Giving My Best: A 5-Day Devotional When Life Is Hard by Dr. Michele C. WalkerSample

Day 1: Nevertheless!

Psalm 46:1-3 (NLT)

God is our refuge and strength, always ready to help in times of trouble. So we will not fear, even if earthquakes come and the mountains crumble under the sea. Let the oceans roar and foam. Let the mountains tremble as the waters surge!

This great psalm is a reminder that regardless of what we go through, we have the hope of God's help. We don't have to be overcome with fear because He's present through every circumstance.

The sky could be falling around us and yet we can have the same confidence the authors of this song displayed. Their lineage was not their choice. Their father, Korah, rebelled against God. Despite his choices, his sons would learn to honor God and write several beautiful and inspiring psalms. They shared their gratitude for a God who did not hold them accountable for their father's sin. They penned verses with an attitude of faithfulness, recognizing God's handiwork and awesome power. And, although the earth did in fact "give way" to swallow their defiant father (Numbers 16:31-34), that very same God would restore their family's reputation and reward their humility.

We can move beyond whatever issues plague our past by focusing on the God who responds to our hearts. We don't have to continue wrong patterns, accept labels given by people, or be limited by others' opinions. We serve a God who moves mountains and solves problems. He sends the sea into roaring action and listens to our humble prayers. And so often, He will give us joy amid our troubles.

We can know God intimately and grow in grace despite what’s happening to us. We can trust Him to take care of us, restore our honor, rebuild our emotions, and bless our generations. No matter how things look, we can embrace a "nevertheless" attitude as we trust our "in spite-of-everything" God. Come what may, our Loving Father will be present to protect and provide. We can give Him our best by trusting Him to handle whatever is happening to us.

What has God done in your life lately? Say it out loud and often. Doing this can help us develop a “nevertheless” attitude about God and our troubles.

Let’s pray:

Lord, it’s easy to be distracted by what's happened to us and take our eyes off of how you've kept us. Thank you for being the ever-present God, who does not look away while we endure difficulty. You have removed barriers, provided care and encouragement, sent people to help us, and directed our paths. We can rejoice because You are our safe place now and in the days to come. In Jesus’ name, Amen.