Devotions

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Strength To Be Content
May 30, 2024
by Karen Wingate

“I can do all this through him who gives me strength.” Philippians 4:13 (NIV)

After a family gathering, my daughter walked into our living room and found me in tears. “I miss your sister,” I explained through choked sobs.

My other daughter had recently moved thousands of miles away, prohibiting us from visiting each other. Friends tried to console me, suggesting text messages and Zoom calls. It’s not the same, I wanted to retort.  I longed to see her face, to spend the evening playing games and talking about books as we always did when she visited. How could I be content with her absence when I missed her so much?

In Scripture, the Apostle Paul told his friends in Philippi that he had learned to be content no matter the circumstances (Philippians 4:11). Paul struggled to meet basic needs like food and housing as he maintained his on-the-road ministry. But he shared in Philippians 4 that whether he had or didn’t have enough, whether he was full or went to bed hungry, he could be content.  The Greek word Paul used for “content” could also mean “self-sufficient” or “self-reliant,” describing the ability to carry on despite one's current life situation. Whether we face an empty table or empty chairs, contentment enables us not to let those circumstances devastate or paralyze us.  But how?

Paul’s answer comes in our key verse: “I can do all this through him who gives me strength” (Philippians 4:13).

It’s hard to face the lack of family or the dearth of basic provisions. God doesn’t ask us to shove our emotions or desires to the side. But He does offer His strength so we can keep moving forward.  A few verses later, Paul reassures us of God’s provision: “My God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:19, NIV).

I’ve seen God do this. After my daughter moved away, God brought us closer to other family members. We enjoyed family gatherings in new ways. And God connected me with new friends, developing stronger relationships than I’d ever had in my adult life. Most of all, I knew I could handle missing my daughter because God would give me and her the strength we needed to be content with where He had us in this season of life.  Maybe you miss someone who has moved miles away or moved to their final address in heaven. It can be heart-wrenching, I know, especially during certain seasons of the year when you see other families planning happy events. Friend, you can keep holding on but not by yourself. God is available to give you the strength, comfort and wisdom you need to be content with where He has you at this moment.

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Letting Your Heavenly Father Love You
June 3, 2024
by Blythe Daniel

“Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” Matthew 11:29 (NLT)

For some of us, some of the hardest seasons are the ones that bring up a parent’s role in our lives. As Father’s Day approaches, you might experience an undercurrent of sadness as your dad may not have been the dad you hoped for. And it can be difficult to relate to God as heavenly Father or receive His love when you haven’t experienced a loving earthly father.  Have you ever thought about the qualities of God’s character that you would want your father to display, like protection, provision, teaching, comfort and nurturing?

Deep disappointment enters when our father hasn’t shown these qualities. But whether or not you can talk with your father, you can talk with God about how He wants to bring who He is into your life. God wants you and me to remember that He has always known who our parents would be; He’s had a plan for our lives since before we existed (Psalm 139:13-16). Your place in your family is not a mistake. You bring a spiritual presence to your family given to you by God.  In our key verses, Jesus shares, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls” (Matthew 11:28-29, NLT).

Where a father may fall short, Jesus is gentle with us and helps our souls rest. When we carry the burden of not having a good relationship with our father, God the Comforter steps in to heal our hearts, and He holds us in His arms. God can nurture us and help us take steps to acknowledge and recognize Him as our Father.  I’ve found it helpful, when I feel a lack of love in my earthly family, to go to God the Father and ask Him to show how He loves me. This Father’s Day, consider talking with God in these ways:

    Ask God to help you grieve the father you wished for. He can help you forgive your earthly father for not being who he needed to be.
    Ask God to father you in ways your father did not. God promises to renew your heart and spirit: “And I will give you a new heart, and I will put a new spirit in you” (Ezekiel 36:26a, NLT).
    Practice gratitude. Our Father loves when we delight in Him. We can draw closer to Him and change our perspective as we thank Him for how He loves us in the ways we want and need to be loved.

As Father’s Day approaches, maybe you’re preparing to honor your earthly father. Or maybe Father’s Day is painful for you because of who your father was or is. Even if your earthly father let you down, you can trust that your heavenly Father will never leave you or forsake you, and He will never disappoint you.  Whatever your earthly father was not, God is everything and more for you.

