Light and Momentary?

For our momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison. 2 Corinthians 4:17 NASB

For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. Romans 8:18 ESV

You meant evil against me, but God meant it for good. Genesis 50:20a ESV

We all need a “Linda” in our life. Let me explain. In what now seems a lifetime ago, I walked through several simultaneous and horrific, as well as long lasting trials. Though I didn’t know “Linda” very well, I was desperate to share my struggles, so I asked her to pray for me. That began a lifetime of friendship that often included the above scene repeated over and over. She could have very easily felt sorry for me (she may have) and thus invited me to a pity party, or help me put on a badge of victimhood. She did neither. She may have reasoned, “This is a complete mess, how could I possibly help her?” Looking back, I’m sure I secretly wanted pity more than a Scripture reference. But true friends will not offer pity or haphazardly slap a Scripture band-aide on an open wound.

What my “Linda” did do was listen. Maybe she was really thinking about her shopping list, I don’t know, but she offered me a listening ear, rather than advice. She also purposefully found ways to encourage and offer practical help. The most important thing, the thing I found most difficult to hear is where I want to land. She spoke hard truth to me. Knowing that real answers to life’s hard questions are only found in God’s Word, that’s where she carefully, and stealthily pointed me. In fact, I have her name scrawled in my Bible next to the verses she so often spoke. One found in Romans and the other, in 2 Corinthians.

For our momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison.

For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.

With no magic wands in her back pocket, and unwilling to offer bumper sticker answers, she simply spoke His truth to me. Truth that reminded me that in His hands, there is purpose to my pain, and there is an end that will far outweigh the suffering. Admittedly, I would not have described my challenges as light or momentary. But that Biblical description helped me put pain in perspective. God’s perspective. And the knowledge that He was indeed using the pain to produce something in me, gave purpose to what seemed purposeless.

And so, I offer the same to you… no magic wands, just the Truth of His Word. Stand on it, trust in it and lean on Him as He walks with you through to the other side of whatever trial you’re facing. I am sorry for your pain, but I also know first-hand that He is able to make all things new and use the vilest circumstance for our good and His glory.

“The real problem is not why some pious, humble, believing people suffer, but why some do not.”

C.S. Lewis

Father, help me have Your perspective on all that comes my way. I praise You Lord for Your great faithfulness, regardless of what circumstances bring. I know You are at work. In Jesus’ mighty name, Amen.

Written by Becky White for the Lord Jesus

P.S. Thank you Linda.

Click here to purchase a hard copy or download a FREE pdf of the devotional, Stony Paths learning to trust Him as we walk the Stony Paths of real life.

You may also purchase Stony Paths, learning to Trust Him as we walk the Stony Paths of real life, by visiting Lulu Publishing or Amazon.

To Vote or Not to Vote…

First of all, then, I urge that petitions, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgiving be offered for everyone— for kings and all those in authority—so that we may lead tranquil and quiet lives in all godliness and dignity. This is good and pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, who wants everyone to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself as a ransom for all—the testimony that was given at just the right time. 1 Peter 2:1-5

When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice: but when the wicked rule, the people mourn. Proverbs 29:2

No, this isn’t a devo on who to vote for. Whew! Rather, it is a short message on how to vote with a Biblical grid and the importance of voting your Biblical values.

I’ve included a helpful link from iVoterGuide so you can easily see where the parties stand on specific issues. If I could give one piece of advice, it would be not to base decisions on emotion or even party alignment, but on Biblical standards and which candidate’s voting/policy record comes the closest. None will be perfect ( they are as human as you and I!) but one will be closer to God’s standard than another in their stance on issues.

Tragically, according to research, approximately 40 million Americans who self-identify as Christians do not plan to vote in the upcoming election. That is to our great shame.

“Silence in the face of evil is itself evil: God will not hold us guiltless. Not to speak is to speak. Not to act is to act.”

– Dietrich Bonhoeffer

While this info is primarily for an American audience,  if you are blessed enough to live in a nation that allows for the privilege and responsibility of voting,  I believe you’ll glean much from it as well.

