Trusting God When We Can't Trust Ourselves

Did you ever feel like you let yourself down?  You're not alone!  Today we talk about where to turn when we disappoint ourselves or others.

Curt Thompson, MD

@thisistrustworthy

trustworthypodcast.com

Email us listen@trustworthypodcast.com

Transcript

0.000000 2.840000 Is God trustworthy?
 2.182688 12.182688 [Music]
 2.840000 5.480000 Hi, I'm Sarah.
 5.480000 7.240000 And I'm Mary Beth.
 7.240000 12.520000 Join us as we seek to answer this question through whole-hearted conversation.
 12.182688 35.182688 
 12.520000 17.320000 Discover the wit and wisdom that comes from being anchored in Christ and connected to
 17.320000 18.920000 one another.
 18.920000 20.760000 This is trustworthy.
 20.760000 30.760000 [BLANK_AUDIO]
 30.760000 40.760000 [BLANK_AUDIO]
 31.718438 42.918437 On today's episode of Trustworthy, what you are experiencing is not new and there is
 35.182688 60.182688 
 40.760000 46.444625 [BLANK_AUDIO]
 42.918437 49.078437 a battle going on in your soul, in your body, between good and evil, between right and
 49.078437 51.238438 wrong.
 51.238438 61.238438 God used every part of his untrustworthiness to demonstrate God's trustworthiness.
 60.182688 72.182688 
 61.238438 73.878437 Well, hey there, Marybeth.
 72.182688 82.182688 
 73.878437 75.118437 Good afternoon.
 75.118437 76.118437 Nope.
 76.118437 79.758437 Morning, Sarah, or whatever time it is for you out there listening.
 79.758437 81.078438 That's right.
 81.078438 82.078438 Good day.
 82.078438 83.518438 Five o'clock somewhere.
 82.182688 92.182688 
 83.518438 85.038438 Well, hey, Marybeth.
 85.038438 88.558437 Tell us what we're going to talk about today.
 88.558437 96.478438 Today we are discussing trusting God when we can't trust ourselves.
 92.182688 102.182688 
 96.478438 102.158437 And this is a topic that you thought of, Sarah, that we were discussing.
 102.158437 107.518438 As we do this podcast, we want it to be something that is helpful to our listeners.
 102.182688 112.182688 
 107.518438 111.758438 And you felt passionately about this one and having these conversations.
 111.758438 117.078438 So my question for you is what do you mean when you say you can't trust yourself?
 112.182688 122.182688 
 117.078438 121.958438 Oh, that's a really good question, Marybeth.
 121.958438 129.958438 when I think about not being able to trust myself, I think
 132.182687 142.182687 
 136.558437 146.238438 back to a time in my life where I felt like it was out of control.
 142.182687 152.182687 
 146.238438 158.918438 And when I looked at the things that were going on, I started to realize that although some
 152.182687 162.182687 
 158.918438 166.478437 of them were not happening directly because of things that I did that they were happening
 162.182687 172.182687 
 166.478437 175.638437 to me because maybe I had made some decisions that put me in a position that they could happen
 172.182687 182.182687 
 175.638437 178.038437 to me.
 178.038437 180.158437 So what do I mean by that?
 180.158437 189.198437 I kind of woke up one day and I'm like, wow, I am not in a good place.
 182.182687 192.182687 
 189.198437 191.358437 And I know God.
 191.358437 198.798438 I've known God my whole life since I was a young child, but I pretty much have been kind
 192.182687 202.182687 
 198.798438 205.558437 of doing God-ish, making my own decisions based on what I thought was right.
 202.182687 212.182687 
 205.558437 210.118437 If it was convenient for me to do what God said, "Great."
 210.118437 216.678438 But if I didn't like the answer that I got from Him through His Word, then maybe I just
 212.182687 222.182687 
 216.678438 219.678438 wasn't going to do it.
 219.678438 227.838437 I had a lot of regrets and I started to realize that I couldn't really trust myself because
 222.182687 232.182687 
 227.838437 238.138437 I was kind of making crap decisions when I sort of came to my knees just under the overwhelming
 232.182687 242.182687 
 238.138437 244.918437 pressure that this particular point in my life I had is the things that were going on.
 242.182687 252.182687 
 244.918437 247.438437 I was like, wow, that's, I'm done.
 247.438437 250.158437 I mean, I just got nothing left.
