The Book of Acts: Turn Your World Upside DownSample

Today’s Devotional:

In a society where we can get most things how we want them, and when we want them, we don’t do well when things appear delayed, or we are just stuck. Need shampoo? Order it online, and it arrives in two days. Hungry for food? Uber Eats will deliver it within the hour. How about eliminating the road trip and just flying to the destination? All of these sound great—until it takes three days for the shampoo to arrive, or they didn’t have the shrimp alfredo that I was craving, and let's not even get started on traffic or canceled flights. Let’s face it, most of us like it when we can control the outcome and dislike it when things are delayed, and we have lost that control. Is there something that you are waiting for today and feel discouraged because you aren’t able to see the end in sight?

In Acts 24, Paul was truly in a holding pattern. For two years, Paul went back and forth from prison to going before Governor Felix for possible freedom. For two years, he was stuck between “Will I be free” or “Will I stay and perish here”? If there were ever a time to be discouraged, this situation would qualify.

A few years back, I was flying to another country overseas. While I was in the air to my first layover stop, a volcano erupted at my final destination. When I arrived at my layover stop, I went back and forth to the airport for three days, trying to get to the final destination or my original starting location. Being stuck in the middle was super discouraging as I had no control over my situation. That was for three days. Can you imagine how Paul felt being in prison and stuck in the middle for two years?

What I love about Paul is that he wasn’t focused on the delays or the uncertainty; instead, he trusted God with his life and used every opportunity he had to share about Christ. In Acts 24:24 (MSG), it says, “....Felix and his wife Drusilla, who was Jewish, sent for Paul and listened to him talk about a life of believing in Jesus.” I must confess that I didn’t respond as Paul did in my three-day delay, but what a great example of how when we feel stuck in the middle and not moving forward, we can still trust in and share the name of Jesus. If you are facing a delay or detour—remember not to put your trust in “when” but “who.” God is a promise keeper, and He won’t let your season of waiting go to waste.

“But they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.”

Isaiah 40:31

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Today’s devotional was written by Pastor Janna Johns.

Questions to Consider:

• Are you currently facing something that feels discouraging as you are in a holding pattern or stuck in the middle?
• What does God want you to be doing during this season of delay? How can you take advantage of this season of uncertainty while you are waiting?

Prayer:

God, thank you that you use every season of waiting for a purpose. Help me find purpose and strength through life’s delays and detours. I trust in you to fulfill every promise. In Jesus’ name, amen.