Matthew 15:34-39

What is God trying to show us when we go through hard times? That we are picked for His purpose! Author Mel Menzies knows only too well about pain and suffering, having lost a daughter to drug addiction, been married to an adulterous husband and suffered since birth with an undiagnosed disease. In this study she shows how we can still bear fruit during the hard times.

According to the dictionary, thanksgiving is an expression of gratitude, especially to God. It is easy for us to be thankful when things are wonderful, but the real test comes when trials arise in our lives. However, when we choose to be thankful in the most dreadful of situations, it is an invitation for the God of Miracles to show up and move on our behalf.

Faith is something we must cultivate in our lives. The more we hold on to the promises of His word, the more our faith will grow and bear fruit. May this devotional give us the strength to have fruitful faith.

Throughout the New Testament, Jesus shows compassion toward unlikely “sinners” who expressed great faith. Whether tax collectors, Roman centurions, or Samaritan women, Jesus repeatedly shows that he came to rescue people burdened with shame. During this plan, Bible teacher and author Kat Armstrong illustrates how these stories strengthen our understanding of God’s empathy and knowledge of how all types of people express beautiful faith in Jesus.