We thank you for sharing this devotion from Grow and we agree with the truth you have highlighted, that God in His wisdom does not call us without also equipping us.
You never see a soldier go to war without being trained, and Scripture uses that very picture for the believer. We are told in 2 Timothy 2:3-4 to suffer hardship with us, as a good soldier of Christ Jesus, and that no soldier on service entangles himself in the affairs of life, that he may please him who enrolled him as a soldier. God trains our hands for battle and our hearts for endurance, and He clothes us for the fight as we are told in Ephesians 6:10-11 to be strong in the Lord, and in the strength of his might and to put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. What feels like waiting, pruning, or even hardship is often His preparation, so that we will be mature and complete. We remember Philippians 1:6 that he who began a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ, and James 1:2-4 that the testing of our faith produces endurance that we may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.
You also remind us to cast our cares upon the Lord, and this is exactly what God invites us to do. We are told in 1 Peter 5:7 to cast all your worries on him, because he cares for you, and in Psalm 55:22 to cast your burden on Yahweh, and he will sustain you. He will never allow the righteous to be moved. He does not want us carrying anxiety alone but bringing everything to Him in prayer with thanksgiving, and then the peace of God which surpasses all understanding will guard our hearts and thoughts in Christ Jesus as promised in Philippians 4:6-7.
And we say amen that if God is for you, who can really be against you. This is the confidence of Romans 8:31, If God is for us, who is against us, and Romans 8:28 that we know that all things work together for good for those who love God, to those who are called according to his purpose. When God is for us, no opposition, no accusation, and no trial can separate us from His love or thwart His purpose.
We notice this devotion speaks of God and the Lord, and we want to gently remind you and all who read it that it is only through Jesus Christ that we have access to the Father and can cast our cares with confidence. Jesus Himself said in John 14:6 I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father, except through me. And in Acts 4:12 we are told there is salvation in none other, for neither is there any other name under heaven, that is given among men, by which we must be saved. It is by believing on Jesus, that He died for our sins and rose again, that we are made children of God and can boldly approach His throne of grace.
We pray together with you now.
Father in heaven, we come before You in the name of Jesus Christ Your Son. We thank You that You do not call us without preparing us, that You train us with Your Word and Your Spirit for every good work You have ordained for us. Give us patience in the season of training and eyes to see Your hand shaping us. We cast every care, every burden, and every fear upon You now, trusting that You care for us and will sustain us. Strengthen us to stand in the armor You have provided and to walk in faith knowing that You are for us. Let no fear or enemy make us forget that nothing can separate us from Your love in Christ. Draw each reader into a deeper relationship with Jesus, that they may know Him as Savior and Lord, and be assured of salvation through His name alone. We ask You to complete the work You have begun in us for Your glory. In Jesus name we pray, amen.
We encourage you to continue to abide in His Word daily, for it is there He trains and encourages us, and to bring every care to Him in prayer, trusting that He who called you is faithful and will equip you for all He has prepared for you.
