1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:03,200 God, all that we're needing is who you are. 2 00:00:03,200 --> 00:00:07,600 So God, whatever may be causing us to feel discouraged, 3 00:00:07,600 --> 00:00:12,100 shaken, confused, concerned, worried, afraid, 4 00:00:13,000 --> 00:00:15,980 we ask that your presence, who you are, 5 00:00:15,980 --> 00:00:18,680 would be what brings us our true peace, 6 00:00:18,680 --> 00:00:22,180 not after the storm, but right in the midst. 7 00:00:22,180 --> 00:00:23,420 Lord, we thank you. 8 00:00:23,420 --> 00:00:25,360 In Christ Jesus, amen. 9 00:00:28,060 --> 00:00:29,400 Howdy. 10 00:00:29,400 --> 00:00:33,500 Well, I wanted to let you all know this last week, 11 00:00:33,500 --> 00:00:36,460 we were having the chance to do a vacation Bible school, 12 00:00:36,460 --> 00:00:39,300 and they asked if I would be able to help out 13 00:00:39,300 --> 00:00:41,400 with the opening sequence. 14 00:00:41,400 --> 00:00:43,180 We would have like a short skit 15 00:00:43,180 --> 00:00:45,480 for about five minutes or so each day. 16 00:00:45,480 --> 00:00:49,480 And so each day I was playing a potential treasure hunter, 17 00:00:49,480 --> 00:00:51,420 where I was supposed to be able to put on 18 00:00:51,420 --> 00:00:53,380 everything that was needed and go out there 19 00:00:53,380 --> 00:00:57,260 and find the lost treasure of Pirates Cove. 20 00:00:57,260 --> 00:00:59,360 And every day the children found out 21 00:00:59,360 --> 00:01:03,360 why I am not a treasure hunter whatsoever. 22 00:01:03,360 --> 00:01:06,100 And at the end of the week, they finally said, 23 00:01:06,100 --> 00:01:09,300 Pastor, you should probably go back to your day job 24 00:01:09,300 --> 00:01:13,240 and just be a pastor, which I think is probably okay. 25 00:01:13,240 --> 00:01:17,380 Because in reality, I was over there with no flippers. 26 00:01:17,380 --> 00:01:20,180 I was wearing slippers instead of flippers 27 00:01:20,180 --> 00:01:23,480 and a Batman mask instead of a scuba gear. 28 00:01:23,480 --> 00:01:27,320 And my oxygen tank was actually a seven up bottle, 29 00:01:27,320 --> 00:01:28,960 shoved in a backpack. 30 00:01:28,960 --> 00:01:32,460 And my treasure map had a McDonald's on it. 31 00:01:32,460 --> 00:01:35,600 So in reality is that getting a chance 32 00:01:35,600 --> 00:01:37,960 to have the fun with the kids though, 33 00:01:37,960 --> 00:01:40,200 one of the things that we had to discover 34 00:01:40,200 --> 00:01:41,500 is that there were a lot of things 35 00:01:41,500 --> 00:01:44,840 that needed to be changed kind of on the fly. 36 00:01:44,840 --> 00:01:46,440 You know how that goes. 37 00:01:46,440 --> 00:01:48,500 Where you have everything planned out 38 00:01:48,500 --> 00:01:51,880 and then you realize this isn't quite working out so well 39 00:01:51,880 --> 00:01:55,020 and it needs to be changed fairly quickly. 40 00:01:55,020 --> 00:01:57,520 And that's the thing about VBS was that 41 00:01:57,520 --> 00:01:59,820 the ebb and the flow during the week, 42 00:01:59,820 --> 00:02:01,520 it was trying to make sure that everything 43 00:02:01,520 --> 00:02:04,120 was working well for the kids and for the volunteers. 