Walking with the Savior - Testimonies of Jesus Christ in Christian Lives

My Testimony: Surrendering Pain to Jesus - A Life-Changing Journey 🙏 Curtis Morley

• John Merrill Kirkman • Season 2 • Episode 5

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Discover the transformative power of faith as Curtis Morley shares his heartfelt testimoony of Jesus Christ and his journey of pain and joy on this episode of the Walking with the Savior podcast. From navigating the challenges of divorce and loss of a dear friend to suicide to reframing the meaning of pain and surrendering it to the love and testimony of Jesus Christ, Curtis reveals how his hardest trials brought him closer to God. Together with host John Merrill Kirkman, they explore the difference between misery and pain, the grace found in surrender, and the redemptive love of Christ that transforms lives.

This episode is filled with raw emotion, spiritual insights, and inspiring stories, including Curtis’s realization that pain can coexist with joy when placed in Christ’s hands. Learn how to ask, “How is this happening for me?” and “How can this happen through me?” to turn life’s challenges into opportunities for growth, faith, and healing. Curtis also shares the moving story of how surrendering his will led to unexpected blessings and a deeper understanding of God’s plan.

Let this powerful conversation inspire your spiritual journey and remind you of the boundless grace and redemption found in walking with Jesus Christ. Join us as we explore faith, transformation, and the journey to find peace in the Savior’s loving embrace.

Heroic App: The App to Transform your Life.
Curtis book: https://amzn.to/3WMxtkH
Curtis' Forbes Article: 
00:00 Introduction and Personal Trials
00:44 Welcome to the Podcast
01:11 Curtis Morley's Journey
01:38 The Entrepreneur's Paradox
04:32 Understanding Pain and Misery
09:34 Surrendering to Christ
18:39 Life Happens For You
26:04 A Tale of Two Miles
27:13 From Victim to Victor
28:55 The Power of Perspective
30:18 Finding Purpose Through Pain
32:29 The Journey of Surrender
34:07 A New Beginning: Meeting Patty
35:57 The Dance That Changed Everything
45:36 The Role of Faith and Redemption
50:44 Conclusion: Walking with the Savior
#motivationalspeech #howtosurrendertogod #godwantsyouwell #motivationalvideo #testimonyofhealing

#biblestudy #sermon #transformingtrials #leveragepain #howtosurrendertogod

curtis-morley---counterfeit-emotions_1_12-17-2024_154823:

was blessed with some of the hardest trials of my life, some of the biggest emotions and some of the greatest pain that I've ever gone through. It was so painful for me. I had to reframe my definition of pain And, and what I found was that when the pain got so unbearable, so immense, that the only way out of that pain was being wrapped up in the arms of Christ. When it turned to that, and I saw that I was having this pain that was so crushing, I wanted a mountain to fall on top of me. And at the same time, at the same time, I felt Christ's arms wrap around me.

Welcome everybody to this week's episode of walking with the savior podcast. I'm your host, John Merrill Kirkman. And this week we are joined by Curtis Morley, the amazing author speaker and specialist in emotions today. He talks about dealing with pain, the pain of divorce, the pain of losing friends and how he ended up coming to Christ and giving him that pain. Wow. Let's jump in with Curtis.

john_1_12-17-2024_154823:

You had told me previously that you thought this was going to be the direction of your life to go help entrepreneurs go from basement to

curtis-morley---counterfeit-emotions_1_12-17-2024_154823:

to

john_1_12-17-2024_154823:

did you call basement to buyout? Yeah. Basement to buyout, which sounds like fantastic. Yeah. That's a catchy line, but then, you know, You realized God has different plans. Tell us about your story.

curtis-morley---counterfeit-emotions_1_12-17-2024_154823:

Yeah. Thank you for letting me share that. The, um, so yeah, I had, I had written this book and it was a wall street journal bestseller, and my, my publisher, they said, Hey, we were so excited about this book. How about we do a three book series? And so the first one called the entrepreneur's paradox, Um, it, it was the, the original and I was in the middle of writing my second book called the timeline of business. So the entrepreneur's paradox kind of outlines the 16 pitfalls of entrepreneurship. the timeline of business, it turns out that everybody that I've worked with as a entrepreneurship coach, they've not only made the same mistakes, but they make them in the order.

john_1_12-17-2024_154823:

Wow.

curtis-morley---counterfeit-emotions_1_12-17-2024_154823:

So if you tell me where you're at, On the timeline, I can tell you pretty accurately what's coming next because, because of how, how entrepreneurship plays out. And it's not exactly a hundred percent the same for everybody, but it's pretty darn close. And, and so I was in the midst of, of that book. And at the same time I was in the midst of a really hard divorce and not something something I ever expected. something I ever thought would happen to me. And, um, and I, I was blessed with some of the hardest trials of my life, some of the biggest emotions and some of the greatest pain that I've ever gone through. And at the same time, about, about a year later, About a year after me, one of my, one of my best friends from college, his name is Jerry Williamson. Um, he also went through a divorce

john_1_12-17-2024_154823:

Mm.

curtis-morley---counterfeit-emotions_1_12-17-2024_154823:

and he would come over and to know Jerry means that you know how to laugh because

john_1_12-17-2024_154823:

Mm.

