ANNOUNCER: THIS PROGRAM HAS BEEN MADE POSSIBLE BY
THE FRIENDS AND PARTNERS OF JOYCE MEYER MINISTRIES.
[MUSIC]
JOYCE: WE'VE HAD A GOOD START.
LAST NIGHT WE TALKED ABOUT DEALING WITH DOUBT.
THIS MORNING WE TALKED ABOUT A LOT OF FOUNDATIONAL AND BASIC
THINGS ABOUT TRUSTING GOD, ESPECIALLY IN OUR CHALLENGES IN
LIFE AND NOT SPENDING ALL OF OUR TIME TRYING TO FIGURE
THINGS OUT.
AND SO, THIS AFTERNOON, I WANT TO GET INTO SOME OF THE REASONS
WHY WE SUFFER, ALTHOUGH WE CANNOT ALWAYS FIGURE IT OUT,
THERE ARE SOME THINGS THAT WE CAN LEARN.
BUT FIRST I WANNA SAY THAT YOU'RE NEVER GONNA TRUST ANYBODY
IF YOU DON'T BELIEVE THAT THEY'RE TRUSTWORTHY.
AND SO, IN ORDER TO TRUST GOD, WE NEED TO KNOW MORE ABOUT
GOD'S CHARACTER.
STUDYING THE CHARACTER OF GOD IS A VERY GOOD THING TO DO AND IT'S
ACTUALLY SOMETHING THAT I REALLY LOVE TO PREACH ON.
ONE OF THE MAIN THINGS ABOUT GOD IS THAT GOD IS GOOD.
YOU KNOW, IF YOU CAN'T FIGURE ANYTHING ELSE OUT, THE DEVIL'S
BAD AND GOD IS GOOD, AMEN?
WE CAN DO THAT.
AND GOD SAID, "I SET BEFORE YOU LIFE AND DEATH, GOOD AND EVIL,
CHOOSE LIFE THAT YOU AND YOUR DESCENDANTS MIGHT LIVE."
NOW, GOD IS, OF COURSE, SOVEREIGN AND HE CAN DO ANYTHING
HE WANTS TO ANYTIME HE WANTS TO BUT WHEN GOD GAVE MAN FREE
CHOICE, HE OPENED UP THE DOOR FOR SIN TO COME INTO THE WORLD
THROUGH MAKING WRONG CHOICES.
GOD DID NOT WANT A BUNCH OF ROBOTS THAT LOVED HIM AND OBEYED
HIM BECAUSE THEY HAD TO, HE WANTED US TO MAKE RIGHT CHOICES.
AND SO, WE WANT TO GET INTO THE QUESTION THIS AFTERNOON THAT SO
MANY PEOPLE HAVE AND ESPECIALLY PEOPLE THAT MAYBE ARE ON THE
FRINGE, THEY'RE KIND OF LOOKING FOR A REASON NOT TO BELIEVE IN
GOD, THEY'RE LOOKING FOR A REASON NOT TO SERVE GOD,
BUT ALSO THIS CAN GET INTO THE HEARTS AND MINDS OF BELIEVERS
AND THAT IS, "WELL, IF GOD IS GOOD AND HE CAN BE TRUSTED, THEN
WHY DO WE HAVE SO MUCH SUFFERING IN THE WORLD TODAY?
WHY DO BAD THINGS HAPPEN TO GOOD GODLY PEOPLE?
JOYCE, DOES GOD CAUSE SUFFERING?"
I GET ASKED THESE QUESTIONS.
"WELL, IF HE DOESN'T CAUSE IT, DOES HE ALLOW IT?
IF HE'S SOVEREIGN AND HE CAN DO ANYTHING, THEN WHY DOESN'T HE
STOP CHILD ABUSE, AND DISEASE, AND WORLD HUNGER,
AND THINGS LIKE THAT?
WHY DO LITTLE CHILDREN SUFFER WITH CANCER?
WHY DO THE GOOD SOMETIMES DIE YOUNG WHILE MEAN PEOPLE LIVE
TO BE OLD?
WHY DID I LOSE MY JOB AND ALL MY RETIREMENT?
WHY DID MY CHILD DIE WHEN I WAS PRAYING FOR THEM TO BE HEALED?"
YOU KNOW, "WHY" CAN ALMOST DRIVE A PERSON TO INSANITY IF THEY
CAN'T COME TO TERMS WITH IT.
AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE TRIED TO MAKE VERY CLEAR THIS
MORNING IS WE NEED TO GET COMFORTABLE NOT KNOWING.
AND IF YOU WEREN'T HERE THIS MORNING, I WANT TO MAKE SURE
THAT YOU GET TO HEAR THAT AND EVEN IF YOU WERE HERE,
I WANT YOU TO HEAR IT AGAIN.
WE NEED TO GET COMFORTABLE NOT KNOWING BECAUSE THAT'S PART OF
SERVING GOD IS EVEN WHEN WE DON'T KNOW, HE DOES
AND THERE'S--IF WE HAVE ALL THE ANSWERS, THERE'S NO REASON TO
TRUST GOD, YOU UNDERSTAND THAT?
