John 14:15-18, 25-27 (ESV)

“If you love me, you will keep my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you. I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.

“These things I have spoken to you while I am still with you. But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.

Explanation:

I worked at a summer camp my junior year of college, and I was in charge of setting up and preparing high-ropes courses for the other staff and campers to participate in. Climbing into trees, scaling rock surfaces, and free swinging 50 feet above the ground was a typical week for me. It might shock you to find out then that I am a bit afraid of heights. It is less a fear of being in high places and more a distrust of my own balance when my neck is on the line. So, if it scared me so much why would I do it, and love it? The answer to that lies in a “helper” I had with me on every climb I did, which we called the lobster claws. The lobster claws were a pair of carabiners, each on the end of a red nylon strap that was bundled together and hooked to my climbing harness. They were there to catch me when I slipped, hold me to the tree when I needed both hands free, and they were a backup to the ropes typically used to suspend ourselves. When I had the lobster claws on, I could climb anywhere and do anything.

Facing the difficult circumstances in our lives can often be like a climber who is afraid of heights. It can get our heads spinning and overwhelming fear can quickly cripple us. Being a follower of Jesus does not put an end to navigating the difficulties of life, but it does give us a Helper, the Holy Spirit, who is always available and always with us for us to look to, lean on, and tether us to Jesus in the most terrifying of moments.

Application:

1. Think of a time when you were in a situation that was overwhelming. Did you have the comfort of knowing the Spirit was with you?

2. How would the situation have changed if you had known the God of the universe was available right in that moment to comfort, strengthen, help, and hold to?

3. Start practicing the response of “Holy Spirit, help.” Any time you find yourself worried, scared, and overwhelmed by your circumstances, in that moment simply whisper the prayer, “Holy Spirit, help me.”

Prayer:

Jesus, You promised to never leave or abandon Your followers. Please help us to remember that Your Spirit is present and always willing to lead, convict, guide, strengthen, encourage, and help us as we face life’s challenges. Amen.

Hebrews 11:1 (MSG)

The fundamental fact of existence is that this trust in God, this faith, is the firm foundation under everything that makes life worth living. It’s our handle on what we can’t see.

Explanation:

Faith is a spiritual word that condemns those who don’t understand it.

It has been so often misunderstood as a measuring tool instead of a gift.

Passages taken out of context have been used to imply that our spiritual defeats are the result of not enough faith, therefore making it our responsibility to maintain a “quantity” large enough to leverage spiritual victory. Sadly, it isn't ignorance without consequences. Many a Christian have crumbled under the weight of trying to muster up “enough” faith. My husband Skip was actually told his late wife died because of a lack of faith. Imagine what that does to the heart of a man that wanted more than anything for his wife to survive cancer. Faith isn’t the stock market of miracles, and if you obtain a certain quantity, you qualify. What brings us spiritual victory is trust in God, not faith in faith.

Trusting God is the only foundation that will support a lifetime of unknowns.

We use faith all day long, every single day. I fall asleep trusting the sun to rise in the morning. I get out of bed trusting my floor to hold me, trusting my water to shower me, trusting my car to drive me and trusting the earth to not spin into the sun. Thousands of minutes are full of faith.

Do you trust gravity? You know it exists because you feel its effects. We trust in so many things we cannot see.

What we put our spiritual trust and faith in is what sets us apart here and for eternity.

The Muslim has faith in Muhammad; the idolater in graven images; the humanist in himself; the philosopher in his own ideas; the materialist in his money; and the religionist in his good works. None of these can save because the object of faith, in each case, is wrong.

Saving faith is faith that rests in Jesus.

When our faith rests in Jesus, we have something that can’t be seen with the naked eye but is felt deeply in our hearts and spirits. It encapsulates a glorious process of becoming increasingly whole.

Faith IN Jesus is confidence in what we hope for and the assurance that the Lord is working, even though we cannot see it. Faith knows that no matter what the situation in our lives, Jesus is working in it, moving on our behalf, giving, and us receiving… not us accomplishing and Him applauding.

Never get that backwards.

Application:

1. “For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, that no one should boast” (Ephesians 2:8). Why would God set up a system of faith?

2. If you didn’t get the answer you wanted, does that mean you might have been one cup short on faith and thus the recipe of answered prayer flopped? Sounds silly, but it’s easy to believe.

3. How would a relationship with God based on the possibility of human error ever work outside of faith?

Prayer:

"And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him" (Hebrews 11:6).

