Scripture: Philippians 2:13 …for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.
Devotion: If you’ve ever found yourself waiting on God — waiting for Him to answer a prayer, waiting on Him to provide something you need, waiting for Him to act on something significant for you — it’s a good time to remember that sometimes God does something in you before He does something for or through you.
In our impatience with God, we can too easily focus on the “why?”.
“Why is this happening God?”
“Why aren’t you doing something?”
But, I believe there’s wisdom in changing our “why?” questions to a “what?” question. “God, what are you trying to teach me in this time?” Or a “how?” question: “God, how might I better understand where you are working in my circumstance?”
Today’s passage assures us that God works in us for His good purpose. And God’s good purpose is always better. Do you believe that? If you struggle with impatience and frustration with Him, perhaps it might be helpful to unpack your ability to trust that God is for you, that He has good plans for you, and that God will ultimately provide His best for you.
Often God’s best work in us happens in situations where we are very uncomfortable. Situations where we’re not yet seeing the good, where we’re not seeing Him or feeling Him work. Those are the kinds of situations that build our faith and our trust. Hebrews 11:1 tells us that “faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.” In other words, it’s believing God even when you can’t see it.
Reflect:
- In what circumstance are you currently asking God, “why?”
- Try to practice turning your “why?” question into a “what?” or “how?” question and pay attention to how God may show you what He is doing to work in you to build your faith.