44 00:02:04,120 --> 00:02:08,260 And the big message was, whatever else may be going on, 45 00:02:08,260 --> 00:02:10,760 make sure the kids hear about Jesus 46 00:02:10,760 --> 00:02:12,760 and make sure they have fun. 47 00:02:12,760 --> 00:02:14,960 Everything else will be okay. 48 00:02:14,960 --> 00:02:17,700 And that was the thing about being there 49 00:02:17,700 --> 00:02:20,440 is that there were so many people helping 50 00:02:20,440 --> 00:02:23,440 to be able to make this a great experience. 51 00:02:23,440 --> 00:02:26,840 But sometimes the director would be helping people 52 00:02:26,840 --> 00:02:29,140 see what to do and the teachers might need to say, 53 00:02:29,140 --> 00:02:31,880 we need to change this or else it won't work. 54 00:02:31,880 --> 00:02:34,580 Or other times the teachers may do something one way 55 00:02:34,580 --> 00:02:37,180 but the director has an overall picture 56 00:02:37,180 --> 00:02:39,880 and needs to say, we need to go this route 57 00:02:39,880 --> 00:02:42,160 for what we're doing this week. 58 00:02:42,160 --> 00:02:46,200 But that back and forth, sometimes what we can end up seeing 59 00:02:46,200 --> 00:02:50,660 is that in the midst of struggle, can we focus 60 00:02:50,660 --> 00:02:53,640 on the joy of what we're doing? 61 00:02:53,640 --> 00:02:57,240 And with that is what I at least was able to find 62 00:02:57,240 --> 00:02:59,980 at the end was that not only was it a chance 63 00:02:59,980 --> 00:03:02,880 that there are now several of these children 64 00:03:02,880 --> 00:03:06,680 that myself and others we've been able to start bonding with 65 00:03:06,680 --> 00:03:09,780 and to share God's love and that they know 66 00:03:09,780 --> 00:03:12,360 Pastor Jason's name, very, very nice. 67 00:03:12,360 --> 00:03:13,860 It was wonderful to hear. 68 00:03:13,860 --> 00:03:15,960 But then also some of the staff too. 69 00:03:15,960 --> 00:03:18,600 Some of the teenagers that hadn't had a chance 70 00:03:18,600 --> 00:03:20,260 to get to know yet. 71 00:03:20,260 --> 00:03:23,560 And so with that is that in the midst of the ups 72 00:03:23,560 --> 00:03:25,740 and the downs was still getting a chance 73 00:03:25,740 --> 00:03:28,880 to see the blessing of what it was. 74 00:03:28,880 --> 00:03:33,380 But you see, that's the thing about life oftentimes 75 00:03:33,380 --> 00:03:37,140 is that we end up seeing storms and uncertainty 76 00:03:37,140 --> 00:03:40,020 and things that can oftentimes bring out 77 00:03:40,020 --> 00:03:43,060 what could be the worst in us. 78 00:03:43,060 --> 00:03:45,060 There is oftentimes the potential 79 00:03:45,060 --> 00:03:48,320 that whenever things do not fit what we were expecting 80 00:03:48,320 --> 00:03:52,000 or whenever we start to feel scared or worried, 81 00:03:52,000 --> 00:03:56,460 we can sometimes end up responding or reacting 82 00:03:56,460 --> 00:04:00,040 in a way that is not what God was wanting to see in us. 83 00:04:00,040 --> 00:04:04,240 See, sometimes whenever something is making us afraid, 84 00:04:04,240 --> 00:04:06,940 it can create anxiety in us. 85 00:04:06,940 --> 00:04:09,880 And so we end up feeling that pit in our stomach, 86 00:04:09,880 --> 00:04:12,080 the one that wakes us up in the middle of the night, 87 00:04:12,080 --> 00:04:14,720 the one that doesn't let us actually enjoy time 88 00:04:14,720 --> 00:04:16,120 with friends and family, 89 00:04:16,120 --> 00:04:18,120 even if we're in the middle of a party, 90 00:04:18,120 --> 00:04:21,960 the one that's sitting there that distracts us at work. 91 00:04:21,960 --> 00:04:24,160 Because the whole time we're thinking, 92 00:04:24,160 --> 00:04:25,660 this is not what I was expecting 93 00:04:25,660 --> 00:04:27,500 and I'm afraid of what might happen. 94 00:04:28,540 --> 00:04:32,000 But even more than the anxiety that we might feel 95 00:04:32,000 --> 00:04:34,000 is that other times it may respond us 96 00:04:34,000 --> 00:04:36,540 to try to take control. 97 00:04:36,540 --> 00:04:39,680 How many times is it that whenever we see things 98 00:04:39,680 --> 00:04:41,840 not going the way we had planned 99 00:04:41,840 --> 00:04:46,120 and our response is how can I take control? 100 00:04:46,120 --> 00:04:49,260 And sometimes we might do it overtly. 101 00:04:49,260 --> 00:04:51,980 We might just go ahead and give people commands 102 00:04:51,980 --> 00:04:55,100 and try to boss around those who might be around us. 103 00:04:55,100 --> 00:04:59,060 But other times we might do it more passive-aggressively. 104 00:04:59,060 --> 00:05:01,100 The times whenever we say or do things 105 00:05:01,100 --> 00:05:03,000 where we're just trying to kind of get 106 00:05:03,000 --> 00:05:05,200 that little extra word in there 107 00:05:05,200 --> 00:05:08,640 or try to make sure that they know I'm not happy with this, 108 00:05:08,640 --> 00:05:12,240 but also I'm still going to do whatever it is I wanna do. 109 00:05:13,520 --> 00:05:18,180 But also then there are the times when we just quit. 110 00:05:18,180 --> 00:05:21,320 We decide it's not going the way we were expecting 111 00:05:21,320 --> 00:05:23,280 and so what's our response? 112 00:05:23,280 --> 00:05:26,560 Nevermind, I'm just not going to do it at all. 113 00:05:27,820 --> 00:05:32,220 What we end up seeing oftentimes is that we become 114 00:05:32,220 --> 00:05:34,000 the worst parts of ourselves 115 00:05:34,000 --> 00:05:37,740 because something has brought out our fear. 116 00:05:37,740 --> 00:05:41,540 But that's what we end up seeing in the disciples there. 117 00:05:41,540 --> 00:05:43,540 You see, they're in this boat 118 00:05:43,540 --> 00:05:47,240 on a sea that they have fished many, many times. 119 00:05:47,240 --> 00:05:49,780 They know this place, they know where they're at, 120 00:05:49,780 --> 00:05:51,880 but they also know that it's fully possible 121 00:05:51,880 --> 00:05:54,620 for a storm to come up unexpectedly. 122 00:05:55,480 --> 00:05:57,460 But what ends up happening here? 123 00:05:57,460 --> 00:06:02,220 They see Jesus over there asleep in the boat. 124 00:06:03,560 --> 00:06:07,220 Now, how do they end up responding to Jesus? 125 00:06:07,220 --> 00:06:09,160 Did they respond by saying, 126 00:06:09,160 --> 00:06:11,240 hey Jesus, we're really, really nervous. 127 00:06:11,240 --> 00:06:14,740 Could you help us feel a little bit better? 128 00:06:14,740 --> 00:06:16,440 Did they respond with Jesus? 129 00:06:16,440 --> 00:06:18,100 We see the storm. 130 00:06:18,100 --> 00:06:21,480 Would you let us know what you would like for us to do? 131 00:06:21,480 --> 00:06:24,640 No, what did they respond with? 132 00:06:24,640 --> 00:06:29,520 Jesus, do you not care that we are perishing? 133 00:06:30,920 --> 00:06:33,960 Isn't it amazing the way that we may come at something 134 00:06:33,960 --> 00:06:35,920 with a loaded question? 135 00:06:35,920 --> 00:06:39,720 How are you even going to respond to something like that? 136 00:06:41,760 --> 00:06:45,800 Yes, I do care that you all are perishing, 137 00:06:45,800 --> 00:06:49,140 but I'm too inept to do anything about it? 138 00:06:50,100 --> 00:06:53,180 Or maybe, no, I don't care that you are perishing. 