Hey guys, happy Friday. Welcome to another episode of the Blessed and Busted Podcast. Today, I want to share with you another one of my amazing mentees podcast. For those of you who don't know this year, I've started mentoring Christian podcasters and really just helping them to be able to fawn tune their voice, their message that the Lord has given them so that they can get it out to the masses and truly make the impact that he's called them to make.
And it has been the most rewarding experience that goes beyond business relationships to be able to serve these women and to hear and to see what the outcome of all of the development that we've done to just see it all translate into how they show up on their platforms. It brings me so much joy and so is just an honor to be able to serve them even more by sharing their platforms with you. Why not?
You know, God has blessed me with the ability to reach many people with this podcast. So how dare I not use it to uplift and amplify others that he's called to the space. It's a lot of crap in this podcasting industry. And so it's an honor to be able to introduce you guys to some really amazing women and some amazing shows that they've created.
Clarissa in particular, she's the host of the Purified Improving Podcast. Clarissa, we've known each other for some years. She came to one of my Find Your Voice Academy retreats. She's been in the society and she always tells this story about how she had this microphone sitting under her bed for so long because we started working on her show together some years ago. And for whatever reason, I'm going to say the end of me.
really was trying to keep her from getting the show out. And so one of the inclusions of my program that she was in before was she got a podcast mic. And she, I love how she tells a story about how that mic just sat under her bed for so long. And this year, she just talked about how dedicated and committed she was to just finally getting it out, finally doing what God has called her to do. And we've talked through so many instances where
the enemy has tried to distract her so many instances where she's been in her head. I've had to tell her so many times like hey let's come back to Earth because I think you're you're psyching yourself out so again I'm extremely proud to see this podcast come to fruition and so excited to share it with you.
The purified and proven podcast is a show dedicated to helping believers in Christ say committed to their journey with God regardless of obstacles, seasons or challenges they face. Clarissa is here to run alongside you offering encouragement and support as you continue the race. This podcast dives deep into the often overlooked mental and emotional aspects of the Christian walk.
She explores various elements of living for Christ, providing practical advice to help address these struggles. Together, you'll navigate the pain points and take actionable steps to grow closer to God one day at a time. I want to play for you this sample episode. It's titled, Nothing is Too Hard for God, Overcoming Doubt and Trusting His Promises. I believe that this episode in particular is very timely and you're going to be truly blessed by it.
If you love this podcast, if you love this episode, go ahead and subscribe. The link will be in the show notes. So without further ado, here is a sample episode of the purified and proven podcast available now everywhere you get your podcasts.
Welcome to the purified and proven show. I'm your host Clarissa Mann. Listen in every week as I help believe as they commit it to their walk with God, no matter the challenges, I offer encouragement and practical direction to navigate the mental and emotional struggles of the Christian journey.
Together we'll navigate the pain points and take actionable steps to move closer to God. One day at a time, let's start the show.
Welcome back to the purified and proven podcast. I'm your host Clarissa Minn and I have a great episode for you all today. What we're going to talk about is, is there anything too hard for the Lord?
Seriously, I want you to think about that. Is there anything too hard for the Lord? And I got this topic because I was looking at a TikTok video and a girl made up.
a video of her five funniest moments from the Bible. And one of the moments was when God called out Sarah Falafin. And I told my sister about the video. And now, you know, me and her, we're just joking back and forth about like, you know, God don't play. He basically here sees every single thing, like nothing gets past God. And the Bible is so intentional because they don't leave out anything. Like if it's in there, it's because they truly want us to know.
And I wind up going back and reading the story about Abraham and Sarah. And I read their story multiple times. However, you know, when you read the Bible, it's like you always just get something new. Like the Holy Spirit will reveal something that, you know, you need to know at that time. And
I skipped over that part where, you know, God calls out Sarah for laughing. And the part I am, I skipped over. And what I'm going to talk about is that, you know, the things that Sarah said and like her mind said how she felt about herself and how, you know, kind of reveals how she feels about the Lord. And I was just like, wow, okay, you know, this is starting to hit home for me.
So I'm going to read my core scripture first, and I'm also going to just elaborate on how we got to that part. So my core scripture is Genesis 18 verse 12 through 15. And it says, so she laughed silently to herself and said,
How could a worn out woman like me enjoy such pleasure? Especially when my master, my husband is also so old. Then the Lord said to Abraham, why did Sarah laugh? Why did she say can an old woman like me have a baby? Is there anything too hard for the Lord?
