Read | Romans 8:28-29
If we could design an ideal life, most of us would skip over times of hardship. But Scripture teaches us that God has purpose in the storms of life.
Cleansing. When problems press in on us, ungodly attitudes and habits tend to surface. Impatient behavior, a quick temper, or reliance on something or someone other than God may become
apparent. In a crisis, the bad habits we had ignored can show up in ways too obvious to overlook. The Holy Spirit will use tough times to smooth away our rough edges and produce the fruit of the Spirit in us (Gal. 5:22-23).
Companionship. When life is good, we may spend less time with the Lord and start taking our relationship with Him for granted. We may even drift off His chosen path. Crises help us see our need for Him as well as our inability to help ourselves. Hard times bring us to our knees in prayer and drive us to seek opportunities for His companionship.
Our heavenly Father’s desire is for us to develop Christ-like character and grow in intimacy with Him. He wants us to experience the richness of His love and wholeheartedly show Him devotion. He will use trials and difficulties to accomplish His good purposes for us.
Daily Devotional
