Divine Presence in Suffering
Take 2-3 minutes to quiet yourself and ask God to speak to you today through your devotional time.
Reading: 2 Corinthians 12:7–10; Romans 8:18–39
Be sure to highlight or note anything that stands out to you while you read.
After reading the passage, take the next 5-10 minutes and spend time reflecting on what you read. You can write these things down in a journal or record them in your phone. Be attentive to both what you highlighted in the passage and what is going on in your life.
Suffering is not a sign of God’s absence but an opportunity to experience His sustaining grace. Paul’s thorn remained, but so did God’s strength. In Romans, we’re reminded that nothing—not hardship, pain, or even our worst days—can separate us from His love. Your suffering doesn’t diminish God’s presence; it reveals it in deeper ways.
Now, take 10 minutes to seek God in prayer…
Take Action:
Reading: 2 Corinthians 12:7–10; Romans 8:18–39
Be sure to highlight or note anything that stands out to you while you read.
After reading the passage, take the next 5-10 minutes and spend time reflecting on what you read. You can write these things down in a journal or record them in your phone. Be attentive to both what you highlighted in the passage and what is going on in your life.
Suffering is not a sign of God’s absence but an opportunity to experience His sustaining grace. Paul’s thorn remained, but so did God’s strength. In Romans, we’re reminded that nothing—not hardship, pain, or even our worst days—can separate us from His love. Your suffering doesn’t diminish God’s presence; it reveals it in deeper ways.
Now, take 10 minutes to seek God in prayer…
- Begin your time in prayer by taking 1-3 minutes to sit in silence (You can take longer if you sense the Spirit already beginning to speak to you).
- Pray through the things you sensed God speaking to you through the Scriptures or pray the following prayer: God, thank You for meeting me in my weakness. Help me rest in the truth that Your grace is enough.
- Close by taking 5 minutes to sit in silence, asking God if there is anything else He wants to speak to you today.
Take Action:
- Journal how you’ve seen God at work in your suffering, or talk it out with a trusted friend.
- Encourage someone who is suffering today with a verse or word of hope from Romans 8.
Recent
Archive
2026
January
Don’t Stop Short of JesusThe Cross Is God’s Invitation to YouRemembering the OwnerThe OwnerThe Illusion of Self-Made SuccessActs 26:12–23 | Paul’s Encounter with JesusActs 26: 1–11 | Agrippa Grants PermissionInvited From The OutsideSurrender Creates PeaceWhen Blessing Becomes ForgetfulnessWhat A Pastor Means When They Say... | The Branch Living as Stewards, Not OwnersCreated for RelationshipThe Heart Behind the GiftSurrender GainsThe StewardFaithful StewardsOne Percent BetterEverything Belongs to GodThe Evaluation Is ComingActs 26:24-32 | Agrippa Parries Paul's ChallengeRedefining Success | The Branch The EvaluationHow You View God Determines Everything
2025
January
A New Heart and SpiritSowing in Tears, Reaping in JoyFrom the Pit to a New SongNo Other God's Before MeSeek First the KingdomStoring Treasures in HeavenServing One MasterTrusting God with EverythingThe Power of InfluenceRelationships That InfluenceFinding Godly FriendsIron Sharpens IronSpeaking Truth In LovePrioritizing God's PresenceChoosing the Better PortionLiving With Eternal PerspectiveCreating Margin For God's PurposesBearing Fruit Through AbidingReleasing the Past, Embracing God's FutureTransformed By God's LoveOur Past And A Hope For A FutureEmbracing Our New Identity In ChristRunning The Race Of Perseverance
February
Generosity Begins With PriorityThe Heart of GivingTithing as an Act of FaithThe Blessing of GenerosityTrusting God's FaithfulnessSeeing Yourself Through Jesus' EyesThe Power of Jesus' CallFrom Broken to BlessedEmpowered for PurposeHope for the FutureGod Knows Your NeedBringing Your Needs to JesusFaith in the Face of ImpossibilityJesus' Power Over Death and DiseaseTestimony of God's FaithfulnessCreated For A PurposeCompassion In ActionOvercoming Fear To Share HopeMeeting Needs To Show LoveAnswering the Call
March
HosannaWhat a MiracleI Speak Jesus InhabitJesus Over EverythingThe Risky Call of DiscipleshipGod's Presence in Our VulnerabilityThe Sword of TruthThe Power of Small Acts of KindnessEnduring Faith in the Face of AdversityGod's Perfect TimingAnswering the CallEmpowered for ServiceEmbracing God's Greater PurposeFaithfulness in TrialsAnswering God's CallOvercoming Doubt and FearPerseverance in ObedienceGod's Faithfulness in Our JourneyMountaintop Experiences and Everyday Faith The Danger of Covetousness

1 Comment
Knowing that even though Paul doubted Jesus and gave up whatever he could to destroy him God still gave even him salvation. That hits a lot different know.
nLike God created a son, a son that any parent who’s ever had a child knows that type of love. And he created him to die for our salvation because he knew all the evil in the world and how no matter what we will all fall short at one time or another. But God loved us so much as only a father could love all his children he killed his son. Like killed him in one of the most brutal ways you could die. For us. So every last one that believes in him shall live forever in the kingdom. And after the loss of my son knowing the pain I feel God did that on purpose. He killed his son on purpose for us. So all of us can live forever. And then someone who did what even Paul did even that God still forgave even Paul. That’s some type of special kind of love.
n