Living for God’s Glory, Not Comfort
Trusting God’s route, even when it takes unexpected turns.
Devotional Credit: My Utmost for His Highest – Oswald Chambers
Photo Credit: Unsplash
In today’s devotional, Oswald Chambers draws a sharp distinction between choosing suffering and choosing God’s will when it includes suffering. The healthy believer does not pursue hardship for its own sake but pursues the Lord’s will, trusting Him whether that path is smooth or difficult. Jesus is our example. He never sought pain, but He walked directly into it when it was the Father’s will.
Chambers also warns against interfering with the work God is doing in someone else’s life through trials. While human sympathy can appear compassionate, it can unintentionally keep another believer from growing strong in the Lord. When sympathy fuels self-pity, it causes us to think God is being harsh with us, a thought Jesus Himself rejected when Peter tried to deter Him from the cross.
The devotional also reminds us that Jesus did not rely on human sympathy. Only the Father fully understood His mission. This should shape how we respond to others and to our own challenges. Our calling is not about where we believe we will be most effective. God sometimes sends His people into situations the world considers wasteful or obscure, because His measure of usefulness is His glory, not our productivity.
In the end, Chambers calls us to trust that God knows exactly where we will best glorify Him. We must resist the urge to evaluate His placement of us by worldly standards, and instead yield to His purpose, even if it leads us into hidden or misunderstood assignments.
Journal Entry – Voice of the Holy Spirit Through Scripture
My child, do not set your eyes on the path that looks easy, for I have called you to follow Me, not comfort. The road I take you on may sometimes pass through valleys of shadow, but I am with you there. I am your faithful Creator, and My purpose for you is always good.
Do not measure your value by how the world perceives you. You are precious because you are Mine, not because of the visibility or recognition of your work. I send My servants where My glory will shine brightest, and I alone know where that is.
When you see another of My children in trial, do not weaken their hands with misplaced pity. Instead, encourage them to trust Me and to hold fast to My promises. My Spirit works in ways you may not see, producing endurance, character, and hope that does not disappoint.
As I placed My Son in the exact place where He would finish My work, I am placing you where My purpose will be fulfilled in and through you. Yield to Me there. Trust that no moment of obedience is wasted. I am working all things together for My glory and your eternal joy.
Scripture References: 1 Peter 4:19, John 17:4, Matthew 16:23, Romans 5:3–5, Psalm 23:4, Romans 8:28–29, 2 Corinthians 4:17–18, Philippians 1:6
Real-Life Analogy
Think of a GPS guiding you to a destination. Sometimes it takes you off the main highway and down an unfamiliar side road. It may look inefficient to you, but the GPS knows what lies ahead—traffic jams, road closures, or better routes unseen to your eyes. In the same way, God’s direction in your life may seem to bypass what you think is the most effective route, but His plan is perfect.
Today, when you find yourself questioning why God has placed you where you are, pause and acknowledge His wisdom. You might say, “Lord, I trust You to work out Your purpose through me right here, even when I do not see the full picture.”
Prayer of Confidence
Lord, I thank You that You have placed me exactly where You want me for Your glory. I rest in Your wisdom and timing. I affirm that my worth is not in my usefulness as the world defines it, but in being Yours. Thank You that no assignment is wasted when it comes from You. I yield to Your purpose today, confident that You are working in and through me for Your glory and my eternal good.