Let’s Go! FCA DevotionalSample

Don’t You Care?

Rex Stump

Ready:

“Jesus was sleeping at the back of the boat with his head on a cushion. The disciples woke him up, shouting, “Teacher, don’t you care that we’re going to drown?”   Mark 4:38

Set:

Have you ever been shuffled a bad hand when playing cards?  I remember as a child, if we qualified for a bad enough hand we could demand a “Re-deal!”  Wouldn’t it be nice that when life gives us a bad hand, a bad day, we could demand a Re-deal, a new day?  

In the Bible we read that Job was dealt a bad hand, as he lost his possessions, family, and even his own health.  It is disastrous!  Job was a righteous man, blameless, and completely full of integrity.  Why does such a godly man have to deal with this kind of pain?  It may even drive us to the point of crying out to God and saying, “Don’t you care?”  During a storm, even the disciples asked the Son of God, “Don’t you care?”  So, what do we do?

Trust God.  Sound too simple?  It’s like in competition when we face an opponent, work hard and trust the process, with hopes that in the end, we are victorious.  Just because we taste defeat doesn’t mean it’s over.  Just because there is a struggle doesn’t mean we lost.  Just because you made an error, doesn’t mean you’re disqualified.

Trust God, He really does care.  Don’t give up, go ahead and finish the hand you have.  Don’t ask God, “why me?” instead say, “use me!”  Stay faithful to God.  Look forward to the next hand you will be dealt.  

Go:

1. How do you respond when life deals you a bad hand?

2. How should you respond?

3. How can God use you today to help someone else who is struggling?

Workout:

Job 1

Psalm 62:8

Isaiah 50:9-10

Overtime:

Heavenly Father, I know I can’t ask for a re-deal or a new day, but I can ask for your Holy Spirit to give me strength for today.  Help me to trust you.  I know you care.  I trust your faithfulness.  Amen.