|
Listen to this devotional: |
Listen while you read: "Higher Ground"1 (Lyrics) |
Job 1:20-22 – At this, Job got up and tore his robe and shaved his head. Then he fell to the ground in worship and said: "Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked I will depart. The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; may the name of the Lord be praised." In all this, Job did not sin by charging God with wrongdoing. (NIV)
A few months back, I was working on a possible breakthrough to help me change professions, but it failed. I was broken, unhappy, and in my despair, I told my uncle, "I feel God is blocking my way." My uncle gently rebuked me before encouraging me that I should be grateful to God in bad times instead of complaining.
Listening to what he said brought the picture of Job to my mind. In one day, he lost all his belongings and his beloved children. In the midst of all this, Job never opened his mouth to say, "God is blocking my way" or "God is wicked." No, not at all! All he did at that moment was to fall to the ground in total humility and submission, and there he worshipped God.
I felt so ashamed at that moment. Had I gone through a quarter of Job's tribulations? Had I reached the level where I lost everyone dear to me, or the level where everyone praising me abandons me, and friends turn to accusers? And I had the audacity to say that God is blocking my way! I had to ask God for forgiveness at that moment.
Then, I started to praise God for all the things He has done, and I discovered that once we begin to praise instead of complain, we find reasons to be grateful, even in the darkest of times.
My dear friends, Job is a biblical example of how we should react in the worst situations. Let us remember what the Scriptures say:
Romans 15:4 – For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope. (KJV)
God expects gratefulness from us at all times. Gratefulness brings strength; it brings peace of mind; it brings recovery and restoration; and best of all, it brings a deeper understanding of God and a deepening of our relationship with Him.
So, no matter how bad your situations seem to be, or if it looks like there is no way out, or you feel that you always pray before you take a step but it doesn't always seem to work out, don't curse, accuse, or blame God. Just be grateful and praise Him. Appreciation is an application for more! Praise Him and see what else He will do!
Jeremiah 29:11 – For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. (ESV)
Prayer: Lord, help us to be up and grateful even in the darkest of times. Amen.
Forward this devotional Share this devotional on Facebook Like PresbyCan on Facebook
Monday, March 24, 2025 – In the Middle East — We recently received a message telling us that one of our dear local friends has passed away. This was so hard, as we are on home assignment which makes it even harder. Please pray with us that the Lord will comfort his family and children and that Christ's name will be glorified. Help them to stay strong in their faith in the face of opposition..
friend: "Update March 21, 2025; Please continue to pray for Hilde who has had dizziness for many months..." 
Although PresbyCan doesn't have a mobile app, you can still have a PresbyCan icon on your mobile phone home screen. 
Thanks John, blessings.
Good one John … practice gratefulness.
A good perspective, John. Thanks for sharing.
Thanks, brother, for your exhortation and encouragement.
Thank you for this. May God continue to guide and protect you.
I really enjoyed with your devotional this morning John. Thank you so much.
You are absolutely right, John. Thank you
(Texas, USA)
Thank you, John, for your message this morning and I hope you did manage to change professions.
Hi John. Thank-you very much for sharing.
“As for God, his ways are perfect.”
Good morning, John,
So true.
Amen!
God bless.
Thanks John. How nice it is to see your name once again as a contributor, and know that however little I know of Nigeria, of Africa, and of you, I see a name I recognize, that I have prayed alongside with.
(ON)
Thank you for writing this devotional.
I need to be reminded of God’s goodness.
So many times I forget.
Thank you.
Blessings.
Hello,
Last year I read through the Bible and I got finished in October. It took me a lot of reading, so I just wasn’t reading these as much because I did not seem to have time.
Anyway I don’t know if I will get through the Bible again this year or not.
Thank-you.
Greetings John and thank you for your very good and instructive words today.
Yes, there are times we question why God is having us go through certain unpleasant situations but when we look back we see what reason He had in mind. It is so important that we remain faithful to Him and know He really has the best plans for us. Blessings for preparing and sharing your writing.
John, In Jeremiah 29:11, I hear God saying personally to me:
“I know the plans I have for you (They are NOT the plans you have for Me, my child!)
I’m grateful for the countless times God has blocked my way so I could discover that it was really my agenda for God. I was trying to run the program. Slowly I’m learning to appreciate His training!
John, I am sorry that your hope for a change of career did not work out this time. You have a wise uncle.
Thank you for summarizing Job so helpfully. His sufferings were always so hard for me to read and understand but your words of this being an example “….of how we should react in the worst situations” hit home.
Our God is in charge. Praise be to Him.
John, I appreciate your honesty in sharing your experience with disappointment of not moving forward as you hoped in your career. When others share their experiences and how their faith helped them gain perspective, we are all helped. These verses from the Bible are good reminders that we are not alone in our struggles and the Word is there to help us. Truly when we focus on being grateful for what God has provided, our whole demeanor can change, and we know God is supporting us. Thank you for helping us remember the importance of our faith in our daily lives. Blessings.
Thank you, John, for writing this devotional. I have been in a horrible work situation over the last 18 months. I had a coworker encourage me to write 5 things I am thankful for every day. How that has changed my view from looking at a toxic work environment to focusing on the joy and goodness of my day. It makes such a difference. Thanks for blessing my life with encouragement when you wrote this.
Your devotion is one of my 5 things I am grateful for today.
Thanks for being used by God to bless me and others!
Have a wonderful day!
(Canada)
Every morning I say thank you Lord for one more day. Let me use it well.
Thank you for sharing this encouraging devotional with us today. To God be the glory! Blessings.
Thank you, John. This is good: Gratefulness brings strength; it brings peace of mind; it brings recovery and restoration; and best of all, it brings a deeper understanding of God and a deepening of our relationship with Him.
Thanks, John.
Grateful for the Hebrew Scriptures and their faithful account of the highs and lows of a relationship with Our Heavenly Father!
Most inspirational.
(BC, Canada)
Very good.