58.440 hang in there. 00:51:02.019 --> 00:51:02.460 God 00:51:02.460 --> 00:51:03.259 never 00:51:03.259 --> 00:51:04.319 gives up 00:51:04.319 --> 00:51:05.039 on you. 00:51:08.000 --> 00:51:08.759 The moment 00:51:08.759 --> 00:51:09.679 you think that, 00:51:09.899 --> 00:51:11.139 you look at the cross 00:51:11.139 --> 00:51:12.379 and you realize 00:51:12.379 --> 00:51:12.960 that he gave 00:51:12.960 --> 00:51:14.000 the most important thing 00:51:14.000 --> 00:51:14.639 in his life 00:51:14.639 --> 00:51:15.500 for you. 00:51:16.859 --> 00:51:17.679 If he gave 00:51:17.679 --> 00:51:18.719 the most important thing 00:51:18.719 --> 00:51:19.339 in his life 00:51:19.339 --> 00:51:20.000 for you, 00:51:21.119 --> 00:51:22.259 surely he's going 00:51:22.259 --> 00:51:23.259 to take care of you 00:51:23.260 --> 00:51:24.900 while you're 00:51:24.900 --> 00:51:25.540 apart from him. 00:51:27.760 --> 00:51:28.500 Surely he's going 00:51:28.500 --> 00:51:29.080 to be with you 00:51:29.080 --> 00:51:29.420 in the midst 00:51:29.420 --> 00:51:30.080 of the trials. 00:51:30.520 --> 00:51:31.040 Surely he's going 00:51:31.040 --> 00:51:31.460 to be with you 00:51:31.460 --> 00:51:31.800 in the midst 00:51:31.800 --> 00:51:32.420 of the tribulation. 00:51:32.800 --> 00:51:33.280 Surely he's going 00:51:33.280 --> 00:51:33.660 to be with you 00:51:33.660 --> 00:51:33.980 in the midst 00:51:33.980 --> 00:51:34.640 of the difficulties. 00:51:37.380 --> 00:51:38.400 It's a process. 00:51:40.160 --> 00:51:40.860 Don't expect it 00:51:40.860 --> 00:51:41.720 to happen like that. 00:51:43.000 --> 00:51:43.680 But know that 00:51:43.680 --> 00:51:44.700 when it happens, 00:51:44.699 --> 00:51:47.339 God is going 00:51:47.339 --> 00:51:48.059 to do something 00:51:48.059 --> 00:51:48.819 amazing 00:51:48.819 --> 00:51:51.619 in your life. 00:51:55.759 --> 00:51:56.359 I love 00:51:56.359 --> 00:51:57.119 to scuba dive. 00:51:59.279 --> 00:52:00.319 I've been certified 00:52:00.319 --> 00:52:01.439 to about four levels 00:52:01.439 --> 00:52:01.799 down. 00:52:02.159 --> 00:52:03.199 I do deep dives. 00:52:03.279 --> 00:52:04.099 I do nitrox. 00:52:04.139 --> 00:52:05.099 I do all those things. 00:52:06.259 --> 00:52:07.259 When I first started 00:52:07.259 --> 00:52:07.919 to scuba dive 00:52:07.919 --> 00:52:08.559 under the water, 00:52:08.659 --> 00:52:09.879 it scared the crap 00:52:09.879 --> 00:52:10.519 out of me. 00:52:11.219 --> 00:52:11.899 Because I would 00:52:11.899 --> 00:52:13.219 look down 30 feet up 00:52:13.219 --> 00:52:13.659 and you would see 00:52:13.659 --> 00:52:14.519 the bubbles going 00:52:14.519 --> 00:52:14.919 up there 00:52:14.919 --> 00:52:15.379 and you would see 00:52:15.379 --> 00:52:16.299 the water up there. 