Biblical Wealth Wisdom
The Biblical Wealth Wisdom podcast is your guide to managing money and building wealth according to timeless biblical principles. Join us as we explore how ancient wisdom from Scripture can revolutionize your approach to modern finances. Each episode dives deep into topics like stewardship, generosity, debt management, and ethical investing, all through the lens of faith.
Our hosts, bring together insights from financial experts, successful Christian entrepreneurs, and biblical scholars to offer practical advice and spiritual inspiration. Whether you're just starting your financial journey or looking to align your established wealth with God's purposes, this podcast provides the tools and wisdom you need.
From understanding the parables of Jesus about money to applying King Solomon's proverbs in your business, Biblical Wealth Wisdom bridges the gap between faith and finances. Tune in weekly for:
- In-depth Bible studies on money and stewardship
- Interviews with Christian financial experts and successful believers in business
- Practical tips for budgeting, saving, and investing with a kingdom mindset
- Discussions on balancing prosperity and generosity
- Guidance on navigating complex financial decisions with faith and integrity
Join our community of believers who are committed to honoring God with their finances and using wealth as a tool for kingdom impact. Subscribe now to Biblical Wealth Wisdom and start your journey towards financial freedom and faithful stewardship." Check out https://biblicalwealthwisdom.com/ for more content and resources
Biblical Wealth Wisdom
Unshakable Faith: Navigating Life's Trials with Divine Guidance and Purpose
Can faith truly transform your life in ways you never imagined? Join us as we unravel the incredible power of starting with God amid life's tumultuous challenges. Inspired by a motivational video from the Above Inspiration YouTube channel, we explore how awe-inspiring visuals of nature remind us of God's immense power and His capability to manage our struggles. Prepare to be captivated as we discuss how fear and worry indicate a disconnect from God, and how embracing prayer and trust can help you realign with His unseen work. Boldness in faith is more crucial than ever, and we draw inspiration from biblical figures like Joshua and Joseph to illustrate how dreams are glimpses into potential paths of destiny.
Discover the transformative strength found in perseverance and unwavering faith as we tackle the challenges of prayer and the perceived silence of God. Through the metaphor of a race, we emphasize persistence and the spiritual battles we all face, urging you to focus on God's promises for hope and peace amidst chaos. Experience the encouragement to dream new dreams and trust in a never-failing God, who turns crises into opportunities for divine intervention. Let our conversation guide you through the path to miracles, which, although fraught with difficulties, ultimately reinforce the belief that nothing is too formidable for God's handling.
Reflect on the essence of character development and uncover the true fulfillment that lies in cultivating the qualities of Christ. We share insights on finding purpose through a relationship with God, focusing on love, compassion, and selflessness. Our discussion challenges you to discern between refining struggles and unnecessary suffering, and find meaning in life's hardships. Trust in God's presence during your darkest moments as we encourage you to seek guidance and allow Him to transform your life. Ultimately, the journey invites you to know and love God deeply, becoming the person He envisions, a journey to purpose that transcends mere achievements and possessions.
Welcome back to the Deep Dive. You know we get a lot of thought-provoking stuff sent our way, but this one really stood out.
Speaker 2:Oh yeah, this video, I can see why.
Speaker 1:It's called Start With God A whole hour of powerful motivation from the Above Inspiration YouTube channel and it just grabs you right from the start. I mean those visuals, wow.
Speaker 2:Yeah, those opening scenes, the stars and the oceans, the mountains, they really drive home the point, don't they? The sheer?
Speaker 1:scale of it all. It's like look if God created all this. Imagine what he can do in your life.
Speaker 2:Right, exactly that's what they're getting at. I think, that sense of awe that if God can command the universe, he can certainly handle whatever we're going through.
Speaker 1:And they don't just stop there. They talk about God calming storms, making a way when there seems to be no way.
Speaker 2:Yeah, and then it gets really interesting because it shifts from that grand cosmic scale to something much more personal.
Speaker 1:Our struggles. Yeah, the fear and worry, the doubt that creeps in sometimes.
Speaker 2:Right and they make this argument that those feelings, they're actually a sign of disconnect from God.
Speaker 1:Like we're putting our faith in the wrong place.
