But God…

This is a quote by Sinclair Ferguson: “Suffering is not an obstacle to God’s purpose but a means to achieving it.” 

As we age we know more people who suffer because of the aging process. However, I also know many younger people who are suffering from many forms of illness, including mental health issues, loneliness, loss of loved ones, financial struggles, and relational issues. 

But God is available, and more than able, to help every person with whatever struggles we experience.  Each “obstacle” we experience is an opportunity to experience God working in our lives. The ultimate goal is for Him to be exalted and glorified.

Some struggles occur because of our own sin, and many struggles result because of the sins committed by all of us, since Adam and Eve.

Suffering does not interfere with any of God’s purposes. It is a tool in the hands of God, our Potter. Isaiah 64:8 reminds us that God is forming us: “Yet you, Lord, are our Father. We are the clay, you are the potter; we are all the work of your hand.”

As our Heavenly Father, He only wants what is best for us. Sometimes that requires that He allows challenges that push us outside of our comfort zone. When He does this, He reveals to us how much we trust and rely on Him. It is an opportunity for Him to also reveal His care for us in practical ways.

Got Questions is a site I like to use when researching Biblical matters. This is part of their article entitled “What Should We Learn from the Symbolism of the Potter and the Clay in the Bible?”:

“Although God allows human beings freedom to make moral choices, He demonstrates often that He is still sovereign and in control of His universe. He does whatever He wills with His creation 

(Psalm 135:6: “The Lord does whatever pleases him, in the heavens and on the earth, in the seas and all their depths.”; 

Psalm 115:3: “Our God is in the heavens; he does all that he pleases.”; 

Daniel 4:35: “All the peoples of the earth are regarded as nothing. He does as he pleases with the powers of heaven and the peoples of the earth. No one can hold back his hand or say to him: “What have you done?”; 

Isaiah 46:9–11: “Remember the former things, those of long ago; I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me.  I make known the end from the beginning, from ancient times, what is still to come. I say, ‘My purpose will stand, and I will do all that I please.’ From the east I summon a bird of prey; from a far-off land, a man to fulfill my purpose. What I have said, that I will bring about; what I have planned, that I will do.).” 

We need frequent reminders that God is over all and can do as He pleases whether we understand His actions or not 

(Romans 9:20–21: “But who are you, a human being, to talk back to God? “Shall what is formed say to the one who formed it, ‘Why did you make me like this?’” Does not the potter have the right to make out of the same lump of clay some pottery for special purposes and some for common use?”). 

He owes us nothing yet chooses to extend to us the utmost patience, kindness, and compassion 

(Jeremiah 9:24: “but let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows me, that I am the Lord who practices steadfast love, justice, and righteousness in the earth. For in these things I delight, declares the Lord.”; 

Psalm 36:10: “Oh, continue your steadfast love to those who know you, and your righteousness to the upright of heart!”; 

Psalm 103:4: “who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion”; 

Psalm 103:17: “But the steadfast love of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear him, and his righteousness to children ‘s children.”). 

The potter working with the clay reminds us that God is at work in us “for His good pleasure” (Philippians 2:13: for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.). 

Isaiah 45:9 says, “Woe to those who quarrel with their Maker, those who are nothing but potsherds among the potsherds on the ground. Does the clay say to the potter, ‘What are you making?’ Does your work say, ‘The potter has no hands’?” [End of Got Questions quote.]

What questions might we ask God when we experience trials that push us outside of our comfort zones? Remember, communication with God is prayer, so asking Him questions is a good thing, as long as we are reverent and honest. We need to be open to hear His answers. The Psalms provide us with wonderful examples of open and honest communication with God.

These are a few questions I might ask God as I traverse trials:

God, what do You want to teach me in this trial – about me, about You?

God, how can I withstand the challenge set before me, because I am overwhelmed?

God, what should I read in Your Word to help me through this trial?

God, why am I struggling with this situation? What is the root issue?

God, how can I know You better as a result of this challenge?

God, how can I serve You while I’m suffering so that I focus outside of my hardship?

God, what person can You send to help me walk through this hardship, since you created us as a community of believers to support one another?

God, what do You want to achieve for Your kingdom as a result of my struggle?

What comfort and encouragement is God bringing to you from the verses quoted in this writing?

How might you praise Him in your suffering, and experience His comfort and encouragement as you spend time with Him when you are suffering?

How might you view your suffering as an opportunity to know God better and to serve Him, instead of as an obstacle to fear?

If you are suffering now, I would be glad to pray for you.  You can reach me at: ButGodCares@gmail.com. 

Living for Jesus, Donna

P.S. If this has helped you, please share it with others!

Note: If the verses for Bible references do not appear when you hover over them, go directly to the website, and they should appear for you. Also, please remember to look at the full context of the verses by reading the complete passage.

Copyright 2026 Donna Shappy   All rights reserved.  No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means – electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, or any other – without the prior permission of the author.

Hope is powerful! 

The foundation of our faith is in our hope in Jesus. As His followers, His return gives us hope.

The Gospel would be incomplete if it ended with our forgiveness of sins but held no future hope to be with Jesus. God completes all He starts. He promises to bring His followers to Jesus. Philippians 1:6 promises this: “And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.”