curtis-morley---counterfeit-emotions_1_12-17-2024_154823:

a room full of people laugh until their gut hurts, just uproariously laugh and it was always the life of the party, hilarious. and he was going some through some really hard things. And, and he would come over and we, we would talk and it was hilarious because every time he would leave, He'd be like, Curtis, I hate you. Jerry, he's like, I hate you. time I come over here, you make me cry and I hate crying. He's like, I'll probably be back tomorrow.

john_1_12-17-2024_154823:

Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha.

curtis-morley---counterfeit-emotions_1_12-17-2024_154823:

and it was, it was awesome because we were able to connect, uh, in a very deep way, um, around that pain and around, around the things that he was going through. And it was, it was incredibly difficult. And, um, as I was going through my trials, I, it was so painful for me. I had to, I had to reframe my definition of pain. I had to reframe what I thought pain was,

john_1_12-17-2024_154823:

Mm.

curtis-morley---counterfeit-emotions_1_12-17-2024_154823:

my entire life I had it wrong, John, I had it wrong. I always thought that there was, there was this spectrum and right at the zero mark, right in the middle, was, was this great big wall and on one side of, of the wall was pain and on the other side of the wall was joy and

john_1_12-17-2024_154823:

Mm.

curtis-morley---counterfeit-emotions_1_12-17-2024_154823:

or

john_1_12-17-2024_154823:

Mm.

curtis-morley---counterfeit-emotions_1_12-17-2024_154823:

and, and, love. I thought, okay, there's this wall here. I either get pain

john_1_12-17-2024_154823:

Mm.

curtis-morley---counterfeit-emotions_1_12-17-2024_154823:

I get joy.

john_1_12-17-2024_154823:

Mm.

curtis-morley---counterfeit-emotions_1_12-17-2024_154823:

get pain or I get love, but there is no mixing the two. There's this that makes them completely exclusive from each other. And, and what I found was that when the pain got so unbearable, so immense, that the only way out of that pain was being wrapped up in the arms of Christ. When it turned to that, and I saw that I was having this pain that was so crushing, I wanted a mountain to fall on top of me. And at the same time, at the same time, I felt Christ's arms wrap around me. And that's when I said, wait a minute, I thought they were exclusive. thought there was this wall that I couldn't have pain and joy at the same time. I couldn't have pain and love at the same time. And that's when I realized, that's when I realized that This side of the wall wasn't pain. This side of the wall misery. Misery and joy are exclusive. Misery and love are exclusive. You do not get both at the same time. But here's the difference that I didn't understand until I was blessed with these trials, was that I get to choose which side of the wall I put pain on.

john_1_12-17-2024_154823:

Whoa.

curtis-morley---counterfeit-emotions_1_12-17-2024_154823:

either bury pain deep underneath the misery,

john_1_12-17-2024_154823:

Mm.

curtis-morley---counterfeit-emotions_1_12-17-2024_154823:

has two components. base elements of misery are blame and shame.

john_1_12-17-2024_154823:

Mm. Back to shame.

curtis-morley---counterfeit-emotions_1_12-17-2024_154823:

Back to shame.

john_1_12-17-2024_154823:

That one just shows up.

curtis-morley---counterfeit-emotions_1_12-17-2024_154823:

It does. It's, oh, it's relentless. And if I, if I go into blame and shame, when, when life hits me, is inevitable. gonna happen. And it's important that it happens. It's not just, it's not just something we have to endure. It's important that we understand pain and we feel pain. It's important. And. When that happens, pain is not meant to be held. Pain is meant to be felt. Pain is meant to flow through us.

john_1_12-17-2024_154823:

Mm.

curtis-morley---counterfeit-emotions_1_12-17-2024_154823:

And as it's flowing through, it's like this brilliant diamond. Actually, I've got a diamond. Where is it? It's like, it's like this brilliant diamond. You know, it's sharp and it's pointy and if you push too hard, it'll cut and it's supposed to flow through us. But as it's coming through us, if we smother it in this black tar of misery, then it gets stuck and the pain stays inside of us.

john_1_12-17-2024_154823:

Mm.

curtis-morley---counterfeit-emotions_1_12-17-2024_154823:

No longer we smother it because we don't want to look at it and pain demands attention.

john_1_12-17-2024_154823:

Mm.

curtis-morley---counterfeit-emotions_1_12-17-2024_154823:

says, you have to look at how brilliant I am.

john_1_12-17-2024_154823:

Mm.

curtis-morley---counterfeit-emotions_1_12-17-2024_154823:

And misery says, I'm going to smother this with this black ooze, and when I do, it gets stuck inside of me, and then I have to feel the pain over and over and over again. like I said, pain is not meant to be held.

john_1_12-17-2024_154823:

Mm.

curtis-morley---counterfeit-emotions_1_12-17-2024_154823:

meant to be felt. It's meant to drip out our eyes. It's meant to be

john_1_12-17-2024_154823:

Mm.

curtis-morley---counterfeit-emotions_1_12-17-2024_154823:

sobs of the deepest cries. But when we smother it in misery, when we bury our pain in this side of the wall, then it gets stuck, it gets trapped, and we can't release it.

john_1_12-17-2024_154823:

Wow.