Speaker 2:Exactly, and that's where that whole fear not message comes in. It's repeated constantly throughout the video.
Speaker 1:It's powerful, isn't it? And they keep connecting it back to the Bible, making the point that worry is essentially faith and fear not in God.
Speaker 2:Yeah, they're pushing us to confront those fears head on, and one of the ways they do that is by reframing how we think about worry. They actually call it interest paid on trouble. That never happens.
Speaker 1:I love that. It's so true, right? We waste so much energy stressing over things that might not even happen.
Speaker 2:And they suggest prayer as the antidote, a way to turn that worry into something productive.
Speaker 1:It's about shifting our focus right. Instead of dwelling on the problem, we turn to God and trust that he has a plan. But that's a big leap of faith. Sometimes, isn't it Trusting in something we can't see or understand?
Speaker 2:Oh yeah, it definitely is. The video addresses that head on. There's this one line that really stood out to me God is working in your life right now in ways that you cannot feel, don't see and don't understand.
Speaker 1:It's almost a comfort, isn't it Like? Even when things feel messy and confusing, we can still have that faith that God is working behind the scenes. Absolutely, it's a reminder that our limited perspective doesn't define reality. And it kind of ties back to what they were saying earlier about God's power. Right, If he can calm storms and part seas, then he can certainly handle whatever we're throwing his way. But that doesn't mean we just sit back and do nothing.
Speaker 2:Right, they talk about that too. They connect this trust in God to the need for boldness, to actually stepping out in faith even when it's scary.
Speaker 1:And they bring up that idea of increasing hostility toward Christianity in the world today.
Speaker 2:Yeah, they're saying that this actually calls for even greater boldness and even stronger commitment to living out our faith.
Speaker 1:It's like a call to action, isn't it? And they use the story of Joshua being told to fear not and be bold. Oh, that's a good one. They're making a distinction between courage and cowardice, right, exactly. Courage isn't the absence of fear, it's moving forward despite that fear. It's like, okay, I'm scared, but I'm going to do it anyway because I trust God.
Speaker 2:I like how they tie that to the theme of dreams and destiny.
Speaker 1:Me too. It's like our dreams. They're glimpses into God's plan for us our own personal roadmaps and the video. It's filled with these beautiful poetic descriptions of dreams.
Speaker 2:Look what.
Speaker 1:They call dreams the golden ladder by which we climb to heavenly places.
Speaker 2:Yeah.
Speaker 1:And the mountain peaks of vision that we climb and look over into the promised land Isn't that great.
Speaker 2:It's beautiful, they're saying. Look, don't let anyone tell you to stop dreaming, no matter your age or what setbacks you faced.
Speaker 1:Right. Hold on to those dreams because they might be God's way of showing you your destiny. And they use that story of Joseph from the Bible.
Speaker 2:Oh yeah, joseph, that one's powerful, you know. He had these incredible dreams that seemed completely impossible. And then he went through all that hardship, the betrayal, and yet those dreams, they eventually came true.
Speaker 1:It's like the reminding is that God's timing isn't always our timing.
Speaker 2:And that we have to hold on to those dreams, those glimpses of what God might be calling us toward, even when things look bleak.
Speaker 1:It's so encouraging, isn't it, especially in a world that can feel so cynical and discouraging? But speaking of impossible, they then transition from dreams to miracles.
Speaker 2:Oh yeah, how could I forget that line? They say everyone wants a miracle, but no one wants to be put in the crisis. That requires a miracle.
Speaker 1:So true, we all want the breakthrough, but we often shy away from the messy, difficult situations that often come before them.
Speaker 2:It's like we want the reward without the work, the victory without the battle.
Speaker 1:And they use that powerful example from the Bible the Israelites trapped between the Red Sea and the Egyptian army. It seemed hopeless, right. But God parted the sea. He delivered them.
Speaker 2:It's a reminder that even when things look impossible, God can intervene.
Speaker 1:He can do the miraculous, yeah, but they don't just stop at the wow factor of miracles, they bring it back to that idea of trust that we were talking about earlier.
Speaker 2:Yeah, they're saying that sometimes it's in those very moments of crisis, when everything seems lost, that God's power is most clearly revealed.
