Wrestling with Hard Passages

Take 2-3 minutes to quiet yourself and ask God to speak to you today through your devotional time.  

Reading: 1 Corinthians 10:6-13

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.

The Bible doesn't hide humanity's ugliness. Many troubling passages are descriptive, not prescriptive—they show us the consequences of sin, not God's endorsement of evil. Israel's history serves as a warning and instruction for us. When we encounter difficult texts, we must distinguish between what Scripture records and what it celebrates. God allows us to see the chaos that results when "everyone did what was right in his own eyes." These passages remind us why we need God's objective standard rather than our subjective feelings. Today, when you face a confusing verse, ask: Is this showing me what happened, or what should happen? Let Scripture's difficult moments drive you toward deeper dependence on God's wisdom.

Now, take 10 minutes to seek God in prayer…  

1. 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).  
2. Pray through the things you sensed God speaking to you through the Scriptures or pray the following prayer: Ask God for wisdom and discernment as you navigate difficult or confusing parts of Scripture.
   
3. Close by taking 5 minutes to sit in silence, asking God if there is anything else He wants to speak to you today.  

Faith Steps:

1. When you encounter a difficult passage this week, take time to study the context rather than skipping over it.
2. Bring one question you have about Scripture to a trusted pastor, mentor, or friend for discussion.