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Just Cry It Out
June 11, 2024
by Cindy Boyd, COMPEL Training Member

“Even to your old age and gray hairs I am he, I am he who will sustain you. I have made you and I will carry you; I will sustain you and I will rescue you.” Isaiah 46:4 (NIV)

The café was filled with the uncontrollable cries of a toddler who, moments earlier, had been enjoying lunch with his parents. Now his dad swiftly scooped him up and retreated to the lobby. The child’s screams turned into gentle sobs as his father patiently soothed him.  Little did I know that just a few short days later, I would be reminded of this touching scene as I received unwelcome news that transformed my pleasant day into one of uncertainty and questions.  Over the previous six months, I had invested most of my time and energy into a work project that would change the trajectory of my career. I knew it was exactly the next step God wanted me to take. After all, it was a perfectly tailored answer to a year’s worth of prayer. But when I got the news, I stared at my phone in disbelief as my composure quickly began to crumble. The partnership had ended before it had even begun. As I reread the text message, my tears began to pour.  Driving home, struggling to see through my still-falling tears, I cried out to God, Father, I know Your ways are higher and Your plans are good. I’m not doubting Your decision I just need You to hold me while I cry.  I knew that no matter how I was feeling, His promise from Isaiah 46:4 was true:  “Even to your old age and gray hairs I am he, I am he who will sustain you. I have made you and I will carry you; I will sustain you and I will rescue you.”

Just like the crying child, sometimes we don’t need a solution; we just need to be carried by a Father who is tender and compassionate to His children (Psalm 103:13). Every once in a while, we just need to cry it out. Our heavenly Father is always there, watching and waiting for the opportunity to hold His children. His love is freely given and knows no bounds when it comes to those who seek Him for sanctuary.  Jesus tells us in Matthew that “anyone who becomes as humble as this little child is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven” (Matthew 18:4, NLT).

When I’m caught up in being a grown-up, with my old age and gray hair, I must remember I’m also a child needing a heavenly Father who will carry me when I’m hurting. Through His love, I will be calmed as He rejoices over me with great gladness (Zephaniah 3:17). Friends, we will all face troubles, heartache, disappointment and grief. When our tears begin to flow, God is waiting with open arms to carry us, His children, and to catch our tears in His mighty hand, transforming them into abundant blessings.

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You Can (Safely) Get Your Hopes Up When You Pray
May 13, 2024
by Liz Ditty

“Sustain me as you promised, and I will live; do not let me be ashamed of my hope.” Psalm 119:116 (CSB)

I scribbled frantically in my notebook as my friend and I talked quickly at the same time; our ideas were moving faster than our pens. We looked up at each other and smiled in recognition of finding a person with the same dream. For two years, I had prayed to find a friend at work, and God’s answer was finally sitting across from me.  But only a few months later, I learned my new friend was moving out of state.  A familiar feeling settled in my stomach the same one I had in sixth grade when my best friend, Anna, moved away. Or when my college roommate and I realized we would never share a sink again after graduation. Or when the friend who let me sit on her floor with a colicky infant said her husband was interviewing for a job far away.  Had God answered my prayer only to leave me lonely again so soon?

Truthfully, prayer has rarely been my most effective way to get what I want. For a long time, I thought the godliest attitude was to keep praying anyway. But too many prayers seemed to languish on heaven’s front porch, expiring into disappointment. Learning how to pray felt like learning not to get my hopes up too high.  But what is hope anyway?

I love Dallas Willard’s definition: “Hope is joyous anticipation of good that is not yet here or is ‘unseen.’” My hopes had been so fragile because I was making wishes and calling them “prayers.”

True hope is simple. It believes in God’s Word, God’s promises and God’s character, as the psalmist did in Psalm 119:116: “Sustain me as you promised, and I will live; do not let me be ashamed of my hope.”

True hope believes God will never stop being with us or being good and no matter what happens, nothing can make that untrue or separate us from His love (Romans 8:38-39).  Like any good Father, God wants us to ask Him for what we want and need. And He delights in seeing His children enjoy His good gifts.  When I’m lonely and pray for a friend, I’m hoping for more than someone I can laugh and create with. My hope is that the goodness of God against all odds can break into my loneliness. It did, and it will again. It’s a hope that never ends in disappointment because it starts and ends with who God is and what He’s like. While outcomes are unpredictable and grief is unavoidable, God is also unendingly faithful.  When we’re honest with God about what we want, we can be safely hopeful. When we’re watching expectantly, we’ll see His goodness, whatever form it takes.

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Seeking Jesus for Satisfaction
August 12, 2024
by Michelle Martino, COMPEL Training Member

"On the last day of the feast, the great day, Jesus stood up and cried out, 'If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, "Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water."'" John 7:37-38 (ESV)

I’ll never forget the day I signed into the hospital as a visitor and checked out as a patient.  While caring for a friend, I unexpectedly fainted. As I tended to her needs, my vision declined to darkness, and my body grew numb. Nurses transported me to the emergency room for testing and care. Later that day, I was cleared to return home with only one recommendation: “Stay hydrated drink more water.”

