When we’re going through difficult circumstances, we often want to be removed from those circumstances. And we want to be removed NOW! Or we want the circumstances to be over NOW! But God might have other plans for those difficult circumstances. In fact, when God called someone to an assignment throughout the Old Testament—an assignment that would certainly be full of difficult circumstances—the “someone’s” would often toss out objections to try to avoid those circumstances. But God’s responses to their objections are words that helped them say “yes” and they are words that can encourage us today in our difficult times.
[download PDF version of this devo here]
- Digging In (God, Show Me!)
The passages below are three situations in which God called leaders to join in His mission to redeem a lost world. As you read each passage from your Bible or Bible app, look for the answers to the questions in the chart that follows.
Moses: Exodus 3:6-12
Gideon: Judges 6:11-6
Jeremiah 1:4-8
| QUESTIONS | MOSES | GIDEON | JEREMIAH |
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What was the assignment or mission?
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What was the leader’s response to God’s invitation?
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What was God’s response to what the leader said?
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- Taking It Inward (God, Teach Me!)
What common thread do you see in the responses of the leaders to God’s mission?
What common thread do you see in what God said back to the leaders?
What has God been saying to you over the past few days? Take a moment to write what God might be saying to you in facing difficult circumstances.
Do you have any obstacles that might keep you from enjoying God’s promises? Write these obstacles down.
- Putting Into Practice (God, Change Me!)
Spend some time meditating on words of God when he responded to the objections of Moses, Gideon, and Jeremiah. Listen to Him say those same words to you.
Now read John 14 from your Bible and circle the phrase “with you” whenever it appears. Then meditate on the assurances Jesus gives. Focus on the promise we can count on when going through difficult circumstances: He promises to be with you.
That’s a gift. His presence is a present.
[download a PDF version of devo here]