86. Winter Is Coming

In this episode, the crew talks about the changing seasons and how to navigate each

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SPEAKER_03 0:28

Hey there, and welcome to the Everyday Kingdom podcast. I'm Caleb and I'm here with Miriam and Raphael. And guys, today it's like 70 degrees outside.

SPEAKER_00 0:38

It's amazing.

SPEAKER_03 0:38

It feels so good. I'm getting to wear a hoodie today. Like yesterday was the autumnal equinox. And today it feels like fall.

SPEAKER_01 0:49

It really does.

SPEAKER_03 0:50

Glory to God.

SPEAKER_01 0:51

I was driving this morning with Ben in the car, and uh he was just like, roll down the windows. And I'm just like, yeah, roll down the windows.

SPEAKER_03 0:59

Come on, it's 70. Yeah. Uh man, it felt so good driving in because I got the kids to the bus and uh I was able to roll down the windows, and I thought, this is so refreshing. Like this is amazing.

SPEAKER_00 1:13

It's so cool that we celebrate it. I know that like that change of season, it's like, yes, here it comes.

SPEAKER_03 1:19

Right.

SPEAKER_00 1:19

I'm so ready for this.

SPEAKER_03 1:21

Right, right. And I like the irony oftentimes found in that where we can celebrate the coming out of summer into fall, like, yes, I'm so excited about this. And most people, when they're walking through a season of their own life and the seasons begin to change, instead of approaching it with the same kind of enthusiasm or joy or anticipation, they're like, uh oh.

SPEAKER_00 1:45

What is God trying to do? Where am I going to now? Yeah. He's trying to teach me. The leaves are falling. Right. The leaves are falling.

SPEAKER_02 1:51

The leaves are fine, the colors are changing. What is happening? You know, this is not what I'm used to. This is not what I expect. And I'm scared.

SPEAKER_00 1:59

And physically, every season has like a section that's hard. Like you know, or a thing about it that's well, for me, it's summer, you know, when it's super hot and I'm like, oh, this is miserable. Right. But you know, it's dry and there's not there's not rain. We're waiting for rain.

SPEAKER_02 2:13

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 2:14

You know, and then in the fall and spring where the the the atmosphere is unsettled, right? You can have really bad storms. Yeah, you know, and then in the winter, there's the darkness and all the snow. Cold. Like each one of the seas, but every time they start, we're like, this is amazing. Let's go.

SPEAKER_03 2:30

Finally, I've been waiting for summer to get here so I can go outside and play and swim and get in the pool. And then, oh, I've been waiting for fall to get here because summer's been so stinking hot. And oh, I've been waiting for winter to get here because of all this rain is gross. When are we gonna get some snow on the ground? This is gonna be so nice. And oh man, spring's finally here because winter, oh my gosh, this cold. I'm so tired of this cold.

SPEAKER_00 2:55

And it's gonna be cold like this forever.

SPEAKER_03 2:58

Right. Oh, summer's finally here. There's rain getting out of here. Goodness gracious, this is insane. You know, and there is, it's there's always it's it's in it's cool, like it's interesting to think if you think about it, because it's like, you know, you don't stay in one's at least at least where we are. Okay. Let's just we'll put that little you know, qualifier on it. Where we live, you experience all four seasons, and then sometimes you experience many seasons within those seasons as well. Like we would actually call what we're going through right now false fall because you have like two weeks of you know 60 to 70 degree weather, and you're like, yes, this is fall, and then all of a sudden it'll be back up in the 80s and 90s again for a couple more weeks, and then it'll drop back down to the 70s again. So we that's the typical for around this this region. But it's funny because you know, uh it it is it's so cyclical, and we know we can anticipate this is what's going to be happening, and sometimes it's something that we look forward to, sometimes it's not. Some people look forward to winter, others don't, you know. Uh Miriam is a is a the winter is coming, you know. I like the winter. She's like, Yes, I can't wait for the snow.

SPEAKER_00 4:03

And some of us like I can put on as many clothes as I need. There you go. You know, there's a chill in the air, and you walk outside, you feel alive. Right. Try to breathe, and it immediately freezes your lungs. You're like, yes.

