
Episode #1354
Why Is It So Hard to Trust God? What Matthew 19:23-30 Says About Letting Go of Control
In today’s episode of Daily Bible Refresh , Dr. Brad Miller reads Matthew 19:23–30 from The Message and explores what Jesus really meant when He said it’s easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for the rich to enter God’s kingdom. Drawing from a personal hiking story in the Oregon redwoods, Dr. Miller connects the biblical text to our modern obsession with self-sufficiency , showing how reliance on our own competence, success, and spiritual performance can actually block us from receiving grace. He unpacks Peter’s honest question, “What do we get out of it?” and explains Jesus’ promise of the great reversal , where the first become last and the last become first—not in terms of bank accounts, but in terms of belonging, being held by God, and living in a different kind of kingdom economy. The episode closes with a practical challenge to identify where we’re white‑knuckling control and to take one small step toward trusting God instead of ourselves , followed by a brief, heartfelt prayer. Key Takeaways The “camel through the eye of a needle” image is more about self-sufficiency than money. The real issue is not wealth itself but the illusion that we don’t need anyone—including God—because we believe we can handle life on our own. Self-sufficiency makes it harder to receive grace. Receiving grace requires admitting, “I can’t pull this off myself,” which clashes with a culture that worships being self-made, competent, and in control. Religious performance doesn’t get you into God’s kingdom. Spiritual disciplines, good behavior, and theological correctness are good, but they are not the “ticket in.” Jesus “torches” the idea that we earn our way by performance. Peter’s question—“What do we get out of it?”—is honest and welcomed. Jesus doesn’t rebuke Peter for asking about the payoff of sacrifice. Instead, He answers with the promise of the great reversal , where God’s scoreboard is completely different from the world’s. The “100 times over” reward is about belonging, not bank accounts. The true payoff is not financial prosperity but a deeper experience of being held by God, gaining a new kind of family, security, and identity in God’s kingdom. Links referenced in this episode: voiceofgoddaily.com The "Daily Bible Refresh" is presented each day by Rev. Dr. Brad Miller who has a goal of speaking a bit of the bible into two million ears (one million people) in three years (2025-2028). He is the author of "The A, B, C-1,2,3 Bible Study Guide" Free to you by clicking HERE. Brad served as a local church pastor for forty years and has a background in radio and podcasting. Moreover, he is a life-long student of The Bible. He believes in the words of Jesus that “scripture is fulfilled in your hearing” (Luke 4:21) The "Daily Bible Refresh" is available seven days a week by 6:00 am ET. The episodes are no longer than ten minutes long and are... Understandable: A reading from the New Testament (usually the Gospel) selected from the Revised Common Lectionary using "The Message" translation. Relatable: You will have a couple of "points to ponder" from the text which will relate to your life Applicable: Every episode includes a way you can take action based on the reading A recommended resource to help you go deeper in biblical study and spiritual direction. A prayer for your day. A companion resource to the Voice of God Daily Podcast is the “ABC Bible Study Guide” available by clicking HERE. The "Daily Bible Refresh" is available every day at VoiceofGodDaily.com on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and all major podcast directories. You can help Dr. Brad attain his goal of getting a bit of the bible into two million ears by subscribing to "Daily Bible Refresh" on Apple Podcasts, leaving a five-star rating, and writing a review. More importantly please share with your network of family and friends about the "Daily Bible Refresh". Please make listening to the "Daily Bible Refresh" a part of your daily life. Remember… “All scripture is God-breathed and useful”(2 Timothy 3:16)