Pray. Listen. Vote. Share. Continue praying, no matter the outcome.

“Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious People. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other.” – John Adams

IVoterGuide

https://ivoterguide.com/#map-banner

Got Faith?

The righteous shall live by his faith. Habakkuk 2:4b

For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, “BUT THE RIGHTEOUS man SHALL LIVE BY FAITH.” Romans 1:17 NASB

For we walk by faith, not by sight. 2 Corinthians 5:7 ESV

“But my righteous one will live by faith. And I take no pleasure in the one who shrinks back.” Hebrews 10:38 NIV

“The righteous shall live by faith.” Galatians 3:11 ESV

There we were, the “prayer team”, standing quietly and waiting at the front of the church, near the front row of seats. Our small circle was there to pray for others from the congregation, but no one stepped out that day, so we were left to ourselves. After several minutes, someone innocently asked if any of us had a prayer request. Immediately, and almost involuntarily, words spilled out of my mouth about a years-long trial that sometimes brings me to my literal knees in emotional heartache. Though giving only a few details, just speaking the words out loud was enough to create a lump in my throat and my eyes to well with tears, threatening to keep me from speaking. (As a side note, why are we so reluctant to admit our real-life needs or pain or hot-mess situations to our brothers and sisters in Christ?)

From the expression on the faces of those in our tight circle, I could see this was not what they were expecting to hear. This was no “easy” request for healing of a bad back or enough money for the month. (Though I have definitely had my share of those!). No. This was a request that would require not only a miracle, but the ability to patiently endure as I trusted in God’s character and faithfulness. Leaving the outcome in His hands.

After the collective (quiet) gasps, each lifted my request before the Father, and then to my surprise, a fellow-prayer was suddenly willing to share her own agonizing and miracle-requiring request. That’s when I knew why the Lord had allowed me to be so vulnerable about my own heartache.

Having no intention of sharing my own painful need, I now understood why the almost involuntary spillage of my deeply personal and agonizing request came tumbling out. We each continued on praying for one another, lifting impossibilities to our sovereign God who alone performs miracles. Who alone holds the future in His hands. Come what may, we will, by His grace walk, by faith and trust Him. Not for a particular outcome, but to simply trust Him, whatever the outcome. He is good and He is faithful.

We walked away that morning with a greater depth of compassion for each other, and the comradery of walking by faith in our faithful God, in the rubber-meets-the-road realities of life.

“God is too good to be unkind and He is too wise to be mistaken. And when we cannot trace His hand, we must trust His heart.” – C.H. Spurgeon

What about you? Is there a trial or circumstance that causes you to lose faith? To grow weary? To walk by sight? This is your reminder that He has not forgotten you. “He who formed the ear, does He not hear?” Call out to Him (and possibly share with a trusted friend). Have faith in our faithful God.

Father God, I know You are good and You are faithful, but sometimes the challenges we walk through threaten to eclipse that truth. Pain can so easily blind us. Please help us to trust that You are at work, even when we cannot see Your hand. We love You and praise You, In Jesus’ mighty name, Amen.

Written by Becky White for the Lord Jesus

faith; πίστεως (pisteōs)

Noun – Genitive Feminine Singular

Strong’s 4102: Faith, belief, trust, confidence; fidelity, faithfulness.

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Glory to God?

Recently, I came across this years-old devotional I’d written, and couldn’t help but think of those walking through knee-deep trials right now. Pain that lays us bare and can cause even the strongest and God-honoring to cry “uncle”, this is too hard! If that’s you – I am so sorry for what you’re walking through. I promise not to diminish your pain or use Christian lingo to wipe away real-life tragedy. But I will lay God’s Word before you as a balm and possibly a new set of glasses by which to look at your pain.

Does Your Life Glorify God?

