Hide this goal in Victoria, thanks for downloading our podcast. We enjoy spending this time with you. I hope, you'll leave inspire, make sure you subscribe to get new messages every week. We appreciate your support and help keep the ministry going enjoy. Them is less always joy to come into your homes and, if you ever in our area, please stop by part of one of our services. These are the finest people in all of Houston, Texas, right here at Lightwood, will make you feel right at home. But thank you for tuna in. Thank you again for coming out today and I like to start with something funny in a hard about this minister. He bought a new horse. He too and to respond to praise the Lord meaning giddy Hallelujah, meaning woe

The time he said praised the Lord, the horse took off running when he said well. It would quickly star one day he was out. Riding the horse. Got spooked took off straight toward the cliff run in full speed in the panic he couldn't remember between the horse to respond to. He said less God. Do amen. Nothing happened at the last second shouted Hallelujah. The horse came to a screeching halt just inches before the edge he breathed a sigh of relief and said please, the law or up your bible. They had like you mean- and this is my bible- I am what it says. I have what it says. Our hair, I can do what it says I can do They will be taught. The word of God are boldly confess, My mind is alert Heart is receptive. I will would be the same in jeez May God bless you own? It

to you today about blessed in the dark places we all go through situations in life that we don't understand? Benny was downsizing and we got laid off. A friend walked out of our relationship. Now we're having to start all over a young lady I met last week she had been pregnant for five months with their first child She was so excited already decorated the baby's room, but something went wrong and she had a miscarriage. She looked like she was. No, no expression a dark place in eighteen. Eighty one, my family thought we'd be celebrating Christmas holidays, looking for the phone and fellowship. Instead, we learned that my mother was diagnosed with terminal, liver cancer, so very sombre Christmas. All of us at some time, we'll go through dark places, a loss, a sickness, a divorce, a child that Roma

It is easy to get discourage, give up on your dreams and just settle there, but God, uses the dark places. They are all part of his divine plan. Think of it like a seed. A seed cannot germinate the light. As long as the seed states up on a shelf, it will never become what it was created to be. You have to plant the seed in the soil in the dark, place so that, what's on the inside will come to lie. In the same way, there are seeds in you, dreams, goals, talent, potential, That will only come to lie in a dark place and if you study the scripture, every person that did something significant went through one of these dark places Moses made a mistake and killed a man he's forty years on the backside of the desert alone, feeling like he had blown it, but in that dark place,

then was happening on the inside. It was getting him prepared. He was developing patients, humility, confidence without the dark pools he would have never held up the rod and parted the Red Sea. The dark place is a prerequisite to stepping into the fullness of your destiny. Esther was an orphan, a young lady, that it lost both of her parents. She felt a long forgotten, a dark place but God used her to help save the people of Israel. Elijah was so depressed. He wanted to die a dark place. It is one of the heroes of faint or David had an affair with a married woman. Had her husband kill for one year he was broken sick guilty. Yet, is hold a man after gobs own heart, you God,

doesnt sin the difficulties, but he will use anything that comes into our lives in those dark play. This is where we really grub. That's where our character is developed, we learn to trust to persevere. Our spiritual muscles are getting stronger in the dark places you play more, you draw closer to God, you get quiet and listen to what he sang in those dark. Says you re evaluate your priorities. You spend time with your family, you have it new appreciation for what God has given you a friend a man was tall. That he was going to lose his vision. He had some kind of infection, He had a surgery and wasn't supposed to see after the operation, but it wasn't what the doctors expected and they were able to correct it. His vision is perfectly clear. Now, every morning when he wakes up he's been

First, fifteen minutes staring at the sunrise staring at the flowers staring at his children, You may not realize it, but in the dark places you been blessed so This is happening on the inside is helping you to realign Eurovision when you go through enough dark places. You don't complain about small You don't get upset because you didn't get your parking spot, you don't lose your joy because you got stuck in traffic. You not offended cause a coworker was rude to you. You ve been through too much to let that sour. You You got a backbone made to steel. A person said to me the other day. John, I heard someone so was talking about you. So so they were saying that they meant well. They were being. Can that I thought to myself. You don't have to feel sorry for me. I buried my father. I saw him

mother fight to terminal cancer, I learned how to minister when every voice told me I couldn't do it. I believe for this place, when the odds were against us, if I could make it through that, I could make it to somebody not liking me, but you know really really that's just like a little nap that you got to flick away. You go through a few dark places it toughened the dark places? have made me into who I am today. I like the good times a lot better I prefer everything go in my way, but it wasn't the good times they brought out the best in me. It was the lonely nights. The terms I didn't think I could do it on my own. Terms that I didn't see away. That's when I really learn how to pray