IF WE HAVE ALL THE ANSWERS--WELL, THE ONE THING
THAT MAKES GOD GOD IS WE DON'T KNOW WHAT HE KNOWS.
IF WE EVER KNEW AS MUCH AS HE DID, THEN WE WOULDN'T NEED HIM,
WE'D HAVE IT ALL FIGURED OUT.
SO, YOU'RE NEVER GONNA HAVE ALL THE ANSWERS.
YOU'RE ALWAYS GONNA HAVE UNANSWERED QUESTIONS, AND THERE
WILL BE THINGS HAPPEN IN YOUR LIFE AND TO OTHER PEOPLE THAT
YOU JUST CANNOT WRAP YOUR BRAIN AROUND AND YOU'RE GONNA HAVE TO
GET COMFORTABLE SAYING, "WELL, GOD, I DON'T KNOW THE ANSWER BUT
I TRUST YOU AND I TRUST THAT IF AND WHEN I NEED THAT ANSWER THAT
YOU'LL GIVE IT TO ME."
SO, IF I TRY TO ANSWER THESE QUESTIONS AND OTHERS LIKE IT, IF
YOU WERE TO COME TO ME AND ASK ME ALL THOSE QUESTIONS, HERE'S
WHAT I WOULD HAVE TO SAY TO YOU, I DON'T KNOW.
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: AND I THINK ONE OF THE BIGGEST MISTAKES THAT TEACHERS
AND PREACHERS MAKE IS TRYING TO ANSWER QUESTIONS THAT THEY
REALLY DON'T KNOW THE ANSWER TO BECAUSE THEY THINK THEY GOTTA
SOUND SMART.
AND TO TELL YOU THE TRUTH, I DON'T HAVE THE ANSWER TO
ALL THESE THINGS.
I MEAN, THERE'S SOME ANSWERS THAT I CAN GIVE AND I AM GONNA
GIVE YOU SOME REASONS THIS AFTERNOON WHY PEOPLE SUFFER.
IF THERE ARE THINGS THAT WE CAN DO ABOUT IT, THEN WE SHOULD
DO IT.
WE CAN LEARN FROM OUR MISTAKES AND MAKE SOME CHANGES, BUT I
DON'T HAVE ALL THOSE ANSWERS.
BUT I'LL TELL YA WHAT I DO KNOW, I DO KNOW THAT I KNOW THAT
I KNOW THAT GOD IS GOOD, I KNOW THAT.
AND JUST BECAUSE BAD THINGS HAPPEN, THAT CERTAINLY IS NOT AN
INVITATION FOR US TO BLAME GOD.
THE REASON WHY BAD THINGS HAPPEN IS BECAUSE OF SIN IN THE WORLD.
IT'S NOT NECESSARILY OUR OWN PERSONAL SIN, IT CAN BE.
TO BE HONEST, SOMETIMES WE HAVE TROUBLE IN OUR LIFE JUST BECAUSE
WE DO STUPID STUFF.
CAN ANYBODY JUST AGREE WITH ME ON THAT?
I MEAN, SOMETIMES WE JUST--I MEAN, HOW MUCH BETTER WOULD LIFE
BE, FOR EXAMPLE, IF WE JUST FOLLOWED PEACE?
"I SET BEFORE YOU LIFE AND DEATH, CHOOSE LIFE THAT YOU AND
YOUR DESCENDANTS MIGHT LIVE."
HOW MANY TIMES DO WE MAKE BAD CHOICES AND THEN WHEN WE GET
OURSELVES IN TROUBLE, WE WANT GOD TO GET US OUT OF IT AND THEN
IF HE DOESN'T, WE'RE GETTING MAD AT HIM AND IF WE BACKTRACK,
HE DIDN'T DO WHAT HE TOLD US TO TO START WITH.
NOW, THAT DOESN'T MEAN THAT WE LOSE OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD.
THAT DOESN'T EVEN NECESSARILY MEAN THAT HE'S MAD AT US, BUT WE
DO HAVE A TAKE A FRESH LOOK TODAY AT WHAT THE BIBLE SAYS
ABOUT, "IF YOU SOWED TO THE FLESH, YOU'LL REAP FROM
THE FLESH, RUIN, DECAY, AND DESTRUCTION.
IF YOU SOW TO THE SPIRIT, YOU'LL REAP FROM THE SPIRIT, LIFE,
AND LIFE ETERNAL."
YOU SEE, GOD LOVES US AND THAT IS NOT BASED ON ANYTHING WE DO
OR DON'T DO.
AND WHEN WE GET OURSELVES IN TROUBLE, IT HURTS GOD MORE THAN
IT EVEN HURTS US.
LET ME TELL YA SOMETHING, IF YOU HAVE A CHILD THAT'S IN TROUBLE,
I HEARD AN INTERESTING STATEMENT AND I BELIEVE IT, A MOTHER IS
NEVER ANY HAPPIER THAN HER MOST UNHAPPY CHILD.
LET ME TELL YA, WHEN YOUR KIDS ARE HURTING, YOU WOULD RATHER
TAKE IT ON YOURSELF THAN TO WATCH THEM GO THROUGH THE THINGS
THAT THEY GO THROUGH AND ESPECIALLY IF IT'S BECAUSE OF
THEIR OWN BAD CHOICES.
YOU'RE JUST LIKE, "I JUST WANNA OPEN UP YOUR HEAD AND CRAM
THE TRUTH IN YOU AND I DON'T KNOW WHY YOU JUST WON'T LISTEN."
BUT SOMETIMES WE JUST HAVE TO STAND BACK AND LET THEM FIND OUT
FOR THEMSELVES AND SOMETIMES THAT'S WHAT GOD HAS TO DO
WITH US.
HE TELLS US WHAT TO DO, IF WE DON'T DO IT, HE STILL LOVES US,
BUT THERE IS A PRINCIPLE AT WORK IN THE EARTH FROM GENESIS ALL
THE WAY THROUGH TO THE END OF TIME AND THAT IS THAT IF YOU SOW
A GOOD SEED, YOU'RE GONNA GET A GOOD RESULT AND IF YOU SOW
A BAD SEED, YOU'RE GONNA GET A BAD RESULT.
SO YES, SOME OF OUR PROBLEMS ARE THE RESULT OF OUR OWN SIN BUT
WHEN I HAVE TROUBLE, WHEN I HAVE PROBLEMS IN MY LIFE, I'VE GOT
A GOOD ENOUGH RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD THAT I CAN GO TO HIM AND
SAY, "IS THERE SOMETHING I DID THAT OPENED THE DOOR FOR THIS?"
BECAUSE I WANNA LEARN.
IF I'M--YOU KNOW, SOMETIMES, SOMETIMES I CAN ACT DUMB AND I
DON'T KNOW THAT I'M ACTING DUMB.
SOMETIMES, I'VE DONE SOMETHING THAT, YOU KNOW, GOD NEEDS TO
SHOW ME BECAUSE TO BE HONEST, SOMETIMES WE DO THINGS
AND WE DO THEM SO QUICK THAT WE DON'T EVEN REALLY REALIZE THAT
WE DID THEM.
ONE NIGHT I WAS HAVING A REAL HARD TIME SLEEPING AND I WISH
I WOULD HAVE ASKED GOD THIS QUESTION SOONER BUT I WAITED
TILL 5 A.M.
AFTER TOSSING AND TURNING ALL NIGHT.
"GOD, WHAT'S WRONG?" AND I MEAN JUST LIKE THAT HE
SHOWED ME SOMEBODY THAT I WAS RUDE TO THE DAY BEFORE AND I
JUST--THAT HAPPENED SO QUICK AND I JUST GLOSSED OVER IT SO FAST,
DIDN'T EVEN REMEMBER THAT I DID IT.
AND IT REALLY WAS SOMETHING I NEEDED TO GO AND APOLOGIZE TO
THAT PERSON FOR AND THAT WASN'T GONNA HAPPEN IF GOD DIDN'T
REVEAL TO ME WHAT I HAD DONE.
AND SO, IN HIS GOODNESS--EVERYBODY SAY,
"GOODNESS."
AUDIENCE: GOODNESS.
JOYCE: IN HIS GOODNESS, HE WAS DISTURBING MY SLEEP
UNTIL I GOT SMART ENOUGH TO SAY,
"WHAT'S GOING ON HERE?" AND HE SHOWED ME, NOT TO MAKE ME
FEEL BAD BUT SO I COULD GO AND TAKE CARE OF IT.
SO, IT'S SMART SOMETIMES TO JUST SAY, "GOD, DID I OPEN A DOOR
HERE?
IS THERE SOMETHING THAT I'VE DONE THAT YOU NEED TO SHOW ME?"
IF HE DOESN'T SHOW YOU ANYTHING, THEN DON'T GO ON A DIGGING
EXPEDITION TRYING TO FIND OUT WHAT YOUR SIN WAS THAT CAUSED
YOU TO HAVE PROBLEMS IN YOUR LIFE.
CAN YOU HEAR ME TODAY?
THAT IS THE WORST THING IN THE WORLD TO DO.
"WELL, GOD MUST BE PUNISHING ME OR I MUST'VE DONE SOMETHING
WRONG."
YOU KNOW WHAT?
GOD WILL LET YOU KNOW IF THERE'S SOMETHING YOU NEED TO SEE AND IF
HE DOESN'T SHOW YOU, THEN YOU DON'T NEED TO TRY TO FIGURE IT
OUT?
CAN ANYBODY SAY, "AMEN"?
AND SO, SOMETIMES OUR OWN SIN CAUSES OUR PROBLEMS.
MANY TIMES, THE SIN OF OTHER PEOPLE CAUSES US PAIN
AND UNHAPPINESS.
IT WAS NOT MY SIN THAT CAUSED MY FATHER TO SEXUALLY ABUSE ME,
IT WAS HIS SIN AND I JUST WAS THERE AND GOT HURT BY IT.
IT WAS MY MOTHER'S PASSIVITY AND HER REFUSING TO DO HER DUTY AND
DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT THAT CAUSED MY PAIN.
