Morning Devotional 082225 Purposeful Struggles

Liz’s Morning Devotional: Scripture selected from Upper Room

August 22, 2025

2 Corinthians 1:3-7

3 May the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ be blessed! He is the compassionate Father and God of all comfort. 4 He’s the one who comforts us in all our trouble so that we can comfort other people who are in every kind of trouble. We offer the same comfort that we ourselves received from God. 5 That is because we receive so much comfort through Christ in the same way that we share so many of Christ’s sufferings. 6 So if we have trouble, it is to bring you comfort and salvation. If we are comforted, it is to bring you comfort from the experience of endurance while you go through the same sufferings that we also suffer. 7 Our hope for you is sure, because we know that as you are partners in suffering, so also you are partners in comfort.

Good Morning! Blessed by the name of the Lord

God created us to share in a relationship with one another. Living as children of God is not without its challenges. God blesses us with free will, and this allows us to make choices: good and bad. There are consequences for all actions. Additionally, someone else’s choices can affect our lives as well. 

God doesn’t cause the trouble, but is there to comfort us when we are the victim of our self-induced or inadvertent challenges. Our relationship with God assures that we will never be alone in good times or bad. 

Each of our challenges includes an opportunity to grow stronger. Our own challenges help us support others when they encounter similar troubles. It is easy to say that we’d rather not have troubles, but when I consider all of the unexpected challenges that have grown out of my problems, I say, Thank You, God, in all things. 

Giving Lord, you bless us abundantly! Help us embrace our opportunities to grow. Thank you for comforting us when we are hurting. Thank you. We love you, Lord! In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen

Thought for the day: God comforts us in our times of need.

Growth happens when we struggle! Pastor Liz