October 3, 2023

Tough Times

(The following is the script for the Take Ten with Pastor Don Podcast from October 4, 2023. You can listen to the podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, and Amazon Podcasts.)

Welcome to Take Ten with Pastor Don. I’m Don McGarvey, pastor of the Troy Mills Christian Church in Troy Mills, Iowa.

In 1983, Robert Shuller wrote the book, “Tough Times Never Last but Tough People Do.”

It was a bestseller. Once again it became evident that many folks were going through tough times and were trying to find something that would help them get through.

Many of us probably still have that book on our bookshelves.

There’s an interesting story about this book that I heard Shuller tell. But before I tell you that story, let me tell you another one.

About 25 years ago, I was leading a group of students who had committed nine months of their lives to study the Word, work in the local church, and reach out to the community. It was a great time. Lots of work, but more than worth all the effort it took. These students became “my kids.” They still are.

One morning, one of the young ladies came in and rather smugly said, “I know God’s phone number.”

I just sat there because I never knew what was coming from this group. Finally, someone bit and said, “Okay, what’s God’s phone number?”

Her response was, “Jeremiah 333.”

All of us had Bibles in front of us and in one move we all opened our Bibles.

Someone read, “’Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know.”

That was cool. Now God had a cell phone. And we had His number. We also had the promise He would answer, not send to His voice mail, but He would answer. Him. Not an angel, not a one of the disciples, but God Himself would answer.

That reminds me of another story.

There was a great Christian author, pastor, and teacher that I want to talk about coming to speak at conference I was helping to lead in our community.

I called a couple of places trying to find out how to get a hold of him but to no avail.

Now this was before the days of Google, or Siri, or Alexis.

I knew what city he lived in so out of desperation I called directory assistance. Remember that? It goes way back, doesn’t it.

I got his number. Wondered who would answer my call only to hear his voice on the other end of the phone.

I called his name. Asked if it really was him. His response was, “Well, didn’t you call me?”

We had a great conversation. I was surprised though when he answered.

I should probably finish my first story before we run out of time.

Robert Shuller…. Tough Times Never Last but Tough People Do.”

He got the title by giving God a call at Jeremiah 333.

Shuller was in Chicago speaking to a convention of farmers.

The head of the convention met with Shuller a few minutes prior to his time to speak and told him that most of the farmers in the audience were having tough times.

Many of them would lose their farms and everything else they had due to the economy. It was a farm crisis.

He instructed Shuller not to use any humor because these folks wouldn’t think it was funny.

Shuller was in shock. I remember him saying that the first ten or 12 minutes of his twenty-minute talk was nothing but humor.

He said, “I prayed. I told God that He said if we called upon Him, He would answer and tell us things we didn’t know.

He was introduced. Went to center stage. He said, “I stood there, put my hands my pockets, looked down at the floor for a few seconds.”

Then he said, “I heard myself say these words, ‘Tough Times Never Last but Tough People Do.”

He went on to say, “I’d never said that before.” And then he said, “I couldn’t wait to get done with my speech so I could write those words down and make sure I didn’t forget them.”

You know the rest of the story. He wrote the book and it became a bestseller.

My students……Jeremiah 333 became our “go to” when we didn’t know what to do.

And it worked. Every time we called God’s number, He answered. Just like my new friend answered his own phone, God answers His own phone.

So, next time you don’t know what to do….and I’m sure there will be a next time, give God a call. He’s waiting for your call and He will answer His phone and tell you “Great and mighty things, which you do not know.’”

Well, that’s our time for this time. Thanks for joining us and if you haven’t subscribed, please ring the bell, and join us as we continue our journey down the path God has established.

And if you feel comfortable with doing so, please tell your friends about us.

And don’t forget, give God a call. He’s expecting you.

God bless you!