Stronger Than The Struggle: 5 Day DevotionalSample

God will always see past our lack, past our pain, and speak to the person we are   becoming. He is calling us to develop our spiritual lives. You may have lost in the world, but you’re not a loser to God. You may have failed, but you’re not a failure. God doesn’t talk down to you. He isn’t grading you. You are not disqualified. He will always speak to you from the viewpoint of your potential, from the highest place.
 

 If you had asked me years ago what God was like, I might have answered, “God is love,” but I honestly wouldn’t have given it much thought. I figured he was kind of an upset God. I imagined him busily monitoring everyone’s lives, frustrated by their choices. If he wasn’t angry, I was sure he was grieved, sitting in a dazed state, looking at the world in shock, ignoring us until we did the things that got his attention. I bet many people have this conception of God. We are often so busy wondering what God wants or needs from us, but we don’t spend nearly as much time contemplating his feelings and thoughts toward us.
 

Before, I’d often imagined God standing right next to me, seeing my life from my perspective. But now I imagine God sees so much more. Yes, he will never leave our sides, but he exists outside of our moment-to-moment conception of time. He stands at the place where we could end up if we follow his direction. He’s looking at us and saying, “Surrender that to me. You aren’t going to need it,” or, “Build right where you are!” He might even be telling us to make significant changes in our lives.
 

To someone without God’s vision, his direction may seem confusing or look like a step back, but only God knows where we need to go. He is omniscient and present everywhere at the same time. Only his leadership is perfect for our lives. Yes, he is right beside us, comforting us, but he is also at the finish line encouraging and affirming our steps of faith. He is pulling us forward with his words.