AND YES, THAT'S UNJUST AND YES, THAT'S UNFAIR BUT HERE'S THE
GOOD NEWS, ONCE A PERSON IS OLD ENOUGH TO START MAKING THEIR OWN
CHOICES--MY FATHER'S BAD CHOICES HURT ME AND I WISH THAT GOD
WOULD HAVE GOT ME OUT OF IT, BUT HE DIDN'T, HOWEVER, AS SOON AS I
WAS OLD ENOUGH TO START MAKING MY OWN CHOICES,
EVERY GOOD CHOICE THAT I MADE STARTED REVERSING
THE RESULTS OF EVERY BAD CHOICE THAT HE MADE.
DID YOU HEAR ME?
SO, INSTEAD OF SPENDING THE REST OF YOUR LIFE BEING MAD AND
BITTER BECAUSE SOMEBODY DIDN'T TREAT YOU RIGHT AND SPENDING ALL
YOUR LIFE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHY, WHY DON'T YOU JUST LEAVE
ALL THAT WITH GOD AND TRUST HIM TO DO SOMETHING ELSE THAT I KNOW
THAT HE DOES AND THAT IS HE WORKS GOOD OUT OF ANYTHING IN
OUR LIFE, NO MATTER HOW BAD IT WAS, IF WE TRUST HIM TO DO IT.
SO, TWO THINGS I KNOW ABOUT GOD, GOD IS GOOD, THE DEVIL'S BAD,
GOD IS GOOD.
AND NO MATTER WHAT HAPPENS IN OUR LIFE, IF WE TRUST GOD, HE
WILL TAKE IT AND WORK SOMETHING GOOD OUT OF IT FOR OUR BENEFIT.
IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE GOOD FOR GOD TO GET GOOD OUT OF IT, AMEN?
AND SO, MY DAD HURT ME, JUST LIKE MANY OF YOU HAVE BEEN HURT,
MANY OF YOU'VE BEEN MISTREATED AND CHANCES ARE YOU MAY BE
AGAIN.
YOU KNOW, WE'RE IN THE WORLD AND THERE'S A LOT OF MEAN PEOPLE OUT
THERE THAT ARE VERY SELFISH AND SELF-CENTERED.
AND TO BE HONEST, WE HURT OTHER PEOPLE TOO SOMETIMES AND WE
DON'T EVEN KNOW THAT WE DID IT OR IT'S MAYBE ON A DAY WHEN WE
REALLY JUST DON'T CARE ALL THAT MUCH BECAUSE WE'RE GOING THROUGH
SOMETHING OURSELF AND WE'RE NOT BEING SENSITIVE TO THE WAY OTHER
PEOPLE FEEL.
AND SO, EVERYTHING DOESN'T ALWAYS GO THE WAY THAT WE WANT
IT TO GO IN OUR LIFE BUT THAT DOESN'T MAKE GOD BAD.
SO, WE CAN SUFFER BECAUSE OF OUR OWN SIN.
WE CAN SUFFER BECAUSE OF SOMEBODY ELSE'S SIN, OR A LOT OF
TIMES, AND THIS IS JUST A LOT OF IT, WE JUST SUFFER BECAUSE OF
THE SIN PRINCIPLE THAT'S IN THE WORLD.
I MEAN, THEY'RE JUST--I DON'T EVEN THINK THAT WE CAN IMAGINE
THE DIFFERENCE THERE WILL BE IN THE ATMOSPHERE OF HEAVEN
COMPARED TO THE ATMOSPHERE THAT WE LIVE IN HERE.
I DON'T THINK WE EVEN UNDERSTAND THE PRESSURE THAT WE'RE UNDER
AND THE OPPRESSION THAT'S AROUND US.
LET ME TELL YA SOMETHING, IF YOU WORK IN SOME WORLDLY PROFESSION
AND YOU WORK WITH A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT ARE UNBELIEVERS AND
A LOT OF GOSSIP, AND A LOT OF CRITICISM, A LOT OF COMPLAINING,
AND MURMURING, AND GRUMBLING, AND FAULT FINDING AND, YOU KNOW,
A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE OUT DRUNK THE NIGHT BEFORE, NOW THEY'RE AT
WORK AND THEY'RE MAD, COULDN'T GET ANY SLEEP, SO ON AND SO
FORTH, IF YOU WORKED THERE FOR 5 YEARS AND YOU CAME TO WORK FOR
ME, I MEAN, ONE OF THE THINGS I TELL OUR EMPLOYEES, AND THEY ALL
RECOGNIZE THIS, JUST THE ATMOSPHERE BECAUSE EVERY PLACE
YOU WORK, THERE'S A CULTURE.
AND SO, WE HAVE BUILT A CULTURE IN THE JOYCE MEYER MINISTRY OF
BEING POSITIVE, AND BEING ABLE TO TRUST EACH OTHER, AND HAPPY
PEOPLE, AND WE DON'T PUT UP WITH STRIFE.
IF YOU'RE GONNA WORK FOR ME, AND YOU'RE GONNA CAUSE STRIFE,
YOU'RE NOT GONNA WORK THERE VERY LONG BECAUSE YOU CANNOT HAVE
STRIFE AND ALSO HAVE SUCCESS, AMEN?