I will return about this time next year, and Sarah will have a son. Sarah was afraid, so she denied it saying I didn't laugh, but the Lord said, no, you did laugh. And I was just like, honey, God, he will stand on business. I said, God is about to go through that tent and let Miss Sarah have it, but that's not what happened. Anywho,
How they got to that point was God had told Abraham that he would reward him he was going to protect him and that he was going to bless him and Abraham
brought it up to God first. He said, you know, Lord, what good is all these blessings if I don't have a son? Like, I don't have children to give my inheritance to. The only person I could give this to is my servant. And God is like, no, I got you. Like, you're going to have a son. I'm going to give you a son.
In the next scene, it says Sarah tells Abraham that, you know, she's going to give Hagar her Egyptian, Egyptian servant to him. They're going to have a baby and that's how they're going to have their son. Okay. But God just told Abraham that he was going to bless him with the son.
All right. So Hagar has the baby with Abraham. But now Hagar is feeling some type of way towards Sarah. Sarah doesn't like how Hagar is treating her. She goes to Abraham and she blames Abraham for how Hagar is treating her. And Abraham was like, that's your problem. You deal with her. I don't have nothing to do with it.
So I believe Sarah deals with Hagar in a harsh way, which causes Sarah, um, Hagar to leave the angel talks to Hagar. She comes back and neo now she's with Sarah and Abraham. Now again, God and his angels, they come to visit Abraham and he is telling Abraham, you know,
His plan for him. Hey, you know, you're going to have a son. He changes his name. He actually changes Sarah's name as well. But this time Sarah can hear God telling Abraham that, you know, hey, you're going to, you know, have a son.
And that's what led to Sarah laughing and saying those things about herself. And in this, I'm like, hmm, the Holy Spirit started to point out to me like, okay, what is it that you think about yourself? Like, how do you feel about the promises that the Lord has said to you? And those thoughts started to come up also with the feelings attached to it.
As I read it again, the Lord gave me four things, four points that I believe each of us can benefit from, but also the majority of us can identify with. And the first point is don't underestimate the task that God has entrusted you. And what I mean by that is
We can't let our limiting beliefs disqualify us from the assignment that God has given us. I know for myself, when the Lord said that I was his mouthpiece, like I would be speaking, I instantly begin to think of all of the insecurities that I have. I begin to think of my, you know, the negative things people may have said, people have said about me. I started to think of and create all these scenarios of like the worst possible things happening.
And it's like how I see myself is not how God sees me. Her response was a lack of faith because of what she thought about herself. Like how she felt about herself is show how much faith that she had in God. Because the fact that she she doubted God, she doubted that God could use her
an old worn out woman, I'm like, just think about how you think about yourself, some of the things that you said about yourself. Like, why would God want to use a person like me? I used to drink, I used to smoke, or I used to fight, I used to curse people out. Like, you'll start saying all these negative things about yourself
Because of who God said that you was, because of the assignment and the task that He's giving you. I know for myself, I could think about, like, dang, I used to curse people out. Like, the same mouth that I'm right now, I'm saying, amen. Hallelujah. I love you. Like, God is my Lord and Savior.
I used to curse people out. However, now I'm not cursing folks out. Now I really am representing the Lord in every way possible. Sarah, she wanted to be a mother, but she really didn't know all that God had and stored for her. Like she didn't know God's full plan for her. And in Genesis 17, 16, it says, and I will bless her.
and give you a son from her. Yes, I will bless her richly and she will become the mother of many nations. Kings of nations will be among her descendants. I'm like, Sarah, you want a baby, but you don't know that God wants you to be a mother of nations. But because of her limited belief, like I'm an old worn out woman, I'm 89 years old.
Like, what do you mean we gonna have a baby? Like, Ishmael is already here. Like, I already went and did something. So, how am I gonna have a baby? And I know we can relate to that. You know, it doesn't always have to, you know, we're just talking about her story, but literally, I'm pretty sure we can all insert something in there.
That you know God has told us something and it seems like okay The second point is your way of thinking needs to align with your new identity See God he changed Sarah and Abraham's name. He gave them a new identity He told them his plan that he has for them yet Sarah she still didn't believe like Sarah did not believe that God would bless her with a son
She didn't think that God was going to come through for her. And I really have to point this out. Don't let your past insecurities, your poor decisions, or even your current state. Don't let that stop you from being obedient to God. Don't let that stop you from believing that God can really do something through you.
