ANNOUNCER: THE FOLLOWING PROGRAM
IS PAID FOR BY THE FRIENDS AND PARTNERS
OF JOYCE MEYER MINISTRIES.
[MUSIC]
JOYCE: AMEN, AMEN.
WELL, HOW MANY OF YOU ARE GOING THROUGH SOMETHING
PRETTY DIFFICULT RIGHT NOW IN YOUR LIFE, SOMETHING THAT YOU
ARE REALLY NEEDING TO TRUST GOD ABOUT, AMEN?
YOU KNOW, WE TRUST GOD FOR THINGS THAT WE WANT,
WHICH WE ALL DO.
BUT WE ALSO TRUST GOD WHEN WE'RE GOING THROUGH THINGS, AND IT'S
THAT TRUSTING HIM THAT ALLOWS US TO GO AHEAD AND ENJOY OUR LIVES
EVEN WHILE WE DON'T YET HAVE EVERYTHING THAT WE WOULD LIKE
TO HAVE.
SEE, PART OF THE BEAUTY OF BEING A BELIEVER IS THAT YOU CAN HAVE
A PROBLEM AND STILL ENJOY YOUR LIFE.
YOU CAN HAVE A PROBLEM AND STILL HAVE PEACE.
JESUS SAID, "MY PEACE I LEAVE WITH YOU, NOT AS THE WORLD GIVES
DO I GIVE UNTO YOU, BUT MY OWN SPECIAL PEACE
I GIVE TO YOU."
AND THEN HE SAYS, "SO, STOP ALLOWING YOURSELVES
TO BE UPSET AND DISTURBED."
WELL, HE HAS A RESPONSIBILITY AND WE HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY.
I'M RELEASING A BOOK THIS FALL CALLED "UNSHAKEABLE TRUST."
THE MATERIAL IN IT'S GREAT, BUT IF NOTHING ELSE,
YOU'LL GET A NICE PICTURE OF ME ON THE FRONT, SO THAT'S
A GOOD REASON TO GET IT.
AND YOU KNOW, READING IS SO GOOD.
HOW MANY OF YOU TRY TO DO A LITTLE BIT OF READING
ON A REGULAR BASIS?
YOU KNOW, I'VE BEEN ENCOURAGING PEOPLE, EVEN IF YOU JUST TAKE
30 MINUTES A DAY AND READ, YOU'LL BE AMAZED
HOW MUCH YOU WILL LEARN OVER A ONE-YEAR PERIOD OF TIME.
AND IT DOESN'T ALWAYS HAVE TO BE SOMETHING BRAND NEW
THAT YOU'RE LEARNING.
A LOT OF TIMES, IT CAN JUST BE BEING REFRESHED IN SOMETHING
THAT YOU ALREADY KNOW.
I'M SURE THAT TODAY IS NOT GOING TO BE THE FIRST MESSAGE
THAT YOU'VE EVER HEARD ON TRUSTING GOD, BUT THAT
DOESN'T MEAN THAT WE DON'T NEED TO HEAR IT AGAIN, AND AGAIN,
AND AGAIN, AND AGAIN, AND AGAIN.
AND I ALWAYS TELL PEOPLE, "IF YOU DON'T WANT TO HEAR
WHAT I HAVE TO SAY TODAY, I'LL BE HAPPY TO TALK TO MYSELF
BECAUSE I NEED ALL OF IT ON A REGULAR BASIS."
AMEN?
SO, THERE'S LOTS OF GOOD THINGS IN HERE, AND I BELIEVE
THAT YOU'LL REALLY ENJOY THE BOOK, AND SO WE'RE GOING
TO GET STARTED.
1 PETER CHAPTER 2, VERSE 23.
I ACTUALLY HAVE THIS SCRIPTURE ON A SIGN, AND IT'S HANGING
ON MY OFFICE WALL, THAT'S HOW MUCH I LIKE IT.
"WHEN HE WAS REVILED AND INSULTED, HE DID NOT REVILE
OR OFFER INSULT IN RETURN.
[WHEN] HE WAS ABUSED AND SUFFERED, HE MADE NO THREATS
[OF VENGEANCE], BUT HE TRUSTED HIMSELF AND EVERYTHING TO HIM
WHO JUDGES FAIRLY."
JUST IMAGINE HOW AMAZING LIFE WOULD BE IF WE COULD TRUST GOD
ALL THE TIME IN EVERYTHING, ALL THE TIME IN EVERYTHING.
WELL, JESUS WAS PROBABLY MISTREATED MORE THAN ANY PERSON
ON EARTH HAS EVER BEEN MISTREATED, AND YET, HE DIDN'T
REALLY TROUBLE HIMSELF ABOUT IT BECAUSE HE TRUSTED GOD TO BE
HIS VINDICATOR AND TO BRING JUSTICE IN HIS LIFE.
ONE OF THE CHARACTER TRAITS ABOUT GOD THAT I LOVE THE MOST
IS THAT THE BIBLE SAYS HE IS A GOD OF JUSTICE.
YOU KNOW WHAT THAT MEANS?
HE MAKES EVERY WRONG THING RIGHT.
HAVE YOU EVER BEEN MISTREATED BY SOMEBODY?
