Please forgive the “rerun” devo. As I have walked through a bruising trial over the past month, this verse from Psalm 62 keeps running through my mind. “When my heart is overwhelmed, lead me to the rock that is higher than I.” He is my Rock. I shall not be moved.
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I have decided to share a few of these OG devos from years past, in their original form for the most part. You may notice a few grammar issues or strange sentence structure. Please try to look past that, and land on the lesson He was teaching me at the time, and maybe even use it to remind/or teach you as well.
For His glory and your encouragement.
Becky White
When my heart is overwhelmed and fainting,
lead me to the Rock that is higher than I.
Psalm 61:2 NASB
One afternoon I found myself distraught over a very difficult situation in my home, feeling overwhelmed by the crisis I reached for the phone to call my *prayer partner. Knowing she would take time out of her day to listen and then pray with me. As the phone rang, I waited in great anticipation, wanting desperately to unload this burden or at least have her share it with me. But…she wasn’t home. In tears I hung up the phone and cried; “Why is this happening, God?!”
In the words of Regis Philbin I had “no life lines left”. Or in the words of Scripture, God had brought me to “a place of wits’ end” Psalm 107:27. I had no where to turn — but to God. After a brief pity-party I realized I hadn’t even talked to the Lord yet about the problem.
Sometimes our Heavenly Father has to take away all our life lines so we will be brought to the place of wits’ end. It’s there that we realize our total dependency on God — that we experience first hand His comfort and faithfulness. So often we turn to our friends or pastors or counselors before ever turning to God. Sadly, some never seek Him out. Though God has given us friends and others to lean on in times of distress, He never intended for us to turn to them at the expense of a relationship with Him.
Once I composed myself, I went to a quiet room and sat down with God. Pouring my heart out to Him and then reading a Psalm aloud. He comforted me as no human could ever do and I learned a valuable lesson. I still called my friend the next day and shared with her my situation, but now I also had the opportunity to share with her what the Lord had taught me and give glory to God for His provision.
When my spirit is overwhelmed and fainting (throwing all of its weight) upon me, You knew my path.” Psalm 142:3a am
“You can never learn that Christ is all you need, until Christ is all you have.”
Corrie ten Boom
Father God, I have found by experience, that You truly are the God of all comfort. I would have never signed up for the classroom You used to teach me such lessons, but am so thankful for learning it. I love You, in Jesus’ name, amen.
*Jeanne Liston
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.
In quietness and trust shall be your confidence and strength.
Isaiah 26:3-4
Father, the enemy temps me to doubt You, to question Your timing, Your goodness and even Your awareness of my circumstance. Words and phrases like, Frantic, Anxious, Striving, Worrying, Fearful, or “What if…?” and “Why?” attempt to pierce my soul like a poison dart. Forgive me for the times I’ve allowed them to penetrate, wreaking havoc within me. Cause me to be aware and able to quickly discern the enemy’s lies, holding up my shield of faith as I wield the mighty sword of the Spirit of Your Word.
By the power of Your Holy Spirit I will be still before You and before the sea of my circumstances, in quietness and trust I shall be confident in You and Your faithfulness. Exhaling the enemy’s fear inducing lies – I breath in deeply the truth that if You are for me who or what can be against me? You hold my life in the palm of Your hand…is that not enough?
I love You, Father. In the matchless name of my Lord Jesus Christ I pray. Amen.
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.
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.
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 on Becky, this is no big deal.” I told myself, as I flipped off the light switch. “You just have to walk from the church kitchen, across the gymnasium, and you’ll reach the door on the other side of the 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 lose my sense of balance as I made my way to the other side of the room. Finally reaching the push-bar door handle, I pushed the door open. Instantly, light rays revealed that though I could not feel or sense 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. Such a strange sensation.
No big deal when we’re crossing a gymnasium. Huge deal when it’s a dark trial we’re walking through. Or sunless valley of the shadow of death, as God’s Word describes it. Has a dark trial ever taken away your capacity to sense any forward progress or blinded you to God’s nearness? Have you felt weary and faltering, nearly losing your balance as you attempt to walk in the darkness? In the blackness, did fear seem to speak louder than His promises? I’ve been there. A time or two or ten. 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?” or “will this ever end?” to shout louder than the promises I quoted.