139 00:06:53,180 --> 00:06:54,980 I really don't care anything about you. 140 00:06:56,280 --> 00:07:00,320 To ask a question like that is not an actual question, 141 00:07:00,320 --> 00:07:02,920 but rather is just revealing 142 00:07:02,920 --> 00:07:05,980 what they themselves are suffering through. 143 00:07:07,280 --> 00:07:11,980 See, at that point is that in the midst of this storm, 144 00:07:11,980 --> 00:07:16,360 their response was to assume the worst about Jesus. 145 00:07:18,000 --> 00:07:21,200 At that point is they are now asking Jesus 146 00:07:21,200 --> 00:07:25,360 not to do what is good and what is right, 147 00:07:25,360 --> 00:07:29,400 but rather is Jesus make us feel better 148 00:07:29,400 --> 00:07:33,080 while we subject you to our anger. 149 00:07:35,240 --> 00:07:37,960 But what could they have been doing? 150 00:07:39,040 --> 00:07:42,560 See, rather than spending time focusing on things 151 00:07:42,560 --> 00:07:45,360 that were different from what they expected, 152 00:07:45,360 --> 00:07:48,480 could they have spent time seeing what God 153 00:07:48,480 --> 00:07:51,480 was actually doing through the storm? 154 00:07:53,720 --> 00:07:57,880 There are a lot of times when, as a pastor, 155 00:07:57,880 --> 00:08:00,200 there are things that are happening in and around 156 00:08:00,200 --> 00:08:02,320 the church all the time. 157 00:08:02,320 --> 00:08:05,200 There are people who work here, people who volunteer here, 158 00:08:05,200 --> 00:08:08,760 people who worship here, people all over the place. 159 00:08:08,760 --> 00:08:11,360 And there are so many times, whenever you see or hear 160 00:08:11,360 --> 00:08:16,360 something and you just have this moment, this, ooh, 161 00:08:16,620 --> 00:08:18,800 why did they have to do it that way? 162 00:08:18,800 --> 00:08:23,400 Ooh, couldn't we have handled things a little bit better? 163 00:08:23,400 --> 00:08:28,000 Ooh, what is it that's really going to happen now? 164 00:08:28,000 --> 00:08:31,440 And oftentimes it's very easy to then spend the whole time 165 00:08:31,440 --> 00:08:35,320 being anxious and afraid of what you're going to hear 166 00:08:35,320 --> 00:08:38,240 and don't even get me started about emails 167 00:08:38,240 --> 00:08:40,800 whenever you never know how people are going to respond 168 00:08:40,800 --> 00:08:43,080 to something where you can't hear their tone 169 00:08:43,080 --> 00:08:45,080 or you don't know where it's coming from. 170 00:08:46,120 --> 00:08:48,480 But to be able to pause long enough 171 00:08:48,480 --> 00:08:53,480 and to see what God may be doing, what's also amazing 172 00:08:54,840 --> 00:08:57,840 is when you realize that God was using that thing 173 00:08:57,840 --> 00:09:02,060 that made you afraid to end up showing you something 174 00:09:02,060 --> 00:09:04,000 even better than you expected. 175 00:09:04,880 --> 00:09:08,480 See, that's the thing about struggling with God's plans, 176 00:09:08,480 --> 00:09:12,840 is that we assume that because it is making us anxious 177 00:09:12,840 --> 00:09:16,320 and afraid that therefore God must somehow either 178 00:09:16,320 --> 00:09:19,840 not be in control or not care. 179 00:09:19,840 --> 00:09:24,520 We think that because something makes us afraid or anxious 180 00:09:24,520 --> 00:09:27,360 that therefore God either can't do anything 181 00:09:27,360 --> 00:09:29,560 or doesn't care enough to do something. 