Don't let what other people meant, like what they said about you, the rumors that they spread about you. Don't come into agreement with those things.
Seriously, if you know you used to live a certain life and you've given your life over to God, he's given you a new identity. You now identify as an heir to the kingdom of God. You now identify as
a child of the most high God. And God created all of us with a purpose. That's to praise Him, to worship Him, to love Him. That's to go out and spread the great commission, you know, to go out there and spread the good news. And we all have an assignment. And guess what? We all have a past.
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So don't let that stop you from being who God says you are. Don't hold on to your old nickname. Don't hold on to the old things you used to do. Even when someone wants to throw it in your face or even when that thought comes back or that memory comes back are the things that you used to do.
It's not who you are. It's not who God says you are. And Ephesians 4, 21 through 24 says, if indeed you have heard him and have been taught by him as the truth is in Jesus, that you put off concerning your former conduct, the old men which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lust,
and be renewed in the spirit of your mind and that you put on the new man which was created according to God and true righteousness and holiness.
Believe that the old you has been crucified. That's what you got to believe. You got to believe that the old you has been crucified on the cross and that who you used to be is dead and gone and that you are a new creation in Christ. That's what you have to believe. That's what you got to hold on. That's something that you got to wear around.
You're neck like a necklace. Like, yeah, I used to be that. I used to do that. But that's not who I am anymore. That's not what I'm called to do. I was lost. Now I am found. That's where you have to start operating in because God has called you to do something for him, for his kingdom, for his glory.
So you truly have to believe that you got to let your emotions catch up with where you are today. Because living in the past, it don't do nothing for you. It has not done anything for me. It has not benefit me, not one second.
So we have to start a lot in ourselves and get in our mind and the place where God has called us, where God says, okay, this is your new name. This is who you are. You don't got to go by that old name no more. You don't have to behave that way no more. You know, when you read my word, you're in, I'm telling you the standard that I want you to live by.
So remember that you are a new creation in Christ. You got a new identity. You got to buy by that. My second, well, sorry, my third point is don't go around God. And this is where we go back to where Sarah gave Hagar as a wife to Abraham to bring Ishmael into the world.
Now in that time, that was like their culture practice. So Sarah, she leaned on her cultural practices instead of the promise of God. Now Abraham already knew that God was going to give him a son. Now this is something that God told him he knew.
And somewhat even Abraham doubted, but Sarah decided to just take matters into her own hand and her plan did not work. Not only did her plan not work, but you know,
When Isaac arrived, there was an issue between Hagar and Ishmael and Sarah and Isaac to the point that Sarah was like, y'all, Abraham, tell them they got to go. They got to go. And I'm pretty sure that wasn't easy for Abraham to do, but it had to be done. It's like God will tell us
what he wants us to do. And he'll tell us, you know, he'll give us a certain part of the plan. And when we don't see things moving in the direction that they should go, or we believe they should go, when we don't see everything happening, then we begin to make up our own plans. We begin to start putting our hands in the pot, even though
That's not what God told us to do. He already gave us instructions. God is like, okay, I need you to start this bakery business. And you're trying to make t-shirts and cups and mugs and all these things. When God clearly told you, I need you to start this bakery business. Why are you making t-shirts and cups?
Why are you pouring money into t-shirts and cups? Why aren't you getting the things that you need for this business that I gave you? Why aren't you evangelizing? I told you to evangelize. I told you to go out. I've given you all that you need to go out and spread the word.
But you over here trying to start a detailed mobile business or whatever it is that you're trying to do. Like we should not deviate from God's plan. And we should not start doing things without his permission.
So when we don't see the results that we want as quick as we want, we start doing other things. I've done that. I've done that numerous times when God told me, you're not going to do this. I need you to do that. And I will still go ahead and try to do all these other things. And I'll be angry, frustrated, frustrated.
upset about pouring money into it or just angry and just all types of emotions because I'm not seeing the results that I want to see. Well, of course you're not because you're not doing what the Lord told you to do. And we can even say, oh, I don't really know what God wants me to do. So if you're still unclear about what God wants you to do,
You should be pursuing God even more to get an understanding of what he wants you to do. Take it up a notch. Fast more. Fast more. Pray more. You know, start reading your word more. Look for wise counsel also within your friend group or within your church. See, you can go to someone who you believe is wise enough to help you have an understanding of what it is that God wants you to do.
