[…] You let the distress bring you to God, not drive you from him. The result was all gain, no loss. Distress that drives us to God does that. It turns us around. It gets us back in the way of salvation. We never regret that kind of pain. But those who let distress drive them away from God are full of regrets, end up on a deathbed of regrets.

2 Corinthians 7:9-10 (TMB)

The greatest pain is pain with no purpose. It is purpose that makes perseverance possible; when the sacrifice is clear, the pain that comes along with reaching for the prize becomes worth it. Whether it’s the pain of loss, the pain of sacrifice or the pain of being alone, allow it to drive you to God…and not take you from Him.

[Today’s reading was taken from our devotional, Change Your Story. Purchase a Copy]

Daily Bible Reading (Two reading plans are provided below. The “Entire Bible” plan will take you through the entire Bible this year. The “New Testament” plan will take you through just the New Testament this year.)

• Entire Bible: Jeremiah 40-42; Song of Songs 7
• New Testament: 1 Corinthians 6