EVER BEEN--OH, MAYBE YOU'RE WORKING REAL HARD AT WORK,
BUT YOU'RE THE ONE THAT ALWAYS GETS LOOKED OVER
FOR THE PROMOTION.
YOU DON'T GET THE PAY RAISES THAT YOU SHOULD GET, AND MAYBE
SOMEBODY ELSE THAT'S NOT WORKING NEARLY AS HARD AS YOU SEEMS
TO GET ALL THE THINGS THAT YOU FEEL LIKE YOU DESERVE.
HAS THAT EVER HAPPENED TO ANYBODY?
NO? IT HAPPENED TO ME.
YOU KNOW WHAT?
THOSE ARE THE GREAT TIMES TO SAY, "GOD, I'M GOING TO TRUST
YOU TO BE MY VINDICATOR."
IF WE CAN TRUST GOD TO GIVE TO US WHAT HE WANTS US TO HAVE,
INSTEAD OF LOOKING TO PEOPLE TO GIVE US WHAT WE WANT, LIFE
IS GOING TO GET A LOT BETTER.
IF YOU'VE GOT YOUR EYES ON SOMEBODY ELSE AND YOU'RE
EXPECTING THEM TO GIVE YOU WHAT YOU WANT, YOU NEED TO GET THEM
OFF THAT PERSON, THEN YOU NEED TO GET THEM ON GOD.
AMEN?
BECAUSE GOD IS THE ONLY ONE THAT CAN GIVE US TRUE PROMOTION
IN OUR LIVES.
"WHEN HE WAS REVILED AND INSULTED, HE DID NOT REVILE
OR OFFER INSULT IN RETURN."
WHEN HE WAS MISTREATED, WHEN HE WAS ABUSED, WHEN PEOPLE TREATED
HIM WRONG, INSTEAD OF GETTING
ALL UPSET, AND TRYING TO GET THEM BACK, AND MAKING HIS OWN
PLAN ABOUT HOW HE WAS GOING TO HANDLE THINGS, HE TRUSTED
HIMSELF AND EVERYTHING TO HIM WHO JUDGES FAIRLY.
NOW, IF YOU WATCH MY TV PROGRAM OR IF YOU'VE READ MANY
OF MY BOOKS OR ANY OF MY BOOKS, YOU KNOW THAT I WAS ABUSED
BY MY DAD WHEN I WAS A CHILD.
AND ALTHOUGH MY MOTHER KNEW ABOUT IT BECAUSE ONE TIME SHE
CAUGHT HIM, ONE TIME I TOLD HER, SHE DIDN'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT
BECAUSE SHE LIVED IN ABSOLUTE FEAR.
SO, I WAS ABUSED BY MY DAD, ABANDONED BY MY MOTHER,
AND REALLY, REALLY MISTREATED IN THE EARLY YEARS OF MY LIFE.
NOBODY SHOULD HAVE TO GO THROUGH THE KINDS OF THINGS
THAT MANY OF US DO GO THROUGH
IN OUR LIVES.
AND I MARRIED THE FIRST GUY THAT CAME ALONG BECAUSE I
THOUGHT NOBODY WOULD EVER WANT ME, AND THEN HE RAN AROUND
WITH OTHER WOMEN, AND HE WAS A PETTY THIEF, AND SO
THE FIRST 23 YEARS OF MY LIFE, I DIDN'T KNOW MUCH BUT PAIN
AND MISTREATMENT.
WELL, I CAME OUT OF THAT BITTER, AND RESENTFUL, AND BLAMING.
AND ALTHOUGH I WAS A CHRISTIAN, YOU KNOW, YOU CAN BE A CHRISTIAN
AND STILL HAVE ALL THOSE BAD ATTITUDES AND ALL THOSE THINGS
ROLLING AROUND IN YOU THAT DON'T NEED
TO BE ROLLING AROUND IN YOU.
SO, WE DON'T WANT TO JUST TRUST GOD TO GO TO HEAVEN SOMEDAY
WHEN WE DIE.
CHRISTIANITY IS ABOUT A LOT MORE THAN THAT.
WE WANT TO TRUST GOD FOR EVERYTHING IN OUR LIVES,
ALL THE TIME.
AMEN?
TRUST HIM FOR EVERYTHING ALL THE TIME.
AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE WANT TO TRUST GOD FOR IS TO BE
OUR VINDICATOR, TO TAKE WRONG THINGS AND MAKE THEM RIGHT.
WELL, WHEN I FINALLY FOUND THAT OUT AND I STARTED REALLY
TRUSTING GOD TO VINDICATE ME, I DON'T HAVE TIME TO TELL YOU ALL
THE STORIES, BUT IT'S AMAZING THE THINGS THAT GOD HAS DONE
FOR ME IN MY LIFE, AND THE POSITIONS THAT HE
HAS PUT ME IN, THE INFLUENCE HE HAS ALLOWED ME TO HAVE.
AND I KNOW THAT I KNOW THAT ONLY GOD COULD DO IT.
AND I'LL TELL YOU, IF YOU WILL--NOW, LISTEN
TO WHAT I'M GOING TO SAY.
