Trusting God Through It All - #006

Trusting God is easy in the good moments, but what about the bad and the downright ugly? 

In this episode, Amber and Alissa talk honestly about what it looks like to hold onto God's faithfulness when life doesn't go the way you planned. It's a real conversation about trusting the He's still good in every season.

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Instagram: @ingoodfaithpod | @ambahhh_riedel | @alissa_riedel

Transcript

SPEAKER_02 0:20

Hello. Hello, in good faith family. This is Ty Pennington. Move that bus. Just kidding.

SPEAKER_01 0:30

It's Amber and Alyssa.

SPEAKER_02 0:32

Oh my gosh. Do we treat you?

SPEAKER_01 0:34

That we got Ty Pennington on. How embarrassing for you.

SPEAKER_02 0:37

Yeah. That was crazy. Sorry I said that.

SPEAKER_01 0:40

I feel every time I do the introduction, I feel like saying that. I skip the introduction whenever I listen back because it's always some dumb stuff.

SPEAKER_02 0:49

It's always me embarrassing myself, pretty much. Well, we're back again in the in the studio recording. Happy Friday. We hope your day's going well, whether you're listening to this in the morning or in the late work or on the way back from work or on your lunch break, whenever you're listening to it. We are hoping that you're having a great day. That's true. So mediocre life updates.

SPEAKER_01 1:20

Uh-huh. What do you have? Because I forgot to write them down. That's fun.

SPEAKER_02 1:27

I kind of have a few. And it kind of stinks because we uh one thing about me and Lys is we talk on the phone every single day. So it's hard coming in the studio because I feel like we have to play pretend. Yeah, I feel kind of fake. Yeah. So what did you do? I did it with you. Like it's we do everything together. And if we don't do something together, I usually call her two seconds after I do it. And so yeah.

SPEAKER_01 1:55

We tried to like not talk to each other about certain things. I guess we could talk about the pottery class.

SPEAKER_02 2:02

Yeah, yeah, we did that together.

SPEAKER_01 2:04

We already talked about it.

SPEAKER_02 2:06

But we only talked about it like halfway because we realized we're like, wait, we should be talking about the colour.

SPEAKER_01 2:10

But then we You came over and then we talked about it. Oh, we did talk about it more. Dang it.

SPEAKER_02 2:15

Okay. Well, we'll talk about it again. We went to the pottery class. It was amazing. It was it was a movie. Oh, it was electric. Well, we were the only two people in there. So it was a private lesson. Yeah, essentially. It was a little embarrassing. I walked in there, met this wonderful gentleman named Chuck. And Chucky, he was just a sweet, sweet old man. Sweet. Chuck, if you're listening, we love you.

SPEAKER_01 2:46

What if he was if Chuck listened and he addressed us next week? I'm going to pass away.

SPEAKER_02 2:51

Like, what if, like so it was this older gentleman named Chuck and his lovely wife Teresa?

SPEAKER_01 2:58

She was a doll. I liked her. I will say.

SPEAKER_02 3:01

But yeah, me and Lissa were the only two people in the class. We we brought our little aprons and our little boxes and well, my apron, I got it from Walmart like 20 minutes before.

SPEAKER_01 3:13

Baking section. It was ugly and it was too big. So it was bugging me the whole time. And I was jealous of your apron because you looked professional. I did. Yes, ma'am. And I just look like a fool.

SPEAKER_02 3:26

You gotta look up pottery apron on Amazon. And it even had like that cool slit. However, it was like driving me crazy. I wish I would have had, I was a little bit jealous of your apron because yours went like it covered your legs, whereas mine had a slit in the middle. I don't understand why. Maybe so I could like widen my legs around the pottery wheel. Straddle the pottery wheel, if you will. But it had that weird slit and it kept getting on my jeans.

SPEAKER_01 3:55

Yeah, well, I still got it on my jeans, but it was like way too big around the neck. So and I was wearing a white shirt. So just a huge gap.

SPEAKER_02 4:03

But it was so much fun. Chucky had us working. Yeah, I was working like a dog.

SPEAKER_01 4:09

I was about to cry.

SPEAKER_02 4:11

No, like honestly, though, like he was like, I was already on like my fifth project, and he's like, What's next? I'm like, I have to take a breather.

SPEAKER_00 4:20

Chucky.

SPEAKER_02 4:20

No, I can't make another bowl today, sir. No, but I got up, I just had to like stretch because I was sitting for three hours straddling the pottery wheel, hunched over. My left knee was cramped, couldn't feel that. And whenever I got into the car after the class, couldn't move my neck. Woke up the next day, hardly came out.

SPEAKER_01 4:43

And we were on the phone, and you touched your neck wrong. You said, ah, what'd you do?

SPEAKER_02 4:49

Just play a pickleball match? No, I came from my pottery class. But yeah, I made four projects. I think Alyssa made how many?

SPEAKER_01 4:58

Three, maybe, plus my pinch pot. Yeah. I was gonna make another one, but it got ruined. And so I had to crumple it up.

SPEAKER_02 5:07

Yeah. When I our first like little like introduction project was what he called, he's like, okay, we're making a pinch pot. I'm like, okay. He's like, grab your clay, do this, do that, and just make a pot. And then he's like, perfect. We'll let this dry until next week, and then next week we'll like carve your names on it. And I said, Let me stop you there, Chuck. Chuck, let me stop you there. We're firing this? And he's like, Yeah, it's your first project. I said, Do we have to? Because this isn't happening. Because if you know me, you know I like things done a certain way. And I like things that I can use. And I was not gonna use that garbage. You can use that. No, that looks like a kindergartner made it. I'm not putting that in my house. I feel bad for my future kids, actually. But I did ask him if I can later in the class, like it the pinch pot was just staring at me, this ugly little bowl. And I'm like, I think I have to ask him if I can crumple it. And so I did end up recycling the clay, and I did make like a little ceramic cup out of it. So thank God I don't have the pinch pot to worry about. But I made two little ceramic cups, mugs. They don't have like a what's that called? Handle. A handle on it. So hopefully I can use them for iced coffee. I don't know if they turned out well or not, or if they'll even fit in my coffee. Like they did. Or a cup holder. I made a little catch-all bowl that wasn't supposed to be a catch-all bowl, but it turned out that way. And then I made a little lemon squeezer, like it's like a little dish, and then it has like a little piece that comes up and you squeeze the lemon. It's really cute.

