Driving Notes

Joe’s devotional today focused on patience, while Brock’s was about the difference between complaining and lament.

Do you ever get impatient? Tired of waiting? For an answer? For a breakthrough? Just for a decision?

There are so many songs about waiting – good or bad 😊and the waiting is hard for me (Joe).

The Kinks with the classic 60’s hit, ‘Tired of Waiting For You.’
Foreigner’s 80s ballad, “Waiting for a Girl Like You.”
And the legendary Tom Petty sang, “The Waiting is the Hardest Part.”

Are all songs about the ‘waiting…’ but what about this one? This song?

Psalm 27:14
“Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord.”

This verse REPEATS it so we don’t miss it! Let’s admit it: waiting is one of the hardest parts of the Christian life. We live in a world of instant answers, quick fixes, and fast results—but God often works slowly and intentionally. Waiting isn’t wasted time; it’s forming time. God strengthens your heart while you wait.

And we know waiting is important, as Galatians 5:22-23 reminds us; it’s a vital fruit of the Spirit!

So, where are you waiting right now? What are you waiting on?  Instead of asking “Why the delay?” try asking, “What is God growing in me?”

So think about these songs that encourage instead of groan:
Zach Williams and Ben Fuller “Wait for Me”
Lauren Daigle “Trust in You”

Lord, help me trust You in the waiting. Give me strength to believe You are working even when I cannot see it.

Brock:

The devotional book I (Brock) have been reading lately is called Fighting Words, and honestly, that title couldn’t be more fitting. There have been so many times I’ve gone back to the truths in that book to help combat anxious thoughts and remind myself of what’s really true.

One devotion that really stood out to me focused on Psalm 30:11-12: “You turned my mourning into dancing; you removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy… O Lord my God, I will give you thanks forever.”

Those verses are such a powerful reminder that it’s okay to grieve and struggle when life feels overwhelming. God never asks us to pretend everything is fine. But at the same time, we can hold on to the hope that He is able to bring joy out of our pain and turn even our hardest seasons into something beautiful.

I’ve also learned there’s a big difference between complaining and lamenting. For a long time, I felt guilty bringing my struggles to God because He’s blessed me with so much. But complaining comes from a place of bitterness, while lamenting comes from a place of faith. Lament says, “God, this is hard, and I need You.”

Today, I’m grateful that we serve a God who hears us when we cry out to Him, walks with us through every season, and has the power to turn our mourning into dancing.

This week, Esther from Mount Vernon correctly guessed “God Story” from Anne Wilson! She wins the $5 gift card to Watts Restaurant in Utica.

Thanks for listening!
– Brock and Joe

Daniel: My girlfriend owns this flower necklace. It’s not anything extraordinarily expensive, but it was special to her. She’d worn it one day at work and while shopping. Somewhere during the day, she lost her necklace and couldn’t find it anywhere. We called around town to see if it was lost when she was shopping. I checked around my car and places where it might be, but we just couldn’t find it. We said a quick prayer, asking God to help us find it. Later that same night, she called me to report she found it in a place she never expected to find it, she found it in her bible case. Her bible case has Romans 8:28 on it, which says, “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” It felt like a mini miracle.

Some say that God doesn’t work the way he used to; that he doesn’t work miracles like you’d find in the time of Jesus and the Old Testament. I highly disagree. Have you ever had a moment where something really bad could have happened, but didn’t?  On the outside of town, there’s a specific street I take to work every day. It’s nothing too crazy; the main thing is that it connects to Route 3, and all the time, I see car after car take that turn from Route 3 onto this street way too sharply; sometimes I worry if they’ll hit me, but they never do. I’d call this a mini miracle.

Maybe for you, it’s that cold your co-worker had that you didn’t end up catching, perhaps it’s the tree you were worried about falling a different direction than you expected during the storm, and didn’t land on your fence, or maybe it’s something as simple as you dropped your phone and it didn’t crack; this is God looking out for you. Remember 1 Thessalonians 5:18, “In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.”

Remember to see God working in the world, even where you don’t expect him to. He will make things work out for your good, so keep an eye out for him and give thanks when you see him.

Congratulations to Rhonda from Mount Vernon! She correctly guessed the song was Petra – Creed, and won the $5 gift cards to Watts Restaurant in Utica!

Thanks for listening to the Afternoon Drive. Join me tomorrow for the NZ Top 10.

-Daniel

If you’re feeling anything like me (Brock), it seems like summer arrived with very short notice! While it’s been nice to take a break from my academic pursuits, it’s also been stressful trying to balance my summer schedule, priorities, and plans. I’ve definitely caught myself overthinking decisions and feeling pressure to make the most of this brief season. In the middle of all that, one song in particular has really been on my mind lately, and that’s “Your Way’s Better” by Forrest Frank. The lyrics are simple, but they carry such a powerful truth: “I searched the world till my head hurt, just to find out Your way’s better.” Those words are such a good reminder to my heart that no matter how uncertain life can feel, God already has a plan, and His way is always better than our own. It also made me think about Matthew 6:27, which says, “Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?” And the answer to that question is, of course, “NO!” So today, I’m praising God because He doesn’t want us to live consumed by worry, but instead calls us to trust Him fully, knowing that His way, His plan, and His purpose for our lives are always BETTER!

Link to Joe’s devotional – Slow Anger: https://www.odbm.org/en/devotionals/devotional-category/slow-anger?ts=1775952000000

Congratulations, Francesca!

This week’s Name That Tune was Hope Darst with Mighty Name of Jesus!

Thanks for listening to the Afternoon Drive!

-Joe & Brock

The Wild One was a 1953 film starring Marlon Brando that focused on a rebellious motorcycle gang. When Brando’s character was asked what they were rebelling against, he answered, “what do you got?” Put simply, the rebellion was the point.

Author Mike Wittmer reminds us that Israel had the same problem in the book of Jeremiah – they were stubborn in their worship of idols. Again, rebellion was the point.
But the good news? God’s love is stronger than our rebellion, even when it’s open. “Return, faithless Israel,” God calls to them. He asks them to acknowledge their guilt.

Jesus died for rebels just like us. He always leaves the door open for our return! Praise God for that.

Michelle from Mount Vernon guessed correctly!! She wins a $5 gift card to Watts Restaurant in Utica.

Tyler from Mount Vernon won our tickets today for Sunday’s matinee – congratulations!

Thanks for listening!
– Joe