Rest and Reset: A 30-Day Devotional to Revive JoySample

God is your portion

Until God is your portion, He will orchestrate circumstances to reveal the emptiness in your soul. There are many ways God chooses to work in the lives of believers. One sure method He often uses as a bridge to a deeper understanding of who He is is through the concept of emptiness. It’s not just the void from something missing, but also the space where things are no longer functioning. Relationships encounter friction. A career path that once felt secure now involves talks of layoffs and reorganization. One person within a marriage built on biblical principles is now leaning into new doctrines or addictions. Children who were raised in the fear of the Lord are now questioning their faith.

In moments when you face these challenges and continuous prayer doesn’t seem to work, try focusing on our Holy and Sanctifying Lord. You might catch a glimpse of His invisible hand pressing on a spot in your heart, which may have nothing to do with what you're experiencing but everything to do with filling a void you've only superficially addressed. I’ve seen this many times in my life: I might be pleading with the Lord, on the verge of despair, asking Him to change something within me or around me. Instead, He often highlights sin, faulty thinking, a lack of genuine prayers, or the suppressed hurt I no longer want to talk about, because pretending I’m healed seems easier. I thought that over time, wounds would heal on their own. I used to think pretending was more productive than the arduous task of repeatedly going to God for healing. Or maybe the Lord notices that my foot is slipping. Even if I’m walking the straight and narrow, my mind might drift toward the broad way as I see others in the world living seemingly problem-free lives.

Asaph's perspective on his life compared to others nearly caused him to stumble as well. In Psalm 73, we see an honest prayer dialogue that shows how envy is sinful and foolish in any situation. But it becomes especially deceptive when a righteous believer compares their life to the prosperity of the wicked. His focus was on others until he returned to the sanctuary of God, God’s word, and remembered the end of the wicked. You see, they are placed in slippery circumstances that, if not repented of, will lead them to hell. Meanwhile, believers have access to unlimited peace and God when we trust Him, even in the midst of trouble.

You may be weary because your emotions have led you to believe you need a person, a career, a skill, a restored family, a spouse, a baby, a better home in a nicer neighborhood, a perfect church, more relatable friends and community, or you fill in the blank. But God could be arranging the friction so that He becomes your all in all, your portion in this life. This doesn’t mean He won’t add to it with healthy relationships and financial security. However, your behavior concerning your faith should not be dictated by these. Trust that God loves you because He does; you are His child. Your heart posture should also reflect this. Lord, I love you because you are God.

When you reach a point in life where you realize how much you need God, you will then see that He is all you will ever need. Every other blessing we get to experience on earth is an addition to the blessed life we already possess in Him. Your heart and flesh may fail you, but God is the strength of your heart and your portion forever. Rest in your portion because of Christ today.

Be Encouraged.