But God…

There are so many unpredictable situations that can occur in our lives each day.

We might get an unexpected bill, our car might need to be replaced, a devastating event could take place in a loved one’s life, a house fire, a water leak so bad we can’t live in our home, unexpected weather conditions that bring destruction to our community, a spouse asks for a divorce, a cancer or other health diagnosis that will change our lives, loss of our eyesight, and many other possible situations that can cause us to rely upon our feelings.

But God doesn’t want us to rely upon our feelings. He wants us to rely upon Him. Consider the following words:

Proverbs 3:1-7 states: 

1 “My son, do not forget my teaching, but let your heart keep my commandments, [Verse 1 reminds us that we must remember God’s Word. We need to dig into His Word, and allow His Holy Spirit to calm our emotions. The Holy spirit will able us to address the situation more calmly. Additionally, we need to be certain we are obeying God’s commands. As we seek God and serve Him, our thoughts begin to shift from panic to prayer, and from fear to faith.]

2 for length of days and years of life and peace they will add to you. [The peace described in Verse 2 comes as we focus on God, who He is, what He does, as we remember His great love for us. His greatest expression of love was in sending Jesus to take responsibility and pay the penalty for our sins.]

3 Let not steadfast love and faithfulness forsake you; bind them around your neck; write them on the tablet of your heart. [Our hearts and emotions can be steadied as we heed the guidance in this verse. We must be steadfast in loving God, and faithful to Him. Consider the emphasis on this through the words “bind” and “write”.]

4 So you will find favor and good success in the sight of God and man. [When we keep God’s commandments, according to Verse 1, one result is having God’s favor. There is nothing more valuable than to be in a favorable relationship with the God who created us. Additionally, God will also grant us favor with people. When we are in distress, God will use those people to come alongside of us, to encourage and help us. Having friends who love and support us in our unpredictable circumstances is a benefit from God.]

5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. [This seems like a summary of the first four verses. Notice the level of trust we are encouraged to have in God. All of our heart is what He is looking for. We need to ask Him to help us release the emotional responses to our situations, and to give us undivided affection for Himself. The second part of this is that we cannot try to figure out our next steps. Our understanding is very limited. God is all knowing. We must heed the Psalmist’s words and trust God and not ourselves.]

6 In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. [Next we are to completely acknowledge God. As we do this, He works out our next steps. That doesn’t mean it is easy, but God will do amazing acts on our behalf, as He promises in 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.”

7 Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord, and turn away from evil. [This verse provides a warning when unpredictable circumstances attempt to cause upheaval in our lives. It is similar to Verse 5, and is repeated for emphasis. We must not allow our thinking to cloud our minds so that we cannot hear the still small voice of the Lord. We are given two more steps in this verse. We are to fear the Lord AND turn away from evil. When the unpredictable occurs, the enemy of our souls wants to terrorize us. We cannot allow him to do that. We need to remember the directive given in Verse 5 to trust God wholly.]

8 It will be healing to your flesh and refreshment to your bones. [As we heed the commands and warnings of these verses, God will do amazing healing in our lives. Our bodies will experience His “refreshment”! Even if our unpredictable situation leads to our physical death, the best will happen to those who love Jesus! We will be with Him, and there is NOTHING better than to be with Jesus.

It is possible to respond to unpredictable circumstances in such a manner that we don’t succumb to worry and fear. However, it takes concerted effort on our part to trust Jesus wholeheartedly. But God wouldn’t have instructed us to do this if He didn’t think we could resist the emotional fear and worry. He has equipped us with His indwelling Holy Spirit, who will help us walk with our great God through the unpredictable circumstances of this fallen world.

God’s people should handle problems differently than the world addresses situations. We should live a different lifestyle.  Grace and peace should be evident in our lives because we belong to the all-powerful, all-knowing, and all-present God. When we falter in this, He is always ready to forgive us as we confess our sins and turn to Him in repentance and dependence upon Him.

