Josh Ott's Podcast

This should be a comforting passage. Jesus meant it as one that was both instructive and comforting but… we often only hear what we want to hear or what we fear. Which leads to confusion and hurt. Don’t just hear the scary parts. Don’t just hear the easy parts. There is more to this than just what you fear or want to hear. When you trust God’s plan it brings clarity and peace to your heart and mind.

Life is hard. Painful even. That is why it is so important to remember that the God of the universe loves us deeply. When you can’t see the hand of God at work trust his heart for you. His timing is best. He knows the end game. You can trust him.

We are constantly looking for greener grass. The things that seem to promise us a better life often fail. Even people we love can disappoint us. God never fails. He cultivates green pastures I our souls and lives. He is the door to all we hope for, the way through our difficulties, and the way to eternal life. He is the Good Shepherd who cares deeply about us. Listen for his voice.

Life is messy, and it is easy to believe lies about life, us, and God in difficult circumstances. But wherever you are and whatever you are going through, God is working to bring good out of the bad for those who love Him. What if your current circumstances aren’t punishment but an opportunity to experience growth and watch God work in your life? Some people will oppose you moving forward, but Jesus sees you, knows you, and will lead you through the mess to something beautiful.

It's hard to walk in darkness. It's difficult to see, confusing, disorienting, and easy to get tripped up and lose our way. Thankfully, Jesus declares in the middle of all the fading lights in our lives that he is the light of the world. He is the one who gives life and helps us see its beauty. He is the one we look to for hope. And his promise to all those who follow him is that we will never walk in darkness.

Don’t settle for less, Jesus is “Him.” He is essential to our lives and our eternity. And, as amazing as they are, let’s not get hung up on the miracles or the bread. He has even greater plans for us. The only things in our way are the roadblocks we make.

Some troubles seem to overshadow everything else. We can let them demand time and

energy from us, and take no ground in the process. Or, we can turn to Jesus, who transcends the chaos and

guides us through.

This Talk centers around a beautiful miracle, the third in this series. It’s set at the "Pool of

Mercy," a misleading name because, the truth is, it was a mess. It’s where the sick and outcast of society were left, hoping for healing. In just such dark and impossible spaces, Jesus invades with strength, power, and hope.

Jesus did some unbelievable things. He spoke words that were astonishing, beautiful, and heart-wrenching all at once. We can get hung up on those things, much like most people did in the days Jesus walked the earth. But if we stop there, we miss the whole purpose of Jesus; we miss who He is.