June 26, 2026 – Faithfulness
Days – “When He saw the multitudes He was moved” (Matt. ix. 36). Simpson reminds us of the emotions of our Father, “He is able to be ‘touched with the feeling of our infirmities.’ The word ‘touched’ expresses a great deal. It means that our troubles are His troubles, and that in all our afflictions He is afflicted. It is not a sympathy of sentiment, but a sympathy of suffering…. Let us realize, more fully, our oneness with our Great High Priest, and cast all our burdens on His great heart of love.”
Power – Isaiah 41:10 – “Fear not [there is nothing to fear], for I am with you; do not look around you in terror and be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen and harden you to difficulties, yes, I will help you; yes, I will hold you up and retain you with My [victorious] right hand of rightness and justice.” Joyce explains “strengthen and harden” in the verse, “It means God makes you stronger and stronger as you go through things. It also means you become less affected by the difficulties and challenges you face as time goes on. It is like exercise; when you first do it, you get sore, but as you press through the soreness, you build muscle and gain strength and soon find ease in doing what was once very difficult…. God will continually give you the strength you need to overcome, and you will grow in maturity.”
I just realized that I am indeed facing a difficulty. It’s not a trouble to handle. It’s a nagging thought, almost a sadness, in the back of my mind. One of my boys is moving today, from the San Francisco apartment I helped him find two years ago, across the country to NYC. I’ve been thinking about those days I spent searching SF with him and also about the recent long SF weekend he treated me to. I don’t want it to be over. I want to go back and experience it all again and I want to have visited more. I’m leaning heavily into regret, but as I’m reading these devotions, I’m realizing that it’s really what happens all through life as our children grow and as our jobs change and as people come in and out of our lives. Change can cause us to lament. I need to look back with joy not with missing and longing. I loved raising my children, but I also love watching them mature and live their lives.
JC – “Stay calmly conscious of Me today, no matter what happens. Remember that I go before you as well as with you into the day. Nothing takes Me by surprise. I will not allow circumstances to overwhelm you, so long as you look to Me. I will help you cope with whatever the moment presents. Collaborating with Me brings blessings that far outweigh all your troubles. Awareness of My Presence contains Joy that can endure all eventualities.” See Psalm 23:1-4 (NKJV) and 2 Corinthians 4:16-17.
Prevail #177 – Larson shares Jeremiah 23:3 and then tells about how, “The priests and the prophets – who claimed to speak for God…. misused their position for their own gain… and allowed good people to be driven off their land because of their sinful and poor leadership. God saw every bit of it, and finally He’d had enough. These things still happen today…. And He will redeem it all. He may or man not bring you back to the land you lost, but one thing He will do; restore what the enemy has stolen from you. He will make you more fruitful than before, more established than you’ve ever been. God knows the whole story and He’s in the process of redeeming it. Believe….”
Streams – Romans 3:3 – “What if some did not have faith? Will their lack of faith nullify God’s faithfulness?” What a good question. Cowman offers, “I suspect that the source of every bit of sorrow in my life can be traced to simple unbelief.” She shares Samuel Hart’s thoughts, “Is it any wonder that we do not receive God’s blessing after stumbling over His promise through unbelief? I am not saying that faith merits an answer or that we can work to earn it. But God Himself has made believing a condition of receiving, and the Giver has a sovereign right to choose His own terms for His gifts.” And, from C. H. M., “Unbelief continually asks, ‘How can this be possible?’ It is always full of ‘how’s,” yet faith needs only one great answer to even ten thousand ‘how’s.’ That answer is – GOD!” Finally, A. E. McAdam shares, “No one accomplishes so much in so little time as when he or she is praying. An the following thought certainly aligns well with all that the Lord Jesus Christ taught on prayer: If only ONE BELIEVER WITH TOTAL FAITH rises up, the history of the world will be changed. Will YOU be that one to rise up, submitting yourself to the sovereignty and guidance of God our Father?”
Utmost – 2 Corinthians 6:1 – “We…beseech you also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain.” Chambers warns, “The grace you had yesterday will not do for to-day…. Don’t say – ‘I will endure this until I can get away and pray.’ Pray now; draw on the grace of God in the moment of need.”
JL – “Compassionate Lord Jesus, You’ve been teaching me to rejoice always – connecting my Joy to You first and foremost…. I’ve found that giving thanks in all circumstances increases my Joy immensely…. In You exquisite Name, Amen.” See 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18, Isaiah 54:10, and Philippians 4:8.