My fourth step in navigating life, especially when life is hard, is to remind myself this life is temporary. But that Godhas a permanent blessed existence awaiting all who know and love Jesus!

My hope in Jesus helps me to endure. Endurance is necessary in order for God’s people to live for Him.

Remember the exhortation in Hebrews 12:2: “Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” [Berean Bible] 

This verse ends with the reminder that Jesus is alive and well, and at the Father’s right hand! Jesus is God and He is with His Father who is God. There is no one with greater power than God!

How is Jesus using His power? The following verses provide some answers to that question.

Ephesians 1:19-21 reveals that Christ being at God’s right hand means power, position, privilege: “And what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us, the ones believing according to the working of His mighty strength which He worked in Christ in raising Him from the dead, and He seated Him at His right hand in the heavenlies, far above all principality and authority and power and dominion, and every name being named, not only in this world, but also in the coming age”

Romans 8:34 gives us further information on what Jesus is doing at the Father’s right hand: “Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us.”

Since Jesus is interceding for us, and He has told us that He has prepared an eternal home for us [John 14:3: “And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.”], we should be encouraged through our temporary struggles in this life.

All earthly struggles are temporary for those who love Jesus and are called for His purposes. Whether money matters, sickness, or interpersonal heartaches, Jesus understands. They will all be settled when we go to live with Him for eternity. Belief in Christ provides me with perspective, and helps me to trust Jesus to carry me through my struggles. 

Praise and thanksgiving are also “tools” God has given us to help us navigate through our challenges. There are ALWAYS reasons to give God thanks and praise, no matter what we are enduring. Rejoice in all things!  See 1 Thessalonians 5:16.

When we struggle to find something to thank God for, we can ask Him to help us see what we should be grateful about. Even when Jesus went to the cross, He never complained. He knew He could trust that His Father’s will was best. We can also trust that God’s will is best. 

Keeping our eyes on the eternal, and not the temporary, can help us find reasons to praise and thank God. After all, what could be better than the hope we have in Jesus! We will be forever dwelling with Jesus and without sin!!

This is meant as a guide to help you navigate life as You walk with Jesus by His Spirit.

May God use His Word to help you navigate this temporary life by the power of His Holy Spirit. 

May you find deep seated peace that comes only from God as you let go of tomorrows and stay within today. 

May the hope set before you bring endurance in this sin-laden life that comes with so many struggles. 

May God receive ALL the glory and honor as you testify to His goodness in your life.

You can reach me at: ButGodCares@gmail.com. I would like to hear your thoughts. Thank you.

Living for Jesus, Donna

P.S. If this has helped you, please share it with others!

Note: If the verses for Bible references do not appear when you hover over them, go directly to the website, and they should appear for you. Also, please remember to look at the full context of the verses by reading the complete passage.

Copyright 2026 Donna Shappy   All rights reserved.  No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means – electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, or any other – without the prior permission of the author.

Step 3 of my Spiritual Strategy enables me to navigate through this life by adjusting my thoughts so that my mind stops wandering to all the tomorrows that will take place until I die. They carry me into needless worry instead of worship of our great God.

God does help us plan for tomorrow through His leading today. I’m often in awe of how He has guided me to make decisions on a certain day only to realize days later their impact on my tomorrows. I’m realizing I don’t have to figure out today what tomorrow will need.

Last week’s writing touched on this a lot. But God has impressed upon me that I need to further address what contributes to my wandering mind.

Once I identify the root (roots) of the problem, I can address that sin with God, and His Spirit helps me to repent.

My greatest root issues are pride and lack of trust in God. 

I believe all sin stems from pride. When I am aware of my pride, I can repent. I know my pride will be an issue until I go to be with Jesus forever.

These are a few verses addressing pride:

Proverbs 16:18: “Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.”

1 John 2:16: “For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world.”

I have realized that many of my thoughts involving future events are ways for me to exert control over situations or people. That means I’m not trusting God to guide me. But God shows me regularly that no matter how hard I think about events, and perhaps even attempt to manipulate things, I have no control. He has ALL the control. I cannot explain how God sovereignly works out all details as I make choices each day, but He does. The more I trust Him for this, the greater my peace and joy, no matter how hard my life seems.

To understand God’s sovereignty, we simply need to look at events recorded in the Bible. The life of Joseph, as recorded in Genesis 37 – 50, proves God sovereignly works through our choices to bring about His perfect plan.

A summary of the events of Joseph’s life: Joseph was an Israelite. His brothers hated him. They schemed to kill him, but decided to sell him as a slave to the Ishmaelites. Joseph ended up serving a man named Potiphar. Joseph had great authority in Potiphar’s home. Potiphar’s wife tried to get Joseph to sleep with her. Joseph refused and fled. She made false accusations against him, and he ended up in prison. Two men who served the king ended up in the same prison. They had dreams they couldn’t interpret. But Joseph knew God could give him the interpretations. God did. Joseph’s interpretations became a reality. One servant was put to death while the other man returned to the king’s service. Time passed, the king had a dream. None of his people could interpret it. The man who had returned to the king’s service remembered Joseph. [He’d forgotten about him until that day.] Joseph told the king the dream’s interpretation. The king was so impressed Joseph ended up becoming second in command to the king of Egypt. Famine came. Joseph’s brothers came to the land to purchase food. Guess who they had to ask? Joseph!!! After multiple interactions between Joseph and his brothers, they were reunited. Their father then came to Egypt because the famine was so severe. The king welcomed Joseph’s father, Jacob, and his family. God used Egypt to preserve the Israelites during this time. Only God could have orchestrated every detail of these events. 

