“Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.” (Matthew 6:34, NKJV)
When God created our world, He gave us days and nights, hours and minutes. God could have spoken the world into existence in just one blink if He so chose. Instead, He created days for our benefit. He is not bound by time, but it puts order into our lives.
“And God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And the evening and the morning were the first day” (Genesis 1:5).
Yesterday we talked about God’s provision for each day and learned how we can trust His sufficiency. Today let’s look at God’s provision of strength for each day.
Some people struggle in their efforts to live for God. Their Christian walk is like a seesaw—first high in the air and then down on the ground. When we’re down, it’s tempting to say, “I can’t do this! I give up.” I understand the struggle, but it’s not how God wants us to live.
The apostle Paul endured more things than most of us will ever face—beatings, stoning, imprisonment, shipwreck, persecution, hunger and thirst, false brethren, and so much more. How was he able to endure so much and not give up? We find the answer in II Corinthians 4.
But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us. We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed” (verses 7-9, ESV).
Did you notice the key? We do not have the strength within ourselves to endure such heavy burdens on our own. The surpassing power comes from God, not from within. Look at what Paul says in verses 16 and 17.
“So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison,”
With all that Paul endured, he was still able to describe it as a “light momentary affliction.” He could hold on because he was renewed day by day. His many trials and harsh circumstances were preparing him for the eternal. The glory to come will far surpass the temporal problems we endure in this life.
When life pulls us down and the enemy whispers that we should just give up, God provides the strength to hold on for today. We must never drag tomorrow’s trouble into today. Tomorrow God will give us more strength to face those challenges. Remember—even the heaviest load can be managed for today.
- Today I can give my fears to God.
- Today I can resist any temptation that come my way.
- Today I can endure a difficult situation.
- Today I can trust God for the strength to meet any challenge.
- Today I will count my blessings rather than my troubles.
Aren’t you thankful God renews our strength day by day, giving us sufficient to meet every challenge we face as it comes? Don’t borrow tomorrow’s problems. Lean on God’s strength today.
(Additional scriptures to encourage me: Deuteronomy 31:6; Psalm 68:19; Psalm 73:26; Isaiah 40:29; Habakkuk 3:19; II Corinthians 12:9.)
2 Comments
A friend shared this with me. I was surprised it was written by you. I remember you from Bible College days at Western Bible College in Stockton, CA
I hope you enjoyed the devotion. However, I did not attend college in Stockton.