IF YOU WILL STOP TRYING SO HARD TO TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF,
AND STOP TRYING SO HARD TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU GET
WHAT'S DUE YOU, AND STOP BEING MAD AT EVERYBODY
WHO'S NOT GIVING YOU WHAT YOU WANT, AND YOU GIVE GOD A CHANCE,
YOU WILL BE AMAZED AT WHAT GOD WILL DO IN YOUR LIFE.
LET ME TELL YOU SOMETHING, GOD CAN GIVE YOU FAVOR AND PUT YOU
PLACES WHERE NO MAN CAN EVER PUT YOU AND WHERE YOU
CERTAINLY COULD NOT PUT YOU.
RIGHT?
SO, ANY TIME THAT SOMEBODY MISTREATS YOU, THE FIRST THING
YOU WANT TO DO IS SAY, "GOD, I REFUSE TO BE MAD AT THEM BECAUSE
THAT'S ONLY GOING TO STEAL MY LIFE, BUT I AM GOING TO TRUST
YOU TO BRING JUSTICE INTO MY LIFE."
IN ISAIAH 61, VERSES 7 AND 8,
SOME OF THE SCRIPTURES THAT I HELD ON TO FOR MANY YEARS,
IT REALLY BROUGHT ME THROUGH A LOT OF THE THINGS THAT I
WENT THROUGH.
"INSTEAD OF YOUR [FORMER] SHAME, YOU'LL HAVE A TWOFOLD REWARD.
INSTEAD OF DISHONOR AND REPROACH, YOUR PEOPLE
SHALL REJOICE IN THEIR PORTION.
THEREFORE, IN THEIR LAND THEY SHALL POSSESS DOUBLE [WHAT THEY
FORFEITED] AND EVERLASTING JOY SHALL BE THEIRS."
YOU KNOW, WHEN THE ENEMY COMES AGAINST YOU ONE WAY, THE BIBLE
SAYS HE HAS TO FLEE BEFORE YOU SEVEN WAYS.
WHAT MAN TAKES AWAY FROM YOU, GOD WILL GIVE YOU BACK DOUBLE
AND MORE IF YOU PUT YOUR TRUST IN HIM.
IS THERE ANYBODY IN THE BUILDING TODAY THAT WOULD LIKE TO HAVE
DOUBLE FOR YOUR TROUBLE?
[AUDIENCE CHEERING]
JOYCE: GOD IS A REWARDER.
HE'S NOT A PUNISHER.
GOD IS A REWARDER, THE REWARDER OF THOSE WHO DILIGENTLY
SEEK HIM.
SO, WHEN YOU GET YOUR EYES OFF OF WHAT EVERYBODY HAS DONE
TO YOU AND YOU GET YOUR EYES ON WHAT GOD CAN DO FOR YOU, HE
BECOMES YOUR REWARDER, AND YOU WILL BE AMAZED AT ALL THE THINGS
THAT GOD WILL DO FOR YOU.
GOD HAS--HE'S GIVEN ME A POSITION, MANY TIMES,
IN THE MIDST OF MEN.
I WAS THE FIRST AND THE ONLY WOMAN THAT EVER SAT ON THE BOARD
OF OUR CHURCH, AND THIS WAS WHEN I WAS IN A LARGE DENOMINATIONAL
CHURCH WHERE WOMEN DIDN'T REALLY DO THOSE KINDS OF THINGS.
AND I FOUND THAT OVER AND OVER IN MY LIFE, I'LL BE DOING
THESE THINGS WHERE I'M THE ONLY WOMAN DOING IT,
AND I ASKED GOD ONE TIME, "HOW DO I END UP
IN THESE POSITIONS ALL THE TIME?"
AND YOU KNOW WHAT HE PUT IN MY HEART?
"MEN ABUSED YOU, AND I WILL ALWAYS GIVE YOU A PLACE OF HONOR
AMONG MEN."
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: AND SEE, I'M GLAD YOU'RE HAPPY FOR ME, BUT I WANT
THE SAME THING TO HAPPEN TO YOU.
I'M NOT HERE TODAY JUST TO TELL YOU MY GREAT STORY OF SUCCESS,
BUT I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT GOD IS NO RESPECTER OF PERSONS.
AND WHAT HE DOES FOR ONE PERSON, HE WILL DO FOR ANOTHER,
BUT IT'S NOT GOING TO HAPPEN IF WE DON'T TRUST HIM.
TRUST HIM.
AND TRUSTING GOD MEANS THAT WE STOP TRYING TO MAKE THINGS
HAPPEN OURSELVES AND WE WAIT ON GOD.
HOW MANY LOVE WAITING?
WE WAIT ON GOD, IT'S A PAINFUL WORD EVEN TO SAY IT.
AND GOD DOESN'T DO IT WHEN WE'D LIKE HIM TO OR THE WAY WE'D LIKE
HIM TO, BUT I CAN PROMISE YOU TODAY IF YOU WILL KEEP YOUR EYES
ON GOD AND TRUST HIM TO BE YOUR RECOMPENSE,
AND TO BE YOUR REWARD, AND TO BE YOUR VINDICATOR,
YOU WILL BE GET DOUBLE BLESSINGS FOR YOUR FORMER TROUBLE.
AMEN?
HOW MANY OF YOU FEEL LIKE THAT--LET'S PUT IT LIKE THIS.
YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU'VE BEEN HURT, THERE'S A FEELING THERE THAT,
"WELL, SOMEBODY OWES ME.
I'M DUE SOMETHING.
I WANT TO BE PAID BACK."
YOU EVER FELT THAT?
IT'S LIKE--AND SO, IF WE'RE NOT CAREFUL, WE CAN GO THROUGH LIFE
WITH THIS LITTLE CHIP ON OUR SHOULDER.
YOU'RE LIKE, "WELL, THE WORLD OWES ME SOMETHING."
BUT THE THING THAT WE DO THAT IS A MISTAKE MANY TIMES IS
WE'RE TRYING TO COLLECT FROM PEOPLE THAT CAN'T PAY US.
I DID THAT FOR A LONG TIME.
BECAUSE MEN HAD MISTREATED ME, I WAS TRYING TO COLLECT
FROM ALL THE REST OF THE MEN IN THE WORLD.
AND SO, I HAD AN ATTITUDE TOWARD MEN THAT WASN'T HEALTHY.
AND EVEN WHEN DAVE AND I GOT MARRIED, AND HE WAS A WONDERFUL
HUSBAND, I HAD BEEN HURT BY SO MANY MEN THAT I JUST HAD
AN ATTITUDE, AND I WAS TRYING
TO GET DAVE TO PAY ME BACK FOR WHAT SOMEBODY ELSE
HAD TAKEN AWAY FROM ME.
AND MATTHEW 18 SAYS THAT WHEN THE GUY WAS TRYING TO GET
THE PERSON WHO OWED THEM THE MONEY TO PAY HIM BACK,
THE BIBLE SAYS, "AND HE COULD NOT PAY.
AND HE COULD NOT PAY."
AND BOY, WHEN I GOT AHOLD OF THAT, I THOUGHT,
"PEOPLE CAN'T PAY ME BACK.
NOBODY CAN PAY ME BACK FOR THE CHILDHOOD
THAT MY FATHER STOLE FROM ME.
I CAN NEVER GO BACK AND DO THAT CHILDHOOD OVER."
BUT YOU KNOW WHAT?
GOD CAN MAKE ME HAVE SUCH A WONDERFUL LIFE IN MY 40S,
AND 50S, AND 60S, AND 70S WHERE I'M AT NOW.
[AUDIENCE CHEERING]
JOYCE: IS ANYBODY HERE READY TO LET GOD PAY YOU BACK?
ALL RIGHT, WELL, YOU KNOW WHAT?
THEN YOU HAVE TO DO THINGS GOD'S WAY AND NOT MAN'S WAY.
LISTEN TO THIS SCRIPTURE, PSALM 147:3, "HE HEALS
THE BROKENHEARTED AND HE BINDS UP THEIR WOUNDS, CURING
THEIR PAINS AND THEIR SORROWS."
YOU KNOW, BROKEN HEARTS DO MEND, BODIES DO HEAL, DISAPPOINTMENT
TURNS INTO NEW DREAMS, AND THE END OF ONE THING
CAN OPEN THE DOOR FOR SOMETHING NEW IF WE
WILL JUST PUT OUR TRUST IN GOD.
YOU KNOW WHAT?
IF YOU'RE STILL HERE ON THE PLANET, GOD'S GOT A PLAN
FOR YOU.
I SAID IF YOU'RE STILL HERE, YOU'RE BREATHING,
GOD'S GOT A PLAN FOR YOU.
HE'S NOT FINISHED WITH YOU YET.
NOW, MANY OF YOU GO TO THIS CHURCH, AND SO YOU KNOW
PASTOR CHARLES, OF COURSE.
WELL, AMEN.
I CAN TELL YOU GUYS REALLY LOVE HIM, AND SO THAT TELLS ME
THAT HE'S PRETTY GOOD AT WHAT HE'S DOING, AMEN?
AND I KNOW FROM PERSONAL CONVERSATIONS HOW COMMITTED HE
IS TO THIS CHURCH AND JUST HOW MEANINGFUL IT IS TO HIM.
AND I'VE HAD THE BLESSING OF KNOWING HIM FOR A FEW YEARS.
WE DON'T GET TO SPEND A LOT OF TIME TOGETHER, BUT I
DO KNOW HIM TO SOME DEGREE.
AND I WAS AROUND WHEN THE TERRIBLE TRAGEDY HAPPENED
WHERE HIS BEAUTIFUL YOUNG WIFE DIED WITH CANCER.
AND I ASKED HIM IF IT WAS ALL RIGHT FOR ME TO TALK ABOUT
THIS A LITTLE BIT, AND HE SAID THAT IT WAS BECAUSE HE SAID
SOMETHING TO ME AFTER THAT HAPPENED THAT I
THOUGHT WAS ABSOLUTELY AMAZING.
AND I WOULD LIKE IT TO BE SOMETHING THAT YOU THINK ABOUT
AS WE GO THROUGH THIS MESSAGE TODAY.
SHE WAS--WHAT HAPPENED TO HER SHOULD NOT HAVE HAPPENED.
YOU'RE NOT GOING TO FIND A REASON FOR THAT.
