B (1:54)

I just actually cannot.

A (1:55)

It has stickers on the first page. So right when you open it, you know it's going to be a great experience. It's smaller, it's cuter. I always get this one and now I'm getting 10. And then. Excuse me, excuse me. We created a watercolor version of it. It's watercolor thick paper with pictures to watercolor and spaces to watercolor. And notes also, of course. And it comes with just the best little water.

B (2:22)

This is like you are an artist. You buy this and you become an artist.

A (2:26)

Yeah, it's not like the cheap walmart one. It's like nice rectangles. I don't know why. The rectangles make me feel like I trust it even more. So I just want to tell you this because these for sure going to sell out the watercolor ones and the kids, too. So get first dips. We're giving you first dip.

B (2:42)

So hurry. So hurry.

A (2:43)

There goes that. Okay, back to 98. 98. 98. You guys. We kind of started into this idea of what's going on last week where we've got the saints living in Kirtland and the ones living in Missouri, and the ones living in Missouri are just getting pummeled, genuinely. And you can imagine what that must be like for them. When I was in 10th grade, I had this awesome world history teacher, and he really made all the lessons come alive for us. And I distinctly remember going into the auditorium to have the presentation on the Holocaust and him going through just everything that happened. And he had lined the room in the auditorium with all. With a list of names in the smallest font, and it was the names of everybody who had lost their lives. It was so dramatic and it was so tragic, you know, And I remember walking out of that auditorium and I was thinking to myself, those questions that you may have asked before is, is God actually good and can he be trusted? And I can imagine, you know, I'm however many years removed right from that experience.

B (4:04)

At the time, none of those names were familiar.

A (4:07)

I didn't know any of them. And I still was so deeply impacted by Buy it. And to, you know, that's one thing to be a third party to it, but to be the one that's actually happening to. To be the saints who are having all of these unfair and terrible things happening to them, I can just imagine what their questions are, because there's something about tragedy that makes us not be able to trust God anymore or to wonder if he's actually good. Like, why aren't you doing anything about this? Why are you letting something like this happen to us? And those seem to be the questions that are on the mind, would be the questions on the minds of the hearts of the people that we meet in section 98.

B (4:58)

Well, and I think part of the thing is we live our lives, especially as Christians, and we hear when you follow God, like, you will be happy and you will be blessed, and good things will happen, and we. And then all of a sudden, when bad things happen and when tragedy strikes and when heartbreak comes, I think because we're so used to the idea that, like, oh, when things are going good, that means I'm doing things right and God must be good and he must love me. That all of a sudden when the flip, when the pages turn and the script just flipped, whoa, that was a tongue twister for me. And then all of a sudden you start realizing, wait a minute, now that there's tragedy and now that there's heartbreak, what does this teach me about who God is?

A (5:38)

Yeah. And I think that would be a great question and an awes discussion to have with friends and family to just say, like, does tragedy mean that God isn't good? What's his role in it and what is happening? Like, what is he doing behind the scenes of this? And these sections really help us discover what those answers are. So if you go to the very Beginning of Section 98, here's some of the words that God speaks to these saints in their terrible time of trouble. I almost said this phrase, and I'll just say it right now while they're in the mud, because literally they've been kicked out. They crossed the river and they're in these shanties and shacks on the muddy riverside. No homes, no prospect of what to do. God had made all these promises about Zion and now it felt like they were all gone. And that's something that can really easily come into our minds and hearts, is, oh, God has neglected all of his promises. Right. God must be mad. God must be unable. God must be unloving. The tip ins for this week are a quote from Parley P. Pratt, who was there. I'll just read this to you where he says hundreds of people were seen in every direction, some intense, some in open air around their fires while the rain descended in torrents. Husbands were inquiring for their wives, wives for their husbands, parents for children, and children for parents. The scene was indescribable and I'm sure would have melted the hearts of any people on earth except our blind oppressors and a blind and ignorant community. So this just goes into your scriptures to remind you this is what's happening at that time. And then here is some of the response from the Lord. All right, let's start in. In verse one, some of his very first words. I say unto you, my friends. It's interesting that he is going to re emphasize that they are friends because it would be easy to assume that they weren't anymore. Like, have we broken up? But he's like, remember, you are my friends here. And were you gonna say something?

