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Rest In God’s Loving Kindness With This Short Devotional

Rest In God’s Loving Kindness With This Short Devotional

Last updated on: January 31, 2025 at 5:05 pm by Heather Bixler

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Rest In God’s Loving Kindness With This Short Devotional 2025-01-31T17:05:58-05:00 Heather Bixler

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One hand giving a heart to another hand.

Are you struggling to find peace among life’s constant trials and struggles? Click here to read a short devotional on God’s loving kindness. // Photo Credit Photo by Kelly Sikkema on Unsplash

Our soul has waited for Yahweh. He is our help and our shield. For our heart rejoices in him, because we have trusted in his holy name. Let your loving kindness be on us, Yahweh, since we have hoped in you. – Psalms 33:20-22 (WEB)

Life is full of the unexpected. The future is unknown for everyone. Fear of the unknown is a very real struggle, even for the Christian. In Psalms 33:20-22 I am reminded that hope is the key to enduring the pain and the fears that threaten to consume my thoughts and actions.

In this life, it is difficult to move forward in fear. However, when there is faith and hope, the steps become a little lighter. Being patient and trusting in God go hand in hand. So many people pray for miracles to reveal themselves in our lives, for God’s favor to rest upon us, and for doors to open. However, seeing God’s provision while patiently trusting reveals a miracle we so often take for granted: His loving kindness.

The Goodness Of God Is A Miracle

Or do you despise the riches of his goodness, forbearance, and patience, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance? – Romans 2:4

Witnessing the goodness of God in your life is not something to take lightly. Remembering how you got from where you were to where you are now in your walk with Christ will inspire you to endure through the question marks that may hover over your prayer list.

I remember the most impactful moments in my life before I became a Christian, which were the ones where I had a glimpse of God’s love for me. It was the testimony of another Christian sharing God’s goodness in their life that helped me peak into what could be possible for me.

Becoming a Christian was not just one big moment; it was many little moments of surrendering to the truth of His loving kindness. Growing in my walk with Christ are little moments or seasons of surrendering to the hope I have in Him.

God’s Grace For Everyone

that in the ages to come he might show the exceeding riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus; – Ephesians 2:7

Kindness from God is grace from God. In Matthew 5:44-46 (WEB), Jesus talks about how God makes the sun rise on the evil and the good and sends rain on the just and unjust:

But I tell you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who mistreat you and persecute you, that you may be children of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the just and the unjust. For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Don’t even the tax collectors do the same?

I used to think I had to live a certain way and earn the grace of God in my life through rituals and actions designed to make God give me grace and favor. There was one season in my life where I learned quickly that God was faithful to me when I was unable to be faithful to Him. Even though I was living in disobedience, He still showed up for me. In His kindness, He also corrected me and set me back on the road I needed to be on.

Love Your Enemy And Those Who Are Struggling

My little children, let’s not love in word only, or with the tongue only, but in deed and truth. – 1 John 3:18

Pride, anger, and hatred in a Christian’s walk, speech, and actions are a huge red flag for me. The Bible is clear about the heart of God and His love for us. He wants no one to perish, and He will discipline His children if they are walking in disobedience.

We are all called to speak the truth in love. However, a partial truth is still a lie. So speaking love without truth, and truth without love, is not representing the grace of God in your life. 1 John 3:18 talks about not just loving in words only but lining up our actions and walking in the truth to show love to others.

God’s Loving Kindness Will Protect You

How precious is your loving kindness, God! The children of men take refuge under the shadow of your wings. – Psalm 36:7

I think it is a beautiful picture to see someone who has run away from God’s love for so long to just finally surrender to what God has for them. Life is hard, and running away from it all is even more difficult than finding a way to go through the growing pains of life.

I know when I am distracted with life, it is difficult to take refuge in God’s love. Escaping the pain sounds like the only solution to the suffering. But that is a lie. There will always be pain and suffering in this life. The truth is we need to embrace God’s loving-kindness in our lives.

Here are reflection questions for embracing God’s loving kindness in your life:

What is holding me back from God’s love?
How can I show love and kindness to those around me?
Where am I putting my hope?
What areas of my life am I not surrendering?

Life Application:

Practice trusting Him in the circumstances that keep popping up.
Remember His faithfulness in the past.
Be grateful for His love and presence in your life.

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, thank you for always showing me your grace. You have been faithful to me in all circumstances, even in moments when my faith was lacking. Your love, grace, and mercy are always available to anyone willing to surrender their will and heart to your embrace. Lord, I trust you with ________ and I know You are with me through the pain, suffering, and the uncertainty. I am so grateful for Your love and presence in my life. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

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About Heather Bixler

Heather is a mom of three young adults, has been married to her husband for 22 years, and is a proud fur mom to her dog, Iris, and two cats, Picasso and Esther. Heather has her Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology and is pursuing her Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing. You can read more about the author here.

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