YOU'RE NOT GOING TO FIND A PLACE TO PUT IT IN SOME NEAT
LITTLE PACKAGE WHERE WE CAN ALL UNDERSTAND IT
AND FEEL OKAY ABOUT IT.
IT JUST WAS A TERRIBLE THING.
SHE WAS A WOMAN OF FAITH, A GODLY WOMAN,
HELPING OTHER PEOPLE.
THEY'RE PASTORING A CHURCH, SHE GETS SICK, EVERYBODY PRAYS
EXPECTING MIRACLES, AND GOD TAKES HER HOME.
BY THE WAY, I DO WANT TO TELL YOU THAT SHE IS HEALED TODAY
BECAUSE THE MINUTE THAT YOU PASS INTO HEAVEN--I'VE BEEN THINKING
ABOUT THAT A LOT LATELY.
AND, YOU KNOW, SO OFTEN WHEN WE PRAY FOR HEALING AND WE
DON'T GET IT, OR WE PRAY FOR SOMEBODY ELSE TO BE HEALED
AND THEY DON'T GET IT, THAT'S REALLY NOT ACCURATE.
THEY DO GET IT.
THEY DO, BECAUSE THE MINUTE THAT YOU PASS FROM HERE
TO YOUR HEAVENLY HOME, EVERYTHING IS MADE PERFECT.
IN THE TWINKLING OF AN EYE, IN A MOMENT,
EVERYTHING IS MADE PERFECT.
AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT IS THE BEST THAT I HAVE EVER LOOKED
OR THE BEST CONDITION I'VE EVER BEEN IN, BUT WHATEVER IT IS,
THAT'S THE WAY I'M GOING TO LIVE FOR ETERNITY WHEN I GET
TO HEAVEN.
NO WRINKLES, NO FAT, NO CELLULITE, NOTHING LIKE THAT.
IT'S ALL JUST GOING TO BE GOOD STUFF, AMEN?
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: WON'T IT BE NICE, LADIES?
WE DON'T HAVE TO BE ON A DIET AND COUNT CALORIES IN HEAVEN.
I'M SURE THE FOOD THERE IS GOING TO HAVE NO CALORIES
IN IT AND BE VERY GOOD.
BUT HE SAID TO ME-- AND I CAN'T IMAGINE THE PAIN
OF WHAT HE AND HIS FAMILY WENT THROUGH
AND EVEN THE CHURCH HERE.
YOU KNOW, IT'S ONE THING TO TRUST GOD IN THE LIGHT,
IT'S ANOTHER THING TO TRUST GOD IN THE DARK.
IT'S ONE THING TO TRUST GOD WHEN YOU THINK YOU GOT IT FIGURED
OUT, AND YOU'RE GETTING WHAT YOU WANT, AND YOU CAN UNDERSTAND
WHAT'S GOING ON.
IT'S ANOTHER THING ENTIRELY TO NOT GET WHAT YOU ASK FOR,
TO HAVE NO UNDERSTANDING AT ALL OF WHY OR WHAT
IS HAPPENING, AND STILL BE ABLE TO SAY, "GOD, I TRUST YOU."
THAT'S THE KIND OF FAITH WE'RE AFTER, AND YOU KNOW WHAT?
THAT'S THE KIND OF FAITH THAT THE WORLD NEEDS TO SEE.
THAT'S THE KIND OF FAITH THE WORLD NEEDS TO SEE.
PEOPLE ARE LOOKING AT US.
YOU PUT A BUMPER STICKER ON YOUR CAR, PEOPLE ARE WATCHING
YOUR CHARACTER.
COME ON.
AND THEY DON'T WANT TO JUST SEE YOUR BUMPER STICKER, THEY WANT
TO SEE THE FRUIT IN YOUR LIFE OF WHAT DOES IT REALLY MEAN
TO BE A CHRISTIAN.
AND SO, PASTOR CHARLES TOLD ME THIS, AND IF THIS IS YOUR HOME
CHURCH YOU'VE PROBABLY HEARD IT, BUT WE'RE NOT ONLY TALKING
TO PEOPLE HERE TODAY, BUT MILLIONS OF PEOPLE
ALL OVER THE WORLD BY TV, PEOPLE THAT ARE GOING THROUGH
HORRENDOUS THINGS, PEOPLE THAT ARE HURTING, PEOPLE
THAT HAVE HAD UNFAIR THINGS HAPPEN TO YOU, AND IT SEEMS
TO YOU LIKE GOD'S FORGOTTEN ALL ABOUT YOU.
WELL, HE HASN'T.
HE HEARS YOU AND HE SEES YOU.
CAN I TELL YOU TODAY THAT YOU'RE NOT INVISIBLE?
GOD KNOWS EXACTLY WHERE YOU'RE AT, AND HE KNOWS EXACTLY WHAT'S
GOING ON IN YOUR LIFE, AND HE KNOWS EXACTLY HOW MUCH YOU
CAN TAKE AND HOW MUCH YOU CAN'T TAKE.
AND HE MAY NOT BE EARLY, BUT HE WON'T BE LATE.
GOD WILL DELIVER YOU AT JUST THE RIGHT TIME.
COME ON, THIS DAY IS ABOUT HOPE.