SPEAKER_03 4:14

Hot chocolate and chili season is not bad. I like fireplaces. Fireplaces, yeah.

SPEAKER_01 4:21

Fireplaces, like all day long. Like you get out from the code, you come in and you have hot chocolate as well. Like, and there's fresh logs burning on the fire. Yeah. And you can feel that heat, and you're just like, oh, I was once cold, but now I'm hot.

SPEAKER_03 4:36

You know, like I like um I like sitting around a campfire in in the cool in the autumn, like in the where it's it's it's warm, it gets warm enough outside during the day. Um, it's not too hot, but it's just warm enough, and then at night it drops and it's nice and cool, and it feels really good to be around a campfire and you know, have some hot chocolate or something and you know, talk with your friends and just have a good time. Like I love that.

SPEAKER_01 5:01

Or if there's too much heat in your house, all you gotta do is open up a window.

SPEAKER_03 5:04

Open up the windows, yes, get a little breeze in there. It's so nice. But it's interesting like how much we can look forward to the different parts of each season, you know, with anticipation and knowing that, hey, there's a lot of really good things to look forward to in this. Um, even though, like you said, Miriam, there there might be some some negatives as well. You know, fall, it's like, okay, I so love the fall and I love the leaves changing the beauty of the colors. Um, but also there that means that in the atmosphere, it's it can it there's chances uh for some unrest and great storms. And and on top of that, the days get shorter. Yep, you know, and so I don't have as much daylight and time as I used to. So like they're with each season, you know, the winter time, the the snow is absolutely beautiful when everything is like just white covered, you know, it's so beautiful, but also it's really, really cold and can be super dangerous, you know, with the ice and with those types of things, but also can be the time where people have some of the most like the greatest memories with their families, going out and building snowmen and playing and sledding and and all that kind of fun stuff, and uh times around the campfire and and or the fireplace. Like each season carries within itself opportunities for great memories to be made, uh, and also uh maybe some potential uh dangers or challenges or things that are negative. And and what's cool is that we look at each season and while we're walking through our current season, most of the time we can have great anticipation and excitement for the next season uh that happens and not so much dread, uh, you know, like uh like like oftentimes I guess we see uh in reality of of our lives, like our lives parallel the seasons so much that they're cyclical and they change often. Um but what we have noticed, at least in our time of ministry, is that a lot of times people have an issue when seasons change. Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 6:58

Well, it's I was just sitting here thinking about that. I was like, because the at the change, you're almost like, okay, I'm coming out of this into a new season. There's the excitement there. And in retrospect, I can look back and think, oh, I really love swimming in the summer, or I really love being outside. I'm so ready for this next season. But like I can appreciate it from the the the from the back side of it or from the front side of I'm looking so like, okay, I'm using summer apparently. Like in spring, I'd be like, I'm so looking forward to finally getting the pool open, being able to swim and be outside and do things with my friends and have cookouts and all that. And then at the end of summer, oh, I'm so looking forward to fall. I'm discounting what was behind me, you know, or I'm looking back. But then in the middle of summer, when it's really, really hot, yeah, and I don't have time to get in the pool because I'm busy and my kids are doing all these outside activities where I have to sit outside in the hot sun, I just think about the um the trial of it and not enjoying that time that we get to spend together, you know, and I'm like, when is it gonna be cooler?

SPEAKER_02 8:01

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 8:01

When am I gonna get to the next? Right. But it's so interesting to me that we can you can look out, you can step outside yourself and looking ahead or looking behind, right? But when you're actually presently physically in the moment, you're not thinking, you're not enjoying it. Do you know what I'm saying? Like it's so easy to forget that the next is coming. Does that make any sense?

