DEVOTION

One of the many things I love about what I do at Crossings is I get to host our guests and congregation at the Next Steps desk on Sunday mornings. I get to be one of the first people to meet those who are new to Crossings and hear their stories.

I have the privilege of watching God transform the lives of the brokenhearted, those who keep coming back, and those who continue to give him one more chance. I get to watch the weary widow find her joy again. I have a front row seat to hesitant individuals learning to trust the church again. I get to watch all of the babies who dash across the Atrium grow into beautiful and handsome young adults. 

Each of you are a story of how God works all things out for our good. He is using all the good and all the bad to bring you into the future he has created just for you—a future of salvation and restoration.

Meditating on Roman 8:28 makes me think about Joseph. He was born favored over his brothers. His youthful arrogance led him to be betrayed by his own family. Left to die, he was found, sold into slavery, and eventually sent to prison by the lies of a bitter woman. God was working on Joseph’s behalf even in prison. Joseph the dream interpreter was remembered and lifted up to the second most important position in the nation; only Pharaoh was higher than him. In this position, God used Joseph to save his family and, ultimately, God’s people as a whole.

When you read this story in the Bible, you see the phrase over and over, “God was with Joseph.” He used every experience to cleanse Joseph’s heart, prepare him for greatness, and prepare him for the salvation of Israel. Psalm 105:18-19 says, “Who’s feet they hurt with shackles, they laid him in iron. Until the time that his word came, the Lord tried him.” God never wasted a single moment of Joseph’s life—and he will not waste any moment of yours.

God has a plan for us as individuals just as he does for his church body. The God who tried Joseph until his broken pieces were brought together is the same God who is carrying you to wholeness. The victory he brought to his newly birthed nation is the same victory he is working out for his church body today. This same God who was with Joseph is the God who is with you. He has never—and will never—leave you nor forsake you.

This year has been one collective journey through the dark night of the soul. Pandemics, riots, death, and division are running rampant through our country. None of this is outside of God’s control; not one event is too big for him to get praise out of it. 

He is cleansing and purifying his church body. He is bringing us to his place of salvation so others can find their wholeness in him. He is working all things out for our ultimate good. We can go through this dark night confidently and tell the world, “God is good all the time! All the time, God is good!”

PRAYER

Thank you, Father, for your mercy and grace. Thank you for your presence. Thank you for your spirit working in our lives. Thank you for your wisdom and revelation. Father, help us to walk in your victory to our destiny. Father, use us to show the world your faithfulness. Use us to show the world your love. For only you can turn all things out for our good.

In your name,

Amen.

Amanda Van Every

Assistant Director, Connections and Guest Services

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