Lord, we believe You are, and we seek.

We come to YOU.

Show us Your work in our day, and help us rest in all that You are doing on our behalf. Amen.

James 5:7-11 (NIV)

Be patient, then, brothers and sisters, until the Lord’s coming. See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop, patiently waiting for the autumn and spring rains. You too, be patient and stand firm, because the Lord’s coming is near. Don’t grumble against one another, brothers and sisters, or you will be judged. The Judge is standing at the door!

Brothers and sisters, as an example of patience in the face of suffering, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. As you know, we count as blessed those who have persevered. You have heard of Job’s perseverance and have seen what the Lord finally brought about. The Lord is full of compassion and mercy.

Explanation:

In order to understand these verses, you must first understand the preceding verses 1-6. James was speaking to oppressed Christians who were being tested in their faith. Persecution was great during this time, and James was writing words of encouragement, perspective, and instruction on how to live life through trials and suffering. He told them to count their suffering as joy because God wants to use it to make them stronger.

James uses a form of the word “patient” several times in just these few verses. It is important to think of patience as active rather than passive. You may be frustrated about the world today, but as the passage reminds us, fight the urge to take things out on others. Don’t let judgement come against you because of your reaction to hardships. In Romans 12:19, Paul instructs us not to take revenge, but leave room for God’s wrath. “Vengeance is mine; I will repay, says the Lord.” God will take care of things. Be patient and have faith.

James uses the precious fruit parable. Prepare the land, plant seeds, wait for the rain, and be ready for the fruit to break through the earth. Usually, we want what we want when we want it, though. We need to learn the lesson of the farmer, who perseveres and sees things through to harvest.

The coming of the Lord is certain! We need to be fixed in our resolve, trust His promise to return, and patiently, actively wait. Take mindful steps back to observe and accept that the Lord is in control. Every moment is an opportunity to glorify God, so we need to practice patience and maturity, just as Job did. Job was stripped of everything, and yet his foundation was firm. He remained a righteous, faithful man, and in the end, God restored him and more.

We need to think vertically, by simply looking up. Impatience makes us reduce our goals: if the reward we seek doesn’t come in a timely manner, we run the risk of lowering the bar. Now is not the time to be lowering spiritual standards. Biblical thinking and The Holy Spirit will get us through.

Listen and watch closely. The return of the Lord is imminent. Let this affect how we behave and speak. The ultimate, final resolution could be today. No one knows. So, the next time a child screams over the seam in his socks, the barista forgets the whipped cream, your coworker holds the meeting hostage, or even when tragedies happen, remember to be patient in your suffering. God isn’t finished yet. He has a purpose, a plan, and He promised He would come back for us. Hold steadfast, work the fields, and pursue the rain. Live like a spiritual farmer.

Application:

1. Make a list of areas where you struggle with impatience. Be specific and detailed.

2. Make a second column of ways you can practice patience in those areas.

3. Look for upcoming appointments/activities where you struggle with impatience, and prepare to practice.

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, open our eyes to areas in our lives where we need to practice patience. Remind us while we are in active situations that we need not lose control because You have us covered. Thank You for Your love, grace, and mercy. It’s not about us, Lord. Every moment of every day is about glorifying You. Give us the strength to hold steadfast in our resolve and actively, patiently

Job 1:6-12

Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan also came among them. The Lord said to Satan, “From where have you come?” Satan answered the Lord and said, “From going to and fro on the earth, and from walking up and down on it.” And the Lord said to Satan, “Have you considered my servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, who fears God and turns away from evil?” Then Satan answered the Lord and said, “Does Job fear God for no reason? Have you not put a hedge around him and his house and all that he has, on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land. But stretch out your hand and touch all that he has, and he will curse you to your face.” And the Lord said to Satan, “Behold, all that he has is in your hand. Only against him do not stretch out your hand.” So Satan went out from the presence of the Lord.

Job 42:1-2

Then Job answered the Lord and said: “I know that you can do all things, and that no purpose of yours can be thwarted.

Explanation:

Have you ever had someone bring something to your attention that you never noticed before? It can be a simple as someone pointing out the way you say a certain word, a doctor asking if you have been experiencing a particular symptom, or even a mechanic identifying a funny noise in your car. I once had a biology teacher in high school who recorded the number of times that his students used their hands to touch their faces during classwork. If I remember correctly, we were in a unit on germs, and he wanted to educate us on how easily germs can be passed from our hands to our faces. You’d better believe that we were a whole lot more conscientious about it after that day.

