JOEL OSTEEN: WELL, GOD
BLESS YOU.
IT'S A JOY TO COME INTO YOUR
HOMES.
AND IF YOU'RE EVER IN OUR
AREA, PLEASE STOP BY AND BE A
PART OF ONE OF OUR SERVICES.
I PROMISE YOU WE'LL MAKE YOU
FEEL RIGHT AT HOME.
I LIKE TO START WITH
SOMETHING FUNNY, AND HEARD
ABOUT THIS MAN THAT CALLED
THE CHURCH OFFICE.
HE SAID, "I WANT TO SPEAK TO
THE HEAD HOG AT THE TROUGH."
THE SECRETARY WAS OFFENDED.
SHE SAID, "IF YOU MEAN THE
PASTOR, YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE
TO CALL HIM PASTOR, BUT YOU
MAY NOT CALL HIM THE HEAD HOG
AT THE TROUGH."
HE SAID, "WELL, THAT'S FINE,
BUT I WAS THINKING ABOUT
MAKING A $5,000 DONATION TO
YOUR CHURCH."
SHE SAID, "HANG ON, PORKY
JUST WALKED IN."
SAY IT LIKE YOU MEAN IT.
THIS IS MY BIBLE.
I AM WHAT IT SAYS I AM.
I HAVE WHAT IT SAYS I HAVE.
I CAN DO WHAT IT SAYS I CAN
DO.
TODAY, I WILL BE TAUGHT THE
WORD OF GOD.
I BOLDLY CONFESS MY MIND IS
ALERT, MY HEART IS RECEPTIVE.
I WILL NEVER BE THE SAME, IN
JESUS' NAME.
GOD BLESS YOU.
I WANT TO TALK TO YOU TODAY
ABOUT UNCONDITIONAL TRUST.
IT'S EASY TO TRUST GOD WHEN
THINGS ARE GOING OUR WAY,
WE'RE GETTING GOOD BREAKS,
OUR BUSINESS IS BLESSED, OUR
CHILDREN ARE HEALTHY.
THAT DOESN'T TAKE MUCH FAITH.
LIFE IS GOOD.
BUT WHAT ABOUT WHEN THINGS
AREN'T GOING OUR WAY?
OUR PRAYERS AREN'T BEING
ANSWERED, THE PROBLEM ISN'T
TURNING AROUND, WE'RE NOT
SEEING FAVOR.
TOO OFTEN, WE GET
DISCOURAGED, THINK, "GOD, WHY
AREN'T YOU DOING SOMETHING?
YOU CAN SEE I'M BEING
MISTREATED.
MY HEALTH ISN'T GOOD.
I WORKED HARD, BUT I DIDN'T
GET THE PROMOTION."
WE THINK WHEN IT CHANGES,
WE'LL BE HAPPY.
WHEN I MEET THE RIGHT PERSON,
WHEN MY HEALTH IMPROVES, WHEN
WE HAVE THIS BABY, THEN WE'LL
HAVE A GOOD ATTITUDE.
THAT'S CONDITIONAL TRUST.
"GOD, IF YOU MEET MY DEMANDS,
IF YOU ANSWER MY PRAYERS THE
WAY I WANT, ON MY TIMETABLE,
THEN I'LL BE MY BEST."
THE PROBLEM WITH CONDITIONAL
TRUST IS THERE WILL ALWAYS BE
THINGS WE DON'T UNDERSTAND,
SOMETHING THAT'S NOT
HAPPENING FAST ENOUGH, IT
DIDN'T WORK OUT THE WAY WE
WANT IT.
WE PRAYED JUST AS HARD FOR MY
FATHER WHEN HIS HEALTH WENT
DOWNHILL AS WE DID FOR MY
MOTHER.
WE QUOTED THE SAME
SCRIPTURES, WE ASKED GOD TO
RESTORE HIS HEALTH, TO LET
HIM LIVE, BUT MY FATHER WENT
TO BE WITH THE LORD.
IT DIDN'T HAPPEN THE WAY I
WANTED.
IF I WOULD HAVE HAD
CONDITIONAL TRUST, I WOULD
HAVE GOTTEN UPSET, BITTER,
"GOD, WHY DIDN'T YOU ANSWER
MY PRAYERS?"
THE TRUTH IS GOD DID ANSWER
MY PRAYER, IT JUST WASN'T THE
WAY I WANTED.
ARE YOU MATURE ENOUGH TO
ACCEPT GOD'S ANSWERS, EVEN
THOUGH THEY'RE NOT WHAT YOU
WERE HOPING FOR?
GOD IS A SOVEREIGN GOD.
WE'RE NOT GOING TO UNDERSTAND
EVERYTHING THAT HAPPENS.
FAITH IS TRUSTING GOD WHEN
LIFE DOESN'T MAKE SENSE.
THERE WILL ALWAYS BE
UNANSWERED QUESTIONS, "WHY
DIDN'T MY LOVED ONE MAKE IT?
WHY AM I NOT GETTING BETTER?
WHY DID THIS PERSON LEAVE?"
SOME THINGS ARE NOT GOING TO
MAKE SENSE, BUT GOD WOULDN'T
HAVE ALLOWED IT IF HE WASN'T
GOING TO BRING GOOD OUT OF
IT.
