DAILY DEVOTIONAL FROM PASTOR WESLEY August 5, 2022

Living in God’s Grace

God can meet us in the midst of any hardship—no matter how distressing or detrimental it may be.

As the deer pants for the water brooks, So my soul pants for You, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God; When shall I come and appear before God? My tears have been my food day and night, while they say to me all day long, ``Where is your God?" These things I remember and I pour out my soul within me. For I used to go along with the throng and lead them in procession to the house of God, With the voice of joy and thanksgiving, a multitude keeping festival. Why are you in despair, O my soul? And why have you become disturbed within me? Hope in God, for I shall again praise Him For the help of His presence. O my God, my soul is in despair within me; Therefore, I remember You from the land of the Jordan And the peaks of Hermon, from Mount Mizar. Deep calls to deep at the sound of Your waterfalls; All Your breakers and Your waves have rolled over me. The LORD will command His lovingkindness in the daytime; And His song will be with me in the night, A prayer to the God of my life. I will say to God my rock, ``Why have You forgotten me? Why do I go mourning because of the oppression of the enemy?" As a shattering of my bones, my adversaries revile me, while they say to me all day long, ``Where is your God?" Why are you in despair, O my soul? And why have you become disturbed within me? Hope in God, for I shall yet praise Him, The help of my countenance and my God. Psalm 42:1-11

When I visited the West Coast, I had the opportunity to do some sightseeing at a spectacular beach. From 75 feet above, I watched huge waves roll in and crash on the rocks below, twisting and breaking, spraying foam into the air.

While observing this magnificent display, I realized that our lives are very much like those rocks when we’re living in God’s grace. This world can throw some mighty fierce waves at us, but no hardship can overpower God’s provision for enduring it. That’s because His Spirit lives within each believer.

God has granted us everything we need to emerge triumphant, no matter how intense the pain may be. Our peace and joy originate not in the circumstances of life but in our relationship with Christ. That’s why we can experience contentment even when a tidal surge slams against us.

What situation is crashing upon you—relational problems, health issues, financial struggles?

God wants you to live in His grace, rely on His strength, and put your hope in His unfailing love (Psalm 147:11 NIV). If you, on your own, were capable of handling everything that came your way, how would others ever realize that the Lord’s strength is what makes you strong?

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