[AUDIENCE CHEERING]
JOYCE: THE ENEMY CAN COME AGAINST ME ONE WAY,
BUT HE'LL HAVE TO FLEE BEFORE ME SEVEN WAYS.
"MANY ARE THE AFFLICTIONS OF THE RIGHTEOUS, BUT GOD
DELIVERS HIM OUT OF THEM ALL."
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: BUT THIS IS WHAT HE SAID TO ME, HE SAID,
"AFTER MY WIFE DIED, I SAID TO GOD, 'I'M NEVER
GOING TO ASK YOU WHY.'" WHICH I DON'T KNOW THAT IT'S
WRONG TO ASK WHY, BUT I WILL TELL YOU THAT YOU'RE PROBABLY
NOT GOING TO GET AN ANSWER.
AND EVEN IF YOU DO, IT MAY BE SOMETHING YOU CONCOCT
IN YOUR MIND THAT REALLY ISN'T THE REALITY.
NOW, I DON'T MEAN THAT GOD WON'T GIVE US UNDERSTANDING ON THINGS
BECAUSE HE CERTAINLY DOES.
I HAD A LOT OF QUESTIONS ABOUT WHY GOD DIDN'T GET ME OUT
OF THE ABUSIVE SITUATION I WAS IN AS A CHILD.
I WAS BORN AGAIN WHEN I WAS 9 YEARS OLD, AND I STARTED
PRAYING AND ASKING GOD TO DELIVER ME.
NOW, I WAS PROBABLY PRAYING SOME STUFF THAT WASN'T TOO GOOD,
LIKE I PRAYED FOR MY DAD TO DIE AND STUFF LIKE THAT.
THAT WASN'T PROBABLY THE BEST PLAN, BUT GOD SAW MY LITTLE
HEART, AND HE KNEW MY SUFFERING, AND HE DIDN'T DELIVER ME.
BUT HE DID GET ME THROUGH IT, AND HE MADE ME STRONGER
AS A RESULT OF IT.
NOW, I ASKED WHY FOR A LONG, LONG TIME, AND I GOT
A LITTLE BIT OF UNDERSTANDING, BUT TO BE HONEST,
I STILL CANNOT UNDERSTAND WHY SOMETHING LIKE THAT HAPPENS.
BUT I DON'T EVEN CARE ANYMORE.
YOU KNOW WHY I DON'T CARE?
BECAUSE I'M NOT LOOKING AT WHAT I DIDN'T GET,
I'M LOOKING AT WHAT I DID GET.
I'M NOT LOOKING AT WHAT I LOST, I'M LOOKING AT WHAT I FOUND.
COME ON.
SO HE SAID,
"I'LL NEVER ASK YOU WHY."
AND HERE AGAIN, I'M NOT SAYING IT'S WRONG IF YOU DO THAT.
WE'RE GOING TO TALK A LITTLE BIT MORE TODAY ABOUT REASONING
AND HOW REASONING CAN LEAD TO SO MUCH CONFUSION
IN OUR LIVES.
AND THERE COMES A POINT WHERE IT'S GOOD AND HEALTHY TO THINK
ABOUT THINGS AND TO PONDER THINGS WITH GOD, BUT THE MOMENT
YOU MOVE OVER INTO CONFUSION, THAT'S WHERE YOU NEED
TO STOP AND SAY, "GOD, I CAN'T FIGURE THIS OUT."
YOU KNOW WHY?
YOU CAN'T REASON WITH SOMETHING THAT'S UNREASONABLE.
YOU JUST CAN'T DO IT.
WHO'S GOING TO FIGURE OUT WHY A LITTLE 3-YEAR-OLD CHILD GETS
CANCER?
WE'RE NOT GOING TO FIGURE THAT OUT.
SO, I DON'T KNOW ABOUT YOU, BUT I THANK GOD THAT I CAN TRUST
HIM TO MAKE WRONG THINGS RIGHT IN MY LIFE, AMEN?
NOW, BUT THE SECOND THING HE SAID, AND THIS WAS PROBABLY
EVEN MORE IMPORTANT TO ME, HE SAID ONE OF THE FIRST THINGS
HE PRAYED WAS, "GOD, PLEASE HELP ME DO THIS RIGHT."
NOW, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU KNOW FOR SURE WHAT THAT MEANS, BUT I
KNEW IMMEDIATELY THAT HE MEANT BECAUSE HERE'S THE THING.
IT'S EASY TO STAND UP AND PREACH.
IT'S EASY EVEN AS A BELIEVER TO ENCOURAGE OTHER BELIEVERS
ABOUT WHAT THEY SHOULD DO WHEN THEY'RE HAVING PROBLEMS.
WE'VE ALWAYS GOT A GOOD ANSWER FOR EVERYBODY, DON'T WE?
"WELL, JUST TRUST GOD.
JUST TRUST GOD.
GOD'S GOING TO WORK IT OUT.
BE PATIENT.
IT'S ALL GOING TO WORK OUT IN THE END.
JUST LET IT GO.
GOD WILL--GOD WILL REWARD YOU."
BUT WE NOT ONLY NEED TO TELL IT TO OTHER PEOPLE, WE NEED TO DO
IT IN OUR OWN LIFE.
