Obedience When The World Swirls

I can’t be the only one who struggles to accept that we cannot change our difficult circumstances. Sure, we can make small changes to work harder or eat healthier, but most of life’s biggest trials are unbearably unavoidable. Instead of living obediently as Christ’s followers in the midst of that trial, we often find ourselves distracted, trying to control what’s around us. Rather than focusing on the Lord, we look to ourselves to solve life’s hardships.

Change is never easy. And sometimes, neither is obedience. Obedience literally cost Jesus His life! But through scripture we learn that it was because of Jesus’s humble obedience that “God elevated him to the place of highest honor and gave him the name that is above all other names” (Philippians 2:9).

Philippians 2 focuses on Jesus’s attitude, something that is often the most difficult aspect to conquering difficult times. “Why is this happening to me? When will this agony be over? I thought God loved me, but I don’t feel loved and this is not fair!” Yet, the Bible says Jesus learned obedience through what He suffered.

We need to learn what it means to obey, even when it’s hard. Really hard. It’s what gives us the opportunity to be more like Jesus, who embraced the change from being infinite as God to finite as man by having a humble attitude, even though he was the Son of God. Instead of asking the Lord to change our circumstances, ask for the Lord to change us. Trust that His plan is greater than anything we can fathom.

Jesus, teach me what it means to learn obedience and maintain the proper attitude in the process. Thank You for being my greatest example of this. Help me to cling to the One that never changes and to endure the seasons of change that I encounter. Through it all, thank You that I am Your child and I am not alone in this journey. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

This devotion provided by Chuck Rosinski of Compassion International, Senior Sponsor Donor Relations Associate and Child Advocate