Trust What God Is Doing | Ecclesiastes 7

Those days in the gym when Those days in the gym when you give it your all, you give it your all, you give it your all, right? Or when right? Or when right? Or when you load your muscles, you load your muscles, you load your muscles, Yes. Yes. Yes. it tears down the muscles, and it tears down the muscles, and it tears down the muscles, and they come back, they come back, they come back, you know, stronger. We you know, stronger. We you know, stronger. We know how know how know how muscles work. muscles work. muscles work. Yes. Yes. Yes. But life is the same. But life is the same. But life is the same. Yes. Yes. Yes. It's the hard days that It's the hard days that It's the hard days that build muscle. If you're build muscle. If you're build muscle. If you're only doing high only doing high only doing high fives, you're not building fives, you're not building fives, you're not building muscle, man. You're muscle, man. You're muscle, man. You're not doing anything special not doing anything special not doing anything special , honestly. Well, unless , honestly. Well, unless , honestly. Well, unless you're like Miko, who's you're like Miko, who's you're like Miko, who's all embossed, you know all embossed, you know . For me, a five . For me, a five . For me, a five can mean something. can mean something. can mean something. This is Crossroads Daily. No This is Crossroads Daily. No This is Crossroads Daily. No experts, no experts, no experts, no perfect people, just perfect people, just perfect people, just candid conversations about what candid conversations about what candid conversations about what happens when happens when happens when the Bible appears in the Bible appears in the Bible appears in real life. real life. Welcome to Welcome to Crossroads Daily. My name is Crossroads Daily. My name is Crossroads Daily. My name is Caleb. Caleb. Caleb. I am Miko. I am Miko. I am Miko. Vivian. Vivian. Vivian. I'm Zach. I'm Zach. I'm Zach. And this week we And this week we And this week we are studying the book of are studying the book of are studying the book of Ecclesiastes. We are now Ecclesiastes. We are now Ecclesiastes. We are now in chapter seven. in chapter seven. in chapter seven. The teacher we The teacher we The teacher we consider Solomon, consider Solomon, consider Solomon, the wisest man who the wisest man who the wisest man who ever lived, ever lived, ever lived, Yes. Yes. Yes. simply takes us simply takes us simply takes us through wise sayings, through wise sayings, through wise sayings, teachings, things he teachings, things he teachings, things he was trying to understand. was trying to understand. was trying to understand. A lot of this, as we A lot of this, as we A lot of this, as we said yesterday, can said yesterday, can said yesterday, can seem a little seem a little seem a little daunting, daunting, daunting, Yes. Yes. Yes. a little depressed, a little depressed, a little depressed, Mgm.

Mgm. Mgm. but there is wisdom in this but there is wisdom in this but there is wisdom in this that we that we that we can glean, and can glean, and can glean, and I find it I find it I find it best when best when best when discussing it with discussing it with discussing it with wonderful people like wonderful people like wonderful people like them. So that's what we're them. So that's what we're them. So that's what we're going to do going to do going to do today. I'll give you an today. I'll give you an today. I'll give you an easy question. And by easy question. And by easy question. And by easy, I mean easy, I mean easy, I mean very difficult. Verse 14 very difficult. Verse 14 very difficult. Verse 14 says, chapter seven, says, chapter seven, says, chapter seven, verse 14, "In the day of prosperity verse 14, "In the day of prosperity verse 14, "In the day of prosperity be joyful. But in be joyful. But in be joyful. But in the day of adversity be the day of adversity be the day of adversity be cheerful. For God cheerful. For God cheerful. For God has made both." A has made both." A good day—God good day—God created it. created it. created it. Mhm. A Mhm. A Mhm. A bad day—God bad day—God bad day—God created it. created it. created it. Yes. Yes. How does this affect the way How does this affect the way you live? Or how do you live? Or how do you live? Or how do you combine those two you combine those two you combine those two things together? It's a bit like things together? It's a bit like things together? It's a bit like hot and hot and hot and cold, right? Like cold, right? Like cold, right? Like mixing them together. mixing them together. mixing them together. How do you do it? How do you do it? How do you do it? I find it I find it I find it comforting to know that comforting to know that comforting to know that when you're having a bad when you're having a bad when you're having a bad day, good days day, good days day, good days will come. And it's also will come. And it's also will come. And it's also a reminder: when a reminder: when a reminder: when you have a good day, a you have a good day, a you have a good day, a bad one will come too. bad one will come too. So it's like... I think there's So it's like... I think there's something here that reminds something here that reminds something here that reminds us: this isn't the end, and it won't be the us: this isn't the end, and it won't be the us: this isn't the end, and it won't be the end until end until end until we're in we're in we're in eternity. And I think it's eternity. And I think it's eternity. And I think it's worth, yeah, just worth, yeah, just worth, yeah, just remembering that this won't remembering that this won't remembering that this won't last forever, so last forever, so last forever, so be in the be in the be in the moment while you can.