Some trials feel unending in duration and offer no point of reference for how far we’ve come or how far we still need to go. At times we grope around feeling for anything to steady our balance as we grow weary from the sheer length of a painful journey. While, I hate to be the bearer of bad news, 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 the family package. Yet He has assured us of His Presence in the blackness of our trials. Assured that His rod and staff will both protect and guide, as we navigate in the darkness. It is enough to know that HE can see in the darkness of our trials and will bring us to His desired destination.
Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world.
Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” John 8:12
Father, thank You that I don’t have to fear the darkness of my circumstances. You see what I cannot and are my Source of light even when all appears dark and hopeless. Please enable me to rest and trust in You we walk through this trial together. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.
Written by Becky White for the Lord Jesus.
Greek: Light: a source of light, radiance. From an obsolete phao; luminousness.
And why do you worry about clothes? Consider how the lilies of the field grow: They do not labor or spin. / Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his glory was adorned like one of these. / If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? Matthew 6:28-30
Book Recommendation
Consider the Lilies: Finding Perfect Peace in the Character of God, by Jonny Ardavanis
I don’t usually recommend books (at least not on my blog, if you know me personally, you would cry foul at that statement!), but this book is a stand-out exception!
Truth be told, our *oldest son recommended it several months ago, but I waited for the free edition to be available in audio form on Hoopla (I am a bit frugal). Also, the cover seemed… I don’t know… uninviting? So, I guess I did judge a book by it’s cover. Don’t make the same mistake!
If you’re breathing, you have to one degree or another, struggled with some form of anxiety. Even as followers of the Lord Jesus Christ, we are not immune to its clutches and downward spiral. The answers are found in God’s Word; and this author lays out a Biblical and uniquely woven description concerning dealing with anxiety. All derived from Scripture. I encourage you to check it out, read a sample online, etc.
“The peace of God does not fall into our laps as we sit and wait for it but rather is given by God to those who fix their minds on and fill their hearts with God’s matchless and unchanging character.” (Italics not added) – Jonny Ardavanis
For we walk by faith, not by sight [living our lives in a manner consistent with our confident belief in God’s promises]— 2 Corinthians 5:7 Amplified Bible
For our light and momentary affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory that is far beyond comparison. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. – 2 Corinthians 4:17-18 Berean Standard Bible
The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and a contrite heart, O God, You will not despise. Psalm 51:17
(Though this devo has a Christmas theme, the point was brought back to my mind recently so I thought I’d share it again) I pray it encourages you, no matter your paper-trail. Whether it’s stellar or grungy. He’ll use it all. IF we let Him.
Cracking eggs on the side of a large metal bowl, the young volunteer and I made small talk as we prepared breakfast for folks in need of a hot meal. Figuring we’d need about 18 dozen to feed everyone, our conversation carried on as we cracked, whipped and then cooked eggs, sausage and biscuits. In the midst of our serving, she mentioned how tired she was, so I asked, “Oh, do you have young children at home?” Assuming little ones were stealing away her night’s sleep.
Laughing out loud, she giggled, “No! I’m only 19!”
Now it was my turn to laugh, as I shared with her that by 19, I had already been married, divorced, had given birth to four children. I had also buried a daughter. That conversation opened the flood gates to share with her, how I came to know Jesus Christ as my Lord and Saviour. Often, when I share quick snippets of my story, I tell folks, “I don’t look good on paper.” By that I mean, if only the black and white facts of my life (paper) are known, it looks like a hot, depressing, , hopeless mess. But God.
But God used the tragedies thrust upon me, as well as those I thrust upon myself, to cause me to recognize my need for Him. And He continues to use the many trials of life to drive home the point that I am to walk by faith and not by sight. To live by faith in Him and His faithfulness, not my fickle emotions. That He is good, even when life hurts. And that the worst-case scenarios can happen simultaneously with Hope in Him flourishing. In short, trust Him, no matter what things look like. Trust Him no matter the circumstance. Rely on the Truth of His Word rather than what we see with our eyes.
As we will soon prepare to celebrate the literal incarnation of God, through the physical birth of Jesus Christ, I am reminded that things are not always as they appear. Who would have ever thought, God would arrive on the scene in such a way? “On paper,” it appeared that He was born in an animal stable to a poor, unwed couple facing a crisis pregnancy. The world would say, a no body, born to no bodies, in the middle of nowhere. Yet, here we are today, over 2,000 years later, celebrating His birth. His birth that split history in two and sacrificial death that split the veil that separated a holy God from unholy, sinful folks like you and I. Today, He sits at the right hand of the throne of God.
