Daily Devotion

“Imagine yourself as a living house. God comes in to rebuild that house. At first, perhaps, you can understand what He is doing. He is getting the drains right and stopping the leaks in the roof and so on: you knew that those jobs needed doing and so you are not surprised. But presently he starts knocking the house about in a way that hurts abominably and does not seem to make sense. What on earth is He up to? The explanation is that He is building quite a different house from the one you thought of—throwing out a new wing here, putting on an extra floor there, running up towers, making courtyards. You thought you were going to be made into a decent little cottage: but He is building a palace. He intends to come and live in it Himself.”

C.S. Lewis · Mere Christianity, Book IV, ch. 9 "Counting the Cost"

Scripture

James 1:2-4 My brothers and sisters, consider it pure joy whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

Reflection

Life's trials and challenges often cause us pain and confusion, but God teaches us to face them with joy, for trials are opportunities for faith to grow. Through trials, faith produces patience, and patience makes us stronger and more mature. God's purpose is not for us to remain in weakness and distress, but to use these experiences to perfect and complete us, making us vessels of His pleasure.