moment while you can. You know, it sounds You know, it sounds a bit like "New Age" or a bit like "New Age" or a bit like "New Age" or something, but there's real wisdom in the idea of something, but there's real wisdom in the idea of something, but there's real wisdom in the idea of "being in the moment." "being in the moment." I think that's what I think that's what Solomon was saying in the Solomon was saying in the Solomon was saying in the last chapter: last chapter: last chapter: enjoy the life enjoy the life enjoy the life that God has given you, so don't that God has given you, so don't waste time on the good days. waste time on the good days. Yeah, take it Yeah, take it Yeah, take it all in, man, all in, man, all in, man, enjoy it to the enjoy it to the enjoy it to the fullest, because tomorrow might fullest, because tomorrow might fullest, because tomorrow might be a bad day. be a bad day. Well, this also Well, this also applies to times applies to times applies to times when you're having a bad, when you're having a bad, when you're having a bad, really bad day or a really bad day or a really bad day or a difficult period. Um, difficult period. Um, difficult period. Um, one of the things that one of the things that one of the things that really helps really helps really helps me is a me is a me is a gratitude exercise: I gratitude exercise: I gratitude exercise: I go back and go back and go back and write down a list of things write down a list of things write down a list of things where God has shown Himself that where God has shown Himself that where God has shown Himself that I'm grateful for, because it I'm grateful for, because it I'm grateful for, because it makes me think makes me think makes me think of those good days, of those good days, of those good days, even when I'm even when I'm even when I'm going through going through going through hard times, so that I know that hard times, so that I know that hard times, so that I know that it won't last it won't last it won't last forever and that I have a forever and that I have a forever and that I have a balanced perspective balanced perspective balanced perspective on life. on life. This is so true. That's This is so true. That's exactly right; when you exactly right; when you exactly right; when you say that, I remember one say that, I remember one say that, I remember one of the first times of the first times of the first times that that that realization came, when the realization came, when the realization came, when the day was just day was just day was just awful, everything went awful, everything went awful, everything went wrong. And wrong. And wrong. And I remember I remember I remember sitting on the bed that night sitting on the bed that night , and I don't even know , and I don't even know , and I don't even know if it was the Holy Spirit, if it was the Holy Spirit, if it was the Holy Spirit, right? Because it's as if the Holy right? Because it's as if the Holy right? Because it's as if the Holy Spirit suggested: "Well, Spirit suggested: "Well, Spirit suggested: "Well, what was good what was good what was good today?" And I just today?" And I just today?" And I just started noting these started noting these started noting these simple things that I simple things that I simple things that I liked, right? The liked, right? The food line food line I was standing in wasn't as long as it I was standing in wasn't as long as it I was standing in wasn't as long as it sometimes sometimes sometimes is, or that conversation is, or that conversation is, or that conversation with my son, and I was with my son, and I was with my son, and I was remembering some of the things remembering some of the things remembering some of the things we talked about we talked about we talked about that day, and just

that day, and just that day, and just going through that list, going through that list, going through that list, I felt like it I felt like it I felt like it completely changed my completely changed my completely changed my mood, my mood, my mood, my perception of that perception of that perception of that moment. The situation moment. The situation moment. The situation remained the same, remained the same, remained the same, but my attitude towards but my attitude towards but my attitude towards it at that moment was it at that moment was it at that moment was completely different. And I don't completely different. And I don't completely different. And I don't know. So, I just want to know. So, I just want to know. So, I just want to say that I say that I say that I remembered it. Both me and I don't remembered it. Both me and I don't remembered it. Both me and I don't know. I still do know. I still do know. I still do it from time to time, but it from time to time, but it from time to time, but I should definitely I should definitely I should definitely make it a make it a make it a habit. habit. Yes, I was listening to a Yes, I was listening to a speech the other day by a very speech the other day by a very speech the other day by a very great great CEO. CEO. Ugh. Ugh. Ugh. He runs a huge He runs a huge He runs a huge company. And he went company. And he went company. And he went through many through many through many difficulties that he did difficulties that he did difficulties that he did not create for himself. not create for himself. not create for himself. He entered the role, and He entered the role, and He entered the role, and six weeks later six weeks later six weeks later everything went awry. everything went awry. everything went awry. It wasn't his It wasn't his It wasn't his fault. He was, he fault. He was, he fault. He was, he was a complete novice in was a complete novice in was a complete novice in this business. And he this business. And he this business. And he said that, you know, said that, you know, said that, you know, one of the things that one of the things that one of the things that helped him helped him helped him hold on was hold on was hold on was the understanding that the understanding that the understanding that crisis forges crisis forges crisis forges character. character. character. Yes. Yes. Yes. Truth? Truth? Truth? Aha. Aha. Aha. So, days in the gym when So, days in the gym when So, days in the gym when you give it your you give it your you give it your all, right? Or when all, right? Or when all, right? Or when you strain your muscles, you strain your muscles, you strain your muscles, they tear and then they they tear and then they they tear and then they become, you know, become, you know, become, you know, stronger. Well, we stronger. Well, we stronger. Well, we know how know how know how muscles work.