I use these examples to pinpoint the power of awareness. When we read stories from Scripture like today’s, we are instantly reminded there is a spiritual side to us that can easily go unnoticed. More so, when we are made aware that the spiritual can impact our physical, hopefully it compels us to operate differently. When stepping into a relationship with a God who is Spirit (John 4:24), we must understand that He is going to interact there. We cannot overlook it or minimize the impact it has in our lives, because satan, our enemy, will also confront us spiritually.

We get an incredibly vivid picture of how satan and the other fallen angels that follow him (what Job refers to as “the sons of God” in verse 6) interact with the earth. In 1 Peter 5:8, we see satan described like a lion, just walking or prowling around on earth looking for someone to harm. In that same verse, we are also warned to be always on high alert, because he is going to be complicating all that God is trying to work in our lives. In the case of Job, we do see an instance where God sovereignly allows Job to experience hardship from satan. Although it may confuse us, God’s ways are not without purpose. Maybe even a purpose that will remain unknown to us. Then again, we trust in the good character of God. Our hope never has been or will be in the perfect life. God has given us His Holy Spirit for the imperfect now, to carry us through to the perfect eternity. Therefore, we must be vigilant to engage God in the spiritual.

Application:

1. Why do you think it can be challenging for us to notice the spiritual impact on our lives?

2. What can engaging with the Holy Spirit provide for someone trying to live a life more like Jesus?

3. How do we distinguish the difference between a spiritual attack from satan and spiritual interaction from God?

4. What does the life of someone look like who does not connect with the Holy Spirit on a consistent basis?

Prayer:

Thank You, God, for giving us Your very Spirit to walk through this imperfect life with. It is such an incredible gift to have in all seasons of life. Holy Spirit, I worship You and ask for You to draw me in deeper with You startin

Psalm 27:13-14 (ESV)

I believe that I shall look upon the goodness of the LORD

in the land of the living!

Wait for the LORD;

be strong, and let your heart take courage;

wait for the LORD!

Explanation:

Have you ever seen the Disney movie Cars? In the opening scene, Lightning McQueen is in his trailer meditating on the race. He envisions the track, the finish line, and his opponents, speaking words of affirmation to himself like, “I am speed.” This is how I picture David when I read Psalm 27. He is reflecting on the ways he has seen God be faithful, he’s asking God to protect him from those who come against him, and then he reminds himself how to stay steadfast. David is keeping his eyes on the finish line: the promise of true life beyond this physical world. He can see the covering hand of God in all situations and has faith that he will continue to be covered, but… he still needs reassurance.

There have been many times in the past that I was up against difficult situations and questioned how it would turn out. I was praying specifically for God to move in certain ways, but I just wasn’t seeing the results I wanted. It all came down to having faith that it would be His will and plan of action, no matter the outcome. The “no matter the outcome” part is what I struggled with most. I was still anxious about the process. The physical life is tough and can be scary. Most of us would do whatever possible to remove ourselves from the hard situation or react to bring a resolution immediately. But when I engage in active faith by focusing on the goodness God produces in all things, I see the power of the Holy Spirit in each of those situations. I can trust that what God produces and His timing is always perfect. I just need to be patient. “Wait for the Lord.” I love that David focuses on this and to add emphasis, he repeated it. We all need this reminder too.

Application:

1. What are some experiences you have faced that were difficult, but God produced goodness?

2. Is there a situation(s) that you are currently facing that you are waiting for God to respond? How are you feeling? What steps are you taking to ease any impatience you have in the waiting?

3. When we focus on God and our relationship with Jesus, it will activate a deeper faith. Engage in prayer and worship more frequently and free from distractions.

Prayer:

God, You have promised that all things work together for good, for those called according to Your purpose. I want to rest in Your peace in the process. Help me to be patient and not interfere with the plan and process You have. Amen.

Psalm 37:7-8 (NLT)

Be still in the presence of the Lord,

and wait patiently for him to act.

Don’t worry about evil people who prosper

or fret about their wicked schemes.

Stop being angry!

Turn from your rage!