Do you have a paper trail that includes challenges like addiction or abuse or prison or depression or regret? I understand. Or maybe your paper trail is peppered with college degrees, ministry work, financial wealth or a “moral” life. While some of us are more spit-shined than others, we all stand in need of The Savior.
As I shared that day over a bowl of scrambled eggs – He saved me, and while life will always have challenges, He turned my mess into ministry, and now it’s my greatest honor to serve Him with my life, in whatever way He chooses. He has given me a new paper trail. If He can do it for me, He can do the same for you.
“In perplexities—when we cannot tell what to do, when we cannot understand what is going on around us, let us be calmed and steadied and made patient by the thought that what is hidden from us is not hidden from Him”
— Frances Ridley Havergal
Father, Thank You for sending Your One and only Son, those 2,000 years ago. My Lord Jesus. Erasing what I had on paper and giving me Your sinless record instead. Astounding. I bow in awe of Your goodness and mercy! In Jesus’ name. Amen.
Written by Becky White for the Lord Jesus.
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 StonyPaths of real life, by visiting Lulu Publishing or Amazon.
I took them by the hand and led them out of Egypt…
I will bring you up out of the suffering and oppression of Egypt … to a land flowing with milk and honey…
Hebrews 8:9b AMPC Exodus 3:17 AMP
I love to walk hand in hand with my husband, whether we’re power-walking trails at a nearby park or strolling through grocery store aisles. There’s something tender, personal and even “safe” about such a simple gesture. It also necessarily means that we are going away from, and then to, the same location, together.
In today’s Scripture reading we hear our Lord say this about His people, “I led them by the hand.” God, the Creator, Sustainer and Lord of all…”led them by the hand!” If that isn’t enough to blow our minds into face-to-the-floor worship, He goes on to say where He led them from, “Out of Egypt.” Let’s keep this simple. Egypt is B-A-D, full of emotional, physical and relational pain.
Though the ancient Israelites were in, and then led out of, a literal land of Egypt, you and I encounter our own versions of “Egypt” don’t we? The emotional ripping and tearing of abuse or addiction. The relational pain of pornography or divorce or loneliness. The physical challenges of our own illnesses or the searing pain of helplessly watching those we love suffer.
Beloved, He promises the same, for you and I.
Lord, enable me to find my security in You alone. Not in my spouse or children or career or bank account or service or ________, but in You alone. The utterly faithful One.
I will lead them.
By the hand.
Out of Egypt.
Our Sovereign God has not promised to whisk us away in a fairy-tale-esque escape plan. No. But He has promised to lead us out. To lead us through… step by challenging step. And miracle by miracle, if needed. Providing the manna of His Presence along the journey as He leads into our own land flowing with the milk and honey of joy in the midst of, peace in spite of. And blessing us with, “I’ve been where you are” compassion and empathy. Handing us a testimony that shouts His great faithfulness that led us by the hand through the wilderness and out of our own Egypts, right into the promise land of fulfilling His purposes in us, and for us.
God is God. Because He is God, He is worthy of my trust and obedience. I will find rest nowhere but in His holy will, a will that is unspeakably beyond my largest notions of what He is up to.
Elisabeth Elliot
My Lord,Such tenderness and compassion You show through the promise to lead Your people (which includes me!!) by hand… out of my Egypt and into the promise land where I will testify of Your great faithfulness to restore and deliver. I love You beyond words. In Jesus’ name, Amen
“I never expected to see your face again,” Israel (aka Jacob) said to Joseph, “but now God has let me see your children as well.” Genesis 48:11 BSB
Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed… Romans 4:18a BSB
The situation looks hopeless. Feels hopeless. By all accounts, is hopeless. Have such thoughts ever gripped your heart? Is there a person or circumstance or trial – something that appears beyond even the hint of a miracle? Have you, like me, without even realizing it, begun the slide into there’s-no-way-this-will-ever-change thinking? Leaving our omnipotent God out of the equation in the process?