[Jesus said to His disciplines] “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified.” John 12:23 NIV

“…for the Son of Man to be glorified…”  If I didn’t know what was about to happen to Jesus, I would be excited at the prospect of Him being glorified. But I do know what comes next. He’s going to be arrested for something He didn’t do, get slapped across the face for refusing to answer the High Priest, suffer the agony of His beard being plucked out for the amusement of cruel guards and beaten until unrecognizable as human (Isaiah 53). The Son of Man was stripped naked and nailed to a wooden cross.  And just when you think the cruelty and humiliation can’t get any worse, bystanders taunt Him one last time. “If you’re really the Son of God, come down off that cross!” and then they spit at Him, jeering, as He hung naked and pain-racked.

Being aware of all that was to come, the one word that would not come to my mind is glorified. Abandoned, rejected, abused, maybe… but not glorified. Of course, Jesus did know all that would befall Him as He spoke those words. That’s what makes His statement so out of place to me.

Jesus’ mockery of a trial, ruthless beatings, and death (and then His bodily resurrection) were used as tools to bring glory to God. Jesus willingness to be our Scapegoat (Leviticus 16)  brought glory and honor to Himself like nothing else could. The Son of Man was glorified!

If you find yourself knee-deep in difficulties, the Lord doesn’t require your understanding, but He does want your trust. He is more than able to bring glory to His name through your life’s circumstances. Even circumstances, that surface-level, seem disfigured and ugly.

“…we will stand amazed to see the topside of the tapestry and how God beautifully embroidered each circumstance into a pattern for our good and His glory.”

― Joni Eareckson Tada

“Father, I don’t understand why I’m in this trial. And I don’t like it. But — I am willing to obey You no matter what. Grant me the ability to walk through this valley and to do so without bitterness. You don’t require my understanding, only my trust. Glorify Yourself through my life.” In Jesus, name, Amen.

Written by Becky White for the Lord Jesus

Click here to purchase a hard copy or download a FREE pdf of the devotional, Stony Paths learning to trust Him as we walk the Stony Paths of real life.

You may also purchase Stony Paths, learning to Trust Him as we walk the Stony Paths of real life, by visiting Lulu Publishing or Amazon.

My Story

We all have a story. No one is exempt from the difficulties of life. Some life stories are painful. Some seem unfair. Some feel hopeless. Some are filled with regret. None have escaped His notice. None are beyond His ability to use. To some how, some way, bring good from.

As you watch my story, I hope you see that though the Lord didn’t necessarily prevent difficulties, He has been faithful to use all that touched my life… for my good and His glory. And He will do the same for you.

By Becky White for my Lord Jesus Christ

“Though weeping may endure for the night, joy comes in the morning.” Psalm 30:5

Click here to purchase a hard copy or download a FREE pdf of the devotional, Stony Paths learning to trust Him as we walk the Stony Paths of real life.

Fact or Fiction?

Believe it or not, I’ve been writing devotions “for difficult days” for over twenty-five years. Some of those days and seasons of life have been profoundly painful and others, just a pebble-in-my-shoe irritation. But in each situation I have landed (eventually) on two bedrock truths: 1. God is good and entirely faithful, no matter the circumstance. 2. And the Bible is the God-breathed, inerrant and infallible word of Almighty God.  I assure you I did not come to these conclusions easily or while relaxing in my favorite chair, sipping a latte. The furnace of affliction has done a great work in my life (even if some of those afflictions were self-inflicted).

Below is a devo I wrote several years ago, but has recently come to my mind. I believe it captures some of the truths that have shaped my life. I pray it encourages you, while also challenging you to (if needed) re-access your view of God’s Word.

The Bible – Truth or Fiction?

Every word of God is tested; He is a shield to those who take refuge in Him. Proverbs 30:5 NASB

In all my writing I make the assumption that God’s Word is true. Not a hope-so phrase. Not, “Think warm thoughts” nonsense that has no real value or meaning. But Truth. It is the very foundation for the encouragement I offer. Yet, I realize not everyone accepts that truth. So, in this “devotional” I am going to tackle the topic of God’s Word and why it is the very bedrock of my life.

My devotions always begin with a Scripture. The foundation Stone. Not a man’s opinion but God’s Word. I make the assumption that the Bible, from Genesis’s “In the beginning God created … to Revelation’s “Behold, I come quickly” Is Truth. Building on that as I share from His Word and my life’s experiences.

