Latest Devotion
Stay Encouraged!
By: Lola Oni
Monday, November 2, 2026
The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases, his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is thy faithfulness. Lamentations 3:21-23 (RSV)
When life presents the unexpected it can be challenging. But devastating circumstances like loss of a job, a grim medical report, or the loss of a loved one may be the very time God is most glorified! When God shows up in the middle of our trials and struggles, it renews our hope. The Lord gives hope to the ones that love Him and trust Him completely.
"Because He loves Me", says the Lord, "I will rescue him; I will protect him, for He acknowledges My name. He will call upon me, and I will answer him. I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him." Psalm 91: 14-15
Life is difficult, so we've all had our share of trouble. Becoming a Christ follower doesn't mean our troubled times will end either. In fact, God's Word says to expect suffering, because it's an integral part of following Christ. The fact that Christ followers must expect trouble is also why we must find our encouragement and hope in the Lord. God redeemed us to be His own and set us apart to do good works for Him. That means God has a purpose for every detail of our lives. Remember, the Lord works both in and through us for His purposes, and He may do that in the midst of our most difficult circumstances.
For it is God who works in you to will and to act according to His good purpose. Philippians 2:13
But how does God want us to respond in times of suffering? Our starting point is remembering who we are in Christ. When our lives revolve around Jesus; we will honor Him with our words and actions, even when things aren't going as planned.
We revolve our lives around Jesus by:
- Walking closely with the Lord
- Obeying all of His commands
- Regularly reading God's Word
- Talking to God in prayer
- Being empowered by the Holy Spirit
When we put this list into practice, our life experiences will glorify God, even the ones we call troubled. God is for us in all things, so He will use our "troubles" to help us grow. The more we trust Him, the more we are transformed to be like Him. Our opening verse reminds us that His mercies never end and His love for us never ceases! He gives strength to the weary, and His peace surpasses all human understanding.
Christ follower, when life gets tough, lean on God and you'll never lose hope!