Consider how Jesus responded in John 19:8-11a: “When Pilate heard this, he was even more afraid, and he went back inside the palace. “Where do you come from?” he asked Jesus, but Jesus gave him no answer. “Do you refuse to speak to me?” Pilate said. “Don’t you realize I have power either to free you or to crucify you?” Jesus wasn’t overwhelmed or frightened by Pilate’s words because Jesus knew God was sovereignly at work. We can be comforted by the same truth. God is powerfully at work, and for the good for all who love Him!

This is a battle, but God is our Victor!

Is Jesus your Lord and Savior? If so, then you are equipped for this battle. If Jesus is not your Lord and Savior, then you are not equipped for victory. 

This moment you can decide to accept Christ’s work on the cross, when you acknowledge your sinfulness and your need for Jesus to pay your sin’s penalty. I would like to talk with you about this decision. 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 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.

How often do you hear, or might you even say: “That’s not fair!”?

Do we really want God to be fair to us? I’m glad God isn’t fair. If He treated me fairly, I would never have a relationship with Him. The truth is, no one would have a relationship with God if He treated us fairly. 

Fairness would mean that God would treat us as we deserve. He sets the standard. His standard is fair. Everyone has the opportunity to live up to His standard. But God knew that we would never be able to attain His standard. Adam and Eve proved that in the Garden of Eden.

Adam and Eve were given the opportunity to live in an environment where they could walk and talk with God. There was no toil in their work. Their every need was met by God. There was no anxiety. They still chose to reject God’s loving command, and gave in when their prideful, fleshly desires were tantalized by Satan. 

They knew the consequences. They still chose to reject God’s protective command. They deserved death. They deserved to be forever separated from God. But God showed mercy. 

They were sent from the Garden, and would experience physical death. Their separation from God also brought spiritual death. 

But God, acting out of mercy, promised Jesus, the offspring spoken of in Genesis 3:15: “I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel.”

It would have been fair of God to reject Adam and Eve, kill them, and move on with another plan. But God did not do that! He’s much better than fair. His mercy and grace are given to all who will accept Jesus as Lord and Savior. 

God, in His perfect timing, sent Jesus, His One and Only Son, to pay the penalty for sin. Jesus came willingly to do something that wasn’t fair. 

Jesus paying the debt for our sin was not fair. 

Since Jesus extends us mercy and grace, shouldn’t we be people who aren’t looking for fairness, but are looking for opportunities to be forgiving, merciful, and gracious?

I find that most things in this sin-laden world are not fair. 

What situation might you be facing that you are inclined to say “This is not fair.”? You may very well be right. But Godhas something good in it for you, if you will fully look to Him for help. 

Perhaps you will find comfort in this article by Kimberly D. Henderson:

“I would have pulled Joseph out. Out of that pit. Out of that prison. Out of that pain. And I would have cheated nations out of the one God would use to deliver them from famine.

I would have pulled David out. Out of Saul’s spear-throwing presence. Out of the caves he hid away in. Out of the pain of rejection. And I would have cheated Israel out of a God-hearted king.

I would have pulled Esther out. Out of being snatched from her only family. Out of being placed in a position she never asked for. Out of the path of a vicious, power-hungry foe. And I would have cheated a people out of the woman God would use to save their very lives.

And I would have pulled Jesus off. Off of the cross. Off of the road that led to suffering and pain. Off of the path that would mean nakedness and beatings, nails and thorns. And I would have cheated the entire world out of a Savior. Out of salvation. Out of an eternity filled with no more suffering and no more pain.

And oh friend. I want to pull you out. I want to change your path. I want to stop your pain. But right now I know I would be wrong. I would be out of line. I would be cheating you and cheating the world out of so much good. Because God knows. He knows the good this pain will produce.

He knows the beauty the hard challenges will produce in our character. He’s watching over you and keeping you even in the midst of this. And He’s promising you that you can trust Him. Even when it all feels like more than you can bear.

