38 min.
All the Days of My Life | May 5, 2024 Calvary Church Los Gatos
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- Christendom
Today Pastor Dale continued our series in Psalm 23 and we saw, right in the middle of this “comfort Psalm”, the Psalm of rest, assurance and refreshment, that we will face tough times. We will struggle, maybe even suffer, even when we are following him. Though we may resist these ideas, we’ve probably all come to realize that discipline and redirection has benefits for all of us. The Lord’s Shepherding plan is this: He wants us to learn all we need to learn He wants to form something deep, beautiful and powerful within us. That still leaves the questions, why pain? It is in the darkest valley where we learn to know ourselves, to really understand what is in us and shaping us. Valleys reveal our fears, our lack of faith, hidden denials. The truth is, many of us would prefer a life of easy victories: growth without crisis, healing without pain, the resurrection without the cross. But what if God is actually found in our hard times? It’s often in the valley and in the struggle, when we move from talking about God to talking to God. When we look back and pause, we have the opportunity to discern God’s presence in those events that have made us or unmade us. In that, it is possible to see God’s amazing presence being with us through the toughest of times and to honestly say “Even in the darkest valleys, you are with me”. Pastor Dale encouraged us with a few thoughts.* To get out of it, you have to go through it, but don’t do it alone. Share with someone: “I have this weight I am carrying, can you, or someone you know help me with this?”. This always starts with prayer together. * This process is also for our kids. Our children have to go through it. It’s vital to let them feel the weight of a struggle. Be there with them so they have a tangible example of what God’s presence is like. * Be the presence of Jesus with others as they go through it. Ask “Is there anything I can do for you?” Listen to what God is bringing to mind as you talk with them Remember that God is doing his best work in these tough times
Today Pastor Dale continued our series in Psalm 23 and we saw, right in the middle of this “comfort Psalm”, the Psalm of rest, assurance and refreshment, that we will face tough times. We will struggle, maybe even suffer, even when we are following him. Though we may resist these ideas, we’ve probably all come to realize that discipline and redirection has benefits for all of us. The Lord’s Shepherding plan is this: He wants us to learn all we need to learn He wants to form something deep, beautiful and powerful within us. That still leaves the questions, why pain? It is in the darkest valley where we learn to know ourselves, to really understand what is in us and shaping us. Valleys reveal our fears, our lack of faith, hidden denials. The truth is, many of us would prefer a life of easy victories: growth without crisis, healing without pain, the resurrection without the cross. But what if God is actually found in our hard times? It’s often in the valley and in the struggle, when we move from talking about God to talking to God. When we look back and pause, we have the opportunity to discern God’s presence in those events that have made us or unmade us. In that, it is possible to see God’s amazing presence being with us through the toughest of times and to honestly say “Even in the darkest valleys, you are with me”. Pastor Dale encouraged us with a few thoughts.* To get out of it, you have to go through it, but don’t do it alone. Share with someone: “I have this weight I am carrying, can you, or someone you know help me with this?”. This always starts with prayer together. * This process is also for our kids. Our children have to go through it. It’s vital to let them feel the weight of a struggle. Be there with them so they have a tangible example of what God’s presence is like. * Be the presence of Jesus with others as they go through it. Ask “Is there anything I can do for you?” Listen to what God is bringing to mind as you talk with them Remember that God is doing his best work in these tough times
38 min.