SPEAKER_03 8:23

I I I honestly I think that that like as far as a a key takeaway for how to navigate each season and each transitional piece of your life, I think that's one of the most critical things to remember is to learn how to be grateful in the moment. You know, um there's there's so many of us who will live from the lens of either forward or backwards. Like we're we're either we're looking to what is coming up next or we're looking at where we have come from, like and and and what we have gone through and and living as they say in the past. Right. You know, and and in doing so, when you do that, you you miss the present, you know, which some would say is the gift that you actually have. Right. You know, is the present. It's right now. And so you know, whether you are one who uh lives, you know, reminiscing for the good old days and what used to be, or whether you're one who uh is is like, okay, what's next? What's the next and latest and what's upcoming, you know, e whichever one you may have a tendency to lean towards. I I think the the key to navigating each season is to learn how to be grateful and to sit in the season that you're in. And to to to thank God for the season that you're in, you know, and and to learn how to walk and trust him in that exact season. You know, because not uh every season, you know, has benefits, it has drawbacks, right? You know, uh can you learn how to find the the beauty in each season? You know, because we could we could go and we could poll, you know, a hundred people and and I bet you'd have uh it'd be split, you know, whether um if you asked them what's your favorite season, you know, it'd be split some would say spring, some would say summer, some would say fall, some would say winter. And and and it's because each one of them has a different perspective on each season. And I think for for us as we're walking through life, like you can find beauty in every season that you're walking through. Even if the season that you're walking through feels like the scorching of summer. You know, everything's burned up around me. There it doesn't look like there's any like you ever walk outside in the middle of summer and it it's been like a drought and you walk on the grass and it's brown and crunchy, and it's like, good lord, nothing can dr grow here. I haven't mowed my grass in weeks because if I did, it would just be a big dust ball, you know. If I tried to, you know, have you have you ever felt like that in your own life?

SPEAKER_02 10:49

Oh yeah.

SPEAKER_03 10:49

Where it's like, man, no matter where I tread, it feels like crunchy, hard, dry. It's it's terrible, you know. It needs it needs water, you know, it needs watering. So sometimes that's what life feels like. You know, but can you learn how to appreciate that in that season the the stuff that you are walking through? And can you can you can you learn how to you know spend time with the Lord and say, Okay, God, this is the season that I'm walking through right now. Yeah. Instead of just looking back towards spring when things were growing or fall when the things uh leaves are changing, you know, what can I learn? How how can I learn to appreciate this summer scorching season that I'm in when it's a hundred degrees for five straight days?

SPEAKER_00 11:32

How how can I see you in this help me see you? I want to look for you. Right. Whether you know, you're you're in this day with me.

SPEAKER_03 11:40

Right.

SPEAKER_00 11:40

You know, this I have today.

SPEAKER_03 11:42

This is the day that the Lord has made.

SPEAKER_00 11:44

I woke up today and I have today. Yeah. So, Father, you're here in this day and I'm here in this day. So let's let's walk this out together. You know? And just sitting in that place. Because it's too easy to think, oh, I gotta do this or I have to do that, or man, I'm man, I'm and and people do it with the m like the moves of God all the time, or like in the church, we hear it a lot of, oh, this was happening and there are miracles and all this stuff, or oh Lord, we really want that to happen. Well, and then we refuse to see right in front of us lives that are being slowly changed day after day after day, you know, with by the by by seeds being planted and things being watered and just not recognizing the season that we're in. So um it's so valuable to just wake up and say, Okay, Lord, I'm in this day and you're in this day. Let's go. I love that.

SPEAKER_01 12:31

I love that. We we go through fall season possibly if we're if we're in uh Indiana. It might be a different fall in Florida. Right, right, right, right. But we we all go through a type of fall more than likely. Yeah. Um and I love how leaves actually produce minerals and vitamins for the grass for the next season. Yeah. And you go into uh you you may not like that withering away, but it's so fruitful. Yeah. And then the next season might feel a little bit cold in Indiana, right? And and maybe you don't feel the presence of God. It's not that he's left, yeah. But even in that moment when you're building up your most holy faith and you're praying, and you just keep on going, it strengthens you. There's a good thing there is such a benefit with code. Ice baths, code showers. Kills off the bugs. Yeah, I mean there's things that it does to your nervous system, and so naturally code is good for you. Yeah, it's good for it's good for the earth, it's good for your mind, and it may not feel pleasant in a moment. Yep, that's a good word. And so just keep on going. Yeah, go to the next season, and water may feel good at first, but then you're like, oh no, I'm drowning. Right, right, right. But swimming is good for you, right? Right. And then when summer comes and it's drying out all the rain, yeah, and you're just like, give me some, give me some water, like, and it starts to get even drier in winter, but it's cooler, yeah. Yeah, and you you always want to be in a different season than what you're in until you get used to it, and then you're just like, okay, this is way too much, or this is right, just great. But learning to be content in anything. That's it. If I'm rich, yeah, in abasing much, or if I'm poor, whatever I'm in, I've learned to be content because I know this too shall pass. Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 14:57