curtis-morley---counterfeit-emotions_1_12-17-2024_154823:

wipe away the slime of, misery, we will never be able to put it on the side of joy.

john_1_12-17-2024_154823:

Mm.

curtis-morley---counterfeit-emotions_1_12-17-2024_154823:

and in my life, I don't know how it was for you, but in my life, I wasn't, there were many times I wasn't picking up my pain. And

john_1_12-17-2024_154823:

Mm.

curtis-morley---counterfeit-emotions_1_12-17-2024_154823:

I could pick it up, I could never put it at the feet of Christ.

john_1_12-17-2024_154823:

Tell me what you mean by you weren't picking up your pain.

curtis-morley---counterfeit-emotions_1_12-17-2024_154823:

I was not, I was not looking at, I was smothering it in that black tar. I wasn't saying, okay, I'm ready to address this. I'm ready to

john_1_12-17-2024_154823:

Mm hmm.

curtis-morley---counterfeit-emotions_1_12-17-2024_154823:

ready to pick it up and let it hurt. And once I did that, once I picked it up and said, number one, what's my responsibility in this? Or two, how about I just surrender to the pain? And once I did that, the surrender came in the fact that I put it at Christ's feet. I said, I can't bear this, but I know you've already paid the price.

john_1_12-17-2024_154823:

Mm hmm.

curtis-morley---counterfeit-emotions_1_12-17-2024_154823:

And that's that surrender. was when I finally understood the true nature of pain, that I can choose to bury it deep under shame, or I can choose to elevate it honor it on the side of joy and love. And the way I do that is by placing that pain at the feet of Christ.

john_1_12-17-2024_154823:

Wow, this is this is deep man. This is really getting my my marbles turning in my brain So this concept of feeling pain and joy and love Came as you laid it at the feet of Jesus. Whoo. That is An incredible gem. Tell me, when I think of surrendering to Jesus, I think of surrendering my will to Jesus Christ. Like, okay, I want to do A. God wants me to do B. Okay, I'll do B. But this sounds a little bit different. What is surrendering your pain and getting rid of the misery? Love. Woo. That's so good. What, what does that look like for you? What did you, what was that journey like? What can you teach me about that? Because I'm, I'm really enthralled in this.

curtis-morley---counterfeit-emotions_1_12-17-2024_154823:

Yeah. when we look, when I look at surrender, surrender is an authentic emotion. And when I talk to most guys, they think surrender means wave the white flag and I give up.

john_1_12-17-2024_154823:

Okay.

curtis-morley---counterfeit-emotions_1_12-17-2024_154823:

And that's actually the counterfeit. The counterfeit of surrender is resignation. Surrender says, do your best and give God the rest.

john_1_12-17-2024_154823:

Mm.

curtis-morley---counterfeit-emotions_1_12-17-2024_154823:

Resignation says, I'm not even going to try.

john_1_12-17-2024_154823:

Oh, wow.

curtis-morley---counterfeit-emotions_1_12-17-2024_154823:

And, um, and when I say I had to surrender to Christ, what I mean by that is I had to surrender, not only my pain, But my fear

john_1_12-17-2024_154823:

Mm,

curtis-morley---counterfeit-emotions_1_12-17-2024_154823:

my, my pride of, I know where my life needs to head that I need to be, I need to be the leading actor in this movie and, and the funny thing was, is kept auditioning for the lead role I never got it. I never got the lead role because it's not my journey.

john_1_12-17-2024_154823:

mm

curtis-morley---counterfeit-emotions_1_12-17-2024_154823:

I get to be, I get to be a supporting actor in

john_1_12-17-2024_154823:

mm

curtis-morley---counterfeit-emotions_1_12-17-2024_154823:

ever told. And that's Christ's story. And I just get to be a supporting actor

john_1_12-17-2024_154823:

Yeah.

curtis-morley---counterfeit-emotions_1_12-17-2024_154823:

will, I, no matter how many times I try and audition for that leading role, I'm never going to get it because it's not my story. just get to be, I get to surrender my will to his, I get to surrender my fear. him. I get to

john_1_12-17-2024_154823:

Mm. Mm-hmm.

curtis-morley---counterfeit-emotions_1_12-17-2024_154823:

to him. I get to surrender the pain him. I get to surrender all to him. when I do that, that's where I find true peace. That's where I find true safety. is when I do that because it's not my movie. It's his. And I just get to, I get to be that supporting role.

john_1_12-17-2024_154823:

So, what drove you to the point where you're like, I need to surrender?

curtis-morley---counterfeit-emotions_1_12-17-2024_154823:

This is a tough story. There were, were a couple things Um, of those things was my friend Jerry. And yeah, this is a tough one. It still hurts because this is the program to his funeral.

john_1_12-17-2024_154823:

Mm-hmm

curtis-morley---counterfeit-emotions_1_12-17-2024_154823:

And September 2nd, 2021, Jerry left this earth because he didn't know the difference between guilt and pain, or excuse me, guilt and shame. He didn't know the difference between pain and misery. He didn't know the difference between sobriety and recovery. He didn't know the difference. And because of that, the shame consumed him, the misery consumed him. And. He, he lost his life to suicide. And John, I'm not okay with that.

john_1_12-17-2024_154823:

No. Mm-hmm

curtis-morley---counterfeit-emotions_1_12-17-2024_154823:

am not okay with how Jerry left us here this earth. Because it hurts and I miss him so badly. And he had so much to do. But he didn't understand what the counterfeits were doing. How they were hijacking his emotions. How they were hijacking his life. He didn't understand the difference. And he gave way. He gave in to those counterfeits. And when that happened, was writing my second book. I was in the middle of writing that second book and I called my publisher and I said, Hey, I'm sorry. The next book I write has to be a very different book. It is not going to be a business book. It needs to be a book about emotions and understanding what's happening inside of us because there's so many of us, including myself that didn't understand, that don't understand what the authentic emotions are and how those counterfeits hijack us.

john_1_12-17-2024_154823:

Mm-hmm

curtis-morley---counterfeit-emotions_1_12-17-2024_154823:

And, and I had to, I had to surrender what I thought was my path. Of helping entrepreneurs go from basement to buyout and helping them turn into rapid growth companies and put that on the shelf. Maybe never to come back to it, to writing a very new book called counterfeit emotions. And never would have guessed I'd be here 10 years ago. If you would have asked me. I'd be like, nope, nope, not going there. I'm a business guy. I'm an entrepreneur. I'm all these things. And, and God said, Hey, I've got a different idea. And so that I had to surrender to

john_1_12-17-2024_154823:

I love what your work is about to basically help us deal with our emotions a little bit better so that we don't get to that point. And every time I listen to you, I'm just like, just like, wow, that's so good. Can you tell me if somebody is out there and they're struggling with pain, they're struggling with, sorry, what was the other word? Pain and.

curtis-morley---counterfeit-emotions_1_12-17-2024_154823:

Misery.

john_1_12-17-2024_154823:

Misery. Thank you. And they're filled with misery. And I feel like I get stuck in this, Curtis. Something will happen, and it's just misery. I like what you describe it as. Maybe it's something unfortunate, maybe something didn't go well, an interaction with another person, and it leads to a little bit, just, like, it could be consuming, like you described.

curtis-morley---counterfeit-emotions_1_12-17-2024_154823:

Yeah,

john_1_12-17-2024_154823:

What would, you know, What would be your suggestion to them to help them surrender that to the savior? Jesus Christ.

curtis-morley---counterfeit-emotions_1_12-17-2024_154823:

so as I was going through my divorce, I'll never forget the day that I went to lunch with my good friend, Jesse Citrid, And, and he's like, hey Curtis, how's it going? And I unloaded, oh John, I unloaded on him. It was, it was, I was just, just barfed misery all over him. And I was like, I was like, well, let me tell you this happened and this happened to me and this happened to me and this happened to me and this happened to me. And I went through the list and I was just, it was all about those two components of misery, which is blame and shame. And I was, I kept saying that phrase, I kept saying, this happened to me.

john_1_12-17-2024_154823:

Mm

curtis-morley---counterfeit-emotions_1_12-17-2024_154823:

And, and Jesse stopped me and as a kind friend, he said, Curtis, you, you know, life doesn't happen to you, right? Life happens for you. And I said, I said, I kind of cocked my head and I looked at him funny and I'm like, um, did you not hear what I just told you? Let me go through the whole list again. I'm gonna and I went through the litany of grievances of I started going a second round, John. I'm like, Okay, you must not have heard. I mean, these are horrible things. And I'm gonna tell you all this stuff. And he goes, he goes, Curtis, stop, Life doesn't happen to you. It happens for you. And I had to take a deep breath. And I had to sit back and think about what he was saying. And I'm thinking, how is it even close to possible that this is happening for me? And he said, Curtis. All these things are for your good. And I'm sure you know the scripture in where the Lord says, All of these things are for your good. And the said all these things. He didn't say some. didn't say the pleasant ones. He didn't say, Hey, you know, when you get home and Emma's there and you've got that beautiful, you know, hot meal, then those things are for your good. This isn't for your good, but those are, no, he said all these things. And that's when it shifted in me, John. That's when I realized I had been playing the victim.

john_1_12-17-2024_154823:

mm

curtis-morley---counterfeit-emotions_1_12-17-2024_154823:

And in order to realize the truth of life, I needed to stop asking, Why is this happening to me?

john_1_12-17-2024_154823:

Mm

curtis-morley---counterfeit-emotions_1_12-17-2024_154823:

And start asking, Why is this happening for me?

john_1_12-17-2024_154823:

mm

curtis-morley---counterfeit-emotions_1_12-17-2024_154823:

And how is this happening for me?

john_1_12-17-2024_154823:

mm.

curtis-morley---counterfeit-emotions_1_12-17-2024_154823:

And was funny because I got, I got a personal experience to be able to, figure this out, by my house. Um, there's this beautiful running trail and it goes along the ridge of this ravine. then exactly a mile from my house is where it drops down into this, this beautiful pond. I love going there and just, just meditating and hearing the birds. And so one day I went for a run. I love to run. It's my zen time. And I'm out on my run. And, um, this particular day, I was, I was feeling like I had stumps for legs. I felt like my, my limbs were, were wooden blocks and I

john_1_12-17-2024_154823:

Yeah.