 250.158437 257.718437 And I can't trust myself because at this particular time I was, I was, I was, I was,
 252.182687 262.182687 
 257.718437 265.518438 trying to and to relationship where I found myself being swayed by someone who did not have
 262.182687 272.182687 
 265.518438 271.678438 my best interest at heart, who said things to me that made me doubt myself, who did things
 271.678438 278.038437 that had repercussions, maybe unintended, but that had really negative repercussions for
 272.182687 282.182687 
 278.038437 280.358437 those around us.
 280.358437 285.478437 So I was like, okay, yep, I'm not doing a good job at decision-making.
 282.182687 292.182687 
 285.478437 290.198438 And as I've previously shared in times of my life, I thought that my emotions were everything
 290.198438 294.918437 and like how I felt about something was the most important thing, then I realized that I
 292.182687 302.182687 
 294.918437 296.598437 couldn't trust those feelings.
 296.598437 301.798437 And because I was being guided by the feelings that meant that I was untrustworthy, well, what
 301.798437 302.918437 was I going to do?
 302.182687 312.182687 
 302.918437 307.318438 So I went to the source that I knew was trustworthy.
 307.318438 316.078438 I just started reading Proverbs every single day and taking a motion out of it and starting
 312.182687 322.182687 
 316.078438 319.478437 to make logical decisions.
 319.478437 323.078438 The reason this is important to me and I want to talk about it is that I still find myself
 322.182687 332.182687 
 323.078438 324.078438 struggling.
 324.078438 325.798437 I still let myself down.
 325.798437 333.638438 I still break my own heart, but I think I'm quicker to realize that there is something
 332.182687 342.182687 
 333.638438 343.358437 outside of me, namely God, who, as we said earlier, doesn't break our hearts is trustworthy.
 342.182687 352.182687 
 343.358437 350.518438 And so when I can't trust myself, I can go to him and trust
 350.518438 351.518438 him.
 351.518438 358.238437 So that's sort of how I came up with this idea and it just was, I felt the Holy Spirit
 352.182687 362.182687 
 358.238437 361.638438 is nudging me to talk about it.
 361.638438 371.278437 Well, and the good and bad news is that all of us have felt that on some level to some degree,
 362.182687 372.182687 
 371.278437 376.558437 even back to the men who wrote the Bible.
 372.182687 382.182687 
 376.558437 382.398438 So I think there's an example here from Paul that points exactly to this if you want to
 382.182687 392.182687 
 382.398438 383.398438 share that.
 383.398438 384.598437 Yeah, I do.
 384.598437 392.798437 In these times of knowing what to do, knowing the right thing, but somehow still making the
 392.182687 402.182687 
 392.798437 398.278437 wrong choice, it's pretty easy to beat ourselves up, but we weren't the first one to experience
 398.278437 399.278437 that.
 399.278437 405.678437 I'm going to share Romans 714 to 25 and I'm going to read it from the NLT version because
 402.182687 412.182687 
 405.678437 412.918437 I feel that in this particular case, the new living translation really gets to the heart.
 412.182687 422.182687 
 412.918437 417.678437 So the trouble is not with the law, for it is spiritual and good.
 417.678437 423.598437 The trouble is with me, for I am all too human, a slave to sin.
 422.182687 432.182687 
 423.598437 431.198438 I don't really understand myself, for I want to do what is right, but I don't do it.
 431.198438 434.598437 Instead, I do what I hate.
 432.182687 442.182687 
 434.598437 442.878438 But if I know that what I am doing is wrong, this shows that I agree that the law is good.
 442.182687 452.182687 
 442.878438 447.318438 So, I am not the one doing wrong.
 447.318438 451.198438 It is sin living in me that does it.
 451.198438 457.038437 And I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature.
 452.182687 462.182687 
 457.038437 461.038437 I want to do what is right, but I can't.
 461.038437 464.758438 I want to do what is good, but I don't.
 462.182687 472.182687 
 464.758438 469.678437 I don't want to do what is wrong, but I do it anyway.
 469.678437 476.518438 But if I do what I don't want to do, I am not really the one doing wrong.
 472.182687 482.182687 
 476.518438 480.638438 It is sin living in me that does it.
 480.638438 487.118437 I have discovered this principle of life, that when I want to do what is right, I inevitably
 482.182687 492.182687 
 487.118437 489.318438 do what is wrong.
 489.318438 497.038437 I love God's law with all my heart, but there is another power within me that is at war
 492.182687 502.182687 
 497.038437 499.078438 with my mind.
 499.078438 503.638438 This power makes me a slave to the sin that is still within me.
 502.182687 512.182688 
 503.638438 512.518438 Oh, what a miserable person I am who will free me from this life that is dominated by sin
 512.182688 522.182688 
 512.518438 514.038437 and death.
 514.038437 517.318438 Oh, thank God.