AND YOU MAY NOT SEE IT AT THE
TIME, BUT GOD KNOWS WHAT HE'S
DOING.
HE HAS YOUR BEST INTEREST AT
HEART.
IT'S NOT RANDOM, IT'S A PART
OF HIS PLAN.
DARE TO TRUST HIM.
I DIDN'T WANT TO LOSE MY
FATHER, OF COURSE.
HE WAS ONE OF MY BEST
FRIENDS.
I'D WORKED WITH HIM HERE AT
LAKEWOOD FOR 17 YEARS.
WE HAD TRAVELED THE WORLD
TOGETHER.
I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT I WOULD DO
WHEN MY DAD WAS GONE, BUT I
FOUND GOD HAD ANOTHER PLAN.
HE HAD SOMETHING ELSE FOR ME
TO DO.
I COULDN'T SEE IT AT THE
TIME.
I WANTED GOD TO DO IT MY WAY,
BUT GOD HAD A BETTER WAY.
I THOUGHT I WOULD SPEND MY
LIFE BEHIND THE SCENES, DOING
PRODUCTION, RUNNING THE
CAMERAS.
I DIDN'T THINK I COULD GET UP
HERE IN FRONT OF PEOPLE.
I DIDN'T KNOW THIS ABILITY
WAS IN ME.
BUT GOD CAN SEE THINGS IN YOU
THAT YOU CAN'T SEE IN
YOURSELF.
HIS PLAN FOR YOUR LIFE IS
BIGGER THAN YOUR PLAN, BUT IT
MAY NOT HAPPEN THE WAY YOU
THOUGHT.
GOD DOESN'T TAKE US IN A
STRAIGHT LINE.
THERE'LL BE TWISTS, TURNS,
THE DISAPPOINTMENTS, THE
LOSS, THE BAD BREAKS.
THEY'RE ALL A PART OF HIS
PLAN.
BUT IF YOU HAVE CONDITIONAL
TRUST, YOU'LL GET DISCOURAGED
AND THINK, "WHY IS THIS
HAPPENING?
I'M GOING THE WRONG WAY."
BUT GOD IS STILL DIRECTING
YOUR STEPS.
TRUST HIM WHEN YOU DON'T
UNDERSTAND.
TRUST HIM EVEN WHEN IT FEELS
LIKE YOU'RE GOING THE WRONG
DIRECTION.
WHAT I THOUGHT WOULD BE MY
DARKEST HOUR, THE LOSS OF MY
FATHER, NOW I SAY THIS
RESPECTFULLY, IN ONE SENSE,
IT TURNED OUT TO BE MY
BRIGHTEST HOUR.
IT LAUNCHED ME INTO WHAT I'M
DOING TODAY, INTO A NEW LEVEL
OF MY DESTINY.
BUT SOMETIMES, WE WANT THINGS
SO BAD, WE'RE NOT GOING TO BE
HAPPY UNLESS IT HAPPENS OUR
WAY.
"I CAN'T BE HAPPY UNLESS I
GET THE HOUSE, UNLESS I MEET
THE RIGHT PERSON, UNLESS WE
HAVE THE BABY."
THAT'S OUT OF BALANCE.
ANYTHING YOU HAVE TO HAVE IN
ORDER TO BE HAPPY THE ENEMY
CAN USE AGAINST YOU.
AND IT'S GOOD TO BE HONEST
WITH GOD, TELL HIM YOUR
DREAMS, TELL HIM WHAT YOU'RE
BELIEVING FOR.
"GOD, THIS IS WHAT I WANT.
I'M ASKING YOU TO HEAL MY
LOVED ONE, TURN THIS PROBLEM
AROUND.
GOD, OPEN THESE NEW DOORS."
IT'S FINE TO ASK, BUT THEN BE
MATURE ENOUGH TO SAY, "BUT
GOD, IF IT NEVER HAPPENS, IF
I DON'T GET THE PROMOTION, IF
MY LOVED ONE DOESN'T MAKE IT,
IF MY HEALTH DOESN'T IMPROVE,
I'M STILL GOING TO TRUST
YOU."
BUT SEE, WE CAN GET SO
CONSUMED WITH WHAT WE WANT
THAT IT CAN BECOME LIKE AN
IDOL.
THAT'S ALL WE THINK ABOUT,
ALL WE PRAY ABOUT, IT'S
ALWAYS ON THE FOREFRONT OF
OUR MINDS.
TURN IT OVER TO GOD.
PRAY, BELIEVE, THEN LEAVE IT
IN GOD'S HANDS.
DON'T GET SO FOCUSED ON WHAT
YOU WANT THAT YOU MISS THE
BEAUTY OF THIS DAY.
EVERYTHING MAY NOT BE
PERFECT.
THERE ARE THINGS THAT NEED TO
CHANGE, BUT GOD HAS GIVEN YOU
THE GRACE TO BE HAPPY TODAY.
IT'S VERY FREEING WHEN YOU
CAN SAY, "GOD, IT'S IN YOUR
HANDS.
I TRUST YOU NOT
CONDITIONALLY, IF IT WORKS
OUT MY WAY.
I TRUST YOU UNCONDITIONALLY,
EVEN WHEN I DON'T UNDERSTAND
IT."