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT PASTOR MIKE SHEPARD DOES IS
HE DOES ROTATING TEACHINGS IN THE DEPARTMENTS ON OUR
CORE VALUES AT JOYCE MEYER MINISTRIES,
WHICH IS IF YOU'RE GONNA DO IT, DO IT RIGHT OR DON'T DO IT AT
ALL, BE AN EXCELLENT PERSON BECAUSE GOD IS EXCELLENT,
BE A PERSON OF INTEGRITY, KEEP YOUR WORD, DO WHAT
YOU SAY YOU'RE GONNA DO, USE WISDOM WITH GOD'S MONEY.
THE MONEY THAT HE GIVES US, WE DON'T WASTE IT, WE USE WISDOM
WITH IT, AND WE KEEP THE STRIFE OUT OF OUR PERSONAL LIVES,
AND WE KEEP THE STRIFE OUT OF THE MINISTRY.
THERE IS NO BASIS FOR ME TO ASK GOD TO BLESS MY MINISTRY IF I'M
NOT GONNA DO THOSE BASIC THINGS THAT HE ASKS US TO DO.
LET ME TELL YA SOMETHING, SO MANY HOMES ARE FULL OF STRIFE.
I MEAN, YOU CAN COME TO CHURCH AND PUT A SMILE ON YOUR FACE,
GET YOUR CHURCH FACE OUT WHEN YOU HIT THE PARKING LOT, "PRAISE
THE LORD, THANK YOU, JESUS, GLORY TO GOD, WE'RE SO HAPPY,
YAPPY, YAPPY HAPPY," AND GET IN THE CAR AND FIGHT ALL THE WAY
BACK HOME.
WELL, THAT'S--YOU KNOW--
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: COME ON, I KNOW, DAVE AND I USED TO DO IT.
WE DID IT FOR YEARS.
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: FIGHT ALL THE WAY TO CHURCH.
I MEAN, I CAN REMEMBER STANDING IN THE--RIGHT DOWN HERE WHERE
PASTOR CHARLES IS SITTING, THAT WAS MY SEAT AT THE CHURCH THAT
I WENT TO YEARS AGO.
AND I CAN REMEMBER HAVING MY HANDS LIFTED UP, MOUTHING THE
WORDS ON THE OVERHEAD THINKING, IF DAVE THINKS I'M COOKING HIM
ANYTHING TO EAT TODAY, HE'S GOT ANOTHER THING COMING.
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: [SINGING]
♪ I BRING THE SACRIFICE ♪ ♪ OF PRAISE INTO ♪
♪ THE HOUSE OF THE LORD ♪ ♪ BOOP, BOOP, BOOP ♪♪
COME ON, HOW MANY OF YOU KNOW THAT SONG, YOU KNOW?
"NOW, GO AND HUG SOMEBODY AND TELL THEM YOU LOVE THEM WITH
THE LOVE OF THE LORD."
AND I'M THINKING, IF WE GO HOME AND HE TURNS THAT STUPID
FOOTBALL GAME ON ONE MORE TIME, ONE MORE SUNDAY, THERE'S GONNA
BE TROUBLE IN THE HOUSE.
SO, I MEAN THAT'S JUST A BUNCH OF PHONY BOLOGNA RELIGION.
IT'S NOT--I MEAN, ALL WE'RE DOING IS THROWING THE DOOR WIDE
OPEN TO THE ENEMY AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
AND SO, THERE'S JUST OUR OWN SIN, THERE'S THE SIN OF OTHER
PEOPLE, THERE'S JUST THE SIN PRINCIPLE IN THE WORLD.
AND SO, WE JUST--WE DON'T EVEN BEGIN TO REALIZE--I MEAN, I JUST
CAN'T--I MEAN, I DON'T WANNA LEAVE BEFORE MY TIME BUT I CAN'T
WAIT TO GET TO HEAVEN AND JUST SEE HOW WONDERFUL IT'S GONNA BE
TO NOT HURT ANYWHERE, AMEN, NOWHERE.
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: I WALK 5 MILES A DAY AND THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS
THAT HELPS ME STAY STRONG.
AND MY DAUGHTER CAME OVER TO WALK WITH ME A COUPLE OF WEEKS
AGO ON A SUNDAY AND SOMETHING WAS BOTHERING HER, SOMETHING WAS
HURTING HER.
AND SHE SAID, "HOW ARE YOU TODAY?"
YOU KNOW, 'CAUSE I'VE IN THE LAST 3 YEARS, I'VE HAD BOTH
HIPS REPLACED.
YOU KNOW, IT'S SO GREAT TODAY, IF YOU WEAR SOMETHING OUT, YOU
CAN JUST GET A REPLACEMENT PART. I MEAN, THEY JUST--
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: MAN, THEY CAN REPLACE EVERYTHING TODAY.
I MEAN, YOU CAN GET YOUR SHOULDER REPLACED, YOUR ANKLE
REPLACED, YOU KNEES REPLACED, MAN.
YOU CAN GET HEART TRANSPLANTS.
IT'S JUST PRETTY COOL, YOU KNOW, YOU JUST--HOWEVER WHEN OUR
TIME'S UP, THERE'S NOTHING WE CAN DO ABOUT IT.