 517.318438 521.838438 The answer is in Jesus Christ our Lord.
 521.838438 524.078438 So you see how it is.
 522.182688 532.182688 
 524.078438 528.638438 In my mind, I really want to obey God's law.
 528.638438 534.678437 But because of my sinful nature, I am a slave to sin.
 532.182688 542.182688 
 534.678437 541.318438 If that is not the most relatable thing Paul ever wrote, it is pretty close up there.
 541.318438 544.438438 Yeah, I think so.
 542.182688 552.182688 
 544.438438 551.358438 I am very grateful for that vulnerability that God has given us in Scripture.
 551.358438 558.198438 For someone who, Paul had this dramatic conversion and wrote a lot of the Scripture that
 552.182688 562.182688 
 558.198438 564.998438 we read today, God intentionally included that portion to say, you know what?
 562.182688 572.182688 
 564.998438 574.038438 Mary Beth and Sarah in 2024, what you are experiencing is not new and there is a battle
 572.182688 582.182688 
 574.038438 580.998438 going on in your soul, in your body, in your physical body, between good and evil, between
 580.998438 583.718438 right and wrong.
 582.182688 592.182688 
 583.718438 589.038438 And it often leads us to this place of, I don't know that I can trust myself because I am
 589.038438 590.798438 a mess.
 590.798438 593.838438 So then what do we do with it?
 592.182688 602.182688 
 593.838438 595.158438 We get to that realization.
 595.158438 598.198438 You said you came to this realization, you turned to proverbs.
 598.198438 600.758438 So what, where do we go from there?
 600.758438 603.718438 We have admitted that we cannot trust ourselves.
 602.182688 612.182688 
 603.718438 611.958438 We know that God is there for us, but what does that mean?
 611.958438 614.998438 Why is he trustworthy?
 612.182688 622.182688 
 614.998438 622.878438 So one of the things that I was thinking about when you mentioned Paul's vulnerability
 622.182688 632.182688 
 622.878438 634.598438 and what inspiration and, I think the word inspiration isn't strong enough, what?
 632.182688 642.182688 
 634.598438 637.758438 I want to say a French word, "raison d'etre."
 637.758438 638.758438 Detre?
 638.758438 639.758438 Yes.
 639.758438 642.878438 We want to do that for us, right?
 642.182688 652.182688 
 642.878438 648.478438 Here we were just having a discussion off air about how difficult it is to share hard
 648.478438 654.278437 things and how we don't really want to.
 652.182688 662.182688 
 654.278437 661.838438 And yet, yet, we want to be obedient.
 661.838438 666.478438 Thank God that Paul was obedient.
 662.182688 672.182688 
 666.478438 673.198438 We know that God is trustworthy because we can look back on Paul's life and the fact that
 672.182688 682.182688 
 673.198438 674.798438 he couldn't trust himself.
 674.798438 677.798438 He was struggled every day.
 677.798438 680.198438 God kept telling him, "No, I'm sorry.
 680.198438 682.398438 I'm not going to take your throne away.
 682.182688 692.182688 
 682.398438 684.598438 My grace is sufficient for you."
 684.598438 685.598438 But it was.
 685.598438 695.198438 And you can look back on a person like Paul and see how God used every part of his untrust
 692.182688 702.182688 
 695.198438 703.838438 worthiness to demonstrate God's trustworthiness to everyone that ever reads anything he wrote.
 702.182688 712.182688 
 703.838438 713.198438 So, you have both the scripture, the Bible that God has left us and given us as evidence
 712.182688 722.182688 
 713.198438 719.278437 of his trustworthiness throughout the course of history for not just individuals, before
 719.278437 724.798438 his people, for Israel, for the kingdom he is building.
 722.182688 732.182688 
 724.798438 731.318438 And then we also can look back in our own lives for those ebenezers, those times that God
 731.318438 734.638438 has proved faithful in our own lives.
 732.182688 742.182688 
 734.638438 739.038438 This episode we're really heavy on our scriptural references, which is a good thing, but maybe
 739.038438 740.758438 heavier than we typically are.
 740.758438 744.158438 This is a bit of a witty topic we're talking about today.
 742.182688 752.182688 
 744.158438 745.238438 It really is.
 745.238438 751.198438 And as Sarah and I have come to realize, we are not the end all be all source on these
 751.198438 752.198438 things.
 752.182688 762.182688 
 752.198438 753.598438 So we're going to go on the source.
 753.598438 758.918438 So we have some more scripture we're going to share with you that points to this idea
 758.918438 760.918438 of how do we trust God?
 760.918438 763.558438 Why do we trust God?