00:52:17.819 --> 00:52:18.539 And the scuba diver 00:52:18.539 --> 00:52:19.019 told me, 00:52:19.099 --> 00:52:19.839 the very first guy, 00:52:19.879 --> 00:52:20.579 it was an Aussie guy, 00:52:20.639 --> 00:52:21.659 he was drunk one time 00:52:21.659 --> 00:52:22.239 and we were talking 00:52:22.239 --> 00:52:23.099 and he was training me 00:52:23.099 --> 00:52:23.759 and he goes, 00:52:23.799 --> 00:52:24.639 this is your regulator. 00:52:26.419 --> 00:52:27.299 Your regulator 00:52:27.299 --> 00:52:28.659 is one of the only 00:52:28.659 --> 00:52:30.159 foolproof pieces 00:52:30.159 --> 00:52:30.739 of equipment 00:52:30.739 --> 00:52:31.679 in the world. 00:52:32.839 --> 00:52:33.459 There are not many 00:52:33.459 --> 00:52:34.219 pieces of equipment 00:52:34.219 --> 00:52:35.199 that are foolproof. 00:52:36.159 --> 00:52:37.539 But your regulator is. 00:52:38.539 --> 00:52:39.439 You breathe in, 00:52:39.480 --> 00:52:40.099 it gives you air, 00:52:40.219 --> 00:52:40.899 you breathe out, 00:52:41.159 --> 00:52:41.859 stuff goes out. 00:52:41.919 --> 00:52:42.480 You breathe in, 00:52:42.539 --> 00:52:43.059 you give you air, 00:52:43.219 --> 00:52:43.879 you breathe out, 00:52:43.939 --> 00:52:44.559 stuff goes out. 00:52:44.819 --> 00:52:45.639 Don't ever take 00:52:45.639 --> 00:52:46.679 your regulator out. 00:52:47.959 --> 00:52:48.879 There's going to be times 00:52:48.879 --> 00:52:49.379 you're going to feel 00:52:49.379 --> 00:52:50.000 like taking your 00:52:50.000 --> 00:52:50.759 regulator out. 00:52:51.859 --> 00:52:52.719 You're going to be under 00:52:52.719 --> 00:52:53.480 and you're going to cough 00:52:53.480 --> 00:52:53.959 and you're going to want 00:52:53.959 --> 00:52:54.859 to take your regulator out. 00:52:54.919 --> 00:52:56.039 Don't take your regulator out 00:52:56.039 --> 00:52:57.519 because you're going to drown. 00:52:58.539 --> 00:52:59.739 Keep your regulator in. 00:53:02.019 --> 00:53:02.559 He goes, 00:53:02.619 --> 00:53:03.939 I was drunk one time 00:53:03.939 --> 00:53:04.619 and I went down 00:53:04.619 --> 00:53:05.000 for this, 00:53:05.099 --> 00:53:05.699 how do I do that? 00:53:06.019 --> 00:53:07.379 I'm talking like a Texan. 00:53:08.039 --> 00:53:08.779 I went down 00:53:08.779 --> 00:53:10.000 for this deep dive 00:53:10.000 --> 00:53:11.759 and I threw up. 00:53:12.760 --> 00:53:13.020 And he goes, 00:53:13.060 --> 00:53:13.960 when you throw up, 00:53:14.240 --> 00:53:15.020 your first reaction 00:53:15.020 --> 00:53:15.620 is take everything 00:53:15.620 --> 00:53:16.300 out of your mouth 00:53:16.300 --> 00:53:17.420 and pfft, pfft, pfft. 00:53:17.860 --> 00:53:18.820 But you're 100 feet 00:53:18.820 --> 00:53:19.280 underwater 00:53:19.280 --> 00:53:20.000 and you do that 00:53:20.000 --> 00:53:20.700 and you drown. 00:53:21.760 --> 00:53:22.660 And he said to me, 00:53:22.680 --> 00:53:23.040 you know, 00:53:23.440 --> 00:53:24.440 even when you throw up, 00:53:24.500 --> 00:53:25.380 your regulator works. 