We have developed an unshakeable confidence in God. That's when my faith was stretched in increased. Don't complain about the dark times there are blessings, the dark places. God is doing something that can only happen in the power of affliction. When my father died of straw learn how to minister. I was so nervous to get up in front of people. There were many nights after dinner. I would go to my closet to pray Victoria would come looking for me ass, the children where's dad. She would find me in their prey. The fact is, I never it like that in the good times I never went out of my way to draw closer to God. When everything was going. My way it was the dark places. They helped me to really develop my spirit. Muscles me. Even though I didn't like what I was going through, I didn't like Heaven, stretch out was uncomfortable. I wouldn't change it made me better.

God uses the dark places when Joseph- was falsely, accused and put in prison for thirteen years. The scripture says, as he said, in those chains of iron. His soul entered into that? Are he developed a strength of perseverance that he could not get any other Why there are some things you can only learn in the dark places, quick complaining about what you're going through, who hurt you how bad it was. It may be uncomfortable you may not like it, but working for you, you're, getting stronger its developing, something that you could only get in the dark. You cannot reach your highest potential being in the light. All the time no adversity, no problems, nobody come and against. That sounds good, but it will stunted growth David said God enlarged me. In my times of distress,

he wasn't enlarged in the good times here, enlarged. When things work no went his way as a teenager. He wanted to be out havin fun with his friends, but he got stuck taken care of his father. Sheep month after month. He was out there alone. Nobody to talk too didn't look like he could ever accomplish. History But those years in the lonely shepherds fields are what help prepare him to become a chance when he went out and defeated Goliath. People called him overnight success, but the fact is, it didn't happen overnight. It happened because he went through the dark places with a good attitude when he didn't get his way when he didn't understand when he felt, like God, had forsaken him, he just keep doing the right David understood this principle. His attitude was God. This is a dark place.

Now may not see it, but I believe That is working for my good I believe, I'm getting stronger, developing character, patients learning to trust at the right Tom. He not only came out, but he came out. Increased promoted better than it was before It's not a coincidence that David said the Lord is my ship. I shall not want He makes me lie down in green pastures he It's me beside the still waters and though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil. David was saying anything the same God that leads me to the green pastures. The same God that leads me beside the still waters

the same God. That leads me through the valley. We can all trust him in the Green pastures s easy. We can trust him beside the still waters. I'm asking you to trust him. Even in the dark valleys, he hasn't left you, you may feel alone. Forgotten lie peasant turned out the way you wanted, but God is still leading you. The dark places are all a part of the plan. And to make you into who you were created debate. It may not be easy. You may not understand it, but faith is trusting God when life doesn't make sense dare to believe that he's blessing you even in the dark places that what met for your harm he's going to use to Europe manage David, went on to say after you go through the valley after the dark places God will annoy ensure head with oil he'll per

here table before you in the presence of your enemies. You, a cup, we'll run over notice. You ve go through the valley to get to the table. That's all but he set before you. You got go through the loneliness through betrayal through the sickness to get to the fresh annoying. The new beginning you gotta, go through the shepherds feels doing the right thing when the wrong thing is happening through the struggle, the lack the dead before you come to your cup. That one's over too often we want the overflow and not the valley. God give me more favour, more resources, more influence, goddesses, ok, fine, but gotta be willing to go through the valley with me. In the dark times is where we proved a god. What we're really Meda?

Can God trust you with more favour with more influence with more resources? You'll have to be faithful in the shepherds fields when you're not getting your way when its lonely, which I don't like my boss s. Why? Your of late to work here, read me right. Ass was lack all know if you're, not faithful in the wilderness. How can God trust you to be faithful in the promised land have a new perspective? The dark places are opportunities to grow. You're, not thereby accident. If God wasn't going to use it for your good, he would have never allowed you may not understand it, may not make sense, but God knows what he's doing pass that test. This is what I had to do in my father went to be with the Lord. It was dark place, and sometimes when you go through a loss zizi to discouraged kind of feel like that, God, let you down