Speaker 1:And those miracles. They become proof that he's not just a God of the past, but a God who's actively working in our lives today.
Speaker 2:Right, they're not just stories in a book. They're evidence of God's power still at work in the world.
Speaker 1:So we've got this incredible picture of God's power, his ability to overcome any obstacle and his desire to see us achieve our dreams. But they don't stop there. The video then takes this really interesting turn.
Speaker 2:What do you mean?
Speaker 1:Well, they shift the focus to the importance of knowing God, like really knowing him. They even quote Hosea, saying I don't want your sacrifices, I want your love. I don't want your offerings, I want you to know me.
Speaker 2:I love that quote. It gets right to the heart of it, doesn't it? It's not about the outward stuff, the rituals or the religious practices.
Speaker 1:Right. It's about cultivating a genuine connection with our creator.
Speaker 2:And building a relationship with him. It's the foundation for everything else, and it makes me think back to something they said earlier about God being more concerned with who we become than with what we do.
Speaker 1:Oh, totally, they're saying. It's not about our resume, it's about our character.
Speaker 2:Totally, they're saying it's not about our resume, it's about our character Exactly. And that's where things get really interesting, because they connect that to the challenges we face in life. They're saying that those problems they're not random, they have a purpose. You mean, yes, and that purpose is to shape us, to mold us into the image of Jesus.
Speaker 1:It's a completely different way of looking at those struggles, isn't it? Not as punishment, but as opportunities for growth.
Speaker 2:For becoming more like Jesus, for developing the kind of character that God desires for us.
Speaker 1:Wow, we've unpacked a lot already, haven't we? God's power, overcoming fear and worry, trusting in his plan, chasing our dreams, believing in miracles, and now the importance of a personal relationship with God.
Speaker 2:It's a lot to take in, but it's also incredibly inspiring. It's like they're giving us a whole new framework for understanding our lives and our relationship with God.
Speaker 1:And we're just getting started.
Speaker 2:It really is, and you know, they dig even deeper into that idea of shaping our character, of those refining moments. It's not always easy to see those trials in that light, though.
Speaker 1:It's tough, yeah. Sometimes it just feels like unnecessary suffering, Like where's God in all of this?
Speaker 2:Right and the video actually addresses that. It frames fear as well, a tactic that the enemy uses.
Speaker 1:Oh interesting. To keep us from what living out God's plan.
Speaker 2:Exactly Like it's this obstacle that we have to overcome. They even talk about fear as a spirit, you know, almost like an entity in itself.
Speaker 1:Yeah, not just a feeling, but a force that we have to actively resist.
Speaker 2:That's it, and they suggest, especially when we feel fear about taking steps towards our purpose, we need to recognize it for what it is.
Speaker 1:A tactic, not a message from God.
Speaker 2:Exactly, and instead of giving into it, they say, we should be well sending faith to answer the door, so to speak.
Speaker 1:I like that they actually back that up with a quote from Isaiah I will trust and I will not be afraid.
Speaker 2:Powerful, isn't it Like a battle cry against fear.
Speaker 1:It is. But what I find interesting is that they don't deny that fear is natural, it's human. They're not saying we won't feel it.
Speaker 2:No, they acknowledge that. But the key, they say, is to not let it control us not let it stop us from stepping out in faith. Right, and that's where they bring back that idea of courage versus cowardice. They define courage as forward motion in the presence of fear not about being fearless, but acting despite the fear.
Speaker 1:I think that's so important because sometimes we wait to feel brave before taking a step.
Speaker 2:Yeah, but they're saying no, take the step and the bravery will follow.
Speaker 1:And they use this analogy of a baseball player stepping up to bat.
Speaker 2:Oh, I remember that they're saying even if they feel nervous, they step up to the plate knowing they have the potential to hit a home run.
Speaker 1:Because they've trained, they've prepared, and we have too. In a way, god has given us the tools we need, the potential to succeed.
Speaker 2:Even when we don't feel ready right.
Speaker 1:Exactly, and they make this great point. They say God doesn't call the qualified, he qualifies the called.
Speaker 2:Meaning. It's not about our own strength or ability, but our willingness to say yes to God and trust that he'll equip us. It reminds me of what they were saying earlier about starting a business.