Do not lose your temper—

it only leads to harm

Explanation:

Waiting on God’s timing is so hard. I know I have had numerous experiences in my life where God’s answer to my prayer has been wait. It’s not a no, but as a human it is so hard, because it means it will not happen in my timing and the way I had planned. I know for me, often in those seasons it is so easy to become angry and filled with despair. We think we know the right moment and time for all things, so we get upset when we think God is keeping us from something that will indeed be for our good, or something that is a deep desire of our hearts. In these moments we can feel so alone, rejected, left out, and forgotten. It feels even harder when we can’t do anything to help the situation except to wait on God to move. But from my experience, there is something beautiful that can also happen when we release it and sit still, waiting for God to say yes to us at the right time.

I had a season of waiting that was very difficult. It was a season when I learned to sit still in the presence of God and to allow Him to fill my deepest longing. Since I was a young girl, I knew being a mom was something I looked forward to. So when my husband and I decided we were ready, I was so excited. Little did I know in that moment that God’s response to my prayers for a child would be “you have to wait.” It was devastating to me. I had this incredible desire to be a mom, and there was literally nothing I could do about the situation except to wait on God and His perfect timing. So in that season, I had to learn to be still and to wait patiently on the Lord. I had to look to Him and trust that He had a better plan. He knew when the perfect timing would be, and I simply had to get out of the way and trust He would give me my yes at just the right time.

Now as my daughter is about to turn seven years old, I look back and I understand why we had to wait. She has brought so much joy in seasons of great sadness, she has kept me going in seasons when I wanted to give up, and she is being a light to those she is around, especially at school. God had to put so many other things in place that I didn’t recognize at the time. Waiting for her was hard, but I look back on that season with so much fondness. It was a season when I learned to trust God like never before. It was a season when I learned to take my hands off of the situation, and to sit and be still, waiting upon the Lord. Seasons of waiting are so hard, but we can keep looking forward with hope, knowing that God wants to teach us, grow us, mold us, and shape us. And at just the right time, in His perfect design, we will receive our yes. Keep trusting that His ways truly are best and His timing is always perfect.

Application:

1. What is a prayer in your life that you know God’s response to you is “not right now” or “wait”?

2. How can you be still before God during this season of waiting?

3. What do you think God is doing behind the scenes that you don’t see?

4. Take some time today to ask God what He desires for you during this season of waiting. I know for me, God used my season of waiting to prepare my heart and to move in my life, so in His perfect time I would be ready for His answer to be yes. What is God doing in your life right now as you wait?

Prayer:

God, waiting is so hard. We have desires and plans, but when our plans don’t match up with Yours, it’s difficult. We can feel alone and forgotten. Will You remind us today that there is so much going on behind the scenes that we don’t see? Help us in our moments of desperation to look to You. And when we feel as if we can’t wait anymore, help us to be still in Your presence and allow You to sustain us through. We look forward in faith for the day when

2 Chronicles 32:1-8 (NLT)

After Hezekiah had faithfully carried out this work, King Sennacherib of Assyria invaded Judah. He laid siege to the fortified towns, giving orders for his army to break through their walls.

When Hezekiah realized that Sennacherib also intended to attack Jerusalem, he consulted with his officials and military advisers, and they decided to stop the flow of the springs outside the city. They organized a huge work crew to stop the flow of the springs, cutting off the brook that ran through the fields. For they said, “Why should the kings of Assyria come here and find plenty of water?”

Then Hezekiah worked hard at repairing all the broken sections of the wall, erecting towers, and constructing a second wall outside the first. He also reinforced the supporting terraces in the City of David and manufactured large numbers of weapons and shields. He appointed military officers over the people and assembled them before him in the square at the city gate. Then Hezekiah encouraged them by saying: “Be strong and courageous! Don’t be afraid or discouraged because of the king of Assyria or his mighty army, for there is a power far greater on our side! He may have a great army, but they are merely men. We have the LORD our God to help us and to fight our battles for us!” Hezekiah’s words greatly encouraged the people.

Explanation:

It seems like every day there is a new struggle or problem that we face. It’s part of being alive. It’s easy to get caught up in the struggle and overwhelmed. The enemy constantly is seeking a way to defeat us. Hezekiah had some serious problems he was faced with as well. A mighty enemy was coming after him, but he did the thing I often forget to do…he immediately chose to put the battle in God’s hands. He didn’t try to figure things out on his own; he put his faith in God and chose to rely on Him from the start.

