When the Newness Wears Off

Hey, Carpool Crew! Happy Monday. I'm Pastor Justin, and before we jump in, let me give a big shout-out to Mila and Ezra from Tucson, Arizona. So glad you are starting the week with us. And this episode is about the week when school stops feeling new and exciting and starts feeling like, well, just school. You know that point where the fresh-notebook feeling wears off, the newness is gone, and you kind of want to coast? Yeah. We've all hit that wall. Let's jump in with the one thing I want you to remember for the ride: God does not quit on you when the excitement fades, so you keep showing up too. Listen to this from Philippians 1:6. Paul writes, "I am sure of this, that he who started a good work in you will carry it on to completion." Started, and finishes. God is not a starter who bails when it gets boring. He completes what He begins, and that includes you. Paul wrote this from a jail cell, of all places, which is about as un-exciting and hard as it gets. And he was still sure God was not quitting. If Paul could keep going there, you can keep going in week three. The excitement was never the fuel. It was just the spark. Showing up when it is not exciting anymore is what actually builds something. If Jesus were sitting next to you right now, He would say, "I am not going anywhere, even now that the shiny part is over. I am still working in you. Keep showing up, and I will keep showing up too." It is week three. The new shoes are scuffed, the excitement is gone, and getting up feels harder. This is the morning that counts. You put your feet on the floor and go anyway, not because you feel like it, but because showing up is its own kind of strong. Hey, this week, try this one thing. On the morning you least feel like it, do the next right thing anyway, get up, get dressed, walk in. Tell yourself: showing up is winning today. Hey, let's go back to that one thing I wanted you to remember for the ride. God does not quit on you when the excitement fades, so you keep showing up too. Remember, no matter where you are or how you're listening, God loves you. And parents, if you want more encouragement through the week, come follow us on Instagram for quick reminders you can share with your kids. Before you go, let's answer this question together. What is one thing that felt exciting at first but now feels like just work, and how can you keep showing up for it this week? I'll see you tomorrow on Carpooling with Jesus.