[You Know How the Story Ends]( Current Teaching Series [How to Get Through What You're Going Through]( [Listen to Today's Broadcast]( [You Know How the Story Ends](
By Rick Warren â 07/08/2023 [Facebook]( [Twitter]( [Pinterest]( [Email](mailto:?subject=I'd%20like%20to%20share%20a%20Daily%20Devotional%20from%20Pastor%20Rick%20with%20you&body= âSo we do not look at what we can see right now, the troubles all around us, but we look forward to the joys in heaven which we have not yet seen. The troubles will soon be over, but the joys to come will last forever.â 2 Corinthians 4:18 (TLB) One of the most suspenseful TV shows ever was 24. The main character, Jack Bauer, could solve three world catastrophes in every single episode. But I never even watched the show until it went off the air, because I hate watching commercials. I bought the entire series on DVD so I could watch it commercial-free. When my wife Kay and I were watching the first season of 24, I started to get really tense as Jack got into one of his predictable messes and had only five seconds to save the whole world. I thought, âIs Jack going to make it? Is this the end for our hero?â And then I thought, âOf course not. There are five more seasons!â Your tension goes down when you know the end of the story. When you donât have to wonder if things will turn out badly, it affects your perspective and your attitude. This is why believers in Christ grieve differently from the rest of the world. When believers lose family or friends who are also believers, they grieve because they miss the person who is gone, but they also know they are in a far better place: in heaven, with God, forever. In a sense, we grieve for ourselves because we have to find a way forward without our loved one. But we grieve with hope because we know the end of the story: One day, we will join them in heaven and be with God forever. You can have hope, even when there is loss. How? Youâve got to get a bigger perspective and a longer view. Youâve got to refocus your attention. Youâve got to stop thinking about just the here and now and start living as if there is much more to your story. This life is not all there is! If you just look at today and whatâs happening right now, youâre going to be hopeless. But if you can see whatâs happening to you in light of eternity, youâll realize that this life is preparation for the next. God is getting you ready for eternal life. âSo we do not look at what we can see right now, the troubles all around us, but we we look forward to the joys in heaven which we have not yet seen. The troubles will soon be over, but the joys to come will last foreverâ (2 Corinthians 4:18 TLB). [PLAY todayâs audio teaching from Pastor Rick >>]( Talk It Over - In what other areas of life (besides grief) does having an eternal perspective change your focus and attitude?
- Does being a Christian mean you feel any less pain from your loss as you grieve? Why or why not?
- What are the ways God is growing you in spiritual maturity right now and getting you ready for eternity? Where will you spend eternity? The Bible says you can only get to heaven by trusting in Godâs Son, Jesus Christ. You canât earn your way into heaven: âIt is by grace you have been saved, through faithâand this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of Godânot by works, so that no one can boastâ (Ephesians 2:8-9 NIV). â¨If youâre ready to commit your life to Jesus, start by praying this prayer: âDear God, you have promised that if I believe in your Son, Jesus Christ, everything Iâve ever done wrong will be forgiven, I will learn the purpose of my life, and you will accept me into your eternal home in heaven one day. âI confess I have sinned, and I ask for your forgiveness. I believe that Jesus died to take away my sins and that you raised him to life. I want to trust Jesus as my Savior and follow him as Lord from this day forward. Guide my life and help me to do your will. In Jesusâ name I pray. Amen.â If you just prayed to accept Jesus, please email me at Rick@PastorRick.com and let me know about it. Iâd like to send you some free materials to help you start your journey with Jesus. The post [You Know How the Story Ends]( appeared first on [Pastor Rick's Daily Hope](. [Facebook]( [Twitter]( [Pinterest]( [Email](mailto:?subject=I'd%20like%20to%20share%20a%20Daily%20Devotional%20from%20Pastor%20Rick%20with%20you&body= [Get the Journey Toward Hope Guided Experience when you give a gift to support Daily Hope!]( Life can be challenging, isolating, and painful. Thatâs why itâs critical to stay grounded in who God says you areâand the hope he alone can give. Thatâs also why Kay Warren created the Journey Toward Hope guided Bible study. In this beautiful, vegan leather book, youâll find a wealth of resources to help you move toward hope throughout the ups and downs of life. In Journey Toward Hope, youâll find: ⢠Five truths that hope reveals about you
⢠Quotes and life-giving Scripture
⢠Space to journal
⢠Stories of authentic hope
⢠Guided prayers to encourage you [LEARN MORE]( [Complete Audio Series (Purchase)]( Includes 8 full-length messages from Pastor Rick's series How to Get Through What You're Going Through. [LEARN MORE]( [Series Summary]( Message 1: How We're Getting Through
Message 2: When Your World Collapses
Message 3: Getting Through Life's Losses
Message 4: Struggle: When Life Makes No Sense
Message 5: Surrender: The Path to Peace
Message 6: Never Waste a Pain
Message 7: Transformed by Trouble
Message 8: Finding Treasure in Darkness by Kay Warren [PLAY TODAY'S BROADCAST]( Pastor Rick Warren [Facebook]( [Instagram]( [Linkedin]( Enjoy today's devotional? Listen to Pastor Rickâs daily audio teaching at [PastorRick.com]( Did someone forward this devotional to you? [Subscribe to Pastor Rick Warren's Daily Devotional.]( Rick Warren is the founding pastor of [Saddleback Church]( one of Americaâs largest and most influential churches. Pastor Rick is the author of the New York Times bestseller [The Purpose Driven Life](. His book [The Purpose Driven Church]( was named one of the 100 Christian books that changed the 20th century. Pastor Rick created [The PEACE Plan]( to address the five global giantsâspiritual emptiness, self-serving leadership, poverty, disease, and illiteracyâthrough the power of ordinary people in the local church. His Daily Hope broadcast and daily devotionals are offered around the world. You can listen to the broadcast or sign up for the free devotionals at [PastorRick.com](. © 2023 by Rick Warren. All rights reserved. Used by permission. You can unsubscribe by clicking the link below.
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