Get Alone with God, and Wait

Current Teaching Series How To Get Through What You're Going Through

Get Alone with God, and Wait By Rick Warren — May 20, 2017 “The Lord is good to everyone who trusts in him, so it is best for us to wait in patience — to wait for him to save us” (Lamentations 3:25-26 GNT). When life seems to be falling apart, your most “spiritual” decision may be a surprise: Get alone with God, and wait. The Bible says in Lamentations 3:28, “When life is heavy and hard to take, go off by yourself. Enter the silence. Bow in prayer. Don’t ask questions: Wait for hope to appear. Don’t run from trouble. Take it full-face. The ‘worst’ is never the worst” (MSG). Most of us don’t know how to “enter the silence.” We’re always anxious. We don’t like to wait on God because it stresses us out. We like to be in control. What does it mean to wait on God? You sit down, close your mouth, and just listen to God. You may read your Bible. You may pray. But most all, you’re quiet in front of God. Anxiety comes when we’re not “waiting for hope to appear,” as Jeremiah tells us. God wants to talk to us. God wants to give us the hope we crave. But we’re often way too busy. All of our circuits are busy! When God calls, we’re on a different line. If we want to listen to God and experience the hope he has for us, we have to get alone with him. We must “enter the silence” and be ready to hear him. Jesus also said this in Matthew 6:6: “Find a quiet, secluded place so you won’t be tempted to role-play before God. Just be there as simply and honestly as you can manage. The focus will shift from you to God, and you will begin to sense his grace” (MSG). Get honest with God, and your focus will shift from just seeing your problems — no matter how overwhelming they seem — to the grace of God. Lamentations 3:25-26 says, “The Lord is good to everyone who trusts in him, so it is best for us to wait in patience — to wait for him to save us” (GNT).  The same is true for us. No matter what obstacle you’re facing, wait for God’s timing. He’ll time your next move perfectly. So wait and listen. PLAY today’s audio teaching from Pastor Rick >> Talk It Over Think of a time in your life when acting too quickly led to a disastrous outcome. What’s one truth you can draw from that experience? What might help you “enter the silence” with greater consistency?

Our Gift: How To Get Through What You're Going Through Study Kit Find the strength you need to get though life’s toughest trials! Loss is a part of life. But it’s in your seasons of suffering that God wants to lavish his incredible grace and mercy on you – and give you the true and lasting peace that only come from him. Pastor Rick and Kay Warren experienced the loss of their son, Matthew, whose 27-year battle with mental illness led to the tragic loss of his life. They’ve taken the lessons they learned through their own personal experiences with loss and suffering and created a resource that will help anyone navigating through a difficult season. In this six session DVD study kit Rick and Kay will share: • How to move forward when your world collapses • What to do when suffering doesn’t seem to make sense • Where to begin your search for the path to peace • How God uses your trials to transform you • Why the Lord often hides his greatest treasure in the darkness LEARN MORE

Complete Audio Series (Purchase) Includes eight full length teaching CD's from Pastor Rick's series How To Get Through What You're Going Through. LEARN MORE

Series Summary Session 1: SHOCK — When Your World Collapses Session 2: SORROW — Getting Through Life’s Losses  Session 3: STRUGGLE — When Life Makes No Sense Session 4: SURRENDER — The Path To Peace Session 5: SANCTIFICATION — Transformed by Trouble Session 6: START SEEING — Finding Treasure in Darkness Session 7: SERVICE — Never Waste Your Pain 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 around the world. This devotional © 2017 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