Joel Osteen Daily Devotional November 25 2022

Acts 8:3, ESV

But Saul was ravaging the church, and entering house after house, he dragged off men and women and committed them to prison.

At the end of Acts 7, Stephen was stoned to death by members of the Jewish Sanhedrin for his faith in Christ, and Saul was there giving his approval. Saul then began to wreak havoc on the church in Jerusalem, “the city of peace,” scattering the apostles and many disciples throughout Judea and Samaria. One of those disciples named Philip went to the city of Samaria and began proclaiming Jesus as the Messiah, and he saw all kinds of miracles and great crowds coming to faith.

Sometimes God will allow your place of peace, perhaps your home or workplace, where you feel secure and comfortable, to be disrupted. A Saul of some sort shows up-a sickness, a betrayal, a downsizing, intense pressure-and wreaks havoc on your peace. Stay in faith. Saul is a setup for God to do something you’ve never seen, to push you to a new level. He already has a plan to use it to increase and promote you. Without the trauma, there wouldn’t be the transition.

Father, thank You that there is a purpose when a Saul comes my way and wreaks havoc on my peace. Thank You that You have great plans to use it to increase and promote me. I will stay in faith and in peace, knowing that You hold me in the palms of Your hands. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.