### Summary
On December 5th, 1901, a boy named Walter Elias Disney was born in Chicago. Despite his early dreams of becoming a news reporter, he was fired from the Kansas City Star for a lack of creativity. This failure led him to discover his true calling in drawing, which eventually made him famous and wealthy. This story serves as a powerful illustration of how God can use our failures to redirect us towards His greater purpose.
Fear of failure is a common human experience, but often, our greatest blessings come from things not going as planned. Proverbs 19:21 reminds us that while we can make plans, it is the Lord's purpose that prevails. This truth is vividly illustrated in Acts 28, where the Apostle Paul experiences a shipwreck and a snake bite, only to find himself in a position to bring healing and revival to the island of Malta.
God specializes in divine detours, using our failed plans and tragic moments to create paths of amazing purpose. Paul's missionary journeys, filled with unexpected turns and detours, demonstrate that what appears to be random is often God's strategic positioning. Disorienting times lead us to a deeper dependence on God, shifting us from self-reliance to complete trust in Him.
The journey of our church mirrors this truth. From being kicked out of a middle school to facing numerous challenges, each shipwreck and snake bite has shaped us into who we are today. God uses these moments to mold our character and deepen our relationship with Him.
Ultimately, God is more concerned with who we are becoming than where we are going. Our intimacy with Him should be our primary focus, and everything else will flow from that relationship. Shipwrecks and snake bites are tools God uses to get us where He wants us to be, even if it means drying up our current sources of security to motivate us to move forward.
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Key Takeaways
- 1. reliance to complete trust in Him. [16:06]
4. God Wastes Nothing: God uses every experience, even our failures and tragedies, to shape us and fulfill His purpose. He is sovereign and omnipotent, working all things together for our good and His glory.
5. Focus on Intimacy with God: Our primary focus should be on our relationship with God, not just seeking His will. God is more concerned with who we are becoming than where we are going. Shipwrecks and snake bites are tools He uses to mold our character and deepen our intimacy with Him.
### [16:06]
Youtube Chapters
- [00:00] - Welcome
- [01:15] - Walter Disney's Early Life and Failure
- [02:33] - Discovering True Calling
- [03:59] - Fear of Failure
- [05:03] - God's Purpose in Painful Moments
- [06:22] - Paul's Shipwreck and Snake Bite
- [07:52] - Paul's Bad Day
- [09:15] - Revival in Malta
- [10:46] - Divine Detours
- [12:09] - Paul's Missionary Journeys
- [13:26] - God's Strategic Positioning
- [14:55] - God Wastes Nothing
- [16:06] - Dependence on God
- [18:39] - Disorienting Times Lead to Destiny
- [19:51] - Church's Journey and Challenges
- [23:26] - Focus on Intimacy with God
- [24:42] - Elijah and the Dried-Up Brook
- [26:03] - Three Practical Tips for Difficult Times