Welcome to the Paul Tripp podcast, where pastor and bestselling author Dr. Paul David Tripp

connects the transforming power of Jesus Christ to everyday life.

Why does God choose to keep his children living in this fallen world?

Wouldn't it be easier if we were transported into heaven immediately after our salvation?

In today's episode, we continue through Paul's old radio series survival skills,

and Paul wants to encourage you that God has you exactly where he wants you,

and he has given you the ability to exercise influence in situations, locations,

locations, and the relationships where you live.

Here's Paul with exercise influence.

I didn't really think about exercising influence.

I wasn't really looking for ways to make a difference.

It just bothered me.

It was a Christian school, for goodness sake, and it was completely racially divided.

That just doesn't make any sense.

So I was talking to my friends about it, and we decided to do something.

We went to the principal of our school and asked if we could have a room in our school during lunch to have a race-relation discussion.

He was a little skeptical at first, but then he gave in.

He gave us a room and said we'd have to find teachers to be chaperones.

The first week, about 25 kids came. The next week, 50. The next week, we had to meet in the

auditorium because there were so many kids who wanted to participate. For the first time,

the different racial groups were actually talking about their experiences. People began

asking for forgiveness and becoming friends. I guess we began to see the school

...