So instead of trying to pull you out, I’m lifting you up. I’m kneeling before the Father and I’m asking Him to give you strength. To give you hope. I’m asking Him to protect you and to move you when the time is right. I’m asking Him to help you stay prayerful and discerning. I’m asking Him how I can best love you and be a help to you. And I’m believing He’s going to use your life in powerful and beautiful ways. Ways that will leave your heart grateful and humbly thankful for this road you’ve been on.” © Kimberly D. Henderson, 2017

Please consider what Ms. Henderson is conveying in her writing. Blessings abound as we walk with God through the trials of this life. God has only good for those who experience unfair treatment.  Those situations truly emphasize the truth of Romans 8:28: “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”

He will safeguard the souls of those who love Him, who are called for His purpose. He deserves to be glorified in our lives, and that is often needed the greatest when we are in hard times.

I’m grateful God wasn’t fair when He sent Jesus to die for my sins. All praise and glory to God for His mercy and grace! Mark 10:45: “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

May you endure so that you can experience His lovingkindness in ways you would not have understood had you gotten what was fair.

Please contact me at: ButGodCares@gmail.com if you do not have an abiding and enduring relationship with Jesus. It is the only way to experience victory in the unfairness of this world.

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.

When we see events that are harmful to people, we want God to act. We want the wronged person made whole, while the perpetrator of evil needs to be brought to justice.

Consider how that relates to God and us.

Do we truly understand that when it comes to God and our relationship with Him, justice demands that we all be judged? The verdict of that judgment is GUILTY!!

But God knows that we are all guilty and that none of us would be able to stand before Him unless He acted on our behalf.

Because of God’s love, His gracious and abundant mercy, He planned for His one and only Son to become the atoning sacrifice for His just wrath on our sin!

Please pause and truly consider this truth. 

We want justice, but God had to send His one and only Son so that justice could be done.

Jesus, the one who was not guilty of one single sin, paid the penalty for all of our sins. Is that what you think of when you think of justice? When I think of justice the guilty party bears the consequences for his or her actions. 

But God’s perfect plan of salvation is contrary to how we think. That is supported by Isaiah 55:8-9: “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.”

Jesus’ work on the cross secured eternal life for all who will accept Him as Lord and Savior. This requires that we recognize we are guilty sinners who need His deliverance. The problem is that we cannot do anything on our own to satisfy the justice and wrath of God. 

When we have a personal, living and active relationship with Jesus, our lives are transformed. We become different people because our desires and goals change. God becomes our desire and goal. This requires effort on our part. We must purpose to turn from the ways of the world, while we learn and incorporate God’s ways into our lives.

While we are grateful for the gift of Jesus’ forgiveness, we must remember there are people who will come under God’s justice because they refuse to accept Christ as Lord and Savior. 

Justice for them will be eternal separation from God. We don’t want them to experience justice. We want them to experience forgiveness.

This is why we must share the Gospel of Jesus Christ with people. It is why we live transformed lives. Transformed lives reveal to people that God is loving, merciful, forgiving, and gracious. We are revealing the character of Christ at work in us to those around us.

Judgment day for everyone is approaching. It is sooner than it was when Jesus ascended to the Father. Mark 16:19: “So then the Lord Jesus, after he had spoken to them, was taken up into heaven and sat down at the right hand of God.”

Therefore, people will be judged by Him. 2 Corinthians 5:10:  For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil.”  

Those who have a relationship with Jesus Christ will spend eternity with Jesus. Consider what we know about heaven. It will be a sinless environment, forever. Imagine that – no pride, no ego, no covetousness, no jealousy, no envy, no dishonesty….etc.

Revelation 21:4 states: “He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.” 

Those who do not have a relationship with Jesus will find that their eternal fate will be separation from Him.

2 Thessalonians 1:9 states: “They will suffer the punishment of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might.”

Revelation 21:8 states: “But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.”

Let us be people who declare the glorious work of God through Jesus Christ! 

Let us be people who reflect the transforming power of Christ’s Holy Spirit in our lives.

Let us be people who want mercy and forgiveness, not justice and punishment, for those who don’t know Christ.

Where are you with regards to a relationship with God? 

If you do not yet have a saving relationship with Jesus, which is exemplified by a life reflecting Christ’s character, what is holding you back? It truly is a matter of eternal life and eternal death.

Please reach out to me if you want to talk about God’s forgiveness 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.

