Life comes with troubles. In the midst of these troubles, it is all too easy to not be able to see anything but the immediate situation. In these times, we must remember that what we see right then is not the end state. God has other plans. God can change our perspective. This change in perspective can change our perception of our future. Getting to see this new perception releases us to praise. The Psalmist encourages us to lift our hands in the sanctuary. To do this, we must let go of all the negative things we are carrying and open our hands to praise. The sanctuary is a place God gives us to come and leave our problems, our hurts, and our disappointments. Let God change our perspective and open the bridge to our possibilities.

Life comes with troubles. In the midst of these troubles, it is all too easy to not be able to see anything but the immediate situation. In these times, we must remember that what we see right then is not the end state. God has other plans. God can change our perspective. This change in perspective can change our perception of our future. Getting to see this new perception releases us to praise. The Psalmist encourages us to lift our hands in the sanctuary. To do this, we must let go of all the negative things we are carrying and open our hands to praise. The sanctuary is a place God gives us to come and leave our problems, our hurts, and our disappointments. Let God change our perspective and open the bridge to our possibilities.

Our God is a giving God. While He gives, He also takes away. We read many accounts in the Bible where God took something away. However, we also read that after taking away, He eventually gives again, often much better than before. God will not leave us with nothingness. After the storm, God restores the sunshine.

God also removes hardships. We like it when he does that. Is it unreasonable to expect that if God gives, He may also take away? Job's wife wrestled with this concept. She enjoyed the increase God provided, but when all was removed, she urged Job to curse God and die. Hearing this, Job rebuked his wife and reminded her that the Lord giveth and the Lord taketh away.

Takeaway is also an expression we use to describe a lesson learned from something. We might ask someone for their takeaway from a lesson or lecture, but this principle also applies to situations in life. If we are not careful, we can focus on what we have lost (what has been taken away) and not the lesson learned from the experience (the takeaway). Sometimes God has to take some things from us so He can do more for us. We cannot sing a new song if the old song is still on our lips. Often, the end of something makes way for something better. Do not focus on what was lost, but look expectantly for what God has in the future.

Our God is a giving God. While He gives, He also takes away. We read many accounts in the Bible where God took something away. However, we also read that after taking away, He eventually gives again, often much better than before. God will not leave us with nothingness. After the storm, God restores the sunshine.

God also removes hardships. We like it when he does that. Is it unreasonable to expect that if God gives, He may also take away? Job's wife wrestled with this concept. She enjoyed the increase God provided, but when all was removed, she urged Job to curse God and die. Hearing this, Job rebuked his wife and reminded her that the Lord giveth and the Lord taketh away.

Takeaway is also an expression we use to describe a lesson learned from something. We might ask someone for their takeaway from a lesson or lecture, but this principle also applies to situations in life. If we are not careful, we can focus on what we have lost (what has been taken away) and not the lesson learned from the experience (the takeaway). Sometimes God has to take some things from us so He can do more for us. We cannot sing a new song if the old song is still on our lips. Often, the end of something makes way for something better. Do not focus on what was lost, but look expectantly for what God has in the future.

Sometimes we find ourselves needing something from God. Sometimes he responds quickly, and other times he is silent. We struggle with those times when we do not hear from Him. In these quiet times, it is easy to miss the blessings that God has provided as we long for the answer to our need. He does the big things, but He also does the small things that sustain us. God can work immediately, or it may take 20 years to get the answer we want. For Abraham and Sarah, it was 100 years before they saw their miracle. No matter the timing, God is always on time.

But when God speaks, things happen. When He speaks, worlds come into existence, people rise from the dead, or the Red Sea parts. The first chapter of Genesis has "God said…and it was so" ten times. Sometimes God speaks to us, other times he speaks through things around us, like a burning bush or a donkey. In Mark 4, Jesus is asleep in the rear of the ship during a great storm. The disciples woke Him in a panic. Jesus did not speak to them at first; He spoke to the great storm, and what followed was a great peace. Just because He is not speaking directly to you does not mean that he is not speaking for you.

