Hey, Carpool Crew. Happy Friday. I'm Pastor Justin. Let me ask you this. Have you ever been standing there while teams got picked or names got called, and one by one, everyone got chosen except you, and your stomach dropped? Getting passed over is one of those things that stings way more than it should. You stand there trying to act like it's fine, but inside, it really hurts. So today, let's talk about what's actually true in that moment. Let's jump in with the one thing I want you to remember. God is closest to you when your feelings are hurt. Listen to this from Psalm chapter thirty-four verse eighteen. It says, "The Lord is near the brokenhearted. He saves those crushed in spirit." Let's read that again slowly. "Near the brokenhearted." So when your heart cracks a little, God doesn't back away from you. He leans closer. That's the exact opposite of how it feels. So think about that. When you feel left out, your brain tells you you're alone, nobody wants you, and that you don't matter. But God says the truth is the other way around. The moment your feelings get hurt is the moment He is closest to you. And hold on to this part. Not getting picked by people does not mean you're not wanted by God. People can overlook you sometimes. God never does, not even for a second. If Jesus were there with you right now, at the table or hanging out on the couch, I think He'd say, "I saw that, and I know it stung. But I want you to know something. I am closer to you in those moments than any part of the day. When you're hurt, I am there." Imagine this. It's a summer afternoon, and the neighborhood kids are picking teams. One by one, the names go, and somehow, you end up last or not picked at all. You sit down on the curb, and you feel kind of embarrassed. You feel kinda sad. That feeling is everywhere in your mind and in your heart. But then you remember that verse, "God is near the brokenhearted." He's there with me right now. So you take a breath. Instead of believing you don't matter, you let God tell you the truth, that you do matter completely. You matter to him completely, and he is right there with you the entire time. This week, here's a couple things you can try if this happens. First, if you don't get picked, tell God exactly how you feel instead of stuffing down your feelings. Second, when that left out feeling hits, just whisper that one sentence, "God, thank you that you're near me right now." And last, ask yourself, "Do I let one not-picked moment tell me my worth, or do I let God tell me the truth of how valuable I am?" Hey, let's go back to that one thing I wanted you to remember for the ride. God is closest to you when your feelings are hurt. Remember, Carpool Crew, no matter where you are or how you're listening, God loves you. And parents, before we head into the weekend, here's what's coming up. Saturday, we're talking about what to do when a friend goes quiet over the summer, and Sunday is the story of a lie that just kept getting bigger. Those weekend episodes are for subscribers, and I hope you consider it. For less than the cost of a cup of coffee a month, you could be a subscriber on Apple Podcast or Spotify. Now, before you go, let's answer this question together. When's a time you felt left out, and what would you change if you really knew God was closest right then? Have a great day, Carpool Crew. We'll see you tomorrow or on Monday on a new episode of Carpooling with Jesus.