B (7:49)

Well, yeah. And the first thing he thought was important is that to mention that there is a relationship, a standing relationship. And when you think about a friend, it is just true that for a good friend, you are not just a good friend when good things are happening. And you are not just a good friend when everything is going right. If you are a good and loyal, that means you are showing up on the good days and on the bad days, the worst days of your life and the best days of your life, good true friends are showing up for all of them. And I don't think it's an accident that that's the word that he used to introduce himself here. The reminder that he says, wait, you are my friends. Which means that despite circumstances, I will still show up for you.

A (8:32)

Yeah. That is so awesome. And then he says, fear not. Let your hearts be comforted. I've circled that word let because I think that is like an invitation. Let your hearts be allowed to be comforted. Yea, rejoice evermore and in everything give thanks. Notice that the tone of this is not like, stop complaining. But instead it's healing. It's word. He is, he's teaching them how to make it through this muddy middle. He says, you'll be surprised what gratitude can do. You'll be surprised what Rejoice. Finding reasons to rejoice. Letting your heart rejoice. You'll be surprised what happens when you don't give in to fear. This is a healing verse. It's what the Lord is teaching me. He's like, try these things and see what happens. And if you are in a season right now of those, or even if you're not right, it might be awesome to like have a little challenge as a family to say, let's have a week of gratitude, let's have a day. A poster set up where we write down the things that we have reason to rejoice over. And the interesting thing is all of us, no matter who's listening, is having something that's like weighing them down in their life right now. That's a constant of mortality. And what God is helping them understand is like, oh, give thanks in things, find reasons to rejoice and just see what happens. Take the experiment. Do the experiment together as a family, as a group of friends, whoever, and see what ends up happening just a week later.

B (10:09)

And there's something important to realize that we started with those two questions, is God good? And can he be trusted? And verse number one almost doesn't like, make a lot of sense after you ask those questions, when you ask, is God good? And can he be Trusted you, like, kind of are expecting this response of him to be like, yes, and let me tell you all of the reasons why. And he does that. But it's not necessarily in the way that you expect. And I think as you go through verse by verse in this chapter, start with those questions every single verse and say, is God good? And what do I learn about his goodness? In verse number one, I learned that he's a friend. I all my friends, I think, make my life better. They are good to me. That instantly is answering that question, is God good? Yes. And if he's my friend, that instantly means I can trust him. Or you keep going. Don't let your hearts be afraid and just be comforted. Let your heart feel comfort automatically. You're learning about God is that in these moments where you wonder if he's good and if he can be trusted, he is showing up to comfort. That is his nature. First instinct is on the moments that you are doubting him. He says, I will step in and I will remind you. But not only that I will show up in a hard circumstance and I will bring what you need. I will bring comfort when you need it.

A (11:27)

And what's interesting is you just made me think this when you were saying, in everything, give thanks. When you're giving thanks, what you're doing is actually cataloging the ways that God is good.

B (11:37)

Yeah.

A (11:37)

When you're finding reasons to rejoice, you're doing the same thing. You're making a list of all the good that God is doing in your life. God is not like 100% or nothing. Right? Or I don't wanna say it like with God, but I wanna say life is never going to be 100% good or 0% good. There's always a mix of things that are hard and things that are good at the exact same time. Like, that is going to be what the mixture of mortality is like. And so what he's doing is setting our heart because it's actually really easy to spin out of control into the things that are negative and to make false assumptions about God and other people. Because we're like so focused on this one thing. Like this has gone wrong. So God must not love me. He doesn't keep any of his promises. He hates me. He hates all the people that I, you know. And then you can, you can actually easily start finding reasons that God is upset with you or God's not good. And what God is doing is turning your heart to the overwhelming list of things and reasons we have to that he is Good. He's reminding us like, I haven't abandoned you. I. I'm. I'm. I'm still here. Is it seems to be the call over and over again. The advice in verse two is so sweet. Wait patiently on the Lord, for your prayers have entered into the ears of the Lord of Sabbath. Lord of Sabbath. You might want to write as means God of angel armies. That's what that word means. It's that call back to the Old Testament story. Those that be with us are more than those that be with them. Again, it's another like, I'm here and I brought friends. Right? Is what he's saying there. I love this quote on your poster for the week. The word is to endure. But listen, it comes from section 101. But I think you ought to see this quote right here where Joseph Smith said, stand fast, ye saints of God. I almost said, you little saints of God, because the word little is coming. That would have been so cute. Stand fast, you saints of God. Hold on a little while longer and the storm of life will be passed. And you'll be rewarded by that God whose servants you are and who will duly appreciate all your toils and affliction for Christ's sake. Your names will be handed down to posterity as saints of God. Because look how that verse ends. They're recorded with this seal and testament. The Lord hath sworn and decreed. Those are very strong words. That they shall be granted with this promise with an immutable covenant that they shall be fulfilled. He comes in to remind us, I decree, I swear and I promise and immutably covenant with you that every promise I've made to you will be fulfilled. So wait patiently. It's. It is coming someday, I promise. Don't let the tragedy of life convince you that I have abandoned you or abandoned any of the promises that I have made to you. And maybe that's an invitation here to count the promises, to remember what the promises are, right? What are the promises that God has made to us? And that's another way of cataloging how good he is.

