More devotions....

"Yesterday we learned about brokenness as a tool the Lord uses to mold us into His likeness. As believers, we should desire this outcome, and yet the process is a painful one. That's why our heavenly Father gives encouragement in a number of ways.
First, the Lord breaks us in love. Believers are His children; as parents lovingly redirect their sons and daughters, God does so with us. He never allows suffering out of anger.
*Second, He sets a limit on our suffering, controlling the pressure to be sure it's never more than we can bear (2 Corinthians 4:8......"We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair...").Our Father knows exactly what is needed to break our stubbornness, rebellion, and selfishness, but He will never break our spirit.
*Third, God brings clarity through difficult times. As we learn that His ways are higher than ours, we gain greater understanding of His amazing attributes. At the same time, our self-awareness starts to sharpen, and old, unproductive thought patterns begin to fade.
*Fourth, God promises that He will never desert us. Brokenness can feel lonely and empty, as we are losing the things that once captured our loyalty. But our Father replaces those with Himself - and He is vastly more satisfying and dependable.
*Fifth, the Lord is always patient. He knows our background and deeply rooted thought patterns. Yet He also sees the end result and knows that the journey is worth it. "

"For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day.
For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory,
While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal."
2 Corinthians 4:16-18

That is a great reminder if you are going through a painful time.....knowing all the beautiful characteristics of God.....His faithfulness, His love, grace and mercy, His dependability, His great intimate knowledge of us. There is great comfort that comes from that....comfort that can only come from Him. No one else knows your deepest thoughts, fears, joys, private victories, and personal failures.....and because of that, He is the only one who can truly give perfect wisdom, comfort and guidance. So turn to Him for all that you need.....and then 'allow' Him to give you exactly what you need....