You Need God’s Presence, Not His Explanation

Current Teaching Series Hearing The Voice of God

You Need God's Presence, Not His Explanation By Rick Warren — Dec 14, 2016 “Surrender yourself to the Lord, and wait patiently for him” (Psalm 37:7a GW). One of the reasons people struggle with contentment is because we’re always looking for explanations for why things happen in our lives. It ticks us off that God doesn’t offer us explanations. So why doesn’t he? Because he’s testing you. He’s testing you to see if you will let go of control and learn to be content, whether he explains it or not. God doesn’t owe you an explanation for anything, and you wouldn’t understand it even if he gave it. But even if you did get an explanation, it still wouldn’t take away the pain. You’re not going to know why most things happen until you get on the other side of death. God isn’t going to give you an explanation. But he will test you. I remember when I was a little kid, the only time our classroom in school was quiet was during a test. The teacher would say, “No talking! Take your pencils, and fill out your tests.” Even the teacher would be silent. When God is silent in your life, you’re going through a test. When you don’t hear God and he feels like a million miles away, that is a test! The teacher is always silent when the students take a test. When God is silent in your life, your faith is being tested. Will you let go of control, or will you grab on more tightly? Will you learn to be content? When you’re going through pain this next week or next month or this year, you don’t really need God’s explanation. You need God’s presence. “Surrender yourself to the Lord, and wait patiently for him” (Psalm 37:7a GW). PLAY today’s audio teaching from Pastor Rick >> Talk It Over What are you angry with God about that you don’t want to admit? In what way is God testing you right now? How will you respond? What do you think God wants you to do while you wait patiently for him?

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Series Summary Message 1: ​​ God Wants to Talk With You Message 2: ​​​​​​​​​​ Recognizing God’s Voice Message 3: ​​ Getting God’s Vision for My Life PLAY TODAY'S BROADCAST

Pastor Rick Warren

Enjoy today's Devotional? Listen instantly to the full radio message at Daily Hope Radio. Did someone forward this devotional to you? Subscribe to Pastor Rick Warren's Daily Devotional. This devotional is based on the current Daily Hope radio series at pastorrick.com. Rick Warren has helped people live with hope and on purpose for more than 40 years. He’s the founding pastor of Saddleback Church in Southern California and author of several books, including "The Purpose Driven Church" and "The Purpose Driven Life," read by more than 100 million people in 137 languages. He created the PEACE Plan (plant churches of reconciliation, equip servant leaders, assist the poor, care for the sick, educate the next generation), which is used by churches in 196 countries. His radio teaching and daily devotional, Daily Hope, is offered across America. This devotional © 2016 by Rick Warren. All rights reserved. Used by permission. You can unsubscribe at any time by changing your e-mail preferences. Update your preferences  |  Unsubscribe