B (15:06)

Well, and the promises that are made to us, but not only that, but who he really is. And I think that one of the coolest things to me in that verse is that he introduces himself as the Lord of the Sabbath. And it's just something so powerful to me to think about these people and how many nights they probably went to bed and said, why is no one fighting for us? Why is everyone fighting against us? And everywhere we go, people are attacking us and hurting us and trying to ruin our lives. And there's so many of them, and they're making our lives so miserable and so hard. And I wonder how many of them got down on their knees every single night and said, God, why are you not giving us more people? Why are you not giving us an army? Why are you not helping us fight back? And the way he introduced himself, he said, do you know who you're praying to? And he said, let me just remind you, you are praying to the Lord of Sabbath, to the God of angel armies. You are not just praying to one thing like it's not just like me who's gonna fight for you, but you are praying when you're desperate for some help. You are praying to the God of angel armies. And it makes me think that that probably was a promise that they held onto, was the person that they were praying to. And how oftentimes we're not going through the same things like the persecution and the battle and so many people fighting against us. Those are not necessarily always the reasons that we're asking if God is good and he can be trusted. But there are reasons and there are circumstances that make us ask those two questions. Is God good and can he be trusted? And what I think is a promise that I want to hold on to is that he will show up as the exact person that I need him to be be Sometimes that's going to be the Lord of Sabbath. For them it was. They needed angel armies. They needed someone to fight for them. But for me, there's going to be moments when I am desperate because I feel like I have no guidance in my life. And that's making me wonder if God is good and I can trust him. Because I'm needing answers and God's not giving them to me. And he will remind me on those days that he is a shepherd for me. That is the person that's going to show up and I'm going to hold on to that promise. And on the days when the diagnosis is comes and we wonder, is God good and can he be trusted? We can rest assured that he is still the healer and we can hold on to that promise. And I think that's the lesson for me in section 98, verse 2, is that he is listening. And not only that, but you are praying to someone who will show up in the exact way that you need. He will bring the exact goodness that you are looking for in your life. And I think that he promises us something in verse number three that almost answers the question, is God good? And can he be trusted, even though it's not necessarily always the answer we want? And he says, and all things wherewith you have been afflicted shall work together for your good. And sometimes that's the tricky thing about God is that sometimes things happen and it seems impossible and evil and horrible, and we're so, so angry. And we ask that question, is God good and can he be trusted? And sometimes the answer is gonna say, wait patiently and trust. Trust that I will work this together for your good. Trust that everything that happened is not forgotten. It's not ignored by God, but rather he sees it, and he knows how to make that a better and powerful and redemptive part of our story. And I think it's kind of like a little bit silly that we say, God, are you trustworthy? And his answer is to trust him. And he says, no, all I need you to do is just give me a chance. And he promises. He promises that he will make good on it. But I think that it just, like, almost feels a little bit backwards that he's like, wait, can I trust you? And he's like, yeah, try it. Try it and see.

