Faithful in the Fire

You are listening to the My Morning devotional podcast, episode 1525. And today's Devo is called Faithful in the Fire. Hey there. We're the Alessi's, a ministry family working together in our church in Miami, Florida. And if you're like us, when days get busy and to do lists get longer, it can be hard to find devotional time. That's why we've partnered with our friend Allison to produce a five minute daily dose of heaven. This is the My Morning Devotional Podcast. I'm Mary Alessi, and this is our fifth and final morning together. I have had such an amazing time with you. I hope you've enjoyed it too. It is my honor to have this moment with each and every one of you every day. Wow, what a blessing. And today we're going to talk about being faithful in the fire. I'm sure you have been through some situations in your life that felt like fire. The flames were hot, the conflict was great, the difficulty was hard. That's called the fire. And maybe you have been through something recently. Maybe you're going through something right now. Well, this morning's devotional, I really pray that it will give you the assistance and it will give you the resource directly from God's word to know how to get through a situation that's difficult and be faithful in the middle of the difficulty. Boy, that's not easy. We know some people, even in our church, and maybe you know people, they've gone through some difficult things recently. Cancer, diagnoses that should have ended their life, the loss of a child that had us all scratching our heads as to why God, why? Why are you allowing bad things to happen to such good godly people? I don't have the answer for that, but I do know this. God is good. And we have two paths that we can go down when we go through difficult situations. We can let the fire consume us, or we can be faithful in the fire to know that God is too good to be mistaken. I don't know if you remember that old song. And God is too good to. To be cruel. He's a good God. He doesn't make mistakes. So I can be faithful in the middle of this difficult situation because God is good now. Acts 6:8 says this. Now, Stephen, a man full of God's grace and power performed great wonders and signs. Acts 7:55 says, But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, looked up to heaven and saw the glory of God going through difficulty. I don't know if you know this story about Stephen, but he was eventually stoned for his faith. And he was killed. He was martyred. So how did he stay faithful throughout the hatred and the discrimination and being pursued by people who killed Jesus and now were coming after all his disciples? Well, here's the devotional thought for us. Stephen was full of faith and he was full of power, but yet he still faced opposition. Just because we asked the Holy Spirit for power, we ask him to fill us with bold faith, doesn't mean we aren't going to go through difficult times. As a matter of fact, he equips us with bold faith and with power so that he can take us through difficult times, but he'll bring us through on the other side. So let's talk about what happens in the middle, because the other side, God's responsible for, but he's also responsible for. For you and I to keep us when we're going through a difficult situation. There's an old saying in the church that I love to say, and I've hung onto this many times. When you're going through hell, don't hold it. When you're going through hell, don't stop. Just keep going. That's how you can be faithful. Because sometimes when you're going through the difficult fires of life and those flames are raging, you're. You're discombobulated. You don't even know what to do. And here's what staying faithful looks like. You're asking God the right questions, not the wrong questions. So here's what happens when you feel that pressure of the fire when. When you're going through that difficult season where you don't have answers. Here's what you can do today to help you get through and be faithful. Take a moment right now in the middle of it, pause and change your perspective. Say this instead of asking, why is this happening to me? I've asked that question a lot this year. Not about myself, but about some friends in my life. God, why is this happening to them? Here's the question instead. God, where are you in this? Not, why are you doing this? Why are you letting this happen? Why is this happening? But, God, where are you in this? Choose to anchor your response in faith and not fear. Reject fear. I don't know why God is allowing this, but I do know God, and he's faithful. I do know my Savior. He will be with them. He will be with me in the fire, and I will come out more like gold because I will have gone through the refiner's fire. Maybe right now you're walking through something that's so challenging, and it's so difficult. And like Stephen, you know, you're. You still stay full of faith, full of grace, and full of vision. You don't do that on your own. If that's something that you're struggling with today, going through a difficult season, but you're. You're. You're finding it hard to be faithful. Listen, we talked about this yesterday. Don't be fake. You don't have to be fake. You don't have to just say it because it's required of you to be faithful. It's okay to say I am struggling with this. I don't know why this is happening. But, God, it doesn't help me to stay there and question you. Here's the question. Where are you? Where are you right now? I need you right now. And just like Stephen, the Holy Spirit will fill you in that moment and you will see the glory of God, just like Stephen did. He will fill you with grace for this moment. He will fill you with power for this difficulty. So one more time, instead of asking, why is this happening? Ask God, where are you? And. And say this over and over again, Lord, I trust you. I don't trust this situation, but I trust you choose to trust God in spite of what it feels like. Listen, I know difficulties happen. Bad doctor's diagnosis has come. You. You might be waiting to have a baby. You. You're going through infertility situations. I went through infertility for several years. I ended up with four children. God worked a miracle in my life. And I say this all the time. God makes babies. We don't. Maybe you're going through a difficult season in your marriage. And the fires, the flames are hot to the point where you're saying, I've got to just get out of here. This is just too difficult for me. I have to get out. This is too painful. There's no way God wants this for me. This can't be God. Listen, before you bail, before you jump, before you give up pause, know that the pressure is heavy and it's real and acknowledge it. But look up and ask God, God, where are youe in this? I need to see youe. I need to sense youe. I need you'd to remind me that yout haven't left me, that you won't leave me and you won't forsake me. Listen, why is that important? Because that's real. Those are the words he loves to hear. And I promise you, and it doesn't have to be my promise. God's Word promises you that he is faithful to those who are faithful to Him. Stay faithful in the middle of the fire. Don't give up. Ask for God to give you an extension of grace. Even if it's just for today to get through another day. Stay faithful in the middle of it all and watch God bring you through. He's faithful. He promises he can and he will. Let's pray. Lord, we pray this prayer today to help us to stay faithful no matter what we're facing today. When the pressure comes, when the difficulty comes, remind us to lift our eyes to you. Your word says I lift up mine eyes to the hills from where my help comes from. My help does not come from an inward place in my own strength. My help comes from you, from your peace, from your strength, and from your perspective. So Father, that's what we pray for today. Not our own, but for yours. And we trust that you are with us in every single moment, in this moment of difficulty. In Jesus name we pray. Amen and Amen. God bless you. Keep listening and have a great day. So there you have it, your five minute daily dose of heaven. Thank you so much for tuning in today. We pray these devotionals empower you to take on your day. If you found value in this devotional, share it with a friend, leave a comment or review for us on the app you're using right now. Until tomorrow, we pray that your latte is strong, but your love for Jesus is stronger.