182 00:09:30,920 --> 00:09:35,000 But what is amazing is that those are the times 183 00:09:35,000 --> 00:09:39,760 whenever God is actually wanting to do his greatest work. 184 00:09:40,960 --> 00:09:45,440 See, with this is that we end up seeing that Jesus gets up 185 00:09:45,440 --> 00:09:49,840 and he calms the storm and he turns to them. 186 00:09:49,840 --> 00:09:52,120 Does he say, oh, thank you for bringing that 187 00:09:52,120 --> 00:09:52,960 to my attention. 188 00:09:52,960 --> 00:09:57,600 I didn't realize there was a storm being the son of God. 189 00:09:57,600 --> 00:10:01,660 Or, okay, that one storm kind of got out of control. 190 00:10:01,660 --> 00:10:02,840 My bad, y'all. 191 00:10:02,840 --> 00:10:04,940 I'll catch the other ones later. 192 00:10:06,320 --> 00:10:09,880 How can you have so little faith? 193 00:10:09,880 --> 00:10:15,760 Calming the storm was the second choice. 194 00:10:15,760 --> 00:10:18,760 Calming the storm was the second choice. 195 00:10:19,880 --> 00:10:22,360 See, the thing is, is that safety does not come 196 00:10:22,360 --> 00:10:24,720 from either avoiding the storms 197 00:10:24,720 --> 00:10:26,880 or trying to get them to stop. 198 00:10:28,240 --> 00:10:31,200 The safety comes from riding them with Jesus. 199 00:10:32,920 --> 00:10:35,360 Because he knows what we need even before we do, 200 00:10:35,360 --> 00:10:39,920 even when we wonder if he's even paying attention. 201 00:10:40,880 --> 00:10:45,880 Because all their anxiety, this is the son of God 202 00:10:46,360 --> 00:10:49,640 who is here to bring salvation to the world. 203 00:10:49,640 --> 00:10:54,240 Where do you think the safest place is to be right now? 204 00:10:56,720 --> 00:11:01,240 But how do we know for sure that riding out the storm 205 00:11:01,240 --> 00:11:03,660 could have possibly been any better? 206 00:11:03,660 --> 00:11:05,520 The water's getting into the boat. 207 00:11:05,520 --> 00:11:07,260 Isn't that a bad thing? 208 00:11:08,200 --> 00:11:11,000 Well, we actually do have another story 209 00:11:11,000 --> 00:11:13,080 that is quite similar. 210 00:11:13,080 --> 00:11:16,120 See, in the end of the book of Acts, 211 00:11:16,120 --> 00:11:20,440 we end up seeing Paul experiencing the same thing. 212 00:11:20,440 --> 00:11:24,860 But faith changed the script of that story. 213 00:11:25,960 --> 00:11:30,120 See, the thing with it is that instead of spending the time 214 00:11:30,120 --> 00:11:32,720 seeing that the boat that they're in is falling apart 215 00:11:32,720 --> 00:11:36,160 or struggling is that he tells everyone, 216 00:11:36,160 --> 00:11:38,880 don't abandon the boat. 217 00:11:40,080 --> 00:11:42,480 Because isn't that what we are often tempted to do 218 00:11:42,480 --> 00:11:46,540 whenever something has made us anxious or fearful? 219 00:11:48,000 --> 00:11:51,720 Is that we look for ways to get out and to run away. 220 00:11:53,760 --> 00:11:58,760 Or also, they're struggling for two weeks on this boat. 221 00:11:58,760 --> 00:12:02,280 And what does Paul say, go get some food 222 00:12:02,280 --> 00:12:03,920 because you haven't been eating 223 00:12:03,920 --> 00:12:05,480 and you're going to need your strength? 