SPEAKER_01 6:43

Yeah. I was not as good as I thought I was gonna be. Yeah, it was hard. I got mad. And I got mad because he was giving all his attention to Amber doing her little lemon pop project. And he was, oh, I'm so proud of you. And then he turned to me, sew your wheel down. Yes, sir. Sorry. Why are you going so fast? You were his little protege. No, I was jealous. He liked you too. I was jealous because you were so good at it.

SPEAKER_02 7:20

Well, the thing is, is like I didn't want to mess up all my stuff, so I just needed him to help me so I can come home with good stuff.

SPEAKER_01 7:29

And I did mess up my stuff because he was paying attention to you. And then I asked him, I said, I messed up. Can I redo this? And he just like, say, yeah. He didn't even pay attention to what I was saying. And so I balled up my clay, I scraped it off the wheel, and then he turned around. He's like, Whoa, whoa, what happened? Chuck, I just told you. I asked you if I can crumple this up, and you said yes, but clearly I wasn't paying attention, but it's okay.

SPEAKER_02 7:57

But Alyssa was Chuck's protege with the bowl you made. I didn't. I will say it was a phenomenal bowl that you did. He was very proud of you. It was uneven. Not really. It looked like it he like he said, it is going to make the perfect cereal bowl. Is that food grade? I don't know. Me neither.

SPEAKER_01 8:18

Can be. Will be. It'll be ice cream grade.

SPEAKER_02 8:22

All that to say the pottery class was it was amazing.

SPEAKER_01 8:26

It did, we did learn a lot.

SPEAKER_02 8:29

But we can center the clay. Yeah. He did, he was just very proud of us with centering the clay.

SPEAKER_01 8:34

I feel like I didn't do it well. I I don't feel like I did it that well either. But Chuck might just be really nice to us.

SPEAKER_02 8:42

Hopefully it's just us two again, though. Next. Oh. So it is gonna be just it's gonna be just like us and our grandparents. Like that's grandma and grandpa. To me. No. I liked him. Love you guys. Shout out Chuck and Therese. Uh the Therese or Teresa? I don't know. Anyways, that was pottery class. Mediocre, remember, guys. My next one is I was reintroduced to garlic edamame. Or garlic lime edamame. I did forget about that.

SPEAKER_01 9:23

Boy, oh boy. If you guys want a little special treat, go drive up to Tsunami Sushi and get a little appetizer. And we're gonna get garlic lime edamame, and it's divine.

SPEAKER_02 9:39

Like truly. Divine as in don't even try to have a conversation with me while I'm eating it. I actually almost bit my finger the other day. I I I I made it at home. I forgot. That for sure is. That was it. Oh man. I I went with Leah the first time. So I've just really been treating myself these last couple weeks. I went with Leah, had like a little friendship date, whatever. She was like trying to talk to me and catch up, and I'm just like, I'm sorry. Yeah. What? Like I couldn't even concentrate because the garlic and the lime and the soy, it's just good. So highly recommend that. That's just been such a special thing and good source of protein. So that's good. Go on, get you some. And you can make it at home. It's real easy. Get you some. I was driving. Don't ever don't eat Edamame and drive because that's about as bad as Texan and drive. Almost. It's right up there because I was so unfocused. I had a bowl, a big bowl. Remember, I showed up to your house the other night? Yeah. I gave mom the other half.

SPEAKER_01 10:58

That was weird. I was out of my mind. For you drive in the car with that.

SPEAKER_02 11:03

It was weird. Like, like, what if a cop like stopped me? Do you know why I stopped you, ma'am? No. Because you're eating soybeans and you can't. Because what are you doing? Anyways, guys, go get some Edamame. I don't honestly think I have any like. Well, you can give your life update on Bodhi having to have his cone on for another week.

SPEAKER_01 11:27

Oh yeah. So he actually, you know, I said he's a very bad patient and whatnot. He got out of his cone one day and just went ham licking his surgical site. And so we went back to the doctor for his recheck, and they said, he's a bit swollen. He has to keep that cone on for another week. So now he's just bumping around with this cone, cutting people's legs up. He's just a nightmare.

SPEAKER_02 11:58

He is a nightmare. Oh, this is Candy stinks.

SPEAKER_01 12:03

I'm looking at my notes and I have the name Cody. A little mediocre life update. We have a new way to spell Cody. If anybody wants to name their baby Cody. This would be cute for a girl. It's C-O-D-H-I.

SPEAKER_02 12:20

It's like you're doing way too much at that point, but you know. But it's cool to look at. You always need a new way to spell something.

SPEAKER_01 12:28

Anyways, I think that's my only that's awesome though. All it says is code.

SPEAKER_02 12:34

Any expecting mothers out there? We got a baby name for you. Okay, well, I have a few more, so I'll just go to town. I went to the gym again yesterday for the first time. I think maybe this year, possibly. I'm not sure the last time I went to the gym, but I did go yesterday. My biceps are sore, so that's fun. I have weird gym anxiety to where I feel like everybody is looking at me. And I know people say that they're not, but I swear they are. Because I'm looking at them.

SPEAKER_00 13:10

Yeah, exactly.

SPEAKER_02 13:11

I do. No, they're probably looking at me because they're like, why is this girl staring at me? Like, like, I feel like I'm like looking at other people, making sure they're not looking at me. And then I make it weird.

SPEAKER_01 13:24

I have a problem. I zone out a lot, and then I realize I'm staring straight at somebody's face.

SPEAKER_02 13:30

Yeah, that's happened to me before. But you know what? They are probably looking at me wondering, like, dang, like, how is she so big? How are her muscles so strong? Like, how is she lifting those 70 mil sheets? Is that all natural? Oh man.

unknown 13:45

No.

SPEAKER_02 13:45

Yeah, it is all natural, guys. All these muscles on this body are all natural. Literal shrink bean. Gosh. But I am, I'm back. I'm gonna get some muscles. I've been eating my protein. Hello, edamame protein. Wake up, America. Get in the gym.

