Food for thought

"Somehow, we’ve come up with the absurd idea that God owes us. That He is obliged to reveal Himself in a way that is acceptable…that fosters belief. If we do A and B, then He is obliged to do C. He’s not. One glance at Job chapters 38-41 puts my silly demands in proper perspective. “Where were you when I laid the earth’s foundation?” ...  [my problems seem] rather petty now as I hear of the tragic losses from hundreds of women who write to me every day. But I have discovered that the accumulations of petty disappointments tend to undermine our faith like little termites gnawing away at the foundation of our lives. They can leave us doubting whether or not God is really concerned about the everyday details of our lives. A lava flow of doubt covers over our faith and we wonder, why should I pray at all? (or does god even exist - my words)

Our limited vision doesn’t allow us to see how God is working behind the scenes in our lives. But we must believe that He is.
Each and every trial is an opportunity to trust Him more. Jean-Pierre de Caussade said it well:  “You would be very ashamed if you knew what experiences you call setbacks, upheavals, pointless disturbances, and tedious annoyances really are. You would realize that your complaints about them are nothing more nor less than blasphemies—though that never occurs to you. Nothing happens to you except by the will of God, and yet beloved children curse it because they do not know it for what it is.” His ways are higher than our ways and His thoughts higher than our thoughts (Isaiah 55:9)."

This really hit home to me.  I hope you get something from it as well.  If you want to read the whole devotion, go here and there is also a part two.


"Difficult times are pregnant with glory moments just waiting to be birthed in the lives of those willing to labor through the pain. The key is to not allow bitterness and anger to make our hearts infertile to God’s gifts. One way to avoid the darkening of the soul is by constant communication seasoned with thanksgiving—a continual acknowledgement of His presence.
Glory moments in difficult times are not dependent on our circumstances, but on our focus. Focus on the difficulty and God is difficult to see. Focus on God and glory seeps through the broken places. Difficulties become the bass notes of our life’s song, adding a depth and beauty not found in a life that hovers about middle C."
Here is more about Sharon Jaynes, the writer of this devotion and many others from Girlfriends in God,  a ministry she co-founded.  The last few paragraphs and the "note form Sharon" really sent chills all over me and got me teared up (in a good way).

Have a blessed day.