When the threat came, he took action immediately. He made preparations for the coming trouble, determined not to give the enemy any unnecessary advantages like a water supply to his city. He strengthened the walls and took logical steps for battle. Then, most importantly, he motivated the troops. He reminded them that the other side had only “an arm of flesh,” but on Hezekiah’s team was God. God’s strength is so much greater than man’s!

I’m going to be real here for a moment. I am embarrassed to share how many times I have forgotten that God is so much greater than the current crisis I’m facing. My granny on my mom’s side used to say, “I’ve got it all to do” when it came to housework, errands, etc. By nature, she tried to do everything on her own, and I’m pretty sure that trait has been passed down to both my mom and me. I try to handle it all on my own, and then turn to God when I’m frustrated, instead of giving it all to Him in the first place. It’s so much easier when I remember that HE IS GREATER in the beginning of the battle!

Application:

Today’s passage has some really practical steps to action for the problems I’m faced with in life:

1. Take action immediately-evaluate your situation and put it in God’s hands to help you.

2. Be logical-resist the urge to curl up in the corner and retreat. Put on the full armor of God and ask Him for guidance and strength for the fight.

3. Prepare for battle-the enemy is coming for your water supply. What can you do to “shut off” your water supply and make it harder to get to you?

4. Rally the troops-Share your struggle with those around you and ask them for support. If there is nothing tangible they can help with, ask them to pray, pray, pray!

5. Be STRONG AND COURAGEOUS; the Lord our God is with us and will help us to fight our battles!

Is there a problem or challenge you are faced with today that you can apply these steps to? Give it to God! If you’re like me, you’ll have to give it to Him more than once. Keep giving it back to Him. He’ll take it every time, because greater is He that is in you, than he that is in t

2 Kings 6:8-17 (ESV)

Once when the king of Syria was warring against Israel, he took counsel with his servants, saying, “At such and such a place shall be my camp.” But the man of God sent word to the king of Israel, “Beware that you do not pass this place, for the Syrians are going down there.” And the king of Israel sent to the place about which the man of God told him. Thus he used to warn him, so that he saved himself there more than once or twice.

And the mind of the king of Syria was greatly troubled because of this thing, and he called his servants and said to them, “Will you not show me who of us is for the king of Israel?” And one of his servants said, “None, my lord, O king; but Elisha, the prophet who is in Israel, tells the king of Israel the words that you speak in your bedroom.” And he said, “Go and see where he is, that I may send and seize him.” It was told him, “Behold, he is in Dothan.” So he sent there horses and chariots and a great army, and they came by night and surrounded the city.

When the servant of the man of God rose early in the morning and went out, behold, an army with horses and chariots was all around the city. And the servant said, “Alas, my master! What shall we do?” He said, “Do not be afraid, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them.” Then Elisha prayed and said, “O Lord, please open his eyes that he may see.” So the Lord opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw, and behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.

Explanation:

I can very easily picture myself playing the role of Elisha’s servant in this passage. Faced with a seemingly insurmountable situation, he does exactly what I would do: he panics! So when God speaks through Elisha in this instance, my heart rejoices at His calming words: “Sit tight. I have a plan.”

Elisha first tells his servant not to be afraid. We tell this to each other, we teach this to our kids, so why can we tell and not be told? This is such a loving way to begin combating what God already knows is rising in us. We have an important choice when faced with a panic moment: to acknowledge our helplessness and LISTEN to God’s ever-present voice telling us to surrender our fear to Him, or to continue to be afraid.

Next, Elisha tells his servant that those who are with them are more than those who are with their enemy. What a motivating, “stay calm” sentiment: not only is Elisha completely confident in the quantity of the heavenly army that shows up to fight for them, but he is also completely secure in the quality of those sent on their behalf. Elisha knows they have the power of the Almighty God on their side! When we feel outnumbered, we need only remember that with God on our side, we, too, outnumber and outrank any enemy that comes against us.

Elisha then prays for God to open his servant’s eyes to the fact that He is already there. Each of us, through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, can experience God’s presence through His Holy Spirit. Elisha knew to invite God into his time of weakness through prayer. His help is there every time we need it, and He promises to surround us with His Spirit if we simply ask.

In our weakest moments, it is easy to believe God has given up on our situation and left us to fend for ourselves. Fear breeds loneliness, which can bring isolation and eventually despair. But the final step of Elisha’s plan is to remember that God is ALWAYS with us. He may feel distant in our hardship, but He’s not; He’s simply waiting to respond in a way we aren’t anticipating. Sometimes our situations don’t change, and we must surrender control of them over and over again. But the one thing we can control is how we choose to fight our battles. God is for us in our good times as well as what we perceive as our bad times, and if we take time to learn His plan, we’ll never forget He truly is all around us.