curtis-morley---counterfeit-emotions_1_12-17-2024_154823:

clonk, clonk. And I didn't have the energy. I wasn't feeling the energy. the resilience that I, I love to feel on my run. I'm like, so I got to the, I got to the one mile mark right before the one mile mark. And, um, I'm like, I need to, I need to push pause here for a second. Um, I need to regroup and get back to get back to what, you know, I know I can do. And, and I call myself a runner. in truth, I'm really a photographer. I have my phone out and I'm like, click, click, the sunset and the birds and everything around me. And so right about that point, there's this waterfall, this beautiful waterfall that has these steps by these big stone steps. And so I was like, okay, I'm going to regroup, take a couple of deep breaths and get back to my run. so, um, in the photographer fashion, I pulled out my phone to lean over and take a picture of this waterfall. And as I did, I pushed into these bushes and one of the branches was poking me in the knee. And I'm like, Oh, that kind of hurts. I pulled away from the bush and the branch was still poking in my leg. And I'm like,

john_1_12-17-2024_154823:

Oh.

curtis-morley---counterfeit-emotions_1_12-17-2024_154823:

huh, I wonder what that is. So I looked down, looked down and there's a wasp that's pulling its stinger out of my skin. And reinserting it in another spot. And I looked out I started screaming and hopping and swatting my knee. And, and I said the words I said. Why did you do this to me, you stupid bee? And, and when I heard those words come out of my own mouth, what Jesse had told me started ringing over in my mind over and over again. And what he said is life doesn't happen to you. Life happens for you. And so I, I thought about that. I'm like, okay, how can this happen for me? can this happen for my good?

john_1_12-17-2024_154823:

Mm-hmm

curtis-morley---counterfeit-emotions_1_12-17-2024_154823:

thought about my previous mile and I'm like, I just felt sluggish. I felt horrible. I didn't, I didn't want to run. And I'm like, well, Now, my body is coursing with adrenaline, like, of a sudden, like, I'm on, I'm on bee enhancing drugs, right? I'm, I've got these drugs in my body that, this adrenaline that's pumping through me I didn't have before, and I'm like, wait a minute. I have two choices at this point. I can either hang my head and say that stupid bee ruined my run walk home, walk the mile home with my head hung low grumbling the whole time, or I can simply ask the question, how did this happen for me?

john_1_12-17-2024_154823:

Mm.

curtis-morley---counterfeit-emotions_1_12-17-2024_154823:

And when I did that, when I asked that question, I was like, well, I've got all this adrenaline. Let's see what I can do. so, so my first mile was an 8. 33. So I did the first mile in eight minutes and 33 seconds. My second mile, I come barreling off this hill down to the pond and I circled the pond a few times with the cheesiest grin on my face. I'm sure. I'm just like, yeah, and my second mile was a six 22. And so I dropped two minutes and 11 seconds off my time, which is a massive difference.

john_1_12-17-2024_154823:

Yeah, there's a big difference between an 833 and a 622 people. Yeah, especially at our age, right Curtis? Turn it from misery, right? Not into misery, but from misery.

curtis-morley---counterfeit-emotions_1_12-17-2024_154823:

grin sprinting and, and the interesting thing was, I could have hung my head. I could have slumped back home. I could have sat on the couch and turn on Netflix and say, Oh, what a horrible day. But I, I simply asked the question, how did this happen for me? And that made all the difference. And all of a sudden I'm sprinting like Usain Bolt. Like I, I had Michael Johnson's golden Nikes on my shoes and I was going around this pond. And, and then I ran home with that same cheesy grin on my face. And I sat down at my computer and I started writing. I submitted the article to Forbes. And now 72, 000 people read about how to go from being a victim to being a victor, how to stop saying, this is happening to me and start saying, how can this, how is this happening for me? And there's, there's actually a third step in the process. And the third step is vessel. So the first step is I'm a victim. The second step is I'm a victor. How is this happening for me? The third step is becoming a vessel and asking the question, how can this happen through me? And in my case with the bee sting, if I would have been victim and said, this is happening to me, Then there would have been no good come out of that. There would have been no super fast mile. There would have been no forwards article. There would have been no keynotes that now people have hired me because of that article. There would be none of that. But because I asked, how is this happening for me? All of a sudden I did that. And here's the thing, John is like the pain didn't go away. Just because I asked that question, the pain didn't go away. The wasps stung me three times. Three times big fat welts in my knee and the pain was still there, but what was overriding the pain Was the adrenaline and the joy and the fun and all of a sudden i'm just having such a blast The pain was still there. It still hurt But I didn't have to bury that pain underneath misery. And because of that, because I wrote an article about it, and now 72, 000 people have read that article, I was able to say, well, how can this happen through me? How can I help others with this experience? How did this pain become something that I can bless other people's lives with? And so when you ask the question, you know, if someone is dealing with pain and they want to turn it into misery, Very simply ask those questions. Yeah, from misery

john_1_12-17-2024_154823:

Yeah, you said turn it into misery

curtis-morley---counterfeit-emotions_1_12-17-2024_154823:

oh, sorry, sorry, mixed my words.

john_1_12-17-2024_154823:

That's all right.

curtis-morley---counterfeit-emotions_1_12-17-2024_154823:

turn the misery into pain and respect and honor the pain.