muscles work. muscles work. Yes. Yes. Yes. But life is the same. But life is the same. But life is the same. Hard days are what Hard days are what Hard days are what build build build character. If you're character. If you're character. If you're just doing high just doing high just doing high fives, you're not fives, you're not fives, you're not getting pumped, man. getting pumped, man. getting pumped, man. You might You might You might not be doing anything at all, to be not be doing anything at all, to be not be doing anything at all, to be honest. Well, unless honest. Well, unless honest. Well, unless you're Miko, who's all you're Miko, who's all you're Miko, who's all pumped up, pumped up, pumped up, you know. For me, a you know. For me, a you know. For me, a five might five might five might give something. So, give something. So, give something. So, thinking about it, thinking about it, thinking about it, one way to one way to one way to appreciate the hard days appreciate the hard days is to understand that God is is to understand that God is is to understand that God is teaching us something. teaching us something. teaching us something. It tempers our It tempers our It tempers our character. I would like character. I would like character. I would like you to think you to think you to think about your life. We about your life. We about your life. We will dive even deeper. will dive even deeper. What lesson have you learned What lesson have you learned through crisis or through crisis or through crisis or hardship that you hardship that you hardship that you might not have learned by might not have learned by might not have learned by simply taking the simply taking the simply taking the easy path on easy path on easy path on cloudless days? Mhm. And cloudless days? Mhm. And cloudless days? Mhm. And while you're thinking, I while you're thinking, I while you're thinking, I can tell you mine can tell you mine can tell you mine if you want. So, for if you want. So, for if you want. So, for me...I've been married for me...I've been married for me...I've been married for almost 15 years. almost 15 years. almost 15 years. Are there difficulties in the marriage? Are there difficulties in the marriage? Are there difficulties in the marriage? No. No. No. Oh, that's good. Oh, that's good. Oh, that's good. That's good for me. That's good for me. That's good for me. Hey, this is what you Hey, this is what you Hey, this is what you should expect. should expect. But even before we But even before we got married, my got married, my got married, my now-wife and I now-wife and I now-wife and I went through a really went through a really went through a really tough time, where tough time, where tough time, where a lot of people who a lot of people who a lot of people who were supposedly on our were supposedly on our were supposedly on our side were side were side were speaking negatively about speaking negatively about speaking negatively about her, you know?

her, you know? It was unexpected, It was unexpected, I didn't expect it I didn't expect it . And these were people who, . And these were people who, . And these were people who, I thought, wanted the I thought, wanted the I thought, wanted the best for us. And best for us. And best for us. And they they they were actually trying to poison were actually trying to poison were actually trying to poison our marriage before our marriage before our marriage before it even began. it even began. it even began. People who shouldn't have People who shouldn't have People who shouldn't have done this. It done this. It done this. It was ridiculous. But was ridiculous. But was ridiculous. But we persevered anyway we persevered anyway we persevered anyway because I knew this was the because I knew this was the because I knew this was the person God person God person God wanted me to be with. This is the wanted me to be with. This is the wanted me to be with. This is the person I wanted to person I wanted to person I wanted to be with, right? And be with, right? And be with, right? And thanks to this, I thanks to this, I thanks to this, I realized that not everyone is on realized that not everyone is on realized that not everyone is on your side. You know, your side. You know, your side. You know, people who are for you on paper people who are for you on paper people who are for you on paper , or because they , or because they , or because they hold a certain hold a certain hold a certain position in church or position in church or position in church or school, aren't always school, aren't always school, aren't always actually for you, actually for you, actually for you, right? So you should right? So you should right? So you should consider: is this thought consider: is this thought consider: is this thought from someone who wishes from someone who wishes from someone who wishes me well or not? me well or not? me well or not? So do they have other So do they have other So do they have other motives? I was a motives? I was a motives? I was a happy church happy church happy church kid who just kid who just kid who just thought everyone had thought everyone had thought everyone had pure intentions, right pure intentions, right pure intentions, right ? And I had to ? And I had to ? And I had to learn around the age of 25 that learn around the age of 25 that learn around the age of 25 that this was not true. this was not true. I can share I can share one incident. We one incident. We one incident. We went through a period when went through a period when went through a period when my daughter was in my daughter was in my daughter was in college and got sick.