Now for those who don’t hold this view, my writings and speaking might seem like syrupy Christian nonsense or emotional-crutch-reading for the broken and needy or gullible. I stake my eternity on the Bible’s validity. (In fact, everyone is gambling their eternity on one side of that coin or the other. There is no other option.)

Rather than opinion, I offer readers what God has to say on a matter. And the matter I usually speak on is what the Lord has taught/is teaching me the most about – adversity, trials and real-life difficulties. And most of all, how to walk through them honestly but with a focus on the One who holds my life in His hands. Wrestling out both the pain and His purpose.

Let me tell you how this absolute assurance in the Bible began, or at least how it was solidified in my life. I didn’t “grow up” in Church. In fact, though I was raised to believe in “god” generally, I learned everything from Roman Catholicism to reincarnation/New Age/New Thought spirituality to secularism.

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I came to believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and surrendered my life to Him after the death of my 3 day old baby girl, who I gave birth to at the ripe old age of barely 15. Many twists and turns have occurred in my life since that day 45 years ago. Including being blessed with 5 more children, two step-daughters as well as the tragedy of giving birth to a still-born son.

Somewhere in the midst of a very challenging trial…okay, a horrific 20 year difficulty … I began questioning God, prayer and even the goodness of God. Why, if God was really listening (and His Word says He is) was life not getting any easier? Either He wasn’t really listening or He didn’t care or He wasn’t even there, were just some of thoughts swirling in my heart as I wrestled this out…

Had I, out of desperation, somehow convinced myself that the Bible and all this Christian stuff was true? Had I talked myself into a reality that existed only in my mind as an emotional crutch? Memories of New Age thinking flooded my mind, causing doubts to increase within me.

I had to know the Truth. Wherever that led me. I began a search that first of all included asking God to reveal Himself to me… and included reading the book, The Case for Christ written by Lee Strobel, an award winning investigative journalist for the Chicago Tribune who was an atheist and skeptic turned Christian. I devoured teachings by famed apologist from Australia, Ken Ham, and read the writings of C.S. Lewis. Another skeptic turned Christian.

But in the end what convinced me of the Truth of God’s Word was the stand taken by a hero of mine, Billy Graham. Dr. Graham faced his own moment of crisis fresh out of seminary. A friend and seminary peer by the name of Charles Templeton told Billy that he just couldn’t believe the Bible anymore. That some parts were not trustworthy. This caused a crisis of faith for Graham that culminated in a mountain-top scene where Dr. Graham cried out to God for help. Finally, with an open Bible, he leaned upon a tree stump and made the declaration that though he didn’t have all the answers, from that day on he would take his stand for the Inerrant Truth of the Bible.

Years later, Dr. Graham was famous for lifting high his Bible and proclaiming with authority, “The Bible says…”

Back to my conviction of the Truth of the Bible. While secular historians from antiquity such as Josephus and Tacitus and modern Biblical scholars provided proof, in the end I made the choice to believe the Bible, the entire Bible, from the first word to the last, to be the infallible, inerrant Word of Almighty God. Period.

Now…now I have a foundation to lean into. To write about. To offer genuine comfort and encouragement to those facing real pain. Real adversity. Real tragedy. Heck…life happens to all of us doesn’t it? I have nothing of real value or substance to offer anyone other than the Words of God Himself. Leaning hard into His Truth that can be trusted in. Depended on. His Word, no warm-thought positive phrase can provide authentic hope and peace. Not, and let me shout this from the mountain-tops of my laptop… not a feel-good, hope so, mind over matter, fluffy nonsense of “just think happy thoughts.” Heck no.

What I offer through my writing. Through my speaking, is the Truth. Truth that can be leaned into and relied upon.

Now, with that sure foundation…Let me encourage you … “The Lord is near to all who call upon Him, to all who call upon Him sincerely and in truth.”  Psalm 145:18 AMPC

He is near you. Near me. You are not alone. Seek Him and He will be found by you. Call upon Him. Sincerely. He will not fail you. Bank on it.