I didn’t understand. How could this happen?

I carried water with me everywhere!  But I realized having water nearby isn’t the same as actually consuming it.  I also realized my physical condition reflected my spiritual state at that moment. I had access to God, but I wasn’t making time to meet with Him, and in the busyness of life, my prayers had dwindled. My soul longed to rest in His presence. But by prioritizing an unending to-do list, I had become spiritually dehydrated.  In today’s key Bible verses, Jesus used the metaphor of water as an invitation to seek Him and be spiritually filled:

“… If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water’” (John 7:37-38).

This passage boldly proclaims two key truths that direct us toward abundant life:

1.  Christ alone is our satisfaction.

Jesus Himself is Living Water (John 4:14). We can approach Him with confidence because He promises to supply our every need both now and for eternity (Philippians 4:19).

2.  When we believe in Jesus, our hearts flow with life.

The moment we trust in Jesus, the Holy Spirit dwells within us (Romans 8:9). Scripture tells us the Holy Spirit is our present help as we await our heavenly home (John 14:16). Because of His nearness, we walk with peace today while holding on to the promise of eternal life to come.

Jesus grants us full access to His presence and His living water! Still, like I learned at the hospital, true transformation requires access plus action.  We can carry around our Bibles every day and remain unchanged. However, if we study Scripture and persist in prayer, by faith, we encounter the One who is worthy of our worship. He calms us with His perfect peace. He refreshes us with His rest. He embraces us with His steadfast love. He replenishes our languishing souls (Jeremiah 31:25), and as we wait on Him, we will never faint or grow weary (Isaiah 40:31).  No matter the challenges you face today, friend, come to Jesus. He will satisfy your deepest needs.

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When Unchangeable Feels Unforgivable
August 15, 2024
by Lysa TerKeurst, President and Chief Visionary Officer of Proverbs 31 Ministries

“Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.” Ephesians 4:32 (NIV)

Forgiveness is such a double-edged word.  It’s amazing to be forgiven but can feel so very complicated to forgive. Forgiveness can feel very unreasonable when people hurt us deeply, won’t acknowledge their wrongs and refuse to apologize.  I’ll never forget walking into my counselor’s office so consumed with pain that I could barely breathe. I hadn’t washed my hair in days. I couldn’t think straight. I was afraid if I started crying, I might never stop. Betrayal hadn’t just broken my heart; it had shattered my family.  I wasn’t just hurting because of the unexpected rejection I was grieving that my life would never look like what I pictured it to be. Grieving is dreaming in reverse. Instead of looking forward to the days to come and imagining how amazing the future will be, you desperately wish you could go back to the way life once was but fear it will never be that way again.  This kind of deep grief causes many questions to surface: Does God not see what they did?

Do I have to forgive them?

How can I forgive them when they aren’t sorry for what they did?

How can I trust that the Lord will provide justice?

How am I supposed to live out truths like Ephesians 4:32, “Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you”?

I’ve asked all of these questions and wrestled through them myself. I was desperate to have my pain acknowledged and for someone in the world to recognize that what happened was wrong. Otherwise, I felt like my forgiveness might give the impression that what happened to me wasn’t that big of a deal and that my feelings didn’t matter. It did matter. It was wrong. But attaching my ability to heal and move forward to the choices my offender may never be willing to make will just compound my suffering.

Here are a few truths I’ve been learning to hang on to in my heart when I'm struggling to forgive:

1.  Forgiveness is more satisfying than revenge.

You may think revenge will make you feel better in the short term, but in the long term, it will always cost you more emotionally and spiritually than you’d ever want to pay. Forgiveness doesn’t let the other person off the hook. It places them in God’s hands (see Romans 12:19-21).

2.  Our God is not a do-nothing God.

Just like we see in Joseph’s story in the Bible, there is never a single moment when God is doing nothing in our lives. Joseph's story ends, “You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good” (Genesis 50:20, NIV). This brings such hope to a girl like me whose heart longs for justice.

3.  The purpose of forgiveness is not always reconciliation.

Forgiveness doesn’t mean trust is immediately restored or hard relational dynamics are instantly fixed. The point of forgiveness is to keep your heart swept clean, cooperating with God’s command to forgive and keeping yourself in a position to receive God’s forgiveness.

Oh, friend, your heartbreak is so real. And your desire to undo what has been done is so very understandable. Forgiveness requires deep dependence on the Lord, and trusting God is a hard step to take, especially when you’re hurt. But I’m also convinced it’s the only step that leads to anything good. So if His Word instructs us to forgive, I believe we can trust His leading in that.  Today, let’s take a step toward forgiveness together.