Delivered by Bishop Joseph W. Walker, III

Synopsis 11/23/25

Scripture: Psalm 27:13 (NKJV)

I would have lost heart, unless I had believed That I would see the goodness of the Lord

In the land of the living.

I.               INTRODUCTION

Prayer:

Oh Lord, we thank You today that we are centered around Your Word. And because we are centered around Your Word, somebody’s life is getting ready to shift. Somebody in this room is going to walk out stronger. Somebody streaming in is getting clarity they’ve been begging You for. Thank You for the power of Your Word. Thank You for the anointing behind Your Word. Speak it now. Make us better, because we will leave here better than we came. In Jesus’ name… Amen.

David writes in Psalm 27:13, “I would have fainted unless I had believed to see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.”

Sometimes life doesn’t just hit you, it hits you all at once. You’re doing everything right, and suddenly the bottom falls out. You’re already tired, and then the job shifts… the bill shows up… the relationship shakes… the doctor calls and says something you were not ready to hear. You’re praying, but the pressure keeps howling. You’re standing, but the ground under you keeps shifting.

That’s when fainting feels like the most natural thing to do.

Psalm 27:13 bursts into those moments with a reminder:

• God’s goodness is not distant. It’s not delayed. It’s not waiting for heaven.
• It’s available right now—in the land of the living.

When you believe, your vision changes. You stop seeing brokenness and you start seeing the blessing. You stop seeing setbacks, and you start seeing setups. You realize your breakthrough is closer than you imagined.

God is moving, even when it looks like nothing is moving.

Today I want to talk about:

• How to hold on when life tries to knock the wind out of you
• How to activate your faith when your strength feels weak
• How to stay alert to the favor that’s already forming around you

This Word is for the tired, the weary, the overwhelmed, the frustrated, the person who said, “Enough is enough.”

You are getting ready to see the goodness of the Lord—and not just see it, you’re going to walk in it.

II.               I ALMOST FAINTED

• David was not in a palace when he wrote this. He was in caves. He was hiding. He was betrayed. He was exhausted. He was chosen by God but chased by enemies. He was promised a crown but running for his life.
• And in that tension, he says: “I almost fainted.”

A. Adversity Will Challenge Your Endurance

1. Every believer has had “almost fainted” seasons.
2. The bills stacking…
3. The doctor’s report shaking you…
4. The anxiety attacking your mind…
5. The marriage stretching your heart…
6. The job draining you…
7. The grief suffocating you…

2. We have had almost fainted moments, but “almost” does not mean “did.” Let me say that again: Almost is not fainting. Almost breaking is not breaking.
3. God does His best work at the edge.
4. Endurance isn’t measured by how long you last, It’s measured by what you’re standing on while you last.
5. Adversity exposes the truth: What foundation have you really been standing on?

B. Most People Don’t Know How Close To The Edge You Are

1. You’ve learned how to function while fractured. That’s called high-functioning distress.
2. You can smile publicly but cry privately.
3. You can help everybody else but be falling apart inside.
4. You can look strong and feel empty at the same time.
5. Most people have no idea how close you’ve been to the edge.

3 Signs That Often Go Overlooked:

1. Sudden Withdrawal-Physically present, emotionally absent. You’re there… but you’re not “there.”
2. Forced Positivity-You joke, you laugh, you keep the vibe light, because you don’t know how to say, “I’m hurting.”
3. Silent Struggle – “I’m fine” becomes your script, even though your tone is screaming for help.

6. But hear this:
7. Even if people don’t see it, God sees it.
8. He steps in at “almost”, because “almost” is where His sustaining power carries you.
9. Somebody shout, “He kept me!”

III.               I ACTIVATED MY FAITH

• David pivots: “Unless I believed…”
• Faith is what kept him from collapsing.

A.    Faith Moves Beyond Feeling

1. Faith isn’t a feeling.
2. Faith leads your feelings.
3. Faith says:
4. When feelings say stop—move.
5. When feelings say retreat—advance.
6. When feelings say quit—trust.
7. Faith is a muscle. The more you use it, the stronger it gets.
   1. And faith says: “I don’t see everything, but I trust the One who does.”

B. Faith Calls Forth Divine Intervention

1. Faith moves heaven.
2. Without faith it is impossible to please God… (Hebrews 11:6)
3. When you activate faith, it’s like pressing the “start” button on a machine:

• Internal systems start shifting
• Angels begin moving
• Doors begin aligning
• Outcomes begin orchestrating

4. It might still look silent around you, but something is already moving for you.
5. Faith doesn’t wait for evidence. Faith creates evidence.
6. That’s why we walk by faith and not by sight, because sight will make you panic, but faith will make you press through.

Somebody shout, “My faith kept me!”

IV.               I BECAME AWARE OF GOD’S FAVOR

• David didn’t just say he would see goodness. He said he would see it in the land of the living. That means in your lifetime, on this side of heaven.
• Favor has been around you the entire time. You just didn’t recognize it because trouble tried to blind you.

A. Favor Is Revealed In Timing

1. God’s timing is strategic. Sometimes what feels late is actually right on schedule.
2. God waits until the moment when only He can get the glory.
3. Favor moves according to divine appointment, not human expectation.
4. And He will not release favor until you are mature enough to carry it.

B. Favor Transforms Your Perspective

1. Favor is not favoritism. Favor is assignment.
2. Joseph was favored, but favor took him to a pit and a prison before it took him to a palace.
3. Mary was favored, but favor made her misunderstood and isolated.
4. David was favored, but favor sent him to caves before it sent him to a throne.

2. Favor doesn’t mean God loves you more. Favor means God trusts you with something heavier than most people could carry.
3. When favor is recognized, everything shifts in your walk, your voice, your confidence, your decisions.
4. Look down your row and declare: “Favor is on this row!”
5. Look toward your house and say: “Favor is over my house!”
6. Declare over yourself: “I will see the goodness of God.”

CALL TO DECISION

Think back over every season the enemy tried to break you—but you’re still here.

This Word was God pulling you back into His presence.

CLOSING PRAYER

Lord, thank You for catching us at “almost.”

Thank You for strengthening us when we were close to fainting.

Thank You for faith that keeps us anchored.

Thank You for favor that positions us for what You’ve called us to carry.

Cover us. Keep us.

And let us see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.

In Jesus’ name, Amen.