BUT ANYWAY, SO, YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN, I'VE HAD BACK PROBLEMS
DIFFERENT TIMES IN MY LIFE, SO ON AND SO FORTH.
SO, YOU KNOW, YADA, YADA, THAT'S JUST PART OF LIFE.
AND SO, SOMETHING WAS HURTING HER AND SHE MENTIONED IT AND SHE
SAID, "HOW ARE YOU TODAY?
IS EVERYTHING OKAY?" I SAID, "OH, I DON'T KNOW.
YOU KNOW, IT'S ALWAYS SOMETHING, ONE THING OR ANOTHER.
I DON'T PAY ANY ATTENTION TO IT, I JUST KEEP ON GOING."
AND SO, WE DON'T EVEN KNOW WHAT IT'S GONNA BE LIKE TO HAVE
A GLORIFIED BODY AND TO NOT HAVE ANYTHING THAT HURTS, OR ANYTHING
THAT BOTHERS US, AND TO BE IN AN ATMOSPHERE OF TOTAL
AND COMPLETE LOVE AND TRUST.
SO, LET ME TELL YA SOMETHING, IT'S A LITTLE HARDER TO LIVE IN
THIS WORLD AND BE HAPPY THAN WHAT WE MIGHT THINK IT IS
SOMETIMES JUST BECAUSE OF ALL THE JUNK GOING ON AROUND US.
CAN ANYBODY SAY "AMEN" TO THAT?
I MEAN, IF YOU WATCH TELEVISION TODAY, YOU BETTER DO IT WITH
A REMOTE CONTROL IN YOUR HAND SO YOU CAN FAST FORWARD PAST ALL
THE STUFF THAT YOU DON'T WANT TO POISON YOUR SOUL.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR GOOD RESPONSE.
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: SO, THERE'S A LOT OF DIFFERENT REASONS WHY THINGS
HAPPEN TO US AND WE CAN ASK GOD FOR SOME EXPLANATION FOR SOME
THINGS BUT WE'RE NOT EVER GONNA GET THE ANSWER TO ALL
THOSE THINGS SO--.
SAY, "GOD IS GOOD.
THE DEVIL'S BAD, AND GOD WORKS GOOD OUT OF ANYTHING
IF WE TRUST HIM."
HOW MANY OF YOU BELIEVE THAT AND YOU'VE EXPERIENCED THAT
IN YOUR LIFE?
MAN, I'VE SEEN THAT OVER AND OVER AND OVER AND OVER.
OKAY, LET'S TALK ABOUT SOME REASONS WHY WE SUFFER.
HOW MANY OF YOU WANT TO AT LEAST ELIMINATE SOME OF THE THINGS
IF YOU CAN, AMEN?
1 THESSALONIANS 5:18, "THANK [GOD] IN EVERYTHING," WOW, "[NO
MATTER WHAT THE CIRCUMSTANCES MIGHT BE, BE THANKFUL AND GIVE
THANKS], FOR THIS IS THE WILL OF GOD FOR YOU [WHO ARE] IN
CHRIST JESUS [THE REVEALER AND MEDIATOR OF THAT WILL]."
YOU KNOW, BEING THANKFUL FOR WHAT WE DO HAVE REALLY HELPS US
GET THROUGH THE TIMES WHEN WE DON'T HAVE WHAT WE'D LIKE
TO HAVE.
I'M GONNA SAY IT AGAIN, BEING THANKFUL FOR WHAT WE DO HAVE
HELPS US MAKE IT THROUGH THE TIMES WHEN IT'S DIFFICULT
BECAUSE WE HAVE NEEDS THAT ARE NOT BEING MET YET.
OUR WORDS OF GRATITUDE--I WROTE THIS DOWN AND I COLORED IT IN
'CAUSE I SAID IT AND I LIKED IT.
OUR WORDS OF GRATITUDE IN THE FACE OF SUFFERING, ESPECIALLY
UNJUST SUFFERING, ARE A STRONGER PROOF OF OUR TRUST IN GOD MORE
THAN ANY OTHER THING THAT I KNOW OF.
WHEN YOU'RE GOING THROUGH SOMETHING UNJUST, UNFAIR,
UNKIND, IT'S JUST NOT RIGHT, AND YOU CAN STILL THANK GOD ON THOSE
DAYS AND REALLY MEAN IT, THAT'S A VERY STRONG PROOF THAT YOU
HAVE YOUR TRUST IN GOD.
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: PSALM 103:20 SAYS THAT ANGELS HEARKEN TO THE WORD
OF GOD, THEY DON'T HEARKEN TO OUR COMPLAINING.
YOU'VE GOT A LOT OF ANGELS THAT YOU COULD PUT TO WORK IN YOUR
LIFE BY JUST COMPLAINING A LOT LESS AND GIVING A LOT MORE
THANKS.
WE'RE ALL SO MUCH MORE BLESSED THAN WHAT WE THINK THAT WE ARE
MANY TIMES, AMEN.
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: IT WAS NEVER GOD'S INTENT FOR PEOPLE TO SUFFER.