00:53:25.380 --> 00:53:29.599 Two years later, 00:53:30.380 --> 00:53:32.559 I'm doing my rescue dive 00:53:32.559 --> 00:53:33.760 certification. 00:53:34.760 --> 00:53:36.039 I've had four dives 00:53:36.039 --> 00:53:36.480 in the day. 00:53:36.579 --> 00:53:37.420 I'm exhausted. 00:53:38.300 --> 00:53:38.519 I mean, 00:53:38.579 --> 00:53:39.599 I went out for lunch. 00:53:39.660 --> 00:53:40.160 I ate something 00:53:40.160 --> 00:53:41.240 and I was really, 00:53:41.420 --> 00:53:41.920 really sick. 00:53:43.059 --> 00:53:44.360 And so I'm 45 feet 00:53:44.360 --> 00:53:44.880 underwater 00:53:44.880 --> 00:53:47.500 and I have to throw up. 00:53:48.940 --> 00:53:49.860 And I have no idea 00:53:49.860 --> 00:53:50.559 what I'm going to do. 00:53:51.599 --> 00:53:52.480 And all of a sudden 00:53:52.480 --> 00:53:52.900 in my mind, 00:53:52.940 --> 00:53:53.140 I'm thinking, 00:53:53.260 --> 00:53:54.160 the regulator's foolproof. 00:53:54.159 --> 00:53:55.059 The regulator's foolproof. 00:53:55.139 --> 00:53:55.899 Don't ever take it out. 00:53:56.139 --> 00:53:56.619 Keep it in. 00:53:56.679 --> 00:53:57.460 Don't ever take it out. 00:53:57.579 --> 00:53:57.980 Take it in. 00:53:58.399 --> 00:53:59.639 And so I'm underwater. 00:53:59.779 --> 00:54:00.460 I can't get up. 00:54:00.519 --> 00:54:01.199 I'll get the bends. 00:54:01.399 --> 00:54:02.279 I'm about to throw up. 00:54:02.480 --> 00:54:03.179 And the only thing I do 00:54:03.179 --> 00:54:04.079 is I stop everything. 00:54:04.399 --> 00:54:05.339 I take my hand 00:54:05.339 --> 00:54:06.639 and I push my hand 00:54:06.639 --> 00:54:07.319 on my regulator 00:54:07.319 --> 00:54:08.519 so that I don't pull it out 00:54:08.519 --> 00:54:09.699 and I throw up. 00:54:11.599 --> 00:54:12.759 40 feet underwater. 00:54:14.599 --> 00:54:15.259 I mean, it's amazing. 00:54:15.559 --> 00:54:16.039 You know what? 00:54:17.399 --> 00:54:18.299 The regulator worked. 00:54:20.179 --> 00:54:20.579 Blah! 00:54:21.259 --> 00:54:21.659 Pfft! 00:54:22.839 --> 00:54:23.719 Fish come in. 00:54:24.159 --> 00:54:29.699 But I keep breathing. 00:54:30.899 --> 00:54:31.379 Blah! 00:54:31.819 --> 00:54:32.219 Poo! 00:54:32.460 --> 00:54:33.219 Fish come in. 00:54:35.219 --> 00:54:35.339 Blah! 00:54:37.339 --> 00:54:38.199 You know what? 00:54:39.039 --> 00:54:40.199 That regulator works. 00:54:41.679 --> 00:54:42.559 You know when you go 00:54:42.559 --> 00:54:43.559 scuba diving with me now? 00:54:43.980 --> 00:54:44.759 You know what I say? 00:54:45.719 --> 00:54:47.119 This is the only foolproof 00:54:47.119 --> 00:54:47.799 piece of equipment 00:54:47.799 --> 00:54:48.519 in the world. 