Sometimes...Listening To God Can Be Very Challenging...Part One
Did I mention my stubborn streak?
We all remember the pandemic of March 2020âthe onset of what some call the "plandemic." Even four years later, its impact lingers. It was during this tumultuous time that I turned to God in prayer, seeking not to succumb to the chaos but to overcome it. I prayed earnestly, "God, this is going to be a huge mess, and Michelle and I do not want to be mere victims. We want to be overcomers. Please show us the plans You have for us."
This prayer marked the beginning of a mission God placed deep within my heart and soul. He instructed, "I want you to create a space where My children can gather and share My word. I want them to understand how vital and necessary it is to hear My voice." Little did I know just how serious He was and how much I still had to learnânot only about God's Word but also about the new technology I would need to embrace.
Although I considered myself quite tech-savvy, believing I knew all I needed, my biblical knowledge was admittedly sparse. However, one clear thing about my relationship with God was His frequent communication with me, even though I didn't always listen. His enduring patience with me became a cornerstone of my faith.
Now, concerning technology, I believed that everything required for this project was beyond my financial reach at the time. Additionally, as a marketer, I thought I was familiar with every tool in the industry, yet nothing seemed appropriate. I tried various options, leading only to frustration and angerâeven anger towards God. Yet, He remained infinitely patient with me.
Driven to desperation, I prayed again, "God, I'm uncertain why You chose me for this INSANE project. Just know that I have tried everything within my knowledge. Are You really sure I'm the right person for this?"
I kept this project very close to my chest; Michelle was the only other person aware of my efforts. A few days later, a good friend unexpectedly reached out, saying, "Not sure why, Matthew, but I felt that you could use this." He was referring to TELEGRAM. After five intense days of exploring TELEGRAM, I realized it was the ideal platform for our distributionâsecure and precisely what we needed. So, we launched.
Did I mention my stubborn streak?
Despite its perfection, I discovered flaws (did I mention God introduced this tool into my life?). All was well until the marketing phase. People were stubborn, viewing TELEGRAM merely as another messaging app, questioning its value. Now, I wonât dive into the full history of TELEGRAM here, but I encourage you to watch a fascinating interview between Tucker Carlson and Pavel Durov, TELEGRAM's founder.
I've always taught that if God commissions something, who are we to object? He provides us with challenges to strengthen usâit's not about our desires, but His.
Back to confirmation: Several weeks ago, the French government, feeling slighted and ignored, illegally detained and interrogated Pavel Durov. During this tense period, I prayed fervently for Pavel and TELEGRAM. God reassured me not to worryâboth were safe. TELEGRAM continuously weighed on my mind, a constant reminder from God.
About a week ago, I discussed my stress over the future of MyR2B Ministries with my friend and brother, Dr. Stephen Phinney. He inquired if I had a backup plan. I made excuses, ultimately admitting I did not. Post-conversation, I sought divine confirmation. Shortly after praying, my mind inexplicably turned to TELEGRAM again. Still questioning its viability after Pavelâs ordeal, I prayed, "God, are You truly sure about TELEGRAM, given what happened to Pavel?"
Within ten minutes of that prayer, I received a mass message from Pavel himself on TELEGRAM. He assured us he was fine, TELEGRAM was secure, and he would go to any length to protect its users and the platform.
Stay tuned for part two...