Excerpt from “Devotions
for the God Girl: A 365 Day Journey” by Hayley DiMarco
Don’t become like the people of this
world. Instead, change the way you think. Then you will always be able to
determine what God really wants—what is good, pleasing, and perfect.
Romans
12:2
Never say no to
a gift from God, even if on the surface it looks like more of a curse than a
gift. From your human perspective it might just look a lot different than it
does from heaven.
Think about the
most evil thing that has ever happened in the world: the crucifixion of Jesus.
It was horrific. And the people who watched it all happen could see absolutely
no good in it as they watched it unfold. But they didn’t have the perspective
that we have now or that they would soon have when they would see him again.
Now we all can look on that horrific event with thanks. For us it’s the most
important thing that ever happened—still horrific, but so important.
God can use anything that has happened to
you for good. He
promises it (see Romans 8:28). If you have something in your life that is
horrible, something that has happened to you that you can’t seem to get over or
find any redemption in, don’t ask “Why me?” Ask “What glory now?”
Trust that
God will lift you out of the ashes of destruction to glory. Trust that he’ll never
fail you and that what he wants is perfect (see Romans 12:2). Everything that happens in your life can
either improve when you trust God with it or destroy you; it’s your choice.
Let God be God and let your circumstances be the force that turns dirt into
pearls. It takes pressure and time to make gems and fire to purify gold and
silver, and so it goes with character (see Malachi 3:2-3). Don’t resent that
hard times, but thank God for purifying you and giving you an opportunity to
die to yourself and to live for him (see 2 Corinthians 5:14-15).
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And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who
love him, who have been called
according to his purpose.—Romans 8:28
But who can endure the day of his coming? Who can stand when he appears?
For he will be like a refiner’s fire or a launderer’s soap. He will sit as a
refiner and purifier of silver; he will purify the Levites and refine them like
gold and silver. Then the Lord will have men who will bring offerings in
righteousness.—Malachi 3:2-3
For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore
all died. And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for
themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again.—2 Corinthians
5:14-15