won't be any more good days. I've learned any time. Something is dying in your life. Something else is coming to it looks like the end, but God has a new beginning a friend, but Radio walked away that relationship died at the same time. God is birthing a new relationship. He's got another friend already destined to come across your pal. You lost a position, a client, an opportunity that me died. The gods already lined up a new position, a new opportunity, a new level mission go through the valley, trusty, believing no one that God is stealing control. Then you'll come in to the table this already prepared for you to the fresh anointing to increase to wear your cup runs over Brenda. Used to play baseball with many years. Ago. Was the star player on the team

he always led the league and hitting and fielding his dream was to play professional baseball. During the summer he was invited to play on this highly competitive team that travelled around the nation was a big honor. You had to be extremely talented, He played that year and it exceptionally well, but some of the players were jealous of him. They darted spreading, lies and rumours about him the next year the, even though he liked it very much. He believed, these rumours and didn't invite him back to play, my friend was very discouraging try to get on several other teams, but there was no place they were already full and for the first time that summer he didn't have anywhere to play. He missed the whole sees no games, no opportunities a dark place. He didn't understand it wasn't fair.

But he didn't get better. He knew the same God that led him to the green pastures and still waters was now leading him through the valley every night. He would go up to the bad in cages and keep improving his skills. He kept Workin out lived in weight stay in shape, no games, not tweeted right, but he knew on the other side of that valley. Was the table already prepared for him? You gotta go through it to get to it, Don't get stuck in your valley, don't get better and lose your parent module. I don't understand why This has happened to me. They laid me off after all these years. They broke hard I'm dealing with this sickness. I just don't know if you're always trying to figure it out you're going to get stuck. Think about this in punctuation. An exclamation point is simply a question

Straightened out, if you won't God to take your question, marks the things you don't understand and turn into an exclamation point. You have to trust in in those dark places where it wasn't fair. Stella wondered. Why did this happen to me? No turn it around God. You're still on the throne. Not understand this, but I believe on the other side, this valley is my exclamation point that able this already prepared. For me, the fresh annoying, the right people, the new beginning, the new level, if you're all through the dark valleys like tat, you will come in to those exclamation point you'll see, God amazed with his goodness, when, father died. I have a lot of question marks with the church. Make it really get up here and minister Would any body listen to me overtime, one by one,

as I stated in fame, went through the our values. With a good attitude. I saw question marks, turned into exclamation points: Would the church make it yes and here's compact sinner to hold all the people exclamation point. Would anybody listen to me? Yes, and here are some number one books here- networks that will carry you Graham, here's a serious axiom, radio channels, exclamation point one after another effluent new may be in a dark place right now you went through a break up somebody. Your heart, you're hurting your lonely, wondering if you'll ever be happy again. I can tell you first hand I am a living witness. If you ll keep, ring, God move forward. God

we'll bring somebody into your live better than you ever. Imagine somebody candor friendlier. There will treat you like a queen like a key. You won't even miss that person that left you, God has an exclamation point waiting on you. Maybe in your hell, it's a dark place. You don't see how you're going to make it. The medical report is not good stay and faint, like my mother diagnosed with terminal cancer, Thirty, three years later, she is still healthy and strong, and this nets way. But here's the exclamation point every week my mother goes up to medical center to pray for other people that are sick, that's God, making the enemy pay. Perhaps perhaps in your your finances dark place, you had a bad break, a disappointment lost decline, you're wondering, is it ever going to get any better

yes on the other side of the valley is your cup that runs over increase abundance. A new level of your Destiny Mew, you may have been in the valley for a long time. You need to get right. This is a new day you're about to see the breakthrough you're about to see the overflow. That problem is about to turn around, don't quit believing God didn't bring you this far to leave you. He has an exclamation point, come in your way This is what my for India, the one that play baseball. One He was out practicing man in his own business. What he didn't know was there was, scout from a professional team. Up in the stands, this was there to watch another player, but when he saw how talented my friend was call them over and said. I want you to try out for our team. That's God putting you at the right place

at the right time. God knows how to get you to your destiny. He trotted out made the team play a couple. You in minor league baseball. Then he got bumped up went to the major leagues. To have a long, successful professional baseball career, but think about earlier those other guys. They tried to stop him by spreading rumours, but people dont determine your destiny. Guy Does a bad boy can't stop you rumours, can't stop you injustice can't stop you. God has the final say: if you go through the, art places with the right attitude. You'll see. Exclamation points come in your way. The surpassing greatness of God, Spain,.