Joseph points us to Jesus. The One who died, but was not guilty. The One who suffered, but was innocent. The One who reconciles all who come to Him as their Lord and Savior to our Heavenly Father.

Scripture never indicated that Joseph reached out to his family. But God, in His timing, brought them to him! 

Obedience to God always brings the best results in our lives. 

Jesus is my hero! He lived a sinless life as a man on this earth. Since He tells me to not worry about tomorrow, but focus on today [Matthew 6:34 states: “Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Today has enough trouble of its own.”], I best obey! 

The Gospel message is a command that should be obeyed. Romans 10:9: “Confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead and you will be saved”.

When navigating life seems complicated, go back to the basics of our Biblical faith. Obey the Gospel, remember the past acts of God, stay in today, and try not to handle tomorrow, while looking forward to eternity with Jesus. 

Looking forward to eternity with Jesus will be the topic for next week.

What causes you to travel into tomorrow with your thoughts? I would like to hear from you.  Please send me your thoughts at: ButGodCares@gmail.com.  Is Jesus your Lord and Savior? If not, what are you waiting for? If so, how intentional are you in building your relationship with Him each day?

Living for Jesus, Donna

P.S. If this has helped you, please share it with others!

Note: If the verses for Bible references do not appear when you hover over them, go directly to the website, and they should appear for you. Also, please remember to look at the full context of the verses by reading the complete passage.

Copyright 2026 Donna Shappy   All rights reserved.  No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means – electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, or any other – without the prior permission of the author.

Last week’s writing focused on remembering God’s past acts [those recorded in the Bible and those we have personally experienced].

This week I will look at Jesus’ command that we focus on today. I’m calling it Step 2 in my Spiritual Strategy For Navigating Life!

Matthew 6:34 states: “Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Today has enough trouble of its own.” 

Since Jesus is God, and He knows everything, taking this command seriously can have a beneficial impact on our lives.

I think this is the most difficult step to take. Our minds seem to automatically create a list of negative “what ifs”. I am working to retrain my mind, with God’s help, so that as soon as I find myself drifting from the matters at hand I’m redirected back to today.

My retraining goal is to change what I think about my tomorrows. For instance, I can praise God that should He give me tomorrow, that is a gift. I can be excited that I will have another opportunity to live for His kingdom, and tell others about Jesus.

These are a few of the ways I can keep my mind from wandering where it does not belong:

Spend more time reading the Bible and focusing on what I’m reading. The more I put God’s Word into my mind, the more I find His Spirit brings the Word to my remembrance to help me focus on today. I may not have the verses memorized word for word, but God helps me to pull up the truths I need for today.

I remind myself that God is taking care of tomorrow, and He is more than capable of helping me with today AND He will handle tomorrow when we get there. I can trust God with today AND tomorrow.

Playing God honoring music so I can sing. Singing occupies my mind!

I talk with God more about what I’m doing now, and what He wants me to do next. I want His input. He is the smartest person ever, so why would I neglect His guidance.

I work to create conversations with people. This may be telephone calls or text messages. This way I get to encourage people. I may type a prayer, or pray with someone over the phone.

I read God honoring books, fiction and non-fiction.

But God is showing me that the more I work at keeping my thoughts on today, the easier it is to navigate life’s challenges. 

I am gifted by God with organizational skills. But God also shows me that sometimes I can turn those skills into perfectionism. Perfectionism can cause me to think I need to get everything on my “To Do” list done today. Perfectionism can destroy my peace because it causes my planning to leak into tomorrow’s business.

I readily admit that stopping myself from creating scenarios that will likely never exist is really hard! I might even do that for today. I need to stop that because it is of no value.

For me, the truth is I have far fewer challenges happening today than I think I have. They only seem to multiply when I start getting into scripting possible future events. 

For example, I’m not a morning person. My body’s clock works better at night. When I know I need to get up earlier than normal on a day in the future, my perfectionism starts to rear itself up. I try to get everything done today so that those future events will fall into place. Do you see what I’m doing? I’m leaving God out of the equation. I’m forgetting that He will help me organize today so that tomorrow will work out just fine.

When I stay in the present, God always is there to help guide and direct me. He has proven this to me time and again. Tonight was further evidence of that. I needed to plan for Christmas Eve lunch and then decide what to do about dinner with friends for Sunday. Today is Monday. Should we go out to eat or eat in? What should I have? When will I have time to shop if we eat in? 