SPEAKER_01 14:06

That reminds me. I I'm back on my workout grind. I had Cat TBT write me up a 12-week program. I'm starting Reformers Pilates on Monday. So I'm excited about that, but nervous because I've never done it and I hate being bad at things. And I might cry in that session, but your leg's gonna be like shaken. And I'm gonna be embarrassed. Yeah. That's fun though. Yeah. So I'm gonna get in shape this summer. Or like toned, I guess. I don't know. Or just out here doing stuff.

SPEAKER_02 14:42

I don't know. I learned to embroider. Summer, if you're listening to this. Shout out. Shout out to my friend Summer. She taught me how to embroider. I went over to her house like I think like last week for like an hour. And I learned she she's such a good teacher. She taught me how to embroider and like hand embroider. So, like with a needle and thread, my guys, I am going to town. You hand me a piece of fabric, I'm putting a name on there. I'm putting a saying on there. I immediately came home that night and embroidered my kitchen towel. What else did I? Oh, and then the next day I'm working on a project for a friend and I embroidered all of that. And now I'm last night I started my other kitchen towel. What else did I do? Oh, my laptop case. I put my name on there. So if anyone needs anything embroidered, like let me know. I do only know how to do a backstitch.

SPEAKER_01 15:44

Pants, shirts, hankies, hankies, bananas shoes.

SPEAKER_02 15:48

Lol. What?

unknown 15:50

It's thick.

SPEAKER_02 15:51

Yeah. But that's been a really fun skill to learn. And I feel domesticated. I feel like a homemaker. Homesteader. Homesteader. All I need now are some like chickens or something. Like I feel like I can do all things. Oh, I did buy a sewing machine. That's coming in tomorrow.

SPEAKER_01 16:12

I fear that's gonna go to waste. Mm-hmm.

SPEAKER_02 16:16

Yeah. I fear that's gonna tick me off.

SPEAKER_01 16:19

Yes, because I took up sewing a couple years ago. Well, actually, I think I broke my mom's sewing machine.

SPEAKER_02 16:27

I'm just worried about like the threading of the needle, the like going around the machine, going down like three holes, and then going in the bobbin. Really? Well, maybe you can teach me because I feel like I'm gonna break my sewing class in high school. That's out of my that's been so far removed from my memory. Sorry, Miss Corso.

SPEAKER_01 16:49

But yeah, we made some junk in there.

SPEAKER_02 16:54

Yeah, I made some pajamas. Remember, I gave them pajamas to Miss Ginny?

SPEAKER_01 16:57

No. I made pajamas, I gave them to Miss Ginny. She took them, she probably threw them away. Shelby, I remember Shelby made something. It was supposed to be her initial S. She made it in brown, and it's like the shape wasn't right, so it looked gross. And Miss Corsa gave it back to her with a note that said, This is unacceptable.

SPEAKER_02 17:20

It's like put two and two together. It was far the initial.

SPEAKER_01 17:24

It wasn't even supposed to be that.

SPEAKER_02 17:31

What else? Oh, I mowed the grass last night. That's very mediocre and frankly a little re weird and random. But I was at my sister's parents' house, whatever, and my dad was mowing the grass. I said, You mind if I take a spin on that? Mind if I hop on it? Yeah. Because I remember in high school, like he owned his old shop that he used to own, he had like land around it, and I would work there in the summers and I would mow the grass too. That's really, really random. It was so relaxing and fun. But it was like one of the ride lawn mowers, and them little boys are fun, they're quick. But yeah, so I was doing that last night, and then it turned into like this him trying to teach me and like this whole lesson. I'm like, I'm I'm okay. I just want to take a little spin. I'm outie. Yeah, and I literally ran back inside.

SPEAKER_01 18:24

I'm out. He texted in the group, said, Amber, where are you?

SPEAKER_02 18:30

I left. So yeah, that's kind of my life updates. I made a Depop sale, sent that out today. It only took two months, but cha-ching, made eight dollars.

SPEAKER_01 18:43

Oh, snap. Rich. I'm kind of annoyed because somebody sent me an offer for something on there that I wanted to sell and I missed it, and the offer expired. It was like a$30 sale.

SPEAKER_02 18:57

Dang. How much did you have it for originally? Uh$40. Oh, yeah. That's still good for like a secondhand thing. Because I'm not even sure how I made money. What did you sell again? A shirt. And it was actually like a nice shirt, like a boutique shirt. I sold it for$8. So with shipping, like how how is money to be made? Shipping has to be like$4.50 somewhere around there. I think they pay for shipping.

SPEAKER_01 19:29

So they pay for shipping? No. Or the customer does. Oh. Because I bought something off of Depop and I paid for shipping, I think. Oh, okay. I didn't know how it works.

SPEAKER_02 19:40

I'm like, I am making a solid$4 on this. Oh, I wanted to touch on some of the things that we were doing for like spring cleaning our life and what things I'm actually continuing. Still making my bed. I know that I mentioned that I don't even know when I mentioned that.

SPEAKER_01 20:00

I feel like we've mentioned that in every episode.

SPEAKER_02 20:02

Yeah. I I just I have to keep myself accountable with somebody, but I am still making my bed. I I'm trying to find the list of oh here. It's literally right here. Okay. So we're still kind of picking up those hobbies. Blah blah blah. Still have Instagram deleted. Hence why I'm blowing through these hobbies so quickly. Like I'm just left and right. New hobby, new hobby. I'm gonna be good at so many things. I did not do my deep clean yet. So that's actually what I was doing right before I left to come record. The house has gotta be cleaned. It looks like crudsucles right now. It's doity. And then, oh, I was thinking about this. Oh, two things here. Spotify playlists. So I will give Apple a little bit of credit where it's due. Today, this morning, Lisa, we were listening to Jesse McCartney. I was continuing that today on the way here, and just like while I was cleaning before I came, Apple Music came up with a nice little playlist for me. I know we were bashing them in the last episode, but I had Jesse McCartney playing. It was the beautiful soul album or whatever the green album's called. And I obviously listened to the entire album. And then after that, a little bit of Justin Bieber came on, a little bit of Hannah Montana came on, a little bit of Ally and AJ came on. I was like, all right, I'm kind of vibing with this. I do have to address it. So I did want to say Apple Music can come through sometimes. They must have heard us talking and they Oh, we have to make it right. Yeah, yeah. My FBI agent on my phone probably heard me. So he's trying to like, you know, help me out a little bit, I guess. And then lastly, the last time. That I was on this podcast. I told you guys somebody beat me with a bat if I came back. Well, technically I said if I came back in April and I didn't finish this book. I was reading, or I am reading, The Let Them Theory by Mel Robbins. I'm now 23% done and it's due tomorrow. So not really sure. Like, this is two for two. This is the second book this year that I've just started and then the third. So I just started and then it's poof, gone. Like, where are my reading and comprehension skills? Why can't I read like these girls that can read in a week? Like, I've never been a fast reader. Am I dumb? I don't know. Only a little bit. Only a little wee bit. No, I can't read a book fast. And it's really starting to give me a complex because and it's not the library is not letting me redo it or renew it because there are other people waiting for it. That's what they did to me.

