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Prepared in the Quiet: Finding Purpose in the Waiting: Ep 9 of 10 Following Jesus Series · HAVE FAITH LET IT BEGIN®

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  Following Jesus isn't about having all the answers. It's about trusting God one step at a time.
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  Welcome to Following Jesus in Real Life, a special series from Have Faith,
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  Let It Begin. I'm Angel Santana.
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  Today, we'll have honest conversations about faith, doubt, hope,
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  grace, and what it truly means to follow Christ, not just on Sundays, but every single day.
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  Have Faith, Let It Begin starts right now.
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  Welcome to Have Faith, Let It Begin. This is Ariel Santana.
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  Can you believe I'm seven years old already? I'm old enough now to introduce my dad.
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  Ladies and gentlemen, your host, my dad, Angel Santana.
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  He
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  Walks the road walks the road purpose? Your life has a purpose.
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  Today's episode is for you.
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  Here's a heart check for you. We often think that God only works during the
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  big moments, promotions, miracles, breakthroughs, and the answered prayer.
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  If some of God's greatest works happens during that ordinary day,
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  the quiet days, the waiting days, the unseen days, because before God reveals
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  purpose, he often prepares the person.
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  We're going to talk about that. Think about a builder constructing a house.
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  Before anyone admires the finished home, a foundation has to be laid out.
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  Most of that work reminds us of the work that lies ahead.
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  And most of the work happens where no one can see it.
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  The same is true with our spiritual lives. God often spends more time preparing
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  our character than promoting our calling.
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  Why, you probably ask. Well, because if our character can't support our calling,
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  the weight of success can become more than we're ready to carry.
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  Preparation is never wasted. Let me give you a biblical perspective.
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  Throughout scripture, we see that God often prepared people long before he called
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  them into the roles for which they were remembered.
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  Moses spent years tending sheep before leaving Israel.
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  David was a sheep, was a shepherd, a sheep herder, if you want to say that,
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  shepherd before becoming a king.
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  The disciples spent years learning from Jesus before beginning their journey
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  and being sent into ministry.
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  Preparation wasn't a detour. It was a part of God's plan.
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  God wasn't denying or delaying his purpose. He was shaping his people for it.
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  How about a personal perspective for you? Looking back on my own life,
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  there were many times I didn't understand.
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  Moments when I wondered why certain doors stayed closed.
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  Times when I questioned whether I was moving in the right direction.
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  But in hindsight, has taught me something.
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  Some of the experiences I once
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  saw as setbacks became the very things God later used to strengthen me.
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  What felt like waiting was actually preparation. What felt like delay,
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  often God building a stronger foundation.
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  That's what he was doing. And how do I live that out? How do we live it out
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  today? Well, maybe today you're waiting for the next chapter.
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  So don't overlook the chapter you're living right now.
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  This this time matters the conversations you have today matter the small acts
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  of faithfulness matter the lessons you're learning matter,
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  god rarely wastes an experience,
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  even when you doubt or you don't,
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  well i shouldn't say doubt even when you don't understand it let's go that route,
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  He can use it to prepare you for something and for what's ahead.
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  So keep faithful where you are. Here's your faith challenge this week.
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  Spend time reflecting on your journey and ask yourself, what has God already been teaching me?
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  Write down three lessons that you've learned through your difficult time.
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  Then thank God for shaping you, even when you couldn't.
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  Even when you couldn't see the purpose at time.
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  And finally, pray about it. Say a prayer like this.
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  Lord, prepare me for whatever you have next. So help me be faithful today.
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  You may not know exactly what tomorrow holds, but you can trust that the one
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  thing, you can definitely trust the one who holds tomorrow.
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  Your current time is not meaningless. Your waiting is not wasted.
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  Your story is not being written.
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  It's still being written. God is preparing you, not just for what he wants you
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  to do, but for the person he is calling you to become.
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  Let's pray about it. Heavenly Father, thank you for working in our lives,
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  even when we can't see the whole picture.
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  Help us trust you during this preparation.
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  Give us patience when we're waiting. Give us courage when we're uncertain.
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  Shape our hearts, strengthen our character, and teach us to remain faithful
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  in the ordinary moments of our lives.
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  May we never underestimate what you're doing behind the scenes.
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  Just prepare us for the plans that you have for us. In Jesus' name we pray, amen.
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  Here's today's takeaway. God is often preparing you in the places where you
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  think nothing is happening.
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  Thank you for joining me for episode nine of 10, Following Jesus in Real Life.
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  Remember, preparation is part of God's purpose.
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  So stay faithful, stay patient, stay hopeful, and always remember to never forget,
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  to have faith and let it begin.
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  Coming up next, our final episode of the season, not the season,
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  of the series, excuse me, I misspoke.
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  The final episode of this series. We do 10 parts to every series.
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  And it's called, You're Closer Than You Think. So don't give up now.
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  As we conclude this journey together, we discover that the growth God has been
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  working in us often becomes visible only when we look back.
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  If you ever felt like you're not making progress in your faith,
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  this final episode is a reminder that God is still working and you're closer than you think.
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  We'll see you tomorrow. Take care.
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  Welcome to Have Faith, Let It Begin. This is Ariel Santana.
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  Can you believe I'm seven years old already? I'm old enough now to introduce my dad.
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  Ladies and gentlemen, your host, my dad, Angel Santana.