 762.182688 772.182688 
 763.558438 772.158438 Philippians 1.6 says, "Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will
 772.158438 779.118438 carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus."
 772.182688 782.182688 
 779.118438 782.718438 And we know that all of God's promises are trustworthy.
 782.182688 792.182688 
 782.718438 794.838438 So I believe that as long as I continue to trust him first and follow his law, that I will
 792.182688 802.182688 
 794.838438 800.558438 have a better outcome in that I can trust myself.
 800.558438 806.278437 There is a passage that came to mind for me continuing along with our friend Paul from
 802.182688 812.182688 
 806.278437 807.958438 second Corinthians.
 807.958438 813.318438 And just to give it a little bit of context, he had written to the church in Corinth as
 812.182688 822.182688 
 813.318438 814.718438 he was on his missionary journey.
 814.718438 820.598438 It was planning to visit them both at the beginning and the end and then life happened
 820.598438 822.918438 and that didn't work out.
 822.182688 832.182688 
 822.918438 828.598438 They were challenging him and kind of wondering if Paul is being a little fickle if he was
 828.598438 830.038438 not trustworthy.
 830.038438 836.238438 And so this is his response to that chatter that was happening in the church.
 832.182688 842.182688 
 836.238438 841.918438 So this is second Corinthians 1, 18 to 22.
 841.918438 846.958438 But as surely as God is faithful, our message to you is not yes and no.
 842.182688 852.182688 
 846.958438 852.838438 For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who is preached among you by us, by me and Silas and Timothy,
 852.182688 862.182688 
 852.838438 854.358438 was not yes and no.
 854.358438 856.638438 But in him it has always been yes.
 856.638438 859.998438 For no matter how many promises God has made, they are yes.
 859.998438 860.998438 And Christ.
 860.998438 865.918438 And so through him the amen is spoken by us to the glory of God.
 862.182688 872.182688 
 865.918438 870.318438 Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ.
 870.318438 876.798438 He anointed us, set his seal of ownership on us and put his spirit in our hearts as a deposit,
 872.182688 882.182688 
 876.798438 880.518438 guaranteeing what is to come.
 880.518438 887.798438 My takeaway from that passage is even with our best of intentions, we may not be trustworthy
 882.182688 892.182688 
 887.798438 892.798438 at all times because we are not in control of what happens in our lives.
 892.182688 902.182688 
 892.798438 899.358438 We do have an impact by the decisions we make as you were discussing earlier.
 899.358438 902.678438 But sometimes there are things that are outside of our control.
 902.182688 912.182688 
 902.678438 905.838438 And what is trustworthy in those circumstances?
 905.838438 909.798438 Well, Paul would say, look at every promise that God has made.
 909.798438 914.038438 Has he ever not kept his promise?
 912.182688 922.182688 
 914.038438 921.238438 Are all of his promises yes and amen, even if Paul and Silas and Timothy are not perfect
 921.238438 924.478438 or not living up to the expectation of the church and Corinth?
 922.182688 932.182688 
 924.478438 925.478438 Right.
 925.478438 928.358438 They may be the promise carriers, but not the promise keepers.
 928.358438 929.358438 Yeah.
 929.358438 930.358438 I like that.
 930.358438 931.358438 Those clever Sarah.
 931.358438 932.358438 Oh, thank you.
 932.182688 942.182688 
 932.358438 934.958438 Two wordsmithing it today.
 934.958438 935.958438 What can I say?
 935.958438 937.958438 Laying down a couple of wordsmithing?
 937.958438 938.958438 Okay.
 938.958438 941.638438 I don't even know if that's a thing.
 941.638438 946.438438 I have a friend who does amazing spoken word and right now he's just shaking his head.
 942.182688 952.182688 
 946.438438 953.078438 If he's listening to this, anyway, I have this little saying that I've been trying to use
 952.182688 962.182688 
 953.078438 955.278437 to help myself.
 955.278437 959.958438 Sometimes I use sayings in the hopes that I'll eventually understand what they mean and
 959.958438 961.958438 have the full impact on my life.
 961.958438 969.238438 So the one that I've been thinking a lot of lately is sometimes our bass yes is a no.
 962.182688 972.182688 
 969.238438 979.518438 I had been asked to make some delicious scones for an event and I had a reputation apparently.
 972.182688 982.182688 
 979.518438 981.358438 So of course there was a little bit of pride there.
 981.358438 982.358438 Well, yeah.
 982.182688 992.182688 
 982.358438 989.598438 I've been very busy and I was unsure if I was going to have to serve jury duty.
 989.598438 991.318438 So I couldn't say yes right away.
 991.318438 994.278437 But then I was like, oh, yeah, you know, I didn't have to do this jury duty.