john_1_12-17-2024_154823:

Mmm.

curtis-morley---counterfeit-emotions_1_12-17-2024_154823:

to do that just simply ask the question, How is this happening for me? And then ask one more, How can this happen through me? And then, we honor the pain. Then we see that pain is actually a gift from God, which is something that I didn't understand my whole life, John. Oh, it was so hard.

john_1_12-17-2024_154823:

Wow. Pain is a gift from God. So often, so often people ask this question, why does bad happen in the world? Why doesn't God just remove all pain? I think your, your teachings today kind of answer that. Maybe not totally, but if we learn to see that pain has good pain, how could this, okay, say it again.

curtis-morley---counterfeit-emotions_1_12-17-2024_154823:

How can this happen through me, or excuse me, for me first?

john_1_12-17-2024_154823:

How could this happen for me? And,

curtis-morley---counterfeit-emotions_1_12-17-2024_154823:

How can this happen through me?

john_1_12-17-2024_154823:

how can this happen through me?

curtis-morley---counterfeit-emotions_1_12-17-2024_154823:

And once we, once we answer those questions, there's nothing left but gratitude.

john_1_12-17-2024_154823:

Mmm. You know, I've heard so many people talk about going through pain, sometimes horrific or tragic, and then they come out years later saying, I would never want this to happen to somebody else, but I'm grateful this happened to me, because, Of the lessons i've learned the person i've become and how it changed my heart I think that's what you're talking about. You're putting you're putting a whole explanation to it. That's really powerful so you talked about coming to surrender and And these beautiful questions and the pain you went through What was the outcome for you as you surrendered? How did it change your life? That's a

curtis-morley---counterfeit-emotions_1_12-17-2024_154823:

I was able to surrender, um, it changed my life in so many ways. yeah, I went through a crazy hard divorce. I did. And I count it as, as a blessing as a blessing, because it gave me a chance to ask myself, who am I and who do I want to become? It gave me a chance to say, you know what? I need to make changes in my life. I do. And when I surrendered that, you know, I had this perfect picture in my mind that, oh, I've got this beautiful family and this beautiful home and this great job and all these things in life is perfect and that's how it, I'm going to put these in air quotes, should be. And I had this picture of what life should be. And then all of a sudden that picture was, it was ripped up, thrown in the fire. And I was like, and I had no idea. I had no idea the blessings. had in store because, because you see, John, the, the blessings that came. I know you've seen this picture, but I'll, I'll show your guests. This is, this is my Patty. And, um, this is what I proposed to her

john_1_12-17-2024_154823:

picture brother that's a picture

curtis-morley---counterfeit-emotions_1_12-17-2024_154823:

at the Eiffel tower. And I had no idea that I would be married to someone as incredible as Patty, who is so full of goodness. An incredible love, incredible love that I had no idea that marriage could be amazing and so beautiful and so happy and, and it is, and I had to go through that pain, I had to go through that experience for my own growth, but then. To finally be able to find, find my fatty and, and that gift came through God. And it's funny because, because talk about surrender. Um, I had, I first got divorced, I said, I'm never getting married again. And I had to give up that idea. I had to give up the idea

john_1_12-17-2024_154823:

Yeah.

curtis-morley---counterfeit-emotions_1_12-17-2024_154823:

getting married again. and so I started dating and, dated some wonderful people. And, but then I was like, you know what? I'm just done. I'm done dating. I'm going to put dating on hold. So I got on my knees and I said, I said, God, God, if you want somebody in my life, let me know. Um, if not, that's great too. Um, I'm just going to focus on doing good in the world and focus on my kids and my family. And. and so that was two weeks before New Year's and my friend calls me, um, his name is Brett and my friend calls and he said, he's like, Hey, Curtis, are you going to the New Year's Eve dance? And I'm like, nope.

john_1_12-17-2024_154823:

You're like, brother, man, I did that when I was 18. I'm good now.

curtis-morley---counterfeit-emotions_1_12-17-2024_154823:

And dating when you're a kid was so fun. It was so great, but dating as an adult is hard and like, nope, I'm not going. And so he calls back again. He's like, Hey, you got to come to the new year's eve dance. And I'm like, man, I'm just, I'm just not feeling it. He calls back again, third time. And I'm like, man, I'm not going. And so he calls back the fourth time and he says, okay, listen, I just need you to be my wingman. Will you just be my wingman?

john_1_12-17-2024_154823:

Four times. This brother's persistent.

curtis-morley---counterfeit-emotions_1_12-17-2024_154823:

He's amazing.

john_1_12-17-2024_154823:

And then he got honest. I just need a wing man, bud.

curtis-morley---counterfeit-emotions_1_12-17-2024_154823:

And it was hilarious because, um, he's like, here, I'll send you the link register. So I went to register and it was full, the registration was closed. And I'm like, I'm like, Hey, sorry, can't go. There's, there's no more tickets available. And he's like, here's the Venmo. Just Venmo him and then just show up and show him your Venmo receipt. And so I'm like, all right, so I paid the 25 bucks or whatever it was. And, um, and I show up on New Year's Eve I pull into the parking lot and he told me it was business casual. So I'm just wearing a polo short sleeve shirt and I get out of my car and I And I look behind me and there's this couple walking up. The, the gal had a dress that must've been three feet wide. It was this ball gown. It was incredible. And, and the guy had this incredibly fancy tux and I'm like, Oh, I'm getting back in my car. So I actually left the venue. I got back in my car and I'm driving away. I'm a block and a half down the road. And my friend calls. He's like, Hey, are you here?

