Crosswalk.com

Setbacks Can’t Derail God’s Purpose - Daily Hope with Rick Warren - June 9, 2019

Setbacks Can’t Derail God’s Purpose

By Rick Warren

“Don’t be afraid, Paul, for you will surely stand trial before Caesar! What’s more, God in his goodness has granted safety to everyone sailing with you”’ (Acts 27:24 NLT).

Sometimes a setback is rooted in your own actions or choices. You made a mistake. You did something that hurt another person. You disobeyed God.

And now you’re facing a storm because of it.

But often, the storms we face in life aren’t because of something we did. Instead, we suffer because of other people’s poor decisions—or even their sins.

Acts 27 gives us a dramatic example of suffering a setback because of the foolish choices of others. Paul had been unfairly put on trial for crimes he didn’t commit. He was a Roman citizen, so he had the opportunity to appeal to Caesar in capital-offense cases.

On the prison ship heading toward Rome, Paul told the others that they were headed toward disaster. But no one listened, and it didn’t take too long before they hit a terrible storm.

But that didn’t mean the storm sidetracked God’s purpose for Paul—and a storm doesn’t have to sidetrack God’s purpose for you, either.

God’s purpose for your life is greater than any setback you’ll ever go through. An angel told Paul this in Acts 27:24: “Don’t be afraid, Paul, for you will surely stand trial before Caesar! What’s more, God in his goodness has granted safety to everyone sailing with you”’ (NLT).

Despite the setback, the angel told Paul he’d one day stand before Caesar and share his testimony. God’s purpose wouldn’t be thwarted.

God doesn’t need a Plan B for your life. Hitting a setback—whether it’s your fault or someone else’s—doesn’t mean God won’t work through your life. When disaster hits, God just fits it into his plans.

When someone else’s decision turns your life upside down, God uses it for his glory.

When someone else’s mistake puts you in a difficult situation, God works through it anyway.

When you feel like you’ve lost everything, God does the incredible so you can do the impossible.

You can’t sink God’s purpose. Neither can anyone else.

PLAY todays audio teaching from Pastor Rick >>

For more Daily Hope with Rick Warren, please visit pastorrick.com!


$50,000 Matching Grant DOUBLES your gift!

 

Too many people are running on empty — overwhelmed with worries and burdens.

That’s why we want to send you Pastor Rick’s Re-Energize Your Life interactive guide and journal to help you reconnect with God to be renewed and refreshed. It’s our thank-you for your support today.

And a $50,000 Matching Grant will DOUBLE your donation to help more people connect with Jesus — and re-energize their life!

Re-Energize Your Life will help you . . .

• Lighten your load and re-activate your passion
• Make space for what matters most
• Take 5 steps so you can be used by God

Get yours today when you support Daily Hope and your donation will be DOUBLED by the $50,000 Matching Grant!

*The USA IRS code permits you to deduct the amount of your financial gift to Daily Hope that exceeds the fair market value of materials you received from Daily Hope.

 

This devotional © 2018 by Rick Warren. All rights reserved. Used by permission.

You can listen to Rick Warren on OnePlace.com.