Living in the Tension: Pain, Hope, and Becoming Like Jesus - Pastor Joel, May 24th

This sermon explores Romans 8:28-30 as a foundational passage for understanding how God works all things together for good in the lives of believers. Pastor Joel reflects on his 30th wedding anniversary and the milestone of entering the second half of life, using these personal reflections to illustrate how God brings beauty from brokenness. The message emphasizes living in the tension between present pain and future hope, while being transformed into the likeness of Christ. The sermon transitions to Matthew 11:28-30, presenting it as the guiding passage for the second half of life—an invitation to find rest in Jesus through humility and gentleness. Pastor Joel challenges believers to move from striving and exhaustion to a posture of resting in Christ's lordship, allowing Him to do the heavy lifting while we become more like Him in character.