But God was right there. I had gone to one child’s dance class, and ended up with a free hour before my next event. BJs was on my way. The people for my Sunday dinner were glad to come to my house. I bought food for Sunday and Christmas Eve during my free hour. Meals were planned, and no more tossing ideas around in my head. Today God aided me in planning and preparing for future events. It wasn’t worrisome, but peaceful. 

The times I relax and rely upon God, I experience His amazing peace and provision! Today and what needs to get accomplished [not what I THINK needs to get accomplished] happens. I’ve experienced God changing up events that I thought would absolutely have to occur to make room for what needs to be done. My schedule smooths out, and peace reigns in my heart. I’ve experienced Him protecting me from acting too quickly, thus avoiding negative consequences.

As I learn to rest in God’s leading today, keeping good communication with Him, the better my day goes and the better I sleep. I enjoy God more, and life’s stresses subside. 

Matthew 6:33 is one of my favorite verses: “But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” The context is that God will provide for our needs. Jesus assures us that He knows our needs. He reminds us that our responsibility is to seek Him – FIRST!

God’s Word is living and active. As we integrate His Word into our lives, we experience His peace and joy in the midst of the stresses of this life.

Next week I will talk about Step 3 in my Spiritual Strategy For Navigating Life!

I would love to hear how you keep yourself focused on today!  Please send me your thoughts at: ButGodCares@gmail.com. If you don’t have a relationship with Jesus, please reach out to me, you are missing the best gift you could ever receive.

Living for Jesus, Donna

P.S. If this has helped you, please share it with others!

Note: If the verses for Bible references do not appear when you hover over them, go directly to the website, and they should appear for you. Also, please remember to look at the full context of the verses by reading the complete passage.

Copyright 2026 Donna Shappy   All rights reserved.  No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means – electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, or any other – without the prior permission of the author.

This is my “strategy”!

Step 1: “Remember” God’s past deeds on our behalf.

Step 2: Focus on the matters set before us today – listen to God’s still small voice and obey Him.

Step 3: Adjust our thoughts so that we do not spend time in needless worry about tomorrow.

Step 4: Remember the exhortation in the Berean Bible in Hebrews 12:2: “Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” This verse reminds us that Jesus is alive and well, at the Father’s right hand!

When we remember the past, live for today and look forward to our eternal future with Jesus our faith is strengthened. Our fears are stilled and turned to trust, and our hope in Jesus increases. All of this helps us navigate through life.

Strategy 1: What does it mean to remember? The Cambridge Dictionary defines remember as: “to be able to bring back a piece of information into your mind”. What better resource than God’s Word!

God’s people need to remember His mighty acts. Thankfully, we have the written Word of God to help us to remember. In the Hebrew Scriptures (we call them the Old Testament) God’s people often recited the facts of Genesis 1-2. They remembered God as Creator and Maker of the heavens and the earth, of all vegetation, of the animals, and of people!

Why do you think God’s redemptive work was so important for them [and us] to remember? 

When we remember God as our Creator, it can settle our fears and calm our anxiety because as our Creator, He only wants good for us. God’s ability to create just by speaking reminds us of His power, His omniscience, His omnipresence, and His sovereignty, to name a few points.

Promises throughout Scripture remind me of the truth of who God is. Creation was declared by God to be good – Genesis 1:31a: “God saw all that he had made, and it was very good.”

Consider God’s promise to the Israelites in Jeremiah 29:11: “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.” It is complimented by Romans 8:28: “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.”

But God has given us His recorded deeds in the Bible so we can remember and be encouraged. As God’s people we also have our personal experiences with the living God! The greatest proof of His goodness is the moment any person comes to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ! When we have a relationship with the Lord we can remember His acts of goodness on our behalf.

John 3:16 states: “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” The greatest evidence of God’s goodness came when He sent Jesus into our world in the incarnation so that Jesus could be born as a human being, live a sinless life, and die on the cross under God’s judgment for our sins. 

Every day we need to remember this great gift from God! 

“Remember” brings with it a sense of contemplative thoughtfulness. It is more than a simple momentary reminder. To remember God’s acts means we really spend time thinking about what He has done and how those acts have impacted our lives. 

I have found that the greatest good that has occurred in my life has come through my trials. When we are in the midst of hardship it may be a challenge to recognize, but eventually God will show us something positive He has done or is doing in our challenges. The changes in my character that make me more like Jesus are the best evidence of God’s goodness for me to remember.

The more we remember the gift of Jesus, the more excited and the bolder we will become in sharing the Gospel message.

When we share the Gospel with people, we remember the message of God’s forgiveness for our sins. Remembering God’s forgiveness helps us to be more forgiving and merciful toward others. The more merciful we are toward others, the more our stress decreases, and the more we can navigate our trials without anxiety and with God’s joy.

Deuteronomy 4:9 in the CSB states: “Only be on your guard and diligently watch yourselves, so that you don’t forget the things your eyes have seen and so that they don’t slip from your mind as long as you live. Teach them to your children and your grandchildren.” 

Deuteronomy 4:9 instructs us to teach others and this helps us to remember. This type of remembering helps God’s truths to not “slip from our minds”. We can now have family conversations about the goodness of God – His forgiveness of our sins, and the promise of eternity with Jesus. This is exciting because it is the best news ever! The more we talk about Jesus and all God has done, the more we remember and are encouraged each day.