Speaker 1:Oh yeah, how we shouldn't worry about making a million dollars, just take that first step.
Speaker 2:And trust that God will show you the next one. It's about surrendering control and allowing God to work in our lives.
Speaker 1:And that's where prayer comes in again. They really stress the importance of prayer, not to get God to do what we want, but to align our hearts with his will to invite his power into our situations. It's about seeking his guidance and trusting his wisdom, even when we don't understand.
Speaker 2:They have this great line. They say don't be ashamed to pray and don't ever be too proud to pray, because prayer changes things.
Speaker 1:So simple but so powerful, and it made me think what about when it feels like those prayers aren't being answered?
Speaker 2:Oh, I think we've all been there.
Speaker 1:Like our dreams don't come true on our timeline and it's hard to keep going. How do we persevere when it feels like God is silent or distant?
Speaker 2:That's where, I think perseverance and faith really come in the video. It encourages us to not give up on those dreams God has placed in our hearts, even when it feels impossible.
Speaker 1:They actually compare it to runners in a race. They say the people who refuse to quit, the people who won't give up. I can tell you, I promise you, if you won't quit and you won't give up, you will make it to the finish line.
Speaker 2:It's like a pep talk for your soul.
Speaker 1:Right, keep going even when you're tired, even when you're discouraged, and they connect perseverance to the idea that sometimes our dreams are delayed because the enemy is trying to well derail us.
Speaker 2:To keep us from fulfilling our destiny.
Speaker 1:It's like a spiritual battle, isn't it?
Speaker 2:Yeah, and we have to fight for what God has promised.
Speaker 1:And they use this phrase he's got one mission to make you think you ain't going to make it.
Speaker 2:He's got one mission to make you think you ain't going to make it. It's like the enemy wants to see us fail, to see us give up and settle for less than God has for us. So how do we fight back?
Speaker 1:Well, they talk about how he tries to trap us in those negative places Depression, discouragement, poverty, sickness, anything to keep us from experiencing that abundant life God has planned. But we have a choice Stay stuck or choose to believe in God's power to lift us out experiencing that abundant life God has planned.
Speaker 2:But we have a choice Stay stuck or choose to believe in God's power to lift us out.
Speaker 1:That's it, and even though we live in a world filled with chaos, we don't have to be controlled by it.
Speaker 2:We can focus on God's promises, his plan for our lives, even when it feels like everything's falling apart around us.
Speaker 1:Right. We belong to a higher kingdom, a kingdom of hope and peace, and we have access to God's power to overcome any obstacle.
Speaker 2:It reminds me of that image they used of a spring of living water in a dry season.
Speaker 1:Oh yeah, even when we feel depleted, god is our source of strength.
Speaker 2:And then there's that image of a strong tower in times of trouble, a place of safety and security when we're afraid. It's beautiful, isn't it?
Speaker 1:It really is Like God's presence, his protection. It's always there, even when we can't see it or feel it. And it all ties back to holding on to those dreams. They even say dream a new dream and believe in a God who can never fail.
Speaker 2:Love that. So from dreams to miracles, then, they connect them.
Speaker 1:yeah, it goes back to God using those moments of crisis to reveal his glory. They remind us everyone wants a miracle, but no one wants to be put in the situation that requires one.
Speaker 2:So true, isn't it?
Speaker 1:We want the breakthrough but not the struggle, but the video.
Speaker 2:It's honest about the fact that sometimes the path to a miracle is paved with difficulty, even suffering is paved with difficulty, even suffering, but, they're saying, those experiences can actually strengthen our faith and make the miracle even more meaningful when it arrives.
Speaker 1:And then they challenge this idea that some things are too big for God to handle. You know, like they say, let me tell you, cancer is not a challenge for God. When you have the faith for it. I mean, you can move mountains here. Bold statement.
Speaker 2:It is, but it's also encouraging, Like don't put limits on God's power, and I love how they describe him as the God of the practicals and the God of the miracles, emphasizing that he can do both.
Speaker 1:And often it's in those impossible situations that his power shines the brightest. They use that image of the Israelites trapped between the mountains and the sea, again saying even when it looks impossible, God can either blow up the mountains or he can part the sea. He's going to figure it out. We just have to keep believing that, no matter how impossible it looks, God can still do it.
