We often assume that if we obey God, life will go smoothly, but sometimes the fiercest storms come when we’re faithfully following Him. In those dark seasons, when fear, disappointment, and unanswered questions press in, we may even wonder if God cares at all. But what we need most is not always that our problems get solved overnight; it’s remembering that suffering helps us see God more clearly than comfort ever could. Trials will either make us bitter or make us better, and that choice is ultimately ours. The deeper question in suffering is not simply, “When will this end?” but, “Will I come through this more like Christ than I was before?”

The Joy of Obedience
Haggai was sent by God to a disobedient people challenging them “to consider their ways” and the results of their disobedience. The people responded to God, obeyed Him and experienced Him in an amazing way. There was joy in their obedience! Are you experiencing the joy that God gives through obedience to Him?