So that is step 1 of what I term my “Spiritual Strategy For Navigating Life”.

This is the refrain to: “Go Tell It On The Mountain.” I think its exhortation is well remembered:

“Go, tell it on the mountain,

Over the hills and everywhere.

Go, tell it on the mountain

That Jesus Christ is born.”

Step 2 is next week’s topic: “Focus on today’s issues, not tomorrow’s”.

Please contact me at: ButGodCares@gmail.com to talk about navigating this life with Jesus.

Living for Jesus, Donna

P.S. If this has helped you, please share it with others!

Note: If the verses for Bible references do not appear when you hover over them, go directly to the website, and they should appear for you. Also, please remember to look at the full context of the verses by reading the complete passage.

Copyright 2026 Donna Shappy   All rights reserved.  No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means – electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, or any other – without the prior permission of the author.

God’s Word provides us with information on the weapons He has equipped His people with in order to withstand the onslaught of the devil’s wicked schemes.

Consider what Psalm 44 teaches us about God’s role and our role in our battles:

“1 We have heard it with our ears, O God; our ancestors have told us what you did in their days, in days long ago.” God’s acts on behalf of His people were told over and over so that others could be encouraged to trust Him to act on their behalf. We are called to remember what He has done. Sharing our stories of God’s victory in our lives is a reminder of God’s faithfulness.

“2 With your hand you drove out the nations and planted our ancestors; you crushed the peoples and made our ancestors flourish.” Who does this verse say drove out and crushed the Israelites’ enemies? It wasn’t the Israelites. It was God! I reached a pivotal point in my relationship with God when I backed off from trying to fight my own battles. Instead, I talk with Him about the situation, and wait for Him to act. I don’t move to attempt to fix it until He directs me. But God generally doesn’t involve me. He wants to show me His power and His ability to work on my behalf. It is really amazing to experience God fighting for me!!!

“3 It was not by their sword that they won the land, nor did their arm bring them victory; it was your right hand, your arm, and the light of your face, for you loved them.”  Once again, we are told that God brought the victory for His people! He is God! Why do we think He needs our help? Why do we try to take action instead of experiencing our God taking care of us by defeating our enemies? He is our parent. We are His children when we have a personal relationship with Jesus. As our parent, He wants to protect, defend, and care for us.

“4 You are my King and my God, who decrees victories for Jacob.” God decrees victory for His people. Therefore, He will bring it about. It won’t always happen quickly, and may require longsuffering for many years, even until our death. But God will bring victory for His true followers!

“5 Through you we push back our enemies; through your name we trample our foes.” Here we learn that it is only through God and His name that we can overcome in our battles.

“6 I put no trust in my bow, my sword does not bring me victory;” Once again we see that the author of this Psalm was not depending upon his own weapons for victory. He knew only God brings true victory. He clearly stated that in the next verse.

“7 but you give us victory over our enemies, you put our adversaries to shame.”

“8 In God we make our boast all day long, and we will praise your name forever.” Boasting is generally not good, except when we boast about who God is and what He does for His people. We can shout those praises so all can hear!

Often I hear people state that they have done all they can do in a situation and then they just pray. 

Prayer is ALWAYS our best option! It is not “just” prayer. 

Prayer is powerful because it is directed to Almighty God! He is all-powerful. He is sovereign. Combine together all we know about God, and the privilege we have to seek His help, and we can only come out victorious when we rely upon Him!

I’m reminded of the children’s song, which can be ours also:

“My God is so great. My God is so good. There is nothing my God cannot do!”

Ephesians 6:10-18 also has a detailed list of the weaponry God provides for His people so that we can walk victoriously in the spiritual battle:

“10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 13 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. 18 And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.”

This passage reminds us that there is a real and unseen spiritual battle. Behind the unkind, selfish, ruthless people are demonic beings. Therefore, we cannot win by using worldly weapons. But God has provided us with powerful spiritual weaponry.

Our weapons are spiritually empowered by God’s Holy Spirit. Ephesians 6:14-18 details these weapons. I recommend reviewing them and asking God to instill into the core of your being each “weapon”.

When we live standing on God’s promises, utilizing His weaponry, we can rise above our problems because He empowers these weapons for our benefit!

What battle are you fighting? Are you leaning into God, looking to Him to bring victory, or are you attempting to create your own victory? How might you incorporate the above weapons into your battlefield?

The first step is having a personal and active relationship with Jesus. If you have not yet taken that step of faith, please contact me at: ButGodCares@gmail.com so we can talk about Jesus and how much He loves you. 

Living for Jesus, Donna

P.S. If this has helped you, please share it with others!

Note: If the verses for Bible references do not appear when you hover over them, go directly to the website, and they should appear for you. Also, please remember to look at the full context of the verses by reading the complete passage.

Copyright 2025 Donna Shappy   All rights reserved.  No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means – electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, or any other – without the prior permission of the author.

Ephesians 6:11-12 provides us with some details on the Christ-follower’s enemy: “Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.”

Who is the devil?

