Good things happen to good people, and bad things happen to bad people. That’s how it works, right? What comes around goes around. Karma will always catch you. Ultimately, this was the mistake the Job’s friends made. They assumed that because Job was facing the most horrific of circumstances. And we can do this, too, at times. We think we can speak authoritatively for God and declare that we KNOW the reasons WHY things are happening. Today, Pastor Bill will remind us that God is the ONLY one who can truly know why things are happening, and we need to trust Him for that.

We join Pastor Bill in the midst of a story about his son, who they eventually discovered was autistic. Pastor Bill shares how challenging this was for him as a father and how challenging it was for the Buffington family. That said, you will hear some amazing things that God did in and through this circumstance. You see, God will always use the things in our lives to draw us closer to Him…even the things that seem like there’s nothing redeemable…nothing good. Like Job, we can turn to God while in the midst of anything we face in this life, good or bad.

“When praises go up, blessings come down.” While we can certainly experience the blessing of God when we praise God, that CANNOT be the reason WHY we praise Him. That’s a backwards understanding of the goodness of God. We can’t expect blessings because of our works. Pastor Bill will remind us that the number one thing that we need to thank God for is the giving of His one and only Son, Jesus Christ. If God never does another thing in your life, He has given you His Son.

Isn’t that the truth? There are some things that we face that are more challenging than even the worst of sicknesses. A broken heart is a hard thing to heal. And sometimes we want to compare those different forms of suffering. Have you thought about why Job never asked God to heal his physical body? Pastor Bill will share that Job very likely never asked for healing because it didn’t matter to him. So what…I’m healed…but my whole family is still gone. Job’s heart was broken so much that he didn’t seem to care about his physical body.

Pastor Bill will spend some time today in Ephesians chapter 6 talking about the armor of God. Stop and think about the armor…is there any piece of the armor of God that protects your back? No. All of the armor of God is fashioned and fitted to protect you as you progress FORWARD in your walk with Him. Pastor Bill shares with us that this is the key to overcoming the trials and struggles of life…KEEP MOVING FORWARD. It’s when we stop and throw a pity party that we open ourselves up to the attack of the enemy.

Have you ever heard the euphemism, “don’t buy the hand that feeds you?” People say this to describe an attitude or an action that communicates a total blindness to the authority structures that exist. It doesn’t serve a dog well to constantly buy their owner when they’re trying to feed them. Sometimes, we do this same thing with God. We start to complain and even BLAME God for the bad things in our lives, forgetting that the breath we just used to utter those words came by the love, grace, and mercy of our Creator!

That is a powerful word of encouragement from Pastor Bill. How many times have you asked God this question, “God, why are you allowing this awful thing to happen in my life? I thought you loved me!?!?!?!” When in the depths of despair, it’s easy to blame the wrong person. As Pastor Bill shares today, we need to be careful not to attribute an attack from the enemy of our souls to God. Many times, the struggles we face are directly traced back to satan himself. He wants nothing more than to derail us from our faith.

What battles rage in your mind when life feels overwhelming? In today’s message, Pastor Bill describes how a spiritual war might unfold in your thoughts. God equips you with powerful spiritual weapons: His Word and prayer. These are mighty for tearing down strongholds that try to hold you captive. When your mind feeds you lies, God’s Word speaks truth to counter them. When you feel weak, prayer connects you to the Lord’s strength.

How much energy do you spend defending yourself against criticism? Today, Pastor Bill shares a freeing insight: when you resist the urge to defend yourself, God can step in to handle what you leave in His hands. Constantly fighting your own battles can consume you, turning self-defense into a full-time job. But if you let God take those attacks, you’re free to focus on His calling. The enemy loves to keep you busy with distractions. How can you avoid letting them get under your skin?

What does true substance look like in a world obsessed with style? In today’s message, Pastor Bill points to Jesus, God in the flesh, who lived simply, focused on a spiritual mission. His followers weren’t chasing wealth or status either. They were rich in spiritual power, not gold. God can fill you with what money can’t buy, a completeness that transforms lives. True abundance lies in His spiritual gifts, not worldly gain. How do you seek the spiritual riches God offers over material possessions?