00:00Today I just wanted to
00:05stop for a moment and say hello to you not because you did
00:10something wrong and not because you need fixing not
00:15because you need another lesson from Douglas
00:18Vandegraaff today.
00:20I just wanted to say hello, you know sometimes
00:25the most powerful thing you can give another person is not
00:28advice, correct
00:30correction, theology, or another solution.
00:35Sometimes recognition is enough to be seen.
00:40To be acknowledged, to be reminded that your life
00:45is not invisible and I see you.
00:50So I wanted to tell you something that maybe you
00:53haven't heard in a while.
00:55You're doing a good job.
00:58Yes, you.
01:00You're doing a good job.
01:02And I know right away your mind wants to
01:05argue with that.
01:06You want to list what you haven't finished, point out
01:10what still hurts.
01:13Remind yourself of what
01:15didn't work.
01:16But I'm not talking about perfection.
01:20I'm talking about effort.
01:23I'm talking about endurance.
01:25I'm talking about the fact that you're still standing.
01:30when it would have been easier to quit.
01:34That matters.
01:35There's a tragedy that we know when the truth can lead
01:40down.
01:41It's something that I say.
01:44I think the truth is something that I live young
01:45will desire.
01:46I think that I not see words to the truth.
01:48OK.
01:49And that is a strange lie I learn as adults that
02:04even when they're still becoming. Think about Elijah.
02:09He was sitting under that tree. He was convinced his life was over.
02:14He thought he had failed too badly and that he was finished.
02:19And God didn't come to him with thunder and judgment.
02:22God didn't come to him with thunder and judgment.
02:24God came with food and rest and a quiet question.
02:29What are you doing here? Not accusation.
02:34Presence.
02:36That's what I want to offer.
02:39You right now is presence because you are.
02:44You are doing a good job.
02:45You've been carrying things quietly.
02:49Worries that don't show up on the outside.
02:52Questions.
02:54Don't say out loud.
02:57Fatigue you've learned.
02:59How to hide.
03:00You smile and you work.
03:03You sh-
03:04Show up.
03:04But inside you wonder if it's actually.
03:09Enough.
03:10I've felt that way many times in my life.
03:14But I want to say this clearly to you today.
03:18You don't have to.
03:19You don't have to worry about all that noise today.
03:22You don't have to solve.
03:24You don't have to solve everything right now.
03:27You don't have to be five.
03:29Five years ahead.
03:29You're not five years behind.
03:32You don't have to know how.
03:34How the story ends before you trust God with the next.
03:39So today is going to be.
03:44A good day.
03:45Not because nothing will go wrong.
03:48And not.
03:49Not because life will suddenly be gentle.
03:52But because God will be.
03:54present in it.
03:55With you.
03:57On this day.
03:59And that presence changes everything.
04:04You know.
04:04Most of Jesus's life was not miracles.
04:09It was just normal days.
04:11Like today.
04:14Sweat.
04:15Wood dust.
04:16Meals.
04:17Waiting.
04:19Prayer when nobody was watching.
04:22We love the miracle.
04:24But God shapes people in the quiet.
04:29And that's where you are right now.
04:32You may feel.
04:34Like your life is small.
04:35Like your progress is slow.
04:39Like your faith is fragile.
04:42I have felt all of the.
04:44Those things in the past.
04:46But God does not measure growth.
04:49The way people do.
04:50He doesn't rush maturity.
04:53He.
04:54He doesn't skip steps.
04:56He doesn't confuse speed.
04:59With strength.
05:00And right now.
05:02You may just.
05:04Be in training.
05:05For the beautiful things.
05:07That are going to be coming into you.
05:09Your life.
05:10You're going to have to be.
05:11Strong enough to carry those.
05:14Beautiful things when they arrive.
05:16And this waiting is not punishment.
05:19Repetition is not failure.
05:24Ordinary days.
05:26They're not wasted days.
05:28They're.
05:29Building something inside you.
05:31So when I say.
05:33You.
05:34You're doing a good job.
05:36I don't mean your life is perfect.
05:39What I mean.
05:41Is.
05:42You are still trying.
05:44You're still hoping.
05:46You are still believing.
05:48Even.
05:49Even when it would be easier.
05:51To harden.
05:53And.
05:54I say.
05:55Don't worry about that.
05:57I don't mean nothing.
05:58Matter.
05:59Matters.
05:59I mean.
06:00God is already holding.
06:02What you can't control.
06:04Fear always wants to rush the future into today.
06:09Faith.
06:10Let's tomorrow.
06:12Stay in God's hands.
06:14And.
06:15When I say that today is going to be a great day.
06:19I don't mean that dramatically.
06:22I mean it.
06:24Meaningfully.
06:25I mean that you will be held.
06:29I mean that you have been seen.
06:32And.
06:33You are not.
06:34Abandoned.
06:35You know.
06:36Some days the greatest miracle is simply.
06:39Staying faithful.
06:41Some days the bravest.
06:44Prayer is.
06:45God.
06:46I don't understand this.
06:49But I trust you anyway.
06:52Because some days.
06:54The holiest thing you can do is get up and keep.
06:59Keep walking.
07:00And.
07:01That is not small in heaven's eyes.
07:04So.
07:07Let's let.
07:09Be lighter than yesterday.
07:12Let your shoulders drop.
07:14Bracing for the next disaster.
07:19Let your spirit remember that God is not waiting.
07:24For you at the finish line.
07:26He's walking with you.
07:28Right now.
07:29On the road that you were on.
07:32And if nobody else.
07:34Says this to you today.
07:36I want you to hear it from me.
07:39Hello.
07:41You're doing a good job.
07:44Don't worry about that.
07:46Today.
07:47Is going to be a good job.
07:49Not because of what you can control.
07:54But because of who walks with you.
07:57And.
07:59And that my friends.
08:01Is more than enough.
08:04Truth.
08:06God bless you.
08:09Bye bye.
08:10Bye bye.
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