WHEN HE PUT ADAM AND EVE IN THE GARDEN,
HE HAD GREAT PLANS FOR NOTHING BUT THEIR JOY AND GOOD DAYS.
IT WASN'T GOD THAT MESSED IT UP.
IT WAS PEOPLE THAT MESSED IT UP.
WE'VE GOT TO QUIT BLAMING GOD FOR THINGS THAT HE'S NOT
RESPONSIBLE FOR.
DON'T EVER SAY WHEN YOU HAVE A PROBLEM,
"WELL GOD, DON'T YOU LOVE ME?" DON'T EVER SAY THAT.
IN ROMANS 8 IT SAYS, "DON'T LET ANYTHING SEPARATE YOU FROM
THE LOVE OF GOD THAT IS FOUND IN CHRIST JESUS, NOT TROUBLE,
OR TRIALS, OR SEEMINGLY UNFAIR THINGS."
DON'T EVER SAY, "WELL GOD, DON'T YOU LOVE ME?"
THE VERY FACT THAT HE SENT JESUS TO DIE FOR YOUR SINS IS PROOF
ENOUGH THAT HE LOVES YOU TO LAST US A WHOLE ENTIRE LIFETIME.
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: AND I KNOW THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE, ESPECIALLY
WATCHING BY TV, AND MAYBE YOU DON'T KNOW AS MUCH ABOUT
THE BIBLE AS SOME OF THE PEOPLE IN THIS ROOM.
AND TO BE HONEST, WE'RE GLAD TO BE HERE TO PREACH TO THEM AND
THEM BEING HERE IS IMPORTANT, BUT YOU ARE ALSO IMPORTANT.
AND ONE OF THE MAIN REASONS WHY I'M DOING THIS IS BECAUSE OF ALL
THE NUMBERS OF PEOPLE THAT WE CAN REACH TODAY THROUGH
THE MEDIA.
AND I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT IRREGARDLESS OF WHAT YOU'RE
GOING THROUGH, GOD SEES YOU, HE KNOWS YOU, HE CARES ABOUT YOU.
HE'S GOT A GOOD PLAN FOR YOUR LIFE, AND GOD IS NOT THE SOURCE
OF YOUR PROBLEMS.
THE THIEF, SATAN, ONLY COMES TO KILL, STEAL, AND DESTROY.
BUT JESUS SAID, "I CAME THAT YOU MIGHT HAVE AND ENJOY YOUR LIFE
AND HAVE IT IN ABUNDANCE TO THE FULL UNTIL IT OVERFLOWS."
AND GOD WILL HELP YOU IF YOU WILL LET HIM.
JOYCE: WELL, YOU KNOW, SOMETIMES WE PANIC WHEN WE GET
A STORM THAT WAS NOT IN THE FORECAST, AND THEY'RE NOT
ALL IN THE FORECAST.
BUT YOU KNOW WHAT?
THERE'S NO PANIC IN HEAVEN.
GOD HAS A PERFECT PLAN FOR US, NO MATTER HOW BAD IT MIGHT SEEM.
AND WHAT WE NEED TO DO IS TRUST HIM WITH OUR LIVES.
AND JUST BE BOLD ENOUGH TO PRAY THIS, "GOD, I DON'T KNOW THE
ANSWERS, BUT I TRUST YOU AND I TRUST THAT IF AND WHEN I NEED
THE ANSWER, YOU WILL GIVE THEM TO ME IN YOUR TIMING."
TODAY, WE'RE OFFERING YOU LOTS OF TEACHING ON
"UNSHAKABLE TRUST."
YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU TRUST GOD, YOU CAN BE HAPPY
IN ANY SITUATION.
YOU DON'T EVEN HAVE TO KNOW HOW THE PROBLEMS GONNA BE WORKED
OUT, YOU JUST KNOW THAT IT WILL BE.
SO TODAY, WE'RE OFFERING YOU THIS ACTION PLAN.
IT INCLUDES SIX TEACHINGS ON CD AND DVD AND EACH ONE OF THOSE
ARE GONNA BE ABOUT AN HOUR LONG, SO THAT'S SIX HOURS OF TEACHING,
A PERSONAL STUDY GUIDE, AND ALSO SOME REFERENCE CARDS THAT
I THINK YOU'RE GONNA LIKE.
WHAT I MEAN IS THEY'RE PRAYERS OR SAYINGS ABOUT FEAR OR
TRUSTING GOD THAT YOU CAN PUT UP AROUND YOUR HOUSE SOMEWHERE.
LIKE THIS ONE SAYS ONE OF THE MOST POWERFUL THINGS YOU CAN DO
WHEN YOU'RE HURTING IS REACH OUT AND HELP SOMEONE ELSE.
YOU KNOW, IF YOU'RE HURTING REALLY BAD, GOING THROUGH
SOMETHING, YOU'D BE SURPRISED HOW MUCH BETTER IT'D MAKE YOU
FEEL JUST TO PICK YOUR PHONE UP AND CALL SOMEBODY ELSE YOU KNOW,
AND PRAY WITH THEM, OR ASK THEM HOW THEY'RE DOING, OR JUST GIVE
THEM A WORD OF ENCOURAGEMENT.