00:54:49.299 --> 00:54:50.420 No matter where you are, 00:54:50.480 --> 00:54:51.539 no matter what happens to you, 00:54:51.619 --> 00:54:52.179 no matter what kind 00:54:52.179 --> 00:54:52.920 of situation you are, 00:54:52.920 --> 00:54:53.760 don't ever take 00:54:53.760 --> 00:54:54.539 your regulator out 00:54:54.539 --> 00:54:55.200 because you will be able 00:54:55.200 --> 00:54:57.519 to breathe oxygen on demand, 00:54:57.980 --> 00:54:58.880 exhale on demand. 00:54:59.139 --> 00:55:00.159 They don't get mixed up. 00:55:00.380 --> 00:55:01.639 Even the vomit goes out. 00:55:01.980 --> 00:55:02.740 You don't breathe in 00:55:02.740 --> 00:55:03.139 their vomit. 00:55:03.260 --> 00:55:03.860 It goes out. 00:55:04.099 --> 00:55:04.619 You're okay. 00:55:04.880 --> 00:55:05.700 This is the only thing 00:55:05.700 --> 00:55:06.139 you need. 00:55:07.639 --> 00:55:08.720 How do I know that? 00:55:08.719 --> 00:55:08.819 I know that. 00:55:12.359 --> 00:55:13.480 Because I went through a trial 00:55:13.480 --> 00:55:17.639 and now I trust that regulator. 00:55:20.019 --> 00:55:20.839 Paul saved 00:55:20.839 --> 00:55:23.139 Jesus. 00:55:25.359 --> 00:55:26.439 He's the only thing you need. 00:55:26.440 --> 00:55:30.159 If you're down 00:55:30.159 --> 00:55:31.059 and it's out of control 00:55:31.059 --> 00:55:31.940 and things are out of things 00:55:31.940 --> 00:55:32.260 and you don't know 00:55:32.260 --> 00:55:32.780 what you're going to do, 00:55:33.300 --> 00:55:34.240 you think you're going to drown, 00:55:35.000 --> 00:55:35.840 you hold on to him 00:55:35.840 --> 00:55:38.539 because he'll take you through. 00:55:40.800 --> 00:55:41.659 Don't pull him out. 00:55:43.360 --> 00:55:44.720 Don't separate your life from him 00:55:44.720 --> 00:55:47.139 because he'll take care of you. 00:55:49.280 --> 00:55:50.260 He'll take care of you 00:55:50.260 --> 00:55:53.080 if you let him. 00:55:58.180 --> 00:55:58.960 If you let him. 00:56:02.300 --> 00:56:03.200 God's throwing a rake 00:56:03.200 --> 00:56:04.420 across some of us right now. 00:56:05.700 --> 00:56:06.700 We're getting crushed. 00:56:06.980 --> 00:56:07.820 We're getting pressed. 00:56:08.740 --> 00:56:09.820 We're feeling uncomfortable. 00:56:10.860 --> 00:56:11.960 He's doing something new 00:56:11.960 --> 00:56:12.640 in our life 00:56:12.640 --> 00:56:14.880 but he has that promise 00:56:14.880 --> 00:56:16.400 that his son is always there. 00:56:18.340 --> 00:56:19.420 He won't let you down. 00:56:20.260 --> 00:56:20.800 He won't let you down. 00:56:23.120 --> 00:56:23.940 Amen. 00:56:30.100 --> 00:56:30.980 Amen. 00:56:33.180 --> 00:56:33.520 Amen. 00:56:33.520 --> 00:56:33.600 Amen. 00:56:34.540 --> 00:56:34.880 Amen. 00:56:35.160 --> 00:56:35.640 Amen. 00:56:35.640 --> 00:56:35.740 Amen. 00:56:37.040 --> 00:56:37.660 Amen. 00:56:37.680 --> 00:56:38.140 Amen. 00:56:38.360 --> 00:56:38.520 Amen. 00:56:39.040 --> 00:56:41.300 Amen. 00:56:47.480 --> 00:56:47.960 Amen. 00:56:49.900 --> 00:56:50.200 Amen.