 992.182688 1002.182688 
 994.278437 996.478438 Yes, I can do it.
 996.478438 1003.518438 But then the morning that I was supposed to make the scones, I said yes to some other things.
 1002.182688 1012.182688 
 1003.518438 1010.438438 I said yes to giving my son a ride school for a special meeting that was good that I wanted
 1010.438438 1012.118438 to take him to.
 1012.118438 1016.758438 And then I said yes to a phone call that was important, something that I had had a phone
 1012.182688 1022.182688 
 1016.758438 1018.998438 call out to somebody and I needed.
 1018.998438 1021.718438 And then I said yes to the next phone call.
 1021.718438 1034.078438 So as I was rushing on my way to this event with hot scones that were only partially glazed
 1022.182688 1032.182687 
 1032.182687 1042.182687 
 1034.078438 1036.158437 and with my hair on fire.
 1036.158437 1038.678437 So to speak, I thought, you know what?
 1038.678437 1043.478437 This is exactly what it means by saying yes, I said yes to the scones.
 1042.182687 1052.182687 
 1043.478437 1046.798438 But then I said yes to the phone calls in the ride to school, which meant that I ended up
 1046.798438 1053.238437 saying no to could I have the scones at the church at nine o'clock.
 1052.182687 1062.182687 
 1053.238437 1058.198437 I was like, wow, that's what that means.
 1058.198437 1065.678437 In order to be a person of integrity and follow through, my best yes to something may have
 1062.182687 1072.182687 
 1065.678437 1068.518437 to be a no to other things.
 1068.518437 1072.518437 That's such a great practical example because these are the types of things that we face
 1072.182687 1082.182687 
 1072.518437 1073.518437 in our daily life.
 1073.518437 1078.198437 And it's being faithful in the small and the big ways, right?
 1078.198437 1083.958437 It's not just these grand neos ideas of am I a trustworthy person altogether, but it's
 1082.182687 1092.182687 
 1083.958437 1086.238437 our day to day decisions.
 1086.238437 1090.758437 Understanding what our limitations are helps make us more trustworthy.
 1090.758437 1095.398438 We talked a little bit about the mechanics of becoming more trustworthy of trusting ourselves
 1092.182687 1102.182687 
 1095.398438 1096.398438 better.
 1096.398438 1101.478437 And so being able to say no to some things so that I can follow through on the things that
 1101.478437 1107.758437 I say yes to sends me the message, hey, I'm a person that can be counted on.
 1102.182687 1112.182687 
 1107.758437 1109.558437 I'm a person of integrity.
 1109.558437 1113.638438 I might even be able to protect the future because if I do something that I say I'm going
 1112.182687 1122.182687 
 1113.638438 1115.798437 to do, then hey, I knew it was going to happen.
 1115.798437 1117.558437 Okay, that's getting a little crazy.
 1117.558437 1124.598438 But it is interesting about the ripple effect it has on the people around us.
 1122.182687 1132.182687 
 1124.598438 1129.358438 We don't always know how significant our yes or no is to them.
 1129.358438 1134.678437 I think about my son this week called me out for not having clean clothes in his drawers
 1132.182687 1142.182687 
 1134.678437 1139.398438 because they're all piled up on our guest bed and I have not folded them and put them away.
 1139.398438 1144.358438 And in my mind, there are things that are just more important than I'm saying yes to.
 1142.182687 1152.182687 
 1144.358438 1149.718437 But in his mind, he does not have clean clothes to put on his body from his dress or drawers.
 1149.718437 1156.838437 And so my saying yes to other things that might be good things like recording a podcast.
 1152.182687 1162.182687 
 1156.838437 1158.758437 Let's not go there.
 1158.758437 1160.998437 We've already established that our identity is not in clean clothes.
 1160.998437 1161.998437 That's right.
 1161.998437 1162.998437 That's right.
 1162.182687 1172.182687 
 1162.998437 1163.998437 Put away.
 1163.998437 1170.998437 But it's saying what are those decisions that we're making that are helping us and aiding
 1170.998437 1177.438437 us and being trustworthy and the things that we have been given to do that we either are
 1172.182687 1182.182687 
 1177.438437 1180.238437 choosing to do or are called to do.
 1180.238437 1183.838437 And it makes things like laundry not.
 1182.182687 1192.182687 
 1183.838437 1193.918437 It's not our identity, but it is an opportunity to prove ourselves faithful and to come under
 1192.182687 1202.182687 
 1193.918437 1200.438437 that authority of the Lord that even in something as seemingly small as laundry and I'm harping
 1200.438437 1201.438437 on this lot.
