Daily Hope:God Is Always on Time By Rick Warren — Dec 30, 2017

“Let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up” (Galatians 6:9 NLT).

In the waiting room of life, you can choose to trust God instead of panicking. You also need to remember two things: One, God is never in a hurry. And two, God is never late. God’s timing is always perfect.

What happens in those times where it appears that God is late? God is getting you ready for a miracle!

There are so many examples of this in Scripture, including the story of Lazarus (John 11). Mary and Martha had a brother named Lazarus, who was one of Jesus’ best friends. They lived in Bethany, which was just a few miles from where Jesus was on the day Lazarus got sick. They sent word to Jesus that his friend was gravely ill and asked him to come to them.

He could have easily been in Bethany in an hour or two. But it took Jesus three days to go about five miles. When he got there, they told him, “You’re too late! We’ve already buried Lazarus.”

Jesus wasn’t late. Because Jesus already knew what he was going to do. His goal was not to heal Lazarus. His goal was to raise him from the dead. Jesus’ goal was not to just make Lazarus well. His goal was to do a miracle of astronomical proportions.

Jesus walked up to Lazarus’ tomb, told them to roll the stone away, and said, “Lazarus, come forth.” And Lazarus did!

Sometimes God lets a situation get so bad that only a miracle will do. Don’t give up your faith. Hold on. Keep praying and serving and going to small group. Keep sowing. Keep believing. Because you’re getting ready for a miracle.

God already knows what he’s going to do in your life next month, next year, and in the next decade, and his plan for you is good.



Talk It Over

Where do you get the energy to go to small group and church and to keep serving when you’re going through a difficult situation?

God’s plan for you is good. Why do you think bad things still happen to you sometimes?

Take some time to write out a prayer to God that expresses how you want to grow and where you need help the most when you are in a difficult waiting period.

Daily Hope: Problems Prepare You for Eternity By Rick Warren — Dec 14, 2017

“So be truly glad. There is wonderful joy ahead, even though you must endure many trials for a little while. These trials will show that your faith is genuine. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold — though your faith is far more precious than mere gold. So when your faith remains strong through many trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world” (1 Peter 1:6-7 NLT).

We need more than positive thinking to survive in this world. We need hope.

There are five reasons we can have hope through Christ found in 1 Peter 1. I’ve given you the first four in the last few days’ devotionals.

(1) God chose us before we chose him.
(2) God always treats us with grace and mercy.
(3) God has secured our future.
(4) God’s power will protect us.

Finally, we can have hope because God is preparing us for eternity.

He’s using everything in our lives — the good, the bad and the ugly — to do so. Once you understand this, life begins to make sense. You stop saying, “Lord, why is this happening?” because you know why: He’s preparing you for eternity. s

The Bible says, “So be truly glad. There is wonderful joy ahead, even though you must endure many trials for a little while. These trials will show that your faith is genuine. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold — though your faith is far more precious than mere gold. So when your faith remains strong through many trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world” (1 Peter 1:6-7 NLT).

Those verses describe three truths about problems that are the same today as they were in in Peter’s day.

*Problems are necessary. They are an indispensable part of preparing you for Heaven.

*They are varied. You’ll experience trials of all different shapes, sizes, and levels of intensity.

*They are temporary. They won’t last forever.

*But God is using those trials for his purposes. This passage also describes three results of trials in your life.

*They test your faith. You build muscles by testing them. The same is true with your faith.

*They purify your motives. God is much more interested in your character than your comfort. He’ll use trials to refine your character.They prepare you for your rewards. The trials you’re going through now don’t compare to the rewards of Heaven.

Sure, the troubles you’re experiencing now aren’t fun. But the Bible makes it clear they are good for you. They’ll make your faith stronger and your character godlier, and they’ll get you ready for future rewards.

That’s why you can have hope no matter what’s going on in your life right now.



Talk It Over

How have you seen God use troubles to make your faith stronger?How can understanding the truths from today’s devotional help you live full of hope?With whom can you share the message of this devotional?