IN THE SCRIPTURE, THE APOSTLE
PAUL HAD WHAT HE DESCRIBED AS
A THORN IN HIS FLESH.
IT WAS SOMETHING EITHER
PHYSICALLY OR SPIRITUALLY
THAT HE DIDN'T LIKE.
IT WAS BOTHERING HIM.
THREE TIMES, HE ASKED GOD TO
TAKE IT AWAY, BUT GOD DIDN'T
REMOVE IT.
PAUL WAS HONORING GOD, HE WAS
BEING HIS BEST.
HE WROTE HALF OF THE BOOKS IN
THE NEW TESTAMENT.
YOU WOULD THINK GOD WOULD FIX
WHAT WAS BOTHERING HIM.
BUT GOD SAID TO HIM, "PAUL,
MY GRACE IS SUFFICIENT FOR
YOU."
HE WAS SAYING, IN EFFECT, "I
MAY NOT REMOVE IT JUST YET,
BUT I WILL GIVE YOU THE GRACE
TO HANDLE IT."
AND IF GOD IS NOT REMOVING
WHAT YOU WANT REMOVED, IF
HE'S NOT CHANGING WHAT YOU
WANT CHANGED, DON'T USE THAT
AS AN EXCUSE TO LIVE SOUR,
BITTER.
GOD HAS GIVEN YOU THE GRACE
TO BE WHERE YOU ARE WITH A
GOOD ATTITUDE.
YOU CAN ENJOY YOUR LIFE IN
SPITE OF WHAT'S NOT WORKING
OUT.
AND SOMETIMES, THE REASON OUR
PRAYERS AREN'T ANSWERED THE
WAY WE WANT IS BECAUSE IT'S
NOT THE RIGHT TIME, OR GOD
HAS SOMETHING BETTER THAT WE
CAN'T SEE, OR PERHAPS HE'S
USING THE DIFFICULTY TO DO A
WORK IN US, TO HELP US GROW,
TO GET STRONGER.
UNCONDITIONAL TRUST SAYS,
"GOD, I DON'T LIKE IT, I'M
UNCOMFORTABLE, BUT I'M SMART
ENOUGH TO RECOGNIZE YOU'RE
GOD AND I'M NOT.
YOU'RE ON THE THRONE.
YOU'RE IN CONTROL OF MY LIFE.
AND YOU SAID YOUR PLANS FOR
ME ARE FOR GOOD.
YOU SAID YOU WOULD LEAD ME
DOWN THE BEST PATH FOR MY
LIFE.
AND EVEN THOUGH I DON'T
UNDERSTAND IT RIGHT NOW, GOD,
I TRUST YOU."
ARE YOU LIVING FRUSTRATED,
UNHAPPY BECAUSE SOMETHING IS
NOT GOING YOUR WAY?
THAT'S CONDITIONAL TRUST.
YOU'LL LIVE A LOT FREER, A
LOT HAPPIER IF YOU'LL QUIT
FIGHTING WHAT GOD IS NOT
CHANGING.
QUIT BEING UPSET OVER WHAT
HE'S NOT REMOVING.
PAUL SAID, "I HAVE LEARNED
HOW TO BE CONTENT."
DIDN'T HAPPEN AUTOMATICALLY.
HE MADE THIS DECISION, "I'M
NOT GOING TO LIVE SOUR
BECAUSE GOD HASN'T REMOVED
THIS THORN.
WHEN HE WANTS TO REMOVE IT,
HE'LL REMOVE IT, BUT UNTIL
THEN, I'M GOING TO BE HAPPY
WHERE I AM, THORN AND ALL."
THE TRUTH IS WE ALL HAVE SOME
THORNS, THINGS THAT GOD IS
NOT CHANGING.
HE COULD IF HE WANTED TO,
HE'S GOD.
ALL HE'D HAVE TO DO IS SPEAK
AND THAT PROBLEM WOULD TURN
AROUND, THAT PERSON WOULD
TREAT YOU RIGHT, WOULDN'T BE
ANY BIG DEAL.
BUT SINCE HE'S NOT DOING IT
YET, WILL YOU DO LIKE PAUL
AND BE HAPPY WHERE YOU ARE,
THORN AND ALL, TROUBLE AND
ALL, LONELINESS AND ALL?
IT TAKES A MATURE PERSON TO
SAY, "EVEN THOUGH GOD IS NOT
REMOVING THIS, I'M STILL
GOING TO HAVE A SMILE, I'M
STILL GOING TO BE GOOD TO
PEOPLE, I'M STILL GOING TO
GIVE GOD PRAISE."
THIS IS WHAT HAPPENED WITH
THE THREE HEBREW TEENAGERS IN
THE SCRIPTURE.
THEY WOULDN'T BOW DOWN TO THE
KING'S GOLDEN IDOL.
THE KING WAS FURIOUS.
HE WAS GOING TO HAVE THEM
THROWN INTO A FIERY FURNACE.
THEY SAID, "KING, WE'RE NOT
GOING TO BOW DOWN.
WE KNOW OUR GOD WILL DELIVER
US.
BUT EVEN IF HE DOESN'T, WE'RE
STILL NOT GOING TO BOW DOWN."
THAT'S UNCONDITIONAL TRUST.