Many years ago I read this tag line in a book that was recommended to me: “What if God designed marriage to make us holy more than to make us happy?”

That statement led me to believe that God’s work in our lives is less about happiness and more about Him being glorified through our lives. How would that occur? It would happen as He works through the events of this life to purify us so that we live up to the holy standing we have in Christ, when we are born again and true Christ-followers. 

People who accept Jesus as Lord and Savior, as evidenced by our “fruit”, are seen by God as righteous and holy. This position is not based upon our works, but upon Jesus’s work on the cross. His atoning sacrifice gives us our righteousness.

Please consider these verses:

Isaiah 53:5: “But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed.”

1 Peter 2:24: “He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed”

1 John 2:2: “He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.”

It seems that if God’s primary purpose for our lives was our happiness, He would have removed Satan from having any influence in our lives. But God didn’t do that.

The following verses reveal the significance of holiness:

1 Peter 1:14-16: “As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, since it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.”

Hebrews 12:14: “Make every effort to live in peace with everyone and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord.”

1 John 3:9-10: “No one who is born of God will continue to sin, because God’s seed remains in them; they cannot go on sinning, because they have been born of God. This is how we know who the children of God are and who the children of the devil are: Anyone who does not do what is right is not God’s child, nor is anyone who does not love their brother and sister.”

A lifestyle of holiness reveals to the world that we belong to God. 

“Got Questions” in their article – “Is being holy even possible, since only God is holy?” states:

“We are told, “Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure” (Philippians 2:12-13). In this verse, we see cooperation between God and His children in sanctification. We “work out” what God “works in” us, because God has a timeline for the virtues that He wishes to cultivate in our lives. Our responsibility is to yield to His wishes, “working out” with focused attention and great care those things that He is causing to grow in us. Holiness will not be brought to completion in our lives with no effort on our part. We are invited to participate in God’s work in us. We will not be “carried to the skies on flowery beds of ease,” as the old hymn says.”

Holiness is worked into our character as we obey God. Obedience to God brings with it suffering in this life, because when we go to Jesus there won’t be any more suffering! It will be all happiness!!

When I first committed my life to Jesus, I was reading a devotional. The following thought has carried me through times of unjust suffering:

“The statement “It is doubtful whether God can bless [or use] a man greatly until He has hurt him deeply” is a famous quote by theologian A.W. Tozer from his book “The Root of the Righteous”. It implies that deep personal pain, trials, and brokenness are often necessary, preparatory “boot camp” experiences God uses to shape character and prepare individuals for significant service.”

When we serve God, He is glorified. That is the fruit of a holy character. 

A holy character is better than anything this life can provide. 

I would rather have holiness than happiness because I know that holiness will produce peace, joy, and even happiness in me, no matter the experiences this life produces.

What do you want your lifestyle to reveal?

What are your thoughts on this subject – please send them to 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.

Around the beginning of 2026 I came across this quote from Oswald Chambers:

“Your priorities must be God first, God second, and God third, until your life is continually face-to-face with God.” 

As a follower of Jesus, I find this to be the best advice outside of the Word of God. It is a summation of what we find in God’s Word. The Amplified Version of Mark 12:30 states it this way: “And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul (life), and with all your mind (thought, understanding), and with all your strength.”

When I keep God as my first priority, my second priority, and my third priority, I find myself making less hasty decisions, having more calmness, and traversing daily life with more ease.

I also heard this definition of “sanctified” [I cannot remember who said it.]: 

“Sanctified means put to its intended use.”

God desires that our lives, our bodies, and our hearts belong to Him. He sent Jesus to pay the penalty for our sins so that we could have a living and active relationship with Him. He desires that we be available for His work, whether it is at home, in our workplace, in our neighborhood, at school, or church. In other words, He wants us to be available everywhere we interact with people.  God desires that His life be made visible to people through the lives of His followers. 

The above two quotes are connected. When God is our priority, our lives fulfill their intended purpose.

When Christ’s followers veer from God’s intended path, God is usually misrepresented.