john_1_12-17-2024_154823:

This is the fifth time people. This guy's persistent.

curtis-morley---counterfeit-emotions_1_12-17-2024_154823:

It was amazing. he's like, Hey, are you here? And I'm like, I'm like, Nope. I said I was, but I'm not anymore. And he's like, I, without me even say anything, he goes, I know I told you it's business casual. But just come back. I've got clothes for you in my truck. And I'm like, I'm like, Like what? You've got clothes for me in your truck? he goes, yeah, just come back. And I'm like, okay. So I turn around, I go back. Turns out he does magic shows. He's the founder and CEO of a company. And on the weekends he just loves to do magic. So he had these magician outfits in his car and he gives me one and I totally look like a disco ball. I would. I was the shiniest thing you've ever seen. so, uh, so we go to the dance and it was fun and you know, just, it was a dance, but I was committed not to give away my number and not to get anybody's number. And so, so I, I didn't. and then before midnight, my old girlfriend shows up with her new boyfriend, I'm like, oof, too soon. This is too soon. So,

john_1_12-17-2024_154823:

when you say old girlfriend, are you 18, 20, or after your divorce, you had a girlfriend and broke up.

curtis-morley---counterfeit-emotions_1_12-17-2024_154823:

Yeah. The most,

john_1_12-17-2024_154823:

that's the situation.

curtis-morley---counterfeit-emotions_1_12-17-2024_154823:

the most recent girlfriend. Yup.

john_1_12-17-2024_154823:

Okay.

curtis-morley---counterfeit-emotions_1_12-17-2024_154823:

And so I was like, Oh, too soon. And I've got to, I've got to check out. So I left a second time.

john_1_12-17-2024_154823:

Oh,

curtis-morley---counterfeit-emotions_1_12-17-2024_154823:

left a second time.

john_1_12-17-2024_154823:

are we gonna get a sixth phone call?

curtis-morley---counterfeit-emotions_1_12-17-2024_154823:

Well, different kind, different, different kind of phone call. So it was in this beautiful place called the studio Draper. And I walked down these stairs. And there's this big, long hallway, and I walked down the hallway,. I, as I pushed open the door to leave the building, heard the words, wait, and then I heard stop. And, and I looked up and I said, I said, I hear you, God. And, and I really don't want to be here right now. I really don't. And I trust you. And I'm willing to surrender. I'm really willing to surrender because I know that Thou seest me. And so I turned back around, back up the long hallway, up the stairs, and went and found my friend Brett. And right then, he said, Curtis, I need to introduce you to someone. This is Patty, and, and John, if I wouldn't have surrendered to his will, if I wouldn't have surrendered my will, my will was to get out of there and get out of there fast. If I wouldn't have surrendered that, I have met Patty. But, because I surrendered that, I was able to meet the most amazing person I've ever known. And, now I get to call her my wife. And, and that's what surrender is, is letting go, letting go and letting God, doing my best and giving Him the rest. And, and because of that surrender, now, now I get to spend the rest of my life and the rest of eternity the most beautiful person I've ever met.

john_1_12-17-2024_154823:

So I got to ask the question. Did he know this was gonna happen or did he? With Patty or did, was it just like, Hey, I just met this girl named Patty. I think you should meet her.

curtis-morley---counterfeit-emotions_1_12-17-2024_154823:

Um, Brett or God? You know,

john_1_12-17-2024_154823:

That was a good one. That was a good one. Yeah. Did Brett?

curtis-morley---counterfeit-emotions_1_12-17-2024_154823:

what's funny, here's the crazy thing. Patty's friend called her three times too. Asked her to go to the dance and she's like, no, I don't want to go. And she had committed, she'd committed to not give anyone her phone number or get any phone numbers. the way Brett introduced, he'd introduced me to several people throughout the night, like

john_1_12-17-2024_154823:

Oh,

curtis-morley---counterfeit-emotions_1_12-17-2024_154823:

people. he, the way he introduced me to her is he said, Hey, this is Patty. And she runs a temple singles group, uh, or sing a singles temple group. where she gets organized as singles and they all go to the temple. And I was like, Oh, my new year's resolution. My new year's resolution is to develop a stronger testimony of the temple. And she's like, great. And I, and I said something like, well, how do I become part of that group? And she goes, well, just give me your number. And so, so I gave her my number and, and. And I, as I finished, I'm like, Oh, I wasn't going to give anybody my number, but I'm like, you know what? That's okay. And God knew what he was doing because if it was one of those, hi, I'm Curtis and let's get romantic and yeah.

john_1_12-17-2024_154823:

Can I get your number?

curtis-morley---counterfeit-emotions_1_12-17-2024_154823:

Yeah, it never would have happened,

john_1_12-17-2024_154823:

Never would've happened.

curtis-morley---counterfeit-emotions_1_12-17-2024_154823:

but God knew God

john_1_12-17-2024_154823:

So now, now you're just killing me, man. I gotta know. I gotta know. So. Did she call you up and say, Hey, we're doing a temple trip this Wednesday. Would you come? Or did she call you up and say, Hey, uh, I'd like to, like to chat a little more.

curtis-morley---counterfeit-emotions_1_12-17-2024_154823:

She, she did call me and she said, Hey, we've got a temple group on Tuesday night.

john_1_12-17-2024_154823:

Okay.

curtis-morley---counterfeit-emotions_1_12-17-2024_154823:

said, I said, awesome. Um, Oh, but you know what? I've got my daughter that night. I won't be able to make it. um, and she said, well, I'm going that morning. Could you make it in the morning? And I'm like, yes. And it's, it's awesome to hear her tell the story because she's like, Oh, I just asked him out. And she texted over and, and, um, so we went to the temple, just her and I, and, um, talk about a great first date. That's the way it was. So we went to the temple and it was incredible. We became. Really amazing friends and then we became more and I'm so grateful. So, so grateful.

john_1_12-17-2024_154823:

that's beautiful. That's beautiful. Brother Curtis, man. How has your view of Jesus Christ evolved and shaped in this journey of surrender?

curtis-morley---counterfeit-emotions_1_12-17-2024_154823:

One of the biggest things for me was I had a bishop, Bishop Nord, and he shared, he shared the scripture in Matthew chapter five, verse 48. And, and it says something really interesting that I never saw before. It says, be therefore perfect, even as your father, which art in heaven is perfect. And, he said, Curtis, do you struggle with the idea of being perfect? And I'm like, yeah, I

john_1_12-17-2024_154823:

Mm hmm. Mm

curtis-morley---counterfeit-emotions_1_12-17-2024_154823:

my life, my whole life, I have to be perfect and I thought I had to be perfect. And he goes, he goes, no, is one of the most misunderstood scriptures all of scripture. And I'm like, okay. And he said, he said, notice the footnote. Let's turn over to third Nephi. Let's turn over to third Nephi and look at what Christ says in third Nephi chapter 13 verse 48. Christ says almost the exact same thing, and they say almost because it's changed slightly. He said, be therefore perfect even as I or your father, which are in heaven is perfect. And when he read that, I was like, wait a minute. In third Nephi, he includes the word I in Matthew at the beginning of his ministry. He doesn't. At the beginning of Christ's ministry, when he's just getting started before his resurrection, before his atonement, before ascending to the Father, he doesn't use the word I. He doesn't say, be therefore perfect as I and the Father. Not until after his atonement, after his resurrection, after his ministry, when he says the word I. He said, Curtis. We're not meant to be perfect in this life. We are meant to be perfected him. That's what he's talking about. We're never meant to be perfect here on this earth, but we are meant to be perfected him and be

john_1_12-17-2024_154823:

Mm hmm.

curtis-morley---counterfeit-emotions_1_12-17-2024_154823:

And now I know that he did set the example. He set all the examples. That not only is he my savior, but he's my redeemer. And I didn't understand what that meant. I had no idea what it meant for him to be my redeemer. And now, you know, they say, do you believe in Jesus Christ as your savior and redeemer? I always said, yes. He's like, yep, I do. Having no idea what the word redeemer means. And what redeemer means is that he buys me back.

john_1_12-17-2024_154823:

Mm

curtis-morley---counterfeit-emotions_1_12-17-2024_154823:

He buys me back every day, every second, every mistake. He buys me back.

john_1_12-17-2024_154823:

hmm. Mm hmm. Mm

curtis-morley---counterfeit-emotions_1_12-17-2024_154823:

not the atonement is, is not just about something that happened 2000 years ago and something that's going to happen when I see Peter at the pearly gates. It's not these bookend events. His atonement is about every second of every day along the journey.

john_1_12-17-2024_154823:

hmm.

curtis-morley---counterfeit-emotions_1_12-17-2024_154823:

Because every second, he buys me back. Every second, he's blessing me. That, when I went through my divorce, everything was taken from me. My titles, my money, my kids, my car, my spouse, like it was all gone. And when I realized that when everything can be taken, that means that the flip side is true too, that everything can be given. That everything we have is a gift. A gift from God and a gift from our Savior. Everything. And when I see that, when I see the gift of Christ's atonement, He does buy me back, that's when I can truly understand what this life is all about.

john_1_12-17-2024_154823:

That's so beautiful, brother. I just want to thank you so much for this journey we've been on today. Heartfelt, touching, exciting, insightful. And uh, what a great testimony of Jesus Christ. Christ buys back, Christ lives all along the way. And that's why I, you know, this, this, this podcast is called walking with the savior because it literally is a journey. There's no one stagnant point. It's a journey of a relationship with Jesus Christ. And we, we got so much edification from you today saying, thank you so much, Curtis. I just love you, brother. Love you, brother. I feel like, I feel like you're a brother, man.

curtis-morley---counterfeit-emotions_1_12-17-2024_154823:

I love you, John.

john_1_12-17-2024_154823:

Thank you everybody for joining us on this week's episode of walking with the savior. Maybe we all rejoice in Christ, preach of Christ and maybe we all come under Christ and most of all, may we enjoy our walk with the savior this week. Everybody have a great day.