In service to The Master,

Written by Becky White for the Lord Jesus

May I take Your Order?

Order my steps in Your word; let no sin rule over me. Psalm 119:133 Berean Standard Bible

I will instruct you and teach you the way you should go; I will give you counsel and watch over you. Psalm 32:8 Berean Standard Bible

I know, LORD, that our lives are not our own. We are not able to plan our own course. Jeremiah 10:23 NLT

Always let him lead you, and he will clear the road for you to follow. Proverbs 3:6 CEV

Four jalapeño cheese burgers with mustard and pickle and a large onion chip. That’s my standard White Castle order. Mmmmm, I can almost smell the grilled onion aroma… I order my meal the way I want it, pay the cashier to receive it, and off I go. As I read today’s Scripture in Psalm 119, my go-to Castle order came to mind.  What does God’s Word have to do with a fast-food order you ask?

In a way so much greater than any drive-thru order, God orders our steps. The way He wants them. Yes, I realize the analogy breaks down quickly. God never makes a mistake in His ordering. In addition to being lousy listeners, we are often unwilling to trust His ordering options. Choosing instead to grab the menu of life choices and tell Him what we want, how we want it, when we want it. After all, we live in a “have it your way” world, don’t we?

I can’t speak for you, but in my own life, that didn’t work so well. Making life choices before asking Him for His will, His wisdom and His direction, has led to a multitude of bad menu choices. I’ll spare you the details, let’s just say, that I have learned that if He chooses the liver and onions of trials and challenges and I would prefer the Krispy Kreme donut of ease, I’m going for the liver and onions every time. I continue to learn that He knows what He’s doing in ordering my steps, all He wants from me is to submit my will to His and trust Him. He’ll make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert. Always providing just what we need, at the moment we need it. And just because He’s good, a golden glazed Krispy Kreme once in awhile.

Let’s bring this back to you and your life.  Are there areas where you’ve grabbed the menu and not allowed Him to order your steps? Choosing life options apart from His will? That’s okay, we’ve all been there. Recognize it. Tell Him about it. Ask for forgiveness. Hand the menu of life choices back to Him through prayer as you ask Him to order your steps. Then, open His Word and ask Him for wisdom. Proverbs everyday or the NT book of James is a good place to start. Then, choice by choice and moment by moment, your “taste” will change as you grow to appreciate His menu choices for you!

“Affliction is often that thing which prepares an ordinary person for some sort of an extraordinary destiny.”

C.S. Lewis

You are a good, good Father, forgive me for the times I’ve not trusted You or allowed You to be Lord of my choices. Please order my steps for Your glory and my good. Even when that means hard places, I choose to trust You. In Jesus’ name. Amen

Written by Becky White for the Lord Jesus

www.DevotionsForDifficultDays.com

He illumines our Darkness

Even though I walk through the [sunless] valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod [to protect] and Your staff [to guide], they comfort and console me. Psalm 23:4 AMP

Even the darkness is not dark to You; the night is bright as the day, for darkness is as light with You. Psalm 139:12 ESV

The LORD my God illumines my darkness. Psalm 18:28 NASB 1995

Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy ladened, and I will give you rest. Matthew 11:28

For I am the LORD your God, who takes hold of your right hand and tells you: Do not fear, I will help you. Isaiah 41:13 BSB

As instructed, I flipped all the lights off before locking up. No big deal. I just had to walk from the church kitchen and across the gymnasium, to reach the push-bar door on the other side of the expansive room. But with the lights now off, the windowless gym room carried with it a palatable darkness.  I seemed to lose depth perception, and even felt I might lose my balance as I made my way to the other side of the room, and reached for the door. Once open, light rays revealed that though I had not felt or sensed progress, I had walked the length of the room. I knew my legs were moving. I knew I must be inching closer to my goal, but I had zero awareness of the reality of making any headway. 

Have you ever faced a trial that caused such a palatable darkness?

In its great depth of pain

In its sheer length of duration

In the panic-laced thoughts of what-if

Or the felt hopelessness of expectations shredded

If you’re human, I bet you have, or you know someone who has. Or you are there right now.