SPEAKER_01 23:10

And I think it's rude. I got my hold back though, but I forgot about it again. Bro. Let me see. I think it's due in a couple days again.

SPEAKER_02 23:20

Perf.

SPEAKER_01 23:21

Yeah, so I might just give up on that one.

SPEAKER_02 23:25

Moving on though, there was a book. Don't even care about the let them theory anymore. You know what? Let them. I don't care. But my new book that I want to read is what was it? I told you it was what it was yesterday. I think it's something about your kitchen. Trying to look at my camera roll. Oh. It's called I Just Wish I Had a Bigger Kitchen and Other Lies I Think Will Make Me Happy by Kate Strickler. And that just sounds like such a good book because boy oh boy, that kind of goes like I bet I can tie that into what we're saying today. But literally, there are so many things that I think that would make me happy. And most of them probably won't. They're probably just what I think. But I just wish I had a bigger kitchen by Kate Strickler is next on my reading list. I just really have to like lock in. So wish us luck on our reading. Wish us luck. Okay. So we're talking about trusting God's faithfulness in different seasons of life, transitions in careers, hardships, friendships, etc. etc. etc. So kind of talking today of just about like trusting God's faithfulness in different timings. His timing, just kind of everything. Yeah. So okay. What are you like I guess like what are like the different seasons, like different examples of seasons? Because I just kind of have like we have our hardships, we have our trials, we have our good seasons and bad seasons. What do you mean? Like waiting seasons. We have all of those, but unfortunately, they are inevitable. Like as Christians, like obviously, like we are not promised a perfect life. And so there's always gonna be like good and bad that happen. And during those good and bad seasons, it's just like trusting the Lord that there's a purpose, yeah, for those. And boy, oh boy, is that tough? Oh yeah, yeah. So I mean, obviously, these are just like this is we're trying to have this concast. We're trying to have this podcast like be productive and helpful, but at the same time, like we're not trying to be something that we're not, like we're not exactly teachers, preachers. But it's like we're also not like we struggle a lot. Like a lot. Like you never know what someone's going through. And it's like we're not gonna get up here and be like, yes, we do all these things. Cause you know what? Sometimes life sucks and we don't do this.

SPEAKER_01 26:30

But it's just like things that like we're preaching to the choir right now. So what does that mean? That saying, preaching to the choir, that means like we're preaching to ourselves? I think so.

SPEAKER_02 26:45

Like, because the this is how I understand that saying. So the preacher's on stage, the choir's on stage two, behind him. Okay. Are you visualizing?

SPEAKER_01 26:59

You're are you understanding it, you dumbo? No.

SPEAKER_02 27:03

I don't know. Preaching to the choir, like preaching to someone who already knows it. Oh, okay. Yeah. Is that it?

SPEAKER_01 27:11

To argue for a position or express a viewpoint to an audience that already agrees with you, making the effort largely redundant. Redundant or unnecessary.

SPEAKER_02 27:21

Yeah. So it's like the choir. They're part of the church. They know these things.

SPEAKER_01 27:25

We're all in this together, essentially.

unknown 27:27

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 27:27

A little high school musical. Yeah. So where do we start?

SPEAKER_01 27:36

What are your hardships that you're going through right now?

SPEAKER_02 27:38

I feel like right now, I'm not necessarily in like a hard season. I feel like God is being really sweet to me right now, actually. I feel like it honestly has a lot to do with deleting Instagram and being like present in my life and just like paying attention to what's around me. And that's actually one of the ways that I had written down like how I see God's faithfulness. So I feel like in the like easier seasons or the seasons that life is just a little bit sweeter, you kind of forget, and you're like, you're doing so good on your own, just like, you know, trotten through life, happy as a clam. And you forget to like actually like pause and realize, like, wait, God is still working for me in this season. He is uh doing good things, like, look at this coming into fruition, like all of these good things are happening. Like, thank you, Jesus. And I have to remind myself to like stop and pause and actually thank him.

SPEAKER_01 28:44

Yeah, because like whenever you're going through the hard things, you're like, Jesus, Lord, yeah. And like, yeah, you're calling on him. You need him.

SPEAKER_02 28:54

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 28:54

And then in the easy times, it's like you kind of forget. I'm fine.

SPEAKER_02 28:59

Yeah. But yeah, so I'm not necessarily going through anything hard, but I've just been seeing like him being so kind and like just like taking a second, like this morning. I was sitting outside with the dogs, and like everything was just so green, and like the birds were chirping. And I'm just like, oh my gosh, like, thank you, God, that I'm alive, that the grass is green, that it's spring, that there's flowers, that like there's all of this life around me, and like I can walk, I can talk. And it's like, once you start going down that rabbit hole, you're actually like, whoa, whoa, whoa, that there's actually too much to be thankful for. Like, I can breathe, I can walk, I can talk, I can blink, I can do all of these things. But it's just like you have to remember to actually like thank him in the goodness as well as like in the like hardships. But I had, oh, so like I wrote down like there's gonna be like a season of abundance, which I I mean, not that I have which I'm in right now. Yeah, it's like I'm not necessarily in a season of abundance, but like at the same time, like I'm in I'm in a good season. Like, yes, there are things that I'm praying for and wanting, and there are like hard things going on right now, like with family, with friends and things like that, but I am, I guess, like in a season of abundance where he's just being so good to me. And so, like giving thanks and recognizing God as the source of blessings keeps us grounded in his faithfulness during good times. So that's kind of what I have, like for that part of like the good season. Yeah. That's good. Yeah, that's good for the good season. So we can kind of talk about like the season of trial.