A (18:53)

Yeah. And you know what's interesting is one promise he has not made anywhere that I see in Scripture is that your life will be spared from all tragedy or the negative effects of agency. So sometimes we think he's not trustworthy because we said you broke your promise. And I think it's worth saying, like, there isn't anywhere in Scripture where God promises a perfect life, right? Like, that's not there. Now, if we accidentally heard that or someone accidentally taught that, that's maybe where we got it from. But that's not the promises that he has made. One that he has made is that any afflictions that come will work together for your good. And I think it's important that verse three says. And right in the middle he says, I give this immutable covenant. I will fulfill every promise, okay? And anything bad that does happen in your life, I'm going to work it together for your good. That's a double blessing. In verse 3, I just imagining being these people sitting there on the banks of that muddy river and hearing these words and what they could do for someone. There's that line that. It's that little poem. How does it go? It goes like this. Two men behind prison bars. One saw mud, the other stars. And it feels like this is a section where God is saying, I know that you're in the mud, but I'm trying to put your Eyes on the stars. I love that in scripture, stars have so often represented the promises of God that. That started with Abraham, right, where he says, look to the stars and try and count them and remember that I'm a God of. Of endless possibility and. And. And bright future. And. And I feel like that is what he is. He is doing a lot of the rest of the section is, okay, set your mind and your heart on these things. Now, practically speaking, let me teach you how to handle this situation. And he gives us the law of retaliation and the law of revenge and the law of justification and the law of forgiveness. In this section, he was like, this is how I want. This is how. What I need you to do. But there's this line in verse 11 where he says, forsake all evil and cleave unto all evil. Good is something that he says there. And I just want to point out, if you just go to the heading of section 100, that. Well, yeah, yeah, you can find it in the heading. I was like, is it in the heading? You have to read the summary of it and the first couple of verses to find out. The Lord is calling Joseph Smith and Sidney Rigdon onto a mission right now to Canada. And you almost want to say, like, this feels like really bad timing.

B (21:44)

Yeah. Any other timing for real?

A (21:46)

I was like, why are we going on a mission to Canada right now? Do you understand why what is happening?

B (21:50)

There are bigger problems.

A (21:51)

Yeah. And I think this is actually part of the. I think it's part of the healing. It's part of the answer here where the Lord is saying, cleave unto those things that are good. Continue to generate and to do good in your lives. He says there are more people in the world who need this good news story, who need this hope as well. So take this message up into Canada. And this is something really interesting that happens in that mission to Canada that we find out about in section 100. They actually go up there, and the people that they meet up there eventually will connect them to some of the saints that are in England. So some of the people that they meet in Canada are John Taylor, and he has a friend whose name is Mary Fielding, and she has a brother who lives in England, whose name is Joseph Fielding, and he is going to gather people to the gospel cause. And that group of saints is, in about a decade from here, going to rescue the church spiritually. When there's a big falling out in Kirtland, we'll get to that lesson. But I bring it up right now to say another tragedy is actually about to happen in 10 years from this time, one that they bring upon themselves. And I said 10 years. And that's a lie, everybody. Like, I'm just saying, like I'm making up a. You said it really confidently realized. I was just.

B (23:17)

You were just saying it. You're just saying it. No worries.

A (23:19)

But I bring. We'll talk about that when we get there in that history. But I think it's really powerful. There's something hidden in this lesson, which is God is actually working out the solution to a future problem right now. And so it begs the question, what's he been doing before Section 98 ever happened? Like, the rescue mission's already begun for a future problem.

B (23:42)

And.

A (23:42)

And I think we can believe that about all of our circumstances. I have this picture that I got in Israel of Moses in the basket in the Nile river. And I love that picture because that picture is. When I look at that picture, I imagine on the banks of that river, all of the Israelites praying for deliverance and thinking, has God forgotten us? But in the thickets is this baby in the Basque. And the rescue story has actually already begun. And I think that's what you see in section 100 too, is that God. God is still orchestrating a future rescue story in the midst of all of this. And it's not in connection to what's happening in 98. Right. It's not necessarily the rescue of 98 problem, but it's the same thing. You just got learning. Yes, yes. That's what. Yeah. You are learning this about God, that he was just like, I'm actually years ahead of you in preserving you and orchestrating a rescue for you, which is a lesson.