I’ve been there too. Not just in my great gym crossing, but in the darkness of painful trials that eclipsed any semblance of progress or hope. Causing thoughts of what-if, to shout louder than the promises I read in His Word. When pain and simple emotional exhaustion were as blinding as that dark gymnasium. Death and divorce. Rejection and regret. Addiction and abuse. Prison cells – created by cement blocks or past trauma.

Would you allow me to speak His Word into your darkness?

First, I must admit that there are no trial-free passes handed out to followers of Jesus Christ. If there were, I would be first in line to ask for a family package. Yet, right there, smack in the middle of our valleys of darkness, His Word declares, “I will never leave you or forsake you.” Read that again, out loud.

Whether the darkness you’re facing is something as unimportant as crossing a gymnasium, or something as tender and uniquely painful as grief – His promise is the same. We do not have to fear, because He is with us. Assured of His Presence in the blackness of our trials. Assured that His rod and staff will protect and guide, as He leads us through the valley.  It is enough to know that HE can see in the darkness and will bring us to His desired destination. Jesus reminds us to come to Him when we are weary and overwhelmed by life, and He will provide rest for our soul. His is a promise of rest, even in the darkness of our trials.

Father, I don’t like groping in the darkness, I much prefer to see every step (ahead of time). Please enable me to trust that although I can’t see my way clear, You can. And You are with me. I love You, in Jesus’ name, Amen.

Written by Becky White for the Lord Jesus

Click here to purchase a hard copy or download a FREE pdf of the devotional, Stony Paths learning to trust Him as we walk the Stony Paths of real life.

You may also purchase Stony Paths, learning to Trust Him as we walk the Stony Paths of real life, by visiting Lulu Publishing or Amazon.

A Testimony of “Through”

Following You is no guarantee of a problem-free life.  Yes, I realize that’s an obvious point. But a point that I need reminded of, now and then. What you have promised is that You’ll stand beside me, that you’ll never leave me … never forsake me. And use all I walk through for Your glory.

This morning, as I was working out at the gym and listening to a Spotify playlist, some of the challenges that may soon cross my path flooded my mind. Immediately an old song I’d never heard before started to play… The words, you will stand by me… penetrated my heart as it described the inevitable challenges of life. Through all the seasons of life. Rightly concluding, we can rest in Him and His Presence with us. We are never alone.

Thank You, Father for standing with us and never leaving us to face life alone.

Now, let’s read this rerun devo “A Testimony of through.”

*(Stand by Me)

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. For as we share abundantly in Christ’s sufferings, so through Christ we share abundantly in comfort too. 2 Corinthians 1:3-5  ESV

It is so encouraging to hear testimonies of God’s miraculous intervention into someone’s life circumstance. In fact, to encourage others, I have a few of my own that I regularly share. Maybe you do too. But there’s another kind of testimony that doesn’t get the credit it deserves, those of God’s miraculous power to walk us through our trials. Let’s face it, aren’t those the kind of testimonies that most of us can relate to, and need to hear?

But this kind of story doesn’t come easy, it can only be gained by walking through the fire. Not around or over, but through. While there are many reasons God may allow His people to suffer, one of them includes enabling us to be living examples to other hurting folks. A picture of what it looks like when God chooses not to remove our difficulties, but of His power to sustain and even strengthen us in the midst of them.

There are hurting people all around us, with no hope of a miracle around the corner of their circumstances. The cancer is terminal. The divorce papers have been signed. The nursery remains empty. The pink slip has arrived. It’s then, that folks need to see authentic hope displayed in how we suffer. As we cry the same hot tears, enduring the same heartaches and pain, but with an assurance that no matter what things look like, He is good, He can be trusted and He is faithful. Yes, we grapple with questions and cry out in our pain, but in the end, we rest our head on the pillow of His sovereignty and goodness. Reminding ourselves that if He loved us so much that He did not spare His own Son, but freely gave Him up for us all, surely, we can trust Him with “this.”