Anyways, whatever he gives you to do, try not to do anything without his permission. Always go to God first and ask, Lord, is this what you want me to do? And my last point is, be honest with God about your true feeling.
Don't lie to God about how you feel and what you desire. I believe sometimes we avoid telling God what we truly want and what we desire because we don't want to be disappointed that one, it might not happen. Two, on how long it might take. Three, we're just like, hey, this is what I want. But what happened if that is not a part of God's will for us?
I think we lie for so many reasons. Some of us go to bed at night and the first thing on our mind where we're laying down is how we want to be married. We desire to have children. We desire to have successful career.
And we think about all the things that we go through when we're walking with God and how God's timing is not our timing. How God's ways is not our ways. His thoughts are not our thoughts. And it sometimes feels unfair when it's like, well, God, you know these things that I want, but why won't you give them to me when I want them? Why won't you allow me to be in the place that I desire to be in?
It all goes back to God truly does knows what's best for us. And also he knows our heart. You know, the word of God says the heart can be deceitful. Who knows what's in it? Only God knows what's in it. And sometimes we desire these certain things, but we
We don't have the capacity for it. We're not emotionally mature for it. We're just not ready for it. And although Sarah was 89 years old when the Lord told her that she was going to have a baby, you know, she wound up having a baby when she was 90 years old. She laughed it off and she thought about
I'm an old worn out woman. Like, what can you do with me? He's like, I'm gonna do so much with you. So much that you're gonna be a mother of nations. So much is that when somebody else is believing in a child or believing in something and they may think that their time has ran out or they think that they're just not qualified or we think that, you know, Lord, your vision is too far-fetched or God, you got the wrong person. You can't possibly want me to do it.
We have to be honest with God about how we feel. When we're honest with God and we express our feelings to Him, it gives God room to expose the lies, the lies that we believe. If you ever had a conversation out loud, sometimes it helps you to think things through you like, oh snap, that, you know, that.
Now that I say it all out, that does sound foolish. Like, I am smart. I am qualified. You know, I have all that I need for this. I can do these things. However, it all still goes back to trusting God with everything, trusting God with the plan that he has for our lives. And I do believe that, you know, God is a man that he shall not lie. I do believe that
the good work that he started in us, he will complete. If we let him, we got to let God do what he said that he would do. So to anyone who's believing in God to do something for them, if there's anyone who's believing in a breakthrough, is there anyone who's believing for God to take them to the next level? If there's anybody who's struggling with a sin or struggling to believe
I'm just going to ask you right now, is there anything too hard for the Lord? Is there anything too hard for God to overcome? Is there anything too hard for God to deliver you from? I really want to ask you that.
Is there anything too hard for the Lord, the Lord that you and I say that we know, the Lord that you and I say that we serve? Is there anything too hard for the strong tower? Is there anything too hard for the King of King in Lord of Lords? Is there anything too hard for God? Ask yourself that.
Think of the things that you desire. Think of the very things that God has promised you. And I'm going to read Genesis 21, verse one through seven. It says,
The Lord kept his word and did for Sarah exactly what he had promised. She became pregnant and she gave birth to a son for Abraham in his old age. This happened at just the time God had said it would and Abraham named their son Isaac.
Eight days after Isaac was born, Abraham circumcised him as God had commanded. Abraham was 100 years old when Isaac was born, and Sarah declared, God has brought me laughter. All who hear about this will laugh with me. Who would have said to Abraham that Sarah would nurse a baby, yet I have given Abraham a son in his old age.
God said, play with someone else and not me. I said what I said. Like, literally, I am praying that we all will go from, is there anything too hard from God to God has brought me laughter when we're standing in and living in and experiencing the promise that God has for our lives?
Truly, that is my prayer for everyone that we go from, is there anything too hard for the Lord to God has brought me laughter? We can now talk about that very difficult season and we can laugh about it. We can smile about it. We can give a testimony about it.
And I'm going to leave you guys with two reflection questions. This is some homework for you guys for you to do. And the first one is, what limiting beliefs or doubts keep me from trusting God's promises?
And the second one is, how can I align my mindset with the new identity God has given me? And I will make sure to put these two reflecting questions in the show notes for you. As always, thank you guys so much for listening to today's episode. I truly hope that you are beyond inspired, beyond encouraged and to really think about
the things that you want and that you desire and bring it all back to the Lord. Also, don't forget to rate the show, leave a nice review, and I will see you guys next Wednesday. Thank you for tuning in to the Purify Improving Podcast.