"I BELIEVE GOD'S GOING TO
TURN THIS SITUATION AROUND,
BUT EVEN IF HE DOESN'T, I'M
STILL GOING TO BE HAPPY.
I BELIEVE I'M GOING TO GET
THE PROMOTION, BELIEVE MY
HEALTH IS IMPROVING, I
BELIEVE THE RIGHT PERSON IS
COMING.
BUT IF IT DOESN'T HAPPEN, I'M
NOT GOING TO GET BITTER,
SOUR.
I KNOW GOD IS STILL ON THE
THRONE.
IF HE'S NOT CHANGING IT, HE
HAS A REASON.
MY LIFE IS IN HIS HANDS."
DARE TO TRUST HIM, NOT JUST
WHEN THINGS ARE GOING YOUR
WAY, BUT EVEN WHEN YOU DON'T
UNDERSTAND IT.
THE PSALMIST SAID, "GOD WILL
WORK OUT HIS PLAN FOR YOUR
LIFE."
YOU DON'T HAVE TO WORK IT ALL
OUT.
YOU DON'T HAVE TO MAKE IT
HAPPEN IN YOUR OWN STRENGTH,
TRY TO MANIPULATE PEOPLE,
FIGHT ALL YOUR BATTLES.
WHY DON'T YOU RELAX, TAKE THE
PRESSURE OFF YOURSELF, AND
LET GOD WORK OUT HIS PLAN FOR
YOUR LIFE?
HE CAN DO IT BETTER THAN YOU
CAN.
HE KNOWS THE BEST PATH.
AND THAT'S WHAT THESE
TEENAGERS WERE SAYING, "WE
KNOW GOD WILL DELIVER US FROM
THIS FIRE.
BUT EVEN IF HE DOESN'T, WE'RE
NOT GOING TO GET UPSET AND
START PANICKING.
WE KNOW WE'RE NOT DOING LIFE
ON OUR OWN.
THE MOST HIGH GOD, THE
CREATOR OF THE UNIVERSE, IS
WORKING OUT HIS PLAN FOR OUR
LIVES."
ALL THE FORCES OF DARKNESS
CANNOT STOP WHAT GOD HAS
ORDAINED.
THAT SICKNESS CAN'T STOP HIM,
TROUBLE AT WORK CAN'T STOP
HIM, THE DISAPPOINTMENTS, THE
SETBACKS.
AND YOU MAY HAVE A LOT COMING
AGAINST YOU.
YOU FEEL LIKE YOU'RE ABOUT TO
BE THROWN INTO A FIRE.
THE GOOD NEWS IS YOU'RE NOT
GOING TO GO IN THERE ALONE.
YOU COULDN'T BE PUT IN THAT
FIRE UNLESS GOD ALLOWED IT.
THE ENEMY IS NOT IN CONTROL
OF YOUR LIFE, GOD IS IN
CONTROL.
HE IS WORKING OUT HIS PLAN.
SOMETIMES, HIS PLAN INCLUDES
FIERY FURNACES.
SOMETIMES, IT INCLUDES
GIANTS, RED SEAS, PHARAOHS,
PEOPLE THAT DON'T LIKE YOU,
OBSTACLES THAT SEEM
INSURMOUNTABLE.
YOU DON'T SEE A WAY, BUT
SINCE YOU KNOW THE LORD IS
DIRECTING YOUR STEPS, YOU
DON'T TRY TO FIGURE IT ALL
OUT.
IT MAY LOOK LIKE THE END, BUT
LIKE THESE TEENAGERS, YOU
HAVE UNCONDITIONAL TRUST.
"I KNOW GOD WILL DELIVER ME,
BUT EVEN IF HE DOESN'T, I'M
STILL GOING TO HAVE A SONG OF
PRAISE.
I'M STILL GOING TO HAVE AN
ATTITUDE OF FAITH.
I'M STILL GOING TO LIVE MY
LIFE HAPPY."
THE KING HAD THESE TEENAGERS
THROWN INTO THE FURNACE.
THE FIRE WAS SO HOT, WHEN THE
GUARDS OPENED THE DOOR, THEY
WERE KILLED.
IN A FEW MINUTES, THE KING
CAME TO CHECK ON THEM.
HE LOOKED THROUGH THE WINDOW
AND COULDN'T BELIEVE HIS
EYES.
HE SAID, "DIDN'T WE THROW IN
THREE MEN BOUND?
I SEE FOUR MEN LOOSED, AND
ONE LOOKS LIKE THE SON OF
GOD."
WHAT WAS THAT?
GOD WORKING OUT HIS PLAN FOR
THEIR LIVES.
BUT I WONDER WHAT THE OUTCOME
WOULD HAVE BEEN IF THEY WOULD
HAVE HAD CONDITIONAL TRUST,
"GOD, IF YOU DELIVER US FROM
THIS FIRE, THEN WE'LL STAY IN
FAITH.
GOD, IF YOU DO IT OUR WAY,
WE'LL KEEP A GOOD ATTITUDE."
BUT WHEN THE KING DIDN'T
CHANGE HIS MIND, WHEN GOD
DIDN'T REMOVE THE OBSTACLE,
IF THEY WOULD HAVE GOTTEN
NEGATIVE, COMPLAINED, "GOD,
WE DON'T UNDERSTAND IT.
