DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:

God is the master of the winds and the waves. He is able to cause storms to come or to calm them.

A very shallow theology says if we’re in the will of God, we’ll always sail smoothly on the sea of life. We’ll have no sickness, no sorrow, no disappointment, know no separation. There’ll be no problems in our family. The “joy boys” get on television and say, “You just believe God and send me an offering, and you’ll never be sick, never know loss, everything’ll be fine.” That’s the gospel of cash and Cadillacs. Friend, there’s a Greek word for that—baloney.

No, we’re going to have difficulty. When it comes, you can say, “I’m governed by His providence, but I’m also growing by His plan.” God’s plan is not to indulge you; God’s plan is to enlarge you. “Thou hast enlarged me when I was in distress” (Psalm 4:1).

ACTION POINT:

Those of you who’ve been on the trail for awhile, who have walked a long time with the Lord, when did you grow the most? When everything was fine? When there was smooth sailing? Or when the storm came? Did you not grow more in the storm, in distress, when you were crowded to Christ, and when you had to call upon Him? You are growing by His plan.