Application:

1. Think about the plan for “battle” that God sets fort

Romans 8:28-29 (ESV)

And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.

Explanation:

I have heard folks say “All things work together for good” more times than I can count. It wasn’t until several years ago when I was doing a Bible study that I realized how much was missing when the second half of that Scripture was left off: “for those who are called according to his purpose.” God’s purpose is to make us more like Jesus. That doesn’t mean every day will be sunshine and butterflies. In fact, we are promised that it won’t always be easy to be a follower of Jesus (John 16:33). The “good” in this passage isn’t about circumstances at all; it’s about God using every event in our lives to make us more like Jesus, if we allow Him. It’s hard to see promise in the painful times, and our faith is often tested by those events. This Scripture promises us that God is using those experiences to mold us, no matter how painful it is to our flesh or how hard it is to understand.

As you allow yourself to be molded by God, remember that Paul (who was no stranger to suffering here on earth) left us a great reminder to reflect on when times are difficult. Second Corinthians 4:17 says that in comparison with the glory we will experience in heaven even the worst things we experience here on earth will seem like a “momentary light affliction” when we arrive. Every single second of our lives is being used by God. There is nothing we are going through that He will not transform into glory, if we place our faith in Him. He loves us more than we can imagine, and He is looking forward to spending eternity with you!

Application:

1. Have you heard today’s passage used in different context? After taking a deeper dive today, has the meaning changed for you?

2. When you reflect on the difficulties of your past, and think about how God uses them to shape you and make you more like Jesus, can you see how He’s worked in your life?

3. What is one thing in your life that you need to give to God, and allow Him to work in you through faith?

Prayer:

Lord, I thank You that You are working to mold me in the image of Jesus. Help me remember during the hard times that You have a purpose and want me to see You through it all. Allow others to see a reflection of You in me. Remind me that every second of my life, You are here. You are working. You are the one thing in this world that is constant, and I am thankful for Your grace and Your faithfulness to me. Thank You for being the God of my life. Amen.

2 Corinthians 12:1-10 (ESV)

I must go on boasting. Though there is nothing to be gained by it, I will go on to visions and revelations of the Lord. I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven—whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows. And I know that this man was caught up into paradise—whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows—and he heard things that cannot be told, which man may not utter. On behalf of this man I will boast, but on my own behalf I will not boast, except of my weaknesses—though if I should wish to boast, I would not be a fool, for I would be speaking the truth; but I refrain from it, so that no one may think more of me than he sees in me or hears from me. So to keep me from becoming conceited because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited. Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me. But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

Explanation:

Recently, I believe the Lord has drawn me to think about the reasons I do or have done certain things in my life. I believe He has shown me that sometimes I do some things to get other people's attention. I have wanted people to think of me as talented or important. That is not the way God wants us to live. It's not about us – it's all about Him.

In this Scripture passage, Paul was allowed to experience something astonishing, but he was not to speak about what he saw and heard. It would have been easy for Paul to have used this experience in the wrong way. There were a group of deceivers who had been boasting among the Corinthians about all of their spiritual experiences, comparing themselves to Paul and being very proud. Paul knew the goal of these people was to seduce the Corinthians away from their devotion to the one and only true Christ.

Paul only boasted about this much more impressive and powerful story, so he could then go on and share how there is nothing to be gained by boasting. The gain would come by sharing how God humbled him with some sort of impairment, in order to teach Paul that he can be content in his suffering since the power of God is made perfect in his weakness. This was Paul's blessing in disguise.

The same holds true for us. God wants us to trust in Christ because He is trustworthy, not because of any visions or because of anything we have done to gain recognition.

Application:

1. What lesson can we learn from this Scripture about how God views pride?

2. Why do you think God may allow difficulties or obstacles in your life?

3. Can you think about a time when God used a difficult situation to teach you to be more humble?

Prayer:

Father, You know what is best for our lives. We are humbled by the very fact that You loved us enough to send Your Son, Jesus, to die in our place. We owe You so much more than we could ever repay. Living our lives totally surrendered to You and Your will is what we must do. Keep us humble, Lord. May we boast only in what You have done for us, and the fact that it is so undeserved. Thank You, Jesus, for guiding us. Amen.