You're Working Hard But Still Broke | Why Your Efforts Aren't Aligned with God's Plan

You've been working hard. Praying harder. Fasting. Reading your Word. But if you're honest, nothing's really changed. And the question God is asking you today isn't whether you're trying. It's whether you're listening. In this powerful message, Dr. Eric Thomas uses Haggai 1:5–7, the story of Nehemiah, and a revelation from a 12-year-old wrestler to expose why so many believers are stuck in cycles they were never meant to repeat. It's not because you're not working. It's not because you're not praying. It's because you're asking God to bless your decisions instead of asking Him to make the decision. God wants the exact same thing you want. He just doesn't want you to leave Him out. Using Haggai 1, God confronts His people with a hard truth: You have sown much, but bring in little. You eat, but have not enough. You drink, but are not filled. You clothe yourselves, but there is no warmth. And he that earns wages, earns wages to put into a bag with holes. God isn't saying this to condemn you. He's saying it because you're not where you're supposed to be, and something has to change. He's not asking you to consider His ways. He's asking you to consider YOUR ways. Look at what you're doing on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday. Look at how you're spending your money. Look at who you're attracting yourself to. Look at what you're doing. And ask yourself: is this working? Through a revelation from his 12-year-old god-son Trey, Pastor ET breaks down the difference between basketball coaching and wrestling coaching. In basketball and football, you talk to your coach between plays. But in wrestling, your coach is actively talking to you while you're wrestling. In the middle of a move, your coach is saying, "Don't do that, do this instead." That's how God wants to coach you. Not after you've already made the decision. Not after you've already spent the money. Not after you've already entered the relationship. He wants to speak to you WHILE you're in the middle of it. But most of us don't want coaching from God. We want relief. We want access. We want income. We want results. And we're okay getting all of it without Him. God is saying: I want to give you everything you're asking for. I just don't want to lose when you get blessed. Before Nehemiah rebuilt the wall in 52 days, God spent four months building Nehemiah. Because God builds the heart before He builds the wall. You cannot build something new with an old heart. And you cannot attract what you pray for. You only attract what you are. This message introduces the winning formula God gave through a 12-year-old: Ask Before. Listen During. Review After. Don't ask God to bless your decision. Ask God to make the decision, and it's already blessed. Don't come to God after you've done what you wanted to do. Let Him yoke you up and coach you in real time. And when it's over, review it. Ask yourself: Where did I listen today? And where did I ignore Him? IN THIS MESSAGE YOU'LL DISCOVER: → Why you're working hard but still not progressing → The coaching problem: why we want relief, access, income, and results without God → How a 12-year-old wrestler revealed the secret to breakthrough → The difference between basketball coaching and wrestling coaching → Why God is just as hurt as you are when you're stuck → How to stop asking God to bless your decision and start asking Him to make the decision → The winning formula: Ask Before, Listen During, Review After → Why you only attract what you are, not what you pray for → Why repeating the strongest behaviors brings the best results 📖 KEY SCRIPTURES Haggai 1:5–7 Nehemiah 1:4 Nehemiah 6:15 Proverbs 3:5–6 Isaiah 30:21 Jeremiah 29:11 Psalm 51:10 Matthew 7:7–8 Malachi 3:10–11 Ephesians 2:10 CHAPTERS: 🔥 IF THIS HIT YOU Share it with someone who's been working hard but still not getting the breakthrough God has for them. Subscribe and turn on notifications → https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCLRzMQFmplNd4-H1X5bj1jA?sub_confirmation=1 📲 CONNECT WITH APOC 📱 Download the App → Search "APOC Ministry" in your app store 🙏 Submit a Prayer Request → Tap "Prayer" in the app 💸 Partner With Us → apocministry.org/give 📅 Join Us LIVE: Saturdays @ 11AM EST 🎤 ABOUT ERIC THOMAS — ET THE HIP HOP PREACHER Dr. Eric Thomas is a world-renowned motivational speaker, pastor, author, and educator. From homeless high school dropout to PhD, ET's story has inspired millions across the globe. Known as ET The Hip Hop Preacher, he has spoken to the NFL, NBA, Fortune 500 companies, and now leads A Place of Change Ministry in Grand Ledge, Michigan alongside his wife, Dede Thomas, and Associate Pastor TJ Tyus. With over 2.1M Instagram followers, 1.5M YouTube subscribers, and millions of podcast downloads, ET's message of faith, sacrifice, and accountability continues to transform lives worldwide. He is also the recipient of the President's Lifetime...