B (24:45)

That's the magic to me about the Doctrine and Covenants is that is a lesson that seems so distant from like, what we need in our lives right now. And then you like, I'm like, why going on a mission to Canada in the middle, whatever families you're worried about your family. Like, that's like super niche problems. Like maybe like five people are like, oh, yeah, that's my same situation right now. But the coolest part is that the lesson about the Doctrine and Covenants is so much less about the exact circumstances that they're going through and so much more about the God it teaches you about. That's a God I need to believe in, is one that is working for my life and for me before I even realize that I need Him. He is still working for me. And as I go through section 98, this is. We can move on from 98. But I just have to say this. Cause I was thinking about it is as I read it makes me want to pause and just think for a second. Like if I was doing this as my personal study or with like my family, I would just wanna pause and think what are the things that are making me wonder if God is good and if I can trust him? And when I am living in my day to day life right now, what is causing me to ask those questions? And then rather than worrying about anything else as I go through section 98 is to pause and say, okay, what do I learn about his goodness? And what teaches me if I can trust him or not? And highlight all of those things. Things. And if that is the conversation we are having in our houses and with our families, then there will be lessons that you learn about God that might not have anything to do with the persecution that the saints are going through, but will have everything to do with the God we still believe in, the God that showed up for them in 98 and will still show up when we ask the same questions. And it's interesting because as I was going through, one of the things that's so interesting to me is asking that question, like what is making you wonder if God is good or if he can be trusted is some of those are circumstantial. Like it's just like, oh yeah, a diagnosis or a tragedy or a natural disaster or something that happens in your family. Those all happen. But I was also just kind of thinking I heard this line the other day, one of my friends was saying it about self inflicted suffering and the suffering that we experience in this life that is just simply our own fault. And that is what happens in section 101 is all of a sudden you start realizing, which is so tender of the Lord to speak to his people this way because you read 98 and you're like, oh, like you feel so bad for them, as we should. And then he like gives them a second like process and to be sad and to realize that their life is really hard and their suffering is horrible and that it really is like a really big tragedy. And then section 101 comes and he's like, okay, listen, now that we like worked through that and you know that I'm still good and you can trust me. Let's have a little lesson here. Because some of your suffering was self inflicted and that it was brought upon yourselves. And he's going to go through and he gives reasons. You see it in verse number two of section 101, I, the Lord have suffered or allowed the affliction to come upon them wherewith they have been afflicted in consequence of their transgressions. This is suffering that is self inflicted, which does happen in our lives. That's just true. Sometimes we do that to ourselves. And you can go through and you'll find the verses that tell you why that happened. And it was like, they're envious and they're coveting and they have the wrong desires and they're slow to listen to the voice of the Lord. If you go through verses six and seven, you get a glimpse of it.

A (28:04)

But I think maybe that would be awesome to like look at that list. Define kind of what the words mean. Find synonyms. Yeah, just say, try and like follow the thread, right? Like, how does this lead to like self. What would you call it?

B (28:18)

Self inflicted suffering.

A (28:19)

Okay. Self inflicted suffering. It was like, okay, for example, like complaining. And just follow that thread and say, how does complaining actually make your situation worse?

B (28:29)

Why does it lead to destruction?

A (28:31)

Right. What are you bringing, like. And even like, not making the situation worse, but also like, how could it lead to like a breakdown of relationships? How could it lead to like a breakdown of self confidence? Like self confidence, all of these things. And just like, see him doing this. Anyways, I love this that you're teaching.

B (28:49)

Yeah. And well, that was pretty much all that I was gonna say, so that was really easy. So don't worry.

A (28:53)

It's awesome. No problem. This is awesome.

B (28:55)

This is cool.

A (28:56)

You said this. And I want to just make sure everybody catches this. That what he. Okay, so now we know once you get to section 101 that this is kind of their fault. Right. If you want some additional verses. Section 84, verse 54, section 90, verse 34, section 90, verse 36, section 90, verse 10 through 12. I mean, 97, 10 through 12. Here are some times where the Lord was warning them before 98 ever happened.

B (29:22)

And it's kind of the same problems that we've been hearing, that they're just like not like picking up the clue.

A (29:27)

So he's like, I was trying to prevent it. Okay. But now we know in part, in part what happened in 98 could have been prevented. Even though that's the case, even though they are at fault, what was taught in 98 is still true and was his first response before he brought up anything. And I think that is really important to know that of course this isn't all their fault. But we don't know the circumstance well enough to be able to give percentages here.