Be assured, that whatever test you’re walking through today, He can, and will, use it as a testimony to a watching world. Whether that testimony is of His miraculous intervention or of His sustaining power – be assured that He will use every second of it, and every detail of it, for your good and His glory. Author, Kay Arthur puts it best, “He lets you hurt as others hurt, knowing that the way in which you handle it will be a testimony, and your response will show others that there’s something awesomely different about you.” And that difference, is our relationship with Jesus Christ. In all we face, He is the difference maker.

The strength of the vessel can be demonstrated only by the hurricane, and the power of the Gospel can be fully shown only when the Christian is subjected to some fiery trial. If God would make manifest the fact that “He giveth songs in the night,” He must first make it night.

—William Taylor

Father, Please use all we walk through, and all that touches our lives, for Your glory and as a display of Your faithfulness to those around us. Infuse us with Your strength and grant us Your perspective. In Jesus’ mighty name, Amen.

Written by Becky White for the Lord Jesus and His glory

Click here to purchase a hard copy or get a FREE pdf of the devotional, Stony Paths

You may also purchase Stony Paths, learning to Trust Him as we walk the Stony Paths of real life, by visiting Lulu Publishing or Amazon.

Peanut Butter Cups

“…to the hungry soul any bitter thing is sweet.”

Proverbs 27:7 AMP

God is the Rock and firm Strength of my heart and my Portion forever. Psalm 73:26 AMPC

Yeshua (Jesus) said to them, “I AM THE LIVING GOD, The Bread of Life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever trusts in me shall never thirst.” John 6:35 Aramaic Bible in Plain English

My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. Psalm 43:2a

I love Reese’s cups, especially the newer offering that has a peanut butter shell with peanut butter filling. Mmmmm. Dee licious. Have I mentioned how much I love all things peanut butter? Yet, as much as I appreciate a good Reese’s cup, when my stomach growls with hunger, the bright orange package shouldn’t be what I reach for. Yes, it will stop my hunger pangs, but if I repeat this too many times, I’ll have long-term negative consequences.  But wait a minute, what if my cupboards were bare and my pockets empty? What if, in my hunger, I thought that the sugary peanut butter treat was my only option to fill the ache in my belly?

As I mulled over the scripture in Proverbs 27, I couldn’t help but think of the world around us. A world that is literally “starving” for hope, peace, purpose and the removal of fear/anxiety/panic …. This emptiness has led to starvation of the soul, where, “any bitter thing is sweet.” Spiritually speaking, reaching for a Reese’s in the form of pleasure or money or sex minus God’s guidelines, or gathering as many “likes” / hits as possible or by social activism or “religious” and/or spiritual activity (the possibilities are endless). When the sun goes down and dark silence envelops us, the ache remains and the hunger endures.

On the flip side, many of us are so “full-bellied and satisfied” that we’ve failed to notice those starving right in front of us. Failed to look beyond our own homecooked-meal comfort to notice the ache of empty bellies all around us. Folks who have settled for the quick Reese’s cup or something much worse, when we know the Bread of Life Himself. While it’s true we cannot (and should not) force feed the manna of God’s Word, are we at least offering it to those around us or at least living a life (by His grace) that causes others to want what we have? Do I?

My heart aches for the “starving” folks all around us who have stuffed themselves with all the world has to offer and yet their soul-deep ache and emptiness remain. Here’s my challenge to you (and myself), each time we see a Reese’s cup, let’s use that lip-smacking orange package as a reminder to pray for those around us. Or, let it be a reminder that your ache cannot be filled with anything other than the Lord Jesus Christ. Reach out to Him, He will meet you right where you’re at. (For more information, call 1-888-NEEDHIM or text (320) 345-3455 or click https://needhim.org/chat-now/)

“There is a God–shaped vacuum in the heart of each man, which cannot be satisfied by any created thing but only by God the Creator, made known through Jesus Christ.”

– Blaise Pascal

Father, please reveal to me where I’m seeking to fill soul-deep needs with the junk food of the world. Please also give me Your eyes and heart for the starving people all around me. Please use my life to honor You, in Jesus’ Name, Amen

Written by Becky White for the Lord Jesus

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