SPEAKER_01 30:54

So that's where I come in.

unknown 30:56

That's where I try in.

SPEAKER_01 30:58

No, I don't know. It just seems like this past year has been a season of trial and like testing for me personally. I don't know. Like, obviously, people are going through a lot harder things than I am, but I don't know. I feel like it's like spiritual warfare vibes. Like, I know I don't have like I'm not very anxious about my own health. Like, I just even when I was going through something serious, I just had a piece about it. Like I knew that it was gonna be okay. And I feel like the enemy knows my heart a little bit, like towards animals. It sounds so silly because like my trials are my dogs. And so I don't know. It's just been really a hard season with my animals because, like I said last time, my dog has been having seizures and then just like other stuff, and then that also is like financially, yeah, these vet bills, and yeah, it's just been like difficult. But obviously it's all relative. Other people have way harder things, but this is just like difficult for me right now, especially because I I also don't know where I want to be, what I want to do, where I want to go. And I don't know. I don't know, guys.

SPEAKER_02 32:40

But I feel like that's real, and I feel like you're allowed to be real with God and like bring him your concerns.

SPEAKER_01 32:49

Right now I'm like, God, I I trust you that you can do these things, but I don't know that you will, you know?

SPEAKER_02 33:02

Like you trust that he can.

SPEAKER_01 33:04

Yeah, and I know he can and he's able, but it will he for me?

SPEAKER_02 33:08

Yeah, but it's like why isn't he for me?

SPEAKER_01 33:10

Yeah, because I see other people like he answers their stuff so clearly that I can see. Like, wow, he just answered their prayer, but I don't see it happening for me. And then I get frustrated.

SPEAKER_02 33:26

What prayer specifically do you feel like he's not answering?

SPEAKER_01 33:33

Like, I don't want to cry right now. No, I'm not gonna cry, but that would be amazing. I don't know. Like Maverick, like having seizures? Yes. I asked the Lord because in Matthew or in the Gospels, it talks about how he healed the boy with seizures. And I'm like, he can do it. Yeah, just heal Maverick of seizures because even if he's not having them, I'm constantly in like I feel like I've been living in like a limbo. Yes, waiting for the other shoe to drop with these seizures. It scares me so much. I hate it, it just really worries me. Yeah, and I feel like I've been an anxious person and worried, and I'm don't feel like I am that type of person. Really don't worry about much at all. Relay bag. I'm pretty oblivious. And it's just made me like very nervous and anxious, and and I don't like that. And I'm like, Lord, why can't you just make him stop? Yeah. But he's not. Well, he has been good.

SPEAKER_02 34:44

I was gonna say, and I told you this yesterday, like the last time he had one was in November, December, January, February, March. It's been four months, like since he's been on his new medication. Like, number one, answered prayer right there. He hasn't had a seizure. So like that's something that instead of being like, oh, when is that? When's the next one? When's the next one? He's not having one right now. And we're gonna choose to believe that he's not having one again, you know? Like, that's I guess that's kind of what I was saying. Like, this could be a good season. Like, this could be your season of abundance. He's not having those seizures right now. And maybe he just needs you to trust him that he won't have them anymore.

SPEAKER_01 35:27

It's kind of honestly like we talk about this too. It's like a common theme in my life where you do everything right and still end up like less yeah, with the short end of the stick. It's like I know people who like they just keep their dogs outside, like, which is fine. Dogs enjoy being outside, but like their dogs are the side character in their lives.

SPEAKER_02 35:52

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 35:53

My dogs, I they're my sons. They are your main characters, and I do everything to make sure that they're healthy, all this stuff, and then like they still both end up having major major issues. And I feel like that's a common thing.

SPEAKER_02 36:10

Yeah. I feel like I wrote, hold on, let me find my notes because I feel like I wrote something. Okay, it says this is I'll touch on this in a second. It was about like first Samuel, but I feel like the Lord doesn't owe us anything. Yeah. So I I don't really know. I just wrote down, be a giver and have a settled heart. Stop walking around thinking the world in the Lord owes you. And that kind of sounds like mean, but it's also like he doesn't owe us.

SPEAKER_01 36:52

Yeah. Like we don't if we look at what we deserve, we deserve death. Literally. And I know that.

SPEAKER_02 36:59

But it's like, why are we such brats?

unknown 37:01

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 37:02

To where we think that he owes us all of these things. And yeah, it's tough because, like, you're right, like, you don't usually have that anxiety, but I do feel like, you know, he tells us, like, cast your worries, cast your fears, all of your anxieties on me. So maybe in this season of your trials, like, maybe that's what he's literally asking you to do.

SPEAKER_01 37:29

Like, give those to me. I don't know. Yeah, I am just in a season of fear. No, no, no. No, no, no, but maybe you've talked about this. I feel like there's like a spiritual warfare thing going on, and like I have like currently the spirit of fear. I'm scared if I hear one of the dogs move around too fast. Literally, yeah. And you see whenever I you move at night, and I wake up.

SPEAKER_02 38:01

Like, what? Okay. I'm fine. I was just turning. But maybe that means like something really good is coming around the corner that you need. What's the opposite of fear?

SPEAKER_01 38:20

I don't know.

SPEAKER_02 38:21

Wait, hold on. That's a stupid question. Fear and strength, unfear, um, bravery. Bravery.

SPEAKER_01 38:29

Maybe there's something.

SPEAKER_02 38:32

She's a brave girl. No, what if like this is like your training season?

SPEAKER_01 38:38

Yeah, I I gotta be training for something. Yeah. Because this isn't making sense.

SPEAKER_02 38:43

Back to the marathon thing here.

SPEAKER_01 38:45

No, but it's for next year's marathon.

SPEAKER_02 38:49

This could be like your refining season where he is like really working on like building up that bravery, building up the strength and like the reliance on him. Like, I feel like when the enemy, like when there is just like stuff that you literally know is just tests and crap from the enemy, I think that that is just trying to hinder you and that there is something good, like right around the corner. So prayers up, prayers up, pray up, bless.