The devil or Satan is an angel. He was created by God, to worship and serve God. But God allowed Satan to choose whether he would serve and worship God. We know his choice from Isaiah 14:12: “How you are fallen from heaven, O Day Star, son of Dawn! How you are cut down to the ground, you who laid the nations low!”

Isaiah 14:13-15 gives further details regarding Satan choosing to reject God: “You said in your heart, “I will ascend to the heavens; I will raise my throne above the stars of God; I will sit enthroned on the mount of assembly, on the utmost heights of Mount Zaphon. I will ascend above the tops of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High.” But you are brought down to the realm of the dead, to the depths of the pit.”

From these verses we learn that Satan’s pride was his downfall. Instead of honoring and respecting God, he attempted to ascend higher than God. He could not, and can never attain his Creator’s place. He incites people to worship him through idols, which are false gods. 

At the cross, Jesus defeated Satan. However, he is still described in the Bible as the prince of the air. The Amplified Version states it this way in Ephesians 2:2: “You were following the ways of this world [influenced by this present age], in accordance with the prince of the power of the air (Satan), the spirit who is now at work in the disobedient [the unbelieving, who fight against the purposes of God].”

What are Satan’s tactics/maneuvers he uses to try to discredit God’s people by luring God’s people into sin?

These are a few of his “techniques”:

Deceit

Divisiveness

Denial

Self-centeredness

Deceit/lies – Satan showed this trait when he lied in the Garden of Eden to Eve. Why do people get caught up in lying? I think it is because lies seemingly serve our immediate purpose. Lying is only a temporary “fix”. But God knows, and He will reveal the truth in His timing. Satan is a liar and a murderer. John 8:44 states this clearly: “You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies.”

Divisiveness – Satan wants people to be divided. Competition lends itself to division. Unity protects, but division results in turmoil, distress, and in so many other ungodly behaviors. Matthew 12:25 gives us understanding of the results of division: “Knowing their thoughts, he said to them, “Every kingdom divided against itself is laid waste, and no city or house divided against itself will stand.”

Denial – What’s the old line – “The devil made me do it!” This was Adam and Eve’s line to God in Genesis 3:11-13: “And he said, “Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree that I commanded you not to eat from?” The man said, “The woman you put here with me—she gave me some fruit from the tree, and I ate it.” Then the Lord God said to the woman, “What is this you have done? The woman said, “The serpent deceived me, and I ate.”

God was looking for truth. Truth frees us, denial entangles us, and leads us further away from God.

Self-centeredness – This was another aspect of the devil’s interaction with Eve. He wanted her to think all about herself. He wanted her to think God was selfish. But God is never selfish. He always seeks to do good for people. Jeremiah 29:11 states: “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.”

How do God’s people discern Satan’s tactics? 

God’s people need to be intentional students of the Word of God. Remember, the Word is a Person – Jesus. John 1:14: “The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.”

From the study of God’s Word we learn how Jesus handled life. We learn from His teachings, and those in the entirety of Scripture what God approves and what He disapproves. The more we know the truth of God’s Word, His character and commands, the more equipped we are to discern the devil’s schemes.

Satan can come as an “angel of light” – 1 Corinthians 11:14-15: “And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light. 15 It is not surprising, then, if his servants also masquerade as servants of righteousness. Their end will be what their actions deserve.” But God, through His Holy Spirit will equip His people to discern and respond in a God-honoring manner to the devil’s tactics.

When we study and know God’s truth, the lies of the devil become obvious.

How well do you know the Word of God? Do you have a personal, living and abundant relationship with Jesus so that you can discern between the work of God and the lies of Satan? If not, will you seek someone you can study the Scriptures with so you can be discerning?

I’d be glad to talk with you about a true relationship with Jesus. Perhaps you want to discuss the topic of this writing further? Please contact me at: ButGodCares@gmail.com.

Living for Jesus, Donna

P.S. If this has helped you, please share it with others!

Note: If the verses for Bible references do not appear when you hover over them, go directly to the website, and they should appear for you. Also, please remember to look at the full context of the verses by reading the complete passage.

Copyright 2025 Donna Shappy   All rights reserved.  No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means – electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, or any other – without the prior permission of the author.

I don’t remember where I found this quote, but it helps me to remember the Biblical truths contained in its words:

“It’s impossible to prove God’s goodness by looking at circumstances—allowing his son to be crucified is an example of that. The proof of God’s goodness is found in who He is. All I can do is trust He has a purpose in what’s going on here, and just because I can’t see it right now doesn’t mean He’s not in control of how things will eventually turn out.”

Often I hear people say how God was so good to them after He has done something wonderful in their lives. I am now more apt to comment that God is always good, even when life is hard. 

When I encounter challenges in my life, I now quickly ask God to show me what He is teaching me. He is often teaching me to simply relax in His love. He is wanting me to focus on Him and what He did in sending Jesus to die for my sins [all our sins]. 

I focus on His character. I remind myself that He is faithful, and that He doesn’t want to crush me, but He does want to refine my character. 

I remind myself that my situation is only temporary in comparison to my eternal future with Jesus. 

I remind myself that the good I experience at God’s hand in this life pales in comparison with what I will experience with Him for all eternity.

