These words were adapted from this morning’s daily devotional in “Jesus Calling”, by Sarah Young.
Every time something thwarts your plans or desires, use that as a reminder to communicate with God through prayer. This practice has several benefits. The first is obvious: Talking with Him blesses you and strengthens your relationship. Another benefit is that disappointments, instead of dragging you down, are transformed into opportunities for good. This transformation removes the sting from difficult circumstances, making it possible to be joyful in the midst of adversity.
Begin by practicing this discipline in all the little disappointments of daily life. It is often these minor setbacks that draw you away from the presence of God. When you reframe setbacks as opportunities, you find that you gain much more than you have lost. It is only after much training that you can accept major losses in this positive way. But it is possible to attain the perspective of the apostle Paul, who wrote: “Compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus, I consider everything I once treasured to be as insignificant as rubbish.” (Philippians 3:7-8)
