Life doesn’t always go the way we planned. Hagar didn’t choose her story, she was given away, used, abused, and cast out. Twice she found herself in the wilderness with no idea where she was going. But both times, God showed up. He called her by name, reminded her that He hears, and gave her hope for a future. Hagar’s life teaches us two things: life isn’t fair, but God still sees. We don’t always get to choose the wilderness, but we do get to choose our attitude. We can fight, complain, or give up—or we can trust that God’s plan is better than ours. The wilderness may be the place where God changes what we’ve resisted for years. So if you’re in a season you never wanted, stop asking “Why me?” and start asking “Where is God leading me?” He sees you. He hears you. The question is: will you follow Him, even when it hurts?

The wilderness is never wasted. It feels lonely, scary, and hopeless, but in the Bible it is where God shows up. The wilderness is a place of testing, revelation, and preparation. Moses, David, Elijah, even Jesus, all had wilderness seasons. It is where failure turns into second chances, where God heals old wounds, gives rest, and brings clarity. The wilderness is not forever, it is a season. The question is not, “Why am I here?” but, “What does God want me to bring out of this wilderness?” If you will let Him, God will use this season to transform you and prepare you for what’s next.

Challenge: Don’t waste your wilderness. Stop running. Listen for God’s voice. Let Him use this season to heal, reset, and prepare you for your greater purpose.

Today we welcome guest pastor Jeremy Stalnecker from the Mighty Oaks Foundation. Life with Christ is a race. You are not running alone. Others have gone before you, the church runs beside you, and some need you to encourage them along the way. To finish well, you must stay focused, lay aside sin and distractions, run the race God set before you (not someone else’s), and keep your eyes fixed on Jesus when it gets dark. The greatest battle is in your mind, so choose daily not to quit. Run so that when you stand before God, you can rest in exhausted peace, knowing you gave Him everything.

Today we honored Vic Wood and his incredible legacy at TheRoad. Vic has faithfully served as our Executive Pastor for many years, guiding our church with wisdom, dedication, and heart. The service celebrated his leadership, reflected on the impact he has made, and gave our church family a chance to show gratitude for his years of service. It was a meaningful time of recognition, appreciation, and celebration for a life devoted to serving others.

Life doesn’t run on your clock. Sometimes heartbreak, loss, or chaos interrupts your plans, and you’re left wondering what God is doing. Ecclesiastes 3 reminds us that God rules over every season, both the ones we celebrate and the ones we want to escape. His timing may feel mysterious, but it is never meaningless. He uses time not just to shape our days, but to shape our eternity. Your job isn’t to manage or fix every season, it’s to trust Him in it. Be still, remember He is God, and believe that He makes all things beautiful in His time.

Ever feel like you're doing everything right but still coming up empty? In this message, we look at John 21 and discover that sometimes the issue isn’t your effort, it’s your direction. The disciples were in the right boat, doing what they knew, but caught nothing until Jesus showed up and simply told them to try the other side. When life feels stuck or off track, the answer isn’t always a big change, it’s often a small adjustment toward Jesus. Don’t let frustration pull you back into old habits. Look for Jesus. Listen to His Word. Then do what He says. The breakthrough might be just one shift away.

The Most Unforgettable Fish Story Ever Told God will often put us in situations we can’t handle, on purpose. Not to shame us, but to grow our faith, increase our maturity, and remind us who the real Provider is. The miracle of feeding the 5,000 wasn’t just about bread and fish, it was about trust, surrender, and stepping out with what little you have… so He can show you what He can do.

Three Life-Changing Truths from the Feeding of the 5,000: 1. God Puts You in Over Your Head for a Reason - Jesus didn’t ask Philip how to feed the crowd because He needed ideas. He asked to teach him—and us.

2. Miracles Are Built on What You Already Have - Miracles aren’t magic tricks.

3. Seek the Provider, Not Just the Provision - Jesus doesn’t want to just give you stuff. He wants to grow your trust in Him.

Look at your life right now, where are you facing something bigger than you?

• Step in with what you do have.

• Surrender the outcome.

• Trust that Jesus is enough.

You don’t need to figure it all out. You just need to show up, give what you’ve got, and remember who holds the basket.

Following Jesus is about continually taking the next step toward Him—not achieving perfection all at once.

We often get discouraged because we think spiritual growth should be instant, like the disciples immediately dropping their nets and following Jesus. But in reality, it’s a process. Just like Peter, you’ll have moments of meeting Jesus, moments of following Him, and moments of going back to old habits. The key is not to quit when you fall but to get back up and keep moving toward Him.

Jesus calls you to go deeper in your relationship with Him, not just once, but over and over. Before God ever calls you to do something for Him, He calls you to know Him. The “task” will come later, but the first step is relationship.