 1201.438437 1206.878438 Seemingly small as laundry can be used in a great way for not just us, but for the people
 1202.182687 1212.182687 
 1206.878438 1207.878438 around us.
 1207.878438 1212.518437 And this goes back to the preparing the dinner when we don't feel like it that we talked
 1212.182687 1222.182687 
 1212.518437 1219.518437 about in last week's episode.
 1219.518437 1222.358438 Yeah.
 1222.182687 1232.182687 
 1222.358438 1229.678437 Sometimes we spend too much time focusing on the negative, on our untrustworthiness and
 1229.678437 1234.278437 Mary Beth I believe that you have something to say on this.
 1232.182687 1242.182687 
 1234.278437 1239.958437 This came to mind as we were mulling these things over, which is why it's important that
 1239.958437 1241.838437 we include it in this conversation.
 1241.838437 1247.718437 I don't want people to hear this episode and walk away thinking we have a negative view
 1242.182687 1252.182687 
 1247.718437 1255.158437 of people and humanity and that we're all worthless and congratulations.
 1252.182687 1262.182687 
 1255.158437 1256.158437 You're terrible.
 1256.158437 1257.158437 Have a great day.
 1257.158437 1259.198437 Oh, what a worm am I.
 1259.198437 1260.198437 Right.
 1260.198437 1262.678437 Because there is truth.
 1262.182687 1272.182687 
 1262.678437 1269.398438 If we are honest with ourselves, we would all admit that we are untrustworthy.
 1269.398438 1275.198437 If we do some self-examination, but that's not the whole story.
 1272.182687 1282.182687 
 1275.198437 1281.878438 I've seen, especially in the past few years, a lot of public conversations, some private
 1281.878438 1289.958437 conversations of people who have had bad experiences with the church and have walked away from
 1282.182687 1292.182687 
 1289.958437 1297.918437 it because they feel that the church is preaching a bit of the old school fire and
 1292.182687 1302.182687 
 1297.918437 1301.158437 brimstone saying you're terrible.
 1301.158437 1303.318437 You don't have anything to offer.
 1302.182687 1312.182687 
 1303.318437 1304.398438 You need Jesus.
 1304.398438 1310.638438 And while we do need Jesus and we are sinners, that's not the whole story.
 1310.638438 1316.318437 The other half of it is all of us are created in the image of God and He declared us to be
 1312.182687 1322.182687 
 1316.318437 1317.838437 good.
 1317.838437 1326.398438 And while sin has tainted that and created a big mess for us to live in right now, God still
 1322.182687 1332.182687 
 1326.398438 1329.678437 values us because He created us and loved us.
 1329.678437 1331.958437 And I don't want people to miss that part of it.
 1331.958437 1335.638438 The message is not your awful.
 1332.182687 1342.182687 
 1335.638438 1337.278437 God is not awful.
 1337.278437 1343.318437 The message is a wonderful God has created you and you are beautiful and loved and valued.
 1342.182687 1352.182687 
 1343.318437 1347.758437 You're not perfect and you're a sinner and you do need a savior.
 1347.758437 1350.918437 But both of those things are true at the same time.
 1350.918437 1351.918437 Yes.
 1351.918437 1357.758437 A human being made in the image of God is of infinite worth.
 1352.182687 1362.182687 
 1357.758437 1359.718437 And people are not numbers.
 1359.718437 1364.598438 They're not facts and figures on data sheets.
 1362.182687 1372.182687 
 1364.598438 1366.798437 They're not problems to be solved.
 1366.798437 1369.438437 They're not projects.
 1369.438437 1375.758437 Well, that's kind of convicting because I love a good project.
 1372.182687 1382.182687 
 1375.758437 1379.878438 That's sort of getting involved in meddling when I shouldn't.
 1379.878438 1382.518437 And I need to learn to let go of that.
 1382.182687 1392.182687 
 1382.518437 1384.358438 That might be another episode.
 1384.358438 1385.358438 Yeah.
 1385.358438 1391.318437 Mary Beth, when you were talking about the message that sometimes gets sent out from the church
 1391.318437 1400.998437 or people in the church, it reminded me that we should not be hypocrites.
 1392.182687 1402.182687 
 1400.998437 1407.718437 I think about the time when Jesus referred to the religious teachers as white subplacers,
 1402.182687 1412.182687 
 1407.718437 1413.758437 you might look good, but on the inside you're full of rot and decay.
 1412.182687 1422.182687 
 1413.758437 1418.838437 And I also think about the log and the spec.
