Daily Devotional For Monday, January 22, 2024

Have you ever been driving when it was raining so intensely and hard that you could not see? Or have you ever been driving in fog so thick you were going at a snail’s pace? These are frightening situations. You are doing everything you can to make sure you do not run into the back of someone and/or someone does not run into you. Our emotions are on alert when the headlights of our car cannot show us what is a few feet in front of us.

Let’s take this idea and put a spiritual spin on it. Has there been times in your life where you feel God was keeping you in the dark? You’re praying. You’re into God’s Word and heaven seems silent. We feel it is worse when either circumstances or situations or life makes us question God with questions such as: “God, what are You allowing in my life right now? God, what in the world are You doing?” 

In these situations sometimes we feel we are living out experiencing what 1 Corinthians 13:12 says, “For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known” (ESV).  We can see part of the road, but enough of it. At times, this may be even less stressful for us. At least, there is part of the road in the torrential downpour we can see. 

The Bible says this in 2 Corinthians 5:7, “For we walk by faith, not by sight” (ESV). Easier said than done, isn’t it? The truth is God has His part in these situations and we have ours. Here is the lesson I have learned hard at times: we are only responsible for the part we can see. And God will work with that faith and trust help us with the part we cannot see as we go through it.  

When we look at Scripture, we see how God has done this with others. For example:

(a) God asked Noah to build an ark when he had never seen rain. The Bible tells us that up to that point in time, God caused water to come up from the ground. Noah could not see rain until God made it rain. But why did Noah do? He built the ark. (b) God told the Hebrews to walk into the Red Sea before He had parted it. The Hebrew text gives us the impression that water did not part until the first of them put their feet in the water. They could not see it parted until God parted it. (c) God allowed a little shepherd boy to face a huge giant when others had and were killed by him. David walked out there and saw their dead bodies but he did not see Goliath killed until God made that stone embed in Goliath’’s head/brain. But David did it when he could not see it. (d) God allowed Daniel to be thrown in the lion’s den when he had no assurance he would not be ripped to shreds by those lions. He continued to pray, violating the king’s orders not to pray, without seeing any promise of protection prior. (e) Both Mary and Joseph trusted God with a baby they could not yet see as God’s Messiah and Savior of the world  Finally, on the cross, Mary saw it and believed.I believe God has a plan and a purpose for everything He allows us to experience. There are times we may feel God is blind-siding us with these kinds of situations. But remember this, Romans 8:32, “He who did not spare His own Son but gave Him up for us all, how will He not also with Him graciously give us all things?” (ESV). Meaning — God allows us to go through these times of being in the dark spiritually to take our character and make us more like Jesus’ Christ’s character. 

Character building can be challenging at times, but it is for our own good. Our plans may not always go the way we want, but God has His will for us. That is why we pray this in the Lord’s Prayer in Matthew 6:10, “Your kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven” (ESV). So, when we are in the dark spiritually, we need to put on our “Big Boy Faith Glasses” and trust God. That is our role. Our role and God’s role is not to make us more comfortable, but more like Christ. 

So, what is God asking you to do or what are you going through where you feel heaven is silent? Put your feet in the water, built the ark -- meaning -- keep trusting God when you cannot see the outcome. We can only trust God if we believe He is being truthful. Trust has to be built on truth. So, ask yourself this question: "Do I believe God is always truthful no matter what? If you do, then you  can and will trust Him.

Scripture To Meditate On: 2 Corinthians 3:18,” And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord,[a] are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another.[b] For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit” (ESV).

Prayer to Pray: “Dear Jesus, please forgive me when I fail to trust You with what I cannot see. I know that Your will for me is perfect — meaning matures me. I know that Your will is best for me and my life. Help me to trust You with what I cannot see until You allow me to see it. And even if You do not, I will trust You. I love You and I thank You that You are more interested in my character than in keeping me comfortable. In Jesus’ name, Amen!”