After running from God, Jonah finds himself in the belly of a great fish. God had a plan. As bad as being in the fish's belly was, it was better than drowning after being thrown overboard. The situation we are in may be bad, but it might be part of something bigger God is doing. If there was ever a time Jonah needed a word from God, it was in this situation, but God did not speak to him. He spoke to the fish. In the time of our most desperate need, God may be speaking to someone else on our behalf. At our worst time, God may be talking to the storm. God has appointed something great.

Sometimes we find ourselves needing something from God. Sometimes he responds quickly, and other times he is silent. We struggle with those times when we do not hear from Him. In these quiet times, it is easy to miss the blessings that God has provided as we long for the answer to our need. He does the big things, but He also does the small things that sustain us. God can work immediately, or it may take 20 years to get the answer we want. For Abraham and Sarah, it was 100 years before they saw their miracle. No matter the timing, God is always on time.

But when God speaks, things happen. When He speaks, worlds come into existence, people rise from the dead, or the Red Sea parts. The first chapter of Genesis has "God said…and it was so" ten times. Sometimes God speaks to us, other times he speaks through things around us, like a burning bush or a donkey. In Mark 4, Jesus is asleep in the rear of the ship during a great storm. The disciples woke Him in a panic. Jesus did not speak to them at first; He spoke to the great storm, and what followed was a great peace. Just because He is not speaking directly to you does not mean that he is not speaking for you.

After running from God, Jonah finds himself in the belly of a great fish. God had a plan. As bad as being in the fish's belly was, it was better than drowning after being thrown overboard. The situation we are in may be bad, but it might be part of something bigger God is doing. If there was ever a time Jonah needed a word from God, it was in this situation, but God did not speak to him. He spoke to the fish. In the time of our most desperate need, God may be speaking to someone else on our behalf. At our worst time, God may be talking to the storm. God has appointed something great.

Construction projects all begin with some destruction and messiness. Before there can be any reconstruction, some demolition must occur. Before there can be healing, there must be sickness. Before restoration, there must be some loss.

Miracles can be messy. Lazarus came out of the tomb still wrapped in the burial clothes and smelling like death. Your messy situation may look bad now, but it is part of a miracle in the making. God will restore what the enemy tried to destroy. Jesus raised Lazarus after four days of being dead. God is not constrained by time. Be it four days or forty years, God will move when His timing is right. God is not finished. If you are still breathing, there is still hope. The mess does not repel God; it attracts him. It is not over. He is not done. We are in the middle of a miracle.

Construction projects all begin with some destruction and messiness. Before there can be any reconstruction, some demolition must occur. Before there can be healing, there must be sickness. Before restoration, there must be some loss.

Miracles can be messy. Lazarus came out of the tomb still wrapped in the burial clothes and smelling like death. Your messy situation may look bad now, but it is part of a miracle in the making. God will restore what the enemy tried to destroy. Jesus raised Lazarus after four days of being dead. God is not constrained by time. Be it four days or forty years, God will move when His timing is right. God is not finished. If you are still breathing, there is still hope. The mess does not repel God; it attracts him. It is not over. He is not done. We are in the middle of a miracle.

It is easy to draw a crowd when you are giving away free food. Jesus routinely had a multitude of people following Him. Most of them were focused on what He would do for them. When He was giving out healing or providing loaves and fish, people clamored to see Him. But when He began to require hard choices or sacrifice from people who followed, many fell away, unwilling to pay the price. The rich young ruler, who didn't want to sell all he had, went away sad.

Our text describes another encounter with someone who wanted to follow Jesus, but first asked to bury his recently deceased father. Jesus responds with: "Let the dead bury the dead." Brother Kelley unpacks this curious, seemingly uncompassionate statement and its deeper meaning that has application to our lives today.

It is easy to draw a crowd when you are giving away free food. Jesus routinely had a multitude of people following Him. Most of them were focused on what He would do for them. When He was giving out healing or providing loaves and fish, people clamored to see Him. But when He began to require hard choices or sacrifice from people who followed, many fell away, unwilling to pay the price. The rich young ruler, who didn't want to sell all he had, went away sad.

Our text describes another encounter with someone who wanted to follow Jesus, but first asked to bury his recently deceased father. Jesus responds with: "Let the dead bury the dead." Brother Kelley unpacks this curious, seemingly uncompassionate statement and its deeper meaning that has application to our lives today.