Recently, we watched a movie called The Great Awakening. The story is based on the real life of George Whitefield, an English Anglican preacher who simply wasn't made for an ordinary life. Before entering ministry, Whitefield pursued poetry and the stage. Raised in poverty by a single mother, his future in the early 1700s did not appear promising. Yet his mother was a woman of faith—a mother who believed God had a purpose for her son and that one day this poor boy would stand behind a pulpit and be used mightily by God.

Never underestimate the power of a praying mother. God hears her prayers.
George Whitefield (pronounced Whitt-field) would eventually become one of the most influential preachers in history. He also played a significant role in impacting the life of Benjamin Franklin. In 1732, Whitefield entered Pembroke College, Oxford, where he began a journey that would leave a lasting mark on both England and America.

With a voice that could capture attention from blocks away, Whitefield preached the gospel to massive crowds. There were no cars, no internet, no television, and no social media. Yet God used his boldness, charisma, and passion to reach thousands. At a time when many pulpits lacked spiritual fire, Whitefield stood apart.

In an interesting twist of providence, God even used an atheist to help spread Whitefield's message. That atheist owned a successful printing business and realized he could make a considerable profit by printing Whitefield's sermons and literature. Through those printed messages, the gospel reached countless people. That businessman was Benjamin Franklin.

Whitefield was blind in one eye. He had no modern conveniences, only a horse, an unwavering calling, and a burning desire to take the gospel to anyone willing to listen. Armed with uncommon courage and deep conviction, he stepped into God's purpose for his life.

It wasn't easy. In fact, much of the opposition he faced came from within the church itself. He experienced resistance from both within and without. Courage under fire will either break you or strengthen your resolve to keep fighting for what matters most.

In 2 Corinthians 11:23–33, the Apostle Paul recounts the many hardships he endured for the glory of God. Among the most painful was being "in perils among false brethren." Trials have a way of revealing why we do what we do. For both Paul and Whitefield, the answer was simple: to bring glory to God and to His Christ.
One of the most memorable lines in the film comes when Whitefield prays that God would destroy the name "Whitefield" if necessary, so that people would see only Christ and exalt His name alone.

Friend, can I tell you something? Your name and my name do not matter nearly as much as we often think they do. Live a life that continually points people to Jesus Christ and to His name alone. When you choose to live that way, you will find rest for your soul and joy in giving everything you have for the Kingdom of God.

A week ago, I walked into our church on a Sunday morning and, as usual, made my way into our little theater and headed toward my seat. We gather in a cozy 60-seat theater that we rent for our church services. But this particular morning felt different from the start.

Before I could even sit down, someone greeted me with, “Good morning, Pastor. Just wanted to give you a heads up—the speakers aren’t working. That means no microphones and no sound at all. We’re going to have to skip worship, and you’ll be up to preach as soon as prayer is finished.”

Now, that’s exactly the kind of news every pastor dreams of hearing moments before stepping behind the pulpit (sarcasm intended).

Surprisingly, though, I wasn’t rattled. I took the news in stride and didn’t feel alarmed or anxious. For some reason, there was a deep sense of peace about it.

I sat down, the opening prayer concluded, and it was time to preach. As I walked toward the pulpit, I turned around and noticed something else—half of our congregation was missing.

It was late May, a time when many families are traveling, and several people had already let me know that morning they were under the weather. To add to the list, our camera operator was sick as well and couldn’t make it. Honestly, I’d much rather our volunteers stay home and recover than come in feeling miserable.

Sometimes ministry requires us to adjust at a moment’s notice. Plans change. Expectations shift. We simply learn to roll with the punches.

The Christian life is an adventure when we approach it with the right perspective. One of the lessons we learn along the way is that everything doesn’t have to go perfectly for us to experience deep joy in the Lord. God remains sovereign over every circumstance, every interruption, and every unexpected turn. He is truly in control.

