Praise our God, all peoples, let the sound of his praise be heard; he has preserved our lives and kept our feet from slipping. For you, God, tested us; you refined us like silver. You brought us into prison and laid burdens on our backs. You let people ride over our heads; we went through fire and water, but you brought us to a place of abundance.

Devotion based on Psalm 66:8-12

When our kids were little, we had a song for special occasions. If one of them complained about something they were given, my wife and I would sing. “You can’t always get what you want, but if you try sometimes, you just might find you get what you need.” It drove them crazy, but it taught them an important lesson about our God.

The psalmist teaches us that God’s love may lead us into seasons of difficulty. Like a silversmith, God uses fiery trials to refine, not roast us. He is preparing our hearts to receive his blessings.

Life doesn’t always go as you plan. But isn’t that the real story of Christmas? How long did God’s people wait for the Messiah? Did Joseph plan to marry his betrothed? Did Mary plan to be the mother of Jesus? Did they plan to walk over seventy miles in the last month of Mary’s pregnancy to spend their honeymoon in Bethlehem? Did they plan to be in a barn when this child came into the world?

We celebrate a King who didn’t come as expected—wrapped in clothes and lying in a manger. We worship a King that the world wasn’t looking for—crowned in thorns and nailed to a tree. But look what God did through him! We have a loving Savior who endured terrible things he didn’t deserve so we might receive his abundant blessings. Through his suffering, death, and resurrection, God turns sinners into saints.

You may not get what you want this Christmas but praise God anyway. In Christ, you get everything you need. Through every test and every burden, God refines your faith and strengthens you to persevere in the way that leads to eternal life.

Prayer: