Daily Encounter: A Week-day Devotional by a staff of ACTS International.

Friday, May 14, 2021

"For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing."¹

Into the shell of an oyster a tiny foreign bodyâ€"such as a tiny parasiteâ€"finds its way into the soft oyster body. "The intruder, though microscopic, is a source of irritation and pain to the soft body of the oyster. Unable to rid itself of the unwelcome 'guest,' the oyster seeks to reduce the irritation by coating it with layers of soft, iridescent mother-of-pearl material from its own shell. Over time, the oyster transforms a painful irritation into a beautiful pearl of great value."

Most of us have "tiny parasites" or annoying "pebbles" that come into our life on a regular basis … many of which can be very frustrating and even painful.

But every one of these annoyances gives us a chance to grow and mature. Some will require great patience, others tough love. Some will require our turning the other cheek, some confrontation, and some kindness and understanding. With God's help, we can turn every one of these annoying pebbles into pearls. Always believing that God is faithful, He is at work in us, and His plan is perfect even in the midst of trials.


Suggested prayer: "Dear God, please help me to see an opportunity for growth in every annoying situation. Give me the courage to be strong when needed, have healthy boundaries where required, exercise tough love where it is essential, and show kindness, patience and understanding where these are needed. Help me to always seek to follow your example in all I say and do. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully in Jesus' name, amen."

1. James 1:3-4 (NLT).

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