‘…grace in which we stand, and…tribulation [that] produces perseverance.’ Romans 5:2–3 NKJV

There are two things you can count on as you walk with God: tribulation that works for you; and grace that enables you to stand while you’re going through it. Have you been praying for patience? Get ready for tribulation; there’s no other way to get it! Patience grows only in the soil of adversity. The truth is, some of the people you can’t stand right now are the very ones who’ll mature you spiritually and get you to your destiny. God said, ‘Moab is my washbasin…’ (Psalm 60:8 NIV) The Moabites were Israel’s troublesome next-door neighbours who drove them crazy. But such people can also drive us closer to God! So, who brings out the worst in you? Who drives you to your knees? Who stretches your faith? Who develops your character? The problem is, we pray for certain things but God has a process; only as we get to know Him better do we begin to recognise it. Here’s how it works: you ask God for strength and He allows you to go through struggles that develop you. You ask Him for wisdom and you get to deal with messy situations that have no easy solutions. You ask Him for success and He gives you ability to work and wisdom to produce. You ask Him for favour and you get responsibility. (Then you want to run from it.) There’s a work going on in you right now! You may not be fully aware of it, but without it you’ll never be qualified to handle what God has in mind.

SoulFood: 1 Sam 16–17, Luke 24:45–53, Ps 63, Pro 22:17–23

The Word for Today is authored by Bob and Debby Gass and published under licence from UCB International Copyright ©