The scripture. When Jesus had the little boys lunch five loaves of bread and to fish about to feed the thousands he lifted him up and gave thanks. Then it says he broke the brand and multiplied notice. The blessing was in the breaking the more he broke it. The more multiply there are times that we all feel broke. Broken dreams, broken problem There's a broken heart. The young lady that lost her baby and she told me big tears, ran down her beautiful face. She George. I wanted this baby more than anything else. When you feel broke you go through a disappointment, don't get better, don't give up on your dreams. The Can this is not the end? It's a sign that God is about to multiply

as what David said, God enlarged me in my distress in that broken this, it may have been met to stop ii, but God to going to use it to increase shoe the loss, the disappointment, the person that didn't keep their word, they thought they were hindering you, but in fact they were setting you work for goddamn multiply you may have gone to more than your share a bad rights, but take on the more broken you are, the more guards going to increase the bigger the disappointment, the bigger the blessing God has beauty for your ashes joy for the morning the broken this is only temporary. Now don't settle in the valley. Get comfortable there. The valley is not your home. The shepherd is leading you through the valley. On the other side, there are new beginnings, fullness of joy, great relationships, health and homeless dreams come into play

Jesus, said and John Chapter twelve unless occur, of wheat falls. The ground and does it will remain alone, but if it does, it will produce much fruit. Who is using an example of a see you they have a seed on your desk for a lifetime. Do any good until you plan as long as it's where its comfortable, it doesn't have to stretch, deal with adversity, versatile, then its potential remain locked up on the inside only after its plan. It goes through. Process germination. The outer shell breaks off new growth begins. That's when it will blossom in produce much fruit. The problem with some people is they with the fruit, but they don't want to go through the process that will be uncomfortable.

Wanna stretch have to do with adversity, betrayal, opposition, but without the dark place you potential will not be fully released. The seed can't germinate the line and I'm sure, if you were to ask the seed, it would say I don't want to go in the dark is dark, is lonely is uncomfortable. I don't war, people walk and on top of me it looks like it's bear like it's the end, but what the sea doesn't realise is it's not buried it planet, It has the life of Almighty God the inside those dark place. Even though its uncomfortable, it's a critical part of the process over a period of time. As the sea german aids and grows instead of be in one seed buried. It can become a beautiful flower, blossoming producing much fruit.

If you were to ask the seed after the process. It would say I didn't like the dark place, but I realize now it was a blessing. Look would become look what our blossomed into we all go through these dark places, and it feels like at times were bare Thoughts will tell you how you ve seen your best days that lay off ruined your career that divorce it just teenager future. That sickness is gonna, be the India you know, have a new perspective: you're, not buried your planet. If you d never had the laws, the disappointment, the dark place, you would never discover. What's on the inside, like that seed you're potential is about be released. You not only going to come out you're going to come out very much improved, better, stronger, fully in blossom.

Say when my father went to be with the Lord kind of felt like I was buried, I could feel that pressure, but in that dark place, when something was dying? Something was being birth new on the inside. That's when I discovered gifts and talents that I didn't know, I had I didn't like going through the process, but that's what calls me to blossom. None of us like to be planted is lonely uncomfortable, but in the dark places you have to yourself. New growth is come in my way, even though it like something is dying. Something else is come into life you're not buried your planet. When you come out you're going to bear much fruit Now. My challenge to us today is be willing to go through the process. To many people get better disco Joel. If God was good, how could he let this me no, dare to trust in God knows what he said

There may be dirt all around you right now. It's uncomfortable that dirt is, dare to bury you it's there to bring out the seeds of greatness on the inside. It's just a matter of time before you break out and blossom into who you were created today, and if you will, through these dark places with the right attitude, I believe and declare he's going to turn your question marks into exclamation point we'll go through every valley to the table prepared for you to the fresh air pointing to increase where your cup overflow, as you will be able to say, like David God in large me in my distress. He bless me even in the dark places in June

This name, if you receive it, can be stated amended. I we never liked to close our broadcast without giving you an opportunity to make Jesus the Lord of your life. Would you pray with me just say Lord Jesus, I repented my sins come into my heart, Make your Ma Board and Saint printed pray that simple prayer. We believe you born again, given good Babo Base Church keep God first place he's gonna. Take you says that you ve never dream you for listening to the jewellers. Dean podcast, helpless, continue to share the message of hope with those all over the world is a joke. Steam, dot com, slash, give hope to give again today thanks Much were listening to today's message. I hope you'll subscribe so you can receive the latest podcast to keep the inspired all through the we were playing ball yet

no gods best is still ahead, will see him next time.