"But when Pharaoh saw that relief had come, he became stubborn. He refused to listen to Moses and Aaron, just as the Lord had predicted."

Exodus 8:15

Isn't it so easy for us to look at Pharaoh and shake our heads in disbelief? After numerous plagues that destroyed his crops, land, and people, he still refused to surrender and allow the Israelites to go free.

I'll admit it, I'm stubborn. I have been my whole life. The more I thought about this story from the Bible, the more I realized that we can sometimes adopt an attitude like Pharaoh's.

Yes, another plague had come. Yes, it was awful. Yes, it weakened him and his people. But once it was over and relief had come, he turned back to his old ways and became stubborn and adamant that the Israelites would not go free.

How often do we do that? We struggle and cry out to God for relief and provision, only to have it come and reject it. Ungrateful, unmoved, and unchanged.

We must take the time to recognize and appreciate every blessing that God gives us. Even though it may not come in the way we thought it would, it doesn't make it any less of a miracle.

God always hears our cries and sees our tears, we just have to allow the blessing to change us. Become more grateful, share your testimony with others, and rejoice that God has provided.

Let's have grateful hearts today for all that He has done! Allow His blessings to change you and draw you closer to Him.

Devotion by Caitlin Walker