WE PRAYED, WE BELIEVED, WE
STOOD IN FAITH.
WHY DIDN'T YOU TURN IT
AROUND?"
MAYBE THE FURNACE WOULD HAVE
BEEN THE END.
MAYBE WE WOULDN'T BE TALKING
ABOUT THEM TODAY.
IF YOU WANT TO GET GOD'S
ATTENTION, IF YOU WANT HIM TO
TAKE YOU WHERE YOU'VE NEVER
DREAMED AND TURN IMPOSSIBLE
SITUATIONS AROUND, DO LIKE
THESE TEENAGERS, "I KNOW GOD
WILL DELIVER ME FROM THIS
FIRE."
HAVE A STATEMENT OF FAITH,
BUT THEN FOLLOW IT UP WITH,
"BUT EVEN IF HE DOESN'T, GOD,
I'M STILL GOING TO HONOR YOU,
I'M STILL GOING TO BE MY
BEST."
WHEN YOU LIVE LIKE THAT, YOU
TAKE AWAY ALL THE ENEMY'S
POWER.
HE'S EXPECTING YOU TO GET
UPSET, TO BE WORRIED, IF IT
DOESN'T WORK OUT TO FALL
APART, LIVE IN SELF-PITY.
WHEN YOU HAVE UNCONDITIONAL
TRUST, YOU CAN'T BE DEFEATED.
AND YOU MAY HAVE CHALLENGES
THAT LOOK BIGGER, STRONGER.
IN THE NATURAL, YOU DON'T
HAVE A CHANCE.
DON'T BE INTIMIDATED, THE
FORCES THAT ARE FOR YOU ARE
GREATER THAN THE FORCES THAT
ARE AGAINST YOU.
THE SCRIPTURE SAYS IN JOB YOU
WILL NOT BE HARVESTED BEFORE
YOUR TIME.
YOU MAY GET THROWN INTO A
FIRE, BUT IF IT'S NOT YOUR
TIME TO GO, YOU'RE NOT GOING
TO GO.
GOD HAS THE FINAL SAY.
RIGHT NOW, HE IS WORKING OUT
HIS PLAN FOR YOUR LIFE.
THERE MAY BE SOME FIERY
FURNACES.
ARE YOU ONLY GOING TO TRUST
HIM IF HE DELIVERS YOU FROM
THE FIRE, IF HE TAKES AWAY
ALL THE THORNS, IF HE DOES IT
YOUR WAY?
OR ARE YOU GOING TO HAVE
UNCONDITIONAL TRUST?
TRUST HIM LIKE THESE
TEENAGERS, EVEN IF HE TAKES
YOU THROUGH THE FIRE.
LOOKING BACK OVER MY LIFE,
THINGS HAVEN'T TURNED OUT THE
WAY I THOUGHT.
I HAD A PLAN, I HAD IT ALL
FIGURED OUT.
I TOLD GOD WHAT TO DO, WHEN
TO DO IT, WHAT I NEEDED, WHO
TO USE, HOW TO GET ME THERE.
I GAVE HIM GOOD INFORMATION,
MY VERY BEST.
THE FUNNY THING IS GOD DIDN'T
TAKE MY ADVICE.
HE HAD HIS OWN PLAN.
AND WHAT I FOUND IS GOD'S
PLAN HAS ALWAYS BEEN BETTER
THAN MY PLAN.
HIS WAYS HAVE ALWAYS BEEN
MORE REWARDING, MORE
FULFILLING, BIGGER THAN MY
WAYS.
IF GOD WOULD HAVE DONE
EVERYTHING I ASKED, ANSWERED
MY PRAYERS THE WAY I WANTED,
ON MY TIMETABLE, IT WOULD
HAVE LIMITED MY DESTINY.
I WOULDN'T BE WHERE I AM.
I COULDN'T SEE IT AT THE
TIME, DIDN'T MAKE SENSE.
SEEMED LIKE A GOOD THING, BUT
ONE DAY, I LEARNED WHAT
ISAIAH SAID, THAT GOD'S WAYS
ARE HIGHER THAN OUR WAYS.
HIS PLANS ARE BETTER THAN OUR
PLANS.
QUIT BEING DISCOURAGED OVER
SOMETHING THAT DIDN'T WORK
OUT THE WAY YOU WANTED.
DON'T LIVE FRUSTRATED BECAUSE
MAYBE SOMEBODY LEFT THAT YOU
WANTED TO STAY, A DOOR CLOSED
THAT YOU WANTED OPEN.
GOD KNOWS WHAT HE'S DOING.
AND YOU MAY NOT SEE IT NOW,
BUT ONE DAY, WHEN YOU SEE
WHAT GOD WAS UP TO, YOU'LL BE
GLAD HE CLOSED THE DOORS.
YOU'LL THANK HIM FOR NOT
ANSWERING THOSE PRAYERS.
THE LONGER I LIVE, THE MORE I
PRAY, "GOD, NOT MY WILL, BUT
LET YOUR WILL BE DONE."
I DON'T FIGHT THE CLOSED
DOORS ANYMORE.
I DON'T GET FRUSTRATED WHEN
THINGS AREN'T CHANGING AS
FAST AS I WOULD LIKE.
I KNOW THAT GOD IS IN
CONTROL.