B (29:59)

But.

A (29:59)

But we do know the Lord said, I warned you and I tried to prevent this. And he gives a parable in section 101, right, where he's just like, I. Like there's this parable of these people who are supposed to build a tower and a wall around their vineyard to protect it, and they didn't do it. And then the enemy finally came and they lost their chance. And he's just saying, like, I was trying. I was trying back then, and you didn't do it. I wish you would have. But the fact that it's their fault. I just think reading 98, knowing that it's their fault teaches you an added lesson and layer to what's happening. And maybe that's a great question. Come back to 98. And now read these words. The Lord speaking to someone who it was their fault. And then they are so much sweeter, I think when you even understand that.

B (30:49)

Because God is good when you read those, and it's just based on circumstances.

A (30:54)

Because you would say, oh, that's so.

B (30:56)

Kind of him to be so nice.

A (30:59)

Oh, something really wrong happened to you.

B (31:01)

Yeah. But when it's your own fault, when he warned you, when he tried to stop it and you still went forward with it, God said, told you. So that teaches you a whole different lesson about God.

A (31:13)

Right?

B (31:13)

That teaches you a whole different lesson about repentance, about redemption. That teaches you a whole different lesson about a God who knows, never gives up on someone.

A (31:21)

Yeah. And God is saying, wait patiently on me. But also demonstrating that same patience with all of us and trying to understand and figure it out. So it's interesting that again, he talks about all those things. But then, look, verse eight, you esteemed lightly my counsel and all of these things. But then in verse nine, notwithstanding their sins, I'm full of compassion toward them and I will not cast them off. I will remember mercy is what he says. And there's something that's so powerful about that lesson that's in here. It's like, oh, well, it could have been avoided. But this now he does something so awesome, which I think is just this one other like, way of getting their eyes on the stars. And in this case, quite literally, because he says starting. And you can find some of these verses, but some starting in 22, he starts to talk about the second coming and the day when all the promises are fulfilled. And he gets their mind and he gets their heart set on that. And you'll see there's all, all that language together. I call this 2236-THINGS TO LOOK Forward To. Right. And that's what he's doing. He's showing him these things to look forward to. And he's getting again their eyes off of the mud and into the stars, into the promises. And there's something pretty remarkable that happened for the saints back then on November 17th. They called that day the night the stars fell from the sky. And let me read to you from one of the journals from that night. About 2:00 clock the next morning, we were woken up by the cry of arise and behold the signs in the heavens. We arose, and to our great astonishment, all heaven seemed enwrapped in splendid fireworks, as if every star in the broad expanse had been suddenly hurled from its course and sent lawless through the wilds of ether. This is a good writer.

B (33:19)

Yeah.

A (33:20)

I can give the reader no better idea of this scene than by an allusion to the shooting of a bright meteor with a long train of light following its course, such as most of us have seen in a bright, starlit night. Now, suppose that thousands of such meteors with their fiery trains were to raise, run through the heavens for hours together. This would be a scene such as our eyes beheld on that memorable morning, and the scene only closed by, giving place to the superior light and splendor of the King of day. No sooner was the scene beheld by some of our camp than the news reached every tent and aroused everyone from their slumbers. Every eye was lifted toward the heavens. Every heart was filled with joy at this majestic display of signs and wonders showing the near approach of the coming of the Son of God. In fact, we looked up and lifted up our heads, rejoicing, knowing that our redemption drew near. That in there, there in the muddy banks, the muddy, messy middle God reminded them of their covenants. And I would say, I think this is something every person can anticipate. You can anticipate if you will look for a sign of how good God is and a sign that he hasn't forgotten his promises and something to look forward to. That is the kind of God he was back then, and it's the kind of God that he is now. And there on the riverbanks. Just so you know, W.W. phelps, who is in that group, wrote this hymn. In faith, we'll rely on the arm of Jehovah to guide through these last days of trust, trouble and gloom. And after the scourges and harvest are over we'll rise with the just when the Savior doth come. Oh, now let us Rejoice is the words that were written on that muddy riverbank in the middle of all of those, those problems.

