Daily Devotional

Jesus knew He was about to be ambushed. When we read about how He prayed all night that this “cup” would pass from Him, He was talking about the suffering He was about to experience of being separated from God on the cross. But when Judas betrayed Him, His other disciples were angry. Judas had been one of "them" for the past three years. Peter, being the passionate one, immediately went into fight mode. But obviously, this wasn’t Jesus’ way. He was ushering in a different kind of kingdom—not by sword, but by His own personal suffering on behalf of the whole world.
What anger have you stored up about this chaotic time we are living in? Acknowledge to God the anger you feel about how this virus has affected your family and missing out on the things you had looked forward to for so long. Even though God does not cause terrible things to happen (that was a result of the fall of humanity—see Genesis 3), Romans 8:28 (NLT) says, “God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love Him.” What glimpses are you seeing that God is still working and redeeming this time for good in your own life?
Start a thankfulness list in a notebook. Number it 1-100. Start today writing as many things as you can that you are thankful for. Add to it each day until you reach one hundred. In the midst of the turbulence, we still need to rejoice. Our gratitude will lift our eyes up to Jesus, and He will give us an eternal perspective on this pandemic.

English Standard Version (ESV)
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.