Devo 133: Waiting

Welcome to Season 4 of the One Another Podcast! This time around, we're going back to where it all began with our original vision: "Counseling issues from a pastoral perspective." What does that mean for this season? Well, in our first few episodes we will be tackling the headline questions that need answering: What really is counseling? Do I need counseling? How effective is it, really? How can I find counseling? Following after that, we will discuss specific topics within the counseling sphere, such as dealing with grief, anxiety, depression, etc. We are also happy to hear from our listeners for suggestions on topics--what comes to mind for you, or what are some big questions that you have when you think about counseling? We are so excited to have you join us on this season--be sure to come back every week for new episodes! Be sure to come back every Tuesday for new episodes and find us on the following platforms as well: Find us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/oneanotherpodcast?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw== Find us on YouTube: https://youtube.com/@oneanotherpodcast?si=7-JJ9raR9Fr0cQ9b Find us on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4RGIMhed26LZsl9TI56yPN?si=2924a1be839549b9 Find us on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/one-another/id1797190030

In this sermon on Psalm 46, Pastor Brandon Charbonneau walks through one of the great songs of the sons of Korah — written in the shadow of Sennacherib's siege of Jerusalem. When the Assyrian armies had Jerusalem "like a bird in a cage," God broke the siege in a single night. The psalm that came out of that deliverance is not a warrior's chant. It is the high, exposed cry of a people who had nothing left but the Lord. As winter settles over the Keweenaw and seasonal darkness presses in, this sermon speaks directly to anxiety, discouragement, and the temptation to run to every refuge except God. Drawing on the structure of the psalm (refuge → river → God in the midst → cease striving), Pastor Brandon shows how the Lord of hosts is not a distant idea but a very present help. He calls the church to dwell with God — training the mind on truth, taking courage in the heart because God has never failed, and putting it into practice by running to the Word and prayer first. "God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble… The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our stronghold." If you are weary, anxious, or simply need to be reminded that God is in the midst of His people and will not be moved, this sermon is for you. Subscribe for more expository preaching from Christ the King Church in the Upper Peninsula.

What do Christians have to be thankful for, even when life is filled with uncertainty, disappointment, or hardship? While Thanksgiving often reminds us of family, traditions, and material blessings, Scripture points us to far greater reasons for gratitude that remain unchanged regardless of our circumstances. In this special Thanksgiving message, Pastor Robb Brunansky examines six biblical reasons believers should continually give thanks to God: His provision for our daily needs, the fellowship of the church, His saving and sanctifying work in other believers, our own salvation by grace, the incomparable gift of Jesus Christ, and His sovereign work in all things for our good and His glory. Drawing from passages throughout the New Testament, Pastor Robb explains how genuine gratitude combats anxiety, discouragement, pride, and discontentment while strengthening our confidence in God's faithfulness. Even amid suffering and uncertainty, Christians can give thanks because nothing can separate them from the love of God in Christ Jesus. This message encourages believers to cultivate hearts of thanksgiving, remembering that our greatest blessings are not found in our circumstances but in our sovereign Savior, who has promised us eternal victory through Jesus Christ.

This sermon offers pastoral comfort to believers facing a world characterized by increasing hostility and divine judgment, urging them to refrain from fretting over the prosperity of the wicked. Drawing from Psalm 37, the message emphasizes that anxiety and anger distract Christians from their calling to do good and trust in God's sovereignty, ultimately serving as a poor witness to the world. The text highlights the contrast between the temporary nature of the wicked and the eternal security of the righteous, who are promised provision and an everlasting inheritance. By referencing the Sermon on the Mount and the writings of Peter and Hebrews, the sermon encourages believers to find their joy and stability not in earthly possessions, which can be plundered, but in the unshakeable love of Christ and the hope of the new heavens and new earth.

This sermon addresses the anxiety believers may feel following a political election by emphasizing God's absolute sovereignty over human governments. The speaker argues that political shifts are part of God's divine plan, citing biblical examples of wicked rulers like Pharaoh and Nebuchadnezzar to illustrate that God uses such times to display His power and call His people to repentance. Drawing primarily from Psalm 37, the message outlines seven biblical responses for Christians: refusing to fret or be envious, trusting the Lord fully, revering God rather than fearing man, praying fervently, pleasing the Lord faithfully, serving Him fanatically, and patiently awaiting His return. The tone is pastoral and reassuring, urging the congregation to maintain their spiritual focus and moral integrity regardless of the political climate. The sermon concludes with an invitation for the unsaved to accept Christ and a reminder that the current events signal the nearness of the Lord's coming.

This sermon explores Psalm 61 as a guide for navigating overwhelming life circumstances by turning to God rather than relying on personal strength. It emphasizes that feeling faint or anxious is not a failure of faith but an opportunity to recognize human insufficiency and seek divine refuge. The text traces a spiritual progression from the wilderness of distress to the security of God's presence, illustrated through metaphors of a rock, a strong tower, a tent, and a mother bird sheltering her young. Central to this peace is the assurance of God's covenant promises, which find their ultimate fulfillment in the eternal reign of Jesus Christ, the true King. The sermon concludes by urging believers to respond to God's faithfulness with daily praise, obedience, and a confident hope that transcends temporary trials.

Today's sermon addresses the tension between earthly political hope and the eternal hope found in Christ, arguing that believers should direct their primary devotion to the advancement of God's kingdom rather than national systems. Drawing from Zechariah 8, the message identifies prayer as the divinely appointed means by which the kingdom of grace advances and the kingdom of glory is hastened. It explores the theological connection between the Old Testament prophecies of a future day of joy and the New Testament reality of the church, emphasizing that God's promises are sure and His people are called to expectant, united intercession. The exposition highlights Jonathan Edwards' insights on the duty, good, and success of such prayer, illustrating how historical movements of revival were sparked by collective, visible agreement to seek God's face. Ultimately, Pastor Jason calls the congregation to abandon anxiety over temporal affairs and instead engage in fervent, unified prayer for the global spread of the gospel and the final return of Christ.