Yeah. I I love that. And that I think, Ralph, I think that's the key there in navigating each season, you know, because like we were saying earlier, you know, okay, I I walk outside and I get on the grass and it's crunchy and it's brown. And I can look at that and I can be like, man, I remember when this grass was green and lush. I remember back in my day in the spring when this grass was so green, it was so it was producing much fruit, and it was so beautiful, and it was great to walk on, and it really felt good under. I remember when God moved on that grass in my life, you know, like, and and and what you do is you begin to compare the different seasons. And what you're missing out on is okay, yes, the grass right now is brown and it is dry, but look how bright the sun is. Look how warm the temperature is. Look how much more daylight we have right now in this season than we did back then. You know, look how how much safer we are from the storms in this season than we were then. You know, look at the family time that's being spent together now. Look at the picnics and the watermelon and the oranges and like and and and you have there are things that you can be thankful for, but if your vision is is narrow and it's stuck on one thing and you're using that to compare to times past or times to come, then you're gonna miss out on the move of God in your life in that season and the gift that he's given you in that season. And and that's the thing Paul writes about when he says, you know, I've learned how to navigate all of these things, I've learned how to abound, I've learned how to be abase, you know, I've learned how to live with much and how to live with little. And at the end of all of that, he says, For I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. And that, and that's the the verse that so many people like to use and quote and say, I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Well, how do I do that? By living a life of gratitude, knowing that he's got me in every season that I'm in. And I'm gonna learn how to be content and grateful in that season, no matter what it looks like. If I'm on the mountaintop, if I'm in the valley, if I'm in the winter, if I'm in the summer, if I'm in the spring, if I'm in the fall. You know, if the grass is brown or the grass is green, the sun is bright or the sun is dull. Like wherever I am, and in whatever season I'm walking through, I'm gonna trust the Lord that He is going to provide for me in that season. I know that this season is not gonna be the only season that I walk through. And he's gonna, there's gonna be a change, and I'm gonna be ready for the change when that change comes. And until that time, I'm going to be resolved to stay in this place of gratitude and thankfulness and hope and joy for the season that I'm currently walking through. And I'm not gonna be afraid of the next season while I'm also not gonna just be looking forward to it the whole time either. Right. You know what I mean? It's just and and and that is a a shift, a complete shift in the mentality, you know, and and and understanding that hey, life has seasons. Yeah, but how can I appreciate each one?

SPEAKER_01 17:51

I like how we always ask, What are you speaking today? Jesus, I'm listening. Because there is a a word that proceeds out of the mouth of God and it's proceeding, and it's a proceeding. It's it's not the the same thing as yesterday. And it's ancient, but it's also new. It's refreshing. And sometimes it's cold, sometimes it's dry, sometimes it's like a river, and sometimes it's hot, like fire.

SPEAKER_03 18:29

I think the I think the the way that we perceive things really matters. And and and what we see and what we hear, it really matters. And and how we tune our eyes and our ears to the Lord, it really matters. Uh, because the scriptures say that we walk by faith and not by sight. And I think that's so such a simple yet valuable core thing to remember is that I choose to live my life walking by my belief and my faith and my trust in my Father, not based on what I'm seeing. And I I understand that there are times and there are seasons. We're we're we're pastors, man. We we get to talk with people a lot and walk with them through different seasons of their lives. Some seasons are so incredibly challenging for people, you know, whether it's a challenge within your marriage, a challenge within your finances, a challenge within your physical health, um, a spiritual challenge, of a season of questioning and not knowing. Uh, there's so many times we've had conversations with folks of them saying, you know, I've prayed and I've sought the Lord and I've asked for these answers, and I'm not hearing anything. I don't have any clarity. I need direction. And there are seasons that people walk through where it seems like, man, I'm I'm in the dark here. I can't see. It's a winter season, you know, I can't see. The sun is not shining. It's cold, everything feels cold and frigid, and I don't know what to do, and I'm scared. And and they might not admit that they're scared, but that's what they're experiencing. I'm experiencing fear because it's unknown to me and it's dark and it's scary. And how can we how can we learn to appreciate those times? You know, how Caleb, how can you say have gratitude for each season when the season that I'm walking through right now is a cold winter season, and I feel like I've got 12 inches of snow piled up on me and it's freaking cold and it's dark and I'm scared. How do you counsel that, Miriam? You're the one that loves winter. I do love winter. How do you counsel that?

