Words of Hope Daily Devotional

START EVERY DAY WITH HOPE

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THE DEVOTIONAL IS AVAILABLE IN YOUR EMAIL AND IN PRINT.

The Words of Hope Devotional is a non-profit, donor-supported publication whose goal is to encourage readers to grow in faith through the practice of daily Bible reading and prayer.

THE DEVOTIONAL IS AVAILABLE IN YOUR EMAIL AND IN PRINT.

The Words of Hope Devotional is a non-profit, donor-supported publication whose goal is to encourage readers to grow in faith through the practice of daily Bible reading and prayer.

DINNER WITH JESUS

Breakfast on the Beach

April 2, 2025
Michael Jones

Read: 2 Corinthians 12:1-10

Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me. But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” (vv. 8-9)

Horatio Spafford was a successful lawyer and real estate investor in Chicago in the 1800s. In 1871, his four-year-old son died of scarlet fever. A few months later, Spafford lost all his property in the Chicago fire. And then in 1873, all four of his daughters died in a shipwreck while crossing the Atlantic Ocean. Humanly speaking, it was a disaster beyond what human emotion can handle. But out of such tragedy, Spafford wrote the well-known hymn, “It Is Well with My Soul.” This hymn continues to comfort believers facing suffering today.

In today’s Bible reading, Paul chose to boast about his weaknesses (v. 5) because in his weakness, God’s power was made evident to all. Elsewhere, he writes, “Rejoice in the Lord always” (Phil. 4:4). Although it’s natural to become negative, critical, bitter, and withdrawn in times of suffering, pain, and death, the Holy Spirit’s work is most obvious in times of suffering.

Suffering, pain, and death are part of human life. Experiencing them can break our hearts and spirits but can also become a means to spiritual growth. They can help us to recognize the sufficiency of grace in which the power of God rests. Following Christ can enable a brokenhearted person to be a blessing. What is impossible for humanity is possible with God.

As you pray, ask God to work in your weakest areas and in your suffering, for his glory.

About the Author

SE Asia Ministry Leader

Words of Hope’s South Asia Ministry field leader is based in India and works with more than 70 team members sharing the hope of the gospel in more than 20 languages. Because of security concerns, we have chosen not to share his name.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Rev. First Last

David Bast is a writer and pastor who served for 23 years as the President and Broadcast Minister for Words of Hope. In his more than 40 years of devotional writing and preaching, he has been encouraging believers around the world to be shaped by God and his Word.

Prior to his ministry and work at Words of Hope, Dave served as a pastor for 18 years in congregations in the Reformed Church in America. A graduate of Hope College and Western Theological Seminary, he is the author of nine devotional books and Bible studies, including Why Doesn’t God Act More Like God, Christ in the Psalms, and A Gospel for the World.

Dave and his wife, Betty Jo, have four children and eight grandchildren. Dave enjoys reading, growing tomatoes, and avidly follows the Detroit Tigers.