I remind myself of all the amazing ways God has carried me through years of hurtful and challenging situations. 

I remind myself that He is always with me, because His Holy Spirit indwells me. With the Spirit’s power I am able to overcome whatever situation makes me feel as if life is out of control. 

Life is out of my control! But God is in absolute control!

God is always good.

God is always faithful.

God is always powerful.

God is always all-knowing.

God is always omnipresent.

God is not a respecter of persons.

God always judges fairly.

God is always with those who have a relationship with Jesus through His Spirit who indwells His followers.

God’s methods are very different from ours. They are always productive with eternal value.

God will not give me more than I can handle as I lean on Him. But God will bring me to the end of myself.

God is in control – of all events, everywhere. I don’t understand it, but His Word reveals He is sovereign.

God cannot be bad.

God cannot do anything that is evil.

God is just and holy.

I find that my problem is that I confuse this life with eternity with Jesus. I want the blessings and ease of eternity and I want it now! I don’t want to wait for it to happen. I want fairness now. I want….but I should really be thinking “What does God want?”.

But God is doing a work through this life to prepare His true followers for eternity. 

I want to be well prepared for my eternal life with Jesus! 

Therefore, I am becoming more patient, less complaining, and more dependent on God each day. God gives me more discernment as I allow this work He is doing in me to make a difference in my character. I’m not able to make these character changes on my own, but God does it!! 

It is really good to experience Him working His character into me.

As I allow God to do a deeper work in my life, our relationship also deepens. He is always proving His goodness to me, regardless of my circumstances.

Have you ever heard this saying: “the proof is in the pudding”?  It means that something’s “true quality can only be judged by experience or action, not by appearance” [online definition]. We often do this with God. We look at what we can see and attempt to judge Him by it. But God cannot be judged that way. Our final “proof” of God’s goodness will be experienced for all eternity by those who love Him and are called according to His purposes [Romans 8:28].

How intimately do you want to know God? Do you even have a true abiding relationship with Jesus? Please don’t let this day end without making certain you belong to God through Jesus. I would be glad to talk with you about a relationship with Him. 

Please contact me at: ButGodCares@gmail.com if you want to talk about Jesus and/or what your current challenge is and God’s involvement.

Living for Jesus, Donna

P.S. If this has helped you, please share it with others!

Note: If the verses for Bible references do not appear when you hover over them, go directly to the website, and they should appear for you. Also, please remember to look at the full context of the verses by reading the complete passage.

Copyright 2025 Donna Shappy   All rights reserved.  No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means – electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, or any other – without the prior permission of the author.

I am passionate about being immersed and saturated in the Word of God. I am spending more time each day reading, thinking about, and studying the Word of God.

A dear friend pointed out that when we walk outside enjoying the beauty of creation while thinking about the Word of God, we are further immersed in His Word!! You might take a few minutes to stand outside, and look all around at the sky, the trees, the earth and marvel at the power His Word contains, since He spoke and all came into existence. What an amazing God who loves us.

God has gifted us with His written Word, and there are many reasons why we need to be saturated in it.

His Word explains to us who He is. Knowing God is the most important part of life. Knowing God accurately is of utmost importance. An inaccurate view of God can lead to a shipwrecked life. But God gives us 66 writings in our Holy Bible that can guide us to understanding Him rightly. We will never fully grasp all of who God is, or He wouldn’t be God. But God, through His Holy Spirit, enlightens His true followers so that we can know Him, love Him and obey Him. This is why we need to immerse ourselves in His Word.

The Bible makes it clear that God’s Word is a lifeline, and that His Word must dwell richly in His people. The Amplified Bible states this in Colossians 3:16: “Let the word [spoken by] Christ (the Messiah) have its home [in your hearts and minds] and dwell in you in [all its] richness, as you teach and admonish and train one another in all insight and intelligence and wisdom [in spiritual things, and as you sing] psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, making melody to God with [His] grace in your hearts.”

When God’s word finds its “home” in our hearts and minds, our personal lives will be enriched beyond anything this world offers. Additionally, we are then able to help other Christ followers live in all the riches of Christ. 

2 Timothy 3:16-17 gives us more depth of understanding as to the reason we should saturate our minds with the Word of God: “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.”

God’s Word brings fullness into our lives. 

God’s Word equips us to carry out His kingdom’s work on this side of eternity.

God’s Word is the only means to having a true, rich, and fulfilling relationship with God our Father.

God’s Word is applicable to every moment of our lives. 

The more I saturate my mind and heart with the Word of God, the more I realize there is so much more to study and learn.

1 John 4:1 gives us a warning: “Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world.”

This warning from the Apostle John should not be taken lightly. We need to accurately understand who God’s true people are because our enemy, the devil, seeks to mislead and devour us. 

Satan is a liar. Consider John 8:44: “You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies.”.

Since he lies and is very cunning, we must heed Peter’s warning in 1 Peter 5:8: “Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.”.

How do we know the truth from a lie? We saturate ourselves in God’s Word so that His Holy Spirit can use the truth we’ve ingested to warn us when we are being deceived. 