SPEAKER_00 20:36

Well, it's gonna be over eventually. You know, I mean, you know that it we've already been saying how the seasons change. We've already been saying, and so what I think of is God, I don't know what's going on for myself. So what I would counsel is this is this is this is for what I would tell myself is that I don't know why it feels dry right now, but I know that you're not dry. And I know that you are faithful. And even if that sounds like even if it sounds trite, even if it sounds like a mantra, I don't care because I know it's the truth. I know that you're faithful. You have never once left me out in the cold, you know, for any longer than I could handle. No, I'm just kidding. That's a whole other issue.

SPEAKER_02 21:23

Only got a little bit of frostbite.

SPEAKER_00 21:24

Only got a little, yeah. But you he you've never left me begging for bread. You've never left left your children out in the cold. That's not who you are, that's not the character of God. So if I lean on what I know of who he is, then I know he's I'm not gonna be stuck in that place, even if I feel stuck at the time. Yeah. And, you know, I refer to this some, not a lot, but with our second child, I was on bed rest, which ended up being for four weeks in the hospital, not able to get out of bed. Right. And I hated that. Like to me. To me, that was like absolute torture.

SPEAKER_02 22:04

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 22:05

And thankfully I had had people that would come visit me. And that was like the absolute bright spot of my day. You know, and I didn't have, you know, Danny would come see me every day and and and James sometimes. And but um, you know, that was the absolute bright spot of my day. But the whole time I was just like, why am I here? I I don't I'm not in pain. The baby's healthy, you know, why am I still in the hospital? And when it came down to it at the very end, um, you know, I had some symptoms, and they ended up having to take me into surgery and and Benjamin was born at 32 weeks. Um, but come to if if if I had experienced those symptoms at home and been, you know, at home taking care of myself, like is which is what I wanted independently, living my life the way I wanted to do it, if I had been free to do that, I would be dead.

SPEAKER_02 22:54

Yep.

SPEAKER_00 22:54

And that's just the that's the short, that's the short part of the story. Um, because I had some pain, and it's pain that, you know, as a woman, I'd be like, well, it's fine, I'll just see my doctor on Thursday. Well, I would not have made it until Thursday. Right. And so God, in his great infinite wisdom and in his his mercy for my life, knew that, had me in the hospital for that length of time, um, and preserved my life. And so I have that as a marker in my life. And and and maybe other people might have things that are not quite that dramatic or way more dramatic, but I know that you can look back at a summer that was particularly particularly um marking for your life and you can say, God saw me through that, or you did that for me. So I know that in this winter season, when it feels dry and it feels like you're not saying anything, and maybe I'm not using my time as as wisely as I could have. Maybe I am spending it complaining and grumbling too much. And maybe I need to spend it in in contentment, you know. I need I'm I'm learning to be content. Okay, so I wasn't as content in that summer season, but you proved yourself even when I wasn't faithful. So here in the winter, when it feels like I'm alone, okay, God, help me be content or show me how I can practice contentment in this season because this sucks, and I don't know what's gonna happen, but I know that you're good and I know that you love me. And so that's how I would counsel that.

