Devotional: The Best Place

“Through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God.” (Acts 14:22)

The safest place is not always in the center of God’s will, because it’s when we’re in the center of God’s will that we’ll experience great trials and tribulations.

But it is the best place to be.

Consider Moses, after being God’s man in delivering Israel from their Egyptian bondage, being used by God to bring forth the ten plagues and opening up the Red Sea for them to cross over, the burden of leading a stubborn people became too much, so He cried out to God to just end his life.

“If this is how you are going to treat me, please go ahead and kill me—if I have found favor in your eyes—and do not let me face my own ruin.” (Numbers 11:15).

Or there’s Elijah who had just called down fire from heaven destroying the prophets of Baal and ending a three-year drought, who then promptly ran into the desert afraid for his life to the point of despair.

“Take my life; I am no better than my ancestors.” (1 Kings 19:4a)

When we step out by faith and seize the opportunities God gives us, being in the center of God’s will, we’ll start to experience one trial after another.

Life more often than not seems like a struggle. But no matter what sort of struggle and difficulty we face, as we’re lost in a sea of doubt and despair, God sees, cares, and will give us the faith and strength to see us through.

And so remember these words of Jesus when you’re ready to give up and give in.

“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33)

God sees and hears your cries, you are not alone, and so you can know that the Lord will help.