AND SO, THE THING THAT HE WAS PRAYING, AND THE REASON WHY I
LOVE THIS IS BECAUSE HIS FIRST PRAYER WASN'T FOR GOD TO RELIEVE
HIS PAIN, HIS FIRST PRAYER WAS, "GOD, HELP ME REPRESENT YOU
RIGHT TO MY CONGREGATION AND TO THE WORLD THAT I'M
IN SO PEOPLE CAN SEE THAT HAVING FAITH IN YOU
ACTUALLY DOES WORK AND THAT IT PAYS OFF."
COME ON, GIVE GOD A PRAISE.
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: SO, THANK YOU, PASTOR, FOR BEING SUCH A GOOD EXAMPLE
TO ALL OF US.
AND I KNOW THAT--
[AUDIENCE CHEERING]
JOYCE: AND I KNOW WHEN HE PRAYED THAT PRAYER, THAT DIDN'T
MEAN THAT HIS PAIN STOPPED.
THAT DIDN'T MEAN THAT HE STILL DIDN'T SUFFER INSIDE.
BUT HE HAD MADE A DECISION THAT HOW HE REPRESENTED GOD
WAS MORE IMPORTANT THAN HOW HE FELT PERSONALLY.
AND ONE OF THE MAIN THINGS THAT I WANT YOU TO HAVE
AS A TAKEAWAY FROM THIS MORNING'S SESSION
TODAY IS LET'S GET MORE CONCERNED ABOUT HOW WE REPRESENT
JESUS IN THE WORLD EVEN THAN WE ARE GETTING WHAT WE WANT, WHEN
WE WANT IT, THE WAY WE WANT IT.
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: YOU KNOW WHAT?
WE'RE JUST A LITTLE BIT TOO ADDICTED TO GETTING
WHAT WE WANT.
I WONDER HOW MANY PEOPLE TODAY, MAYBE FEWER HERE IN THE CHURCH
BECAUSE THIS IS A LIFESTYLE FOR YOU, BUT I WONDER HOW MANY
POSSIBLY HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE THAT ARE WATCHING
TODAY, AND YOU'RE JUST A LITTLE BIT MAD AT GOD.
I MEAN, IF THE TRUTH IS TOLD, THERE'S JUST A LITTLE RIFT
BETWEEN YOU AND GOD BECAUSE YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND
SOME OF THE THINGS THAT HAVE HAPPENED IN YOUR LIFE.
AND THEY DON'T SEEM FAIR.
AND IF YOU'RE NOT CAREFUL, YOU CAN TAKE THAT TOO FAR,
AND MAN, IT WILL STEAL YOUR WALK WITH GOD.
I SAID LAST NIGHT AND I'M GOING TO SAY IT AGAIN TODAY, I DON'T
KNOW WHY WE DON'T JUST GO AHEAD AND WHOLEHEARTEDLY TRUST GOD
IN EVERYTHING ALL THE TIME BECAUSE WE ONLY HAVE
TWO OPTIONS, TRUST GOD OR BE MISERABLE.
CAN ANYBODY HERE THINK OF ANOTHER OPTION?
I CAN'T.
WE'RE EITHER GOING TO TRUST GOD OR WE'RE GOING TO BE MISERABLE.
AND YOU KNOW, THE WORLD CAN THINK, "WELL, YOU'RE A FOOL
TRUSTING GOD LIKE THAT."
WELL, YOU KNOW WHAT? I'D RATHER BE A HAPPY FOOL.
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: AND I'VE SAID THIS OFTEN IN MY TEACHING, BUT I'M
GOING TO SAY IT AGAIN TODAY.
YOU KNOW, HERE'S THE THING.
IF I SPEND MY WHOLE LIFE LOVING GOD, TRUSTING HIM, SERVING HIM,
STUDYING THE BIBLE EVERY DAY, PREACHING EVERY TIME I TURN
AROUND, AND I GET TO THE END OF MY LIFE AND THERE'S NO GOD,
WELL, AT LEAST I WAS HAPPY.
BUT, IF YOU'RE WRONG--COME ON, IF THOSE OF YOU WHO DON'T
BELIEVE ARE WRONG AND YOU GET TO THE END OF YOUR LIFE,
AND WHOOPS, THERE'S GOD.
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: SO, I DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU WANT TO DO, BUT IF YOU'RE
GOING TO TAKE A CHANCE ON ANYTHING, LET'S TAKE A CHANCE
THAT GOD IS REAL, AND LET'S ACT LIKE HE IS, AND LET'S SERVE HIM.
COME ON.
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: SO, I WAS--I'VE SHARED WHAT HE SAID AT A COUPLE OTHER
OF MY CONFERENCES BECAUSE I REALLY WANT US ALL TO GET
TO THE POINT WHERE WE'RE MORE CONCERNED ABOUT HOW WE'RE
REPRESENTING GOD IN THE WORLD THAN WE ARE JUST GETTING
WHAT WE WANT ALL THE TIME.
JOYCE: WELL, I WANT TO ENCOURAGE YOU TO START
TRUSTING GOD FOR EVERYTHING IN YOUR LIFE ALL THE TIME.
DON'T TRY TO MAKE THINGS HAPPEN YOURSELF.
WAIT AND KEEP YOUR EYES ON JESUS.