“For the Lord gives wisdom; from His mouth come knowledge and understanding. He stores up sound wisdom for the upright; He is a shield to those who walk in integrity.” — Proverbs 2:6–7

As I reflected on that morning, I realized how grateful I was for the time I had spent with the Lord throughout the week. He had been preparing my heart long before Sunday arrived. He was strengthening me so I wouldn’t be disappointed or discouraged when things didn’t go according to plan.

God is in complete control of every detail of our lives. He gave me the wisdom that morning not to be troubled by what wasn’t working. The sound system failed. Attendance was low. The camera wasn’t running. Yet none of those things were ultimately the point.

Many people become unsettled when circumstances don’t unfold as they expected. They lose their joy because they become fixated on what’s wrong instead of what matters most. But when we consistently spend time with the Lord throughout the week, He gives us the perspective we need to navigate those moments with peace.

The question, “Where did everybody go?” no longer becomes the primary concern when we recognize that God Himself is present with us.

Now, did I miss everyone who wasn’t there? Absolutely. I’m their pastor, and I missed them immensely. But as I grow older in the faith, my greatest concern is no longer attendance numbers or flawless services.

Was God pleased with how I represented Him?

Did I teach His Word clearly?

Did I faithfully call people to repentance and trust in Christ?

If I can answer yes to those questions, then my heart is full.

Friends, make it a habit to spend time with the Lord every day. When life becomes chaotic—and it will—you’ll be reminded that He is not only your wisdom but also your shield. The more time you spend with Him, the more confidently you’ll be able to stand when everything around you seems uncertain.

And in those moments, you’ll discover that His presence is more than enough.

I know Jesus told us to take up our cross and follow Him in The Gospel of Matthew. What I didn’t know was that there would be so many hills along the way.
Isn’t that the Christian walk?

Recently, I received a call from a friend. He asked how my family and I were doing. Thankfully, at that moment, I could honestly say we were doing well. No major obstacles. No health issues. Things were steady.
Then I asked him how he was doing.

His response was so brutally honest that at first I laughed, thinking he was joking. Most men from my generation tend to hide pain behind humor. But there was a nervousness in his laugh, and right away I knew he wasn’t pulling my leg.
My friend was going through it.

He and his family were dragging their cross uphill. Not fun. Not pleasant. Just flat-out painful.

I wanted to be more of a listener than a problem solver, so I listened. And honestly, the hill he described felt familiar. I had been around this kind of pain before. In moments like that, it can feel as if help is nowhere to be found.

It’s almost like when your mom leaves you standing in line at the grocery store and says, “Stay here, I forgot something. Don’t go anywhere.” Suddenly the cashier finds a second wind and starts scanning items at lightning speed. The conveyor belt is moving full blast, your turn is next, and Mom is nowhere in sight. You start yelling, “Mom!” — but she’s nowhere to be found.

That’s how suffering can feel.

My friend was living in Epistle of James. And if you know that passage, then you know finding joy in the middle of testing can become a test all by itself.
Family problems. Financial strain. Loss here. Loss there. Loss everywhere.
So how do we find joy in the middle of all that?

Here’s where it gets interesting:
Joy isn’t a feeling.
Yes, you read that right. Joy is not a feeling. Joy is a living reality that resides within the believer. When everything in you is crying out for a break, you can still reach for joy.
God is not a liar. He inspired those words through the Apostle James. That means joy is present, even when emotions say otherwise. It lives within you because He lives within you.
How we carry our cross through those hills is often a choice.
But too often, instead of pulling out our “joy card,” we pull out the red card. Or, for those who understand American football, we throw the yellow flag and announce, “Flag on the play!”

Somewhere along the way, many of us were told that being a Christian meant a life of nonstop bliss, wonder, and comfort. Then the hills surprised us.

Friends, when those difficult moments come, cling tightly to the One who gives us hope — the One who gives us an eternal hope that never disappoints.
Before we hung up, I prayed for my friend. And somehow, deep down, I know he and his family will make it through this season.
Jesus will see to that.

Scripture Reference:

Matthew 16:24-26
James 1:1-2
Romans 5:1-5