 1418.838437 1424.638438 When you're pointing out the spec in your brother's eye, be sure that you do not have a log
 1422.182687 1432.182687 
 1424.638438 1427.798437 in your own eye.
 1427.798437 1435.798437 As the body of Christ, we have to be loving first before anything else.
 1432.182687 1442.182687 
 1435.798437 1444.998437 We love because he first loved us and we are all sinners, but we're not God and we're not
 1442.182687 1452.182687 
 1444.998437 1446.998437 the judge.
 1446.998437 1448.398438 Yeah.
 1448.398438 1456.198437 And there are appropriate times where the loving thing to do is to point out the sin and
 1452.182687 1462.182687 
 1456.198437 1462.038437 to point out the need for redemption.
 1462.038437 1468.478437 It's most loving to say to someone, I see your problem and I have a solution versus breezing
 1462.182687 1472.182687 
 1468.478437 1470.758437 over it and just saying, everything's fine.
 1470.758437 1471.758437 You're fine.
 1471.758437 1473.678437 Nothing's wrong with you.
 1472.182687 1482.182687 
 1473.678437 1477.758437 But it's that tension that you're pointing to that both are true at the same time that there
 1477.758437 1484.358438 is a duality of we are created as good image bearers of God.
 1482.182687 1492.182687 
 1484.358438 1489.478437 We are also full of sin and a need of a savior.
 1489.478437 1495.438437 And if someone has not heard that complete picture, it's very easy to to misunderstand
 1492.182687 1502.182687 
 1495.438437 1500.398438 it on one or the other and to think that you're just a crappy pot.
 1500.398438 1501.398438 Right.
 1501.398438 1506.638438 So we kind of dove into a lot of the crappy pot-ness today about are we trustworthy or are
 1502.182687 1512.182687 
 1506.638438 1507.638438 we not?
 1507.638438 1512.238437 And so we just wanted to make sure that people are hearing the full picture of who God
 1512.182687 1522.182687 
 1512.238437 1514.758437 says we are.
 1514.758437 1520.198437 We have a new feature on our podcast this week's era that I'm very excited about.
 1520.198437 1525.878438 Yes, I can't wait for you to tell everyone about it, including me.
 1522.182687 1532.182687 
 1525.878438 1531.598438 I am a person of big picture ideas and I tend to get stuck there.
 1531.598438 1537.438437 And so we wanted to think of some practical application this week.
 1532.182687 1542.182687 
 1537.438437 1544.678437 How do we grow in grace and lean into trusting God when we cannot trust ourselves?
 1542.182687 1552.182687 
 1544.678437 1548.998437 Sarah, will you tell the fine listeners?
 1548.998437 1549.998437 Yes.
 1549.998437 1557.238437 Well, first of all, I just want to say that in this, we are not leaning on our own understanding.
 1552.182687 1562.182687 
 1557.238437 1562.598438 Proverbs 3, 5 and 6, "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean on your own understanding
 1562.182687 1572.182687 
 1562.598438 1567.278437 and all your ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your path."
 1567.278437 1571.278437 Again, heavy on the Scripture.
 1571.278437 1581.038437 What we are going to do this week and what we are challenging you to do, our dear listeners,
 1572.182687 1582.182687 
 1581.038437 1593.158437 is to go to your bathroom here in the morning and look yourself in the eye and maybe smile
 1582.182687 1592.182687 
 1592.182687 1602.182687 
 1593.158437 1596.838437 because you deserve to be smiled at.
 1596.838437 1604.838437 And we want you to read Romans 8, verses 38 and 39, "In the new living translation and
 1602.182687 1612.182687 
 1604.838437 1609.598438 we'll make this available on our Instagram page."
 1609.598438 1615.718437 And you can find us on Instagram at "This is Trustworthy."
 1612.182687 1622.182687 
 1615.718437 1619.278437 We want you to put your name in it.
 1619.278437 1628.198437 The reason we want you to do this is because God has started a good work in us and He will
 1622.182687 1632.182687 
 1628.198437 1630.478437 be faithful to complete it.
 1630.478437 1635.758437 And part of that completion is discipleship and sanctification.
 1632.182687 1642.182687 
 1635.758437 1638.198437 We can talk a whole lot about all that.
 1638.198437 1645.318437 Dr. Kirk Thompson likes to refer to it as Christian spiritual formation and we can use these
 1642.182687 1652.182687 
 1645.318437 1653.118438 verses to remind ourselves who we are in Christ Jesus and who we're becoming.
 1652.182687 1662.182687 
 1653.118438 1660.918437 I'm going to give this example using my own name because I need to hear this much more
 1660.918437 1667.758437 often and so I will be hearing it every day for the next seven days.