college and got sick. You know, she was You know, she was far away because she was studying in far away because she was studying in far away because she was studying in another city, she another city, she another city, she had a blood test, had a blood test, had a blood test, sent for sent for sent for tests, and they tests, and they tests, and they suggested that she suggested that she suggested that she might have cancer. It was might have cancer. It was might have cancer. It was very scary, because we were very scary, because we were very scary, because we were waiting for the results, waiting for the results, waiting for the results, and the worry about what and the worry about what and the worry about what it meant for her — I wouldn't it meant for her — I wouldn't wish that on anyone. Ultimately, wish that on anyone. Ultimately, she she she was found to be cancer-free, but during was found to be cancer-free, but during was found to be cancer-free, but during this process and this process and this process and through other symptoms, through other symptoms, through other symptoms, we learned that she had an we learned that she had an we learned that she had an autoimmune autoimmune autoimmune disease. I think disease. I think disease. I think if it weren't for the symptoms if it weren't for the symptoms if it weren't for the symptoms that prompted the that prompted the that prompted the test, I'm not test, I'm not test, I'm not sure we would have sure we would have sure we would have even learned even learned even learned about this disease so about this disease so about this disease so she could have coped better with she could have coped better with she could have coped better with it. So it. So it. So I would say this is a I would say this is a I would say this is a situation where situation where situation where something good came out of it.

something good came out of it. something good came out of it. It wasn't easy at that time It wasn't easy at that time It wasn't easy at that time . Who wants . Who wants . Who wants their child to be their child to be their child to be sick? But you sick? But you sick? But you see how God worked see how God worked see how God worked through it to bring through it to bring through it to bring something good out of the situation something good out of the situation . . I think the story that hurts my heart the most right now is hurts my heart the most right now is the situation with my the situation with my the situation with my younger brother, younger brother, younger brother, who is no more. who is no more. who is no more. He was diagnosed with He was diagnosed with He was diagnosed with mental disorders: mental disorders: mental disorders: schizophrenia and schizophrenia and schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. We bipolar disorder. We bipolar disorder. We knew him as a knew him as a knew him as a normal guy, and normal guy, and normal guy, and then, a few years then, a few years then, a few years ago, over the course of one summer, ago, over the course of one summer, ago, over the course of one summer, he got worse and his he got worse and his he got worse and his condition deteriorated condition deteriorated condition deteriorated more and more rapidly. more and more rapidly. more and more rapidly. It was a It was a It was a very difficult very difficult very difficult ordeal for our family. But we ordeal for our family. But we ordeal for our family. But we held on to God, and it was held on to God, and it was held on to God, and it was as if He was giving us His as if He was giving us His as if He was giving us His word: trust, word: trust, word: trust, trust, trust. trust, trust. We believed he would We believed he would recover, it was almost recover, it was almost recover, it was almost like the story of Saul, like the story of Saul, like the story of Saul, only in real only in real only in real life. When Saul was life. When Saul was life. When Saul was tormented in spirit, or tormented in spirit, or tormented in spirit, or Nebuchadnezzar in those Nebuchadnezzar in those Nebuchadnezzar in those seven years. So for seven years. So for seven years. So for me it's like seeing me it's like seeing me it's like seeing this with my own eyes, this with my own eyes, this with my own eyes, but at the same time but at the same time but at the same time understanding that understanding that understanding that Nebuchadnezzar had a Nebuchadnezzar had a deadline set for him at that time. And it was then that deadline set for him at that time. And it was then that God seemed to be telling us: God seemed to be telling us: God seemed to be telling us: just trust just trust just trust Me, just Me, just Me, just trust. We trust. We trust. We expected a expected a expected a similar outcome, similar outcome, similar outcome, that he would, you know, recover that he would, you know, recover . But when he died, . But when he died, . But when he died, it was the moment it was the moment it was the moment when I had to when I had to when I had to start all over again start all over again start all over again . When I . When I . When I thought: God, why did thought: God, why did thought: God, why did You ask us You ask us You ask us to trust You for to trust You for to trust You for so many years if so many years if so many years if this is the result? This