Speaker 2:Just beautiful. But they also bring up a good point. It's not just about waiting for God to do something spectacular. Sometimes our minds get in the way.
Speaker 1:Oh yeah, how we try to figure out how God is going to do it instead of trusting him.
Speaker 2:Right. It's about letting go of that need to control and allowing God to surprise us.
Speaker 1:To show us his goodness, his power and not settling for second best Right.
Speaker 2:Like they said, yes, god is not a God of compromise. They're urging us to not let the doubts of others dampen our faith either.
Speaker 1:We and they even share how they're learning to let their courage and boldness grow with their knowledge of God.
Speaker 2:Not the other way around. That's interesting.
Speaker 1:And they talk about healing, you know, reminding us that God is still Jehovah Rapha, the Lord who heals.
Speaker 2:And Jesus is still the great physician.
Speaker 1:The conqueror of death, hell and the grave, but ultimately they bring it back to purpose knowing our purpose and how it's connected to knowing God. And they make it so simple, don't they? They're like purpose knowing our purpose and how it's connected to knowing God.
Speaker 2:And they make it so simple, don't they? They're like if you want to understand your purpose, talk to your creator.
Speaker 1:And read the owner's manual. Meaning the Bible.
Speaker 2:It's so practical, isn't it? They remind us that we were created by God and for God.
Speaker 1:And until we understand that life won't really make sense. It's about more than just existing Right. There's a purpose for each of our lives, and they quote Colossians Powerful.
Speaker 2:So our purpose is found in Christ, in knowing him and aligning our lives with his will.
Speaker 1:But then they say something that I think a lot of people struggle with. They say God wants you to know him and love him back. It's so simple but so profound.
Speaker 2:Like he created us out of love and desires a relationship with us.
Speaker 1:He wants us to know him and experience his love.
Speaker 2:And they back it up with that quote from Hosea I don't want your sacrifices, I want your love. I Back it up with that quote from Hosea. I don't want your sacrifices, I want your love. I don't want your offerings, I want you to know me.
Speaker 1:It's not about the outward stuff, it's about our hearts.
Speaker 2:And that makes me think about worry again. You know how they said that when we worry, you're acting like God doesn't exist. It's like a lack of trust. Right? Exactly Like we're saying,000 promises in the Bible.
Speaker 1:If we believe those promises, then why do we still worry so much?
Speaker 2:Right. It seems like we focus on what we should be doing instead of who we are becoming.
Speaker 1:Which is exactly what they address. Next, they say that God is more interested in who we become than in what we do.
Speaker 2:They make that point clear. You're not taking your career to heaven. You're not taking your car to heaven. You're not taking your cash to heaven. You're taking your character. It's our character that matters most.
Speaker 1:And that ties back into those problems we face. They have a purpose.
Speaker 2:Every problem has a purpose, and that purpose is to make you like Jesus, they say. It's a totally different way of looking at things, isn't it?
Speaker 1:It really is Like those challenges they're not random, they're opportunities to become more like Jesus.
Speaker 2:They even acknowledge that it isn't easy, though, and they use the example of Jesus. You know how he went through all of that too.
Speaker 1:Betrayal, disappointment, temptation. And they say why? Because he's more interested in your character than your comfort. It's challenging, but it's true.
Speaker 2:We want the easy road, but that's not always where the growth happens. This life, it's not the comfort side of life, it's the classroom side. Right. We learn and grow and develop our character through the challenges we face.
Speaker 1:It's about trusting that, even in the pain, god is working for our good.
Speaker 2:They also tie that into the importance of unselfishness, of shifting our focus from ourselves to loving God and loving others.
Speaker 1:The whole goal of life is learning unselfishness.
Speaker 2:Learning to love God and learning to love other people, and that's where fulfillment and joy come from, not from self-centered pursuits.
Speaker 1:They're saying, if everything in life went our way and we had no problems, you would be a spoiled brat, a self-centered brat, which I mean it's a little blunt.
Speaker 2:It is, but it's also true.
Speaker 1:We need those challenges. God, he knows everything we're going through. He sees us.
Speaker 2:They paint this picture of God as this loving father who wants to guide his children.