SPEAKER_01 39:17

Yeah, I mean, all that aside, I am very blessed. Like, yeah. I know, I don't know. I feel kind of dumb that it's about my dogs. You should. People are like, it's just an animal. Yeah, it's yeah, I know. But those are my children, my firstborn Bodhi and my second born Avery.

SPEAKER_02 39:36

Wake up. That's my new favorite saying. Wake up, America. I'm sorry.

SPEAKER_01 39:45

Sorry if I sounded negative. Sorry.

SPEAKER_02 39:49

This is what I was apologizing for. I guess, like, also kind of jumping back. A way, and this is like easier in hindsight, okay? Because a way that I feel like God like proves his faithfulness, especially in hard seasons, is in scripture, especially, like number one, and also in our life, like in our past. And we kind of talked about this a little bit last week, like whenever we were talking about journaling and stuff. But it's like honestly, whenever you do look back in your really, really tough seasons, you're on the other side right now. And you're probably like better from whatever happened. You know what I mean?

SPEAKER_01 40:37

Like, so, like, for example, whenever you had your cancer, I feel like that by the way, guys. By the way. This was a few years ago, but I did have cancer coblug. I didn't tell anybody. Uh so.

SPEAKER_02 40:56

No, it was it was in your parotid gland. Do you want to explain exactly what it is?

SPEAKER_01 41:01

It was called acenic cell carcinoma in my parotid gland, which is like your major salivary gland. It was a tumor, it's cancerous, got it removed, did some radiation treatments after. All good. And that is, oh, that brings me back. This is off topic, but my phone call for the insurance, things went wrong. Again? No, but my appointment that I was supposed to have canceled both of them. Perfect.

SPEAKER_02 41:32

So who needs an MRI anyway?

SPEAKER_01 41:36

Prior's up and everything's still good. No, it will be.

SPEAKER_02 41:39

No, but that goes back to you just like talking about that so nonchalantly. Like, that is proof that you do really be not Karen.

SPEAKER_01 41:48

No, it's not that I don't care. No, but I think you're very going. Yeah. Like, I didn't realize everyone was so scared. Oh, yeah. I didn't cry once. No. Except whenever we left the house, and I thought I was gonna die under anesthesia. But that's it.

SPEAKER_02 42:05

No, but that season was like that. Was my Bodie and Maverick season. Like, bro, my sister had like this cancer. And I was like, what? Like, that's not no, we don't have cancer in my family.

SPEAKER_01 42:19

We eat healthy. That's another one of those things where you do all the right things. We our mom always made sure we ate healthy, organic, yeah, blah, blah, blah, blah. You don't eat this because this will give you cancer. Well, guess what?

SPEAKER_02 42:33

Wake up, mama.

SPEAKER_01 42:35

Got it anyway. No, but that season, right? I don't even look back on it with ill whatever.

SPEAKER_02 42:43

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 42:44

Because I think God gave me literally a piece that went beyond understanding because I was never worried about it. Literally. I knew that it was gonna be okay. Yeah. For some reason. Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 42:55

I yeah, well, that was my season of trial. I was I I was just like a mess. And I feel like looking back now, like it's created like such a strong, I guess, faith in God and like what he is capable of and like how he's provided for our family and like just the provision he's had over us. And it has just like helped me with everything now. And I'm like, you know what, we're gonna believe that God can do it because I've already seen him do it. I've seen him heal my friend, and I mentioned this in the last podcast with cancer. Like, remember Luke had cancer, and like just seeing him like in remission now, like with his beautiful family and my friend Shelby, like it's just so cool to see, like in real time, like in my lifetime, like how God is doing these things. And it's things like as you're going through it, you're just like, what the crap? Like, why would that happen to them?

SPEAKER_01 43:52

Like, forgive her language, excuse her French, excuse my friend.

SPEAKER_02 43:56

No, but it's just like, what in the world? And it stinks whenever you're going through it, but it's like, why is why is Yeah thing I can't say that saying. Why is hindsight always better 2020? Why is that 2020? 2020 hindsight better.

SPEAKER_01 44:12

Why is 2020 COVID-19? Hindsight.

SPEAKER_02 44:19

Hindsight. Hindquarters. No, what is that saying? Why is hindsight always 2020? That's what I was trying to say. It's like why this is why I could never like be a serious like teacher because it's like, what? Heinz Dufenschmerz?

SPEAKER_01 44:37

Is that from um Dufenschmerz? Phineas and Ferb. Phineas and Ferb. Anyways. Dang, I had something that I was gonna say. Oh, you painted something a long time ago, and it was like that verse said, and if not, he's still good.

SPEAKER_02 44:52

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 44:53

I feel like that is a word too.

SPEAKER_02 44:55

That's a hard word.

SPEAKER_01 44:56

With my cancer, like we were praying that the tumor would dissolve and like they'd look for it, and there's nothing to even operate on, and that wasn't the case. Yeah. But he was still good. He still healed me.

SPEAKER_02 45:09

And you could question, as I did, I'm like, bro, what? Like, why would she still have to go through this and go through this surgery and then radiation and all these things? Like, why didn't it dissolve? Or you can be like, you know what? I'm gonna trust that he put her in the right hands with the right doctors who's gonna do the right thing, the best thing for you, and take it completely out.

SPEAKER_01 45:32

Did have an amazing doctor. So glad that we found him. Yeah. Shout out, Doctor Made.

SPEAKER_02 45:38

And Michael, our grandma, actually, as we speak, is literally in surgery right now. Love you grams, because she fell the other day and like fractured her femur. Same thing goes there. Like we were praying, like, God, you know what? Like, let that just not be bruised.

SPEAKER_01 45:53

Let it just be bruised.

SPEAKER_02 45:54

Let it be bruised. Let it heal on its own. Like, let whatever. And you know, he didn't do that, but there have been so many sweet things that have happened through all of this. Our best friend Leah works in the trauma ICU unit. And like there were just like certain things that happened there where like my grandma now has like the best doctors, and like she was supposed to just go on like the medical doctor like floor. And she's in the trauma floor with my best friend and some of the most amazing doctors in Lakeland, like going into surgery, like with them. So like there were just like certain things that happened that were just such a God thing. And I'm kind of getting off topic here, but I was talking to my grandma the other day because she is just like very, very like does not like hospitals. Like it's always been a thing, like, does not like hospitals. And I was like, you know what, grandma? Like, you know, maybe God has you going to the hospital. Like, maybe something good is going to come out of this because in a a couple years ago, they got in a very, very bad accident, very traumatizing for both of them. My grandma had to go through, like, she had a back brace on for a couple months, I think, and then like physical training, uh, horrible, like long recovery at 82. At 82. Broke her bow.

