Barely Standing

What this episode covers

In "Barely Standing," Pastor Johnathan opens by sharing his recent mission trip to Namibia, where he ministered to roughly 40 pastors from nine different countries — some of whom traveled from nations where Christians are actively persecuted and murdered. He also recounts the humbling experience of attempting to climb Dune 7, the tallest sand dune in Namibia, where exhaustion overtook him before he reached the top. That moment on the dune became a spiritual mirror, showing him two perspectives: when he looked up, he felt discouraged by how far he had to go, but when he looked down, he was reminded of how far he had already come. It's a picture Pastor Johnathan brings straight into the pew — many of us are so focused on what's still ahead that we forget to look back and remember how far God has already brought us. The heart of the message is anchored in Psalm 139:10, which says, "even there, your hand will guide me and your strength will support me." Pastor Johnathan walks through David's raw, honest cries in the Psalms — from Psalm 13:1-2 to Psalm 142:1 — showing that wrestling with God in the middle of a trial is nothing new. He also draws on the story of Hagar in Genesis 16, pointing out that God pursued her even when she wasn't pursuing Him, revealing Himself as El Roi — the God who sees. The sermon's central challenge is this: stop hiding from God, stop letting excuses block your breakthrough, and instead run toward the One whose hand is always reaching out, ready to guide and strengthen you.