In my own life, I have a this-looks-hopeless situation that readily comes to mind. Well, to be totally honest, there are a few. But as our Lord would have it, while driving to work and listening to a sermon/podcast, I was stopped in my tracks. Both encouraged and convicted by a speaker’s message. He reminded the listeners how easy it is to slide into despair or hopelessness, when we forget the sovereignty of our all-powerful God and assume (privately) that He’s forgotten all about us. And when we allow our circumstances to dictate what we believe God is capable of. He also reminded us that we don’t have all the facts of any given situation, but God does. But often, we act like we know better. Or maybe it’s just me.
Are we willing to trust God when it “feels” like He’s forgotten us, or when life “feels” unfair or worst of all, when a situation looks and feels hopeless?
Oh, the speaker offered no magic-wand outcomes. The truth is, God may very well allow great trial into our lives… for extended periods of time. But He can be trusted to bring good out of all we (His children) face. There is hope, in even the most hopeless circumstance. So, let’s keep praying. Keep trusting. Keep singing His praises. Whatever the outcome He chooses for us, He is good and He is faithful.
Like Jacob in today’s Scripture, what expectation have you given up on? Let me encourage you not to despair. Hope against hope. I’m preaching to myself as I preach to you. Let’s hope, trust and then bow to the will of our God. Hopelessness is a lie of the enemy.
Let’s hope, trust and then bow to the will of our God
Becky White
Let me end with this; A young college student asked the renowned theologian, C.H. Spurgeon, “I’m having trouble understanding why bad things happen to some people, it doesn’t seem fair.” Spurgeon replied, “Young man, give God credit for knowing some things you don’t.” Amen!
The lowest point in the tide is often the turning of the tide.
It’s always too early to throw in the towel. – Philip De Courcy
Let’s pray…
Father God, please forgive me for my lack of trust in Your care and for limiting You, the Holy One. I lay my hopeless looking situations into Your hands and trust that You will do the impossible or walk me through the impossible. But may I not neglect to pray just because it looks and feels impossible. I love and worship You, in Jesus’ name. Amen.
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 StonyPaths of real life, by visiting Lulu Publishing or Amazon.
He (Jesus) says to them, “But whom do you pronounce Me to be?” And Simon Peter answering said, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” Matthew 16:15-16 Berean Literal Bible
He (Jesus) said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Matthew 16:15 NKJV
God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Philippians 2:9-11 ESV
“Who do you say that I am?” Recently, as I’ve thought through this pointed question Jesus posed to His disciples, the word, “say,” seemed to lift off the page. Holding that specific word up to the light and allowing the question to penetrate my own heart, I wondered how I would answer the Lord Jesus and, what do I say to those around me, about who Jesus is?
Of course, I agree with Peter, but beyond that, who do I say Jesus is? With my lips, I often speak of His goodness and great faithfulness and His sovereign control over all things. I speak of His ability to walk us through the jagged valleys of real life, and the comforting truth of His ability to cause all things to work together for our good and His glory. I boldly sing (admittedly, off-key) that He is the Way Maker, our Solid Rock and Mighty Fortress. Confessing that He is our Provider and Sustainer.
The probing question the Lord brings to my heart (and now yours) is this; does my life reflect who I say Jesus is? What happens when I bump up against no paycheck, illnesses, the grip of anxiety, or betrayal or deep disappointment? Can others see His great faithfulness displayed in my life, despite tragedy or loss? Is my profession backed up by my life’s actions and reactions? I must admit, not always. But I want it to be.
Does my life reflect who I say Jesus is?
Back to the beginning. I say that Jesus Christ is God made flesh, who came to die for my sin debt. He my Redeemer, my Lord and my God. I have experienced Him as my Comforter, my Rock and High Tower and my Strength in times of trouble.
What about you? Who do you say Jesus is? Do you need to start where Peter did, acknowledging that He is the Christ, the Son of the living God? Do you know Jesus as the Comforter because He’s comforted you in a crisis? Do you know Him as Sustainer because He’s sustained you through years-long trials? Do you know Him as Healer, as He’s healed your heart, your marriage, your soul or your body?
Who do you say Jesus is?
Let’s pray…
Lord Jesus,You are Lord of Lords and King of Kings, and You are my Savior. My sustainer, my Provider and my God. Cause my words to match my life, in honor to You and for Your glory. In Jesus’ holy name I pray, Amen.
Devotions for Difficult Days 