224 00:12:07,040 --> 00:12:10,000 Was Paul telling them everything that was going to happen 225 00:12:10,000 --> 00:12:11,560 for the rest of the trip? 226 00:12:11,560 --> 00:12:13,360 Absolutely not. 227 00:12:13,360 --> 00:12:16,400 It was just what are you needing to do next? 228 00:12:17,880 --> 00:12:21,560 But isn't that where we find ourselves? 229 00:12:21,560 --> 00:12:24,200 Is that we want to know how everything's going to play out 230 00:12:24,200 --> 00:12:26,120 instead of pausing and just saying, 231 00:12:26,120 --> 00:12:30,560 no, do what is here right now, 232 00:12:30,560 --> 00:12:32,440 what God has placed at your feet? 233 00:12:34,160 --> 00:12:36,240 Or even to pause and be willing to say 234 00:12:36,240 --> 00:12:40,400 that God is actually in control of what may be happening. 235 00:12:42,360 --> 00:12:46,600 But what ends up happening at the end of Paul's journey here? 236 00:12:46,600 --> 00:12:49,520 The boat completely disintegrates. 237 00:12:49,520 --> 00:12:52,040 It completely falls apart. 238 00:12:52,040 --> 00:12:53,640 How many people died? 239 00:12:53,640 --> 00:12:55,160 None. 240 00:12:56,760 --> 00:12:59,400 And that's the thing about this is that then Paul 241 00:12:59,400 --> 00:13:01,800 is able to get to where he's going 242 00:13:01,800 --> 00:13:04,680 and not only testifies to all of the guards 243 00:13:04,680 --> 00:13:05,960 and all of the prisoners, 244 00:13:05,960 --> 00:13:09,920 but actually gets to the place where he is now ready 245 00:13:09,920 --> 00:13:14,200 and prepared to stand in front of the authorities in Rome 246 00:13:14,200 --> 00:13:16,040 and to tell them who God is. 247 00:13:16,920 --> 00:13:20,920 Stronger for the storm that he has just endured. 248 00:13:20,920 --> 00:13:23,240 Because that's the thing about this is that 249 00:13:23,240 --> 00:13:25,400 all you're meant to do is to do the task 250 00:13:25,400 --> 00:13:27,080 that is in front of you. 251 00:13:27,080 --> 00:13:30,680 So what is there left to fear? 252 00:13:30,680 --> 00:13:33,080 Because think about it in this way. 253 00:13:34,440 --> 00:13:37,480 What are some of the strongest experiences 254 00:13:37,480 --> 00:13:39,480 that we have in our lives? 255 00:13:39,480 --> 00:13:42,160 Not our favorite experiences, 256 00:13:42,160 --> 00:13:45,120 but what are some of our strongest ones? 257 00:13:45,120 --> 00:13:49,160 The times whenever we have fought with someone 258 00:13:49,160 --> 00:13:53,320 that we cared about and then we were able to resolve it 259 00:13:53,320 --> 00:13:54,840 and be stronger for it. 260 00:13:54,840 --> 00:13:58,840 The times whenever we felt the most heartbroken 261 00:13:58,840 --> 00:14:03,160 only to find love later on. 262 00:14:03,160 --> 00:14:07,000 The times whenever we feel rebuked for something, 263 00:14:07,000 --> 00:14:09,720 we were told that what we did was wrong 264 00:14:09,720 --> 00:14:12,520 only to know what it is to be restored 265 00:14:12,520 --> 00:14:15,640 and to know that now we know how to do something better. 266 00:14:15,640 --> 00:14:19,320 Or the times when we struggle and the struggle itself 267 00:14:19,320 --> 00:14:21,320 is when we find our strength. 268 00:14:21,320 --> 00:14:24,120 It's like whenever you hear about that internet meme 269 00:14:24,120 --> 00:14:25,720 that talks about the butterfly. 270 00:14:25,720 --> 00:14:28,120 And somebody sees the butterfly trying to come out 271 00:14:28,120 --> 00:14:30,680 of the chrysalis and someone comes over 272 00:14:30,680 --> 00:14:33,480 with a pair of scissors and they're trying to make it nice 273 00:14:33,480 --> 00:14:34,680 and easy for the butterfly. 