this is the result? This this is the result? This made us made us made us think about the fact think about the fact think about the fact that You, God, are good— that You, God, are good— this is not up for debate. this is not up for debate. But your actions... How can I But your actions... How can I put it better? Your put it better? Your put it better? Your vision of goodness doesn't vision of goodness doesn't vision of goodness doesn't necessarily have to necessarily have to necessarily have to coincide with my coincide with my coincide with my expectations. expectations. expectations. Yes. Yes. Yes. Of course? As we watched Of course? As we watched Of course? As we watched this, we realized— this, we realized— we knew it with our minds, we knew it with our minds, we knew it with our minds, but we had to accept it with our hearts but we had to accept it with our hearts . Accept it. Don't . Accept it. Don't just ignore it just ignore it just ignore it or say or say or say nice words. And to nice words. And to nice words. And to really know that it is the really know that it is the really know that it is the truth. You know it's truth. You know it's truth. You know it's true. Now I true. Now I true. Now I need to make need to make need to make an effort to take an effort to take an effort to take it to heart and it to heart and it to heart and come to terms with it. This come to terms with it. This come to terms with it. This led us to led us to led us to understand that understand that understand that if his healing did not if his healing did not if his healing did not happen here on earth, happen here on earth, Yes. Yes. So, Lord, the fact that So, Lord, the fact that So, Lord, the fact that he's no longer here he's no longer here is the best thing that is the best thing that is the best thing that could have happened. Is it true could have happened. Is it true ? It was Your grace ? It was Your grace . Because now he is with . Because now he is with . Because now he is with you. Do you understand what you. Do you understand what you. Do you understand what I mean? I think these are the I mean? I think these are the I mean? I think these are the truths from truths from truths from Scripture that you Scripture that you Scripture that you experience in experience in experience in your own experience, your own experience, your own experience, going through this going through this going through this pain.

pain. pain. Personally. Personally. Personally. You You You will never be the same again will never be the same again will never be the same again . Your faith . Your faith . Your faith has been strengthened. My mother, has been strengthened. My mother, has been strengthened. My mother, my brothers, our entire my brothers, our entire my brothers, our entire family, everyone whose heart family, everyone whose heart family, everyone whose heart was connected to was connected to was connected to this situation, this situation, this situation, felt a huge felt a huge felt a huge increase in resilience and increase in resilience and increase in resilience and trust. God, if we trust. God, if we trust. God, if we were able to trust were able to trust were able to trust You in this, even You in this, even You in this, even when things when things when things turned out this way, and we turned out this way, and we turned out this way, and we still see Your hand still see Your hand still see Your hand and Your goodness in and Your goodness in and Your goodness in this—I'm not asking for this—I'm not asking for this—I'm not asking for more, but that more, but that more, but that hardened faith has hardened faith has hardened faith has grown us in a way that grown us in a way that grown us in a way that times of joy never could times of joy never could times of joy never could . That's it. . That's it. . That's it. Yes. Yes. If you're having a Yes. Yes. If you're having a Yes. Yes. If you're having a good good good day today, great. day today, great. day today, great. Take everything from him Take everything from him Take everything from him . Enjoy . Enjoy . Enjoy it. If you it. If you it. If you are going through are going through are going through a crisis or hardship, a crisis or hardship, a crisis or hardship, know that God know that God know that God is using it to is using it to is using it to shape your shape your shape your character, even character, even character, even if you don't if you don't if you don't see it. Even if see it. Even if see it. Even if you don't know it yet. you don't know it yet. you don't know it yet. My call to you is to My call to you is to trust. Micah trust. Micah trust. Micah was talking about was talking about was talking about trust. No matter trust. No matter trust. No matter where you are, on a good day where you are, on a good day where you are, on a good day or a bad day, or a bad day, or a bad day, it's about our it's about our it's about our trust in God and what trust in God and what trust in God and what He does that we He does that we He does that we don't even see, don't even see, don't even see, realize, or realize, or realize, or understand. He is doing understand. He is doing understand. He is doing something good. And trust something good. And trust is an action. This is not just an is an action. This is not just an is an action. This is not just an opinion. Find a opinion. Find a opinion. Find a way to put this way to put this way to put this trust into practice trust into practice trust into practice today, and I am today, and I am today, and I am sure your life will sure your life will sure your life will start to move start to move start to move forward. See you forward. See you forward. See you next time.