Today's Devotion
December 1, 2003


"For he saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I
will have compassion on whom I will have compassion."  (Romans 9:15)


Today's Thought

God is a sovereign God . . . hard for us to comprehend, but it's true! His
plans for each of us are very unique . . . the lives we live are very
individual.  God has set His holy, righteous plan into motion with purpose
and determination in order to accomplish His final goal . . . to provide a
pure and spotless Bride for His Son, Jesus Christ.

It is easy to be "jealous" over someone who has had an easier life than you
. . . it happens all the time!  The question often runs through your head .
. . and I don't believe anyone is exempt.

When I was less than two years old, my mother gave me up for adoption. I was
adopted by a wonderful, loving family who saw to my every need through life
. . . they protected me, loved me, provided a stable family for me to grow
up in . . . not perfect, but good!  Many years passed, I married and had my
own family.  One day I came home and found that my birthmother had sent me a
letter sharing her love for me after all these years!  A series of events
occurred until the day arrived that I met her face to face.  What a
marvelous gift from God . . . meeting the woman who had given me physical
life yet enjoying the love and support from the parents who invested their
lives into me!

One thing I was not prepared for, however, was the reaction of my
half-sisters who had been raised by my birthmother.  They were JEALOUS . . .
I had been given to a family who could lavish their love and affection upon
me in a protected, stable environment.  On the other hand, however, they
were raised in a very different set of circumstances . . . a very unhealthy
lifestyle, having been the victims of physical, emotional and sexual abuse.
Although they said they were glad for me, their question was, "WHY?"  Why
was I "spared" the hurt?  Why was I singled out?  Why was my life allowed to
be "good" and theirs "bad"? Hard questions, at best . . . questions for
which there were no good answers!

God's sovereignty is the only answer that can explain situations like this.
"TRUST" is the door to finding peace with God's sovereignty.  I had to trust
that God knew what was right for my life . . . my sisters have had to learn
to trust that God was working in a unique way in their lives as well . . .
ultimately to draw us all to Him.

Are you struggling with difficult "Why's" in your life . . . contemplating
those questions for which you can find no answers?  Assign those problems to
God's sovereignty and trust Him that He knows what He is doing in EVERYONE's
situation.  Know this of a certainty, that our lives are indeed "according
to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own
will" (Ephesians 1:11b).

Praise God for all He has done in our lives . . . that will ultimately bring
Him the glory and honor that is due His Holy Name!


Today's Prayer

Father, how can I say thanks for all you have done for me, in me, and
through me?  Lord, many times I get all wrapped up in the "why's" of life,
those things that are too difficult for me to understand.  Lord, forgive me
for not trusting Your sovereign will.  Father, help me to remember that I
don't have to "understand" everything that has happened to me or my loved
ones, but only understand that "...all things work together for good to them
that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose." (Romans
8:28)  Your sovereignty, O Lord, is far beyond my comprehension, help me
remember that You have my life in the palm of Your very capable hand. Amen!


Have a blessed day!

Jan Ross
rross@...

"O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: for his mercy endureth
forever." (Psalm 136:1)