SPEAKER_01 24:23

As you're talking, I'm reminded of Alexandria Alexandria the Great. I I think I said that wrong, but um, he was talking to a guy, his name starts with D I S, like Demetrius, I can't remember the the actual name. Um, but this guy was pretty much living homeless, and they said, Why do you want to like live homeless? Why why won't you receive our money? Why won't you receive our stuff? And he's because he said, because I want to be as free as possible. And Alexandria Alexander, sorry, Alexander Alexander the Great said, if I was not Alexander Alexander the Great, I would want to be him. Two different guys, one is very rich, and one is not even receiving people's money. So if I was not disabassed, I would want to be at least this poor because this guy's free. And I think the the main part of every season is freedom. Your freedom, your season, if it's freedom in a hospital room, if it's freedom in a swimming pool, if it's freedom, you know, like how free are you free? Yeah. Because who the sun has set free is free indeed. And it doesn't matter if it's the darkest of nights or or the brightest of sunniest uh sunniest, sunniest, sunniest. Sunniest. Brightest. Like uh like a Jesus glowing like a light bulb in in a mountain top that's dark. I don't know. Anyways, uh just a little bit of humor there. Um but I think it is so important to hear what Miriam just said.

SPEAKER_03 26:17

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 26:19

Because we have experiences in this life that we might be in the hospital, but it might be the the most freest experience that we've ever had. There might be moments where we are homeless in a car somewhere, but it actually might be the freest moment that you've ever had. Maybe you've had billions of dollars, but yet you had the thought of losing billions of dollars. Right. And then when you finally lose it and you're living in a car, you're just like, this is so much better than worrying about who is my friend and who's not my friend, and just loving the people who actually love me and not having to worry about if they just want my money.

SPEAKER_03 27:02

Yeah, and you I love because what you're talking about there, Ruff, is is the the having a heart of gratitude and and a perspective of of gratefulness, you know, that no matter what I have, I'm gonna be content. You know, whether I have a lot, I have a little, I'm gonna be content. And and not looking to your circumstance or to your situation as the source of your contentment. Yes, yes, you know, like like you know, for Miriam, I remember that season. I mean, I was I was I was right there with you during that, and knowing you, who you are, you know, you are a people person who loves to do things. You don't like to just sit around and do nothing. That's not Miriam. Um, that's like the opposite of what Miriam likes to do. Uh and and you were forced to sit in a season where you were by yourself a lot. I mean, you had people come and visit you and all that, and like you said, that was the bright spot of your day. But it was a season where Miriam had to sit and had to just be, yeah, you know, and had to put everything else away, you know, and had to endure that season and uh and thank God that you did because you wouldn't be here, right? You know, had you not, because Miriam would have ignored the symptoms and been like, Oh, I'm fine, I'm tough, and like you wouldn't think anything of it. I might have even died sooner. You would have, yeah, you have blood pressure. You would have thought everything was just okay, and then you wouldn't be here, Benjamin wouldn't be here. And you know, that I mean like just the thought of that, how many lives have been changed because Miriam had to go sit in hospital for four weeks, right? You know, which was uncomfortable for her. It was not her plan, it was not ideal. Uh, but you know, how many people today in 2026 have different lives because Miriam had to go sit in a season that was uncomfortable for her? And I think that's one of the big things for each and every one of us is, you know, we think that because we have Jesus, that everything is just gonna be hunky-dory and our our lives are gonna be great. And and if something is is air quotes wrong in my life, then I'm just gonna exercise faith and it's gonna be right and it's gonna be fine, and it's gonna be exactly what I want. And I'm gonna be able to twist God's arm into getting the things that I need, you know, having living this abundant life that I can, which means I'm not gonna have any sorrow, I'm not gonna have any pain, I'm only gonna have joy, everything's gonna be absolutely wonderful, and I'm gonna do the things that I know. I'm called to be a pastor. I'm Miriam, I'm supposed to be out doing all of these things. I'm not supposed to be sitting in hospital. This is the call of God on my life, and this is just an attack from the enemy. And you can identify things, you can call them out, you can put labels on them, and because you think it's got to be with this certain way. But gratitude says, God, no matter what happens, I'm gonna trust you in the situation. I'm gonna trust your word, even if I don't understand the season. Right. And I don't understand what I'm walking through. Oh, that person walked away from me. That shouldn't happen. I don't understand it. What's the problem? Or it's God, you know what? They're yours. Their life is yours, and my life is yours. You sustain me and you keep me, and I don't need a single person to be my life or my sustenance. It is you. It's you're my source. You are my source, and I'm gonna choose to be grateful. I'm gonna bless them in their coming and in their going, and and whatever happens, happens. And I'm gonna leave my heart open and keep it pure, and I'm gonna keep my my my hands open and pure and say, God, whatever you want, I'm I'm here for it. I'm I trust you in this because I know that you are the bringer and the giver of life. You are the resurrection in the life, even if it looks like it's dying in my life, you are still resurrection. And I'm gonna trust that no matter what. And and I think that that, Miriam, you said something that I just think every person needs to hear. And it's the space of you said, uh, you said this too shall pass, but you said, I know that another season's coming.