SPEAKER_01 47:19

Broke her back.

SPEAKER_02 47:20

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 47:20

And multiple bones.

SPEAKER_02 47:21

Yeah, couldn't walk, couldn't do anything. And it's like she was in the hospital for a long time, but she was telling me the other day how like she would ask, like, that's just like where she witnessed. She would ask them, like, do you know your Lord and Savior? Like, Jesus Christ. Like, do you have a personal relationship with him? And they're like, Yeah, I go to church. And she's like, No, do you have a personal relationship with them? And they probably thought she was crazy, but you know what? Maybe seeds were planted. And then she was telling us that, or she was telling me that this lady like came in and like asked my grandma specifically to pray for her. And I'm like, maybe God has you in like your most uncomfortable place ever, which is the hospital, to do his work. Like, yeah, you did fall and break your femur, but hey, maybe someone has eternal life now. Exactly.

SPEAKER_01 48:14

So there are things that like we don't understand, but there's a purpose behind that.

SPEAKER_02 48:22

Yeah. That's like so far off the topic, but it just made sense to say. So it's trusting. I well, I was also like saying, like, okay, so ways like that we can see him, like prove his faithfulness is like, okay, that happening to us. And oh wait, before I moved on, I did want to mention this is just a quick story. So I feel like this podcast is also like an active way, like a pending way that I feel like I'm seeing him work in my life specifically, because a couple years ago, I don't ever hear like audibly the Lord's voice to me. It's more like in my writing, like through his word, but it's usually through like written word I hear what he's saying to me. And it was a couple years ago I was in the shower crying and praying. Eating cereal. No, I wasn't eating cereal in the shower that time. But oh wait, is that have I mentioned that on the podcast? Yeah. Oh, okay. I was gonna say, is that just like a random thing we're throwing out there right now? But I was just like praying to him, and I'm like, what in the world am I still single for? Because I'm a catch. I'm just kidding. Look at me. No, but I'm just like, okay, God, like I'm a fairly normal girl, like kind of a good personality, pretty mediocre, but I think I'm great. And I'm like, why are all my friends married? Why am I still single? Like, I never thought that that would be me in this position. It is so comical to think back to like high school and college when I thought I was going to college. I was like, Can we meet my husband? Didn't meet him in high school, but I'm gonna meet him in college. I'm like, okay, that didn't happen. And I'm like at graduation, like, what the heck? But, anyways, I I'm not gonna go too far into the singleness thing because I'm just tired of talking about it, honestly. But I really did kind of hear from the Lord that like my story is gonna be used. And like, there's going to be a lot of girls who hear my story, and it's gonna be used and it's gonna touch people's lives. And I'm like, now what the heck? Like, where in the world am I going to like talk to girls? Like, am I gonna be like on a stage, like at a TED talk? Like, what are you talking about? Like, that's not even me, that's not my personality. That ain't what I want to do. That was me thinking I knew everything. But you could do that though, for sure. Ugh, I would hate doing that. You would do so good at that. No, no, no, no. Don't even put that out there. I don't want anyone to ask you to speak. And if you want Amber to speak at your talk, Ted. I love to talk. No, don't ever approach me, don't ever not doing it. But I'm like, okay, like how am I gonna be used? And it's just been like a couple years, and I'm like, all right, still don't really think I'm being used. But a couple days after, it might not even been a couple days, but I think it was like the next day. I was listening to a YouTube video by this girl named Melissa or Alyssa. What is her last name? I know what you're talking about though. Yes, that girl. She's really Melody. Melody, Melody Alyssa. So I was listening to one of her videos, and I I didn't even like turn it on. It came on automatically, and I was making earrings at the time. So I just had it on the background. And I really don't even remember what the video was about, but I heard her say this verse, and I wrote it down. It's Luke 145. And hold on a second. I bookmarked it because I won't be able to remember it word for word. I guess I'll just read it out of this Bible. Okay. So it was the verse, blessed is she who believed, for there would be a fulfillment of those things which were told to her from the Lord. And like as soon as I heard that, I like my ears perked up. And like, because it was just like background noise. The whole video was background noise, and I heard that, and it was just so clear to me. I'm like, whoa. And I paused the video and I went and wrote that down. And then I just like went and journaled. Can't find that journal, so that's fun. Don't know where that is. Um, I'll find it one day. But that was just like the confirmation that I needed because I'm such a skeptical person, and I'm like, man, that was just like my inner dialogue talking. Like, that wasn't me. Like, I don't know how God's gonna use me. And that was just such confirmation that I heard that, and like that, my story will be used, and that my my like that promise that he made to me is going to be fulfilled. And so that personally is what keeps me like focused on like how good he is, how faithful he's gonna be, and like that he is working, I guess. But I was saying something before I got sidetracked on that. Yeah. Another thing that I was praying for for a very long time is like kind of like you were praying for. Like, what am I supposed to be doing? Like, still here in this small town, like, what am I ever gonna do? Where am I gonna go? Like, am I made for more? Am I made to stay here? And I was just so frustrated. And then my friend Katie reached out and like, hey, we're hiring here at like the wedding venue. Like, I think you'd be great at it. And at the time, like it was so stressful, like changing jobs and like changing my life schedule, and that's a humongous change in that I I was praying for. I was praying for a change, not specifically like a job, but like I just didn't know what kind of change. And it was really, really nerve-wracking. But I went through the motions and I did it. And it's like looking back, I'm like, oh my gosh, like, thank you, God. Like, that was really cool, like how you did that. And I'm so thankful now, because it also led to like more friends, and like I love my coworkers, and that was another prayer, is like praying for new friends and like a great, like Christian like friend group and things like that. So you just have to like recognize, which is so hard to do. Yeah, I feel like I'm talking a whole bunch. No, but you're you're preaching.