AS LONG AS YOU'RE HONORING
HIM, BEING YOUR BEST, AT THE
RIGHT TIME, GOD WILL GET YOU
TO WHERE YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO
BE.
IT MAY NOT BE WHERE YOU
THOUGHT.
GOD IS GOING TO TAKE YOU
FURTHER THAN YOU EVER
IMAGINED.
AND I BELIEVE IN PRAYING FOR
OUR DREAMS, AND PRAYING BOLD
PRAYERS, BELIEVING FOR BIG
THINGS, BUT I'VE LEARNED TO
LET GOD DO IT HIS WAY.
HOLD TIGHTLY TO WHAT GOD PUT
IN YOUR HEART, BUT HOLD
LOOSELY TO HOW IT'S GOING TO
HAPPEN.
DON'T GET SET IN YOUR WAYS.
DON'T BE DISCOURAGED BECAUSE
IT HASN'T HAPPENED THE WAY
YOU THOUGHT.
GOD IS WORKING OUT HIS PLAN
FOR YOUR LIFE.
A COUPLE OF YEARS AFTER
VICTORIA AND I WERE MARRIED,
WE SOLD OUR TOWNHOUSE, WE
WERE GOING TO BUY OUR FIRST
HOME.
WE WERE SO EXCITED, WE LOOKED
FOR MONTHS AND MONTHS, AND WE
FOUND THIS HOUSE THAT WE
REALLY LOVED.
IT WAS ON A BEAUTIFUL LOT,
BIG TREES, SO PICTURESQUE.
IT WAS LIKE OUR DREAM HOUSE.
AND WE MADE AN OFFER NOT MUCH
LESS THAN THEY WERE ASKING.
WE DIDN'T HEAR BACK FOR A
COUPLE OF WEEKS, AND THE
HOUSE WAS EMPTY, SO WE WOULD
GO OUT AT NIGHT AND PRAY OVER
IT, AND THANK GOD THAT IT WAS
OURS, DREAM ABOUT LIVING
THERE.
AND HERE'S WHERE WE'LL PUT
OUR FURNITURE, AND HERE'S
WHERE WE'LL PUT A SWING SET
ONE DAY.
WE WERE SURE IT WAS GOING TO
HAPPEN, BUT THEY CALLED BACK
AND SAID THEY WEREN'T GOING
TO ACCEPT OUR OFFER.
WE KNEW THAT WAS THE DEVIL
TRYING TO TAKE OUR HOUSE
'CAUSE THAT WAS SUPPOSED TO
BE OURS.
HAVE YOU NOTICED THE DEVIL
GETS BLAMED FOR A LOT OF
THINGS HE HAD NOTHING TO DO
WITH?
WE WENT BACK TO THAT HOUSE,
AND WE STARTED MARCHING
AROUND IT, PRAYING, BINDING,
LOOSING, DOING EVERYTHING WE
COULD.
A FEW DAYS LATER, THEY SOLD
IT TO SOMEBODY ELSE.
HAVE YOU EVER FELT LIKE GOD
LET YOU DOWN?
HE COULD HAVE CHANGED IT SO
EASILY.
WE WERE RIGHT THERE, BUT THE
DOOR CLOSED.
WE SAID, "GOD, WHERE WERE
YOU?
THIS WAS OUR DREAM HOUSE."
BUT IF YOU'RE ONLY GOING TO
BE HAPPY IF GOD DOES IT YOUR
WAY, THAT'S NOT TRUSTING,
THAT'S GIVING GOD ORDERS.
YOU'LL BE FRUSTRATED.
WHY DON'T YOU PUT YOUR LIFE
IN HIS HANDS?
HE KNOWS WHAT'S BEST FOR YOU.
HE CAN SEE THINGS THAT WE
CAN'T SEE.
A COUPLE OF MONTHS LATER, WE
FOUND ANOTHER HOUSE IN CLOSE
TO THE CITY.
WE PURCHASED THAT PLACE.
TWO YEARS AFTER THAT, WE SOLD
HALF OF THAT PROPERTY FOR
MORE THAN WE PAID FOR THE
WHOLE PROPERTY.
WE ENDED UP BUILDING A NEW
HOUSE THERE.
GOD BLESSED US IN WAYS
GREATER THAN WE EVER
IMAGINED.
BUT NOW, SOMETIMES, I'LL
DRIVE BACK BY THAT OTHER
HOUSE I WANTED SO BAD, AND
SAY, "LORD, THANK YOU FOR
CLOSING THIS DOOR.
THANK YOU THAT IT DIDN'T WORK
OUT."
SOME OF THE THINGS THAT ARE
NOT WORKING OUT IN YOUR LIFE
NOW, ONE DAY YOU'LL BE DOING
LIKE I DID, "LORD, THANK YOU
THAT IT DIDN'T WORK OUT MY
WAY."
YOU COULD SAVE YOURSELF A LOT
OF FRUSTRATION IF YOU'D LEARN
TO HAVE UNCONDITIONAL TRUST.
THE CLOSED DOORS, THE
DISAPPOINTMENTS, THE DELAYS,
IT'S ALL WORKING FOR YOU.
AND YES, IT'S GOOD TO BE
DETERMINED, BE PERSISTENT,
BUT LET GOD DO IT HIS WAY.