B (35:15)

And okay, wait, I have to say, I have to say two things, so don't be sad about that because I was just thinking so much during that whole entire story is that there's something important about that lesson that David taught at the very beginning of are your eyes in the mud or your eyes on the stars? And I think that's one of the most beautiful things about parables, is that parables are not given. Parables aren't given to give you the answer. Parables are given to make you see things differently. They aren't there to just be like, here's the answer to the question, solved, problem over, done. Parables are given for you to see the situation differently and answer the question yourself. And I think there's something really beautiful about maybe sitting and pausing and saying, what is the lesson from this parable? And I got a text just yesterday and it was so random and it was hypothetically say someone is getting a prompting or at least what they think is one maybe that they don't want to follow. What would you tell that fella? And I remember getting it and I was like, I like laughed a little and I was like thinking what would. I would say? And. And then I read section 101 and this is where I would guide next. Because that's exactly, that's the purpose of this parable, is these people are given a command from this guy to build a tower. And they, in their heads, they say in verse 47, why does the Lord even need this tower? This doesn't even make any sense. Why are we doing this? And you can go through the parable and you can find all of the reasons why they didn't do it. And you'll see. Maybe they were just lazy. Maybe they were just, they wanted to argue, they didn't understand the reasoning. Maybe they would rather just ran away. That would seem easier. They didn't listen, they were tired, they didn't trust him. And there are going to be things that we are asked to do. They will be really easy to respond the exact same way. And there will be promptings that we are given that maybe our response wants to be. I don't really want to do that. I don't really want to live that way. I don't think that that's going to be for me, that seems way harder than it needs to be. And it seems almost as if this parable is a lesson on that. And David brought up a question earlier that I can't get off my mind. And it's just, what tower has God asked you to build right now? And God wants us to know that he's good. And God wants us to know that we can trust Him. But to do that, we have to listen. And he's going to ask us to build towers, and we have to buy into what he asks, and we have to figure it out. And we've got to see what is stopping us from building the tower. We have to decide whether or not we want to, because the second that we do, we will see heaven pouring down and we will know that he is a God who keeps his promises. But we have to be able to buy into that idea. We have to give Him a chance to prove that to us.

A (38:00)

Yeah. And I think those towers are preventative towers, and they can also be healing towers. Right? So in this parable, it was. They was like, build the tower so that I can prevent some tragedy from coming into your life. But right now, for them, he's going to have them build, metaphorically, another tower. And I just think it's, like, really powerful to ask ourselves, ask your kids, ask your friends. What tower is God asking you to build right now? What's on your heart to be doing right now? And know that he's going to take that and he's going to work it together for good.

B (38:35)

I just got home from a trip in the Dominican Republic, and I was there as, like, a trip leader. And I had, like, 18 Kaisers school kids that were all on the trip with us. We were doing humanitarian work, and we were sightseeing, and we were doing so many fun things. And we also have a lot of, like, spiritual lessons and devotionals and stuff like that throughout the whole entire trip. And there's this one cute girl. And I'm serious about a bedtime. That's something about me. I'm serious about a bedtime because I am so cranky if I don't sleep. And there was the cutest girl ever, that by the time we got to, like, the main city, we were staying in every single night. She would be waiting outside, and I would go up to her and I'd be like, hey, like, we've got to get to bed. And then she'd say, I'm just looking for stars. And then I would look up at the sky, and it was, like, completely cloudy and, like, so polluted. And I was like. In my head, I was like, there aren't even stars here. I was like. And the first day, I was like, okay, like, five minutes of looking for stars, knowing she wasn't gonna see it. And by day, like, 10, I was like, stop looking because it's so polluted. You're never gonna find a star. Like, this is such a waste of time. What are you doing? In my head, I was saying that I was trying to be kind. And then there was one day that we were talking, we were sitting on a curb, and she started crying so hard. And she said, on the second day of this trip, we were in the jungle, staying in a little different house. And she said, on the second day of the trip, I was having the hardest day ever. And I looked out the window and I could see stars. And I said, God, if you see me right now, can you just show me a shooting star? And she said, I waited up all night. I waited up all night to see a star, and I didn't see one single shooting star. And then the next day, I decided that maybe I would try again. And maybe God just waited one day. Or maybe today God would see me, and I could see my shooting star. And she paused, and she was just crying and crying and crying. And then I started realizing what had happened on that trip. And every single night, she was not avoiding a bedtime. Every single night, she was showing up on the same front porch to see if she could see any sign that God knew her. And it was cloudy and polluted. And in my head, I thought, oh, no, she is never going to see a shooting star. But every single day, she still showed up on the porch. And even though it was polluted, and even though it was cloudy, she still thought, God could still send me a star tonight. And she would show up on the porch night after night after night. And people started hearing about that girl and the star she was hoping for. And people started praying that she would see one. And there was one day she woke up, it was near the end of the trip, and she told herself, if God doesn't answer me today, he must not care about answering prayers. So let me try to pray for a few other things. And so she would pray, and she started seeing her prayers getting answered little by little. But she still just thought, but what about my star? Why has he not sent me a shooting star? And that night, I was headed to bed, and all the girls were sitting out on the front porch, not just her. This time it was everyone. And I looked up, and it was the first night that we could see stars. And the girl that was sitting next to her leaned over and Said, hey, do you want me to teach you how to find a shooting star? And she said, yeah. And I listened to that girl teach her how to find a shooting star in the sky. And a few minutes later, I just heard I was a little bit far away, and I just heard. Heard everyone get so excited. And then I saw her, that girl who had been praying for days and days and days for a shooting star, just weeping on the porch in the middle of the Dominican Republic because God reminded her that she was seen and known by Him. And it took longer than expected and it was way less probable than ever. That night she saw it.