THIS ONE SAYS, "GOD IS GOOD," JUST "GOD IS GOOD."
"EVERY GOOD GIFT COMES FROM ABOVE, COMING DOWN FROM THE
FATHER OF LIGHTS IN WHOM THERE'S NO VARIATION AND NO SHADOW
DUE TO CHANGE."
WE NEED TO REMEMBER THE DEVIL'S BAD, AND GOD IS GOOD.
SO, I REALLY THINK THIS OFFER IS GONNA BE A BLESSING TO YOU.
AND I WANT TO ENCOURAGE YOU ONCE AGAIN TO GET YOURS.
DON'T DELAY.
THE THINGS WE PUT OFF WE VERY OFTEN NEVER GET AROUND TO DOING.
I WANT YOU TO HAVE A REALLY GREAT DAY.
GOD LOVES YOU SO MUCH, AND HE'S GOT A GOOD PLAN FOR YOUR LIFE.
AND I CAN TELL YOU, WHATEVER YOU'RE GOING THROUGH RIGHT NOW,
IT WILL GET BETTER.
GOD BLESS YOU.
ANNOUNCER: WHETHER WE DECIDE TO JUST HANG ON THROUGHOUT OUR
JOURNEY OR GO ALL IN AND TRUST THE ONE WHO'S LEADING US, THEY
BOTH NEED OUR FULL COMMITMENT.
JOYCE: YOU KNOW, WE ALL WANT TO TRUST GOD, BUT EVERY ONE OF
US, AT SOME TIME OR ANOTHER, HAVE A HARD TIME DOING IT.
ANNOUNCER: REGARDLESS OF YOUR CURRENT SITUATION, GOD WANTS TO
HELP YOU TRUST HIM WITH ALL YOUR HEART.
"UNSHAKABLE TRUST," WITH THIS NEW ACTION PLAN,
YOU WILL GET SIX TEACHINGS ON CD AND DVD,
THIS PERSONAL STUDY GUIDE WITH JOURNAL EXERCISES AND PRACTICAL
STEPS FOR DEEPER STUDY.
ALSO, THESE QUICK REFERENCE CARDS TO HELP REMIND YOURSELF
THAT GOD IS WITH YOU IN EVERY SITUATION.
LEARN HOW TO FIND THE JOY OF TRUSTING GOD AT ALL TIMES
IN ALL THINGS.
GET THE "UNSHAKABLE TRUST" ACTION PLAN FOR A DONATION
OF...OR MORE.
GO ONLINE AT JOYCEMEYER.ORG AND DOWNLOAD THE PACKAGE
OR GET IT BY CALLING US AT...
ANNOUNCER: EXPERIENCE GOD IN A WHOLE NEW WAY AT
THE JOYCE MEYER CONFERENCE, THREE UNIQUE SESSIONS
WITH HEARTFELT WORSHIP AND PRACTICAL TEACHING TO HELP
YOU RELAX, REFRESH, AND RECHARGE YOUR LIFE.
COMING TO PHOENIX, ARIZONA, FEBRUARY 15 AND 16 WITH WORSHIP
BY DREAM CITY WORSHIP AND WINSTON SALEM, NORTH CAROLINA,
MARCH 15 AND 16 WITH WORSHIP BY MATT REDMAN.
FOR MORE INFORMATION, VISIT JOYCEMEYER.ORG OR CALL...
PAT: OH, WOW.
OH LITTLE BABY.
THIS LITTLE GUY'S SIX MONTHS OLD, LOOK AT HIM.
HE SHOULDN'T LOOK LIKE THIS.
WE SEE A STARVING CHILD AND WE KNOW WE NEED TO FEED HIM, BUT
WHAT'S THE ROOT CAUSE OF THAT?
AND THAT'S BECAUSE THE ROOT CAUSE IS THE MOTHER'S VERY SICK
AND THE MOTHER'S NOT ABLE TO PRODUCE THE MILK THAT THE CHILD
NEEDS.
AND SO, HOW DO WE FIX THAT?
WE TAKE THE MOTHER, GET HER MEDICAL TREATMENT.
WE WILL BE ABLE TO HELP THEM.
YOU'VE MADE IT POSSIBLE FOR US TO BE HERE AND BECAUSE OF THAT,
WE'RE GONNA BE ABLE TO SAVE THIS CHILD'S LIFE, I BELIEVE.
THERE'S NOT MUCH TIME, BUT WE CAN ACT AND WE CAN ACT TODAY AND
HELP THE MOM, AND WE'LL HELP THIS FAMILY BRING THIS CHILD
BACK TO LIFE AND YOU ARE ESSENTIAL.
YOU ARE ESSENTIAL TO MAKING THIS HAPPEN.
SO, GOD BLESS YOU AND THANK YOU.
ANNOUNCER: WE HOPE YOU ENJOYED TODAY'S PROGRAM.
FOR MORE INFORMATION, VISIT JOYCEMEYER.ORG.
THIS PROGRAM HAS BEEN MADE POSSIBLE BY
THE FRIENDS AND PARTNERS OF JOYCE MEYER MINISTRIES.
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