Sound of Heaven: A 6-Day Devotional by Danny GokeySample

Only for a Moment

Did you know that for a plant to grow, the seed must be buried, cracked open, and die so new life can begin? Jesus used that imagery to describe His own death, burial, and resurrection in John 12:24, explaining to the disciples, “Very truly I tell you, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds.” They could not fathom what Jesus meant at the time and fell into despair after His crucifixion, “For as yet they did not understand the Scripture, that He must rise again from the dead.” (John 20:9).

As we know, there was hope for resurrection then, and there is hope today! Even when it feels like everything is dark and your dreams are falling apart, God is still working. The planting of a seed is not the end but just the beginning. So, while you might feel buried right now–like life has dealt you a bad hand and something is dying–surrender to God and know that He “causes all things to work together for good.” (Romans 8:28) and won’t waste any of the pain that we go through.

Ecclesiastes 3:1 says, “There is a time for everything and a season for every activity under the heavens.” That includes pain and death. Of course, God’s time and perspective are not like ours. I’m not saying that the ‘moments’ mentioned in my song will always only last for a short time. Sometimes, we won’t even get an answer on this side of heaven.

But we can know He is a God of redemption, resurrection, and renewal, and because of that -

“We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body … because we know that the One who raised the Lord Jesus from the dead will also raise us with Jesus and present us with you to Himself.” (2 Corinthians 4:8-10, 14)

No matter what you face, how much hope is there in knowing that the same Spirit who raised Jesus from the dead lives in you?! (Romans 8:11a) “Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.” (2 Corinthians 4:16). And then vv. 17-18 reminds us that “Our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.”

Ecclesiastes 3:11 goes on to say that God “has made everything beautiful in its time.”

'Cause even in this moment

He's working it out

And when you feel hopeless

Just trust in the Lord

Something beautiful is on the way

You may not understand what God is doing here on earth, but don’t lose heart. His purposes will prevail, and, even better, He promises to raise you to new life with Him in eternity!