IF HE'S NOT CHANGING IT, NOT
REMOVING IT, NOT OPENING IT,
DON'T FIGHT IT.
LEARN TO EMBRACE WHERE YOU
ARE.
HE'S GIVEN YOU THE GRACE NOT
TO JUST BE THERE, BUT TO BE
THERE WITH A GOOD ATTITUDE.
IF YOU'RE GOING TO PASS THE
TEST, KEEP A SMILE ON YOUR
FACE, KEEP A SONG IN YOUR
HEART, KEEP PASSION IN YOUR
SPIRIT.
DON'T DRAG THROUGH THE DAY
DISAPPOINTED.
THIS IS THE DAY THE LORD HAS
MADE.
HE'S STILL ON THE THRONE,
HE'S WORKING OUT HIS PLAN FOR
YOUR LIFE.
HE'S GOING TO GET YOU TO
WHERE YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO BE.
BUT LIVING WORRIED,
FRUSTRATED, DISAPPOINTED,
THAT TAKES OUR PASSION, IT
STEALS OUR JOY, AND IT CAN
KEEP US FROM SEEING GOD'S
FAVOR.
AND SOMETIMES, THE CLOSED
DOORS, THE DISAPPOINTMENTS,
THEY ARE SIMPLY A TEST.
GOD WANTS TO SEE IF WE'LL
TRUST HIM WHEN WE DON'T
UNDERSTAND IT, WHEN LIFE
DOESN'T MAKE SENSE.
THIS IS WHAT HAPPENED WITH
ABRAHAM.
HE WAITED 20 YEARS TO HAVE
HIS SON ISAAC.
HE AND HIS WIFE SARAH WERE
WAY UP THERE IN THEIR 80S.
THEY PRAYED, BELIEVED, STOOD
IN FAITH.
THEY FINALLY SAW THE PROMISE
COME TO PASS.
THEY WERE SO EXCITED.
YOU CAN IMAGINE HOW ABRAHAM
MUST HAVE FELT YEARS LATER,
WHEN GOD TOLD HIM TO TAKE
ISAAC ON TOP OF A MOUNTAIN
AND SACRIFICE HIM.
THAT DIDN'T MAKE SENSE.
ISAAC WAS WHAT ABRAHAM LOVED
THE MOST.
THIS WAS THE FULFILLMENT OF
THE PROMISE.
NOW, GOD WAS ASKING HIM TO
PUT HIS DREAM ON THE ALTAR.
ABRAHAM DIDN'T UNDERSTAND IT,
IT DIDN'T SEEM FAIR, BUT HE
WAS OBEDIENT.
HE PASSED THE TRUST TEST.
AND JUST AS HE WAS ABOUT TO
FOLLOW THROUGH, GOD STOPPED
HIM AND SAID, "ABRAHAM, DON'T
DO IT.
NOW, I CAN SEE YOU TRUST ME
MORE THAN ANYTHING."
AND LIKE ABRAHAM, THERE WILL
BE TIMES GOD ASKS US TO PUT
OUR DREAM ON THE ALTAR.
WE HAVE TO SHOW HIM THAT WE
DON'T HAVE TO HAVE THE HOUSE
TO BE HAPPY.
IF WE DON'T HAVE THE BABY,
WE'RE NOT GOING TO LIVE
BITTER AND SOUR.
YOU'RE BELIEVING FOR YOUR
HEALTH TO IMPROVE, BUT WHEN
YOU CAN SAY, "IF IT DOESN'T
GET BETTER, GOD, I'M STILL
GOING TO HONOR YOU, I'M STILL
GOING TO BE MY BEST," YOU ARE
DOING WHAT ABRAHAM DID.
YOU ARE PUTTING YOUR DREAM ON
THE ALTAR.
AND WHEN GOD SEES THAT YOU
DON'T HAVE TO HAVE IT, MANY
TIMES, LIKE HIM, GOD WILL
GIVE YOU BACK WHAT YOU WERE
WILLING TO GIVE UP.
DURING WORLD WAR II, THERE
WAS A YOUNG SOLDIER IN A
LIBRARY IN FLORIDA.
WHILE HE WAS READING A BOOK,
HE NOTICED ALL THE
HANDWRITTEN NOTES IN THE
MARGIN.
THEY WERE VERY THOUGHTFUL AND
HEARTWARMING.
HE TURNED TO THE FRONT OF THE
BOOK, IT JUST SO HAPPENED IT
HAD THE PREVIOUS OWNER'S NAME
AND ADDRESS.
IT WAS A LADY NAMED HOLLY
THAT LIVED IN NEW YORK CITY.
HE WROTE HER A LETTER,
INTRODUCING HIMSELF, AND
TELLING HOW HE WAS ABOUT TO
BE SHIPPED OFF OVERSEAS TO
EUROPE THE NEXT DAY.
HE INVITED HER TO RESPOND,
AND THEY COULD TALK ABOUT THE
BOOK.
MUCH TO HIS SURPRISE, HE
RECEIVED A LETTER IN RETURN.
AND FOR THE NEXT 13 MONTHS,
THEY WROTE BACK AND FORTH
AGAIN AND AGAIN, GETTING
CLOSER AND CLOSER.
