The Divine Whisper Daily Devotional- 24
by David Joynt on August 31, 2021
Stress Test Devotional May 11
May 11, 2024
MATTHEW 13:5-6 | 5 Other seeds fell on rocky ground, where they did not have much soil, and they sprang up quickly, since they had no depth of soil. 6 But when the sun rose, they were scorched; and since they had no root, they withered away.
A measure of depth is survivability. In the recent monsoon storms, microbursts hit a variety of Scottsdale, Paradise Valley, and Phoenix locations. The combination of rain and then wind was a severe test for our trees. Afterwards many had fallen, revealing shallow root systems, unable to deal with the stormy weather. They lacked
survivability.
One of the threats to our growth and survival as Christians is similar. Is our understanding of God, and our experience of His goodness, deep enough to survive suffering and sorrow? This is often not a question we can answer from the outside. The plants in the shallow soil seemed healthy and vibrant until the weather changed and there was a scorching drought—something we also understand in our desert. Every Christian will experience suffering, directly themselves or through the struggle of someone they love. Heat and heavy storms will come to us, as they did to Jesus. Then is revealed the strength of our conviction and the level of trust we have in God’s promises.
When have you had a scorching experience?
Did surviving it strengthen your faith?