Consider the history of the nation of Israel. God delivered them from Egyptian bondage [see the book of Exodus]. He led them through the desert, by a pillar of fire at night and by a cloud during the day. No such event had ever occurred before in mankind’s history. 

This was amazing for the surrounding nations to observe!

As God promised, He brought them to the edge of the “Promised Land” [This is a reference to the land He promised Abram aka Abraham in Genesis 12:7: “Then the Lord appeared to Abram and said, “To your descendants I will give this land.” And there he built an altar to the Lord, who had appeared to him.]  This promise gives specific details as to the boundaries of the land in Genesis 15:18–20: “On that day the Lord made a covenant with Abram and said, “To your descendants I give this land, from the Wadi[e] of Egypt to the great river, the Euphrates— the land of the Kenites, Kenizzites, Kadmonites, Hittites, Perizzites, Rephaites, Amorites, Canaanites, Girgashites and Jebusites.”

The scouts explored the land. Two explorers agreed it was great land and they should move forward with conquering it. But the remaining ten explorers convinced the people they shouldn’t move ahead, even though God had promised them victory in the battles to claim the land. After all, the land belongs to God, and He has the right to give it to whomever He wants.

But God knew what He was doing when He gave that land to Israel. All they needed to do was trust and obey God.

As a result of their disobedience, the people lost sight of God being their first, second, and third priority. They failed to remember God’s intended use for their lives. They were to represent Him, just as Christ’s followers are to do today. Their disobedience reflected poorly on God.

The results of their disobedience was devastating. They ended up walking around the desert for forty years until that generation died. Only the two explorers who wanted to wholeheartedly obey God – Joshua and Caleb – would enter the Promised Land from that generation.

What experience have you had with God when you made Him your first, second, and third priority? If you are not in that place, you can confess to God your desire to surrender all to Him. He wants to help people succeed in knowing Him and representing Him well to our world.

Our world is filled with ungodliness. It is time for God’s people to stand up for Him. We cannot do this on our own. We need God’s indwelling Holy Spirit to lead, strengthen, and encourage us as we determine to make God our first, second, and third priority.

Is Jesus your Lord and Savior? If not, that is the first commitment you need to make. It is not complicated, but does require commitment. It requires that we truly confess ourselves as sinners in need of Jesus as our Savior. It means that we understand there is no other way to have a relationship with God because we have no means by which we can pay the penalty for our sins. This is why God sent Jesus. At the moment you make this commitment to Jesus, God indwells you with His Holy Spirit. This is permanent. God will ALWAYS be with you wherever you are!!

John 14:15-17 states this truth as he quotes Jesus: “If you love me, keep my commands. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever— the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you.”

God is for us. His people should be for Him, without reservation.

If God is not your first, second, and third priority, what will you do to remove whatever is in those places and make God your absolute priority?

I’d be glad to talk with you about making Jesus your first, second, and third priority. 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.

Job is one man who learned from God how to navigate through life when everything he knew was falling apart.

When you read through the first chapters of the book of Job, you will find that God allowed Satan to wreak havoc in Job’s life. All his children died, simultaneously, his wealth, his health and standing in his community were wiped away. His wife even “encouraged” him in Job 2:9 with these words: “Do you still cling to your integrity [and your faith and trust in God, without blaming Him]? Curse God and die!” [Amplified Version].

We cannot forget Job’s “friends”!!  They had lost sight of God’s mercy and grace to them, and their words were judgmental and accusatory.

Job was a man who endured most of our worst nightmares!

BUT GOD!  

God was not finished writing Job’s story. 

God had more to teach Job about Himself.

God has a lot more to teach us about who He is!

How open are you to learning from God through the struggles of this life?

In Job 13:15a Job declared: “God might kill me, but I have no other hope.” In the midst of the chaos of his life, Job understood that God was his only hope. In the midst of our chaos, do we understand this truth?  This is key to our existence. 

God is our only hope!

It is essential that we understand that Jesus is the Author and Finisher of our faith.  Hebrews 12:2 states this truth: “…looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”

God, through His one and only Son, Jesus Christ, gives us the hope of eternal life, and a destiny that will be endless bliss. It is the life we dream of, but we often fail to recognize that only God can fulfill this dream.

