Gems of Knowledge

Today’s One Year Bible Verses: Job 1:1–3:26, 1 Corinthians 14:1–17, Psalm 37:12–29, Proverbs 21:25–26

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Keep Turning Toward God

Struggles reveal things about us that comfortable seasons often cannot.

It is easy to say we trust God when life is going well. But when something hurts, disappoints us, frightens us, or simply makes no sense, something deeper is exposed: Our Heart.

Where will we turn?

That is exactly what the Lord asks in today’s Gem of Knowledge:

“What will you do in your struggles? Will you turn toward Me or away? This is what determines a righteous heart. Amen.”

And what incredible timing as we begin the book of Job.

Scripture introduces Job as “a man of complete integrity. He feared God and stayed away from evil” (Job 1:1, NLT). But before the first chapter is over, Job’s life has been devastated. His possessions are gone. His servants are killed. Worst of all, every one of his children dies.

Then Job receives one devastating report after another.

What does he do?

“Job stood up and tore his robe in grief. Then he shaved his head and fell to the ground to worship” (Job 1:20, NLT).

I think that verse is incredibly important because Job grieved. Turning toward God did not mean pretending he wasn’t hurting. He tore his clothes. He mourned. Later, in chapter 3, Job pours out anguish so deep that he wishes he had never been born.

Yet in the middle of unimaginable pain, Job still turned toward God.

That is a righteous heart.

Righteousness does not mean we never struggle, question, cry, become angry, or have moments when we simply do not understand what God is doing. It means that in those moments, we keep bringing ourselves back to Him.

We struggle with God rather than away from God.

Psalm 37 speaks beautifully into this. David writes, “The Lord directs the steps of the godly. He delights in every detail of their lives. Though they stumble, they will never fall, for the Lord holds them by the hand” (Psalm 37:23–24, NLT).

Notice that Scripture doesn’t say the godly never stumble.

It says God holds their hand when they do.

There may be seasons when your faith feels strong and others when you’re barely hanging on. There may be prayers filled with confidence and others that sound more like, Lord, I don’t understand this at all.

Bring Him both.

Even 1 Corinthians 14 reminds us that our spiritual lives should continually draw us toward God and strengthen our relationship with Him. Paul says, “Let love be your highest goal!” (1 Corinthians 14:1, NLT). Our relationship with God isn’t meant to exist only when life feels good. Love stays. Love seeks. Love keeps turning toward the One it belongs to…the source of love itself.

The enemy would love for your struggle to convince you that God has abandoned you, doesn’t care, or cannot be trusted.

But your struggle can become the very place where your roots grow deeper.

So when life hurts, you don’t have to have all the right words. You don’t have to pretend you’re okay. You don’t even have to understand.

Cry if you need to. Ask the hard questions. Tell God exactly how you feel.

Just keep turning toward Him.

Because sometimes the clearest evidence of a righteous heart isn’t that you never struggle.

It’s that even when you do, you still choose God. 💎

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Action (5 Minutes with God)

Give God at least 5 intentional minutes of your time today. Ask Him:

• “Lord, what do You want me to know about this personally?”
  • Journal what He gives you through His Holy Spirit.
• Then ask, “What do You want me to do?”
  • Journal what He reveals – then do it!

Think about a struggle you are facing right now and honestly ask yourself: Is this drawing me toward God or causing me to pull away? Whatever you are feeling, bring it to Him today without trying to clean it up first. Let Him meet you right where you are.

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Prayer

Lord, when life hurts and I don’t understand what You are doing, help me turn toward You instead of away. Teach me that I can bring You my grief, questions, disappointment, and even my anger without hiding any of it. Hold my hand when I stumble and keep my heart anchored in You. Whatever I face, I want my struggles to draw me closer to You, not farther away. Help me keep choosing You. In Jesus’ name I pray, amen.

To read more 5 Minutes with God devotionals click here.