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Waiting is never easy—especially when suffering lingers. In this urgent message from James 5, Dr. Michael Youssef calls believers to endure patiently, trusting that Jesus Christ is coming again and that His timing is perfect.

Scripture is clear: trials do not destroy true faith—they refine it. Like the farmer waiting for harvest, the prophets speaking God’s Word under pressure, and Job enduring deep suffering, God’s people must stand firm without grumbling, self-pity, or compromise.

This episode calls you to:

God is at work behind the scenes. The harvest is coming. And Christ will reward steadfast faith.

Scripture Focus: James 5:7–12

 If today’s teaching stirred a question, burden, or need for prayer, you don’t have to walk through it alone. 

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Credit card rewards can look like easy money, especially when you hear stories of people earning flights, hotel stays, and cash bonuses simply by opening new cards. But one increasingly popular strategy—known as credit card churning—may carry more risk than reward.

As Christians, we’re called to think about financial tools with wisdom, not just ask whether something is technically allowed or potentially profitable. The better question is this: Does this help me become a more faithful steward of what God has entrusted to me?

Credit card churning is the practice of opening new credit cards primarily to earn sign-up bonuses. A person opens a card, spends enough to qualify for the bonus, collects the reward, and then moves on to the next offer.

On the surface, it may sound clever. After all, if a card offers hundreds of dollars in rewards, why not take advantage of it?

But for most people, the strategy is far more complicated than it appears.

Opening multiple credit cards can trigger hard inquiries on your credit report. It can reduce the average age of your accounts. It can create more payment due dates to manage. And many card issuers have become more restrictive with these offers than they were in years past.

Some companies limit how often you can receive a bonus. Others may claw back rewards if they believe the system has been abused. And even when everything goes according to plan, one missed payment, one overlooked annual fee, or one spending requirement that encourages unnecessary purchases can quickly erase the benefit.

For most people, it is simply more effort than it is worth.

A simpler setup—a reliable rewards card, a debit card, and perhaps a business card if needed—will meet most needs without adding unnecessary risk.

That does not mean all credit card rewards are unwise. If someone pays the balance in full every month, tracks spending carefully, and already lives within a healthy budget, rewards can provide real value.

A cash-back card may reduce everyday expenses. A travel card may help with a planned trip. And credit cards often provide stronger fraud protections than debit cards.

But here is the key: rewards should enhance good financial habits, not compensate for weak ones.

A rewards card is not a solution for overspending. It is not a substitute for a budget. And it should never become an excuse to buy more than you planned simply to earn points.

If you carry a balance, the interest will almost always outweigh the rewards.

It may make sense to open a credit card when someone has already demonstrated financial consistency.

That means they pay bills on time. They track their spending. They are not carrying consumer debt. They have a stable plan for their money.

In that context, a credit card may help build credit history and provide useful benefits.

But it is wise to be cautious about opening a new card if you are already carrying credit card debt, struggling to manage monthly expenses, recovering from missed payments, or tempted to spend more because of rewards.

The issue is not simply whether a credit card is good or bad. The issue is whether it supports faithfulness—or creates unnecessary temptation and complexity.

Some argue that rewards benefit financially healthy cardholders at the expense of those in debt. Others point out that rewards are often funded through merchant fees, which businesses agree to pay when they accept cards.

There is a moral dimension worth considering, but we should be careful not to oversimplify it.

Rewards are generally tied to creditworthiness and financial behavior. Many households at a variety of income levels can qualify for rewards by building s

Author Don Everts knows what it’s like to feel disconnected in your own neighborhood. But he also knows why community is critically important.

Show Notes and Resources

• Host a high-impact church event without starting from scratch by using code STRONGFAMILIES between June 16–30 to get a FREE video-based study and planning support when you buy 10+ workbooks go to shop.familylife.com
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Mankind has had some great ideas: air travel, space flight, the wheel, the smartphone. But everyday, each of us has some very bad ideas. God calls them sin. But, good or bad, it starts with an idea. And today on A NEW BEGINNING, Pastor Greg Laurie helps us keep our ideas in check. We’re launching a new series from “the book of beginnings,” the book of Genesis. We’ll see dangerous ideas can be traced all the way back to the Garden of Eden.

Harvest Crusade tickets are fully claimed—but it’s not too late to participate and witness what God does on July 11. Invite your loved ones to watch online with you and make sure you join the waitlist in case more tickets become available.

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Become a Harvest Partner today and join us in knowing God and making Him known through media and large-scale evangelism, our mission of over 30 years.

Explore more resources from Pastor Greg Laurie, including daily devotionals and blogs, designed to answer your spiritual questions and equip you to walk closely with Christ.

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 Raising a daughter today isn’t easy. Between social pressure, cultural expectations, and questions about identity and self-worth, many parents wonder if they’re doing enough. Dannah Gresh explores how moms can connect deeply with their daughters, guide them with grace, and help them grow strong in their faith and confidence in who God created them to be. 

Receive a copy of 8 Great Dates for Moms and Daughters and an audio download of "Cultivating a Strong Mother-Daughter Bond" for your donation of any amount! Plus, receive member-exclusive benefits when you make a recurring gift today. Your monthly support helps families thrive.

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Did you know that the happiest, healthiest, and most fulfilled people in the world all have one thing in common? In this program, Chip helps us discover what that is and how we can make it a part of our lives - starting today!

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Resources Mentioned in Teaching

• Dr. Stephen Past and Jill Neimark – Why Good Things Happen to Good People: How to Live a longer, Healthier Life by the Simple Act of Giving
• J.I. Packer - “Within the cluster of God’s moral perfections, there is one in particular to which the term ‘goodness’ points. The quality which God especially singled out from the whole when proclaiming all His goodness to Moses. He spoke of Himself as abundant in goodness and truth. This is the quality of” – are you ready? “generosity.”