Speaker 1:And they remind us that he knew us before we were born. He has plans for us, plans for welfare and not for evil. It's beautiful.
Speaker 2:He sees our potential, even when we feel insignificant, unqualified.
Speaker 1:They use those examples Moses, sarah, jeremiah, gideon. All of them felt inadequate, but God saw their potential. He equipped them.
Speaker 2:God sees us not as we are, but as we will become.
Speaker 1:That's such an encouraging thought that even when we don't see it in ourselves, he sees the best in us. And then they touch on this idea of well being disconnected from our creator, who loves us so much, and they ask if somebody was willing to die for you, wouldn't you want to know about it?
Speaker 2:It's powerful, isn't it? It cuts right to the heart of the gospel message Jesus did die for us, and it's so. We can have a relationship with God, live a life of purpose.
Speaker 1:And they follow that with a plea Don't waste your life. They say Decide right now that for the rest of your life you're going to give the best of your life, not to your girlfriend, not to your boyfriend, not to your job, not to something else, but to God and this kingdom. To your boyfriend, not to your job, not to something else, but to God and this kingdom.
Speaker 2:They're challenging us to prioritize God above everything else. And it brings us full circle, doesn't it? Back to that fear, not Like a bookend, because trusting God, pursuing our dreams, overcoming obstacles, it all comes down to conquering that fear. And they emphasize this command. It's repeated throughout the whole Bible.
Speaker 1:From Genesis to Revelation. It's clearly a message God wants us to hear.
Speaker 2:They even point out that fear is mentioned over 600 times in the Bible, so clearly something he wants to address. It's universal, this fear, and God wants to equip us to overcome it. He told so many people to fear not.
Speaker 1:Abraham, israel, moses, david, daniel. The list goes on. Like if he told them that, then he's telling us the same thing today.
Speaker 2:He is with us, he loves us and he will take care of us. That's why we don't have to be afraid.
Speaker 1:Again, it's not about not having the feeling.
Speaker 2:No, it's about not letting it control us.
Speaker 1:Right, they're saying Satan wants us to shrink back in fear and live little, tiny, useless lives. But God has something bigger for us.
Speaker 2:He wants us to be brave, to be bold to step out in faith and make a difference.
Speaker 1:And they quote Isaiah fear not, for I am with you. Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you. Yes, I will help you. I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
Speaker 2:Such a promise, you don't have to face your fears alone, we have God. And they go on to say if we really know God, then we don't need to know what he's going to do.
Speaker 1:Or how he's going to do it.
Speaker 2:Exactly. We just trust Lord. I know you're with me and therefore I can do what I need to do. They say it's surrendering control, but fear. It can be this master spirit, can't it?
Speaker 1:Oh yeah, they make that point how the enemy uses it to keep us from fulfilling our destiny. When we let it stop us from doing anything, that's when it has power over us.
Speaker 2:And they encourage us to not let past failures hold us back either to press through.
Speaker 1:Because God is with us. He'll help us overcome those fears.
Speaker 2:They acknowledge that fear is just a part of life though Fear of the future, fear of danger, fear of the past so many fears.
Speaker 1:They even say the era of human history is the era of anxiety and fear, but they offer hope.
Speaker 2:When the fear knocks at your door, send faith to answer, and no one will be there.
Speaker 1:We have a choice right. Let it paralyze us, or trust God and move forward.
Speaker 2:They even point out that fear is often placed on the very things God wants us to do.
Speaker 1:Because the enemy knows that those are the things that will help us grow.
Speaker 2:Exactly. It's like he's trying to keep us from those very experiences that will draw us closer to God. They say so if right now there is something crippling you, the enemy is working overtime to cause you to be afraid in your life. Will you hear this message from the Holy Spirit today? Step up to the plate, Do not be afraid. Your God has got your back.
Speaker 1:Wow. And then it all comes back to trusting in God. They ask if God is for us, then what difference does it make? Really, who's against us? It's like if we truly have God on our side, what do we have to be afraid of?
Speaker 2:Nothing.
Speaker 1:He's greater than anything or anyone who might come against us, and they challenge us right To really examine whether we believe that he is for us facing problems.
Speaker 2:it doesn't mean he doesn't care or that he doesn't see us. He wants to help.
