Episode Transcript
[00:00:12] Speaker A: Well, hey, friends, welcome back to the weekday podcast. As we wrap up this week, I want you to think about Philippians 4, verse 9, where Paul says, whatever you've learned, whatever you've received or heard from me or seen in me, put it into practice, and the God of peace will be with you. My challenge for you is to choose hope this December. We've spent this week thinking about what it means to rediscover wonder during the Advent season. And I want to bring it together today, because this isn't just about having a nicer Christmas. This is actually about whether you'll still be walking with Jesus six months from now. Some of you are closer to giving up than you realize. You're one more disappointment or one more unanswered prayer or one more hard season away from walking away completely, and you're telling yourself you're fine, I'm just tired. I'll bounce back eventually. But the thing that I'm concerned about is not your excuse or what you're saying, but the direction that you're going. Because when you stop looking up, you stop seeing God. And when you stop letting go, the weight crushes you. And when you stop leaning in, you drift so far that you don't recognize yourself anymore. And God is saying, not yet. Not on my watch.
Come back to me. And so this Advent season, God's inviting you to receive what Jesus is actively doing in your life right now. That Jesus pierces the darkness. So look up, lift your eyes. See the light that has come. Hope doesn't remove the darkness. It gives you the courage to keep walking through it. Because Jesus walks with you. Jesus provides peace. So let go. Stop trying to control everything, and rest in the Prince of Peace. The weight, the burden, the control. It rests on his shoulders, not yours. And Jesus prepares your future. So lean in trust that God's waiting is not wasted, that God is still writing your story with hope. He's preparing something that you cannot see. And so here's what I want you to hear today. You have to choose to receive it. You have to choose to step towards him. You have to choose Jesus. You have to choose hope. Paul clearly says in Philippians 4. 9, whatever you've learned, put it into practice, and the God of peace will be with you. It's not a suggestion. It's. It's a promise that peace is not a vibe to chase. It's not a mood that you manufacture. Peace is a person, and his name is Jesus. So let me ask you, and I need you to answer this honestly, at least to yourself. If you've stopped looking, will you look up again today, not someday. If you've been holding on too tight, will you let go before it breaks you? And if you've pulled back from God, will you lean in before the distance becomes permanent? The light is here. The Prince of Peace is present. And the future God's preparing for you was better than you can imagine. But you have to choose. Before December hits full speed, take a breath, bring your heart before God and pray something like this. God, I give you my December before it fully gets into action. Guard my heart, guide my thoughts. Help me to walk in your peace. May my home, my work, my words reflect your calm in a chaotic world. In Jesus name.
Now you don't have to have it all together to have peace. You just have to walk with the one who is peace. The God who kept his promise in Bethlehem. He's the one that's keeping his promise to you. You cannot control the chaos, but you can carry peace through it. Have a great day. We look forward to seeing you this Sunday at Sugar Hill Church. And if you're not local, you can join us at Live Sugarhill Church. Have a great day. We'll see you soon.
[00:03:32] Speaker A: Sam.
