Daily Devotionals

Regard it all as joy, my brothers, when you face various kinds of temptations (James 1:2-3).

Sometimes when people ask how we're doing, we give them a "going through" answer. "Well, I'm going through a lot." or "I'm going through tough times." It doesn't sound encouraging, but with the Lord it is.

In the Hebrew Scriptures, derekh is an important word. Derekh means "the way, the road, the path, the journey." God's people are always on a derekh, a journey in life. Messiah said, "I am the Derekh (Way)." That is why the first Messianic Jews and Gentiles were called the people of the Derekh—people of the Way (Acts 24:14).

What's so encouraging about going through things? The blessing is that you're going "through" them! At Isaiah 62:10, God commands, "Go on through! Go on through!" If you're going "through" things, you're obeying God! It's a holy thing! People on the derekh of God don't dwell on their problems, they go "through" them.

So when you say, "I'm going through a lot," be encouraged! Messiah gives you the power to "go through" and "get through" anything. You might say, "You don't know what I'm going through." You're right. I just need to know you're "going through," and with eyes of faith you will see that the end of the trial is near! You're on the derekh. So go on through! And he'll see that you get through just fine.

...keep going, persevere, press on, and make it through. He will give me the victory.

JC