SPEAKER_01 55:06

I forgot to bring my hanky.

unknown 55:08

Dang it.

SPEAKER_01 55:10

She's gonna embroider it and then bring it.

unknown 55:13

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 55:13

Amber's hanky.

SPEAKER_02 55:14

I should say my pre my pulpit hanky. My preaching. My preaching hanky. I need to dab my forehead. I'm sweating. There are so many different like things that I can talk about. Go on. I one girly girl that I relate to in the Bible so much is Hannah. Because I just feel her. Because she was in the waiting season for a child for so long. And like my favorite word is lament. Because I do the same thing. I feel like so many people can relate to Hannah because it's like she lamented to the Lord. And I wrote down the definition of lamented, which I shout out to Miss Duke. Eighth grade English. She taught us like all these words. Like she had like this special way of teaching vocabulary. And I have always known the definition of lament. Also the word arduous, because she taught us these words, which I guess that's what teachers do, but there's like a very specific way that she taught. This is okay, I gotta stop. That's so off topic. Anyways, the word lament means like you are just like crying out to him and like being real and like well, I guess I can actually look up the definition because I thought I wrote it down. Lament means a lament is a passionate, often public expression of grief, sorrow, or regret, frequently taken the form of a song, poem, or wail. Okay, I relate to the wailing. I've never sang a song or written a poem. God, please.

SPEAKER_00 57:05

God, please. I need to.

SPEAKER_02 57:09

I'm on my knees. But it's like Hannah lamented because she just wanted a kid so bad, and she was just like unable to bear a son, and it just made her sad. And she just like prayed so hard and just like asked the Lord, asked the Lord, and then finally the Lord remembered her, and she had a son. And I forgot what I was going to connect that to.

SPEAKER_00 57:42

What was I gonna say?

SPEAKER_02 57:46

Anyways, well, guys, I encourage you to read Hannah because I didn't write down my notes. About Hannah. I was gonna connect it. Read first Samuel, it's good. Hannah's a girl y girl who has the same heart as us. Hold on, let me read this and be for real. Oh, oh, I was gonna connect it back to like the trials and like just like hating your life in the trials. So it's like this verse says she was deeply depressed, or I'm sorry, that's me. She was deeply distressed and not depressed. I know. You speak life. I know, I'm kidding. She was deeply distressed and prayed to the Lord and wept bitterly. And she vowed a vow and said, Oh Lord of hosts, if you will indeed look on the affliction of your servant and remember me and not forget your servant, but will give to your servant a son, then I will give him to the Lord all the days of his life, and no razor shall touch his head. So it's just like I relate to her so much of like her weeping and her wailing and her lamenting and her vexation and just like being annoyed, being frustrated, all of that. And it's like she was in this waiting season, too, that she could have been feeling all the same feelings that us as humans today are feeling. And it's like, look, look at what came about. Like, was Sam it a Samet? Was Samuel a a seer or a prophet? Or is that the same thing? Anyway, Samuel was just such an important person that like her wedding season just had to happen. Like, kind of like we were talking about in a couple episodes ago, or maybe it was the last episode. Like, there might be certain things that just like have to be like put in place for something to happen, and then that leads to something even bigger happening down the road. Does that make sense? Yeah, I think you're like, no, actually, it doesn't. But it's like Samuel was such an important part in like David's story and like like Saul, like all of these things, like it was he was so important. And like who knows like what had to happen before Hannah got pregnant and like why she had to wait so long. But it's like, look at the amazingness that came out of it. And maybe, maybe she waited so long, so then she would like vow to like give her son to God. You know what I mean? Yeah, I don't know. Yeah, do you I've I literally talked that whole episode. I'm sorry. No, it was good though.

SPEAKER_01 1:00:27

I wasn't very prepared for this one, to be honest, but I feel like you gave like part of your like like I feel like I just complained and I don't want to complain.

SPEAKER_02 1:00:40

I think that you were real. There's gonna be episodes where we complain. There's gonna be episodes where we are celebrating wins. I just feel like this was like an honest episode. If you didn't get anything from it, sorry. Move along. No, actually keep listening. But just, you know, you guys, we encourage you, get in the word, look at all the ways like God helped the Israelites, helped these people and these I almost said characters. I hate calling them characters, they are just like people of the Bible, but like look at all of the ways that he has been here and proven his faithfulness to them, and he's doing it for you.

SPEAKER_01 1:01:25

Yeah, and even if you're having a hard time like trusting the plan, just trust God that his plan is better than your plan. It's like it's easy. I keep losing my train of thought.

SPEAKER_02 1:01:43

So I can't talk. No, literally me, my life. Did you not hear me stumble over Hannah? Didn't even know what I I like started so strongly and then I just stopped. Eh, go read. Go read saying anyway. No read the Bible, we'll figure it out.

SPEAKER_01 1:02:00

No, but I kind of like what you're saying, like it's like I forget which book it is, maybe Matthew again or something, but it is a guy in there saying, Lord, I believe, help my unbelief. It's like I believe that you can do it, but help my unbelief that like you will, I guess, maybe. I don't know.

SPEAKER_02 1:02:24

And also, this is so elementary, but you just have to remember that he is our heavenly father. And just like as like our dad would want the best things for us, like the Lord wants the best things for us, and he in like whether that's exactly what we ask for or not, his will, like his best, like we need to align our will with his yeah, because he does love us and he does do the best.

SPEAKER_01 1:02:55

A lot of things that we've wanted and haven't gotten.

SPEAKER_02 1:02:59

A million dollars, a big house on a lake.

SPEAKER_01 1:03:02

Exactly.

SPEAKER_02 1:03:03

Yeah, so but it's not what we needed. No, I don't need that. I'd be unstoppable if I had that, so you know, and be too arrogant.

unknown 1:03:13

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 1:03:14

Anyways, well, I think that's really it. We have what? What? I think that's all we have for you today. If you have any like, I don't know, questions, prayer requests, comments, concerns, red flags, lawsuits, anything, send them our way. Legal questions. Yeah. Um yeah. Whoa. Then we really have to work on our cycles.

SPEAKER_01 1:03:48

Anyways, you guys, we will talk to you next Friday. I hope you have a great weekend.

SPEAKER_02 1:03:54

Love you. Love you.