THEY WERE ACTUALLY FALLING IN
LOVE, YET THEY HAD NEVER SEEN
EACH OTHER.
HE HAD REQUESTED A PICTURE,
BUT SHE REFUSED.
A YEAR AND A HALF LATER, HE
WAS COMING BACK HOME THROUGH
NEW YORK CITY.
THIS WAS THEIR BIG
OPPORTUNITY, THEY WERE GOING
TO MEET FOR THE FIRST TIME
AND GO OUT TO DINNER.
SHE SAID, "I'LL BE WAITING
FOR YOU WHEN YOU GET OFF THE
SHIP.
YOU'LL KNOW IT'S ME BY THE
PINK ROSE I'LL BE WEARING."
SAILING BACK ACROSS THE
OCEAN, HE WAS SO EXCITED AND
SO NERVOUS AT THE SAME TIME.
HE STEPPED OFF THE SHIP, THE
BIG MOMENT FINALLY ARRIVED.
THIS BEAUTIFUL YOUNG LADY
CAME WALKING TOWARD HIM.
SHE TOOK HIS BREATH AWAY.
SHE WAS STUNNING, TALL,
GORGEOUS FEATURES, IN GREAT
SHAPE, SHE LOOKED LIKE A
MOVIE STAR.
HE COULDN'T BELIEVE WHAT HE
WAS SEEING.
HE WAS SO TAKEN ABACK BY IT,
HE DIDN'T REALIZE SHE WASN'T
WEARING A PINK ROSE.
AS SHE PASSED ON BY, HE
FINALLY CAME BACK DOWN TO
EARTH.
ABOUT THAT TIME, THIS LADY IN
HER 40S WALKED UP TO HIM.
SHE WASN'T NECESSARILY
ATTRACTIVE, HAD GREYING HAIR,
AND JUST SO HAPPENED SHE WAS
WEARING THE PINK ROSE.
DISAPPOINTED, BUT NOT SHOWING
IT, HE WALKED UP TO HER WITH
A SMILE.
HE SALUTED, AND SAID, "HELLO,
MA'AM.
YOU MUST BE HOLLY.
I'M SO GLAD TO MEET YOU.
CAN I TAKE YOU TO DINNER?"
THE LADY SAID, "SON, I'M NOT
SURE WHAT'S GOING ON, BUT THE
YOUNG LADY THAT JUST PASSED
YOU ASKED ME TO WEAR THIS
PINK ROSE.
SHE SAID IF YOU INVITED ME TO
DINNER, TO TELL YOU SHE'LL BE
WAITING FOR YOU IN THE
RESTAURANT ACROSS THE WAY."
IT WAS SIMPLY A TEST.
WILL YOU DO THE RIGHT THING
WHEN IT'S HARD?
WILL YOU TRUST GOD WHEN IT'S
NOT WHAT YOU THOUGHT, WHEN
YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND IT?
GOD SAID TO ABRAHAM, "BECAUSE
YOU DID NOT WITHHOLD YOUR
ONLY SON, I WILL SURELY BLESS
YOU, AND MAKE YOUR
DESCENDANTS AS NUMEROUS AS
THE SAND ON THE SEASHORE."
WHEN YOU DO LIKE ABRAHAM, YOU
DO LIKE THIS YOUNG SOLDIER
AND YOU PASS THE TRUST TEST,
GOD WILL NOT ONLY GIVE YOU
THE DESIRES OF YOUR HEART,
HE'LL DO MORE THAN YOU CAN
ASK OR THINK.
ARE YOU LIVING FRUSTRATED
BECAUSE YOUR PRAYERS AREN'T
BEING ANSWERED THE WAY YOU
WANT, YOUR PLANS AREN'T
WORKING OUT?
TAKE THE PRESSURE OFF.
GOD IS IN CONTROL, HE KNOWS
WHAT'S BEST FOR YOU.
YOU'RE NOT ALWAYS GOING TO
UNDERSTAND IT.
IF YOU DID, IT WOULDN'T TAKE
ANY FAITH.
I'M ASKING YOU TO TRUST HIM
UNCONDITIONALLY.
IF YOU'LL DO THIS, I BELIEVE
AND DECLARE GOD IS GOING TO
WORK OUT HIS PLAN FOR YOUR
LIFE.
HE'S GOING TO OPEN THE RIGHT
DOORS, BRING THE RIGHT
PEOPLE, TURN NEGATIVE
SITUATIONS AROUND, AND TAKE
YOU TO THE FULLNESS OF YOUR
DESTINY, IN JESUS' NAME.
IF YOU RECEIVE IT, CAN YOU
SAY AMEN TODAY?
I'D LIKE TO GIVE YOU AN
OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE JESUS THE
LORD OF YOUR LIFE.
WOULD YOU PRAY WITH ME?
JUST SAY, "LORD JESUS, I
REPENT OF MY SINS.
COME INTO MY HEART.
I MAKE YOU MY LORD AND
SAVIOR."
IF YOU PRAYED THAT SIMPLE
PRAYER, WE BELIEVE YOU GOT
BORN AGAIN.
GET IN A GOOD, BIBLE-BASED
CHURCH.
KEEP GOD FIRST PLACE, HE'S
GOING TO TAKE YOU PLACES
YOU'VE NEVER DREAMED.
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