Speaker 1:But we have to let him.
Speaker 2:It's about faith, not fear.
Speaker 1:And they end with this incredible declaration God's going to take care of us. God will take care of you. Get it in your head God will take care, and that's really all we need to know. God's going to take care of us. God has not given us a spirit of fear.
Speaker 2:Wow, just wow. That was something else. They took us on a real journey there.
Speaker 1:They did, from creation to those personal struggles, to the power of faith, so inspiring.
Speaker 2:And challenging.
Speaker 1:They didn't shy away from the tough questions like how to distinguish those refining moments from unnecessary suffering. It's something we all wrestle with, isn't it?
Speaker 2:it is, but they gave us a lot to think about, for sure it's a question that stays with you.
Speaker 1:It really makes you think it does.
Speaker 2:I mean, how do we make sense of suffering, especially when we believe in a loving God?
Speaker 1:yeah, if he's all powerful, why does he allow bad things to happen? It's a tough one, but the video does offer some interesting perspectives on this.
Speaker 2:Like what they were saying about God being more interested in our character than our comfort. You know, we naturally try to avoid suffering, but maybe those challenges are actually crucial to our growth.
Speaker 1:It's like spiritual boot camp.
Speaker 2:Yeah, and I think it all comes back to that relationship with God. They emphasize over and over that he's not distant, that he wants to be involved in our lives.
Speaker 1:He wants to walk with us through every season, the good and the bad. And those promises in the Bible, they're not just empty words.
Speaker 2:They're proof of his faithfulness, his commitment to us. But we have to believe them, even when it's hard.
Speaker 1:Trust him, even when we can't see how it's all going to work out.
Speaker 2:Which is tough right. Like they said in the video, when we worry we're acting like God doesn't exist.
Speaker 1:It is tough. It's like we're doubting his ability to handle it.
Speaker 2:Exactly. So how do we change that mindset?
Speaker 1:Well, they talk about prayer not as a way to manipulate God, but as a way to connect with him, to align our hearts with his will, to invite his peace into those difficult situations.
Speaker 2:Right and that focus on who we are becoming, not just what we're doing.
Speaker 1:Not about achievements or possessions. It's about developing the character of Christ.
Speaker 2:Love, compassion, kindness, selflessness those are the things that really matter in the end.
Speaker 1:Like they said, you're not taking your career to heaven, you're not taking your car to heaven, you're not taking your cash to heaven, you're taking your character.
Speaker 2:It makes you think, doesn't it? What are we really investing in?
Speaker 1:Big questions. And then there's that question we keep coming back to how do we know if a struggle is refining us or just unnecessary suffering? Yeah, a struggle is refining us or just unnecessary suffering.
Speaker 2:Yeah, I don't know if there's an easy answer to that one, but they did say that Jesus experienced suffering too.
Speaker 1:Betrayal, abandonment, even death on the cross. If God allowed his own son to go through that, then it stands to reason that we might face hard times too.
Speaker 2:But they also said God doesn't cause suffering, he allows it.
Speaker 1:And he can use it to bring about good like. The story of joseph sold into slavery by his brothers is awful, but it ultimately led to something good to saving countless lives, including his own family god's ways are not our ways, and his timing isn't always our timing.
Speaker 2:Sometimes we can't see the bigger picture but we have to trust that he's working, even when it doesn't make sense and that's's where faith comes in.
Speaker 1:When we're in those dark valleys, when we're afraid, we have to remember that he's with us.
Speaker 2:He's not going to abandon us. He's walking through that fire right alongside us.
Speaker 1:Using that experience to refine us, make us stronger, prepare us for something greater. So, as you think about everything we've discussed today, remember this God is a God of power, but he's also a God of process.
Speaker 2:Sometimes he allows us to go through difficult seasons to shape our character and draw us closer to him. It's not always easy, but he's there.
Speaker 1:And when fear shows up, well, send fate to answer the door. Choose courage over cowardice, even when it's hard.
Speaker 2:Trust that God will equip you for every challenge you face.
Speaker 1:And never forget. Your purpose is found in knowing and loving God. Invest in that relationship, seek His guidance, surrender your worries to Him and allow Him to transform you. Thanks for joining us on the Deep Drive.