Morning Devotional 120125 "Yes!" Please!

Liz’s Morning Devotional: Scripture selected from Upper Room

December 1, 2025 

James 1:2-8

2 My brothers and sisters, think of the various tests you encounter as occasions for joy. 3 After all, you know that the testing of your faith produces endurance. 4 Let this endurance complete its work so that you may be fully mature, complete, and lacking in nothing. 5 But anyone who needs wisdom should ask God, whose very nature is to give to everyone without a second thought, without keeping score. Wisdom will certainly be given to those who ask. 6 Whoever asks shouldn’t hesitate. They should ask in faith, without doubting. Whoever doubts is like the surf of the sea, tossed and turned by the wind. 7 People like that should never imagine that they will receive anything from the Lord. 8 They are double-minded, unstable in all their ways.

Good Morning!

The writers of the New Testament spend much time reminding us that our challenges give us the opportunity to grow in our faith. For most of us, our first inclination when facing an obstacle is not, “Oh, thank you, Lord!!” However, our productive struggle during times of challenge is essential to being strong. 

If everything were easy, we would be weak and unable to work through alternative solutions. Those who never face challenges throughout their educational journey often give up on their dream the first time they fail or are unsure of the next step. 

Success requires us to take risks. We would never learn to walk if we were afraid of falling, but as toddlers, we are so driven to walk that we fall however many times it takes to master walking. The toddlers often laugh off their failed attempts and immediately try again. 

As adults, we lose the ability to freely laugh off our failed attempts. We are afraid that someone else will think less of us if we make a mistake, so we choose the easier way or task. God gave us brains and free will so that we could take risks on our journey to joy. The Good News is that God is with us to help us stand each time we fall on our path to eternal life.

2 My brothers and sisters, think of the various tests you encounter as occasions for joy. 3 After all, you know that the testing of your faith produces endurance.

Lord, you bless us abundantly! We think that we want to live a life of ease, but the path to glory is filled with challenges. Thank you for leading and supporting us on our way. We love you, Lord! In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen

Thought for the day: In troubled times, our faith is tested, but God helps us to persevere.

Say, “Yes!” to the challenging way. Pastor Liz