The Upper Room Daily Devotional 27 August 2022 for Saturday Message || Fireweeds
Read The Upper Room Daily Devotional 27 August 2022 Message by Laverne Williams (Georgia, USA)
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TOPIC:Â Fireweeds
TODAY’S READING
Isaiah 61:1-6
The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me. . . . To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that he might be glorified. – Isaiah 61:1, 3 (KJV)
The Upper Room Daily Devotional 27 August 2022 MESSAGE
As our bus traveled down the highway on a recent trip to Alaska, we passed a large stretch of land with rows of burned trees. Growing directly in front of these black, scorched trees were several clumps of beautiful light pink flowers. I noticed the same flowers when we hiked up a mountain trail in the damp wilderness. Later our tour guide explained that the flowers were called fireweeds and that they usually grow in places where something catastrophic has occurred, like a fire or even a moving glacier.
In a similar manner, God has a way of responding in areas of our lives where we’ve experienced disaster. Just like the prophet Isaiah says, God can provide beauty in places that once were ashes and cause joy in times of mourning. And as God was with Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in the fiery furnace (see Daniel 3), God is with us through the fires we face. As we face struggles of every kind, our human limitations may prevent us from seeing through to the other side where beauty may await us. But God sees it all, is with us through it all, and is able to comfort all who mourn.
TODAY’S PRAYER
Dear God, thank you for delivering us from our trials. Amen.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY
God can bring beauty from the bleakest situation.
PRAYER FOCUS
Those recovering from disasters
The Upper Room Daily Devotional 27 August 2022 Message. The Upper Room is a daily devotional magazine published in more than 30 languages and 100 countries around the world. The daily meditations are written by readers of the magazine and others interested in sharing their faith experiences through writing—both laity and clergy, published authors and new writers. Read More