Joy Bomb: A 8-Day Devotional by Tauren Wellsಮಾದರಿ

Day 8

The Cut That Confirms the Call

Let’s talk about something we don’t always like to admit: sometimes being called by God means facing the criticisms of the world.

Jesus said it plainly:
“Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 5:10)

He didn’t say avoiding persecution brings joy. He said being in it does.
That means rejection can be a result of obedience.
Criticism can come as confirmation.
And hardship might be evidence that you’re doing something right.

2 Timothy 3:12 echoes it: “Everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.”

It’s not punishment.
It’s proof.
If no one’s resisting what you carry, it might mean you’re not carrying anything threatening to darkness.

And here’s where it flips: persecution and favor are not opposites—they’re overlaps.
Two sides of the same coin called obedience.

Favor isn’t just about applause—it’s also about assignment.
And sometimes, being celebrated by God means being criticized by people.

Think about Joseph. Highly favored, but misunderstood, mistreated, and thrown into a pit.
Or Mary. “Highly favored”, yet ridiculed and wrapped up in scandal.
Favor didn’t shield them from hardship—it sent them into it. But it was never without purpose.

A Lesson from Stained Glass

I was reminded of this while visiting San Gimignano, Italy, with my wife. We were filming with Andrea Bocelli (still surreal), and while exploring the town, we stepped into a cathedral built in 1148. Simple. Sacred. Beautiful.

As we stood inside, light streamed through a stained-glass window above the altar. It stopped me in my tracks.

Each piece of glass was shaped differently. Some were smooth, others jagged. Some colorful, others muted. But all were cut—intentionally—to fit the larger design.

And when the light passed through?

It wasn’t the unbroken pieces that made it beautiful.
It was the cut ones.

That’s favor.

It’s not always about smooth edges and perfect conditions. It’s about being fit into a greater story, where God shines through the places we’ve been pressed, misunderstood, or wounded.

Favor and persecution often show up together—not as contradictions, but as companions.
Favor doesn’t protect you from the fire—it gives you purpose inside it.

So does God play favorites?

In a way—yes. But not like we think. Lisa Bevere once said, “God doesn’t love us all the same; He loves each of us uniquely.” And Augustine echoed, “God loves each of us as if there were only one of us.”

God’s favor isn’t limited. It’s tailored.
It’s not that He chooses one person over another—it’s that He chooses each of us for something specific.

So if you’ve been walking through criticism, pressure, or spiritual tension—don’t mistake it for abandonment. It might be evidence that you're in the middle of your calling. You’ve been cut to fit. And the same light that breaks through stained glass is ready to shine through you.

Devotional Questions:

1. Have you ever experienced resistance as a result of following God? How did it shape your faith?

2. Does the idea of favor and persecution overlapping change the way you see hardship in your life?

3. In what areas have you felt “cut” or pressed lately? Could God be using that to fit you into something greater?

4. What’s one example of God’s light shining through a broken part of your story?

5. How can you embrace both the favor and the friction of your calling this week?

At the end of the day, favor isn’t just about God blessing us—it’s about God using us. And sometimes, the greatest signs of His favor aren’t the easy moments, but the ones that push us closer to Him. Keep trusting. He’s making something beautiful out of you. 💛✨