A (42:15)

My dad's.

B (42:17)

You said wait. You said wait. And yes. Don't worry, everyone. That cute girl taught her how to see a shooting star, and she saw a shooting star that night, which was truly the biggest miracle you've ever known in your entire life because that girl's.

A (42:29)

Showing her how to see it.

B (42:30)

Exactly.

A (42:30)

There's a good lesson there.

B (42:32)

And it was so cute because that night she wrote in her journal. And I said, how are you feeling? And she just cried. And then she said, these are all the lessons I learned. And she had two pages full of what she learned from that shooting star. And I sat there and I realized.

A (42:47)

Not have learned on day two, that.

B (42:49)

Maybe if God showed up on the first night in the jungle with a shooting star, maybe she wouldn't have gotten to know him as good as she did. That it took 15 more days. And there are going to be days when we wonder if God is good and if he can be trusted and if he sees us and if he knows us and if he really is, who are you says he is? And there are going to be days when we show up on the porch night after night after night, and it feels like the answer will never come. But these sections of Scripture are promises that it might take a while and he might ask you to wait patiently on the Lord, but just remember that your prayers are heard by him, and that he will give that promise unto you. And it will be an immutable covenant that he will be who he says he is, and that it might take longer than expected. And you might spend nights on the porch waiting. But he is good and you can trust him. And he does keep his promises.

A (43:46)

And say the best part about oh.

B (43:50)

And then it was so cute, because.

A (43:52)

This is a PS to the story.

B (43:53)

This is a PS to the story. Because the next night we all sat in a circle, all our entire group, and we said, where have you seen God in your life? And she was the first to raise her hand, and she said, I finally saw my shooting star. And, like, people were cheering and she was sobbing. And then everyone was so proud. And then someone said. Someone said, wait, I want you to raise your hand if you prayed that she would see her star. And every single hand in the entire group went up. And then she just cried and cried harder. And there's just something to be realized, that we're all going through this together and we're all trying to get to know God together and how beautiful that we can show up and we can support each other on the days that it's hard to remember.

A (44:38)

Right? And which is another message from these sections, too, right? It's that message of presence, the presence of God and the presence of faithful people with us. And she got that. 101, section 101, verse 16. Therefore let your heart be comforted. For everything that's in my hands, be still and know that I am God. It'll give us those signs along the way until the day when all of the promises are fulfilled. So, all right, y' all have a great week. We'll see you next week. If you want to follow along in everything we're doing, you can find us on Instagram at Don't miss this study, at this week's Grace, and at MrDave Butler.

B (45:22)

And if you want to subscribe to the app or get our weekly newsletter, all of the information can be found at. Don't miss this study dot com.

A (45:28)

See you next week.