Society is removing itself further and further from the ways of God. As this has been occurring over decades, it is leaving a deadly wake [spiritually speaking as well as physically]. Young people today rarely know what a Holy Bible is. Their thinking is dulled by the lies of the devil, that come from people who have succumbed to his tactics. The devil’s ways are not new. They began in the Garden of Eden with Adam and Eve, and have been carried on to our day.

Today, it us “customary” to live with someone before marriage. Society accepts that. Young people today are growing up with this as the norm. They have no inkling that it is sin, an affront against God. 

I had a younger child recently tell me that we should treat people like they treat us. On the surface, that may sound reasonable. But God tells us otherwise! Until people become saturated with the Word of God, they don’t understand that Jesus taught very differently. 

Luke 6:31 states: “Treat people in the same way that you want them to treat you.” I don’t know anyone who wants to be treated disrespectfully, lied to, beaten, or otherwise mistreated. We want to be respected, told the truth, not harmed, and shown kindness and mercy.

Jesus’ teaching is counter-cultural. Living it is challenging. But God provides His Holy Spirit to help us, and the Holy Spirit is “fed” as we dig into the Word of God.

It is through the saturation of God’s Word into my heart and mind that I am able to grasp Jesus’ teaching. It is then through the power of His indwelling Holy Spirit that I am able to integrate His teaching into my heart and mind. I can then behave in a counter-cultural manner! I can then be united with Him. David cried out to God for this in Psalm 86:11. It can be the cry of our hearts also.

Some of the advantages to being saturated in God’s Word are:

*God’s Word supplies knowledge of our amazing God

*God’s Word supplies the path to eternal life through Jesus Christ

*God’s Word supplies wisdom that is applied to our lives by the Holy Spirit

*God’s Word supplies guidance for life’s decisions

*God’s Word supplies protection and warnings of the dangers of sin and Satan

*God’s Word supplies correction when we sin and redirection into His righteous path

*God’s Word is life sustaining

If you are not saturated in God’s Word you are missing out on a deeper relationship with the Lord. Intimacy with our loving God comes through the knowledge of His Word.

What steps will you take to become saturated in God’s Word, if you are not already immersed in His Word every day?

Do you want a relationship with Jesus? You will find the path to eternal life in the pages of the Word of God. I would like to talk with you about a relationship with Jesus. Please contact me at: ButGodCares@gmail.comso we can talk about Jesus and how much He loves us. Do you want help going deeper into the Word of God? I would love to discuss ideas on what that might look like. If there is any way I can help you know God more, please contact me.

Living for Jesus, Donna

P.S. If this has helped you, please share it with others!

Note: If the verses for Bible references do not appear when you hover over them, go directly to the website, and they should appear for you. Also, please remember to look at the full context of the verses by reading the complete passage.

Copyright 2025 Donna Shappy   All rights reserved.  No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means – electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, or any other – without the prior permission of the author.

“God helps those who help themselves” is a lie. There is no basis for that belief in the Bible. 

Where did all of this start?

It started when Satan lied to Eve, and she rejected God’s truth to accept the lie. Adam also bought into it. 

In John 8:31-44 Jesus had the following conversation with the Jews: “To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” They answered him, “We are Abraham’s descendants and have never been slaves of anyone. How can you say that we shall be set free?” Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, everyone who sins is a slave to sin. Now a slave has no permanent place in the family, but a son belongs to it forever. So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. I know that you are Abraham’s descendants. Yet you are looking for a way to kill me, because you have no room for my word. I am telling you what I have seen in the Father’s presence, and you are doing what you have heard from your father.” “Abraham is our father,” they answered. “If you were Abraham’s children,” said Jesus, “then you would do what Abraham did. As it is, you are looking for a way to kill me, a man who has told you the truth that I heard from God. Abraham did not do such things. You are doing the works of your own father.” “We are not illegitimate children,” they protested. “The only Father we have is God himself.” Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love me, for I have come here from God. I have not come on my own; God sent me. Why is my language not clear to you? Because you are unable to hear what I say. “You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies.”

God’s people should be known for being truthful. Our yes should be our yes, and our no should be our no. 

Being truthful does not mean we have to share every detail we know. Jesus didn’t share with everyone all the details  He trusted His Father to work out the details.

Being truthful may even mean remaining silent. Jesus remained silent when it was appropriate, He trusted His Father to work out the details.

Matthew 14:57-61: Then some stood up and gave this false testimony against him: “We heard him say, ‘I will destroy this temple made with human hands and in three days will build another, not made with hands.’” Yet even then their testimony did not agree. Then the high priest stood up before them and asked Jesus, “Are you not going to answer? What is this testimony that these men are bringing against you?” But Jesus remained silent and gave no answer.

Can I pray with or for you about something? Perhaps you need to have Jesus as your Lord and Savior? Please contact me at: ButGodCares@gmail.com.

Living for Jesus, Donna

P.S. If this has helped you, please share it with others!

Note: If the verses for Bible references do not appear when you hover over them, go directly to the website, and they should appear for you. Also, please remember to look at the full context of the verses by reading the complete passage.

Copyright 2025 Donna Shappy   All rights reserved.  No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means – electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, or any other – without the prior permission of the author.