NOW, WE'RE OFFERING YOU TODAY THIS WONDERFUL BOOK
THAT I'VE WRITTEN CALLED "UNSHAKEABLE TRUST."
AND TO BE VERY HONEST, I THINK THIS IS RIGHT UP THERE
WITH SOME OF THE IMPORTANT BOOKS THAT I'VE EVER WRITTEN,
AND I'VE WRITTEN A LOT OF BOOKS.
LIFE IS JUST MISERABLE IF WE DON'T LEARN HOW TO TRUST GOD.
AND THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS THAT WE DON'T UNDERSTAND,
BUT TRUSTING GOD BRINGS US INTO HIS REST AND IT GIVES
US PEACE.
TRUSTING GOD ALLOWS US TO ENJOY OUR LIFE.
AND WE'RE OFFERING THIS BOOK TO YOU TODAY FOR YOUR GIFT
TO THE MINISTRY OF ANY AMOUNT.
AND WHATEVER YOU GIVE TODAY IS GOING TO GO TO THE TELEVISION
OUTREACH MINISTRY.
YOU KNOW, OUR TELEVISION MINISTRY IS SEEN
AROUND THE WORLD IN 100 DIFFERENT LANGUAGES
I THINK, SOMETHING LIKE THAT, I DON'T KNOW THE EXACT AMOUNT.
BUT WE HAVE AN UNPRECEDENTED OPPORTUNITY IN FRONT OF US,
AND I'M ASKING YOU TO HELP US NOT ONLY TO KEEP THE PROGRAM ON
THAT YOU'RE WATCHING, BUT TO KEEP REACHING OUT
TO HURTING PEOPLE EVERYWHERE.
SOMETHING THAT I SAY OFTEN IS NOT EVERYBODY WHO NEEDS HELP
WILL GO TO CHURCH, BUT EVERYBODY WATCHES TV.
AND SO, IT'S A GOOD OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO GO FISHING FOR SOULS
AND BE USED BY GOD.
AND I WANT YOU TO JUST DO YOUR BEST.
WE TRUST YOU TO SEND IN THE BEST GIFT THAT YOU CAN, AND IT'S
GOING TO REALLY BE A BLESSING TO ME IF YOU'LL DO THAT.
AND I ALSO WANT YOU TO REMEMBER THAT GOD HAS NOT FORGOTTEN ABOUT
YOU, HE KNOWS EXACTLY WHERE YOU ARE, HE KNOWS EXACTLY WHAT'S
GOING ON IN YOUR LIFE.
HE MAY NOT BE EARLY, BUT HE DEFINITELY WON'T BE LATE.
GOD WILL DELIVER YOU AT JUST THE RIGHT TIME.
PUT YOUR TRUST IN HIM.
FEMALE: HOW DO I TRUST GOD WHEN I'VE BEEN DISAPPOINTED
OVER, AND OVER, AND OVER.
FEMALE: HOW CAN I HAVE FAITH IN GOD WHEN I'M NOT SEEING
AN IMPROVEMENT.
MALE: I TRUST GOD, BUT SOMETIMES I HAVE SO MANY
FEARS I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO.
ANNOUNCER: TOUGH QUESTIONS, SOLID ANSWERS.
DISCOVER A TRUST THAT IS UNSHAKEABLE.
RECEIVE YOUR COPY OF JOYCE'S NEW BOOK, "UNSHAKEABLE TRUST," TODAY
FOR YOUR GIFT OF ANY AMOUNT.
CALL...
OR GO TO JOYCEMEYER.ORG.
JOYCE: WELL, WE ARE VERY HONORED TO HAVE RUTH GRAHAM
JOINING US THIS YEAR AS ONE OF OUR GUEST SPEAKERS
AT THE LOVE LIFE WOMEN'S CONFERENCE.
WELL, RUTH, BEING THE DAUGHTER OF BILLY GRAHAM,
I'M SURE THAT YOU'VE HAD LOTS OF DIFFERENT EXPERIENCES,
A LOT OF WONDERFUL ONES AND MAYBE SOME CHALLENGING ONES.
WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU MIGHT BE SHARING WITH SOME OF THE WOMEN
THAT WILL BE AT THE CONFERENCE THIS YEAR?
RUTH: WELL, I THINK SO MANY OF US FEEL LIKE WE
HAVE TO KEEP MASKS ON.
WE CAN'T BE WHO WE REALLY ARE.
AND SO, I TRY TO BE WHO I REALLY AM, AND SO OFTEN THAT GIVES
PEOPLE PERMISSION TO BE WHO THEY REALLY ARE.
AND GOD--THAT'S WHERE MINISTRY TAKES PLACE.
SO, I'M EXPECTING MINISTRY TO TAKE PLACE.
JOYCE: WELL, THIS IS GONNA BE A POWERFUL WEEKEND AND I REALLY
DON'T WANT YOU TO MISS IT.
SO, INVITE SOME FRIENDS.
REGISTER TODAY.
DON'T PUT IT OFF.
[MUSIC]
[MUSIC]
ANNOUNCER: THE PRECEDING WAS PAID FOR
BY THE FRIENDS AND PARTNERS OF JOYCE MEYER MINISTRIES.
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