SPEAKER_00 30:40

Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 30:41

And and and that echoes so deeply what Jesus said to every single church in in Revel, the book of Revelation. He said, For those who endure, for those who persevere, they will will receive or they will reap this. And then he gives the promise. And as this echoed sentiment that Jesus, the the leader of our church, the head over all things to the church, the the king of the universe, the alpha and the omega, he says, if you just endure, if you just keep going, if you just hold on, if you just stay faithful, you're gonna see these promises. And I think that like that needs to be the rallying cry for each and every one of us as believers is to say, no matter what situation I'm walking through, no matter what season I'm in, I'm going to hold on, I'm going to endure. I will not lose hope. I will not lose faith. I will trust in the Lord. I might cry through it, but I'm going to cry through it with my hands held on to his robes, saying, I'm not letting go of you, Jesus. I know that you've got me in this. And even if I've had to sit in hospital for four weeks in a sucky season of my life, I'm going to hold on to you. Yep. Because I know that winter is coming. I know that spring's around the corner. I know that summer's about to be here. And I'm okay with where I'm at. Why? Because you are with me.

SPEAKER_00 32:00

That's right. And when you hold on to him, you have peace.

SPEAKER_03 32:03

That's it.

SPEAKER_00 32:03

Because that was the marker of that whole, that whole time in my in my life. Even though I was there, I was not worked up. I was not worried. I really had peace throughout the whole, even when they rushed me to surgery and you know, it was like the verge of whatever part of death. Yes. Okay. I I was not worked up because he is my source. And I knew that he was my portion. And so even when it's hard, and like you said, you know, if I'm looking to him, I'm holding on to Jesus, you will experience peace. That's right. If you're actually holding on to him, he is the Prince of Peace.

SPEAKER_03 32:34

That's right. It is what you experience his person. He is peace. Yep. And he has grace, and he has joy, and he has love. And that is what, and that's why Paul says, I can do all things through the person of peace. I can do all things through the person of joy. I can do all things through the person of love. That's how I endure. That's how it's it's you look at it and you can think, oh, I've got to endure this thing. It's like, no, the endurance is through him. And it's through living in union with him no matter what. I'm not letting go of that. I'm not forgetting that. That's right. He's not letting go of me. He says, There's nothing that can snatch you out of my hands. Are you kidding me right now? Like there's nothing that can snatch you from me. There's nothing that can snatch you from Father. And so it's like it's remembering that stuff. That's like, oh, that's right. Yes, this season does look terrible, but you know what? Nothing's gonna take me from you. That's right. You are my portion. You've got me from all sides. You're gonna take care of this. And even though I might experience things I don't want to experience, I might experience things that hurt, that are painful. You are in my sorrow with me. You are in the pain with me. Even though I experience things that might make me cry, you are crying with me. You are there at every moment, at every turn, and at every step. And I will not lose faith. I will not lose hope. I will hold on to that and I will appreciate the season I'm in because in the darkest seasons, God does his best work. Creation is birthed in the dark. Let's go. A new covenant is birthed in the darkness of the day that came out of nowhere. God does his best work at night and in the dark season. So if you're in a dark season, if you're in a dark night season, know this that God is gonna move on your behalf. He already is moving. Turn your gaze to him. Stay locked in on him. Stay focused on him and watch what he's gonna do. It is a portal for his power. Paul says, In my weakness, he is strong. That is the portal for God's power to be on display when you feel like you're at your weakest in your darkest season. Watch what God's about to do because it's gonna be great.

SPEAKER_00 34:44

Yay!

SPEAKER_03 34:46

Shine bright. Shine bright like a diamond. Thank you for listening to the Everyday Kingdom podcast. We'll see you next time. Enjoy the seasons.