What was God looking for from Job?

God wanted Job to understand that He is the Sovereign God. He knows all, and our lives are best lived seeking Him. 

God allowed Job to express himself, to state his perspective. In Job 13:15b Job stated: “yet I will argue my ways to his face.” Through the discourses that followed, Job gave his thoughts on the events of his life. 

Then God took Job through a series of questions [Job 38-41] regarding creation. His point was for Job to come to the conclusion that God has life under control, even though it definitely didn’t “appear” to Job that way. God’s questions led Job, and should lead us, to the conclusion that He is in control, and we do not have the right to ask God to justify His actions. God is ok with us expressing ourselves, but we must do so with reverence.

Who do we think we are?

Who do we think God is?

How we answer those questions will influence how we navigate life.

In Job 42:1-6, Job voices his conclusion: “Then Job answered the LORD and said, “I know that You can do all things, And that no purpose of Yours can be thwarted. ‘Who is this that hides counsel without knowledge?’ “Therefore I have declared that which I did not understand, Things too wonderful for me, which I did not know.” ‘Hear, now, and I will speak; I will ask You, and You instruct me.’ “I have heard of You by the hearing of the ear; But now my eye sees You; Therefore I retract, And I repent in dust and ashes.”

God gave Job sufficient evidence to understand who He is. He came to the only conclusion that makes sense – God is the awesome God, and we need to walk humbly with Him. 

I recommend you read Job 38-41. I pray that you will also come to the only conclusion that makes sense, and that you and I will humble ourselves before our amazing, loving, merciful, and gracious God, and like Job, repent of our sins.

How often might it appear that life is out of control? The truth is, God has everything under His control. The deeper we lean into that truth, the more fear will flee, and faith will rise up to carry us through our struggles.

We need to diligently work toward the goal of leaning away from trusting ourselves, so we can more completely lean into Jesus. 

Abide is the word used in John 15. The more we trust and abide in Jesus, the greater we will experience peace and rest — no matter the situation. God wants to envelope our lives with his miraculous blessings. 

On Christmas Eve we were having family and friends for lunch. I hadn’t planned dessert – I forgot. I decided to not fuss about it. But God had dessert planned! Our neighbor sent over some amazing cookies!! This is minor in the scheme of life, but God revealed His love for me in that provision. Since He cares about a dessert, I know He cares about the matters that appear far more overwhelming. I want to be like the Psalmist who states in Psalm 112:7: “They will have no fear of bad news; their hearts are steadfast, trusting in the LORD.”

Our amazing God draws the unworthy to Himself. We are all unworthy. We are drawn by God into a living and personal relationship with Him through Jesus. 

I came across this quote: “Mature faith does not live by answers to prayer, but by prayer.”

R. E. O. White.  

We cannot save ourselves. Jesus had to come to be a sinless person to go to the cross. Through Him our sin debt is paid in full. Since he has that mighty power, why do we not trust and rely upon Him for all our needs?  

What is God wanting to teach you today about Himself? 

PS – God restored Job: “The Lord restored the fortunes of Job when he prayed for his friends, and the Lord gave Job twice as much as he had before. Then all his brothers and sisters and all who had known him before came to him, and they ate bread with him in his house; and they consoled him and comforted him over all the [distressing] adversities that the Lord had brought on him. And each one gave him a piece of money, and each a ring of gold. And the Lord blessed the latter days of Job more than his beginning; for he had 14,000 sheep, 6,000 camels, 1,000 yoke of oxen, and 1,000 female donkeys. He had seven sons and three daughters. And he called the name of the first [daughter] Jemimah, and the name of the second Keziah, and the name of the third Keren-happuch. In all the land there were found no women so fair as the daughters of Job; and their father gave them an inheritance among their brothers. After this, Job lived 140 years, and saw his sons and his grandsons, four generations. So Job died, an old man and full of days.” Job 42:10-17

You can reach me at: ButGodCares@gmail.com. Let’s talk about 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.

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.