 1662.182687 1672.182687 
 1667.758437 1675.358438 And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate Sarah from God's love.
 1672.182687 1682.182687 
 1675.358438 1681.118438 Neither death nor life nor angels nor demons.
 1681.118438 1689.038437 Neither Sarah's fears for today nor Sarah's worries about tomorrow.
 1682.182687 1692.182687 
 1689.038437 1696.238437 Not even the powers of hell can separate Sarah from God's love.
 1692.182687 1702.182687 
 1696.238437 1701.718437 No power in the sky above or in the earth below.
 1701.718437 1712.758437 Indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate Sarah from the love of God
 1702.182687 1712.182687 
 1712.182687 1722.182687 
 1712.758437 1718.678437 that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.
 1718.678437 1721.998437 That was Romans 838 to 39.
 1721.998437 1726.958437 And again, the challenge for y'all is to print that out, save it on your phone, whatever
 1722.182687 1732.182687 
 1726.958437 1728.678437 works.
 1728.678437 1733.398438 Look at yourself in the mirror, read it out loud, plug your own name in.
 1732.182687 1742.182687 
 1733.398438 1740.638438 And as you do this, we trust and we believe that God will be growing your trust of Him and
 1740.638438 1745.238437 who He says you are and what His promises for you are.
 1742.182687 1752.182687 
 1745.238437 1746.718437 Which are yes.
 1746.718437 1751.078437 And amen in Christ Jesus.
 1751.078437 1755.318437 Thanks be to God.
 1752.182687 1762.182687 [Music]
 1755.318437 1767.398438 So how can we trust God when we can't trust ourselves?
 1762.182687 1772.182687 
 1767.398438 1772.678437 I trust God because He showed up for me again and again and again.
 1772.182687 1782.182687 
 1772.678437 1777.878438 And when I started making decisions based on the things that He teaches in His Word, my
 1777.878438 1781.798437 life started turning a corner.
 1781.798437 1787.038437 I'm not saying that things are perfect and I'm not preaching a prosperity gospel.
 1782.182687 1792.182687 
 1787.038437 1794.198437 I'm just saying that if I make decisions based on God's wisdom, the outcomes are inevitably
 1792.182687 1802.182687 
 1794.198437 1797.998437 better in the long run.
 1797.998437 1803.878438 And if they're not, then I know He'll be there with me and those tomorrow's to carry me
 1802.182687 1812.182687 
 1803.878438 1807.678437 through.
 1807.678437 1816.878438 But He's given us instructions and laws not to keep us beaten down or under some yoke
 1812.182687 1822.182687 
 1816.878438 1823.478437 of slavery or feeling like we're living in bondage.
 1822.182687 1832.182687 
 1823.478437 1831.238437 No, it is for freedom that Christ has set us free.
 1831.238437 1841.358438 He's given us these laws and these commandments so that we can breathe a sigh of relief.
 1832.182687 1842.182687 
 1841.358438 1844.318437 We don't have to do anything.
 1842.182687 1852.182687 
 1844.318437 1847.558437 There's nothing to prove.
 1847.558437 1850.038437 It's okay if we're not trustworthy.
 1850.038437 1854.518437 In fact, by the very nature we're not.
 1852.182687 1862.182687 
 1854.518437 1864.398438 By understanding that and understanding that even in the face of my untrustworthiness, God
 1862.182687 1872.182687 
 1864.398438 1868.238437 is always trustworthy.
 1868.238437 1870.678437 That's what I can count on.
 1870.678437 1878.678437 And so when I lean into Him, when I live my life according to His principles, I find that
 1872.182687 1882.182687 
 1878.678437 1884.798437 over time I'm becoming more like Him and therefore more trustworthy.
 1882.182687 1892.182687 [Music]
 1884.252875 1890.632875 Thanks for listening to this episode of Trustworthy.
 1884.798437 1886.046250 [BLANK_AUDIO]
 1890.632875 1897.252875 Come back next week for more conversations with your friends Mary Beth and Sarah about trusting
 1892.182687 1902.182687 
 1897.252875 1899.972875 God.
 1899.972875 1902.212875 This is Trustworthy.
 1902.182687 1912.182687 [Music]
 1902.212875 1919.892875 Hey y'all, Mary Beth here.
 1912.182687 1916.982687 
 1919.892875 1923.532875 Sarah and I are so glad that you chose to listen to our podcast.
 1923.532875 1928.612875 And while we think that we're awesome friends to have, we just wanted to clarify that we are
 1928.612875 1932.612875 not mental health professionals and want you to know that this podcast should not take
 1932.612875 1935.492875 the place of any paid professional advice.