274 00:14:34,680 --> 00:14:36,280 Don't worry, I got you butterfly, 275 00:14:36,280 --> 00:14:38,120 you're really having a hard time. 276 00:14:39,400 --> 00:14:43,400 And then the butterfly can never fly for the world. 277 00:14:43,400 --> 00:14:46,840 The butterfly can never fly for the rest of its life. 278 00:14:46,840 --> 00:14:50,440 Because part of the process of getting the fluids 279 00:14:50,440 --> 00:14:54,840 into the wings is the struggle of getting out of the chrysalis. 280 00:14:54,840 --> 00:14:58,280 It's actually part of the process to prepare them 281 00:14:58,280 --> 00:14:59,400 so that they can fly. 282 00:14:59,400 --> 00:15:02,520 And that's the thing that God knows about us. 283 00:15:02,520 --> 00:15:06,520 God is not always wanting to calm the storm 284 00:15:06,520 --> 00:15:09,480 because sometimes the storm is meant to be the gift. 285 00:15:09,480 --> 00:15:14,120 Because He loves you and walks with you through it. 286 00:15:14,120 --> 00:15:18,760 And you become more of who you are called to be because of it. 287 00:15:18,760 --> 00:15:21,640 Because in reality we know that the outcome is decided. 288 00:15:21,640 --> 00:15:23,880 It's already been conquered. 289 00:15:23,880 --> 00:15:25,240 It's already been solved. 290 00:15:25,240 --> 00:15:26,760 It's already been determined. 291 00:15:26,760 --> 00:15:30,440 So placing more fear into the situation, 292 00:15:30,440 --> 00:15:32,360 it doesn't create any better outcomes. 293 00:15:32,360 --> 00:15:35,400 It only distracts from what God is doing. 294 00:15:35,400 --> 00:15:38,360 And how many times does God have to give us 295 00:15:38,360 --> 00:15:40,200 what second best? 296 00:15:40,200 --> 00:15:45,240 Because we were too afraid of taking the best He had to offer. 297 00:15:45,240 --> 00:15:47,080 Whenever I was reading the Gospel 298 00:15:47,080 --> 00:15:50,200 and I caught myself stumbling through the first line, 299 00:15:50,200 --> 00:15:52,600 let us go across the other side. 300 00:15:52,600 --> 00:15:54,680 And I heard my words coming out as 301 00:15:54,680 --> 00:15:58,760 let us grow across the other side. 302 00:15:58,760 --> 00:16:02,200 And in reality that is the point. 303 00:16:02,200 --> 00:16:05,160 Is that going across to the other side 304 00:16:05,160 --> 00:16:08,520 is the way in which we grow. 305 00:16:08,520 --> 00:16:11,720 So if God can raise His own Son from the dead 306 00:16:11,720 --> 00:16:14,760 and bring salvation to the whole world, 307 00:16:14,760 --> 00:16:18,280 then don't you think that He not only is capable 308 00:16:18,280 --> 00:16:23,240 but loving enough that He can use the storms in your life 309 00:16:23,240 --> 00:16:25,960 to bring about something good. 310 00:16:25,960 --> 00:16:27,800 So whatever it may be right now 311 00:16:27,800 --> 00:16:31,240 that you are facing this summer and beyond, 312 00:16:31,240 --> 00:16:35,080 no matter how anxious or fearful it may make us, 313 00:16:35,080 --> 00:16:39,320 God is still the one in control who still loves you 314 00:16:39,320 --> 00:16:42,440 and still wants your best in the midst of it. 315 00:16:42,440 --> 00:16:45,640 So may we be willing to endure that storm 316 00:16:45,640 --> 00:16:48,280 and to let God show us what He's doing 317 00:16:48,280 --> 00:16:52,360 instead of assuming worst of our loving God. 318 00:16:52,360 --> 00:17:05,880 Amen.