Time Out! Devotions

(devotional by Dr. Charles Stanley from the August 2010 issue of In Touch magazine)

Genesis 50:15-21 (NIV)

¹⁵ When Joseph’s brothers saw that their father was dead, they said, “What if Joseph holds a grudge against us and pays us back for all the wrongs we did to him?” ¹⁶ So they sent word to Joseph, saying, “Your father left these instructions before he died: ¹⁷ ‘This is what you are to say to Joseph: I ask you to forgive your brothers the sins and the wrongs they committed in treating you so badly.’ Now please forgive the sins of the servants of the God of your father.” When their message came to him, Joseph wept.

¹⁸ His brothers then came and threw themselves down before him. “We are your slaves,” they said.

¹⁹ But Joseph said to them, “Don’t be afraid. Am I in the place of God? ²⁰ You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives. ²¹ So then, don’t be afraid. I will provide for you and your children.” And he reassured them and spoke kindly to them.

When life gets hard, we tend to get upset and wonder how soon the difficulty will end. But God wants us to focus on Him in times of trouble. As we do, we will discover He is doing important spiritual work during these “storms.”

Beliefs. The Bible contains what we need to know about our life in Christ and following Him. When circumstances are beyond our control, what we really believe will surface. The depth of our faith in God’s character and promises will become evident, as will any doubts or uncertainties we may have. For example, Joseph revealed strong belief when he acknowledged that God intended his hardships for his good (v. 20). There are bound to be times when we don’t succeed—like Peter, whose fear led to denying Christ—but we should think of trials as opportunities to grow and deepen our faith.

Transformation. As God’s children, we are to live our lives in a way that displays Christ’s character. But we are more like jewels in the rough, aren’t we? The heavenly Father can use the storms of life to transform us into His Son’s image.

Comfort. This blessing is not only for us but also for others. Our Father comforts us in our sufferings and asks that we share what we have received with other people (2 Corinthians 1:3-4).

Difficult times can come from our own mistakes, the schemes of the Enemy, or the hurtful actions of others. They can even be ordained by God. Regardless of the source, our Father works in them to benefit us and to bless others. What testimony about Him can you give to a hurting world?

2 Corinthians 1:3-4 (NIV)

³Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, ⁴who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God.

God’s care for us extends to the details of our lives. He knows when His children hurt and longs to offer comfort (Isaiah 49:13).

The Lord’s compassion is personal, continuous, and always available. We receive His comfort through the Holy Spirit, who lives within us. There is no situation or time when He is inaccessible to the believer—we can be consoled and reassured at any time, day or night.

Consider how the compassion of God was demonstrated through Jesus’ life. He interacted even with the “untouchables”—people whose bodies were infected with a contagious disease (Luke 17:11-14). And no sickness of ours will prevent Him from caring for us.

Jesus had compassion on people with medical conditions (Matthew 14:14). He not only healed them physically but also gave an even greater comfort—new life through the forgiveness of sins. And while our infirmities may remain, the Lord lovingly strengthens us to persevere (2 Corinthians 12:7-9).

And what about the messes we get into? Peter’s betrayal of Christ was met with forgiveness (John 21:15-17). Thomas’ doubts were answered by Jesus Himself (John 20:27). Our mistakes won’t stop Him from loving us. Even to His enemies, Jesus left the way open for repentance.

God’s comfort and care are adequate for anything we face, whether it’s declining health, insufficient finances, or family trouble. Then, once we’ve experienced His consolation, we are to become bearers of comfort to others (2 Corinthians 1:4). People everywhere are in great need of His compassion.

(devotional by Dr. Charles Stanley from the May 2010 issue of

In Touch magazine)

Psalm 25:15-21 (NIV)

¹⁵ My eyes are ever on the LORD, for only he will release my feet from the snare.¹⁶ Turn to me and be gracious to me, for I am lonely and afflicted.¹⁷ The troubles of my heart have multiplied; free me from my anguish.¹⁸ Look upon my affliction and my distress and take away all my sins.¹⁹ See how my enemies have increased and how fiercely they hate me!²⁰ Guard my life and rescue me; let me not be put to shame, for I take refuge in you.²¹ May integrity and uprightness protect me, because my hope is in you.

I know the pain of loneliness. I was the only child of a single mother who had to work long hours to support us. My adult life has been marked by periods of emotional isolation as well. However, God has never abandoned me to these feelings.

The Lord desires that all people feel connected to Him and to each other. And in fact, we can be quickly comforted when we respond wisely to loneliness.

The first step is to enter into a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. Believing He exists is not enough. The Lord created mankind for fellowship, which is why a relationship with Him gives people a sense of oneness. The love of Christ squeezes loneliness out of the lives of God’s children.

Second, we must admit that we’re lonely. Some Christians incorrectly think they shouldn’t be susceptible to normal human feelings. But nothing in the Bible says we won’t endure emotional isolation. Not only men like David and Paul, but even the Lord Himself knew the ache of feeling deserted (Psalm 25:16, 2 Timothy 4:16; Matthew 26:40; 27:46).

Finally, we ought to develop godly friends. These are the Christian brothers and sisters who will laugh, cry, and empathize with us. Above all, believers need friends who will continually point them to God and pray over them.

We can’t deny feelings of loneliness, nor can we run from them. A person who seeks ways to escape those feelings only broadens the gap between the Lord and himself. There is just one way to close the chasm and conquer loneliness—by drawing near to the Lord.

(devotional by Dr. Charles Stanley from the May 2010 issue of In Touch magazine)

Psalm 26 (NCV)

¹ Lord, defend me because I have lived an innocent life.
I have trusted the Lord and never doubted.
² Lord, try me and test me;
look closely into my heart and mind.
³ I see your love,
and I live by your truth.

David was not claiming to be sinless – that is impossible for any human being! But he was consistently in fellowship with God, clearing his record when he sinned by asking for forgiveness. And he pleaded with God to clear his name of the false charges laid against him by his enemies. We also can ask God to cross-examine us so we stay in close fellowship with Him, trusting Him to forgive our sins according to His mercy.

⁴ I do not spend time with liars,
nor do I make friends with those who hide their sin.
⁵ I hate the company of evil people,
and I won’t sit with the wicked.
⁶ I wash my hands to show I am innocent,
and I come to your altar, Lord.
⁷ I raise my voice in praise
and tell of all the miracles you have done.

Should we stay away from unbelievers? No. Although there are some places Christians should avoid, Jesus demonstrated that we must go among unbelievers to help them. But there is a difference between being with them and being one of them. Trying to be one of them harms our witness for God. Ask about the places you enjoy, “If I come here often, will I become less obedient to God in outlook or action?” If the answer is yes, carefully monitor how often you go there and what effect it has on you.

⁸ Lord, I love the Temple where you live,
where your glory is.
⁹ Do not kill me with those sinners
or take my life with those murderers.
¹⁰ Evil is in their hands,
and they do wrong for money.
¹¹ But I have lived an innocent life,
so save me and have mercy on me.
¹² I stand in a safe place.
Lord, I praise you in the great meeting.

This last verse can also be translated, “My feet stand on level ground.” David was not saying that God always prevents us from slipping or falling into sin (although often He does). Instead, David was saying that as long as He trusted in God, He could stand on the firm foundation of God’s Word and have a godly perspective on life.

Too often we complain about our problems publicly and only praise God in private. How much better it would be to complain privately and praise God publicly!